Russia defies U.S. with Venezuela arms deal

[CatWoman]

MOSCOW, Russia (Reuters) -- Russia said Thursday it had sold 24 aircraft and 53 helicopters to Venezuela, defying the United States, which has urged Moscow to halt arms sales to Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez.

Russia's arms export chief, speaking as Chavez met Russian President Vladimir Putin in the Kremlin, said the aircraft deal was part of a long-term package of arms contracts with Venezuela that was worth more than $3 billion.

Chavez is a vocal critic of what he calls U.S. imperialism. Washington considers him a dangerous radical and had urged Russia to rethink the weapons sale. It bans its own producers from selling weapons to Venezuela.

"In the face of a blockade that was imposed on us, Russia extended us a hand," Chavez said after his talks with Putin.

http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/americas/07/27/russia.venezuela.reut/index.html

[Master Mahon]

1. WOW a country with the 'nads'

to openly defy the US!!! And to think that Bush saw into Putti Putins soul!
I'm starting to believe that we need the return, or rise, of another super power to keep the empire building in check. Otherwise, power hungry chickenhawks get all caught up with themselves.

[AndyA]

2. Little Lord Pissypants will go ballistic over this. No doubt he's already

started the drinking, snorting, and pill popping to control his anger. I guess he never stopped to think for a minute that other countries might feel they need to take steps to protect themselves - FROM HIM!

Bush was the aggressor in Iraq, and he has no legitimate or legal excuse for what he's done over there. These other countries might not be arming themselves with thoughts of aggression, but rather thoughts of protection from George Bush, the Emperor wannabe.

[bemildred]

3. I guess this is why Pooty-Poot "almost" got into the WTO.

[peacetalksforall]

4. Well, things are moving more speadily. It took other countries

around the world many decades before they defied the U.S. by trading with Cuba. We got cooperation for years. They all stood off. Of curse, there was all those communism 'threats', then.

So this is a milestone - we have limited dictating powers.

Fewer under Rice - she has no power outside the US. It seems.

Hughes even less.

Then we have Wolfkowitz, Noegroponte, Bolton and Bolten.

Defy them all! Listen to the people, world!

PNAC is not going anywhere in the long term.

They are wilting as they expose and dictate more of their agenda to us.

First step - get everyone you know to know why PNAC is. Who What Why - drum it in.

Let the world know that the people are not PNAC.

[cliss]

5. The US has a desperate, vested interest

in keeping Venezuela weak. Just like Iran MUST be sabotaged, cut off at the pass at every opportunity.

Why you ask?

These countries have O-I-L. They must never, ever become powerful. They need to stay poor, troubled, filled with chaos & destruction so the petroleum-dependent countries can come in and Fill 'Er Up.

Industrialized countries can not afford to pay the true price of oil -- it's too high. So they need to keep them poor at all costs.

But here's the problem: these countries are rich, Rich RICH. Look at Iran. They've got tons of cash, same thing with Venezuela. Chavez makes about $50 million/year from the US alone. As long as the price of oil keeps going up, the balance of power will shift from the buyer to the seller.

And it's no coincidence that Chavez and Ahmadinejad are VERY mouthy these days. The US would do FAR better by making friends with these people because the battle has already been won - THEY WON.

[Moderator]

6. Duplicate

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=2416944

and posted withing this thread:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=2414137