RUSSIAN AIR FORCE PLANES LAND IN VENEZUELA CARRYING TROOPS -REPORT

The Jerusalem Post ^ | 03/24/2019 | Reuters

[Rusty0604]

military exercises on Venezuelan soil that President Nicolas Maduro called a sign of strengthening relations. Two Russian air force planes landed in Venezuela's main airport on Saturday carrying a Russian defense official and nearly 100 troops, according to a local journalist, amid strengthening ties between Caracas and Moscow.

A flight-tracking website showed that two planes left from a Russian military airport bound for Caracas on Friday, and another flight-tracking site showed that one plane left Caracas on Sunday.

Reporter Javier Mayorca wrote on Twitter on Saturday that the first plane carried Vasily Tonkoshkurov, chief of staff of the ground forces, adding that the second was a cargo plane carrying 35 tonnes of material.

[excalibur21]

I know of someone who was actually there. He said that people were drinking water out of gutters. A single bottle of water cost about the same amount as what we’d pay for a case of water. He had to walk out of the country to and go as far as Bogata to catch a flight out. He said that it was really bad and this guy knows what bad truly is.

[PapaBear3625]

If only we had a southern border barrier of some type....

Trump's wall is not going to stop tanks and helicopters.

[Texas Fossil]

Here is what my friend had to say. With no discussion, just note response from last nights inquiry. I went to bed early and did not get it for 14 hours.

“I think Venezuela stay normal now.”

This is a good sign. She is knowledgeable. So, if Maduro “exits stage left” (or whatever direction he wants to go) and the Russian help him get there. This could be a very good improvement.

[GranTorino]

That was a bell of a spring that I saw in the vidio. Just figured it was a storm drain coming out of that pipe.

[SecAmndmt]

I would make a deal with the Russians: they stop meddling in Venezuela, and we will stop meddling in the Ukraine.

[Rusty0604]

Thanks!

[Rusty0604]

Great question.

[Rusty0604]

Thank you so much for that information. Hope your friend is right.

[Justa]

After 100 years of propping up socialist regimes you’d think Moscow would have the hang of it by now.

[ScottinVA]

Thanks.. meant to say “collude.”

[Rusty0604]

I figured that. :-)

[CaptainK]

This is the government that the Venezuelans brought upon themselves. They have hated us for years and we should return the favor by letting them figure out how to overthrow it.

Oh, and build the wall and keep them out.

[Justa]

Don’t you love how socialists qualify failure? “That’s not rat meat, it’s a local chicken delicacy.

[ETL]

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From 2014-2015...

How Russia arms America's southern neighbors

Ioan Grillo
May 9, 2014

RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil -- Russia's push into Ukraine has put many on edge. But less known is that Russia is also strengthening its military links south of the Rio Grande and re-establishing itself as a power in the region.

Vladimir Putin has been strengthening military links here, and Russia is now the largest arms dealer to governments in Latin America, surpassing the United States.

Russia has even floated the possibility of building new military bases in Cuba, Venezuela and Nicaragua, and putting its warships permanently in the Caribbean.

In the midst of the Ukraine crisis, Russia's top diplomat Sergei Lavrov recently visited Cuba, Peru, Chile, and Nicaragua, where he announced that Russia would also pour money into the new Central American canal project. ..."

http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/americas/140508/russian-arms-military-trade-latin-america
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Russia Boosts Arms, Training for Leftist Latin Militaries

Moscow defense minister inks deals with Cuba, Venezuela, Nicaragua for joint exercises

BY: Bill Gertz
February 20, 2015

Russia agreed to provide military training for three leftist regimes in Latin America and increase military visits and exercises following a visit last week to the region by Moscow's Defense Minister Sergei Shoygu, Pentagon officials said.

Shoygu met with defense and military leaders in Cuba, Venezuela, and Nicaragua and signed several agreements on warship visits and military training during the visit, which ran from Feb. 11 to 14. It is not clear whether any new arms deals were completed during the visit.

Defense officials said the Russian leader is seeking bases in the region for strategic bomber flights that Shoygu recently promised would include flights over the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean.

http://freebeacon.com/national-security/russia-boosts-arms-training-for-leftist-latin-militaries/

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KGB Putin very much wants a 'unified Korea'...under communist NK rule...

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Russia and North Korea declare 2015 a ‘year of friendship’

“The biggest cause for concern is the growing military alliance between Russia and North Korea, with the two regimes recently announcing plans to conduct a series of joint army, navy and air force exercises this year.”

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/northkorea/11463265/Russia-and-North-Korea-declare-2015-a-year-of-friendship.html

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Russia steps up North Korea support to constrain US

May 17, 2017

“Despite efforts by the United Nations to impose isolating sanctions on North Korea in response to the country’s continued development of nuclear weapons and intercontinental ballistic missiles, trade between Russia and North Korea soared more than 85 percent in the first four months of the year.”

http://www.dw.com/en/russia-steps-up-north-korea-support-to-constrain-us/a-38867861

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Sept 5, 2017

North Korea nuclear crisis: Putin calls sanctions useless

Russian President Vladimir Putin has said pursuing further sanctions against North Korea is “useless”, saying “they’d rather eat grass than give up their nuclear programme”.

The US said on Monday it would table a new UN resolution on tougher sanctions in the wake of the latest test of a nuclear bomb by the North on Sunday.

Mr Putin also said that the ramping up of “military hysteria” could lead to global catastrophe.

He said diplomacy was the only answer.

