Katy says: I thought this article from the Jamestown Foundation's Eurasia Group on the arms deals between Chávez and Russia was interesting. According to the author, the planes Chávez is buying are second-hand, overpriced and pretty useless; useless, that is, unless you're trying to buy your way into the UN Security Council and need cash to be re-elected in your own country at the same time.
What astounded me was the figure for the alleged kickbacks in this deal: $600 million is a lot of change.
