Arms Sales to Venezuela Banned

(Washington) Announced today, the U.S. is banning sales of arms to Venezuela. This means that all export sales, licensing and transfer of defense items and services to Venezuela are prohibited. It's not clear to what extent the ban will impact Venezuela. It is known, however, that Venezuela has American-made weapons platforms such as F-16 fighters which will no longer be supplied with spare parts.

The State Department cited President Hugo Chavez's lack of support in counterterrorism efforts. Also, evidence indicates that Chavez has become quite the bend-over buddy to two leftist terrorist groups operating in Colombia, the FARC and the National Liberation Army. As a topper, it probably doesn't help that Chavez keeps calling President Bush a terrorist.

Let's face it. Chavez is a communist and a belligerent one at that. Nothing should be provided to the thug dictator that could possibly be used against the U.S. I'm frankly surprised that it took so long to ban arms sales.