Russia IA BACK

[Guest Human_*]

To the democrats; Any more bright ideas?

 

You democrats REALLY have to chill out at having Power No Matter What the Cost, because you sure have made the World more dangerous.

 

 

 

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http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaki...7/breaking6.htm

 

Last Updated: Sunday, September 7, 2008, 08:33Venezuela to host Russian naval excercise

Several Russian ships and 1,000 soldiers will take part in joint naval maneuvers with Venezuela in the Caribbean Sea later this year, exercises likely to increase diplomatic tensions with Washington, a pro-government newspaper has reported.

 

Quoting Venezuela's naval intelligence director, Salbarore Cammarata, the newspaper Vea said four Russian boats would visit Venezuelan waters from November 10th to 14th.

 

Plans for the naval operations come at a time of heightened diplomatic tension and Cold War-style rhetoric between Moscow and the United States over the recent war in Georgia and plans for a US missile defense system in the Czech Republic and Poland.

 

Mr Cammarata said it would be the first time Russia's navy carried out such exercises in Latin America. He said the Venezuelan air force would also take part.

 

Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez, an outspoken critic of Washington, has said in recent weeks that Russian ships and planes are welcome to visit the South American country.

 

Mr Chavez, who buys billions of dollars of weapons from Russia, has criticized this year's reactivation of the US Navy's Fourth Fleet, which will patrol Latin America for the first time in over 50 years.

 

The socialist Mr Chavez says he fears the United States will invade oil-rich Venezuela and he supports Russia's growing geopolitical presence as a counterbalance to US power.

 

Mr Chavez has bought fighter jets and submarines from Russia to retool Venezuela's aging weapons and says he is also interested in a missile defence system.

 

Reuters

[Luke_Wilbur]

Tensions are getting worse.

 

http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/americas/09/...uela/index.html

 

Tupolev Tu-160 strategic bombers landed at Venezuela's Libertador military airfield and "will spend several days carrying out training flights over neutral waters, after which they will return to the base," Interfax reported, citing the Russian Defense Ministry.

 

Col. Alexander Drobyshevsky, a ministry spokesman, told Interfax that NATO fighters followed the bombers on their 13-hour flight over the Arctic Ocean and the Atlantic.

 

"All flights by air force aircraft have been and are marked by strict conformity to the international rules on the use of air space over neutral waters," Drobyshevsky told Interfax.

 

The U.S. will monitor the Russian training, said Pentagon officials who asked not to be identified because they were not authorized to speak on the information.

 

On Monday, Russia announced it might hold joint naval maneuvers with Venezuela in the Caribbean. The declaration came in the wake of increased tension between Russia and the United States over Russia's invasion last month of the former Soviet republic of Georgia, a U.S. ally that aspires to join NATO.

 

Russia on Monday denied any link between that announcement and the conflict in Georgia, although Russia has criticized U.S. support for Georgia, and Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has long antagonized Washington.

 

Earlier this month, Chavez said Venezuela would welcome the Russian air force, according to Russian news agency Novosti.

 

"If Russian long-range bombers should need to land in Venezuela, we would not object to that either. We will also welcome them," Chavez said on September 1, according to Novosti.

[Guest BlackSun_*]

I think this is a response to a 21 day NATO Maritime Group One (SNMG 1) exercise in the Black Sea. Both sides are flexing their muscles.