The NRA told me to never point a gun unless I’m intending to kill the sonofabitch I’m pointing it at. It also taught me that the proper response to such a threat was a slug between the eyes. Seems to me that if this most sensible principle applies to handguns, it must apply all the more to SeaSLAMS and stealth bombers.

And the criticism that Chavez is building up military power because he’s “a socialist” and “They always do this to consolidate their power” is an odd argument, considering. Why, then, do WE do it? And are OUR admerals and Generals not “Fat and Happy,” and willing to do whatever George says?

How is this sauce for the goose not sauce for the gander?

My knowledge of naval technology is about ten years out of date. When I was a naval officer, based on my experiences in exercises and in studying for my oral boards, I considered the greatest threat to a carrier to be a modern diesel-electric submarine operating in home waters with a crew who was skilled enough to target and fire torpedoes without going to periscope depth.

The diesel submarines tend to be much quieter than nuclear submarines since they don’t use coolant pumps. Intelligently operated, they can be hard to find, particularly if they stay near a friendly coast-line. If they launch a suprise attack, they will likely sink a carrier; carrier crews tend to be sloppy about maintaining water-tight integrity.

If I wanted to destroy the hegemony of the United States government, I would attack the U.S. dollar. The U.S. dollar’s value is based on all the stuff one can buy with it. It used to be that without it, it was hard to purchase useful goods. Ten years ago, the only commodity that was only available for dollars was oil.

In the late 1990′s Saddam Hussein switched to demanding Euro’s instead of dollars in payment for the oil he sells. After he was overthrown, the new government installed by the U.S. army returned to dollar-only sales.

A few years ago, the Iranian government did the same. And within weeks of announcing their intention to make the switch, influential magazines in the U.S. started calling for the U.S. to militarily intervene in the country.

I recall that Hugo Chavez has mooted about the idea of doing the same thing, and while rejecting the idea of switching to Euro sales, has claimed that the option is “on the table”.

It is quite possible that he wants to do this, and that he wants to purchase as much equipment as he can prior to the inevitable sanctions followed by military action that will follow.