MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Hot News from South America

Green light for Chilean F 16

Following an agreement with the George W. Bush administration, US Senate presented no objections to the sale of ten advanced F-16 fighter bombers to Chile. The Chilean Air Force request is for ten F-16 C/D Block 52 Plus and two refurbished K-135 tankers, totaling an estimated 714 million US dollars. In spite of some restrictions, since the US Senate is concerned about a potential air power unbalance in the region, the Chilean F-16 will be entitled to advanced communications systems, night vision and intelligent equipment, including APG-68 (V) XM radar and the guided missile Litening II system. With US Senate clearance the next step is for both governments to define details of the sale. However Pentagon sources indicated that the Chilean Air Force could also have access to less costly versions. For example the 19 refurbished F-16 A/B from the Dutch Air Force or the 28 F-16 A/B Plus specially built for Pakistan but which were requisitioned when the country got involved in nuclear weapons. These 28 F-16 have less than 40 flying hours and could be delivered for just 300 million US dollars.

Greenpeace protest

In an appeal to the rich industrialized countries to enforce world climate protection agreements, the environmentalist organization Greenpeace over flew with an air static balloon the world famous Patagonian Perito Moreno glacier displaying a gigantic sign with the inscription: "Bush & Co. = Climatic disaster". The protest was in coincidence with the inauguration of the Climate Summit in Bonn, Germany, which is attempting a common position among industrialized countries regarding the ratification of the Kyoto Protocol on gas emissions and greenhouse effect. United States decision, together with Japan's new government, not to ratify the Protocol has caused great concern among European countries and environmentalists who are doing their outmost to turn world public opinion against what is described as the new irresponsible "pro business" attitude of the Bush administration. Over flying glaciers was chosen by the Argentine chapter of Greenpeace, since the last International World Change Climatic report forecasts that the current globa