The next arms bazaar just might be Venezuela

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Thursday December 28, 2006 · 10:44 PM PST

2006/12/28 · 22:44

So, as you might know, President Hugo Chavez has made it his personal mission to make Venezuela the largest garrison state in South America. His stated goal is to prepare his country to face a possible invasion from the United States. In doing so he

Of course, a lot of this comes from inept US meddling early on during the Bush Administration after a coup d'état by his countries military attempted to topple his government. Besides the fact that President Chavez attempted the same thing back when he was LTC Chavez of the Venezuelan Army, US intervention in Iraq has provided him a fantastic whipping post to stir up his electorate and model himself as the next Fidel Castro. In order to build this image, he has placed an order for large amounts of weapons from the Russian Federation, including attack helicopters and AK-103 assault rifles.

On the surface, for most countries this wouldn't be an issue, but this creates unique issues with Venezuela.

aussieyank

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Thursday December 28, 2006 · 2:11 PM PST

2006/12/28 · 14:11

The United States Military is soon expected to announce the formation of Africa Command, otherwise known as AFRICOM, in order to prepare United States Defense for possible anti-terrorism and humanitarian operations in Africa. This can only be seen as a positive turn in American military policy.

To quote the International Herald Tribune:

The U.S. Africa Command, or Africom, would oversee strategic developments and military operations across the entire continent, where a combination of problems — natural disasters, civil wars, chronic disease and the growing presence of Islamic radicals — has destabilized some countries and created an increasing threat to global security, White House and Defense Department aides said.

The Pentagon proposal, which the White House is expected to approve in coming days, is overdue, say Africa specialists who cite two examples: the failed state of Somalia, which has become a haven for Islamic militants allied with Al Qaeda terrorists, and the crisis in Sudan, where the United Nations estimates that more than 400,000 people have died from ethnic cleansing in the Darfur region.

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The next arms bazaar just might be Venezuela

United States Military to Form Africa Command: AFRICOM