Unacceptable.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29691183/
QuoteReport: Russia may base bombers in Cuba
Venezuela also temporarily offers island site as Moscow eyes Caribbean
MOSCOW - Russian strategic bombers may be based in Cuba in the future, a Russian Air Force chief told Interfax news agency on Saturday.
Maj. Gen. Anatoly Zhikharev, chief of staff of Russia's long-range aviation, said Cuba had air bases with four or five suitable runways.
Interfax reported that he said Cuba could be used to base Russian bombers if the two countries "display a political will", adding "we are ready to fly there."
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Zhikharev also said that Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has offered an island as a temporary base for Russian planes.
Zhikharev said Chavez had offered "a whole island with an airdrome, which we can use as a temporary base for strategic bombers," the agency reported. "If there is a corresponding political decision, then the use of the island ... by the Russian Air Force is possible."
Two Russian bombers landed in Venezuela last year in what experts said was the first Western Hemisphere touchdown of Russian military craft since the end of the Cold War.
Cuba has never permanently hosted Russian or Soviet strategic aircraft. But Soviet short-range bombers often made stopovers there during the Cold War.
Russia resumed long-range bomber patrols in 2007 after a 15-year hiatus.
:D
This must be that "reset" they were talking about.
The obvious historical parallel (even if it's a false analogy) is when Khrushchev construed weakness from Kennedy at Vienna and plopped some nukes in Cuba, Pooty Poot construed weakness from Barry after he sent his quaint little letter the other week and decides to send some strategic bombers down Cuba Way.
They still have planes that can fly all the way to Cuba?
Soon Nicaraguan and Cuban paratroopers will drop from the Colorado skies. :(
Quote from: FunkMonk on March 14, 2009, 10:09:25 AM
The obvious historical parallel (even if it's a false analogy) is when Khrushchev construed weakness from Kennedy at Vienna and plopped some nukes in Cuba, Pooty Poot construed weakness from Barry after he sent his quaint little letter the other week and decides to send some strategic bombers down Cuba Way.
The obvious differnece is that today Russia is weak and irrelevant
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Sneaky Russkies.. up to old tricks. No biggie I guess. Good that they're finding good, solid friends - Cuba, Venezuela, etc. Heh
The question is: How quickly could those bombers reach the US? Could the USAF take them easily?
Quote from: I Killed Kenny on March 14, 2009, 11:19:12 AM
The question is: How quickly could those bombers reach the US? Could the USAF take them easily?
I'm no AF guy but probably: Easy targets.
I don't think anything based in Cuba is leaving the ground unarmed in case of a war.
It really is amusing, but in a sad way, to watch the Russians walk all over Obama.
Not that this means anything - it is just Russias way of mocking the entire "Golly gee, I guess we can all be friends fer shur!" earnestness of the new administration.
Anyway. To get over the opening post.
Entirely on the surface this is a stupid move by Russia. They don't really have the capacity for this, in a war with the US it wouldn't be of much use and stopped straight away, there isn't going to be a war with the US and nor will the US let them interfere elsewhere in the area.
But I suppose the prestige blow to the US (and gain to Russia) this would be could have its knock on effects.
Quote from: I Killed Kenny on March 14, 2009, 11:19:12 AM
The question is: How quickly could those bombers reach the US? Could the USAF take them easily?
Doesn't matter. The bombers won't give Russia first strike capability, and if the Big Dance(tm) ever did start they would be entirely irrelevent.
Quote from: Kleves on March 14, 2009, 12:46:20 PM
Doesn't matter. The bombers won't give Russia first strike capability, and if the Big Dance(tm) ever did start they would be entirely irrelevent.
Unless the evil Russkies have clones Slim Pickens and turned him to the dark side...
Quote from: Grey Fox on March 14, 2009, 11:27:29 AM
I don't think anything based in Cuba is leaving the ground unarmed in case of a war.
Quote from: FunkMonk on March 14, 2009, 02:57:53 PM
Quote from: Grey Fox on March 14, 2009, 11:27:29 AM
I don't think anything based in Cuba is leaving the ground unarmed in case of a war.
How would the US stop them? Russian air defence is a trillion times better than anything the US has. That's what EUOT has to say.
I'm always astounded when Russkies are doing something like this. They seem to be operating in a completely different paradigm - assuming they are evil and bent on destroying the world, they should welcome a naive friendly US President and pretend they are happy with his acts of good will - instead they spit at him and do some empty posturing. I wonder what they are gaining by that - the only meaningful consequence is the Western world shaking its head and saying "Oh well, that's right. Russkies can't be trusted".
Quote from: FunkMonk on March 14, 2009, 11:22:12 AM
Quote from: I Killed Kenny on March 14, 2009, 11:19:12 AM
The question is: How quickly could those bombers reach the US? Could the USAF take them easily?
I'm no AF guy but probably: Easy targets.
Bears, Badgers and Blinders would be dogmeat. And there is only 18 or so Blackjacks. And those would be dogmeat too.
Quote from: Neil on March 14, 2009, 03:15:57 PM
Quote from: FunkMonk on March 14, 2009, 02:57:53 PM
Quote from: Grey Fox on March 14, 2009, 11:27:29 AM
I don't think anything based in Cuba is leaving the ground unarmed in case of a war.
How would the US stop them? Russian air defence is a trillion times better than anything the US has. That's what EUOT has to say.
