In this photo released by the U.S. Navy, one of two Russian Tupolev 95 Bear long rang bomber aircraft is seen near the U.S. Navy aircraft carrier USS Nimitz on Feb. 9, 2008, south of Japan. The Interfax news agency reported Saturday March 14, 2009 that a Russian Air Force chief says Russian strategic bombers may be based in Cuba. Russia resumed long-range bomber patrols in 2007 after a 15-year hiatus. (AP Photo/U.S. Navy)
Lets look at this objectively. On the one hand there is no Russian security reason to do this outside of tightening relations with fascist regimes/customers for Russian hardware. So why rub salt into the US. Perhaps its a bargaining chip to be threatened but pulled back on in exchange for benefits elsewhere. Not for nothing it seems like quite a coincidence that China is testing at the same time.
MOSCOW (AP) -- The Interfax news agency has reported that a Russian Air Force chief says Russian strategic bombers may be based in Cuba.The agency says the chief of staff of Russia's long range aviation Maj. Gen. Anatoly Zhikharyev said Cuba has air bases with four or five suitable runways.The agency reported Saturday that he said Cuba could be used to base Russian bombers if the two countries ''display a political will, we are ready to fly there.''
Cuba has never permanently hosted Russian or Soviet strategic aircraft. But Soviet short range bombers often made stopovers there during the Cold War. Russia resumed long-range bomber patrols in 2007 after a 15-year hiatus.
Its also possible this air force general was just running his mouth. Anyway it appears Chavez may be involved as well:
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has offered a military airfield on La Orchila island as a temporary base for Russian strategic bombers, the Interfax news agency reported Saturday, quoting a senior Air Force official."Yes, there has been such a proposal from the Venezuelan president. If a relevant political decision is made, this is possible," said Anatoly Zhikharev, chief of staff of the Russian Air Force's long-range aviation.Zhikharev said he had been to the airfield that belongs to a local naval base in 2008 and it would accept fully-loaded Russian strategic bombers after minor reconstruction.
Zhikharyev also said that Russia could also use Cuba as its base for strategic bombers.Cuba could be used to base Russian bombers if the two countries "display a political will
On a side not it appears Russian Bombers "Buzzed Canada" the other day:
(CNN) -- One day before U.S. President Barack Obama's Canadian visit last week, Canadian fighter jets intercepted two Russian bombers near Canadian air space, the defense minister said Friday.
"At no time did Russian planes enter Canadian air space, but within 24 hours of the president's visit here ... we did scramble F-18 fighter planes from NORAD in Canada command," Peter MacKay said in a news conference in Ottawa.
The Russian planes were in international waters, about 118 miles (190 kilometers) northeast of Tuktoyuktuk, in Canada's Northwest Territories."It was a routine flight over international airspace," Yevgeniy Khorishko, a spokesman at the Russian Embassy in Washington, told CBC news
Hi, it is a game before the meeting Obama-russian's leaders. Regards. I linked it. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteLazaro,
ReplyDeletedistinctively possible.
Between the Chinese expanding their influence, Mexico's descent into chaos, and now Russian Bombers potentially being stationed in Venezuela, we've really taken our eye off the ball in Latin America.
ReplyDeleteSomething is a little fishy here. I hope the CIA, etc. are paying close attention.
ReplyDeleteBob,
ReplyDeleteGod help us if these guys begin to funnel more high tech weaponry into Central America.
david,
ReplyDeleteMy thinking exactly. It seems like a lot of coincidences going on at the same time.
dont look good
ReplyDeleteis it possable to have a emp attack on us,than a invasion,just thinking out lound.
ReplyDeletedenny,
ReplyDeletethinking out loud is what blogging is designed for, anyway some type of cyber-attack would also be involved.
what iam concerned about is, obama ready for
ReplyDeletethis.i remember what biden said,he would be challenged
denny,
ReplyDeleteyeah I am sure that soft power will reset our relations.
all theses things happening at once,i wonder whats next.we as a people are busy with,tv and sports iam afraid people wont see it till its to late
ReplyDeletedenny,
ReplyDeleteThere is a lot going on and as David said I really hope the CIA is connecting any dots that are out there.
This story seems like a low priority in the world of news BUT for those of us who were around for the Cuban missile crisis in the early 1960s, it certainly raised a red flag for me. I certainly hopes this doesn't escalate to anything worse.
ReplyDeletetheres not much people can do , but waite and watch
ReplyDeleteBush started all this when he talked about putting missles in Poland, now Obama's got to deal with this BS. Chavez has always wanted a Russian presence in Venezuela to be taken seriously. Is it a coincidence he was just in Cuba, now this. I think the Russians are also like 5 yo kids who feel they haven't been getting enough attention too......
ReplyDeleteThese are not coincidences. These are enemies uniting and posturing to gain a strategic upper hand over what they perceive to be a weakened U.S. What they perceive to be a weak government. But the global economic crash has actually weakened these powers much more than the U.S. which is why they have chosen to move now, before their states become even weaker and loose any chance of gaining any more influence.
ReplyDeleteanonymous,
ReplyDeletedon't blame Bush for fascist aggression that has occurred for decades.
anonymous missle crisis,
ReplyDeletethat is scary
history repeats itself,if you dont learn from it.iam not sure if obama has the backbone to do anything about it.
ReplyDeletebush forsaw this ,thats why he was putting a missle sheild in poland, to have card to play,but obama took that off the table.obama its your turn now.
ReplyDeleteI believe that Obama does have the backbone to deal with this. He is also a very rational person who will do as much as he can diplomatically. He is one tough cookie!
ReplyDeleteJanet,
ReplyDeleteI do not share your optimism.
deny,
ReplyDeletewhich is why Obama should have kept quiet on the issue.
obama needs to keep missles in poland as a sheild,an deal with russian about the missles u put there as playing card against putting bombers off our shores.
ReplyDeletedeny,
ReplyDeletethat is a point to be considered.
Keep the missile shield and make it an offensive not just a defensive weapon. If you give in easy to thugs they ask for more.
ReplyDeleteBush setup a position of strength with the missile shield and Obama seems ready to let one of the only positive bargaining chips he got from Bush slip out of his hands.
ReplyDeleteThe Russians have been persistently upset about this missile shield in Poland. My question is, why? Do they perceive it as offensive somehow? How does it endanger Russia, or Russian interests? Anybody?
ReplyDeletethe missile shield is no treat to Russia,but it is to Iran.see Russia has missile deals with Iran,if your missiles cant reach there target than no deal,which means during hard times not making no money.Obama should put missiles in Poland,messes up there plan till they get in Cuba.
ReplyDeletedave,
ReplyDeleteit strengthen democracies in the region, thats why they dislike it.
doughboy,
ReplyDeletewell said.
deny,
ReplyDeletevalid point on the money factor involved in Russia selling its hardware.
u know a man said,the love of money is the root of all evil
ReplyDelete