Venezuela sends U.S. protest note in cargo spat

[Judi Lynn]

Venezuela sends U.S. protest note in cargo spat
Mon Aug 28, 2006 6:52pm ET

CARACAS, Venezuela (Reuters) - Venezuela sent a diplomatic protest note to the United States as part of a continuing spat over some diplomatic cargo, Venezuela's Foreign Ministry said on Monday, in a further sign of tension between Washington and Caracas.

The U.S. Embassy in Caracas last week said Venezuela had illegally impounded 20 packages that the United States said were protected by diplomatic immunity.

But Venezuela said 16 of the 20 packages did not have diplomatic privilege and described them as "contraband" that included military equipment.
(snip)

A U.S. Embassy official last week denied that military goods were part of the embassy delivery, but said some U.S.-made aircraft equipment that Venezuela had purchased was on the same plane that delivered the embassy cargo.
(snip/...)

http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews.aspx?type=politicsNews&storyID=2006-08-28T225206Z_01_N28369566_RTRUKOC_0_US-VENEZUELA-USA.xml&archived=False

[Judi Lynn]

1. Venezuela and US row not easing up

Venezuela and US row not easing up
Published on: 8/28/06.

THE PRESENT ROW between Venezuela and the United States embassy there in which the embassy is accused of importing cargo illegally in diplomatic bags, can be seen as a failure by the embassy to follow accepted procedure, but holds more serious implications when some of the alleged items are considered.

The embassy has not denied that the bags were not checked by Venezuelan customs or health authorities, but said there was no wrongdoing and has "demanded" to know why its diplomatic bags were seized and searched by soldiers.

On their part, the Venezuelan authorities are claiming that while four of the 20 packages searched could be considered as diplomatic baggage, the other 16 contained food and armaments that had bypassed customs and the health authorities, contrary to accepted procedures. A spokesman for the Venezuelans said: "They brought in food goods without any health controls, they brought in armaments without any legal control."

In an apparent attempt to explain away the accusation that armaments were involved, the embassy said that the cargo which was delivered by a United States military plane, included ejection seat propulsion motors for Venezuelan combat planes but that there were no weapons. The Venezuelans said they did request the ejection seat parts, but also found in the cargo they searched were cartridge devices, detonator fuses and rocket motors which they had not requested.

This then poses the question: If these items were in the bag, for whom were they intended?
(snip/...)

http://www.nationnews.com/editorial/325289053581459.php

[Kagemusha]

2. I wish I knew more about ejector seats right now.

I was going to post a 'my oh my' post but... well, how do seats get fired? Are cartridge devices, detonator fuses and rocket motors part of ejection seats? Or part of them by some other name? The thing is, is there any reason to bring in this stuff by diplomatic bags if the Venezuelan government requested it? If it's not simply an awful mistake - in which case the US should be profusely apologizing, not protesting that the bags were searched - then, it really sounds like the extra parts are being covertly delivered for purposes besides saving the lives of pilots.

And saying a detonator fuse and a rocket motor and a cartridge device are not "weapons" leads to a simple, one word retort:

"Yet."

[yellowcanine]

3. "Aircraft ejector seats and chicken"???? The mind boggles.

Some new kind of weapon? Chicken catapaults?

[Kagemusha]

4. I can see the chickens in Chicken Run wanting some of this gear.

Its usefulness to humans remains in question.

[ronnie624]

5. There were no "aircraft ejector seats".

According to the U.S. Embassy from the article in post #1, the cargo included "ejection seat propulsion motors", which presumably, are rocket propulsion devices of some sort. I believe these devices were destined to be used for other, more nefarious purposes.

According to Venezuelan authorities, the cargo included "cartridge devices, detonator fuses and rocket motors which they had not requested".

Why would the U.S. government send what are obviously components for weapons and explosives to Venezuela unrequested? And further, why were these components bound in a convoy for the U.S. embassy compound instead of being delivered to Venezuelan authorities at the airport?

Despite your attempt to obfuscate, I think the answers to these questions are quite obvious.

[denverbill]

6. That's the $64 question. Especially since we have an arms embargo.

My guess is that these were going to someone in the military, but not someone in an official capacity (e.g., someone who agreed to support the US coup plot in return for equipment), or someone outside the military who has military equipment (e.g., an upstart right-wing militia).

[yellowcanine]

7. "Despite your attempt to obfuscate," ????? I was repeating what Chacon,

the Venezuelan Interior Minister said, according to the linked article. Why the hostility?

Venezuelan Interior Minister Jesse Chacon responded that 16 of the packages had not gone through customs and had not identified the military equipment they included. Chacon said the packages included aircraft ejector seats and chicken.

