MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency
Current, former Argentine Defense Ministers exchange accusations in Congress over ARA San Juan
Argentine Defense Minister Aguad claimed that in Argentina “there are those who hate the truth.” ![“Whether or not there were [cases of] corruption in Navy purchases during my tenure, they were not related [to the ARA San Juan],” Garré replied.](/data/cache/noticias/67372/0x0/garre.jpg)
“Whether or not there were [cases of] corruption in Navy purchases during my tenure, they were not related [to the ARA San Juan],” Garré replied. Argentine Defense Minister Oscar Aguad Tuesday said the causes of the ARA San Juan submarine's fate are closer to become known, but he pointed a finger at faulty maintenance between 2008 and 2015 under President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner (CFK).
Aguad appeared Tuesday before a Congressional bicameral commission during which he was particularly pounded by Victory Front (FPV) Deputy Nilda Garre, who was herself defense minister under CFK at the time the allegedly deadly repairs were made.
Garré accused Aguad of lack of neutrality in supporting this theory about the accident, which in her opinion is backed by no evidence.
Aguad asked for the meeting to be held privately because he was to expose before the Commission the possible causes of the ARA San Juan's wreck “and those causes bring on responsibilities.”
But his request was denied and the meeting went on with the presence of relatives of the deceased sailors of the submarine.
Aguad insisted the evidence has been delivered to the judge investigating the case of the Argentine Navy's ARA San Juan submarine that was last heard of on November 15, 2017 and which was found at the bottom of the sea one year and one day later with 44 crewmembers onboard.
Garré defended herself by saying it “was a wise decision do it [maintenance] in our yards” and argued the state in which the submarie's hull was found 900 metres under the ocean was a proof of that.
“Whether or not there were [cases of] corruption in Navy purchases during my tenure, they were not related [to the ARA San Juan],” Garré replied.
Aguad claimed that “in this country there are those who hate the truth because the truth unmasks” the reality of things“ and ”I am lucky to be a part of an executive branch where the truth comes furst and foremost.”
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Dec 06th, 2018 - 03:02 pm +1Yes, Chile recognized the criminal slaughter of its soldiers in the Tragedy of Antuco and Argentina needs now to come clean with the Argentine public. It's common knowledge in the international defense industry that Argentine ships and aircraft are rarely properly maintained.
¡Saludos!
Estimado THINK
Dec 06th, 2018 - 07:06 pm +1Oh I completely agree Antuco was an evil crime and that's why I used the term “slaughter.” History has mis-labeled it as a “Tragedy” just as the San Juan is as an “Accident.” To paraphrase Walt Kelley, “We have met the enemy, and he is us.”
As far as your navy, you obviously need an efficient costal defense fleet and I would hope, despite your personal feelings, that your government continue to maintain magnificent ARA Libertad as well as of course the splendid Círculo Militar.
We on the other hand of course need to remain ever vigilant against the incessant menacing aggression of the vociferous Armada Boliviana...
As said before, the Argentine government and it's admiralty only have to look in the mirror to find the criminals responsible of the murder of its sailors.
Dec 05th, 2018 - 03:20 pm 0“Traces of nobility, gentleness and courage persist in all people, do what we will to stamp out the trend. So, too, do those characteristics which are ugly. It is just unfortunate that in the clumsy hands of a cartoonist all traits become ridiculous, leading to a certain amount of self-conscious expostulation and the desire to join battle. There is no need to sally forth, for it remains true that those things which make us human are, curiously enough, always close at hand. Resolve then, that on this very ground, with small flags waving and tinny blasts on tiny trumpets, we shall meet the enemy, and not only may he be ours, he may be us. Forward!”
— Walt Kelly, June 1953
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