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tuesday, may 16, 2006
caracas, venezuela — venezuela is considering selling its fleet of u.s.-made f-16 fighter jets to another country, perhaps iran, in response to a u.s. ban on arms sales to president hugo chavez's government, a military official said tuesday.
gen. alberto muller, a senior adviser to chavez, told the associated press he had recommended to the defense minister that venezuela consider selling the 21 jets to another country.
muller said he thought it was worthwhile to consider "the feasibility of a negotiation with iran for the sale of those planes."
even before the u.s. announced the ban on arms sales monday, washington had stopped selling venezuela sensitive upgrades for the f-16s.
chavez has previously warned he could share the u.s. jets with cuba if washington does not supply parts for the planes. he also has said he may look into buying fighter jets from russia or china instead.
earlier tuesday, the foreign ministry said the u.s. decision to block arms sales to venezuela was aimed at weakening president chavez's government in preparation for an attack.
the ministry rejected washington's reason for the blockade: that the chavez government was failing to support counterterror activities.
"these despicable accusations are based on a futile campaign to discredit and isolate venezuela, to destabilize its democratic government and prepare the political conditions for an attack," the ministry said in a statement distributed early tuesday.
"they want to put venezuela under conditions so it's incapable of defending itself," it said.
the u.s. state department, in announcing the blockade monday, cited venezuela's close relations with iran and cuba, both of which are on the department's list of state sponsors of terror.
it also expressed concern about venezuela's ties with two leftist guerrilla groups in colombia.
foreign minister ali rodriguez said monday those allegations were "oft-repeated but never demonstrated" by washington.
the state department has objected to venezuelan arms deals involving equipment incorporating u.s.-made components and it has tried to block venezuela's purchase of 100,000 kalashnikov assault rifles from russia.
venezuela says such purchases were aimed solely at self-defense.
state department figures show venezuelan purchases of u.s. defense equipment in 2005 came to $33.9 million, of which $30.5 million was for c-130 cargo plane spare parts. it was not clear whether such purchases will be barred under the new rules.
the u.s. action signaled further deterioration in relations with venezuela. the bush administration has already "decertified" venezuela for alleged lack of cooperation in combating drug trafficking.
fox news
