Chavez threatens to sell F-16s to Iran

[Roguish Lawyer]

http://www.breitbart.com/news/2006/05/16/D8HL07900.html

Venezuela Weighs Selling U.S. Jets to Iran
May 16 12:53 PM US/Eastern

CARACAS, Venezuela

Venezuela is considering selling its fleet of U.S.-made F-16 fighter jets to another country, perhaps Iran, in response to a U.S. ban on arms sales to President Hugo Chavez's government, a military official said Tuesday.

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 U.S. announced the ban on arms sales Monday, Washington had stopped selling Venezuela sensitive upgrades for the F- 16s.

Chavez has previously 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.

[The Reaper]

Go right ahead. He got the export models anyway.

Where will the buyers go for spares? I do not think that Iran wants another fleet of US aircraft like their F-4s and F-14s that are vulnerable to US embargos.

Good luck, Chavez! I thought that you would need them for the US "invasion" you keep warning of.

TR

[CPTAUSRET]

Go right ahead. He got the export models anyway.

Where will the buyers go for spares? I do not think that Iran wants another fleet of US aircraft like their F-4s and F-14s that are vulnerable to US embargos.

Good luck, Chavez! I thought that you would need them for the US "invasion" you keep warning of.

TR


We should have equipped them with a "down right" command chip!

Terry

[Five-O]

IMHO based on what I have seen from Middle Eastern militaries including leadership, equipment, motivation, maintenance etc...the seriously aged "export" version of the F16 in the hands of an Iranian pilot would pose little or no threat to US forces.

[Team Sergeant]

We should have equipped them with a "down right" command chip!

Terry


We did....

It's called an AMRAAM.....

TS

[lrd]

IMHO based on what I have seen from Middle Eastern militaries including leadership, equipment, motivation, maintenance etc...the seriously aged "export" version of the F16 in the hands of an Iranian pilot would pose little or no threat to US forces.
Bingo.

[Monsoon65]

No worries. As TR said, who's going to sell parts, or provide maintenance? Sure, Chavez can train Iranian maintenance crews, but without parts, they're useless. Same goes if he sells them to Cuba.

And they wouldn't last in a dogfight with USAF pilots, either. Need good training to go along with the nifty toys, and I doubt Cuba or Iran is suppling that.

[scrateshooter]

Where did Venezuela get the F-16s? Oh the irony.

[The Reaper]

Where did Venezuela get the F-16s? Oh the irony.

What, that we sold military hardware to a nation who was friendly at the time and remains one of our largest oil suppliers?

Where is the irony?

TR