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CJ Cregg
Commodore
Joined: 05 Oct 2002
Posts: 1254
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 Tue May 16, 2006 1:12 pm Venezuela Threatens to Sell F-16 Fleet to Iran |
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| Quote: | Venezuela Threatens to Sell F-16 Fleet to Iran
CARACAS, Venezuela � Venezuela is considering selling its fleet of U.S.-made F-16 fighter jets to another country, perhaps Iran, in response to a U.S. ban on arms sales to President Hugo Chavez's government, a military official said Tuesday.
Gen. Alberto Muller, a senior adviser to Chavez, told The Associated Press he had recommended to the defense minister that Venezuela consider selling the 21 jets to another country.
Muller said he thought it was worthwhile to consider "the feasibility of a negotiation with Iran for the sale of those planes."
Even before the U.S. announced the ban on arms sales Monday, Washington had stopped selling Venezuela sensitive upgrades for the F-16s.
Chavez has previously warned he could share the U.S. jets with Cuba if Washington does not supply parts for the planes. He also has said he may look into buying fighter jets from Russia or China instead.
Earlier Tuesday, the Foreign Ministry said the U.S. decision to block arms sales to Venezuela was aimed at weakening President Chavez's government in preparation for an attack.
The ministry rejected Washington's reason for the blockade: that the Chavez government was failing to support counterterror activities.
"These despicable accusations are based on a futile campaign to discredit and isolate Venezuela, to destabilize its democratic government and prepare the political conditions for an attack," the ministry said in a statement distributed early Tuesday.
"They want to put Venezuela under conditions so it's incapable of defending itself," it said.
he U.S. State Department, in announcing the blockade Monday, cited Venezuela's close relations with Iran and Cuba, both of which are on the department's list of state sponsors of terror.
It also expressed concern about Venezuela's ties with two leftist guerrilla groups in Colombia.
Foreign Minister Ali Rodriguez said Monday those allegations were "oft-repeated but never demonstrated" by Washington.
The State Department has objected to Venezuelan arms deals involving equipment incorporating U.S.-made components and it has tried to block Venezuela's purchase of 100,000 Kalashnikov assault rifles from Russia.
Venezuela says such purchases were aimed solely at self-defense.
State Department figures show Venezuelan purchases of U.S. defense equipment in 2005 came to $33.9 million, of which $30.5 million was for C-130 cargo plane spare parts. It was not clear whether such purchases will be barred under the new rules.
The U.S. action signaled further deterioration in relations with Venezuela. The Bush administration has already "decertified" Venezuela for alleged lack of cooperation in combating drug trafficking.
Copyright 2006 FOX News Network, LLC. All rights reserved. |
The more news about venezuela that is released, the worse the county gets. Chavez is an IDIOT!
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Republican_Man
STV's Premier Conservative
Joined: 26 Mar 2004
Posts: 14823
Location: Classified
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| Tue May 16, 2006 5:31 pm |
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That he is. Idiot.
This gives us even more reason to move away from oil, so that we can close off oil imports from his state, 'cause that's something we really need to do.
-------signature-------
"Rights are only as good as the willingness of some to exercise responsibility for those rights- Fmr. Colorado Senate Pres. John Andrews
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webtaz99
Commodore
Joined: 13 Nov 2003
Posts: 1229
Location: The Other Side
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| Wed May 17, 2006 7:02 am |
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I hope they DO sell those F-16's to Iran.
If they do, we'll get to blow them out of the sky when we take out Iran's nuclear capabilities. 
That is, unless the Iranians are smart enough to keep them on the ground, in which case we'll blow them to bits sitting there. 
-------signature-------
"History is made at night! Character is who you are in the dark." (Lord John Whorfin)
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WeAz
Commodore
Joined: 03 Apr 2004
Posts: 1519
Location: Where you aren't
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| Wed May 17, 2006 7:28 pm |
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They still have our F-14's...
If Venezula try's to sell modern fighters to Iran, we will destroy the fighters en-route...
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webtaz99
Commodore
Joined: 13 Nov 2003
Posts: 1229
Location: The Other Side
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| Thu May 18, 2006 7:35 am |
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We have decommissioned our F-14s. They are no longer considered "modern fighters".
Also, US pilots get WAY much better training and far more air-time then pilots in other countries (especially smaller ones), and we keep the best and most up-to-date weapons to ourselves. So even with matched planes, our guys will kick *** anywhere they go.
-------signature-------
"History is made at night! Character is who you are in the dark." (Lord John Whorfin)
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PrankishSmart
Rear Admiral
Joined: 29 Apr 2002
Posts: 4779
Location: Hobart, Australia.
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| Thu May 18, 2006 8:05 am |
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A F22 Raptor could just about take on the whole F-16 fleet they recieve anyway.
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Founder
Dominion Leader
Joined: 21 Jun 2004
Posts: 12755
Location: Gamma Quadrant
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| Thu May 18, 2006 1:58 pm |
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Yeah, it was SO bad that people called for this moron's assasination.
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WeAz
Commodore
Joined: 03 Apr 2004
Posts: 1519
Location: Where you aren't
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| Thu May 18, 2006 7:33 pm |
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| webtaz99 wrote: | We have decommissioned our F-14s. They are no longer considered "modern fighters".
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We sold Iran F-14's back when the Shah was in power. They are still in use...
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Republican_Man
STV's Premier Conservative
Joined: 26 Mar 2004
Posts: 14823
Location: Classified
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| Thu May 18, 2006 7:34 pm |
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Was that during the 80s? If so, put that into the context of the times. We helped both Iraq and Iran in the Iran-Iraq war, though much of Iran's aide was done illicitly.
-------signature-------
"Rights are only as good as the willingness of some to exercise responsibility for those rights- Fmr. Colorado Senate Pres. John Andrews
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webtaz99
Commodore
Joined: 13 Nov 2003
Posts: 1229
Location: The Other Side
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| Fri May 19, 2006 10:19 am |
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| WeAz wrote: | | webtaz99 wrote: | We have decommissioned our F-14s. They are no longer considered "modern fighters".
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We sold Iran F-14's back when the Shah was in power. They are still in use... |
That's why I said "our" F-14s.
-------signature-------
"History is made at night! Character is who you are in the dark." (Lord John Whorfin)
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