Russia considering Cuba and Venezuela for bomber bases

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Russia weighs Cuba, Venezuela bases: report

Russia could use bases for its strategic bombers on the doorstep of the United States in Cuba and Venezuela to underpin long-distance patrols in the region, a senior air force officer said Saturday.

"This is possible in Cuba," General Anatoly Zhikharev, chief of the Russian air force's strategic aviation staff, told the Interfax-AVN military news agency.

The comments were the latest signal that Moscow intends to project its military capability in far-flung corners of the globe despite a tight defence budget and hardware that experts consider in many respects outdated.

Zhikharev indicated that Russia was looking only at occasional use of the facilities -- not setting up permanent bases in the region.

He noted that the Venezuelan constitution prohibited establishment of military bases of foreign states on Venezuelan territory and described the Russian possibile use of the facility there as "we land, we complete the flight, we take off."

Zhikharev said Cuba had a several air bases equipped with the long runways needed by the heavy bombers and said the facilities there were "entirely acceptable" for use by the Russian aircraft during long-distance patrols.

"If the will of the two states is there, the political will, then we are prepared to fly there" to the bases in Cuba, the agency quoted Zhikharev as saying.

The general also said that Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez had offered to let Russian strategic bombers use a military airfield on La Orchila island, a military base off the west coast of the country.

"Yes, there has been such a proposal from the Venezuelan president," Zhikharev said.

"If a relevant political decision is made, this is possible," he added.

Russia resumed patrols by its long-distance strategic bombers in August 2007 after a 15-year hiatus, noting at the time that it was mirroring the United States which never suspended its global bomber patrols after the Cold War.

Last year, Russia temporarily based a pair of Tu-160 bombers at an airbase in Venezuela in a carefully-choreographed display of force regarded by as a warning message to the United States.

A Russian flotilla led by the nuclear-powered cruiser Peter the Great also joined Venezuelan navy vessels for manoeuvres in the Caribbean late last year, timed to coincide with a visit to the region by President Dmitry Medvedev.

The previous US administration of George W. Bush officially shrugged off the Russian aviation and naval moves in Latin America, characterising them as more for show than anything representing a military worry for the United States.

Last July however, a top US air force officer warned that Russia would cross "a red line" if it were to base nuclear capable bombers in Cuba.

"If they did, I think we should stand strong and indicate that is something that crosses a threshold, crosses a red line for the United States of America," said General Norton Schwartz said on July 23.

The Interfax report said there were three types of Russian aircraft capable of long-distance bomber patrols: The Tu-95MS, the Tu-160 and the Tu-22.

It was Tu-160 strategic bombers that were sent to Venezuela for temporary basing last year. Each aircraft of this type is capable of carrying 12 cruise missiles that can be fitted with nuclear warheads.

http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=CN...;show_article=1

[Ban Hammer 13,619]

i hope obama can do something about this once he takes office.

[Scott & Lai 12]

i hope obama can do something about this once he takes office.

Who is in office now?

[Ban Hammer 13,619]

i hope obama can do something about this once he takes office.

Who is in office now?

that's a kaydee saying, it sure seemed appropriate for this thread

[Scott & Lai 12]

i hope obama can do something about this once he takes office.

Who is in office now?

that's a kaydee saying, it sure seemed appropriate for this thread

I know the saying, just think it's time to update it a little

[spookyturtle 9,466]

Maybe Obama can start a war in Venezuela and Cuba so that he can catch up to George.

[HAL 9000 96]

Oh noes. Evil Russkies. Yep. Definitely a Kaydee moment.

[NickD 203]

Venezuela sure concerns me since I have in-laws there. While we made efforts to planning out trip last November with appointments, never took into account the president of Russia would be there, for three days, all key exits were closed on the only road we could take to make traveling impossible. But that last president and his staff were laughing about any mutual agreements between the Soviets, still go by that name and Chavez that actually is Castro.

Then it was on controlling drug traffic, difficult to be that naive with that character. Many of my wifes' friends were recently laid off and inflation was astronomical from the year before. Now Russian military bases.

Also noted a great deal of fear now that Chavez has armed his troops with AK47's, he certainly changed the outcome of the last referendum using that technique. But if I was given a gun to shoot my own people, I feel I would rather use it on Chavez, just cannot comprehend that degree of thinking with his troops, and that is exactly how countries are taken over. We never took Hitler or Stalin seriously either, and not really in favor of us nuking Venezuela, lot's of good friends and in-laws will be killed.

Yes, I hope Obama will take this seriously, but in the same breathe, Chavez wants to establish relationships with the USA, because he is quickly running out of money.

[HAL 9000 96]

I smell cash. Pretty much it, Nick. Chavez may be a loonie, but he is no idiot.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Mother Russia is feeling neglected, and wants to assert her womanhood! Perhaps, they remember for the days of Krushev, and how young Kennedy was finally coerced into removing missiles from Turkey. She wants the US out of her former stomping grounds. What a better way, than to frustrate a wet behind the ears plebe that needs Russia's cooperation in world affairs?

[HAL 9000 96]

Add a few more countdown clocks.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Add a few more countdown clocks.

PM me if you find a few good ones!