Senate homeland security chairman raises questions about CASA

The chairman of the US Senate's homeland security panel has sent a letter to colleagues raising concerns about CASA and its modernization of the Venezuelan military.

Senator Jon Kyl (R-Arizona) writes to his fellow senators, "Despite objections by the Bush administration, Spanish-owned Construcciones Aeronauticas SA (CASA) proceeded with the sale, removing US components from the aircraft so the US could not use the International Trade in Arms Regulations to block the sale. . . .

"This case underscores the need to establish a comprehensive policy that holds foreign military suppliers accountable for cooperating with hostile regime that compromise US security."

A copy of the letter appears above. Click on the image to enlarge.