Chavez says may give US F-16 jets to Cuba, China

[zimv20]

link (http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=topNews&storyID=2005-11-01T232420Z_01_KRA184199_RTRUKOC_0_US-ARMS-VENEZUELA-US.xml)


CARACAS, Venezuela (Reuters) - Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said on Tuesday his government may give its U.S.-made F-16 fighter jets to Cuba or China and replace them with Chinese or Russian aircraft after accusing Washington of blocking purchases of U.S. military parts.

Any exchange of military hardware to those countries would break an agreement with the U.S. government on the transfer of technology without Washington's permission and further strain fraying ties between Venezuela and the United States.

A fierce critic of the Bush administration, Chavez has rattled Washington by strengthening ties with anti-U.S. states like Cuba and promoting his self-described socialist revolution as a counterweight to U.S. regional influence.

"If they don't comply with the contract ... we can do whatever we want with these aircraft, whatever the hell we want. Maybe we'll give 10 planes to Cuba or to China so they can study the technology," Chavez said.

"We could give them away and buy aircraft from China or from Russia. ... We don't need any U.S. imperialism," he said.

A U.S. defense official said there had been no communications with Venezuela's government about any sale of F-16s to other countries, but he noted that U.S. laws on foreign arms sales were "quite strict" regarding third-party transfers.

The United States does not trade with Cuba and keeps a tight rein on any technology transfers to China.

Israeli media reported last month that Washington had blocked a sale of technology to Venezuela to upgrade its F-16 fighters, which are made by Lockheed Martin Corp. and powered by engines made by General Electric Co. or Pratt and Whitney, a unit of United Technologies Corp.

(more)

our cowboy diplomacy bites us in the ass again.

[skunk]

our cowboy diplomacy bites us in the ass again.Does he do cows? I thought he only "cleared brush".

[mactastic]

Well shoot, if we can violate treaties anytime we want, why can't other countries abrogate contracts on third-party transfers whenever they want?

[jelloshotsrule]

Well shoot, if we can violate treaties anytime we want, why can't other countries abrogate contracts on third-party transfers whenever they want?

umm, hugo chavez is a COMMIE!!! he is not a freedom/democracy loving AMERICAN. that's why.

[Dont Hurt Me]

I dont blame him a bit, so they buy our aircraft and then Bush & gang want to deny parts? It seems to me that dealing with a everchanging executive branch is a pain in the arse for all countries and even more so when we get a Govt like we have had for the past 5 years. Its going to take years to undo all the damage this president and the republican gang has created. Anyone who criticizes the poor decisions out of this whitehouse seems to be blacklisted, this isnt how our Govt is suppose to be. Anyone get the feeling that the Executive Branch makes its own rules as it goes? If there is anything that Pisses Bush off it has to Freedom of Speech. Your either with us or against us?

[Verto]

Let him try it. The results will make for good TV :b:

[tristan]

Chavez is all talk. This is the same guy who said he'd start selling his oil to China instead of the US. He's not going to do anything because he knows if he really crossed the line, we'd take him down to Chinatown. The sad thing is he's taking a relatively prosperous country and turning it into a dump. I have extended family in Venezuela and they tell me its a disaster.

[Dont Hurt Me]

Chavez is all talk. This is the same guy who said he'd start selling his oil to China instead of the US. He's not going to do anything because he knows if he really crossed the line, we'd take him down to Chinatown. The sad thing is he's taking a relatively prosperous country and turning it into a dump. I have extended family in Venezuela and they tell me its a disaster.
It was a disaster before he got in how do you think he got elected? The rich were keeping all the riches to themselfs while the poor starved? The country is a mess but wealth has to be shared and distributed. From what i know there isnt a middle class overthere. Sort of like what George and the gang are doing here. reward the Rich and forget the rest.

[mactastic]

Chavez is all talk. This is the same guy who said he'd start selling his oil to China instead of the US. He's not going to do anything because he knows if he really crossed the line, we'd take him down to Chinatown. The sad thing is he's taking a relatively prosperous country and turning it into a dump. I have extended family in Venezuela and they tell me its a disaster.
Sure if you're not an impoverished native things kind of suck for you right now in Venezuala.

