Odd how the US media is barely covering this story...

[dr__dawggy]

US press release:

http://www.state.gov/p/wha/rls/fs/2011/156779.htm

Thanks. Well worth cutting/pasting here for Lucas to peruse and spin for our enjoyment and edification.
Update on Seizure of U.S. Cargo by Argentine Authorities



Fact Sheet

Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs

February 17, 2011

On February 10, 2011, a U.S. Department of Defense team arrived in Buenos Aires to conduct hostage-rescue and crisis-management training with elements of the Argentine Federal Police. This exchange event had been approved in writing by the Ministry of Security on February 7, 2011, and earlier had been approved by the Ministry of Justice. It had also been coordinated with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The U.S. government approached all elements of the program with a clear commitment to respect applicable Argentine law, in accordance with the procedures and precedent established through bilateral diplomatic dialogue.
In order to clarify the facts, the following information is a timeline of events:

• The cargo was duly manifested in accordance with previous discussions and understandings based on prior successful training events with the Argentine Government, most recently in August 2009. All items brought into Argentina on February 10, 2011, were materials that would normally be brought in during a hostage rescue and crisis management training. We held multiple planning and coordination sessions in Argentina between U.S. and Argentine officials.
• During these discussions, the issue of non-serialized replacement barrels for three machine guns to be used in live-fire training was raised by U.S. officials with their Argentine counterparts. At that time, Argentine National Registry of Arms (RENAR) officials agreed that each of those machine guns and their replacement components would be considered one weapon system for purposes of the manifest.
• There was one discrepancy regarding the declared weapons on the official list provided to Argentine officials. Numerals contained in the serial number of one of the weapons were transposed. However, the quantity and type of weapon was consistent with the official manifest.
• Communications equipment was included in manifests provided to both RENAR and customs officials under “radios and computers” or “major end items.” The overall communications operating system was among the declared items on official manifests, even though individual component parts of that system were not listed separately. This is consistent with established practice and procedure during previous joint training exchange events involving U.S. and Argentine personnel.
• In reference to the “psychotropic drugs” and “narcotics” to which the Ministry of Foreign Affairs referred, the U.S. Department of State notes that among the non-declared items were a medical kit and first-aid items belonging to one of the team members, a U.S. Army medic. The kit included a small amount of morphine as well as other first-aid items, none of which were intended for use by non-U.S. personnel. These medications are standard items that the U.S. hostage-rescue team carries during routine training missions and are intended to be used in the event any U.S. team member suffers injury during the live-fire exercises conducted as part of the training. These items were not declared on the official manifest based on precedent established during previous joint-training events involving U.S. and Argentine personnel.
• The remaining non-declared items that the Government of Argentina has detained include miscellaneous items such as Meals Ready to Eat (MREs), batteries, clothing, office supplies, coolers for beverages, folding chairs, candy, and the U.S. team members’ personal gear.

 

[gouchobob]

Thanks. Well worth cutting/pasting here for Lucas to peruse and spin for our enjoyment and edification.
Update on Seizure of U.S. Cargo by Argentine Authorities



Fact Sheet

Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs

February 17, 2011

On February 10, 2011, a U.S. Department of Defense team arrived in Buenos Aires to conduct hostage-rescue and crisis-management training with elements of the Argentine Federal Police. This exchange event had been approved in writing by the Ministry of Security on February 7, 2011, and earlier had been approved by the Ministry of Justice. It had also been coordinated with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The U.S. government approached all elements of the program with a clear commitment to respect applicable Argentine law, in accordance with the procedures and precedent established through bilateral diplomatic dialogue.
In order to clarify the facts, the following information is a timeline of events:

• The cargo was duly manifested in accordance with previous discussions and understandings based on prior successful training events with the Argentine Government, most recently in August 2009. All items brought into Argentina on February 10, 2011, were materials that would normally be brought in during a hostage rescue and crisis management training. We held multiple planning and coordination sessions in Argentina between U.S. and Argentine officials.
• During these discussions, the issue of non-serialized replacement barrels for three machine guns to be used in live-fire training was raised by U.S. officials with their Argentine counterparts. At that time, Argentine National Registry of Arms (RENAR) officials agreed that each of those machine guns and their replacement components would be considered one weapon system for purposes of the manifest.
• There was one discrepancy regarding the declared weapons on the official list provided to Argentine officials. Numerals contained in the serial number of one of the weapons were transposed. However, the quantity and type of weapon was consistent with the official manifest.
• Communications equipment was included in manifests provided to both RENAR and customs officials under “radios and computers” or “major end items.” The overall communications operating system was among the declared items on official manifests, even though individual component parts of that system were not listed separately. This is consistent with established practice and procedure during previous joint training exchange events involving U.S. and Argentine personnel.
• In reference to the “psychotropic drugs” and “narcotics” to which the Ministry of Foreign Affairs referred, the U.S. Department of State notes that among the non-declared items were a medical kit and first-aid items belonging to one of the team members, a U.S. Army medic. The kit included a small amount of morphine as well as other first-aid items, none of which were intended for use by non-U.S. personnel. These medications are standard items that the U.S. hostage-rescue team carries during routine training missions and are intended to be used in the event any U.S. team member suffers injury during the live-fire exercises conducted as part of the training. These items were not declared on the official manifest based on precedent established during previous joint-training events involving U.S. and Argentine personnel.
• The remaining non-declared items that the Government of Argentina has detained include miscellaneous items such as Meals Ready to Eat (MREs), batteries, clothing, office supplies, coolers for beverages, folding chairs, candy, and the U.S. team members’ personal gear.

