[Poohbah]

No need. The Brazilian military is probably working on the coup right now. The Brazilian Navy--the most nuclear-minded branch of service--wants nuclear submarines. They do NOT want nuclear weapons because (a) submarine reactors use almost bomb grade uranium, and a nuclear weapons program means competition for material, and (b) openly seeking nuc-u-LEER weapons is a great way to land on Uncle's s**t list, and if that happens, fuggedaboudit, no way they're getting nuke boats.

[hchutch]

Yeah, and I don't think Brazil is as good in the ASW front as we are. If they were to do something stupid, like back a play by Chavez elsewhere...

"The Pentagon confirmed today that the USS Squalus sank the Brazilian carriers Minas Gerias and San Paulo, which were trying to intercept an American amphbious group en route to Guyana to reinforce elements of the 82nd Airborne..."

Cincinatus' Wife posted something a while back about Chavez possibly having territorial ambitions for a region of Guyana...