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Former military chiefs and analysts reject Venezuelan "arms race"

Venezuelan former military officers and analysts Monday criticized what they labeled as Hugo Chávez' "arms race," following his government move to purchase Russian warplanes, in addition to ongoing purchases of assault rifles, patrol boats and military choppers, DPA reported.

Former Defense minister Raúl Salazar rejected the purchase of 24 Russian Sukhoi-30 warplanes. He warned Venezuela has been shifting its foreign policy strategy from cooperation to confrontation.

"We are facing a sort of war schizophrenia. Instead, we should use international relations to achieve the country's goals. Sometimes I wonder, is it necessary to make such huge expenses, while the country is facing so many problems?"

He criticized Venezuela recent clashes with the United States, Mexico and Colombia on political reasons, claiming they are old, major trade partners.

Retired general and former inspector of the National Armed Force (FAN) Manuel Andara showed surprise at Chávez' move to start an "arms race", rather than solving people's problems such as unemployment and insecurity.
 
Andara said that, contrary to what Venezuelan military authorities state, Venezuela is not on the edge of a war with a foreign enemy, but it is facing war domestically, given high crime rates.

Analyst Gerardo Arellano claimed the government has started a military race, "just like any other authoritarian regime."

Arellano claimed Venezuela is no longer an example of construction of an alternate model. "This is exactly what happened in the former Soviet Union. Basically what they did was arm the people, expel their nationals and foster a unique thought."


On the Cover

Bases of discord

04:17 PM. Western Hemisphere. "Damned empire; I curse you one thousand times; some day you will be finished off and wrecked. I curse you one thousand times, empire." This is the least that President Hugo Chávez has uttered to refer to the US government. In urging the Bolivarian Armed Forces to prepare for war, he said that a US raid on Venezuela through Colombia would trigger and spread over the region "the 100-year war."