WikiLeaks: How US shot down Czech-Venezuelan plane deal

High diplomacy and low skulduggery by the US helped to block a lucrative plane contract between a Czech company and Venezuela

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Chris Johnstone | 07.09.2011

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Film star and focus of diplomatic flurry, the Czech-made L-39

Frantic US diplomatic lobbying and behind the scenes pressure were employed to stop Czech manufacturer Aero Vodochody doing a deal with Venezuela. When the high diplomatic efforts started to fail, US attention turned to the commercial pressure that could be exerted to scupper the lease deal for the types of planes which featured in the James Bond film ‘Tomorrow Never Dies.’

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