The Russo-Venezuelan Fistfight

A Canadian defense reporter has dug a a little bit of gossip about a fight between the bodyguards of Hugo Chavez and Dmitry Medvedev last year, which may have caused Caracas to cancel its deal to buy some Russian submarines.  (Hat tip to Joshua Keating at FP).

Didn't these Russians know who they are messing with?  Even if Nikolai Valuev headed up Medvedev's entourage, he'd be snuffed out after just one kidnapping from one of the Chavista militias like La Piedrita.

It apparently all went down during the big dog-and-pony show (Dec. 19, 2008) when the Russians sent the Peter the Great warship into the Caribbean for exercises with the Venezuelans and Cubans.  When Chavez boarded the frigate for an inspection, his security detail attempted to follow him but were stopped by the Russian bodyguards.  Moments later, the punches were flying.  The entire event of bringing the warship to Venezuela was believed to be a tit-for-tat for U.S. ships in the Black Sea off Georgia.  The move, however, did not have the desired impact on Washington, even though this less-than-harmonious incident was keep hidden from the press up until now.  Don't worry too much though - Venezuela still rounded out the year as Russia's #1 weapons buyer, with a 900% increase in orders in the last five year period.

Unfortunately, the great Russo-Venezuelan fistfight was not caught on camera to my knowledge.  Instead, the best I can offer you is former President Bush throwing down for a rumble in Santiago involving his own bodyguards:

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This blog was created to express views which may stimulate debate and discussion on topics of international interest. I believe that we live in a world of unchallenged impunity, and this blog is ...

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