Russia deploys warships to the Caribbean

Telegraph UK ^ | 22 Sep 2008 | Adrian Blomfield

[fishhound]

Russian warships are sailing towards the Caribbean for the first time since the Cold War to take part in a joint naval exercise with Venezuela. In a display meant to show off Russia's military resurgence and to provoke the United States, four vessels from the Northern Fleet set sail on a mission replete with an atmosphere of Soviet-era bombast and brinksmanship. Symbolically at least, the manoeuvres represent the Kremlin's boldest challenge yet to US military hegemony. By sailing so close to the American coastline for a series of exercises with Washington's principal detractor in Latin America, Russia seems to be deliberately attempting to irritate the White House. The flotilla that left the northern port of Serveromosrk on Russia's Arctic coast was lead by the guided missile cruiser Peter the Great, one of the largest warships of its kind. The Kirov-class warship is equipped with cruise missiles that can be armed with nuclear warheads. It was accompanied by the Admiral Chabanenko, an anti-submarine destroyer, and two support vessels. Although navy chiefs insisted that the exercises had no political overtones, most analysts believe the Kremlin is signalling its determination to challenge the United States and retaliate for Washington's support of Georgia during last month's war in the Caucasus. Vladimir Putin, the Russian prime minister, vowed that Moscow would respond in kind after accusing American naval vessels ordered to Georgia to deliver aid of carrying weapons to re-arm the government of President Mikheil Saakashvili.

[fishhound]

Now here this.

[Darkwolf377]

Anyone who reads this kind of thing and can say he would feel safer with Obama in charge during times like this is beyond help.

[tcrlaf]

Large tugs and rescue assets notified from Halifax to P.R....

[Deetes]

There it is “poof” where did it go ????

[Lee Stetson]

You know, it is possible that some Russians ships might just get “lost” in the Bermuda triangle.

[familyop]

"In a display meant to show off Russia's military resurgence and to provoke the United States,..."

...not to "provoke," as Londoners would have us believe, but to desensitize. We'll get used to it as Russia's CSTO builds to take the northern half and China, to take the southern half. The Islamist nations will also distract and divert in the meantime before joining the efforts of the other two.

But that's alright, folks. There aren't all that many anti-ship missiles and ICBMs among those nations. Just keep the money and oil flowing. [Little irony there.]

[EternalVigilance]

Russia deploys warships targets to the Caribbean

There. Fixed it.

[fishhound]

Oh you know, community organizer ...officer of the line ...no real difference there. /S

[familyop]

"Anyone who reads this kind of thing and can say he would feel safer with Obama in charge during times like this is beyond help."

...no problem. If he gets into office this time around, we'll run a pro-free-trade, lesbian, midget professional wrestler from a television police show to be our commander-in-chief in the 2012 election.

[EternalVigilance]

the manoeuvres represent the Kremlin's boldest challenge yet to US military hegemony.

ROFL...what a comedian!

[Billthedrill]

Ah, what I'd give to see a periscope shot of this ship in the crosshairs published next to this guys hand-wringing screed. You wouldn't even have to caption it.

If I were planning it we'd have a couple of carrier battle groups escorting them there. Sort of an expensive gesture but the point would be made. Just a thought.

[fishhound]

Good points.

[fishhound]

lol

[fishhound]

lol

[familyop]

Thank you. We need a man who can be a real military leader for a while, IMO, but that’s not a very popular idea. ...don’t want to feed the gradual demoralization of our potential enlisted ranks any more, so I’ll take cover, stock up, and wait.

[jerry557]

Russia is starting to act like a child crying out for attention.

[fishhound]

They might just be delivering scrap metal. Everyone gets a plane ride home.

[bruinbirdman]

Clinton had one of those for Secretary of State.

yitbos

[fishhound]

in the words of CS Lewis...”an idiot child with a machine gun.” (reference was to something else but the metaphor is apt)
They have their hand on the valves of the fuel/gas lines to Europe.