Russia is selling kilo class diesel submarines to Venezuela. (http://en.rian.ru/russia/20080404/103471739.html) So Russia has ties to China, India, Algeria, Venezuela, and (both indirect and direct) Iran. This is the evolving of the new Axis of Evil, folks.
Yeah like Venezuela is going to go out and sink a US ship. The words of Leonidas come to mind "pray they're that stupid, pray we're that lucky" If Venezuela sunk a US ship they'd be signing their death warrants. The last country that sent out their military and sank some US ships was the Empire of Japan. They ended up getting the dubious honour of being the only country in history ever to actually get nuked in anger.
Well, I wouldn't worry much about Venezuelan Kilos preying on blue water shipping, or even getting very far from the coast of Venezuela. We'll see if they do any better with submersile operations than some of the other third world shitholes that have bought export kilos from the Russkis. They aren't the first, by far.
I wouldn't say out of anger, more of a tool to end the war IMO. All Chavez will manage to do is provide us with targets should he be stupid enough to enter our waters, much less actually attack something. I don't think he's that stupid, at least to go it alone. Should a global event take place though it would serve us well to go ahead and hand 'em a ticket to Davy Jones Locker.
I am not sure about this "Whizzer" character. He has put me on the same side of an issue as Midnight Funeral, and that makes me nervous.
I suspect that when the Venezuelan Navy figures out how much time, training, and money it's going to cost them to keep 4 Kilos crewed and seaworthy, they'll be rethinking the whole submarine-fleet thing. Odds are good as well that unless they get some 'professional' help, the school of hard knocks will reduce their submarine inventory by at least 25%.
Additionally, I wouldn't worry too much about it. We can destroy Comrade Chavez's port facilities and his sub tenders at will and there isn't shit he can do about it. Yeah, he can send his subs out, on a oe way trip and I'm sure that will be real popular with the crews.
No kidding. Especially since they are only diesel subs, not nuclear, all you have to do is wait for them to run out of gas.
I'm not sure what you would have the Russians do. To maintain normal diplomatic relations with any country whose leaders occasionally spout anti-U.S. rhetoric brands them as evil? China and India don't even fall into that category. Is it your opinion China and India are evil entities? Apparently the Russians feel this arrangement furthers their interests. Do you expect them to put what you want ahead of what's best for Russia?
