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Caribbean-Latin America
Chavez vows revenge for Falklands war
2007-09-12
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 ...
Speaking on his weekly television show Alo Presidente (Hello, Mr President), Chavez denounced what he described as Britain’s “illegal occupation” of the Falklands and repeated his call for a regional military alliance against Britain and the United States. “If we had been united in the last war, we could have stopped the old empire,” Chavez said, as he gesticulated to maps showing how Venezuelan aircraft and submarines would intercept British warships. “Today we could sink the British fleet.”

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?
He declared that British history was “stained with the blood of South America’s indigenous people” and demanded revenge for the “cowardly” sinking of the General Belgrano, the Argentine cruiser.
Yup, armed warship sunk in a war zone by another armed warship in a time of war.
Western diplomats have long grown used to harangues from Chavez. But US and British officials have recently become more concerned by his willingness to lavish billions of dollars from VenezuelaÂ’s soaring oil income on military capabilities.

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 drones fighters. The aircraft were part of a $3 billion armaments deal with Moscow.

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 submerged targets submarines, including the cruise missile-carrying 677E Amur-class vessel.

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.
His outspoken attacks on Britain and his support for Buenos Aires have gone down well in Argentina, where President Nestor KirchnerÂ’s wife, Cristina, is the favourite to succeed her husband in elections next month.

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.
Posted by:Seafarious

#42  #37 Sea - When it's finally time to take on Hugo, I recommend sending a Texas girl's soccer team or cheerleading squad.

Or is that against the Geneva Conventions that Asshole won't follow anyway?

Posted by: Barbara Skolaut   2007-09-12 22:37  

#41  LOL, Sea (#37)! Snark o' the day material!

I will NEVER forget hearing Lee Corso on ESPN (right after the UM vs. ASU game) saying "They're partying in Boone, N.C. tonight, baby!"
Posted by: BA   2007-09-12 22:34  

#40  cuz Wisconsin girlzz kicked his ass
Posted by: Frank G   2007-09-12 22:22  

#39  BTW, somebody ask Chavey how come he never wore Red Berets back in Milwaukee???
Posted by: JosephMendiola   2007-09-12 21:36  

#38  WAFF.com/SINODEFENSE.com News > wasn't BRAZIL trying to be South America's new MilPol Nuclear Power He-Bull???
Posted by: JosephMendiola   2007-09-12 21:35  

#37  When it's finally time to take on Hugo, I recommend Appalachian State berets for our special forces.
Posted by: Seafarious   2007-09-12 21:30  

#36  I now recall that, for the British, jamming the Exocets would have meant using overlapping frequencies that could have interfered with their own operations. Supposedly, this was due to the French supplying Argentina with NATO spec missiles, or something like that.
Posted by: Zenster   2007-09-12 19:04  

#35  He declared that British history was “stained with the blood of South AmericaÂ’s indigenous people”

Shouldn't this vitriol spittle be directed at the Spanish? I seem to recall them playing a much more significant role in colonizing South America.

Legend also has it that one major factor in how poorly Argentina's air force fared was due to their lack of extra drop tanks. Insufficient numbers of them severly hampered the range and duration of their air sorties. During the Falklands conflict Argentina supposedly had procurement officials scouring the United States for old military surplus. It turns out that a huge number of them were bought long ago. Evidently, when properly modified, the drop tanks made excellent kayaks. Mighty Argentina, defeated by a flotilla of kayaks.

Do any of our resident military history experts have the skinny on the Exocet RF codes problem that was responsible for the loss of the Atlantic Conveyor and Sheffield? As I recall, the lovable French sold Argentina Exocets equipped with RF codes that prevented the British from making proper FoF (Friend or Foe) identification of incoming anti-ship missiles. I'd really enjoy getting the low-down on this little gem.
Posted by: Zenster   2007-09-12 19:00  

#34  Pompous, strutting, 2-bit blow hard dictator windbag. His 15 minutes is about up.
Posted by: JohnQC   2007-09-12 18:22  

#33  ArgentinaÂ’s air force was fairly well trained and professional. If they had better weapons and the British didn't have the new US sidewinder, it would have been a defeat for the British.
Chavez's AF, however, I doubt has any professionalism. It died when communism Chavez took over. The 30 pilots are nothing more than live target drones.
Posted by: DarthVader   2007-09-12 18:14  

#32  Mike, I grew up about 30 miles SE of Columbus - there's a lot of guns in that section of the country.

