[bishop]

http://www.foxnews.com/printer_frien...195777,00.html

CARACAS, Venezuela — Venezuela's defense minister said Tuesday that there are no immediate plans to sell U.S.-made fighter jets despite a dispute over replacement parts — backing away from one general's statement that the planes could go to Iran. Defense Minister Adm. Orlando Maniglia said a sale of the 21 F-16s wasn't in the works and President Hugo Chavez "has not given any order" as to what to do with the aircraft. Gen. Alberto Muller, an adviser to Chavez, said earlier he had recommended to the defense ministry that Venezuela consider selling its F-16s after the U.S. announced a ban on arms sales to the South American country. Muller said he thought it worthwhile to consider "the feasibility of a negotiation with Iran for the sale of those planes." But Maniglia said that was Muller's personal opinion only and that he "is not a spokesman of the armed forces." The Iranian Embassy in Caracas said no deal involving warplanes had been proposed. The defense minister also said the United States has violated a contract by refusing to sell Venezuela replacement parts for its jets, even after Venezuela paid for those parts. "I've honestly grown tired of asking for replacement parts for the F-16s," Maniglia said at a news conference. "I've got my list. We've paid. We have money deposited in the United States." He claimed that Washington has kept U.S., Israeli and South Korean firms from shipping parts. U.S. officials did not immediately respond to the new accusation that the parts were already paid for, but they have previously said they are complying with the F-16 sale contract.