Chavez vows revenge for Falklands war

The Sunday Times Online (UK) ^ | September 2, 2007 | Martin Arostegui

[Jeff Head]

In a new outburst of antiwestern sabre-rattling, President Hugo Chavez of Venezuela has threatened Britain with “revenge” for the Falklands war of 1982. The belligerent Latin American leftist warned last week that his recent build-up of sophisticated Russian and Iranian weapons would be used to destroy the British fleet if it attempted to return to the South Atlantic.

Speaking on his weekly television show Alo Presidente (Hello, Mr President), Chavez denounced what he described as Britain’s “illegal occupation” of the Falklands and repeated his call for a regional military alliance against Britain and the United States.

“If we had been united in the last war, we could have stopped the old empire,” Chavez said, as he gesticulated to maps showing how Venezuelan aircraft and submarines would intercept British warships. “Today we could sink the British fleet.”

Chavez has often expressed support for Argentina’s claim to the Falklands, but his latest broadside was notable for both its antiBritish vitriol and its unprecedented threats. He declared that British history was “stained with the blood of South America’s indigenous people” and demanded revenge for the “cowardly” sinking of the General Belgrano, the Argentine cruiser.

Western diplomats have long grown used to harangues from Chavez, who announced this weekend that he would negotiate with guerrillas holding dozens of hostages in Colombia, including three US contractors and Ingrid Betancourt, a French-Colombian abducted as she campaigned for president in 2002. But US and British officials have recently become more concerned by his willingness to lavish billions of dollars from Venezuela’s soaring oil income on military capabilities.

[UKrepublican]

Nor would you expect it to be.

[protest1]

That was a great game!

[JasonC]

British Navy To Be Cut In Half

Today, government at all levels in the UK takes 43% of the national income. That is $1.15 trillion per year. Slightly more than half of that is spending at the national level. And they think they can't afford half the navy they had yesterday, which was already a tiny, 44 ship fleet.

Why? Because Britain is no longer a serious nation. Hasn't been for quite some time. A minority continue to put up a good show, but the bulk of the country has decided that the best use of wealth is to sit on their collective backsides collecting government checks and feeling really, really self-righteous.

[protest1]

I was shocked when I discovered they retired the Harrier FR2.

However in this scenario South Atlantis cover could be provided from the Falklands and Mid Atlantic cover from Ascension Island by Tornado F3’s or the new Typhoons.

[BnBlFlag]

I volunteer to be her spotter!

[protest1]

Sounds depressingly familiar to the situation just before the Falklands war. Then it was a Conservative government about to make large cuts to the Navy and reduce it to a coastal defence force.

[Poser]

Talk about stuck on stupid!

[Jeff Head]

But there would be points, as they passed, where the Venezuelan aircraft could maximize their legs while the UK aircraft were at the end of theirs. It would be dicey without strong caiier task force fleet air defense. I believe the US could and should use a Nimitz and its escorts for the additional scurity.

[uncbob]

PRELIM Strike on their air fields with Cruise Missles

[JasonC]

But the navy was literally 3 times as large then. After these cuts, the British navy will be 1/6th the size it was in 1980. Meanwhile, British GDP per capita has risen 4 fold over the same period. They are vastly better off, the government takes 43% of the national income, and delivers bumpkiss for it. Just handouts, that is all they can even think of paying for anymore.

[Caipirabob]

The US is under attack internally by Mexicans...and externally by radical Muslims...and latin american socialists like Chavez...how can we be so blind??

It's not a matter of being blind. The Democrats are actively aiding and assisting all of our enemies.

[Darnright]

>British Navy To Be Cut In Half<

I wonder if this is the reason Chavez has chosen this time to beat his chest.

Ah, universal healthcare. Now there’s a great idea.

[uncbob]

Before that, if there were ar repeat taking of the Islands, he would probably station men, material, aircraft, and potentially subs down there prior to the British arriving.

Yep and the BRITS ain't gonna be able to react overnight

Without massive USA support they would not even attempt to take the Islands back
And that would mean the American public would have to back it --not all that certain with all the other world wide situations .I wonder if even the UK would not just give upthe Islands today

Wonder if Chavez is trying to give Argentina ideas

[353FMG]

“It just means all the more that they will need our direct military help..”

Is that not exactly what most western nations have been expecting since the creation of NATO? It has been American blood and money that has allowed Europe to build their socialist structure, because what they saved by not having to take care of their defense, they misspent on cuddling the masses. We are, in part, guilty of the European disaster.

[Niteflyr]

It's not a matter of being blind. The Democrats are actively aiding and assisting all of our enemies.

Maybe just stupidity...you would have to be ...as it will doom you and yours in the process...

[Jim Noble]

“Today we could sink the British fleet.”

Not...a...good...plan

[uncbob]

We are, in part, guilty of the European disaster.

Yeah but Britain has chosen her own path of socialism

They started before WWII

I remember reading in Reagan's Diaries that he called Thatcher when we were going into Grenada and she told him not to do it (Iron Lady ?)
He told her the troops were on the way

[uncbob]

Is that not exactly what most western nations have been expecting since the creation of NATO? It has been American blood and money that has allowed Europe to build their socialist structure, because what they saved by not having to take care of their defense, they misspent on cuddling the masses. We are, in part, guilty of the European disaster.

Yep and if we fail in the ME their sorry butts will be muslim controlled

[353FMG]

Their sorry butts are already Muslim controlled and so are some of our sorry butts in Congress.

[uncbob]

Sounds depressingly familiar to the situation just before the Falklands war. Then it was a Conservative government about to make large cuts to the Navy and reduce it to a coastal defence force.

Aregentina's timing was stupid