You Gots To Be Kidding!

U.S.: Venezuela Overspending on Military
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060120/...us_venezuela_1

By GEORGE GEDDA, Associated Press Writer
1/21/06

WASHINGTON - Venezuela is planning a "buying spree" for military equipment that goes beyond the country's legitimate needs, the State Department said Friday.
In recent days, the United States has sought to block proposed sales of military planes and other equipment to Venezuela by Spain and Brazil.

The transactions are part of what "we would consider an outsized military buildup in Venezuela," State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said.

He also noted that the government of President Hugo Chavez has decided to activate its reserves and to create a million-person militia.

On Thursday in Brasilia, Chavez called the U.S. objections to the Brazil deal absurd and said Brazil will try to persuade the United States to allow it. At stake are 20 planes costing $200 million. The deal was worked out with Empresa Brasileira de Aeronautica SA, or Embraer.

The United States has the authority to block the sale because some of the planes' technology is American-made. Embraer President Mauricio Botelho said Friday the company is working on changes that could make the sale acceptable to Washington.

Botelho said the plane would be used to combat drugs and arms trafficking and not "for acts of war."

Last week, Chavez blasted a U.S. attempt to block Spain from selling Venezuela 12 military planes with American parts, calling it proof of Washington's "imperialism."

In response, McCormack said at the time the United States is concerned that the proposed sale "could contribute to destabilization in Latin America."

The United States has made that view clear to the Spanish, Venezuelan and other governments in Latin America," McCormack said.

The proposed Spanish transaction involves armed maritime patrol seacraft and some airplanes.

US, Venezuela to seal drug accord
BBC

Venezuela and the US appear ready to sign a new agreement to fight international drug trafficking.

Last year Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez ordered the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to cease all its operations inside Venezuela.

He dissolved a joint taskforce because he believed DEA officials were spying on his government - a claim the US has always denied.

Much Colombian-produced cocaine is trafficked through Venezuela to the US.

At source

For the past five months all official relations between Venezuelan and US anti-narcotics agents have been frozen.

But after tough negotiations between Venezuelan and US diplomats a new contract is now on the table.

This accord will re-establish a basic working relationship in the fight against drugs.

Luis Correa, the chief of Venezuela's anti-narcotics police unit, says the new agreement with Washington will be signed next week, once all the paperwork has been finalised.

Venezuela will have to hand back US surveillance equipment and computer hardware it confiscated from the US embassy last August, when the joint narcotics programme was suspended.

Although this new deal is one US State Department officials believe they can live with, it will not give the US the same far-reaching powers it used to enjoy as an independent partner.

Some US officials doubt whether a fully fledged joint operation will be set up again.

They believe the US will in future have to rely more heavily on intercepting drug traffickers at the source in Colombia rather than targeting them in transit through Venezuela, because of the new conditions the Americans will be working under.

Wow, I cracked up when I read the title, hilarious!!!