Venezuela Tried to Buy Time on Spy Satellite, Lawsuit Shows

When it comes to espionage and defense, the sky is not the limit for Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez. Chavez offered between $100 million and $150 million during negotiations to acquire partial interest in a company that operates a powerful observation satellite capable of discerning objects as small as about 27 inches across, according to documents in a civil complaint filed in a New York federal court. Chavez sought to purchase 20 percent to 30 percent of the stock offered by ImageSat International, the company that owns the Eros A and Eros B satellites; the latter was launched in 2006 by Israel, reportedly to spy on Iran's nuclear program.