Nicaragua Offers US
Missiles for Meds
Nicaragua President
Daniel Ortega suggested
the United States
exchange more than half
of the 1,051
ground-to-air missiles
in the hands of the
Nicaraguan Army for
helicopters or medical
equipment and medicine.
We will keep 400
missiles, and give them
the rest, but they have
to give us something in
return. If they don't
want to give
helicopters, they could
give surgical
instruments to improve
hospitals, or medicine,
Ortega said in a
ceremony to mark the
28th anniversary of the
Nicaraguan Air Force.
The president explained
that it would be a
simple swap, and warned
that any technological
equipment should be new.
"They are quite capable
of sending us
second-hand stuff," said
the Sandinista leader,
who added that the
remaining 400 missiles
are "untouchable," and
will be renewed when
their life-span is over.
In the wake of 9 11,
Washington started
pressing Nicaragua to
destroy its Russian-made
SAM-7 missiles in the
hands of the local Army
since the 80s.
According to the US,
these weapons, capable
of downing planes in
mid-flight, might fall
into the hands of
international
terrorists, which is
rejected by the
Nicaraguan military, who
claim to have the
missiles in a safe
place.
During the government of
ex President Enrique
Bolanos (2002-2007),
over 1,000 SAM-7s were
destroyed. However, as
requested by the
Sandinista National
Liberation Front,
Congress intervened,
preventing a total
disarmament of
Nicaragua.
The Nicaraguan Army says
that 400 missiles will
suffice to defend the
country's airspace. |
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