Last paragraph in the linked article.
http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews.aspx?type=politicsNews&storyID=2006-08-28T225206Z_01_N28369566_RTRUKOC_0_US-VENEZUELA-USA.xml&archived=False

[donkeyotay]

11. Diplomatic chicken? Too weird. nt

[ronnie624]

17. Reuters is clearly a propaganda organ

for the neo-fascist movement that currently threatens all of humanity.

Every other article reporting on this event that I have encountered, describes the devices in question as "parts" for ejector seats. All of these articles also seem to avoid discussing in detail the exact nature of these "parts".

The corporate media seem to be pushing the ejector seat meme as a way of distracting from the potentially more sinister purpose of this shipment. They continue to prattle about ejector seats and even attribute direct references by Interior Minister Jesse Chacon to them without providing any quotes of him actually using the term "ejector seats".

It was the U.S. government who claimed the components in question were parts for ejector seats, not the Venezuelan government. The corporate media simply proceeded from this claim as if it was the factual foundation for all else that follows, proving yet again that most of those who call themselves journalists are actually little more than corporate stenographers presenting government statements as facts and news. Filthy propagandists.

As for the tone of my earlier post, no particular hostility was intended. When I see misinformation, deliberate or otherwise, I feel compelled to respond. Perhaps I should not have said "attempt" to obfuscate, thereby insinuating deliberate action on your part. I apologize for any perceived discourtesy

[yellowcanine]

18. "I apologize for any perceived discourtesy." Please don't knock yourself

out. "Perceived discourtesy"?? So it is my perception that was the problem? Thanks a lot.

The quote was from the Venezuelan Interior Minister. Now maybe the reporter got the quote wrong. Maybe the Minister's English wasn't too good. Or maybe the he said it in Spanish and it was mistranslated, intentionally or otherwise. And maybe you are looking too hard for media conspiracies. In any case, my original post was a take on the humor of the reported words of the Interior Minister, whether the quote was accurate or not. I did not intend to imply factual accuracy one way or the other. Some friendly advice: Ease up a bit. Next time you feel "compelled to respond" ask yourself, "Am I overreacting here?"

[ronnie624]

19. Thanks for the "friendly" advice.

I'll be certain to give such advice the consideration it merits.

[Kagemusha]

15. Yep, like I said, perhaps not weapons "yet", but only for now

Skilled people could do an awful lot with such parts.

[PeaceProgProsp]

8. Avian Flu?

[zreosumgame]

14. you're reading the wrong part

[zreosumgame]

13. huh, Hezbullah style rocket launchers maybe?

whee, see the US 'spread the love'...

[Supersedeas]

9. Reuters labels it 'diplomatic cargo' without knowing what it is!?!

[gratuitous]

10. My reading

The U.S. tried to import some stuff into Venezuela under diplomatic seal. It's not clear just what caused it to happen, but somebody inspected the stuff. Ordinarily, breaking a diplomatic seal is a big no-no in the international community. But bringing non-diplomatic stuff like munitions in under diplomatic seal is an even bigger no-no.

It's not clear to me what caused the Venezuelans to check the contents of the sealed items, but it appears that the U.S. was trying to smuggle munitions into the country under diplomatic seal. While the State Department is in high dudgeon over Venezuela's violation of its diplomatic pouch, I note that they haven't bothered to deny that they attempted to smuggle munitions into Venezuela. Given the abortive coup attempt in 2002, which was supported by the Bush State Department, it's understandable that Venezuela is a little leery of anything coming into the country from this bunch of robber barons.

[IndianaGreen]

12. It was contraband

being send to the opposition elites.

[Judi Lynn]

16. Venezuela President: Wins Backing For UN Security Council Seat

28 Aug 2006 15:28 GMT
Venezuela President: Wins Backing For UN Security Council Seat

Copyright © 2006, Dow Jones Newswires

KUALA LUMPUR (AP)--Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez announced Monday that Malaysia was backing his government's bid for a seat on the U.N. Security Council.

"The support was made known by the government of that Asian nation in an official message," he told Venezuelan state TV upon arrival in Malaysia from China, another nation that has thrown its support behind Caracas.

U.S. officials, alarmed by Chavez's deepening ties with countries such as Iran and North Korea, have sought to block Venezuela's bid and are backing Guatemala instead.

China was the second member of the Security Council's five permanent veto-holding members to back Venezuela's bid for a seat, after Russia.

Chavez told the station that Malaysia shares Venezuela's efforts to end U.S. imperialism in international affairs.

"Malaysia is a country that shares many of Venezuela's positions," he said. "I think a new world geopolitical dynamic heading toward post-imperialism is in march. Imperialism must end, and it will end."
(snip/...)

http://framehosting.dowjonesnews.com/sample/samplestory.asp?StoryID=2006082815280003&Take=1