Ground invasion, but we'd have quite a bit of trouble considering a single T-72 can destroy an entire US Tank Company with 3 rounds.
Quote from: Martinus on March 14, 2009, 03:16:23 PM
I'm always astounded when Russkies are doing something like this. They seem to be operating in a completely different paradigm - assuming they are evil and bent on destroying the world, they should welcome a naive friendly US President and pretend they are happy with his acts of good will - instead they spit at him and do some empty posturing. I wonder what they are gaining by that - the only meaningful consequence is the Western world shaking its head and saying "Oh well, that's right. Russkies can't be trusted".
The Russians don't want to pin their hopes on good relations with the US. If you remember, there was a time when there was an extremely pro-Russian president who allowed Russia to riddle the government with spies and provided them with all kinds of technology and gifts. However, the next president was rather hostile, the one after even more so, and so on. That's the advantage to the Russian autocracy: Continuity.
Maybe it's part of Obama's plot to turn Texas into a nuclear wasteland? :)
Quote from: Martinus on March 14, 2009, 03:40:33 PM
Maybe it's part of Obama's plot to turn Texas into a nuclear wasteland? :)
Texas is probably more powerful than Obama.
Quote from: Neil on March 14, 2009, 03:15:57 PM
Quote from: FunkMonk on March 14, 2009, 02:57:53 PM
Quote from: Grey Fox on March 14, 2009, 11:27:29 AM
I don't think anything based in Cuba is leaving the ground unarmed in case of a war.
How would the US stop them? Russian air defence is a trillion times better than anything the US has. That's what EUOT has to say.
If they ask nicely, the Canadians will take care of them.
Quote from: Martinus on March 14, 2009, 03:40:33 PM
Maybe it's part of Obama's plot to turn Texas into a nuclear wasteland? :)
You must mean Florida.
Why can't we all just get along??!?
I'm sorry. I meant yes. :(
*smack*
Man this would be terrifying....if it was 1952. I love Sukhois but do they honesty think a Badger or anything would manage to be fuled for flight before we'd hit every fucking plane in Cuba? I'm actually a little insulted.
Chavez says yes to the Russians. What a surprise.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/mar/16/chavez-russia-venezuela-nuclear-base
I'm amused that anyone takes this seriously. They could base those planes in New Jersey and still not bomb the US.
Let the Cubans and Russians play their schoolboy games.
Where is JFK when America needs him the most?
Quote from: Angevinus on March 15, 2009, 11:33:42 PM
Where is JFK when America needs him the most?
Turned to worm food most likely.
The article in the Moscow times starts the same, but ends somewhat different.
QuoteA senior Air Force official said Saturday that Russia could base some strategic bombers in Cuba or on an island offered by Venezuela, but a Kremlin official quickly said the military had been speaking only hypothetically.
The chief of staff of long-range aviation, Major General Anatoly Zhikharev, said Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez had offered "a whole island with an airdrome, which we can use as a temporary base for strategic bombers."
"If there is a corresponding political decision, then the use of the island ... by the Russian Air Force is possible," Zhikharev said, Interfax reported.
He also said Cuba has air bases with four or five runways long enough for the huge bombers and could be used to host the long-range planes.
But Alexei Pavlov, a Kremlin official, said "the military is speaking about technical possibilities, that's all."
"If there will be a development of the situation, then we can comment," he said.
Russia has nothing to gain strategically from basing long-range craft within relatively short range of U.S. shores, independent military analyst Alexander Golts said, calling the military statement a retaliatory gesture aimed at hitting back after U.S. ships patrolled Black Sea waters near Georgia.
Quote from: Martinus on March 14, 2009, 03:16:23 PM
I'm always astounded when Russkies are doing something like this. They seem to be operating in a completely different paradigm - assuming they are evil and bent on destroying the world, they should welcome a naive friendly US President and pretend they are happy with his acts of good will - instead they spit at him and do some empty posturing. I wonder what they are gaining by that - the only meaningful consequence is the Western world shaking its head and saying "Oh well, that's right. Russkies can't be trusted".
I rather suspect that domestic politics, rather than cold-blooded calculations of foreign policy advantages and disadvantages, is behind most announcements like this. They make the government look stronger by announcing that it has options to counter US "infringment" on their "sphere of influence."
Quote from: grumbler on March 16, 2009, 11:08:52 AMI rather suspect that domestic politics, rather than cold-blooded calculations of foreign policy advantages and disadvantages, is behind most announcements like this. They make the government look stronger by announcing that it has options to counter US "infringment" on their "sphere of influence."
Yeah I concur. Seems to me that 9 times out of 10, the reasons for any foreign policy announcement is playing to the domestic audience.
Maybe is time to take care of Cuba.
Quote from: Ender on March 16, 2009, 12:15:28 PM
Maybe is time to take care of Cuba.
WHAT DO YOU MEAN
Quote from: The Brain on March 16, 2009, 12:16:57 PM
Quote from: Ender on March 16, 2009, 12:15:28 PM
Maybe is time to take care of Cuba.
WHAT DO YOU MEAN
Send a gift basket full of soaps, cheeses and a summer sausage.
Quote from: The Brain on March 16, 2009, 12:16:57 PM
Quote from: Ender on March 16, 2009, 12:15:28 PM
Maybe is time to take care of Cuba.
WHAT DO YOU MEAN
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