Venezuela shows off military might in missile test
Pastor Dale Morgan
Venezuela shows off military might in missile test*
06 Jun 2008 18:47:21 GMT
Source: Reuters
By Frank Jack Daniel
LA ORCHILA, Venezuela, June 6 (Reuters) - Venezuela test-fired missiles
in the Caribbean Sea on Friday in a display of military strength at a
time of tense relations between Washington and leftist President Hugo
Chavez.
Five Russian Sukhoi fighter jets swooped over the military base on the
island of La Orchila, dropping a half-tonne bomb and firing a KH-59
missile at a seaborne target. A patrol boat fired an Otomat
surface-to-surface missile at the same target.
Air Force Commander Gen. Luis Jose Berroteran, said the newly acquired
military equipment would help Venezuela ward off potential invasions.
"When you have (resources) that are desired by foreign powers, you have
an obligation to your people to defend them," he said.
Chavez frequently accuses the United States of plotting his overthrow to
snatch the OPEC nation's oil reserves, and in recent weeks has said the
U.S. attitude toward Venezuela echoes U.S. "aggression" in Iran and Iraq.
The test was the first display of firepower purchased from Russia and
China using profits from its record oil revenues.
Washington has criticized Chavez's military buildup, arguing it could
destabilize the region. Chavez bought the Russian fighter jets after the
United States blocked his efforts to buy planes with U.S. technology.
Venezuela has the fourth-largest military budget in Latin America, and
analysts say its military spending is relatively low in relation to its GDP.
Tensions remain high between the United States, Venezuela and its
neighbor, U.S.-ally Colombia, which accuses Chavez of helping Marxist
insurgents fighting the government.
This week, U.S. Ambassador to Venezuela Patrick Duddy said relations
between the two countries were going through "very difficult times."
Chavez sees a U.S. plan to relaunch its fourth naval fleet in the
Caribbean after nearly 60 years as a threat and says incidents such as
the violation of Venezuela airspace by a U.S. warplane in May are
evidence of hostility.
"We are threatened by the empire. What do they want, that we disarm?,"
he said in May after the airspace incident, which also took place near
the La Orchila base, home to a presidential retreat.
"We are not going to harm anybody, but nobody should make mistakes with us."
Increased weapons budgets in South America have prompted talk of an arms
race in the region, but most analysts say the spending so far is
justified after years of defense neglect.
Caracas-based security analyst Rocio San Miguel says Venezuela needs to
modernize its military to adequately control its vast land and maritime
borders.
"It is legitimate that a state renew its arms systems, and in Venezuela
this is a necessity," she said. "The challenge is (to ensure) these
acquisitions do not turn into threats to our neighbors." (Editing by
Brian Ellsworth and Stacey Joyce)