[Marxism] Welcome to the dance. Neutral Sweden kisses Bush's . . . hand

[Brian Shannon <Brian_Shannon@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

There will certainly be political repercussions from this within  
Sweden. Of course, it may merely be a political demonstration  
designed to intimidate Venezuela that is done with the assurance that  
the Swedish political fall-out won't cause any domestic problems.

Not a member of NATO, in order to preserve its much vaunted  
neutrality, Sweden has both civilian and military forces in  
Afghanistan, and the government has regularly reinforced its military  
contribution. All of this of course helps out the U.S. in Iraq as it  
draws down the numbers committed to Afghanistan.

Brian Shannon

==============

BBC NEWS
Sweden stops Venezuela arms sales
By Greg Morsbach
BBC News, Caracas

Sweden's biggest defence manufacturer, the Saab Group, says it will  
no longer provide weapons to Venezuela.

Saab says it cannot continue sales of anti-aircraft and anti-tank  
devices to Venezuela because of a US arms embargo against President  
Chavez's government.

Saab subsidiary Bofors has supplied Venezuela's armed forces for 20  
years.

Under the terms of the American restrictions, no factory in the world  
may sell weapons to Venezuela that contain components made in the US.

Bofors will cut its commercial ties to Venezuela on 1 October,  
complying with the strict embargo put in place by Washington back in  
May.

The Swedes have in the past sold anti-aircraft missiles, rocket  
launchers and anti-tank rifles to Venezuela worth around $150m (£80m).

There are no new arms contracts in the pipeline at the moment. But  
President Chavez will soon need to replenish his stocks of ammunition  
and missiles.

Other doors

The US embassy in Sweden said it was pleased Saab was complying with  
American legislation that prohibited the sale of arms to countries  
which did not comply fully with US anti-terrorism efforts.

The authorities here in Caracas said they were surprised by the news.

"We haven't been notified officially by Bofors but we're taking this  
matter very seriously," Defence Minister Raul Isaias Baduel said in a  
BBC interview.

"I can assure you we'll be looking into this and I'll be formulating  
a response together with President Hugo Chavez."

A member of the military high command told the BBC they were studying  
the possibility of signing arms deals with Switzerland.

He said it was a shame the door to Sweden had been closed but he was  
sure that others would open soon.

Caracas has recently been purchasing arms from alternative sources,  
such as Russia, where none of the weapons contain American components.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/americas/5243880.stm




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