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Emperor1956 -> RE: U.S. Envoy Caught Bringing Weapons Into Venezuela (8/30/2006 11:19:43 PM)
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quote:
CrappyDom: Emporer,
You are going to have to explain your point, because I read the link and it doesn't present anything in any different light than the original article.
CD: my point is that the OP distorted this news story, and apparently those posting subsequently did not verify the actual story. In brief, here is what the OP said (for ease of reading I'll put the OP in blue) and here's the actual story:
A U.S. envoy was stopped at the Venezuelan airport with 15 plus bags and caught trying to bring in ejector seats to replace worn ones for the Venezuelan military. Well, no. The bags of a newly arrived diplomatic employee were on the same plane as some military grade parts which the US was supplying to Venezuela at its request. The parts included propulsion motors for ejector seats in Venezuelan owned fighter jets. There is a dispute as to whether other military items were included. The "envoy" apparently had NOTHING to do with the questioned shipment other than his family's bags were on the plane and then on the delivery truck.
He also had in the bags explosive charges. He's being charged with violating diplomatic immunity for baggage brought into the country. Well, uh.... No. As said in about 30 news stories from all over the globe and the political spectrum, the envoy had NOTHING questionable in his bags. The supposed "contraband" was ON THE SAME PLANE AND THEN ON THE SAME TRUCK.
And by the way, the OP's grasp of international law is pretty weak. One can't be charged with violating diplomatic immunity, except by one's own country. What has happened is Venez. has lodged a formal protest with the US State Dept. that the diplomatic privilege of not having your shipments to your embassy inspected was abused. This notwithstanding that the shipment WAS inspected by Venezuelan customs and cleared for delivery to the Embassy.
Do I need to go on? The rest of the post is drivel. Go back and read it. Here's what happened as best as I can tell:
A US diplomatic employee moved to Venezuela and shipped his family's personal effects. On the same (US) plane were military parts ordered by Venezuela, paid for by the country and inspected by the Venezuelan customs. The parts, the diplomat's bags, and some other allegedy contraband items were all loaded on a truck bound for the US Embassy, and then the Venezulan government decided to "expose" the shipment.
For reasons known only to Mr. Chavez (hmmm...like he was making a violently anti-US and anti-Israel speech in Syria the same day as this little incident and maybe needed some distraction?) the Venezuelan Dept. of State "discovered" these heinous military devices (which are defensive, not offensive). And decided to raise a minor ruckus.
Now...may I ask you to shoulder the burden of the thread and explain why everyone is ranting?
E.
OH I FORGOT: the other issue the Venezuelan government has vigorously protested in that SOMEONE -- the new employee or someone in the Embassy -- is accused of violating the rules of Diplomacy again...there was a serious, hideous smuggling attempt besides these "weapons". Yes...sadly...SOME EVIL, ROTTEN AMERICAN APPARENTLY ATTEMPTED TO SMUGGLE AMERICAN RAISED CHICKEN IN THE DIPLOMATIC SHIPMENT! 167 lbs, to be exact. NOW, there's a war crime for you! DAMN THAT EVIL GEORGE BUSH!
(I'm not making this up...the "chicken offense" was reported by the Venezuelans along with the alleged importation of military weapons. And I'm not fan of Bush, but I really, really dislike stupidity, and this thread reeks of it...like week old chicken in the Venezuelan sun.)
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