Mack slams Chavez-Putin Arms deal
Congressman Connie Mack (FL-14), the Ranking Republican of the House Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, blasted Venezuelan strongman Hugo Chavez and Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin for completing a $5 billion arms deal yesterday.
Mack said:
“This isn’t the first arms deal between the two countries, and I doubt it will be the last. Since 2005, Venezuela has purchased $4 billion worth of Russian arms, including assault rifles, helicopters and fighter-bombers.
“This deal is another example of Hugo Chavez’s dangerous alliances with the thugocrats of the world and other enemies of freedom like Iran and Cuba.
“Time and again, Chavez has proven that he cannot be trusted such as claiming to want to use nuclear energy for “peaceful purposes.”
“The United States and our allies in the hemisphere must continue to work to stop Chavez from spreading his anti-freedom vitriol around the hemisphere. Our freedom, security and prosperity depend on it.”