Posted on 09/02/2007 1:51:41 PM PDT by 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.
(Excerpt) Read more at timesonline.co.uk ...
Agreed.
regional military alliance??? (snicker)
We won't need to anything except stop all money transfers to South American.
All their economies would collapse.
Yep...we’re already in World War III. Sides are being chosen, alliances established and the initial shooting is already well underway.
Yep...plain to see as the nose on my face....
Terrific tagline.
That’s huge.
I really need to get computer Harpoon up and running again, so I can wargame some of the scenarios out there today.
“Maybe not with US air support.”
Even if the British fleet were to survive with the help of US air power, it will be a muzzie fleet soon ready to pounce on us.
But, even if they are not and the UK could get them on those carriers...the SU-30s, in well trained hands, would be able, IMHO, to overwhelm the Sea Harriers. They would need our help.
I believe you are on the money.
Chavez is a devil. Special Forces should be chomping at the bit to get that pimple on the world’s butt.
Hi Jeff. It’s been a while!
It also has to do with bad (self indulgent) leadership IMO. I agree with your premise though.
I agree Jeff. Thanks.
Agreed.
Can't really think of a Muslim-national navy (Malaysia, Indonesia?). More likely, they'll fight by proxy. India's had a buildup lately. Maybe they'll got onboard.
>>I’ll admit to not really understanding why more of those nations haven’t done better.
Lack of rule of law. Lack of respect for private property. Kleptocratic governments/elites.
There of course are many other factors, but those are the biggies, again and again and again.
My tagline use to be : "People get the leaders they deserve"..
>I personally believe it is time for a joint UK and US carrier exercise in the carribean to shut this idiot up. One or two of their Invinsible class, and one Nimitz class and their escorts would be all that was needed.<
You didn’t include the #1 item, the willingness to defeat and crush the entire Venezuelan military force, then obliterate the Chavez administration.
These days we are hesitant about overpowering foreign governments with “undue” force for fear that we will be seen as a monster who doesn’t know when to stop killing.
As long as we permit our State Department to discuss tactical operations winning is impossible. I am fed up with appeasments and agreements to end the combat.
I want the enemy to be begging us not to erradicate their people, not demanding compensation for damages to their national treasures.
This guy is an absolute kook.
His first problem would be getting his Sukois to the scene.
Venezuela is thousands of miles from the Falklands.
Cooperation with several SA countries would be needed to ferry them close to the action. Unlikely, but I guess it sounds good to the masses.
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