Franco Aleman, who blogs from Spain as Barcepundit, highlights a Spanish news agency report about a a serious dimension to the arms deal between Spain and Venezuela already worrying geostrategists. It is a scoop in the English language reporting on the subject.

Hugo Chavez, the Castro—wannabe with petrodollars to spend, is heavily arming himself. Franco brings us the news that it is not just transport planes, patrol boats, and other gear, but weapons of mass destruction that Spain has provided:

chemical warfare agents and radioactive materials to Venezuela worth £539.603 according to a report entitled "Spanish exports of defence materials and related products and technologies". The report, produced by Spain's Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Tourism, was revealed to Europe Press. Venezuela appeared as the twelfth buyer of such defence material to Spain for the period that saw José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero winning the vote over Partido Popular.

Chemical Warfare

Report's statistics show that Venezuela was the only country under the category "countries to which chemical warfare agents and radioactive materials were sold". Worth noting that the said category includes "biological and nerve agents destined to chemical warfare" of which Venezuela bought £30.374.

Another £509.229 consisted of "paramilitary and security material" which encompasses "firearms or gas weapons, bombs, grenades, explosives, armoured and all terrain vehicles, water canons, telescopic sights and night vision devices, etc."

All of this happened during the year 2004, when control of Spain shifted from American ally Aznar to socialist Zapatero, int he wake of the 3/11 Madrid train bombing. It is unclear who did the deal, but Franco's money is on Zapatero.

Franco is an invaluable source of information, and a terrific blogger.

Thomas Lifson   4 8 05