Venezuela to buy 5,000 Russian sniper rifles (Chavez: To Fend Off US Invasion) - Political Forum

superdude17* · 08-26-2007, 11:21 PM

Source: Reuters

Quote:

CARACAS (Reuters) - Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez on Sunday said he plans to buy 5,000 Dragunov sniper rifles from Russia to protect the oil-rich nation from a possible U.S. invasion.

The self-styled socialist revolutionary and open critic of Washington has bolstered the OPEC nation's weaponry by buying planes, helicopters and assault rifles from Russia to prepare for a guerrilla-style resistance to a foreign invader.

"I'm going to buy 5,000 Dragunov rifles from Russia ... with telescopic sight, the best in the world, with infrared night-view," Chavez said during his weekly Sunday broadcast held on a beach along Venezuela's eastern coast.

"We will knock out any imperialist that approaches."

The United States has cut arms sales to Venezuela and blocked several attempts by Chavez to acquire military aircraft technology on the grounds that Venezuela has not adequately explained why it needs the equipment.

U.S. Assistant Secretary of Defense for Hemispheric Affairs Stephen Johnson said during a recent visit to Colombia that countries in the region should be concerned about Venezuela's multi-billion dollar weapons purchases.

Venezuela last year purchased 24 Sukhoi fighters jets and 100,000 Kalashnikov AK-103 assault rifles from Russia, and is currently negotiating the purchase of submarines.

I’d love to see the groups 5,000 untrained shooters put together with Dragunov rifles and their ancient PSO-1 scopes. The Dragunov generally looks mean, but it’s not a particularly good weapon as far as sniper rifles go, at least from what I have read about it. Never tried it.

I think this might come back to bite him in the ass. It is known that the military is loyal to whoever is willing to pay the most in Venezuela

Kazikli Bey · 08-26-2007, 11:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by superdude17*

I think this might come back to bite him in the ass. It is known that the military is loyal to whoever is willing to pay the most in Venezuela

Too bad bush put america from a $5 trillion to a $8 trillion debt, you probably don't have enough money left to buy Venezuala's army.

Flagcarrier · 08-26-2007, 11:45 PM

I my opinion he is buying weapons like any country...to improve he quality of his army.As to saying that they are "Just in case" weapons that is bull i think that he took to oportunity to "express some propaganda" since this was a big topic in his country this was a simple political move to making america look like a "Great Devil" like many Muslim countries have put it.

Kazikli Bey · 08-26-2007, 11:52 PM

But america is the great Devil (or maybe just bush and cheney) and why must he justify he reasons for buying weaponry for his army? Is there somewhere on a world-wide national agreement that countries may only purchase arms if it is approved by the US? *scoff*

In my view, america should stop trying to police the world, mainly because it shows all the traits of a usual police force, corrupt and inefficient.

JohnQPublic · 08-27-2007, 12:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by superdude17*

Source: Reuters

I’d love to see the groups 5,000 untrained shooters put together with Dragunov rifles and their ancient PSO-1 scopes. The Dragunov generally looks mean, but it’s not a particularly good weapon as far as sniper rifles go, at least from what I have read about it. Never tried it.

I think this might come back to bite him in the ass. It is known that the military is loyal to whoever is willing to pay the most in Venezuela

The Dragunov(it's tough not knowing which varient was purchased) isn't really a sniper rifle or a MBR but falls somewhere in the middle being designed as primarily an infantry support weapon in the 400 to 700 meter range and it is a reasonably effective weapon for that task. The M-14 with a reasonably good barrel is, IMO, a far more effective weapon!

misalign · 10-28-2007, 12:38 PM

To paraphrase a famous author chavez might have reason to fear. It is not going well today for leaders who decide to stand up against the establishment.