NO NEW TROOP MOVEMENTS REPORTED

id: 144916 date: 3/7/2008 21:26 refid: 08CARACAS326 origin: Embassy Caracas classification: SECRET destination: 08CARACAS293|08CARACAS308 header: VZCZCXRO9160 OO RUEHAO RUEHCD RUEHGA RUEHGD RUEHHA RUEHHO RUEHMC RUEHNG RUEHNL RUEHQU RUEHRD RUEHRG RUEHRS RUEHTM RUEHVC DE RUEHCV #0326 0672126 ZNY SSSSS ZZH O 072126Z MAR 08 FM AMEMBASSY CARACAS TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0763 INFO RUMIAAA/HQ USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL IMMEDIATE RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC IMMEDIATE RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHWH/WESTERN HEMISPHERIC AFFAIRS DIPL POSTS PRIORITY -------------- header ends -------------- S E C R E T CARACAS 000326 SIPDIS SIPDIS SOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/05/2018 TAGS: MCAP MOPS PGOV PREL CO VE SUBJECT: NO NEW TROOP MOVEMENTS REPORTED REF: A. CARACAS 000293 ¶B. CARACAS 000308 Classified By: Robert Downes, Political Counselor, for Reason 1.4(d) ¶1. (S) No additional troop movements have been reported in the March 7 open press. Considering the distances from major bases such as Fuerte Paramaracay in Valencia and Carora barracks in Lara state, it is reasonable to assume that elements of the 41st Armored Brigade, such as the 413th "Pedro Leon Torres" Armored Battalion and the 412th "Bermudez" Armored Battalion are still en route to their forward garrison positions near the Colombian border. Wire service photographs indicate that AK-103 assault rifles, from the consignment of 100,000 purchased from Russia, have been issued to Army units. Based on open source and sensitive reporting, the Venezuelan army remains far from reaching its stated deployment of 10 battalions since numerous tanks and armored vehicles are still awaiting transport. There are unconfirmed rumors that there may be a public display of more troops deploying over the March 8-9 weekend. DUDDY =======================CABLE ENDS============================