Press Overlooks US Role as Arms Merchant in Mideast Conflict

There's a lot of money to be made selling arms. War is good for the profit margin. Look at the deal Russia just made with Venezuela. Man, bet our arms industry is pissed about not getting that deal.
http://www.hindu.com/2006/07/28/stories/2006072807251600.htm

Russia defies U.S. with Venezuela arms deal
Russia defies U.S. with Venezuela arms deal
Thursday, July 27, 2006
MOSCOW, Russia (Reuters)

Russia said Thursday it had sold 24 aircraft and 53 helicopters to Venezuela, defying the United States, which has urged Moscow to halt arms sales to Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez.

Russia's arms export chief, speaking as Chavez met Russian President Vladimir Putin in the Kremlin, said the aircraft deal was part of a long-term package of arms contracts with Venezuela that was worth more than $3 billion.

Chavez is a vocal critic of what he calls U.S. imperialism. Washington considers him a dangerous radical and had urged Russia to rethink the weapons sale. It bans its own producers from selling weapons to Venezuela.

"In the face of a blockade that was imposed on us, Russia extended us a hand," Chavez said after his talks with Putin.

The arms deal is likely to add to friction in an already testy relationship between Washington and a Russia which, under Putin, has taken on a more assertive international role.

Russia already has supplied Kalashnikov automatic weapons to Venezuela and some attack helicopters. Chavez says he is preparing his armed forces to repel U.S. aggression.

At the Kremlin talks with Chavez, Putin tried to reassure Washington about the weapons deals. "Cooperation between Russia and Venezuela is not directed against third countries," he said.

It was not clear if Chavez and Putin themselves had signed any weapons contracts during their talks.

Sergei Chemezov, head of Russian state arms trader Rosoboronexport, told reporters the deal on aircraft and helicopters was already sealed. "We have sold 24 airplanes and 53 helicopters," Chemezov said, adding it was part of arms contracts with Venezuela that were signed over the past 18 months.

Chemezov did not give details, but Venezuela had been expected to buy at least 24 Russian Sukhoi-30 jets that Chavez wants to replace his air force's U.S. F-16 jets.

Russian media reported Chavez also could be interested in buying surface-to-air missiles and possibly even a submarine.