I haven't heard anything of the Argentine government stating this is not
accurate. If they don't refute it I guess this is all there was to this. I don't think even Lucas could spin this as some sort of plot by the evil empire of the north.

 

[xibeca]

Lucas, keep posting, although most of what you do is complete nonsense in my opinion. I remember once reading about how people in Argentina tend to engage in what the writer call magical thinking when it came to political issues. I think I now know what he meant. I think there are a large number of Argentinians that would agree the posts Lucas makes, I don't know if it would be a majority or not but certainly close to it. I think this gives us a window on to the thinking that goes on here and helps explain why things are as they are in Argentina.

There is a large amount of people in the world who would agree what Lucas posts in this thread. If you had read your Latin American history, this plane incident would hardly be surprising to you. I tend not to believe compulsive liars, but apparently you do.

Personally I would like some more facts before I state any opinion regarding this, it's sad to see how fast people jump to conclusions before seeing any.

 

[cbphoto]

I found this on another post here... think it explains why the Argentine gov. created this non story in the 1st place

http://www.argentinaindependent.com/...ing-in-spain-/

 

[xibeca]

I found this on another post here... think it explains why the Argentine gov. created this non story in the 1st place

http://www.argentinaindependent.com/...ing-in-spain-/

You mind telling us why you think that?

Defense minister Arturo Puricelli announced that “nobody can doubt that the Air Force is involved.”

Doesn't sound like they are trying to cover this up to me.

The suspected smugglers are Gustavo Adolfo and Eduardo Antonia Julia, the sons of José Juliía, the former head of the Air Force, during Carlos Menem’s rule. Also under arrest is Gaston Miret, the son of José Miret, former secretary of planning during the dictatorship.

And this doesn't sound like they are friends with the Kirchner administration either.

 

[Napoleon]

There is a large amount of people in the world who would agree what Lucas posts in this thread. If you had read your Latin American history, this plane incident would hardly be surprising to you. I tend not to believe compulsive liars, but apparently you do.

Personally I would like some more facts before I state any opinion regarding this, it's sad to see how fast people jump to conclusions before seeing any.

Then you agree with most of the posters with regards to the current administration.

This hissy fit would be beyond comprehension in practically all over countries (Venezuela excluded), but here it's par for the course. I'm thinking that the exact same thing wouldn't go down with China (with the exact same "infractions"), because China would slow their soy purchases to a trickle the administration might be toppled by June.

 

[Lucas]

Thanks. Well worth cutting/pasting here for Lucas to peruse and spin for our enjoyment and edification.
Update on Seizure of U.S. Cargo by Argentine Authorities


Fact Sheet

Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs

February 17, 2011

Hahahaha....FACT SHEET!.....because its coming with EE.UU seal of approval I must believe all it said and of course accept all as true facts, C'mon, what a joke!

The fact is and has been in innumerable cases that EE.UU give a shit of others countries laws, they move around by theirs owns laws bulling anybody in their path particularly the weak countries of the world not to mention of this region and F*#@ the concerns of the rest they are shrouded with a halo of impunity and criticisms and not used that an inconsequential country weak and small tell them when and where they were wrong. The FACT is that all this is happening regularly here in Argentina and others countries around the region, the governments just look to one side trying to ignore those 'FACTS' to avoid the escalation of a diplomatic row as this one we are witnessing right now, in August last year something similar happen and in this case the cargo list which stipulate the full content of the military airplane was totally wrong, not 1/3 as was in this case but ALL the declaration was wrong as the affidavit stipulated, but because the material was not taken yet out of the airplane it was send back to US without leaving anything on the ground, straight back where they come from, not big deal there.

Those are the FACTS pal, if US declared in the list all the cargo material as it should be done in the first place nothing of this will ever have happen, but not! WHY they should do that! They are US of A, remember? and therefore everyone have to comply with their way or else.....well No! for once here the authorities of this country put their ovaries on the table, so to speak and did not bend over to please Uncle Sam, Good on you Christina!, I only hope that from now on Argentina will do not bend over anymore on any of these issues.

I won't expect in a million years that any USAians will be with me on this, but only I'll tell them one thing, What you will do if an Argentinean military airplane land in USA in a similar situation? What do you thing your government will do?..... I know perfectly what they will do, in the best case they will kick their arses out of the country with steel cup boots and the other and more possible outcome is that they will receive full accommodation meals included in a free of charge five star hotel at Guantanamo Bay.

 

[cbphoto]

Lucas is Cabrera?

 

[Lucas]

Lucas is Cabrera?

I wish I was but not sorry to disappoint you, Cabrera do not have 'pelos en la lengua' so to speak she/he will speak her/his mind without 'medias tintas'.

 

[dr__dawggy]

I haven't heard anything of the Argentine government stating this is not
accurate. If they don't refute it I guess this is all there was to this. I don't think even Lucas could spin this as some sort of plot by the evil empire of the north.

Ooops. You underestimated Lucas.

Smuggling Meals Ready to Eat and Candy into the country is evidence of Yanqui Imperialism at work. Thank God for Brave Christina standing up to Mighty Uncle Sam.