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Chavez says Venezuela jets intercepted U.S. plane
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez speaks during a meeting with ministers at Miraflores Palace in Caracas January 8, 2010. Chavez said he ordered two F-16 jets to intercept a U.S. military plane that twice violated Venezuelan airspace on Friday in what he called the latest provocation in the South American nation's skies.
Credit: Reuters/Miraflores Palace/Handout
CARACAS |
CARACAS (Reuters) - President Hugo Chavez said he ordered two F-16 jets to intercept a U.S. military plane that twice entered Venezuelan skies on Friday, but Washington said none of its planes flew over the South American country's airspace.
Brandishing a photo of the plane, which he described as a P-3, Chavez said the overflight was the latest violation of Venezuelan airspace by the U.S. military from its bases on the Netherlands' Caribbean islands and from neighboring Colombia.
"They are provoking us ... these are warplanes," he said.
Chavez said the F-16s escorted the U.S. plane away after two incursions lasting 15 and 19 minutes each.
A spokesman for the U.S. Defense Department denied Chavez's assertion, saying in an e-mail: "We can confirm no U.S. military aircraft entered Venezuelan airspace today. As a matter of policy we do not fly over a nation's airspace without prior consent or coordination."
Senior Obama administration officials said the U.S. Southern Command was unaware of any incident involving U.S. government aircraft in Venezuelan airspace on Friday.
The perceived threat of U.S. intervention has become a central element of Chavez's political discourse and a rallying cry for his supporters.
Foes say Latin America's loudest U.S. critic is hyping the idea of a foreign threat to distract Venezuelans from domestic problems such as economic recession, rampant crime and inadequate public services.
The socialist leader surprised the diplomatic world in December when he accused the Netherlands of abetting potential offensive action against his government by granting U.S. troops access to its islands close to Venezuela.
The Dutch government says the U.S. presence on Curacao and Aruba -- where about 250 Air Force crew and ground staff are based -- is only for counternarcotics and surveillance operations over Caribbean smuggling routes.
(Reporting by Frank Jack Daniel; Additional reporting by Doug Palmer; Editing by Peter Cooney)
On one hand, why should we believe anything that Chavez says. A picture of an aircraft is not proof of anything.
On the other hand, I would find it heartening to hear that our military and intelligence community is keeping track of Chavez’ support for the FARC, which on top of being a terrorist organization is also on top of the heap now as a cocaine trafficking organization.
I would sure believe Chavez sooner that the oppresive imperialistic military force that has lied for decades about involvlement in South America. After Iran Contra and Allende and Che Guevara and all the other fascist actions the U.S. has been resposible for, it is good to hear the real truth from a man of the people like Hugo Chavez.
“Man of the people”????
Chavez is a dictator who has run his country into the ground since being elected. He allows no opposition, changes the constitution to ensure the continuity of his reign and and preens. Oh, and he talks to Simon Bolivar for guidance.
Please, provide one factually accurate positive action that this man has done for his country.
“Man of the people” my patootie.
Chavez: another is a long line of Marxist thugs who have abused the democratic process to amass and wield power, and impoverished their countries. But Marxist apologists only know how to call the US imperialist and fascist (without really knowing what the words mean), list events without context and full facts, and ignore the crushing poverty and lack of basic rights in these marxist “paradises”.
Chavez: another is a long line of Marxist thugs who have abused the democratic process to amass and wield power, and impoverished their countries. But Marxist apologists only know how to call the US imperialist and fascist (without really knowing what the words mean), list events without context and full facts, and ignore the crushing poverty and lack of basic rights in these marxist “paradises”.
There’s always someone ready to slam the US as Imperialistic. Tell me of a great historical power that wasn’t. Do you see China, India, Russia or any other nation of economic or military might free of some measure of self interest and ambition. I suppose you would applaud the dark world of death squads, ethnic cleansing, cartel sponsored puppets, and lawless mob rule. Tell me Chavez has anything good to offer this world or his people. He is lucky anyone outside his country is listening. It’s all posturing for the press. Who needs planes?
Satellites would give the US military any intelligence needed.
The only reason for American in Central America and South America for a century has been to hold up the dictators who would sell and deliver all native resources to US corporations.
If one or two object, he must be some socialist.
If Germany did to us what we do to the Bolivarians, it would be WWIII.
We should not hypocratize ourselves.
bobby99
