U.S. General eyes Venezuela with concern

WASHINGTON, March 15 (UPI) -- The chief of the U.S. Southern Command Tuesday expressed deep concern that Venezuela may be starting an arms race in South America.

Gen. Bantz Craddock confirmed Venezuela has ordered 100,000 new AK-47s for its standing army of 80,000 troops, raising questions about the disposition of their old rifles.

"The purchase of these weapons is unsettling and we are watching it very closely," Craddock told the Senate Armed Services Committee.

Venezuela is also believed to have ordered Russian helicopters.

Craddock told UPI the United States is crafting a new policy toward Venezuela that focuses on shoring up support for the country's neighbors as a way of blunting the influence of President Hugo Chavez, who is a strident critic of the United States.