AP reports: “Venezuela is buying helicopters, boats and military transport planes in defense deals worth about $2.7 billion, modernizing its military as tensions grow between leftist President Hugo Chavez and the United States.”

“Flush with oil profits but blocked from buying U.S. arms, Chavez is increasingly looking to countries like Russia and Spain as suppliers.

A cargo ship carrying 30,000 Russian-made Kalashnikov assault rifles is headed to Venezuela with the first shipment of an order totaling 100,000 guns to arrive by year’s end. The military is looking to buy more submarines, and Chavez is planning an even bigger deal for Russian fighter jets.

“The United States is failing in its attempt to blockade us, to disarm us,” Chavez said after announcing the first shipment of Kalashnikovs.

Comrade Cindy Sheehan gives this news a big thumbs-up. Evidently, being an “anti-war, peace-loving activist” doesn’t mean you can’t be friends with the leader of a hostile nation.

Some critics complain the defense money could be better spent on fighting crime.

“Where are the government’s priorities?” presidential candidate Julio Borges asked. “What the government invests in the military is much larger than what it invests in security in the entire country.”

Who cares about domestic crime when you’re building an arsenal against the United States. Besides, if you dissent with Chavez, they’ll simply kill you. Problem solved.

Viva Venezuala!

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“Down With The U.S. Empire”: Cindy Sheehan
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Technorati Tags: Cindy Sheehan, Hugo Chavez, Venezuela, Terrorism

1. [...] California Conservative has more here [...]

   Pingback by Morning Coffee » Blog Archive » Chavez, building up His Military, and attempting to expand his influence. — May 31, 2006 @ 6:01 am

1. Cindy’s “thumbs-up” - or is that a trigger she’s got her finger on?

   Speaking of Russia - they’re also selling an advanced air-defense system to Iran:

   http://en.rian.ru/russia/20060526/48652122.html

   Comment by ZZMike — May 30, 2006 @ 4:14 pm

2. In 2002, there was a CIA backed coup in Venezuela whereby the US government conspired to overthrow Chavez, a democratically elected leader, not a dictator, not a US installed strongman..a DEMOCRATICALLY elected leader.

   It was so poorly planned and executed that it only lasted 3 days but the US was definitely behind it. They brought in the rent-a-riot, killed a few unarmed Chavez supporters with sniper fire and Rice blamed Chavez.

   That’s what the US thinks of democracy in other countries that want to control their own natural resources.

   Comment by White Power Republican — June 3, 2006 @ 10:38 pm