Venezuelans Train for Civilian Militias

[leftchick]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060403/ap_on_re_la_am_ca/venezuela_militia_training


CHARALLAVE, Venezuela - The women, some trembling, grasp the assault rifles and awkwardly lower themselves into sniper positions as they take aim and fire at white targets in the distance. Dressed in jeans and sneakers, the women are the unlikely heart of a new civilian militia being trained as Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez warns his country must be ready for a "war of resistance" against the United States.

The U.S. government dismisses Chavez's claims of a possible invasion as ridiculous. But Chavez insists Venezuelans must be prepared for anything, citing a short-lived 2002 coup that briefly unseated him.

Housewives, students, construction workers, social workers and many unemployed have signed up for the Territorial Guard. Lt. Col. Rafael Angel Faria Villalobos, who led the training for 900 volunteers on their first day of bootcamp Saturday, said 20 weeks of instruction will turn them into resistance fighters prepared to defend their communities in the event of a conflict.

"Those who come here have never fired a shot in their lives," he said.

Ten at a time, the volunteers lined up as officers coached them to fire the military's standard-issue Belgian FAL assault rifles from standing, kneeling and prone positions at numbered targets in an open field. Territorial Guard volunteers aren't issued weapons, but commanders said guns would be made available in emergency situations

[On the Road]

1. Of Course the US Won't Invade Venezuela

They'll just provide air support to the Columbian troops valiantly attempting to squelch the socialist menace across the border. That's why the civilian militias are such a good idea. There's no way Chavez will allow Venezuela to beome another Haiti.

[OKthatsIT]

2. Negroponte built a air base in Paraguay-Bolivian border

troops are there.

Never underestimate the evil men in the Bush Administration.

[Judi Lynn]

4. You may remember they caught over 100 Colombian paramilitary thugs

who were staying at a ranch close to Caracas, owned by a right-wing Cuban "exile," Roberto Alonso (whose sister, "actress" Maria Cohchita Alonso was in a Schwarzenegger film), right next door to _Bush family friend and fishing buddy, media magnate Gustavo Cisneros.

Someone spotted them, called authorities, who rounded them all up, after interrogations and sent them back to Colombia. There were confessions. Some of them were ex-Colombian military.

That was last year. It's appropriate to imagine it won't be the only time they'll ever be invaded by right-wing idiots as long as _Bush is on the throne.

[IndianaGreen]

3. People's Militia: The Second Amendment at work!

Viva la Guardia Territorial de Venezuela!


Territorial Guard
receiving training

http://www.aporrea.org/dameverbo.php?docid=75205

Muerte al imperialismo yanqui!

[benEzra]

7. FAL's? Cool!

(Or CETME's, I can't tell from that shot.)

Those are around twice as powerful shot for shot as an AK-47 (7.62x51mm = .308 Winchester), and are a bit more accurate beyond 300 yards or so. Interesting photo!

[Flanker]

8. Its a FAL

They were previously allocated to the Armed Forces but with the arrival of the AK-103's they were relegated to reserve status, the territorial guard will operate both rifles.

[benEzra]

9. Neat. (n/t)

[IndianaGreen]

10. They look like the Brazilian made FAL

Brazilian IMBEL LAR - another license built FN FAL, one of few FAL models still in production now

http://world.guns.ru/assault/as24f-e.htm

[Judi Lynn]

5. Venezuela trains for guerrilla war

Last Updated: Monday, 6 March 2006, 10:57 GMT

Venezuela trains for guerrilla war
Greg Morsbach
BBC News, Venezuela

Under the blazing midday sun, at an army base outside Caracas, middle-aged Venezuelan military commanders were being told how to teach the civilian population in guerrilla warfare.

Hundreds of officers in olive combat dress were shown practical displays of Venezuela's new military thinking: The use of civilians to fight a war of resistance in the event of an invasion.
(snip)

The concept of a civilian militia is nothing new in Venezuela. Almost half a year ago, small neighbourhood groups of Chavez supporters began holding informal gatherings on a weekly basis. The meetings were limited to military drill.

But the idea has come a long way since. More than 2m adults have signed up to become reservists in a programme run by the armed forces and are now having to give up a Saturday each week.
(snip/...)

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4777972.stm

[Jack_DeLeon]

6. I wish we would have similar training in our schools...

everyone should learn how to protect themselves, thier loved ones, and thier country.

Why should someone have to sign thier life away to the military and the government just to learn these skills.

[Igel]

12. There's a kind of ROTC

program that's available at some high schools, and could be extended to many others if there were school and student support. It was established in the 1910s, and reorganized, I think it was, under Kennedy. Fully voluntarily, mostly drilling and meetings, reading and discussion, little training with weapons. I got about as much weapons training at Boy Scout summer camp.

Every once in a while a DUer discovers the high school ROTC program anew, blames it on *, and decries the horrendous militarization of the high schools and American society. Whoever it is usually gets a lot of support, with few people pointing out that it's not a recent thing, but an old program.

Then there's a compulsory program for kids of the same age with extensive training for weapons. That's a great thing.

[slaveplanet]

11. We used to have armorys

But now we have a military that is completely out of our control.

Chavez should set up a certain # of the Territorial guard along the Swiss model, buried automatic weapons and ammunition, with inspections to prove they stay buried.

Armorys are good too, but there are precision bombs about, these days.
They'll need to go guerrilla on short notice if invasion threatens.