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| Caribbean-Latin America |
| Russian strategic bombers in Venezuela for 'training': Chavez |
| 2008-09-11 |
| CARACAS (AFP) -- Two Russian Tu-160 strategic bombers were in Venezuela on Wednesday for "training flights," Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said, adding he would be piloting one of the aircraft. "I hope that stings, 'pitiyanquis'," he said, using a derogatory term for Venezuelan opponents who have perceived US sympathies. "What's more, I'm going to take the controls of one of these monsters," boasted the president, a former paratrooper and left-wing politician who has avowed antagonism towards the United States. "It's been a while since these planes have been around these parts, and Russia decided a couple of years ago to revive its strategic aviation program," Chavez said during the inauguration of a medical center. Chavez also said plans for joint Russian-Venezuelan naval exercises in the region in November were currently being worked out, and said his closeness to the Kremlin would result in a cooperation that would "strengthen the country." His announcement confirmed an Interfax report in Russia citing the Russian defense ministry saying the bombers would be in Venezuela for training flights over "neutral waters." Russia said Monday it was dispatching a nuclear cruiser and other warships and planes to the Caribbean for the joint exercises with Venezuela -- the first such maneuvers in the US vicinity since the Cold War. A spokesman for the Russian navy said Monday that the November maneuvers would take place under an agreement sealed when the leaders of the two countries met in Moscow in July. Among the Russian ships to take part in the exercises would be the heavy nuclear-powered guided missile cruiser Peter the Great, a vessel with massive firepower whose cruise missiles can deliver nuclear or conventional warheads. Foreign ministry spokesman Andrei Nesterenko said Monday that the exercises were "not in any way connected to the current situation in the Caucasus," and were "not aimed at any third country." Analysts said the Russian navy presence in Venezuela was more symbolic than military, though it did nothing assuage fears that Cold War-type tensions were building. Thomas Gomart of the Paris-based French Institute of International Relations noted that, up to now, Russia had contented itself with selling arms, notably fighter-bombers, to Caracas. But the announcement of the Caribbean maneuvres seemed to be both an overt challenge to US power and a gesture of support to Chavez's radical policies, he said. The Tupolev Tu-160 bombers were tracked by NATO jets on their flight to Venezuela, Russian state news agency RIA Novosti reported, citing the defense ministry. The planes -- huge supersonic combat aircraft similar to the US B1 bombers, capable of flying long missions with a heavy payload -- are capable of carrying nuclear or conventional bombs and/or cruise and guided missiles. According to a specialist military website, Globalsecurity.org, there are 14 of the bombers in the Russian air force, after a 2003 crash destroyed one of them. Sources in the Venezuelan defense ministry told AFP the Russian bombers were currently at El Libertador air base in the northern town of Palo Negro, in Aragua state. |
| Posted by:john frum |
| #13 From TSA Website: September 8, 2008 Contact: TSA Public Affairs 571-227-2829 WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Transportation Security Administration (TSA) today announced that the agency has been unable to assess security measures at international airports in Venezuela that serve as the last point of departure for nonstop flights to the United States. Venezuela has refused multiple requests to allow for such assessments, which are required by U.S. law, and the agency is taking action to warn travelers of this security deficiency. Air carriers issuing tickets for travel between the United States and Venezuela are directed to notify ticket purchasers in writing of the situation. TSA also directed that this advisory be displayed prominently at all U.S. airports and published in the Federal Register, pursuant to Title 49 U.S.C., Section 114. The order is effective immediately. Under Title 49 of the U.S. Code, Section 44907, the Department of Homeland Security is required to assess security at foreign airports with direct service to the United States to determine compliance with standards established by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). There is a critical need for TSA officials to visit Venezuela's airports to determine both the full compliance with ICAO standards and the ability to maintain the standards. The agency will continue to work with the authorities in Venezuela to schedule visits in a timely manner. For more information about TSA, please visit our Web site at www.tsa.gov. Airport security may be a minor issue, compared to getting to the airport or leaving for town. Here is an excerpt of a US Dept of State advisory on their website: SAFETY AND SECURITY: Violent crime in Venezuela is pervasive, both in the capital, Caracas, and in the interior. The country has one of the highest per-capita murder rates in the world. Armed robberies take place in broad daylight throughout the city, including areas generally presumed safe and frequented by tourists. A common technique is to choke the victim into unconsciousness and then rob them of