Yankee Imperialism Develops its Military Campaign in Latin America
Featured image: Image montage featuring the M109 A3 used by the reactionary Brazilian Army and the Yankee embassy in Brazil. Source: AND
On October 18, two US Air Force C-146A Wolfhound Aircraft, used as support aircraft for special operations, landed in Puerto Ayacucho of the Amazonas state in Venezuela, after arriving in Carracas on October 16, A Nova Democracia (AND) reports.
The two aircraft took off from Caracas on October 18, at 10:21 am and 10:30 am, and at 11:24 am, tracking stopped recording the position of the aircraft. After more than six hours after departure, they reappeared on the ground in Puerto Ayacucho at 4:35 pm and 4:42 pm.
AND reports that “The distance between the two airports is approximately 560 kilometers as the crow flies. The US Air Force reports a speed of 500 km/h for the C-146A; based on this reference, the distance would correspond to approximately 1 hour and 10 minutes of travel, not including climb and approach.” – There have been no reports from either Washington nor Caracas of what took place during this interval, and the cargo or personnel on the plane is not open to public record.
The arrival of these planes in Venezuela coincided with another military maneuver. On the 16th, General Eric M. Smith, commander of the US Marine Corps, participated in the reactivation of the detachment in charge of security for the embassy in Caracas, alongside the chargé d’affaires John Barrett. The ceremony was announced by the diplomatic representation the following day, AND reports.
In a separate report, AND unveils the participation of the US embassy in Brazil in the monitoring of weapons sold or donated to the reactionary Brazilian Armed Forces. They write: “Through the Golden Sentry program, Washington monitors the use, storage, and disposition of this equipment. A report published by Revista Sociedade Militar on October 17 indicates that the program covers the Army’s M109A5 howitzers and M113 and M577 armored vehicles.” The conditions are set forth in the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) manual itself, which is affiliated with the Pentagon.
US law provides for restrictions on loans, sales, and deliveries in the event of substantial violations of the agreements, meaning that payment for the weapons, therefore, leaves the supplier with leverage over the purchaser. The donation part of this agreement functions much in the same way. Brazil received a batch of 40 M109A5 Howitzers “free of charge,” however, to modernize 32 of them, a 54 million USD deal was signed with BAE systems, a package including parts, training, and post-delivery support services.
In the chapter dedicated to sales preparation, the DSCA manual provides guidance on aligning buyer countries’ acquisitions with US strategic objectives, the plans of regional military commands, and embassy strategy.
