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November 03, 2005
Trading planes
Hugo Chavez, weapons proliferator:
If they don't comply with the contract ... we can do whatever we want with these aircraft, whatever the hell we want. Maybe we'll give 10 [U.S.-built, Venezuelan-operated F-16s] to Cuba or to China so they can study the technology," Chavez said.
"We could give them away and buy aircraft from China or from Russia. ... We don't need any U.S. imperialism," he said.
While F-16s are hot planes, Venezuela's are early models, originally exported in the pre-Chavez 1980s. I'm sure China or Cuba or Russia would gladly take some, but I'm not sure how much of a technological coup it would be. So it's quintessential Chavez: more style than substance. But then again, as Chavez has proven thus far, style can be pretty substantial all by itself.
Posted by Daniel Widome at 02:12 AM to Americas
