During a visit to the Maracay Libertador Air Force (FAV) base, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez Frias has publicly thanked the military delegation that took part in joint military air force CRUZEX 2006 exercises in Brazil.
The President has ordered Defense Minister, General Raul Baduel to plan new military exercises with forces of South America.
The President insists that the Venezuelan Armed Force (FAN) will not support any military exercise organized by Imperialist forces. "We are anti-imperialist, and we are here to defend the sovereignty of our country and not to support the maneuvers of imperialist forces that have trampled on the peoples of the world."
Chavez Frias calls the new exercises (if they come off) "Operation Mercosur in the Caribbean," which he says would be similar to Operation CRUZEX (Southern Cross) but with the incorporation of Navies from neighboring countries.
In other news, the President has promised a couple of million dollars to the complete maintenance of Venezuelan Hercules transport planes and announces his intention to buy Russian Antonov planes, which, he claims, are similar or even better in some cases than the Hercules.
Then Chavez placed an album by the Momma's and the Pappa's on his turntable and sent his houseboy in search of the Betmax version of Easy Rider. |