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| Caribbean-Latin America |
| Russia may station combat aircraft in Cuba ! |
| 2008-07-22 |
| Moscow, July 21 (RIA Novosti) Russian combat aircraft could be stationed in Cuba in a bid to counter US plans to deploy a missile shield in central Europe, a Russian daily reported Monday. Moscow has strongly opposed the planned deployment by the US of 10 interceptor missiles in Poland and radar in the Czech Republic as a threat to its security. 'While they are deploying the missile shield in Poland and the Czech Republic, our strategic bombers will be landing in Cuba,' a high-placed military aviation source told the Izvestia newspaper. That'll make the U.S. Air Force very, very happy. They haven't had live targets to practice on in a while. And just before budget submission time as well. Meanwhile, Leonid Ivashov, the former head of the Russia's defence ministry's department for international cooperation, told the newspaper that Cuba could be used as a refueling stopover for Russian aircraft rather than a permanent base. On the way south to visit your friend Hugo, perhaps? The October of 1962 saw a tense standoff between the US and the erstwhile Soviet Union after the latter stationed its missile in Cuba. The Cuban missile crisis was resolved after the then Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev ordered the removal of the missiles. |
| Posted by:3dc |
| #23 Theres also the FUTURE OWG-NORTH AMER UNION SOCAL-BAJA + CARIBBEAN/PAN-AMER FREE TRADE ZONES, as GEOPOL = GEO STRATEGIC HEDGE AGZ THE USA = FUTURE USSA/USR. Our sacred ARROGANT NATIONAL FASCISM = ALMOST-MOTHERLY LIMITED COMMUNISM. |
| Posted by: JosephMendiola 2008-07-22 20:15 |
| #22 Might be a fun exercise to see if the fighters can run the Bears out of fuel. |
| Posted by: ed 2008-07-22 20:05 |
| #21 No surpise here - Iff VALDVEDEV is truly intent on countering US GMD, and given Russia's ongoing econ probs, tech- and national weaknesses despite reforms, then it would be practical for Russia to consider emplacing milfors back in Cuba as well as other host nations [read - HUGO]. FOR ME THE REAL CONCERN IS NOTSOMUCH CUBA, etc, BUT WHAT RUSSIA WILL DEPLOY IN THE EASTERN PACIIFC OFF THE US WEST COAST, HAWAII, AND ALCAN, vv "HUGGING THE WAIST/COASTLINES" OF CONUS-NORAM. Besides improved Russ NavBoomer and SLCM/LACM Subs and Surface Warfare vessels, Russia MAY ALSO CHOOSE TO DEPLOY "ARSENAL SHIPS" TASK GROUPS OR UNITS IN PRE-DETERMIN PATROL AREAS AND EQUIPPED WID A VARIETY OF LR NUKE MISSLES. "COMPARATIVE/ASYMMETRIC ADVANTAGES" > No nation on Earth has nor can afford US-STYLE AIRCRAFT CARRIERS AND IN NUMBERS. WHAT RUSSIA HAS IS SURFACE SHIPS, SUBS, AND MERCHANT VESSELS. A PROPERLY CONVERTED 800-1000 FOOT MERCHANT MISSLE CARRIER CAN CARRY A WHOLE LOTTA LACMS, IRBMS + ICBMS, INCLUDING RELOADS, AS WELL AS BMD AND SPAWAR. Its called SHORT-DISTANCE, "OVER WATER", "SATURATION" MISSLE ATTACK INCLUD "POINT" ATTACK. This is exclusive of SHKVAL-style underwater maneuver missle attack concepts + USV/"Mothership" Techs, etc. ALSO GOOD FOR KEEPING THE CHINESE AWAKE AS PER RUSSO-CHINESE MILPOL COMPETITION FOR SCO-CSTO + EURASIAN "POLE POSITION" = DOMINANCE. |
| Posted by: JosephMendiola 2008-07-22 20:01 |
| #20 This type of thing is not good for the Obamamessiah. I hope we hear more of it in the coming days. |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2008-07-22 18:08 |
| #19 The 1962 Cuban missile crisis redux? |
| Posted by: JohnQC 2008-07-22 18:04 |
| #18 My bet is that it's just flying a Bear down the coast once a week. They're cheap enough to operate, and they have plenty of them, and they could probably use the flight time. |
| Posted by: OldSpook 2008-07-22 17:43 |
| #17 TW, me too, but please George, prove me wrong. please! |
| Posted by: USN, Ret. 2008-07-22 17:41 |
