Time to ratchet up American paranoia...

... and add to the ol' probligo's worries as well. And, TF, you do not need to "read between the lines" with this story. The only thing puzzling me is how it has missed the right-whinge news feeds in the US. At least until now (19:50 27/4/10 NZST)that is and I have not yet been across to TF's place for a read.

Today's Herald had this article reprinted from Telegraph UK -

Iran and Venezuela have already shown an interest in the Club-K Container Missile System which could allow them to carry out pre-emptive strikes from behind an enemy's missile defences.

Defence experts say the system is designed to be concealed as a standard 40ft shipping container that cannot be identified until it is activated.

Priced at an estimated £10 million, each container is fitted with four cruise anti-ship or land attack missiles. The system represents an affordable "strategic level weapon".

Some experts believe that if Iraq had the Club-K system in 2003 it would have made it impossible for America to invade with any container ship in the Gulf a potential threat.

Club-K is being marketed at the Defence Services Asia exhibition in Malaysia this week.

Novator, the manufacturer, is an advanced missile specialist that would not have marketed the system without Moscow's approval. It has released an emotive marketing film complete with dramatic background music.

It shows Club-K containers stowed on ships, trucks and trains as a neighbouring country prepares to invade with American style military equipment.

The enemy force is wiped out by the cruise missile counter attack.

The ol' probligo is not in any way claiming an ability at prescience. Not one little bit. This is a weapon that was just crying out for development. It would surprise me immensely if such a system was not already an element of the US war machine. The diff obviously being that they would limit sales to one or two good friends - like Israel for example.

So, TF (and any anyone else of like mind), this one does scare the ol' probligo. It is what I have talked of for some years come to fruition.

Chavez threatens to stop oil exports to the US...

How DARE he?

BTW thanks to TMV for the link...

But - I must admit to reading up on this with a quiet smile of satisfaction on my face.

It has nothing to do with Chavez' policies or threats to nationalise Exxon (not a good idea in my book). Nothing to do with communism. Nothing to do with the almost certainty of the US blogiverse response. Irrespective of the outcome - and I don't think it will do Venezuela any good - at least Chavez is following his own star.

No, I smile quietly that here is another politician who is prepared, has the balls to stick it to the US. David Lange did it with NZ's anti-nuclear legislation. Auntie Helen did it by refusing to follow John Poodle's charge into Iraq. The Japanese have done it by (in theory at least) refusing the US permission to have nuclear weapons on Japanese soil. Some of the European nations did it when they refused to back Bush's gun-boat diplomacy threats against Hussein.

No, it is like I said. It takes balls to stand for what you believe in. I can respect GWB even for saying what he thought and following his own cause. It took courage to go against the tide of international opinion. Doesn't make him right, any more than Chavez' action this time is "right"...

It does no good to sit and pontificate on whether Chavez is right or wrong. That is not the point. History will resolve that question in good time. Chavez deserves a quiet clap for saying what he thinks in a world where genuflexion is generally the first international response.