http://www.presstv.com/detail.aspx?id=108411&sectionid=351020706 Ecuador seeks arms deal with Russia
Sun, 11 Oct 2009 18:36:56 GMT


Rafael Correa, Ecuador's president, says he will visit Russia in late October to buy weapons.
Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa says he plans to strike defense deals with Russia in his upcoming visit, as Latin American proves to be a lucrative market for Moscow.

"We are going to go to Russia to open new markets and establish mechanisms of cooperation in the area of defense," Correa said in a televised address Saturday, Reuters reported.

"We need to recover the operational capacity of our military."

Correa, an ardent critic of the US policy in Latin America, has joined his Venezuelan counterpart, Hugo Chavez, to condemn a Washington plan to deploy bases in Colombia to fight drug smuggling.

The Latin nations who are against US influence in the region maintain that Washington is using the fight against drugs as a cover to disguise the real aims of its military presence in the region.

Meanwhile, Russia seems to be expanding its presence in the region through its long energy networks and the arms deals it signs with the regional states.

In August, Quito announced a plan to develop nuclear energy with the help of Moscow.

RB/MD
it seems that many if not close to all SA and LA countries are arming themselves a an alarming pace. what implications does this hold for the DR, especially if columbia bows to the will of its people and refuses the planned US bases there? do you think with the proximity of the DR to venezuela that the DR will somehow be dragged into the fray? it would not surprise me if the US did not ask/demand some assistance and possible bases to neutralize what they consider to be a regional threat. your thoughts on this issue

After 30 years of little or no modernization SA countries are finally at least attempting to join the 1st world and provide for their defense.
Too bad countries like Vene. and Ecuador are wasting their money on inferior equipment. Right now Brazil and Chile have the best equiped and trained air forces in the continent. Venezuela's acquisitions have not changed the balance at all.

Of course 1 US aircraft carrier's strike force is vastly superior to any SA air force

With PR a stone's through away, the DR will be protected and would have no need to beef up their navy or army. There were never be a need for bases here.

I think the other countries are beefing up the military in order to oppress the opposition, contrary to what they say publicly.

These coutnries will provide protection from US aggression - as has happened before. Russian and Brazil submarines in the West Atlantic make even the largest carriers vulnerable. Also any aggressor would think it would not be an easy and simple war with solidarity among the Bolivian and Caribbean nations. 50 years after WW2 social conditions for many in the region are atrocious - countries like US, Europe etc. would be better using their influence and money though the UN at improving the lot of the ordinary people of these countries by encouraging sensible land redistribution, sustainable local economies. If they do not; and the record to date is that they have not; these countries are right to seek an aletrnative to unrestrained american capitalism.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8285751.stm
American commercial interests even censure alternative views of the changes in South America.
http://www.reuters.com/article/filmNews/idUSL72457020090908
Programs to provide local self sufficiency should have priority - a start is being made - but not enough, not quickly enough.
http://www.iadb.org/news/detail.cfm?language=EN&id=5509

Of course Pirate Preacher Men would like it that the Hatiians have to go with bowl to beg for miami rice at the local baptist church and of course be baptized; thereafter spending their days in prayer meetings listening to the baptist rubbish than go out an plant rice.
This gives a tremendous boost to the number of 'converts' and lay preachers and sounds so good back in the old US of A.
And like in post-war Europe mothers are relieved of feeding their children while they attend baptist missions and learn, in addition to a few very selected bible verses, how great the US is and when they applaud the guest preacher who arrives in his huge SUV it is possible he will tell the folks in the US and conditions might improve. The baptists of course feed on converts who produce babies and die young. Oh and of course big bucks to adopt a haitian baby most of which goes into the pockets of the friendly local pirate preacher man.
Of course US baptists hate Muslims - other baptists respect them!
http://www.bwanet.org/default.aspx?pid=1141
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S.

Perhaps regional armed forces would be a less expensive way to offer protection to a region. It is somewhat of concern that our LA nations would be entering an arms race, when there are other programs that need attention. With few to no exceptions has there been a real need for war amongst our block of naitons.

regional forces, non aggression pacts and some sort of agreement like nato where each country commits to the defense of others in case of foreign attacks would certainly be more cost effective but i think it is still in our nature to mistrust and downplay the roll our neighbors would play in our defenseand all the countries in the region would need to participate in order for it to be efffective. i agree with abc's post (except for his sttack of my new good friend william) and agree that it is US aggression that is provoking this buildup. i do disagree with gringo, however as i believe that if not for the sabre rattling of countries and coup support, etc. that chavez would be happy with handling his countries welfare and not so concerned with their defense. and i do not agree that this is for oppression. the opposition to chavez is very powerful both inside and outside of venez. and he is wise to seek deterrants. i would think that if a cold war of sorts or arms buildup takes place, in particular with venez. then the DR would be thrust into it whether voluntarily or not. the close proximity and the fact that it is a buffer between PR and venez. would make it the frontline in any confrontation but that may well be the reason for the renewed interest in haiti's wellbeing.