Europe News
Russian military "considering stationing bombers on Cuba"
Jul 21, 2008, 16:58 GMT
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.
COMMENT
blog comments powered by DisqusLatest Headlines in Europe
- 1. Pope in Easter message calls for peace and religious tolerance
- 2. Magnificent Messi leads Barcelona to ninth straight win
- 3. Pope leads Easter vigil, calls for "true enlightenment"
- 4. Barcelona increase pressure on Real with romp in Zaragoza
- 5. Pope Benedict XVI leads Easter Vigil
Older Talkback
page: 1
Oh god, who caaaaaaaaaaares. We'll deploy a missile shield, they'll station some bombers, we'll point missiles, they'll point missiles, some politicians will get really angry, Oliver Stone will make a movie, and life will go on uninterrupted.
This entire situation is pretty retarded, with thousands of nuclear missiles there is no way a handful of interceptor rockets threatens russia's security. Likewise however, with advanced radar and american air superiority, a few bombers in cuba wouldnt pose a threat either. Russia is just having a hissy fit that we are 'interfering' in their historical sphere of influence and want to return the favor. Russia still has submarine based missles chugging around our coasts and we return the favor. At this point there is no threat and it is all political posturing.
Russian bombers in Cuba would be perceived as a threat and America would take swift action. The sole purpose of these fighters would be to damage America, there is not an iota of a defensive posture in this kind of strategy. The cold war appears to be heating up again. Pride has abandoned reasoning. What good will this do if it leads to nations crushed in their own rubble?
Maybe they are imagining that we have placed bombers near there border so we could more readily annihilate them.
The world may not exist much longer as we know it, but that won't take the fight out of freedom and human rights loving people.
And how do we think President Obama would handle a situation like this?
Seems really straightforward to me.
military threat when that's mc cain's only perceived threat = mc cain win = continuing dependence on foreign oil = more money for russia's state run oil companies.
I agree it's political postering
well let me say this the world is getting ready for world war III. Their setting the stage for it. Thats why we are putting missile defence systems in the Czech Repubilc and Poland. Russia sees That as a missile launch site against them. even Though we have the peace treaty with Them There saying 'screw the americans' under their breath while smiling and waving at us. They already said that if we attack Iran or Isreal attack them That WE(americans) will suffer The consequinces Of our and isreals actions. Iran will Fight Us In The middle east and I hate to say it But Russia will Come to fight On Our land The USA.Thats why Their Putting Up Bombers in cuba. People Here need to wake up and relize that their ready to attack us here if we attack Iran. and lets not forget venizuela. They hate us. and will help russia on our soil. Then Our friends will attack Them and their friends their. and so on and so forth. People here In The U.S.( The baby boomers and Their kids) need to Understand just because we live Here dosn't mean Your nececeraly safe. They just need to Pray that we or isreal dosn't attack Iran.
Check your history people. The Soviet Union, oop's sorry I'm not being politically correct (Russia), no I meant what I said, the Soviet Union has always done the same thing, one step back, two steps forward or hammer up, then hammer down; all they did was change the name and the color of there flag, and the titles of there leaders!!! They still want world domination!!! If you know your history say, AMEN! If you don't WAKE THE FLAMMING H*&% up and read your history!!!!!!!!!!!
yap i agree usa is economic corrupted and bankrupted and that it should keep its nose in its own territory not in europe and make problems to other countries around europe. and yea i agree that usa is no longer power of the world its russia (CSTO) union or ex soviet union because i swa on cnn news that russia is the world leading super power from 2007 and its the fastest growing country in the world and also i saw on world bank buy 2050 russia will be the 5th biggest economy in the world it will over take germany and also today russia is the biggest energy super power.
Check your history people. The Native Americans, Blacks, Mexicans and other Races Killers State, oop's sorry I'm not being politically correct (US), no I meant what I said, the Native Americans, Blacks, Mexicans and other Races Killers State has always done the same thing, one step back, two steps forward or hammer up, then hammer down; all they did was to pretend they're now a democracy that doesn't want to kill other nations!!! They still want world domination to kill more Serbs, Iraqis and others!!! If you know your history say, AMEN! If you don't WAKE THE FLAMMING H*&% up and read your history!!!!!!!!!!!
page: 1
DaveJul 21st, 2008 - 22:22:56
First off long range bombers are an offensive threat not defensive like the missle shield. The missle shield is design to shoot down incoming missles after the threat has already been launched. Bombers are not. They are part of an offensive tactic. Are they trying to tells us something. Looks like the ole Ruskies are reniging on their peace treaty they have with us. Oh and I suppose you all believe those offensive missles of theirs are not pointed at us anymore either.
Report this comment