Russia has opened a $2.2 billion line of credit for Venezuela to purchase weapons including armored vehicles and surface-to-air missiles, President Hugo Chavez said Sunday.
Venezuela is buying more arms because it feels threatened by Colombia's decision to give U.S. troops greater access to its military bases, Chavez said.
Repeating a frequent theme of his presidency, the socialist leader said the United States would like to invade Venezuela and seize the country's oil fields. He said the bases in Colombia could help the U.S. stage such an attack.
The arms deal was announced last week during Chavez's visit to Moscow, and he gave details Sunday. Chavez said the deal calls for Venezuela to buy 92 Russian-made T-72 tanks as well as Smerch anti-aircraft missile launching systems. He didn't say how many missile launchers Venezuela was buying.
I'd worry more about large purchases of C-4 and garage-door openers.
Seriously, Chavez has screwed up his military so much that these will just be expensive piles of burning garbage if he ever puts them up against a real military.
Let him waste his money on toys. It will only alienate his people as they realize what his priorities are.