all they are carrying. Well-armed criminal gangs operate with impunity, often setting up fake police checkpoints. Kidnapping is a particularly serious problem, with more than 1,000 reported during the past year alone. Investigation of all crime is haphazard and ineffective. In the case of high-profile killings, the authorities quickly round up suspects, but rarely produce evidence linking these individuals to the crime. Only a very small percentage of criminals are tried and convicted. Travel to and from MaiquetÃa Airport, the international airport serving Caracas, can be dangerous and corruption at the airport itself is rampant. Travelers at the airport have been victims of personal property theft, as well as mugging and “express kidnapping” in which individuals are taken to make purchases or to withdraw as much money as possible from ATMs, often at gunpoint. The Embassy has received multiple, credible reports that individuals with what appear to be official uniforms or other credentials are involved in facilitating or perpetrating these crimes. For this reason, American citizen travelers should be wary of all strangers, even those in official uniform or carrying official identification. There are also known drug trafficking groups working from the airport. Travelers should not accept packages from anyone and should keep their luggage with them at all times. Because of the frequency of robberies at gunpoint, travelers are encouraged to arrive during daylight hours. If not, travelers should use extra care both within and outside the airport. The Embassy strongly advises that all arriving passengers make advance plans for transportation from the airport to their place of lodging. If possible, travelers should arrange to be picked up at the airport by someone who is known to them. The Embassy has received frequent reports of armed robberies in taxicabs going to and from the airport at MaiquetÃa. There is no foolproof method of knowing whether a taxi driver at the airport is reliable. The fact that a taxi driver presents a credential or drives an automobile with official taxi license plates marked “libre” is no longer an indication of reliability. Incidents of taxi drivers in Caracas overcharging, robbing, and injuring passengers are common. Travelers should take care to use radio-dispatched taxis or those from reputable hotels. Travelers should call a 24-hour radio-dispatched taxi service from a public phone lobby or ask hotel, restaurant, or airline representatives to contact a licensed cab company for them. Sounds like a chapter from "World's Most Dangerous Places." Heh. |
| Posted by: Alaska Paul 2008-09-11 21:53 |
| #12 per this link, FAA clearance is needed to enter controlled airspace. that clearance is granted by the respective air traffic control center. that doesn't prevent an unauthorized entry, but upon landing there will be 'dire consequences.' http://www.gaservingamerica.org/how_work/work_airspace.htm |
| Posted by: USN, Ret. 2008-09-11 15:52 |
| #11 I'm not sure FAA has the authority to do that without State Dept. being involved, or possibly Commerce Dept. Anyone have any insight on that ? |
| Posted by: lotp 2008-09-11 15:07 |
| #10 Along with all this crap comes the news from the FAA that direct flights from Venezula to the US cannot be guaranteed safe since Venezula will not allow our security measures to be enacted on those flights. Seems to me that if the FAA knows this they should be able to deny entry into US airspace. More testicular atrophy from the second most useless governmental agency(TSA owns the top spot, IMHO). |
| Posted by: USN, Ret. 2008-09-11 13:55 |
| #9 For the Russians, they do. |
| Posted by: Pappy 2008-09-11 11:46 |
| #8 Because bombers always practice alongside fleet maneuvers. |
| Posted by: rjschwarz 2008-09-11 11:27 |
| #7 Time for the "emergency eject" training, I think... |
| Posted by: mojo 2008-09-11 11:25 |
| #6 SWEET! F-22 Training drones at zero cost! How awesome will it be when we start to escort encroaching TU-160's with Reaper UAV's? |
| Posted by: Jiggs Elmoluger3473 2008-09-11 11:15 |
| #5 Russian strategic bombers in Venezuela for 'training': Chavez Suggestion to HUGO: Buy Depends they're on sale Hugo; and then "Double UP"! meaning, Put both over your mouth... don't worry about your pantz Hugo, No one will find much of you left... |
| Posted by: Red Dawg 2008-09-11 04:24 |
| #4 Be sure to push the stick all the way forward Hugo. That is sure to scare the Americans. |
| Posted by: ed 2008-09-11 02:05 |
| #3 Two Russian Tu-160 strategic bombers were in Venezuela on Wednesday for "training flights," Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said, adding he would be piloting one of the aircraft. "I hope that stings, 'pitiyanquis'," he said, using a derogatory term for Venezuelan opponents who have perceived US sympathies. "What's more, I'm going to take the controls of one of these monsters," boasted the president...  Hugo, monsters don't scare Americans. Not even our women. This is what our American women do to monsters. Our babes will just "kill-it and grill-it", chump!! >:-( |
| Posted by: Flavinter Cherese8323 2008-09-11 01:55 |
| #2 RUSSIA is reportedly interested in "TEMPORARILY BASING" ASW AIRCRAFT in the area, and allegedly one or a few surface warships includ at least one NUKE MISSLE-ARMED VESSEL??? |
| Posted by: JosephMendiola 2008-09-11 01:07 |
| #1 Are they going bombing in Bolivia? |
| Posted by: 3dc 2008-09-11 00:41 |