Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08CARACAS468
2008-04-03 21:06:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Caracas
Cable title:
CLANDESTINE AIRFIELD DESTROYED
how-toVZCZCXRO2914 PP RUEHAG RUEHROV DE RUEHCV #0468 0942106 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 032106Z APR 08 FM AMEMBASSY CARACAS TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0900 INFO 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 000468
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
USSOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/31/2018
TAGS: MOPS PGOV PREL SNAR CO VE
SUBJECT: CLANDESTINE AIRFIELD DESTROYED
Classified By: Robert Downes, Political Counselor,
for Reason 1.4(d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L CARACAS 000468
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
USSOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/31/2018
TAGS: MOPS PGOV PREL SNAR CO VE
SUBJECT: CLANDESTINE AIRFIELD DESTROYED
Classified By: Robert Downes, Political Counselor,
for Reason 1.4(d).
1. (SBU) The Bolivarian News Agency announced on March 28 the
start of Operation Boquete I, an Army effort to destroy all
clandestine airstrips in Venezuela. By March 30 the
Venezuelan Army claimed to have destroyed 67 of an estimated
157 dirt runways in the south-western border state of Apure
alone. Army Strategic Operations Commander Jesus Gonzalez
Gonzalez said that this would be "a frontal assault with
every possible resource." Gonzalez added that 19 aircraft
and 600 personnel were dedicated to the project.
2. (C) Comment: The bombing of dirt airstrips makes for
good television but ineffective counter-narcotics policy. A
rented road grader can scrape out a new runway on Venezuela's
vast plains in two hours. There is also no indication that
they are targeting airstrips actually used by drug
traffickers. End Comment.
DUDDY
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
USSOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/31/2018
TAGS: MOPS PGOV PREL SNAR CO VE
SUBJECT: CLANDESTINE AIRFIELD DESTROYED
Classified By: Robert Downes, Political Counselor,
for Reason 1.4(d).
1. (SBU) The Bolivarian News Agency announced on March 28 the
start of Operation Boquete I, an Army effort to destroy all
clandestine airstrips in Venezuela. By March 30 the
Venezuelan Army claimed to have destroyed 67 of an estimated
157 dirt runways in the south-western border state of Apure
alone. Army Strategic Operations Commander Jesus Gonzalez
Gonzalez said that this would be "a frontal assault with
every possible resource." Gonzalez added that 19 aircraft
and 600 personnel were dedicated to the project.
2. (C) Comment: The bombing of dirt airstrips makes for
good television but ineffective counter-narcotics policy. A
rented road grader can scrape out a new runway on Venezuela's
vast plains in two hours. There is also no indication that
they are targeting airstrips actually used by drug
traffickers. End Comment.
DUDDY