Is President Hugo Chavez of Venezuela a "loose cannon" or a definite threat to the U.S.?

Question

NOVO-OGARYOVO, July 22 (RIA Novosti) - Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin told Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez on Tuesday that he hopes military ties between the countries will strengthen.

Chavez, who is currently on an official visit to Russia, discussed political, economic and defense cooperation with the premier at Putin's residence near Moscow.

"We have recently been strengthening the legal base for our cooperation, searching for ways to diversify our relations through new cooperation areas, namely transport, space, high-tech production, and of course military and technical cooperation," Putin said.

During the meeting, Putin accepted an invitation from Chavez to visit Venezuela.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev met with Chavez earlier in the day for talks focusing on arms and energy deals.

On arriving in Moscow, Chavez called for Russia and Venezuela to become strategic partners in oil and defense, something he said would "guarantee Venezuela's sovereignty, which is currently being threatened by the United States."

Venezuela has bought over 50 combat helicopters, 24 Su-30MK2 fighters, and 100,000 AK-103 rifles from Russia, and also holds a license for their production. The current contracts are worth about $4 billion.

Moscow plans to start supplying Venezuela with at least ten Mi-28N helicopters in the second half of 2009.

Answer 1

You can not hit somebody and not to expect a punch back! Here

it is Bush who is solely to blame not Chavez. Things like these will be expected after you've just tried to overthrow a democratically elected president b/c he wouln't kiss your ***$.

Chavez on his own is not a threat but if tensions between US & Russia escalate then he would be Russia's arm in Latin America.

Answer 2

He is a idiot and a trouble maker but not a physical threat to our country.

Answer 3

He is just a typical South American Loony politician. They seem to like to be ruled by madmen such as Chavez.

Answer 4

US annual military budget: 623 billion plus

Valenzuela's annual  military budget: 1.7 billion

So at a minimum we outspend them nearly 400 to 1 in military spending. And they have no nuclear weapons, while the USA has thousands of nuclear weapons and could turn Venezuela into a parking lot overnight.

No, they aren't a threat to the USA, the USA is however a threat to them.

Answer 5

loose canon, better yet, a mosquito that needs squashing.

Answer 6

The US needs people like Hugo Chavez to keep a balance on things. He is not a threat. But many Latin Americans love him as much as they would disagree with him because he is willing to stand up to the US, rhetorically speaking.

Answer 7

He's no threat. He maybe a few sandwiches short of a picnic basket, but he's nothing more than comedy entertainment every time he opens his big mouth.

Answer 8

Why do some Americans feel threatened by leaders of the countries that have LOADS of oil?

The OP is way too paranoid.

Answer 9

He's not a threat.  He's just mad that the CIA tried to assassinate him a few years ago.

Answer 10

I feel that Chavez is a threat to any economy,