| Story is a week or so old... |
In a new outburst of antiwestern sabre-rattling, President Hugo Chavez of Venezuela has threatened Britain with “revenge” for the Falklands war of 1982. The belligerent Latin American leftist warned last week that his recent build-up of sophisticated Russian and Iranian weapons would be used to destroy the British fleet if it attempted to return to the South Atlantic.| I wasn't aware that Venezuela had a dog in that fight ... |
Chavez has often expressed support for ArgentinaÂ’s claim to the Falklands, but his latest broadside was notable for both its anti-British vitriol and its unprecedented threats.
| What's unusual about the vitriol? |
| Yup, armed warship sunk in a war zone by another armed warship in a time of war. |
On his TV programme, Chavez introduced a group of 30 Venezuelan pilots who were trained in Russia to fly a squadron of 24 Sukhoi SU-30 multi-role
Chavez has also bought 100,000 AK-47 assault rifles and negotiated to set up a Kalashnikov factory in Venezuela. He has reportedly ordered nine Russian diesel
The Venezuelan pilots told him they would soon be training with medium-range BrahMos missiles, a supersonic antiship cruise missile jointly developed by India and Russia.
US officials also fear that Chavez may be seeking nuclear technology from his contacts with Iran and North Korea. He is discussing a possible joint programme with Tehran to build an unmanned drone aircraft similar to the American Predator and has long been engaged in a regional attempt to promote military cooperation against the US.
So far most of his neighbours have shied away from confrontation with Washington, but Chavez is continuing to press for the creation of a “single South American army”.
| With himself as the generalissimo, of course. |
While there is no indication that either of the Kirchners wants to precipitate a new crisis over the Falklands, military analysts say VenezuelaÂ’s lengthening military reach might seriously impede any British attempt to dispatch a new task force.
| Oh come on. The Hugoites can't control the middle of the bloody ocean. The Brits may safely ignore him should there be another dust-up over the Falklands. And a reminder to Presidente Senora Kirchner; the Falklands aren't a push-over any more. There's a squadron of Phantoms and plenty of Royal Marines there. That about makes it an even fight from the get-go. |