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Posted on 09/14/2009 6:13:42 AM PDT by Lazamataz
Russia has agreed to lend Venezuela over $2 billion to purchase tanks and advanced anti-aircraft missiles in deals that show Moscow's commitment to working closely with Washington-foe President Hugo Chavez.
Chavez said Sunday the purchases agreed upon on a trip to Moscow last week included 92 tanks and an S-300 missile system that can shoot down fighter jets and cruise missiles.
Two years ago, Russia agreed to sell the same S-300 system to Iran but has dragged its feet over delivering the weapons amid U.S. and Israeli concerns they will be used to defend Iran's nuclear installations.
The socialist Chavez, who claims the United States could attack Venezuela for its oil reserves, also reiterated that Moscow was helping Venezuela develop nuclear energy but said he had no intention of developing an atomic bomb.
"Let me be clear, Venezuela has no plans to invade anybody, or to be aggressive towards anybody," Chavez said on his weekly television show after announcing the $2.2 billion loan.
He did not say how much the new weapons cost. A major oil exporter, Venezuela's finances have suffered this year because of lower crude prices.
Chavez said Venezuela needed to borrow the money for defense spending to avoid cuts in education and health.
In recent years, Venezuela has bought over $4 billion in weapons from Russia including 24 Sukhoi fighter jets.
Critics say Venezuela is fueling an arms race in Latin America, but Chavez says he is modernizing the military for defensive purposes.
Venezuela is embroiled in a diplomatic dispute with Colombia over a deal to allow U.S. troops into more bases in the neighboring country to help fight drug traffickers and guerrillas.
Chavez, a fierce critic of U.S. foreign policy, says the Colombian bases plan could be used to launch an attack on Venezuela and increases the risk of war in South America.
Last year, he ordered tanks to the Colombian border in a dispute over a Colombian bombing raid in Ecuadorean territory.
Chavez, who visited Moscow last week, said Venezuela was now buying 92 Russian T-72 tanks along with several types of missiles to build an air defense system.
He mentioned the Buk-M2 and S-300 surface-to-air missile systems and the Smerch rocket launcher.
The S-300, also known as the SA-20, is an extremely effective anti-aircraft system capable of tracking 100 targets at once.
It can be used with missiles with a range of about 125 miles and can engage six targets simultaneously.
"With these rockets it's going to be very difficult for foreign planes to come and bomb us," Chavez said.
It was not immediately clear when Venezuela would receive the new weapons. Russia signed a contract in 2007 to supply Iran with the S-300 system.
Last week Russia dismissed rumors that a ship supposedly loaded with timber that went missing in the Atlantic in July had really been carrying a cargo of S-300s for Iran.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu secretly visited Russia on Thursday.
Although Israel has not discussed the purpose of the trip it is thought he was discussing the S-300.
Chavez repeated on Sunday his commitment to developing nuclear power for peaceful purposes with the help of Russia and said he was opposed to nuclear weapons.
"With Russia we have created an atomic energy commission and I tell the world -- Venezuela is going to start developing nuclear energy, but we are not going to make an atomic bomb." Russia agreed last year to help restart Venezuela's nuclear program.
Venezuela has one mothballed experimental nuclear reactor built decades ago.
Experts say it will take many years for the South American country to produce atomic energy.
Last week, New York District Attorney Robert Morgenthau said he suspected Venezuela was helping Iran's nuclear program through its banking system.
Chavez, an ally of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, often jokes that Washington thinks Iranian built dairies and bicycle factories in Venezuela are really producing weapons.
All of this being overlooked by the Amateur in Chief.
thank you Obama....
There is no mistaking it,
YOU ARE HERE:
Whats he going to do with 92 tanks, May Day Parades? His own presidential army?
Here's hoping Chavez discovers that the Russians are shipping him the equipment that failed quality control tests, and here's hoping the Russians never see a ruble of repayment.
So when are they going to buy weapons from the US? I’m sure Obama would be willing to sell some to his buddy.
Thus, so what if Hugo gets some double-digit SAMs. The S-300 never helped Syria, never helped Sadam, and was woefully inadequate in World War 1 and the Civil War. Just pump out more A-10s and all will be well.
“He mentioned the Buk-M2 and S-300 surface-to-air missile systems and the Smerch rocket launcher.”
The Smerch (Tornado) is a bad boy. It carries a dozen 300 mm rockets with a range of 40 or 50 miles. No match for U.S. counterbattery fire, I’m sure, but I’d be (just a little more) wary if I was one of Hugo’s neighbors...
While I disagree with the implied assertion that American equipment is inferior to Soviet equipment, I suspect within 3 to 5 years, our present president will make sure all American stuff is junk.
We don’t believe that. Most of us know that S-300’s are scary, and very capable missiles.
That said, folks who can’t build their own high-tech SAMs are in bad shape when they get caught in a war with folks who can...
Personally, I’d be buying high tech manufacturing equipment and training for it.
Hugo is beginning to sound like Barry.
No paranoia there, nope nope nope...what a maroon. But he cuts a dashing figure in that red beret!
Colonel, USAFR
I remember they ( The MSM and the Democrats ) cried foul in another decade about arms and weapons being sent to a Central America country.
Supposedly, only the F-22 and possibly the F-35 might be capable against this system. No wonder the F-22 is being canceled. Perhaps that’s the deal with Russia to keep them from selling/giving it to Iran. Gates and obama kill the F-22 and Iran doesn’t get the S-300. Too bad it takes a lot longer to ramp up F-22 production again than it does to build S-300 systems.
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