China, the North’s main ally, has also called for a return to negotiations. ...”

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-41158281

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Aug 2015

[ETL]

Venezuela is tight with Iran.

The alliance is Russia, China, Iran, North Korea, Venezuela, Nicaragua, Cuba...

[ETL]

FLASHBACK: Campaign trail, February 2008...

Obama Pledges Cuts in Missile Defense, Space, and Nuclear Weapons Programs

February 29, 2008 :: News
MissileThreat.com

A video has surfaced of Presidential candidate Senator Barack Obama talking on his plans for strategic issues such as nuclear weapons and missile defense.

The full text from the video, as released, reads as follows:

Thanks so much for the Caucus4Priorities, for the great work you've been doing. As president, I will end misguided defense policies and stand with Caucus4Priorities in fighting special interests in Washington.

First, I'll stop spending $9 billion a month in Iraq. I'm the only major candidate who opposed this war from the beginning. And as president I will end it.[not win it -etl]

Second, I will cut tens of billions of dollars in wasteful spending.

I will cut investments in unproven missile defense systems.

I will not weaponize space.

I will slow our development of future combat systems.

And I will institute an independent "Defense Priorities Board" to ensure that the Quadrennial Defense Review is not used to justify unnecessary spending.

Third, I will set a goal of a world without nuclear weapons. To seek that goal, I will not develop new nuclear weapons; I will seek a global ban on the production of fissile material; and I will negotiate with Russia to take our ICBMs off hair-trigger alert [they are NOT on "hair-trigger alert" now -etl], and to achieve deep cuts in our nuclear arsenals.

You know where I stand. I've fought for open, ethical and accountable government my entire public life. I don't switch positions or make promises that can't be kept. I don't posture on defense policy and I don't take money from federal lobbyists for powerful defense contractors. As president, my sole priority for defense spending will be protecting the American people. Thanks so much.

Article: Obama Pledges Cuts in Missile Defense, Space, and Nuclear Weapons Programs:
https://web.archive.org/web/20100526142854/http://missilethreat.com/archives/id.7086/detail.asp

"MissileThreat.com is a project of The Claremont Institute devoted to understanding and promoting the requirements for the strategic defense of the United States."

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"I will not weaponize space"

"I will cut investments in unproven missile defense systems"
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Also from 2008...

2008 Pentagon Report (March 2008):
China's Growing Military Space Power
By Leonard David
Special Correspondent, SPACE.com
March 6, 2008

GOLDEN, Colorado — A just-released Pentagon report spotlights a growing U.S. military concern that China is developing a multi- dimensional program to limit or prevent the use of space-based assets by its potential adversaries during times of crisis or conflict.

Furthermore, last year's successful test by China of a direct-ascent, anti-satellite (ASAT) weapon to destroy its own defunct weather satellite, the report adds, underscores that country's expansion from the land, air, and sea dimensions of the traditional battlefield into the space and cyber-space domains.

Although China's commercial space program has utility for non- military research, that capability demonstrates space launch and control know-how that have direct military application. Even the Chang'e 1 — the Chinese lunar probe now circling the Moon — is flagged in the report as showcasing China's ability "to conduct complicated space maneuvers — a capability which has broad implications for military counterspace operations."

To read the entire publication [29.67MB/pdf], see U.S. Dept of Defense:
http://www.defenselink.mil/pubs/pdfs/China_Military_Report_08.pdf
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From the Sino-Russian Joint Statement of April 23, 1997:
"The two sides [China and Russia] shall, in the spirit of partnership, strive to promote the multipolarization of the world and the establishment of a new international order."

http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Central_Asia/HI29Ag01.html
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"Joint war games are a logical outcome of the Sino-Russian Friendship and Cooperation Treaty signed in 2001, and reflect the shared worldview and growing economic ties between the two Eastern Hemisphere giants."

http://www.heritage.org/research/commentary/2005/09/war-games-russia-china-grow-alliance
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"I will not weaponize space"

"I will cut investments in unproven missile defense systems"

=========================================================

NEW!...

Pentagon says China, Russia developing satellite-killing lasers

FoxNews.com ^ | Feb 13, 2019 | PCmag

China and Russia are likely building high-powered lasers that can shoot down US satellites, according to a new Pentagon report.

Both countries are developing an arsenal of anti-satellite weaponry including missiles, cyber attacks, and "directed energy weapons," according to the US Defense Intelligence Agency.

On Monday, the agency released an unclassified report on the security threat to the US's dominance in space.

It calls out both China and Russia as two countries with the technological prowess to take down US communication and navigational satellites, which could cause mayhem for businesses and the military.

The threat may sound far-fetched. But not to the Pentagon; the agency's report lays out all the different ways Beijing and Moscow could attack US satellites in order to win future wars.

China, for instance, is attempting to become a "space power" that's focused on exploration and defense, according to the DIA.

(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...

[Rusty0604]

Very good informative post, thank you!

[Rusty0604]

Satan’s Seven.

[Gen.Blather]

“So you have no issue with a Russian naval base, or other military presence, in our back yard?”

They can’t maintain it or supply it. Their economy is in shambles. They are involved in several conflicts. They are suffering a demographic collapse that will cut their military in half by 2022. And, like those militarized islands in the South China sea, any base would be a small speedbump for US forces.

A base as remote as Venezuela would exhaust their limited logistics supply ability, making their overall remaining military weaker.

[ETL]

Thanks.

Check my FR profile page for lots more.