U.S. Orders Ban of Arms Sales to Venezuela

[Radio_Guy]

Looks like Bush may invade Venezuela for the oil after all.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060515/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/us_venezuela

WASHINGTON - The United States is imposing a ban on arms sales to Venezuela because of what it says is a lack of support by President Hugo Chavez's government for counterterrorism efforts, the State Department said Monday.

For nearly a year, there has been a nearly total lack of cooperation with anti-terrorism, Darla Jordan, a State Department spokeswoman, said.

As a result, U.S. sales and licensing for the export of defense articles and services to Venezuela, including the transfer of defense items, will not be permitted, she said.

Venezuela is a major supplier of oil to the United States but relations between Chavez and the Bush administration have sharply deteriorated. Chavez has called Bush a "terrorist," and denounced the U.S.-led war in Iraq.

Just last month, the State Department used its annual report on international terrorism to accuse Chavez of having an "ideological affinity" with two leftist guerrilla groups operating in neighboring Colombia, the FARC and the National Liberation Army. The United States considers both to be terrorist organizations.

The United States also has been tracking with concern what department spokesman Tom Casey called Venezuela's multibillion dollar arms acquisition program.

[dipsydoodle]

1. So they'll buy them

from China instead. Big deal.

[wakeme2008]

2. Or Russia

and Ships from Spain...

[Jacobin]

3. Israel has quite the prosperous arms trade, too

And they will sell to anyone.....kinda like the U.S.

[dipsydoodle]

4. That might just be

more than comical as they'd probably be US arms.:rofl:

[PeaceProgProsp]

5. "ideological affinity" -- is that a thought crime?

So what if countries do nothing to help leftist guerillas. If they merely are not ideologically opposed to them, they're on our shit list.

[IChing]

6. dupe original thread is here...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=2285524&mesg_id=2285524

[Moderator]

7. DUplicate

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=2285524&mesg_id=2285524