US 'violated Venezuelan airspace'


Venezuela has denounced an alleged violation of its airspace by an American military aircraft.

Defence Minister Gustavo Rangel said the jet had been tracked by country's air defences over the Venezuelan-owned island of La Orchila on Saturday.

He said the US ambassador would be summoned to provide an explanation.

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, a fierce critic of Washington, has in the past accused the US administration of destabilising his country.

Mr Rangel told a news conference that the US aircraft "practically flew over" La Orchila - where Venezuela has a military base - and another island before turning back.

"We ordered the airplane to identify itself," he added.

"We have recorded proof of the conversation between ground control in Venezuela and the aircraft pilot."

The pilot is reported to have said he was on a training exercise and was unaware that he had entered Venezuelan airspace.


http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/7409244.stm

Whah wrang wid dese American pilots? Like dem fail georgraphy or whah?

How would they know is a U.S. military jet, did the pilot identify him self as American?

BTW, is a good wake up call for Chavez. When his military bombed our dredges in Guyana territory, it was OK for him. He shows might against small countries, but his turn come to face up with big brother, Sam.

Dem gat weakness fu countries that gat oil.

La Orchila is a military base off the coast of Venezuela. It has numerous beaches, including one where the sand is markedly pink (Playa Rosada). The island's highest peak is Cerro Walker at 139 m. There is a presidential retreat on this island, and the residential complex reserved for the military houses consists mainly of elevated houses made of wooden logs. There is also a court for bolas criollas. All the facilities are connected by pathways, mostly unpaved but smooth and clean.

I visited La Orchila some years ago on a geological trip, there was no military base there at the time, only a few sunken ships to encourage coral reef formations. it seems that Chavez has now made it his private playground.

The practise of US airplanes flying over other countries' airspace is in keeping with their intelligence gathering operations....especially if those countries are perceived as "hostile"...

They flew over Cuba in the early 1960's and over the USSR in the late 1950's.....

The Russians shot down a U2 spy plane in the late 1950's....the pilot was Gary Powell if I remember correctly.....this U2 incident as it is historically referred to caused the summit between Eisehower and Kruschuov to be cancelled thus extending the life of the cold war....

This is the usual US pushing the envelope and trying their best to engage Chavez.Yet, we wonder why so anti American.

quote:

Originally posted by ksazma:
Whah wrang wid dese American pilots? Like dem fail georgraphy or whah?

It's provacation!!