NewsWhore
11-12-2008, 03:50 PM
The Chamber of Deputies has voted in favor of a US$93.6 million loan for the purchase of eight Brazilian Super Tucano air fighters. Of the 128 legislators, 87 voted in favor, eleven voted against and 30 abstained. Eugenio Cedeno, vice president of the PRD block in Congress, said that PRD members had voted against the bill because of observations that the Tucanos are not the best planes for fighting drug trafficking. Cedeno added that in a country with so many problems the government should not spend US$93.6 million on planes when the money could be used to build 6,486 houses or 2,705 schools in rural communities.
There has been a great deal of controversy about the purchase of the planes. The deal was first announced in November 2007. Critics have argued that the planes are outdated and not agile or fast enough to engage the state-of-the-art planes used by drug traffickers. Experts point out that most drug planes fly below radar, but the Tucanos planes aren't capable of doing that, making them obsolete for drug reconnaissance. In addition, the Dominican Air Force's lack of capacity to train its pilots in "dog fight" maneuvering, which is needed to chase down these plane, adds an extra challenge. Opponents have also questioned the lack of transparency surrounding the deal, and cited rumors that "incentives" had been paid to Congress members over the last few days to ensure their support for the project.
More... (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#5)
There has been a great deal of controversy about the purchase of the planes. The deal was first announced in November 2007. Critics have argued that the planes are outdated and not agile or fast enough to engage the state-of-the-art planes used by drug traffickers. Experts point out that most drug planes fly below radar, but the Tucanos planes aren't capable of doing that, making them obsolete for drug reconnaissance. In addition, the Dominican Air Force's lack of capacity to train its pilots in "dog fight" maneuvering, which is needed to chase down these plane, adds an extra challenge. Opponents have also questioned the lack of transparency surrounding the deal, and cited rumors that "incentives" had been paid to Congress members over the last few days to ensure their support for the project.
More... (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#5)