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.
No
Thank you for the ping.
Ping to old photo.
Elenil, I own a media company. You would fit right in. Russians are great at human behavior research and propoganda. I know facts Elenil, I do not need to base an opinion on a collective culture based on emotion such as suggesting I am a Russophobe. Keep cheerleading for the motherland. You will not find it so funny in a few more years when some of this temporary freedoms in your country come to an abrupt halt. But right now, I am more concerned about the USA’s freedoms being restricted by chronie capatalism and socialism. Russia will do fine with Fascism I am sure, just fine. The Nazis did so well with it, did they not?!?
Nuclear subs are the answer, lots more. 3,000 Predator Drone patrolling these areas would also do wonders and we must beef up intelligence gathering and other not so nice covert operations using double agents to let both nations know we are onto the game.
LOL. Perfect analogy :)
Boris cozied up too much to Bill Clinton for the PolitBureau’s liking. Boris fleeced a little too deep from the collapsing economy in the 1990’s and mismanaged Chechnya war. Putin made shrewd moves just after taking power out of necessity, but revealed his true ambitions by 2004 and they are NOT benevolent in any way to the West.
Get a grip media man.
I do not believe our stated reasons for putting these systems in place so I am not surprised Putin does not believe it either.
We are basically pushing Russia into a limited and careful cooperative stance with Iran. And why should they not? We are rushing pell mell into supplying and arming the folks who plan and implement our destruction: the Saudis!
I have a grip fellow propogandist. One of us may just be more open about what we shill for. Which one do you believe it is?
Venezuela may also be angling for the Russian Bombers
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.