Venezuela Says U.S. Breach of F-16 Supply Contract "unacceptable"

[NNN0LHI]

http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGB6HRSFLFE.html

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) - Vice President Jose Vicente Rangel rejected U.S. assertions Thursday that Venezuela would be violating a contract governing its fleet of U.S.-made warplanes if it carried through threats to share them with Cuba or China.

Rangel reiterated President Hugo Chavez's claims from earlier this week that the United States was breaking a contract to supply replacement parts for Venezuela's fleet of F-16 fighter jets and was also pressuring other countries not to help maintain them.

"The violation, as such, is on the part of the North American government, not the Venezuelan government," Rangel said in a statement that claimed the U.S. had refused through unofficial channels to supply more parts.

Rangel also said the Venezuelan government had information indicating that Washington had pressured Israel not to upgrade the fleet.

[tx_dem41]

1. Two things going on here.

And one trumps the other, if both are true.

1. U.S. pressuring other countries not to maintain is wrong.

2. Chavez threatening to share technology with China and Cuba is also wrong.

But #2 trumps #1 (assuming both are correct). Given those two "facts"...I would be delaying the sale as well.

[rinsd]

2. Also funny coming from a government that did not wish to honor contracts..

...signed by previous administrations.

[tx_dem41]

4. I think that describes the current administrations in both countries.

:evilgrin:

[rinsd]

8. Well I think its goes without saying that Bush has ignored, refused etc.

...a great many things that were put in place before his admin.

[Walt Starr]

3. I stand with the u.S. on this one

Sorry, but threatening to share f-16 fighter jets with Cuba and china is beyond the pale.

[NNN0LHI]

5. Should we invade them over it? n/t

[Walt Starr]

6. No, but we certainly shouldn't repair them or let them have spare parts

over it.

[NNN0LHI]

7. That is what the US is doing already and has caused all these problems

Did you read the article?

Don

[400Years]

9. reading would be too much trouble

[tx_dem41]

10. Yes I read it.

And, I believe Walt and myself are saying that we should continue to not provide them maintenance or the parts. Chavez has poisoned the well with very strong poison.

Alert...its possible every blue moon for Chavez to be wrong.

[Walt Starr]

11. That's is NOT what started it

What started it is they had two F-16's go down and the U.S. won't REPLACE them.

There's a HUGE difference between parts and whole aircraft.

:eyes:

Read the article.

Now, because they were dicks about it, they don't get the parts.