I doubt the paratroops could hold the campus more than half an hour.

Posted by: FOTSGreg   2007-09-12 18:08  

#31  After they "avenge" the Falklands, what's next?

COLUMBUS, OHIO (AP) -- Venezuelan paratroops landed on the Ohio State University campus at dawn today, and quickly occupied the famous "horseshoe" stadium. In Caracas, Venezuelan strongman Hugo Chavez, a 1973 graduate of the University of Michigan, said that the assault was "revenge for the infamous tragedy of November 18, 2006. Go Wolverines--you are always number one in my book!" . . .
Posted by: Mike   2007-09-12 17:57  

#30   It wasn't the fault of the armorers. The Argentines were dropping US issue Mk82 500lb GP bombs with either M904 nose fuzes or M905 tail fuzes. In either event, the bombs were simply dropped too low to arm.

Thanks, Mike!
Posted by: mrp   2007-09-12 17:48  

#29  Durign the Falklands the Argies routinely had planes land at different runways than they took off from to keep the number of downed aircrafts from the pilots.

They also never sortied their carrier the Bientecyncodemayo for fear it would be sunk.

And if they'd just timed the weather better they could have ensured the Britts couldn't operate in the South Atlantic for a few weeks allowing them the opportunity to expatrate the Islanders and really undermine British political efforts.

All in all not Argentina's finest hour but they do make a nice steak.
Posted by: rjschwarz   2007-09-12 17:42  

#28  HRP,
It wasn't the fault of the armorers. The Argentines were dropping US issue Mk82 500lb GP bombs with either M904 nose fuzes or M905 tail fuzes. In either event, the bombs were simply dropped too low to arm.

Mike
Posted by: Mike Kozlowski   2007-09-12 17:33  

#27  Chavez introduced a group of 30 Venezuelan pilots

What's Spanish for "mayday"? Although I'm sure they already know...
Posted by: tu3031   2007-09-12 16:30  

#26  Heriberto, RAF may rely on the Euro, but does RN? They'd be operating off of old ships, yes, but their air defenses and air defense doctrine are what would defend the British fleet in any action against them in the event of a renewed Falkland's conflict.

It also occurs to me that the Brits have deployed a new naval air defense missile too though I don;t recall the name of it.
Posted by: FOTSGreg   2007-09-12 16:27  

#25  I would hate to see Caracas taken without a fight.
Posted by: Nimble Spemble   2007-09-12 15:52  

#24  You may be giving the british too much credit. Their soldiers and sailors are strong, but there ships are old and their air force depends on the untried eurofighter.
Posted by: Heriberto Ulusomble6667   2007-09-12 15:51  

#23  I would hate to see Aruba taken without a fight.
Posted by: eLarson   2007-09-12 15:28  

#22  Also, Hugo might be thinking of his bright, shiny new Su-30's vs the same British fleet that sailed to the Falkland's in the 1980's. He forgets tht British air defenses will have been brought up to speed and he also forgets that, even though the Argie's managed to sink the Sheffield, immediately afterwards the brits upgraded their air defense tactics and the Argie's never managed to get in on them again as I recall.

Posted by: FOTSGreg   2007-09-12 15:22  

#21  Venezuelan Su-30's vs British Marine F-4's and Harriers could get pretty interesting.

Venezuelan Su-30's vs US F-18 Superhornets or F-16's would be interesting for about all of the 30 seconds the Su-30's could be expected to survive in any sort of air engagement - assuming they even managed to get off the ground in the first place of course.
Posted by: FOTSGreg   2007-09-12 15:19  

#20  Strategy Page has been following this issue for some time. Apparently the Dutch have been reinforcing their defences in the Caribbean, so any invasion would be a challenge from the get go.

