US Bans Arms Sales to Venezuela, page 1

The United States has banned arms sales to Venezuela from the US. This is in response to Venezuela's ongoing communications with Iran and Cuba, nations with which the US's relationship is less than favorable. Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez says he is not concerned with the ban, and that it is another attempt by the terrorist regime that controls the US government to trample smaller countries

news.bbc.co.uk
The US state department said the decision was taken because of what it said was Venezuela's lack of support for counter-terrorism efforts.

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said the ban "doesn't matter to us at all", saying it confirmed that Washington wanted to trample on smaller countries.

Relations between the US and Venezuela are severely strained on a number of issues, including oil prices and trade.

The left-wing Mr Chavez, who is currently on a tour of London, has described his US counterpart George W Bush as a "terrorist", denouncing Washington's Middle East policies.

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While the US is in it's own right to sell arms to Venezuela, I believe it's attempts to influence countries allied with Venezuela against them is wrong. At this point, the reason for the ban is simply that the US doesn't like who Venezuela is making friends with. Venezuela isn't a threat to the US, except in that it's switching their Oil trade currency with the Euro, and sells their oil at a fraction of the price that the US does.

Related News Links:
www.msnbc.msn.com
www.foxnews.com

Mod Edit: Spaces & Capitalization

[edit on 17/5/2006 by Mirthful Me]