RUSSIA-VENEZUELA ARMS DEAL

With help from Russian Arms Chavez takes Venezuelan defense to grass root level

Venezuela defends arms purchase
Venezuela's Vice President Jose Vicente Rangel rejected U.S.
criticism of the deal to buy Russian military helicopters and 100,000
rifles, which he said were part of a policy to strengthen the nation's
frontier defense.....Venezuela, the world's No. 5 oil exporter, is a top
fuel supplier to the United States. But relations between Caracas and
Washington have soured since left-wing President Hugo Chavez came to
power six years ago.

US protests against Russia plans to sell arms to Venezuela

Venezuela's arms buildup worries U.S.
Chavez seeks to buy combat aircraft from Brazil