Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08CARACAS1094
2008-08-06 15:38:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Caracas
Cable title:
CHAVEZ THREATENS FOURTH FLEET - AGAIN
how-toVZCZCXRO8622 PP RUEHAG RUEHROV DE RUEHCV #1094 2191538 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 061538Z AUG 08 ZDK ZUI RUCNDT 1130 VOL CORR ALL OTHERS FM AMEMBASSY CARACAS TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1582 INFO RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 1007 RUMIAAA/HQ USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL PRIORITY RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE RUEHWH/WESTERN HEMISPHERIC AFFAIRS DIPL POSTS
C O N F I D E N T I A L CARACAS 001094
SIPDIS
HQSOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/04/2018
TAGS: MCAP PGOV PREL VE
SUBJECT: CHAVEZ THREATENS FOURTH FLEET - AGAIN
REF: A. CARACAS 776
B. STATE 22148
Classified By: Political Counselor Francisco Fernandez
for Reason 1.4(b) and (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L CARACAS 001094
SIPDIS
HQSOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/04/2018
TAGS: MCAP PGOV PREL VE
SUBJECT: CHAVEZ THREATENS FOURTH FLEET - AGAIN
REF: A. CARACAS 776
B. STATE 22148
Classified By: Political Counselor Francisco Fernandez
for Reason 1.4(b) and (d).
1. (C) During the August 3 broadcast of his "Alo,
Presidente" talk show, President Chavez accused the U.S.
FOURTH FLEET of having a riverine capability in order invade
Venezuela. The Venezuelan Commander-in-Chief promised that
any U.S. brown water ships entering Venezuelan waters would
soon be "at the bottom of our brown rivers." Chavez also
boasted that his fleet of 24 Su-30 FLANKERS was complete and
announced they had started live fire exercises with "fire and
forget" and "camera guided" missiles that gave the AIR FORCE
"a long arm." (Note: Chavez was probably referring to the
first launches of the AS-14 KEDGE and AS-13 KINGBOLT
air-to-surface missiles during "ARMADA SOCIALISTA I-2008" in
June. Ref. A) Curiously, Chavez also admitted that the tanks
he had ordered to the Colombian border in March lacked
"mobility, fire-power and communications" and praised their
on-going upgrades.
2. (C) Comment: Chavez insists at every opportunity that
the United States is trying to reassert its waning influence
in Latin America and that this explains the re-establishment
of the FOURTH FLEET. The arrival of USS KEARSARGE (LHD-3) in
the region for a three-month humanitarian deployment (Ref. B)
will likely further fuel his rhetoric that the U.S. is trying
to intimidate Venezuela. End Summary.
DUDDY
SIPDIS
HQSOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/04/2018
TAGS: MCAP PGOV PREL VE
SUBJECT: CHAVEZ THREATENS FOURTH FLEET - AGAIN
REF: A. CARACAS 776
B. STATE 22148
Classified By: Political Counselor Francisco Fernandez
for Reason 1.4(b) and (d).
1. (C) During the August 3 broadcast of his "Alo,
Presidente" talk show, President Chavez accused the U.S.
FOURTH FLEET of having a riverine capability in order invade
Venezuela. The Venezuelan Commander-in-Chief promised that
any U.S. brown water ships entering Venezuelan waters would
soon be "at the bottom of our brown rivers." Chavez also
boasted that his fleet of 24 Su-30 FLANKERS was complete and
announced they had started live fire exercises with "fire and
forget" and "camera guided" missiles that gave the AIR FORCE
"a long arm." (Note: Chavez was probably referring to the
first launches of the AS-14 KEDGE and AS-13 KINGBOLT
air-to-surface missiles during "ARMADA SOCIALISTA I-2008" in
June. Ref. A) Curiously, Chavez also admitted that the tanks
he had ordered to the Colombian border in March lacked
"mobility, fire-power and communications" and praised their
on-going upgrades.
2. (C) Comment: Chavez insists at every opportunity that
the United States is trying to reassert its waning influence
in Latin America and that this explains the re-establishment
of the FOURTH FLEET. The arrival of USS KEARSARGE (LHD-3) in
the region for a three-month humanitarian deployment (Ref. B)
will likely further fuel his rhetoric that the U.S. is trying
to intimidate Venezuela. End Summary.
DUDDY