Spain risks US anger by selling arms to Chavez

[cal04]

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.

Spain's opposition leader, Mariano Rajoy, whose conservative Popular Party criticised the deal, said: "This is something the Spanish government should never have done. It has provoked criticism throughout the Venezuelan opposition. I think what Zapatero has done is absolutely irresponsible." But Mr Zapatero insisted the equipment was solely for peaceful use. "None of this equipment has any offensive capability whatsoever," he said. In a veiled response to reservations expressed by the United States at recent Venezuelan arms purchases, he added that nobody should feel offended or have any objection to the proposed collaboration between Spain and Venezuela "that will benefit the people"


President Bush has been cool to Mr Zapatero since he was elected last year, and this latest initiative is unlikely to improve relations. But Mr Zapatero said that the purpose of the deal was only to fight terrorism and hunger. The boats and planes will be made by the Spanish division of the European aeronautical consortium, Eads. Spain is also to repair and build tankers for Venezuela.

http://news.independent.co.uk/europe/story.jsp?story=625005

[Trajan]

1. ATTACK SPAIN ! .....

They have tacos ..... right ? ...

(jk ... )

[Skip Intro]

2. Are all nations supposed to act in accordance with US wishes?

Does little hitler expect other nations to act only in ways that "please" him?

Who the hell are we (the US under bushco) to be displeased?

[paineinthearse]

3. NPR had this on "all things considered" about 5PM

My thought was a vision of Spanish-American War II.

[Tempest]

4. Does anyone really think Spain gives a rat's ass?

At this point, any country which goes against U.S. interests are looking after their own.

[Art_from_Ark]

5. Since when are transport planes, patrol corvettes, and patrol boats

considered "arms"?
:shrug:

[solinvictus]

7. Because...

Corvettes are armed fast boats, think of the ocean version of an interceptor. Ditto for PT boats. Transport planes turn a footsoldier into an air-mobile paratrooper able to strike a large radius within hours. It gives Chavez's military more mobility and defense capability.

[marmar]

6. That former Coalition of the Willing...

has become the Coaliton of the "What were we thinking?!?"

[teryang]

8. The idea that somebody somewhere is making a euro

...at the dollar expense of an American corporation just won't pass uncriticized by the neo-colonials.

[KDLarsen]

9. Amen..

.. pay attention to the last paragraph above - they mention that the vehicles will be made by the Spanish division of EADS. And who else falls under the EADS umbrella? Airbus Industries, the favorite target of the US trade industry.

[chenGOD]

18. Yeah basically they're just upset they didn't make the sale first...

If it's not being sold by an american corporation, it's funding terror, donchano?

hey teryang, chal jinaesoyo? :hi:

[cliss]

21. Not only that, but last week

Rumsfeld was criticizing Venezuela for purchasing 100,000 Kalashnikov rifles. "Why on earth would they need those?" he asked rhetorically.

Of course, Rumsfeld has been known to deal in arms sales, so it looks like he lost out on a commission there.

ALL kinds of things are happening, right under their nose.

[Dave Reynolds]

10. Hey, Georgie! Yeah, you, asshat!

It's called international commerce! If a country has something to sell and other countries wish to buy it, SOLD! This is how economies work, Georgie Boosh...

[UpInArms]

14. I thought it was called "free trade" and

capitalism.

But what do I know :eyes:

[Laurab]

11. Hey, they have major terrorists to protect themselves against

Most of them right here, in and around the White House. I don't blame them a bit.

[camitche]

12. The thing that all of you have forgotten is that

the united states is the only country that acts safely and responsibly with weapons.

[loudsue]

13. You say whaaaaaat?

I think you took a left turn back at the fork, when you should have taken a right.

:kick:

[chenGOD]

15. That's either brilliant satire or sheer lunacy. (eom)

[Robeson]

20. Let's hope it was the former...

[manic expression]

17. HAHAHAHA! That's the best joke I've heard this week!

Perhaps you could explain to 100,000 innocent Iraqis, as well as 80,000 Iraqi military personnel how their lives were taken by "safe and responsible" use. Oh, gee, that's what I thought...the US has been the #1 country in UNSAFE and IRRESPONSIBLE ACTIONS with weapons.

When was the last time Venezuela participated in the unjustified and base invasion of a sovereign country? Spain participated, but have now withdrawn from this disgusting campaign. Get a clue and look around.

Sorry, but that was the most idiotic thing I've heard in a LONG time. Do us all a favor and go back to drooling on your shoes.

[Media_Lies_Daily]

19. Right. And we can't see pigs flying because they've....

...acquired stealth technology.

Quick question for you....what do you know about the code phrase "Broken Arrow"?

[Say_What]

23. BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[camitche]

24. apparently that misfired

obviously the "The thing that all of you have forgotten is that..." post was not to be taken literally.

[underseasurveyor]

25. Oops

Forgot to add the ol :sarcasm: alert, ay :smoke:

[Occulus]

27. Actually, as sarcasm, it came off well, I thought.

Although, in the future, you can add /sarcasm to it and we'll all understand your meaning.

Not a slam, ya know... just so's ya know.... ya know?

BTW, welcome to DU!

[Kimber Scott]

26. "We the United States King of Everywhere do declare thee, (INSERT COUNTRY

NAME HERE), unworthy of the ability to destoy the planet, whilst these other thees are, because we art better equipped at everything, our brains work better than most, our skins are still whiter and our God is bigger. Amen."

[thebigidea]

16. was this the opposition that lost the election in a monstrous landslide?

bwhahaha. clowns.

[Rex]

22. Why can't Mr Chavez have a nice Army?

Bush has one!