Posted on 01/04/2009 10:27:02 AM PST by Clinton's a liar
MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia's military leaders approved a plan by the navy on Sunday to station warships permanently in friendly ports across the globe.
Underfunded since the 1991 break up of the Soviet Union , the Russian navy has been reasserting itself over the last year by chasing Somali pirates around the coast of east Africa and steaming across the Atlantic to visit allies in South America.
"The General Staff has given its position on this issue and it fully supports the position of the (Navy's) main committee," deputy chief of staff Colonel-General Anatoly Nogovitsyn told RIA Novosti news agency.
A resurgent navy has become central to a strategy for Russia -- which enjoyed a decade of economic revival from 1998 -- to project itself in foreign affairs.
(Excerpt) Read more at au.news.yahoo.com ...
They can have a life raft with a 4 hp outboard on it in Havana. Bout all they can afford.
I guess the rust buckets finally filled up their ports and they are looking at other places for them to sink in...
I bet San Francisco would happily accept a permanent Russian Warship.
Let the russians disperse......cost em once it’ll cost em twice.
Well let’s see. Have a Russian warship permanently stationed in San Francisco. Just down the street, open up a vodka bar. Have it operated by she males. Oh, the profits would be fantastic!
Thought they had moved beyond coal and steam engines. Oh well, steam on Russia steam on!!!
Yup, let them rust away in all sorts of out of the way places.
One of the three boats was a tugboat, in case there was a breakdown in one of the others. Smart!
Nostalgia is setting in back in bear country. They probably figure that, since America no longer wants the crown as being the world’s number one superpower, they might as well have it.
North Korea, Iran, Syria, Cuba, and Venezuela. What a gang of "friends" to have. If only Zimbabwe had a coastline, the circle would be complete.
ROFL. I think that Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid have already sent the invitation to Moscow..... Barack Obama is very excited at the prospect of hanging out there as a way to build “international solidarity”.....
Obama can hang out at the vodka bar and show off his pecs. Reid and Pelosi qualify as she males so they can help serve drinks.
Brilliant. Now all that’s needed is to get the “Village People” singing “In the Navy” for those horny Russian sailors......
Now appearing at the Russian vodka bar in San Francisco to kick off their international "In the Navy" tour.
Aw, now you’re getting Barney Frank way too excited..... (I’m assuming he visits FR daily to try to salvage his education).
Hey CAL, where you been the last 8,9 years.
“Makes you wonder if this plan can survive low gas and oil prices.”
That’s a two part question.
1. Was the Russian Government subsidizing the fuel to operate their conventional vessels? I would say its safe to assume they were to some level, so the cost of operating a conventional vessel has probably stayed the same. One of privileges of being able to produce your own fuel.
2. How does oil prices affect funding of new programs and tax monies needed to maintain and expand other costs? I would think lower oil prices would have a negative effect on their navy and other forces in that manner. It may not of shown up yet in their budget, but I would think they would be aware of the fact that their budget is going to take hit pretty soon.
That being said I wouldn’t be surprised if things reversed sometime this year in oil and other commodity prices. Perhaps the Russians are betting on the world economy moving back to an inflationary movement.
When haven’t they wanted warships stationed around the world?
Who cares? I wouldn't put pirates on the resume... you've done squat and they still have your tanks. And what exactly is the purpose of visiting Chavez? You do know he brings nothing to the table right?
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