Reply #74: Where were you when Venezuela tried to get planes from Spain, and Brazil?

[Judi Lynn]

DU'ers have discussed all these events in length already their memories will be jogged if they see these headlines:

U.S. bars Spanish sale to Venezuela
Planes are refused to 'autocratic' regime
By Renwick McLeanPublished: SATURDAY, JANUARY 14, 2006

MADRID: The United States has refused to give Spain permission to sell military aircraft containing U.S. technology to Venezuela, saying the deal would aid the increasingly "autocratic and antidemocratic" regime of President Hugo Chávez and would destabilize the region, the U.S. Embassy here said Friday.

The Spanish government, led by Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, said that it regretted the decision, but vowed to move forward with the deal after acquiring the necessary technology from another country.

In November, Spain agreed to sell Venezuela 12 transport planes and eight patrol boats for about E1.7 billion, or $2.2 billion.

Since the planes, which have yet to be constructed, were to contain American technology, Spain was required to request a license from Washington before completing the sale.

More:
http://www.iht.com/articles/2006/01/13/news/spain.php

US Concerned About Proposed Brazilian Aircraft Sale to Venezuela
By David Gollust
State Department
20 January 2006

The Bush administration said Friday it has expressed concern to Brazil about a proposed sale of Brazilian military aircraft to Venezuela. But it stopped short of saying it will block the transfer of the planes, which contain some U.S. technology.

Citing what it says is an outsized military buildup by Venezuela, the Bush administration has confirmed it is talking to Brazil about its proposed aircraft sale to its northern neighbor, which cannot go forward without U.S. approval.

Brazil is seeking to sell Venezuela a fleet of 20 Super Tucano light combat and reconnaissance aircraft made by the Brazilian manufacturer Embraer.

The United States would have to approve the $200 million deal, because the planes contain U.S. technology. The Bush administration has thus far not issued the required export licenses, prompting complaints from both Venezuela and Brazil.

Last week, the United States denied NATO-ally Spain the licenses to sell Venezuela 12 transport and maritime surveillance planes.

More:
http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/news/2006/01/mil-060120-voa04.htm

Spain risks US anger by selling arms to Chavez

By Elizabeth Nash in Madrid
Thursday, 31 March 2005

Spain's socialist Prime Minister, Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, has been forced to defend a decision to sell arms worth €1.3bn (£900m) to the left-wing Venezuelan President, Hugo Chavez, in a deal condemned by the opposition as "a monstrous error".


Spain's socialist Prime Minister, Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, has been forced to defend a decision to sell arms worth €1.3bn (£900m) to the left-wing Venezuelan President, Hugo Chavez, in a deal condemned by the opposition as "a monstrous error".

In Spain's biggest arms deal for many years, its arms factories will supply 10 C-295 transport planes, four coastal patrol corvettes and four smaller coastguard patrol boats to Mr Chavez's army. Mr Zapatero said the vehicles would be used to monitor coastlines, combat terrorism and drug traffickers, and mount rescue operations during natural disasters. The deal was announced by the Spanish Prime Minister during a visit to Venezuela yesterday when he also met fellow left-wing leaders from Colombia and Brazil.

More:
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/spain-risks-us-anger-by-selling-arms-to-chavez-530598.html