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Posted on 07/21/2008 3:41:21 PM PDT by nuconvert
Russian military "considering stationing bombers on Cuba"
Jul 21, 2008
Moscow - The Russian military is considering deploying long- range bombers to Cuba to counter the perceived threat of the US missile defence shield planned to be based in the Czech Republic and Poland, according to Russian media reports Monday.
'At the moment, there are just thoughts - but that doesn't mean there isn't something concrete behind it,' an unidentified officer was quoted Monday as telling Izvestiya newspaper.
He said the aircraft under consideration were Tu-160 and Tu-95 MC bombers. Russia gave up in 2001 a base in Lourdes, Cuba, which had been set up during the Soviet era.
The former commander of this base, Lieutenant-General Mikhail Oparin, was quoted as welcoming the idea. 'Russia's air fleet must work towards a presence in every corner of the world,' he told Interfax news agency. The US, after all, had bases worldwide.
'An extended radius of action for our air force could be a response to the one-sided action of the USA in setting up a strategic system on Russia's borders,' he added.
The newspaper said that from a technical point of view there would be no problem basing Russian bombers on Cuba for a limited period. However, Moscow's view on doing this was unclear.
Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, while he was still president, had threatened 'reprisal measures' if the US went ahead with basing its missile defence shield in Poland and the Czech Republic. He warned that Russia was able to target central Europe with its own missiles.
Russia views the planned deployment of ten US missiles in Poland and a radar facility the Czech Republic as a threat. However, the presence of Russian bombers on Cuba would provoke an international conflict, the Izvestiya report said.
Just 90 kilometres separated Cuba from the US coast, and the US had 'eyes and ears' on Cuba with its Guantanamo base.
In 1962 the Cuba crisis saw the US and Soviet Union in a dramatic face-off before Moscow abandoned plans to built missiles bases there.
The Russians are just making asses of themselves.
Personally, I’d just ignore them, announce upgrades and test results of the Missile Defense program and then if they open a bomber base in Cuba:
“The US announces today that it is placing 60 museum piece Thor Missiles in Eastern Europe. (I believe it was Thor missiles that Kennedy withdrew from Turkey after the Soviets took the ballistic missiles out of Cuba).
That would be quite a slap in the face to the Ruskies.
Maybe he had some bad vodka.
The US lost an opportunity following WW2 in taking Patton and MacArthur’s advice in going after Russia/Soviet Union and China. No doubt they are salivating at the thought of an Obama presidency. God help the ignorant fools of this country who have led this country to its destruction.
Ok. So what do you believe the REAL reason we're putting these systems in place?
Hmmm. What do we do if they deploy the bombers there? WE must NOT remove our missiles from Europe under any circumstances. I think there is no question, Obama would not bat an eye and allow the bombers. McCain I think would ask why are you deploying them? And then demand that they be removed. IF it means another naval blockaid so be it, but we cannot allow long range bombers in this hemisphere.
On the other hand, what can the Russians do with long range bombers in Cuba. We could take them out in a heart beat. So this is all a charade. They think we’ll back down or give them something in return.
I’d be damn proud of the administration is somebody would just come out and say, “Russian bombers in Cuba? Hell, now we don’t have to fly as far to destroy them.”
I think you missed the part where they were invited to participate in the missile defense shield, including access to all the technology. WHY, exactly, should they be disturbed by it? Especially if they could build their own, and not depend on ours? It only makes sense if they are still antagonistic to US. Putin is either a psycho or a fool, or maybe both.
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Personally when Boris “resigned” in 2000, I think there where soldiers pointing guns at him behind the camera.. I don’t trust Putin..
Reagan offered that to Gorbachev, but have we repeatedly made offers to give the technology to Russia? We may have, I just haven’t heard of it.
I don’t have any pie in the sky views of Putin. He is what he is. I had been under the impression that we more or less let Russia flap in the breeze in the 2000 to present time frame.
Someone up thread made a comment that we have held a number of summits. I sure don’t remember them all.
So, how does that compare with the history of Belgium? Switzerland?
I think it is just a shakedown. They want us to share the technology that cost us billions to develop so they can have there own system. In the end we may have to do it.
Liberals and communists have a constant love fest, no doubt.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Liberals and communists are as different as Chevrolets and Chevys.
Vodka.
O-kaaaaay.....
So do you believe that there really isn’t ANY reason for the US to percieve that places like Iran and North Korea really haven’t threatened us with nuclear strike, and IF they did we don’t really have any good reason to believe them? After all both countries have a history of really sane and down-to-earth leadership. AND even if ANY of the above is true, “Washington” is simply using it as an excuse to further their desire for world domination.
Oh and by-the-way, in case you didn’t know, putting interceptors in Eastern Europe doesn’t protect the US from ANY Russian missiles. Russia shoots over the poles to strike the US, and any interceptors we could launch from Europe would in fact be chasing AND losing that battle. Why? Look up BALLISTIC and try to figure out how FAST a missile can be before it becomes an object bound for interstellar space.
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