Venezuela intercepts US military plane in Venezuelan airspace

[Revy]

link (http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE6080BB20100109) CARACAS (Reuters) - President Hugo Chavez said he ordered two F-16 jets to intercept a U.S. military plane that twice entered Venezuelan skies on Friday, but Washington said none of its planes flew over the South American country's airspace.


Brandishing a photo of the plane, which he described as a P-3, Chavez said the overflight was the latest violation of Venezuelan airspace by the U.S. military from its bases on the Netherlands' Caribbean islands and from neighboring Colombia.
"They are provoking us ... these are warplanes," he said.
Chavez said the F-16s escorted the U.S. plane away after two incursions lasting 15 and 19 minutes each.
A spokesman for the U.S. Defense Department denied Chavez's assertion, saying in an e-mail: "We can confirm no U.S. military aircraft entered Venezuelan airspace today. As a matter of policy we do not fly over a nation's airspace without prior consent or coordination."
Senior Obama administration officials said the U.S. Southern Command was unaware of any incident involving U.S. government aircraft in Venezuelan airspace on Friday.
The perceived threat of U.S. intervention has become a central element of Chavez's political discourse and a rallying cry for his supporters.
Foes say Latin America's loudest U.S. critic is hyping the idea of a foreign threat to distract Venezuelans from domestic problems such as economic recession, rampant crime and inadequate public services.
The socialist leader surprised the diplomatic world in December when he accused the Netherlands of abetting potential offensive action against his government by granting U.S. troops access to its islands close to Venezuela.
The Dutch government says the U.S. presence on Curacao and Aruba -- where about 250 Air Force crew and ground staff are based -- is only for counternarcotics and surveillance operations over Caribbean smuggling routes.

[9x19mm]

Should have shot the blighters down, would have done everyone a favour.

[ReVoLuTiOnArY-BrOtHeR]

We must support President Chavez and his effort to continue the struggle of anti-imperialists everywhere. That is the prime reason I support him, his anti-imperialist character. We might have ideological differences but for that I applaud him.

Concerning this incident with the US military plane, it should've been shot down. Would've been a good favor for oppressed peoples all over the globe. :)

[ckaihatsu]

Foes say Latin America's loudest U.S. critic is hyping the idea of a foreign threat to distract Venezuelans from domestic problems such as economic recession, rampant crime and inadequate public services.





We must support President Chavez and his effort to continue the struggle of anti-imperialists everywhere.


While even us on the anti-U.S. / anti-imperialist (revolutionary) left have severe criticisms of Chavez on his actions regarding militant worker organizing and labor actions *within* Venezuela that doesn't mean that we simply dismiss him altogether.

It's *not* a contradiction to differentiate between the spheres of *external* (foreign) policy, and *internal* (domestic) policy -- Chavez is about as anti-imperialist on the world stage as national leaders ever get, and that shouldn't be taken lightly.

For mouthpieces on the right to *attempt* to reach over and attack Chavez on his *domestic* policy is transparently self-serving of them.


Chris



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[BIG BROTHER]

This could be whether for good or bad something fabricated.

Or like before the cuban missile crisis, that the plain did flew by Venezuela and the US is just trying to cover it up.

[Glenn Beck]

This is the second time in the span of about a month that Venezuelan airspace is violated by U.S. aircraft. The last one was denied as well, and belittled by the right-wing media in Colombia and Venezuela as "Chavez seeing Santa's sleigh and getting confused". They aren't even trying to play it safe, they know Venezuela can't do anything and nobody else cares.

[NecroCommie]

Violations of airspace are routine policies for superpowers. Russia also does them to neighbours such as Norway, Estonia and Finland, simply to keep track on their neighbours reaction speed and reaction readiness. Whether any of these nations bring these over-flights to public media is a matter of internal politics, and what suits the governing party best.

[blake 3:17]

Foes say Latin America's loudest U.S. critic is hyping the idea of a foreign threat to distract Venezuelans from domestic problems such as economic recession, rampant crime and inadequate public services.


They're full of nonsense -- the threat of US led, organized or funded military intervention in Venezuela is very real. The Bolivarian process has been able to go as far as it has because of the major screw ups in Iraq. Given Obama's renewed hawkishness we shouldn't discount the possibility of aerial bombing and "mistakes" happening on the Venezuela/Colombia border.


Concerning this incident with the US military plane, it should've been shot down. Would've been a good favor for oppressed peoples all over the globe.

I sympathize, but far better that the news get out and bring international attention to the imperial threats Venezuelua faces. The fly overs are provocations. They're intended to test Venezuela's ability to defend itself and what kind of military surveillance can be done.

[cb9's_unity]

No matter what Chavez says and what evidence he presents the U.S will deny. The minute he shoots down one of those planes the U.S will have some bullshit excuse.

[pranabjyoti]

They're full of nonsense -- the threat of US led, organized or funded military intervention in Venezuela is very real. The Bolivarian process has been able to go as far as it has because of the major screw ups in Iraq. Given Obama's renewed hawkishness we shouldn't discount the possibility of aerial bombing and "mistakes" happening on the Venezuela/Colombia border.
I sympathize, but far better that the news get out and bring international attention to the imperial threats Venezuelua faces. The fly overs are provocations. They're intended to test Venezuela's ability to defend itself and what kind of military surveillance can be done.
What about the idea of making an international army like the civil war of Spain before WWII in case of an US attack on Venezuela or Cuba?

[Drace]

Foes say Latin America's loudest U.S. critic is hyping the idea of a foreign threat to distract Venezuelans from domestic problems such as economic recession, rampant crime and inadequate public services.Oh no, it totally wasn't the US that ignored its problems at home and invaded two countries under the name of international terrorism.

[chegitz guevara]

Should have shot the blighters down, would have done everyone a favour.

Not every violation needs to be met with violence. This ain't the Brothers to the Rescue dropping bombs in Cuba. It's an overflight by a plane which is designed to hunt subs. As there are very few subs on land, an overflight by a P-3 isn't really anything to worry about.