Al
Posted by: Frozen Al   2007-09-12 15:11  

#19  I think we would just because he needs smacking around. An appeal from an ally (however non-steadfast) would be a green light to put this pendejo back to his big mouth/little man status
Posted by: Frank G   2007-09-12 15:09  

#18  I think we would for the Dutch. And the Brits. And the Danes. The rest of them, I don't know.
Posted by: Steve White   2007-09-12 14:47  

#17  The Argentinian AF actually gave a pretty good account of itself during Falklands War. If their armorers had taken more care with the bomb fuses, the Royal Navy would have taken massive damage. There were numerous accounts of RN surface vessels getting hit with bombs that failed to detonate.
Posted by: mrp   2007-09-12 14:45  

#16  For the Dutch and English, yes.
Posted by: ed   2007-09-12 14:41  

#15  P2K,

Would the US respond to a NATO call anymore? It hasn't been a two way street for a Loooong time.
Posted by: jds   2007-09-12 14:32  

#14  Another strutting South American racist peacock. Dime a dozen and leaves a trail of slime where ever he goes.
Posted by: ed   2007-09-12 14:16  

#13  The Argies played a game at a time when alliances were things of diplo double speak. Today, alliances cut both ways. The UK didn't publicly invoke the NATO charter and ask for American help. The Dutch on the other hand could. We're not that over stretched by any imagination to settle the issue quickly and swiftly. And Hugo, you're going to go up against the best trained military in the world, regardless of the distortion of MSM, with what? It ain't going to be pretty. However, never underestimate the drive of a megalomaniac. Saddam played that game too.
Posted by: Procopius2k   2007-09-12 13:45  

#12  Hugo, does the word "Grenada" mean aything to you?
Posted by: mcsegeek1   2007-09-12 13:37  

#11  It was said that during the Falklands war, Argentina was furiously building glass bottom boats so that they could keep an eye on their air forces.

It will be "deja-vu all over again".
Posted by: usmc6743   2007-09-12 13:36  

#10  Chavez introduced a group of 30 Venezuelan pilots

Today's spanish lesson is will include translations for "suicide" and "clay pigeon"
Posted by: flash91   2007-09-12 13:29  

#9  I wouldn't rule that out...
Posted by: tu3031   2007-09-12 13:26  

#8  Somewhere in Hugo's past, I see a syphlitic prostitute...

His mom?
Posted by: SteveS   2007-09-12 13:23  

#7  This comes while providing London with discounted oil.
Posted by: DoDo   2007-09-12 13:17  

#6  There are three Dutch islands near the coast of Venezula, Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao, the ABC Islands. Bonaire has world-class scuba diving and little else. If Chavez takes over Bonaire, he really going to piss me off!
Posted by: Titus Hayes4699   2007-09-12 13:15  

#5  Three islands actually. Aruba, Bonaire, and Curacao. You can see Venezuela from Aruba.
The Dutch might not have the will to take them back but there's lots and lots of Americans down there all the time. Hugo best not give us an excuse...
Posted by: tu3031   2007-09-12 13:15  

#4  Â“Today we could sink the British fleet.”

Poor, helpless, delusional bastard. Sad, very sad.
Posted by: Besoeker   2007-09-12 13:13  

#3  Huh?

I thought it was Argentina. What's Hugo's beef?

(There's a joke there somewhere...)
Posted by: mojo   2007-09-12 13:05  

#2  Two Dutch islands right off the coast of Venezuala. I doubt the Dutch would have the will to retake them. I wonder if this is one more step in Chavez preparing his people for such a move.
Posted by: rjschwarz   2007-09-12 13:01  

#1  Somewhere in Hugo's past, I see a syphlitic prostitute...
Posted by: tu3031   2007-09-12 12:55  

00:00