Russia Arming Venezuela

(Moscow, Russia) Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin announced that Venezuela is buying more than $5 billion in Russian arms.

Specifically, Venezuela has already bought 100,000 assault rifles, 24 Su-30MK2 fighter-bombers and 51 helicopters.

In addition, an agreement is in progress to build in Venezuela a plant to manufacture Kalashnikov rifles and another one to make ammunition.

Russian sources say Venezuela now wants to buy three Varshavianka-class diesel submarines, 92 T-72 tanks, several dozen BMP-3 armored vehicles, 10 Mi-28N combat helicopters, Il-114 patrol airplanes and air defense systems.

Caracas is also interested in Mirash patrol boats, Murena-E landing craft and mobile coastal artillery systems capable of sinking vessels up to 130 kilometers (81 miles) away, according to military sources at the Interfax news agency.

Among other offers, Moscow is proposing to Caracas that it buy several dozen An-148 military transport aircraft and Chavez has already announced the acquisition of at least one Be-200 amphibious aircraft to use in putting out forest fires.

With Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez buying so many goodies, it's natural to speculate that he plans on throwing a party with lots of fireworks. I wonder who will be invited.

[marginally-related news note] By the way, regarding Chavez' goodies, even Grandpa Munster showed up to offer praise. It's not surprising since Grandpa Munster, real name Al Lewis, is a die-hard leftist who once ran for governor of New York on a socialist platform.