U.S.: Venezuela Overspending on Military

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.forbes.com/business/feeds/ap/2006/01/20/ap2465214.html

Venezuela is planning a "buying spree" for military equipment that goes beyond the country's legitimate needs, the State Department said Friday.

In recent days, the United States has sought to block proposed sales of military planes and other equipment to Venezuela by Spain and Brazil.

The transactions are part of what "we would consider an outsized military buildup in Venezuela," State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said.

He also noted that the government of President Hugo Chavez has decided to activate its reserves and to create a million-person militia.

[upi402]

1. *WE'RE* judging another country's "legitimate" needs?

Did someone slip some of that Salvidor Dali acid in my water bottle?

[mom cat]

12. Right..We spend more on our military than the next 20 countries

combined! What hypocracy!

[htuttle]

2. Pot: "Kettle is black!"

:eyes:

[neweurope]

3. "Legitimate needs"???!

And that from the US? :puke:

------------

Remember Fallujah

Bush to The Hague!

[mikelewis]

4. Is Bush deliberately trying to piss off every country that sells us oil?

[Greyhound]

10. Believe it or don't, but he's trying to scare every country that sells

us oil that isn't dancing to his masters tune. As is usual for him, he is failing.
I think Hugo Chavez is thinking that Iran is number 4 with a large, potent military and he's number 5 and much closer to us and * obviously needs to invade somebody for the mid-terms... :shrug:
I'd be arming myself too.

[McKenzie]

5. How many military bases does Venezuela have abroad?

I'd be concerned if they were placing military bases all over the planet but they are not as far as I know. Domestic defense is perfectly legitimate in a hostile world.

To quote the article the concern is over what:

"we would consider an outsized military buildup in Venezuela,"

I don't see any evidence of Venezuela embarking upon world domination.

[countmyvote4real]

6. The fascist US does not want them to be able to defend themselves.

Here’s a based-on-real-life projection of My worldview.

The players are:
FUSG Fascist United States Government
VENZ Venezuela
SCOTTY Scotty McPukeshoes (Only the Stephanie Miller crew can supply the real spelling, but this character name was confiscated from them as I’ve heard them use it over the airwaves. This is an unintended plug, but her show, cast and crew are BRILLIANT. Me, “Well worth waking up for…”)

The scene:
FUSG: "Why does Venezuela need these armaments?

VENZ: "We must be able to defend ourselves against the FUSG."

FUSG: "That's nonsense. We are not even neighbors in the same hemisphere. We are only concerned about the stability of your region."

VENZ: "Oh, you mean the FUSG is concerned about their ability to access, control and ownership of our natural resources."

FUSG: "Sit down, Sir. Your remarks are an affront to worldwide democracy. We will sanction your ass in front of the UN Security Council and you'll never eat lunch on my planet again."

SCOTTY: "Our UN ambassador never said 'my planet.' He doesn't own the planet and neither do we. You might have heard 'my planet' and you really need to examine your own personal reasons for why that makes you a threat to our humanity and an aid to the terrorists that want to exploit my world. I meant to say our planet. You know what I mean and I’m not going to say anything else about it. Are there any questions or remarks about the pResidnest’s Valentines Day agenda?

VENZ: "Eat me. Eat me and choke yourself on Cuba. We know how much you love to do it there. BTW, Brazil and Argentina will pay to watch cause they can afford to now. Oh and Chile has a single word of caution or hope: Pinochet. It’s your choice. "

I guess it all depends on your worldview.

[Marr]

7. Says the men who've been sponsoring coup attempts.

Hilarious stuff.

You know, if there's any bright side to our Iraq mess, it's that the Bush Administration has not had the resources to steamroll the new left-wing governments in South America.

[mmonk]

8. You've got to be kidding.

The US accusing someone else of spending too much on military buildup?
:rofl:

[no_hypocrisy]

9. Yeah, but then again, so is the U.S. Is the "real" problem that

Venezuela is not taking contracts with Halliburton?

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

11. Mighty Venezuela is SO scary!!! Quick, more money for "defense"!

So, now we're supposed to be afraid of the mighty SuperPower Venezuela?