Venezuela to purchase 24 new Russian fighter jets

http://english.pravda.ru/world/americas/16-06-2006/82082-Venezuela-0

President Hugo Chavez confirmed the deal on Wednesday after months of speculations over the issue.

Finally, President Hugo Chavez confirmed what was until Wednesday an open secret. Venezuela will buy 24 new Russian Sukhoi fighter jets this year to replace a fleet of old US-made F-16s.

The leader of the South American nation took the decision a few weeks after the Pentagon issued an order to stop all arms shipments to Caracas quoting intelligence reports which say that Venezuela is aiding leftist rebels in neighbor Colombia. President Chavez made the announcement Wednesday in a speech before hundreds of soldiers at a military base in Caracas.

"First we are going to buy 24 Sukhoi S-30s and we are going to leave open the possibility of a future acquisition," Mr Chavez said in the country's capital, Caracas, where also presented the troops with new Russian-made AK-103 rifles - part of an order of 100,000 of the weapons scheduled for delivery within the next six months.

Srry, couldn't help it.

Venezuela also. I think small arms but arms nevertheless:shrug: Personally I don't have a problem with Chavez, he seems to have what's good for the people of Venezuela in his heart. What little I get to read about him indicates he is doing what is right by his people, unlike our present mal-misadministration.