Posted on 05/21/2006 6:49:50 PM PDT by Aussie Dasher
PRESIDENT Hugo Chavez confirmed today that Venezuela will buy Russian fighter jets during a planned visit to Moscow, and warned that Caracas could sell its US-made F-16s to Iran.
"We will soon be in Moscow because we will buy Russian fighter jets to defend these skies and land," Mr Chavez said in a speech on state-owned television.
Mr Chavez hailed the Russian Sukhoi fighters as "the best in the world, 100 times better than the F-16s".
The leftist leader did not say when he planned to travel to Russia, but Venezuela's ambassador to Moscow has said the trip could take place in August or September.
Mr Chavez also said he supports Venezuelan General Alberto Muller Rojas's recommendation to sell the F-16s. Caracas says Washington refuses to supply replacement parts for the warplanes.
The United States has ordered an arms sales ban against Venezuela, accusing Caracas of failing to provide assistance in the "war on terror".
"General Muller made an interesting statement - he said that if they do not want to sell us the F-16 parts, we would sell the planes," Mr Chavez said. "Why lose the money? It's millions of dollars, so Muller said we would sell them to Iran, and that is possible."
But the United States has indicated that it would not allow Venezuela to sell the F-16s to Iran.
"Any time you have the sale of US military equipment to a foreign government, there are clauses and there are agreements that are signed," US State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said last week.
"And part of those agreements are that, without the written consent of the United States, you can't transfer these defence articles, and in this case F16s, to a third country," he said.
"And I would expect that, even if such a request were made, that it would not be forthcoming from the US government," Mr McCormack said.
Chavez isn't very bright. The Russians screwed him when they sold him thousands of junk assault rifles a while back.
Making money.
Go ahead. Iran won't be able to buy parts for them either.
those jets will be easy enough to pick off if necessary.
The usual.
Raptor food.
The F-16's should be destroyed on the ground in Venezuela before they can take off for Iran.
Even an idiot like Chavez would get the message.
BTW, Russia is still our enemy. We've had a fifteen year timeout. Russia has spun off its troublesome Muslim provinces, but it is still countering us in the Middle East and the War on Terror.
Please. Who cares? How bout some sexy latina pics? Now your talking.
So Iran will have more US F-16s to face fewer Russian planes?
No airplane is any better than it's pilot and their training. 'Nuff said.
Go right ahead and sell some aging F-16s to Iran. Do you really think they are equipped with everything the US kept models have? Do you think the maintenance and training of personnel is equal? The jokes on you, Chavez, keep running off at the mouth and watch as your own people tire of you and oust you from office one day.
Can you provide a reference to this?
LOL...I guess Chavez forgot that our pilots are probably about 100 times better than his.
There was a story posted here at FR a few months back but I don't have a clue how to dig that one up.
"Chavez isn't very bright. The Russians screwed him when they sold him thousands of junk assault rifles a while back."
Can you provide a reference to this?
Reference is here:
http://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htproc/articles/20060406.aspx
Cool.
Anyone the swindles Chavez can't be all bad. :)
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.