CNN International

http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/americas/05/16/venezuela.arms.ap/index.html

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) -- Venezuela's military is considering the possibility of selling its fleet of U.S.-made F-16 fighter jets to another country, perhaps Iran, a Venezuelan military official said Tuesday.

In response to a U.S. ban on arms sales to President Hugo Chavez's government, Gen. Alberto Muller, a senior adviser to Chavez, told The Associated Press he had recommended to the defense minister that Venezuela consider selling the 21 jets to another country.

Muller said he thought it was worthwhile to consider "the feasibility of a negotiation with Iran for the sale of those planes."

Even before the United States announced the ban on arms sales Monday, Washington had stopped selling Venezuela sensitive upgrades for the F-16s.

Chavez previously has warned he could share the U.S. jets with Cuba if Washington does not supply parts for the planes. He also has said he may look into buying fighter jets from Russia or China instead.

U.S. officials have said a 1982 contract requires Venezuela to consult with Washington before transferring any F-16s to another country.

The U.S. State Department, in announcing the ban on arms sales Monday, cited Venezuela's close relations with Iran and Cuba, both of which it deems state sponsors of terrorism.

Venezuela originally purchased its fleet of F-16s in 1983. Until Chile acquired a fleet in 2003, Venezuela was the only Latin American country to possess the warplanes made by Lockheed Martin Corp.

Chavez has accused the United States of breaching its contract to supply parts for the planes and of pressuring other countries not to help maintain them.

"The recommendation that I'm making to the minister, and which I will make to the president at the appropriate time, is that the [F-16s] be sold to a third party because if they aren't complying with their part of the agreement, we don't have any obligation to comply with our part," Muller told the AP.

U.S. officials say the agreement under which the planes were sold does not require the United States to supply parts indefinitely to Venezuela or to upgrade the planes.

U.S. officials say periodic amendments to the F-16 contract have authorized the limited sale of replacement parts to Venezuela in the past.

What kind of Venezuela's government? Communist or Democracy? Just curious.

Originally Posted by Fox

What kind of Venezuela's government? Communist or Democracy? Just curious.

Gonna be communist just like Cuba is shortly.

No democracy there

Venezuela, the land of opression and communism. Chavez is just a Castro in training, and if he damn thinks of selling the F-16s to Iran or Cuba. I guess that the ship trasnporting those planes will major accident while in transit or if they fly them, they'll be lost in the weather.

Originally Posted by 5.56X45mm

Venezuela, the land of opression and communism. Chavez is just a Castro in training, and if he damn thinks of selling the F-16s to Iran or Cuba. I guess that the ship trasnporting those planes will major accident while in transit or if they fly them, they'll be lost in the weather.

According to the International laws,the US has every right to seize that shipment before they reach any customer

special force mission? Operation destroy 21 F-16... Infiltrate enemy base in venezula.. destroy 21 F-16s.! lol.. but then again.. they might have the blueprint of it.. they had it since 82.. thats enough time to see how to build it and etc..

They're block 15's, almost 25 years old. While it's not ideal, it isn't really this scary thing for the US if Iran gets them.

The Iranians will lack spares or experience on the type, so it won't significantly increase their actual capability, if at all. It will however provide additional ammunition for scaremongering columnists.

F16s that old and underused will be no more than money pits. That's why the tanks sold to Australia last year were totally refurbished, right down to stripping and repainting.

Folks

Lets remember Chavez was Democratically elected, in a landslide to boot. That doesnt mean we have to like him, but its not completely accurate to compare him to Castro who overthrew a democratic government. If he tries to suspend or cook the next elections then the analogy is more appropriate.

Back to subject, PJ is right, the F-16 Block-15 is a money pit. I say let them sell it, its obsolete. The Iranians can park them right next to their fleet of F-14s, because they wont get spare parts for them either. Obsolete US jets make very expensive paperweights, even for oil rich countries like Iran and Venezuala.

Frankly, this move is strictly political not military. If Iran really was interested in a military upgrade they would do better buying the latest MiGs or Su's from the Russians. Bush would be better off just to ignore Chavez, as he's obviously trying to bait us.

Originally Posted by mmarsh

Frankly, this move is strictly political not military. If Iran really was interested in a military upgrade they would do better buying the latest MiGs or Su's from the Russians. Bush would be better off just to ignore Chavez, as he's obviously trying to bait us.

Yup, Chavez likes annoying the US, so selling the jets to Iran is a quick win for him.