|
Iran runs secret arms plants in Venezuela which also buys it weapons
From Geostrategy-Direct, subscription.LONDON Venezuela has been serving as an intermediary providing arms to Iran since 2006, according to intelligence assessments. Western intelligence agencies have concluded that Venezuela was helping Iran acquire material and components for strategic and conventional weapons programs. They said Caracas has imported a range of weapons that were later delivered to Iran. "Today, we must see every Venezuelan arms deal as linked to Iran," a Western intelligence source said. Iran was also said to be establishing weapons factories in remote areas of Venezuela for the production of advanced and strategic systems. "The mysterious manufacturing plants, controlled by Iran, deep in the interior of Venezuela, give even greater concern," Robert Morgenthau, a U.S. district attorney who has been investigating the Iranian-Venezuelan connection, said. Wonder if Morgenthau will get fired by the Big O for exposing O's buddy Chavez' goings on. On Sept. 13, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said Russia has opened a $2.2 billion line of credit for Caracas. Chavez said Venezuela would purchase air defense systems, main battle tanks and other weapons. Which they will eventually have to pay for, or not, depending on if Venezuela utilizes the Nasser Model of Repayment. "The Russian government approved financing for $2.2 billion," Chavez said. "For what? For weapons, and we must thank them. We've decided to install a powerful anti-air defense system." To protect against which enemy, pray tell? The intelligence agencies were said to have assessed that Iran began using Venezuela as a front for the procurement of weapons since at least 2006. Intelligence sources have also warned that part of the latest Venezuelan weapons order from Russia would be diverted to Iran. Moscow, under pressure to cancel weapon deals with Teheran, has agreed to sell nearly 100 advanced T-90 MBTs to Caracas. "It is likely that many of these tanks or technology would be relayed to Iran and then appear as indigenous weapons produced by Teheran," the intelligence source said. From 2005 and 2007 Russia signed 12 defense contracts with Venezuela said to have been worth about $4.5 billion. The contracts provided Venezuela with fighter-jets, attack helicopters and light weapons. At the same time, Iran and Venezuela have signed a series of cooperation agreements, including those in the areas of defense, energy, finance and joint technology development. In April 2008, Venezuela and Iran signed a memorandum of understanding that stipulated full military support and cooperation. Since at least 2006, Iranian military advisers have been embedded with Venezuelan Army. Two years later, Turkey detained an Iranian ship bound for Venezuela that contained laboratory equipment capable of producing explosives. "We have concerns in general about Venezuela's stated desire to increase its arms buildup, which we think poses a serious challenge to stability in the Western Hemisphere," State Department spokesman Ian Kelly said on Sept. 14. "We also want them to put in place very clear procedures and safeguards that these arms are not diverted to any irregular or illegal organizations in the region." Nice little softball statement there, Ian. Typical State Dept lingo. Iran source: Obama offered to sell aircraft, spare parts to Iran NICOSIA Iranian sources said President Barack Obama has proposed the sale of up to $2.5 billion worth of U.S. aircraft and spare parts to Iran. The sources said the proposed sale would rescue Iran's civilian aerospace industry and ensure passenger safety. Jeeze Louise!!!! Who is the enemy here? The Big O or Iran? Is the Big O a sucker or one actively working against US interests? "Obama's messages for delivering these airplanes to Iran were sent after the election of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as Iran's president [in June 2009]," an Iranian source said. The source, deemed informed, told the semi-official Iranian news agency Fars that Obama has offered to sell 20 passenger jets and spare parts to Iran. The aircraft would be sold by the U.S. firm Boeing, which sold aircraft and infrastructure to Iran in the 1970s. "The minimum price of these airplanes stands at $75 million and their maximum price is $120 million and their number is estimated at 20," the source said. Fars quoted the source as saying that several of the Boeing passenger jets have been delivered to Iran. The source said the shipments arrived in Venezuela, which relayed the aircraft to Teheran. Venezuela has been Iran's leading ally. "The money needed for purchasing the planes was supplied from Iran's blocked assets in the United States," the source said. Fars said the aircraft were manufactured in 2009. The agency did not say how many aircraft arrived in Iran. This marked the first Iranian report of U.S. aircraft deliveries to Teheran. The Obama administration has not confirmed this, although U.S. officials acknowledged that aircraft sales were envisioned as part of a reconciliation effort with Iran. One way reconciliation. One side buys hope and change. The other side gets tangible assets with no strings attached. On Sept. 11, the administration said it would accept an Iranian offer to discuss security issues, including Teheran's nuclear program. The Iranian offer did not include discussions of the U.S. demand for an end to Teheran's uranium enrichment program. "There's language in the letter that simply says the government of Iran is willing to enter into dialogue," State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley said. "We are going to test that proposition, okay? And if Iran is willing to enter into serious negotiations, then they will find a willing participant in the United States and the other [partner] countries. If Iran dissembles in the future, as it has in the past, then we will draw conclusions from that." Serious negotions, yeah. Just like the 3 year Posted by: Alaska Paul 2009-09-19 |
| http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=279285 |