I think you underestimate the danger Chavez poses. He is busy aligning much of the western half of the Southern Hemisphere against us and our interests. And we're playing right into his hands (as we are doing with bin Laden as well) by making ourselves as obnoxious and bullying as possible, which only serves to drive other countries into Chavez's camp.

He's putting himself in a position to be a power broker in a world that is desperately looking for someone to stand up to the US. Chavez has the oil that can put us over a barrel, so to speak. And for all your bluster about us 'taking him to Chinatown', with all due respect we don't have the resources to invade and occupy Venezuala. Nor would it be seen in any way as a legitimate military operation.

Bush is driving the world to either be with us or against us, and many countries are discovering that there is little benefit in being 'with us', and many downsides -- like their populace turning against them.

[tristan]

And if you're an impoverished native, things suck by definition. :-)

I'm just going by past history - so far its been basically all talk on both sides. I hope it stays that way of course. I don't think he'll be a legitimate anti-US mouthpiece, because people don't see him as a credible or capable. The only way I see the conflict heating up is if he starts to meddle in neighboring countries.

[Chacala_Nayarit]

Chavez, Castro, Lula!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You fundie nutcase USA is going down!:D

[mactastic]

The only way I see the conflict heating up is if he starts to meddle in neighboring countries.
Heh... yeah it's bad when countries meddle in the affairs of other countries, isn't it?
;)

[tristan]

Depends upon the intervention.

[mactastic]

Depends upon the intervention.Of course it does... Otherwise, how do we sleep at night?

[tristan]

Or end conflicts in Bosnia?

[mactastic]

Hey, I'm with you. Intervention isn't always a bad thing. It's just fun to hear Americans give other countries advice in that area these days. It kinda rings hollow to argue that you shouldn't meddle in other's affairs when you're country has done so much of it over the years.

[solvs]

Bush is driving the world to either be with us or against us, and many countries are discovering that there is little benefit in being 'with us', and many downsides -- like their populace turning against them.
The enemy of my enemy... We are sooo doomed.

[tristan]

The subject of interventions is very complex. For years, the US and Russia treated the world like a chessboard, and in the end, it didn't make either of us very many friends. The funny thing is that the people who weren't dominated by us - Eastern Europe - now like us better than the ones who were dominated by us - Latin America and the Middle East.

I can completely understand the "yankee go home" sentiment in Latin America, but the leadership down there has to face reality. The only way they're going to prosper is through economic development and political stability, basically following in Asia's footsteps, and the easiest way to do that is through close ties to the US and Europe.

[pseudobrit]

The enemy of my enemy...

...will be my next enemy.

[solvs]

...will be my next enemy.
Nah, I'm pretty sure everybody just hates us at this point. Not that I can say I blame them at this point. I'm a little disappointed with us right now too. I stand by my "we're doomed" comment.

[katchow]

"If they don't comply with the contract ... we can do whatever we want with these aircraft, whatever the hell we want. Maybe we'll give 10 planes to Cuba or to China so they can study the technology," Chavez said.

i understand anger, but does that sound like a child's tantrum to anyone else? maybe its just the translation.

[mactastic]

A lot of Chavez's speeches sound pretty petulant.

Also, I wonder how much intelligence value older F-16s can provide. I would guess most of that plane's capabilities have been widely disseminated.

[tristan]

Yeah, this is why I don't think that Chavez will ever do anything really meaningful against the US, it seems to be all just rhetoric and demagoguery.

[skunk]

i understand anger, but does that sound like a child's tantrum to anyone else?It's a straightforward taunt. Usually geopolitical taunting is more nuanced. Good theatre, though.

[katchow]

It's a straightforward taunt. Usually geopolitical taunting is more nuanced. Good theatre, though.

it sounds like phony posturing to me. I'm sure the crowds eat it up though.