| #16 An empty bluster. The US and our F-15s, F-16s and F-22s with the AIM-120s can clear out anything coming our way with ease. However, it is a very clear message that Russia is not our friend and is willing to act like it. The question is whether Washington takes notice and/or cares. |
| Posted by: DarthVader 2008-07-22 17:39 |
| #15 Son, Russians don't take a dump without a plan. And senior captains don't start something this dangerous without having thought the matter through. |
| Posted by: Admiral Josh Painter 2008-07-22 17:37 |
| #14 Russia will put combat aircraft in Cuba when the Cuban (or Venezuela) pay for them. Russia does nothing for free anymore. This is bluster to make a point. |
| Posted by: rjschwarz 2008-07-22 17:10 |
| #13 I've been known to be wrong, USN, Ret. Fortunately, time keeps flowing (or perhaps we do -- that's physics beyond my capabilities), so we'll find out soon enough. ;-) |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2008-07-22 17:05 |
| #12 Russia would cross "a red line for the United States of America" if it were to base nuclear capable bombers in Cuba, a top US air force officer warned on Tuesday. "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, nominated to be the air force's chief of staff. He was referring to a Russian news report that said the military is thinking of flying long-range bombers to Cuba on a regular basis. It was unclear from the report whether that would involve permanent basing of nuclear bombers in Cuba, or just use of the island as a refueling stop. In his confirmation hearing to become the air force's chief of staff, Schwartz was asked what he would recommend if Russia were to base nuclear capable bombers in Cuba. "I would certainly offer the best military advice that we engage the Russians not to pursue that approach," he said. |
| Posted by: tu3031 2008-07-22 16:45 |
| #11 TW, i must disagree; i really think GWB has lost it and is just playing out the clock. Maybe John M. can restore the office to some form of status, but he has to get there first. ANd right now i think its an uphill battle. |
| Posted by: USN, Ret. 2008-07-22 16:16 |
| #10 As Green Steve writes, the U.S. Air Force will enjoy the live targets. President Bush appears to be setting up for action against Iran, which is much more important. If Russia started something at this end of the world, they'd lose at their end pretty quickly, no matter how involved we are with other things, and they know it. |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2008-07-22 15:01 |
| #9 THis is another chance for GWB to show some balls; but if history is any forecaster, i suspect he will roll over, in preparation for the Obamaeister. |
| Posted by: underdog 2008-07-22 14:07 |
| #8 What's that expression about history repeating itself - and farce? We've got |
| Posted by: Barbara Skolaut 2008-07-22 13:54 |
| #7 Don't the Bears that make the run down the east coast stop there to refuel? |
| Posted by: tu3031 2008-07-22 12:05 |
| #6 It would have to be a long range bomber or transport to even make it to Cuba. |
| Posted by: bigjim-ky 2008-07-22 11:07 |
| #5 The new Sukhois? Anything else would be dead meat in short order. |
| Posted by: mojo 2008-07-22 10:22 |
| #4 The big o would probably let them refuel (have a snack, take some pictures, get free health care, etc.) at Whiting, Pensacola or even Gitmo if 'there aren't enough resources' at San Antonio de los Baños. |
| Posted by: Mullah Richard 2008-07-22 09:50 |
| #3 Obama won't be doing any "facing down". He'll be "surrendering". |
| Posted by: gromky 2008-07-22 07:11 |
| #2 Combat aircraft and whatever "support infrastructure" they may require, of course. |
| Posted by: gorb 2008-07-22 02:59 |
| #1 Obambi thinks he's reprise of JFK. Let's see how Pres Obambi faces down the Russian Bear 90 miles off the Florida coast. That will make Jimmah Carter look like King Leonidas, in his approach toward facing down the Persians. |
| Posted by: Lone Ranger 2008-07-22 00:29 |