Venezuela and Russia to hold joint military exercises the Caribbean Sea

What the goose can deploy, so too can the gander?

That kind of saber rattling is dumb. Neither Venezuela nor Russia have any real ability to project power in the region. Saber rattling is supposed to be scary.

I see no reason that could or should prevent Venezuela from purchasing armaments that they feel are necessary for their self defense. As the largest supplier of armaments in the world, the US wouldn't be so hypocritical as to deny markets to others.

I didn't say anything about arms sales. Russia is angry that the US sent military ships to Georgia and has asked how the US would feel about them trying to project power in the Americas.

Given that they can't project power in the Americas to any significant extent it's a pathetic attempt to tweak America back.

Venezuela has money and dreams of being a regional power, Russia has arms to sell and wants a pound of flesh for our messing with Georgia and Ukraine, it is a good match. We have done a poor job with south america ( AND central America), it is not beyond the question that they will have some success.

robert wrote :



have you never given someone "the finger" (even behind your back) even though you knew , you couldn't lick them ? >GRIN

i don't think it's anything for the americans to get upset about .
hbg

i don#t think that any american subscribe the view of corporate controlled criminals.
What i regret is this.
USA is as banal as anycounty

W is overextending USA's resources. With Iraq the national debt ballooned to 9 trillion dollars. The bully is picking a fight with everyone. The next president will have to paper over all the mess.

Exactly, this is so clearly a tit for tat move without any real significance to the balance of power that it shouldn't be taken too seriously as a threat.

http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/americas/09/10/russia.venezuela/index.html

http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/world/international-venezuela-chavez.html

Perhaps Russia are there to PROTECT the oil yielding country of Venezuela

Can't say as I'm surprised - but Pakistan and Venezuela both in the space of a few days, standing up and saying.... well, read for yourself...


Chavez acts over US-Bolivia row

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez is expelling the US envoy to Caracas, amid an escalating regional diplomatic row.

Mr Chavez said US ambassador Patrick Duddy had 72 hours to leave, adding the move was in solidarity with Bolivia.

It came just hours after Washington ordered out the Bolivian ambassador, in response to its own envoy being told to leave Bolivia.

Bolivia accuses the US envoy of inciting growing violent protests against President Evo Morales.

At least eight people were killed and some 20 injured in clashes between pro- and anti-government groups in Bolivia on Thursday.

Bolivia has seen large numbers of protests in recent weeks by opponents of Mr Morales's economic and social policies.

'Go to hell'

President Chavez used coarse language to describe his feelings about Washington as he ordered the expulsion of US envoy Patrick Duddy.

"The Yankee ambassador to Caracas has 72 hours to leave Venezuela, in solidarity with Bolivia, with the Bolivian people, and with the Bolivian government," Mr Chavez said.

"Go to hell 100 times," he said.

Mr Chavez also announced that he was recalling his envoy from Washington.

Earlier, the US state department declared that the Bolivian ambassador in Washington, Gustavo Guzman, was "persona non grata".

State department spokesman Sean McCormack said the decision was taken "in response to unwarranted actions, and in accordance with the Vienna Convention [on diplomatic protocol]".

He referred to Wednesday's move by Bolivia to expel US Ambassador Philip Goldberg.

President Morales accused Mr Goldberg of "conspiring against democracy" and encouraging the break-up of Bolivia, but Mr McCormack said the expulsion was a "grave error", describing the accusations as "baseless".

more
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/7611705.stm

quite fascinating really. Dont mess with the Russians, that's what I say. They have the oil and natural gas. America imports nearly 60% of its daily oil requirement. Thats the basic facts of geopolitical life.

That's about the way I'd view it.

so, are you in the KKK?
(Just looking at your sig, like - and wondering why you put that in there)

yep