Venezuela to build missile-based air defense system

As it puts in place South America's largest offensive air force fleet, the Bolivarian regime announces its intent to build a missile-based anti-aircraft system.

"We are going to install in Venezuela a system of aerial defense ... [with] equipment that detects a target from 200 kilometers [124 miles)] away and fires heat-guided missiles," Chavez announced in a speech, Reuters reports. "We're going to shield Venezuela."

Chavez contradicted his defense minister, Raul Beduel, who had denied press reports in Russia that the regime was seeking such weapons. The Venezuelan leader inspected an air defense system while visiting Belarus.