RED ALERT:
"President" Dmitry Medvedev in a speech today directly linked the alleged military threat posed by tiny Georgia against gigantic Russia to the Kremlin's current program of remilitarization and a "new wave" of Russian military exercises, including specifically the Tu-160 deployment in Venezuela"
WW4 File: Russian Air Force: Tu-160 bombers on Venezuela mission slated to return home Sept. 15, but could extend visit if Chavez approves
FOURTH WORLD WAR HIGHLIGHTS: LATIN AMERICAN THEATER- Visiting Russian Bombers to Patrol Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea Until September 15; Kremlin: No Nukes on Board
- "Red" Carpet Treatment: Various News Agencies: Chavez to Enjoy "Spin" on Russian Bomber or Escort on Flight over Caribbean
- Novosti Video Link for Arrival of Tu-160 Bombers in Venezuela
- Russian "President" Medvedev Directly Links Situation in Georgia to Tu-160 Deployment in Venezuela
- Commander of US Fourth Fleet Rear Admiral Kernan Denies Russian Bombers in South America Pose Threat to USA (source)
- Commander of Russia's Strategic Aviation Major General Androsov in Interview Today: Cuba Has "Sufficient Infrastructure" to Accommodate Kremlin's Nuclear Bombers
- Netherlands Nervous about Russian-Venezuelan Naval Exercise Slated for First Half of November near Dutch Islands of Aruba and Curaçao (source)
- ALERT: Caracas Orders Reduction in Commercial Flights from USA Effective September 28; Department of Homeland Security Denied Permission to Verify Security Conditions at Venezuelan Airports (source)
- Latin American Red Axis Nations Venezuela and Brazil Expand Military Cooperation through "Venbras" Anti-Drug Operations
On the seventh anniversary of the 911 terrorist attacks, the crafty Soviets are incrementally introducing their military assets into the Western Hemisphere on the invitation of their communist allies in the region. (Not so coincidentally, the founder of the Cheka, Felix Dzerzhinsky, was born on September 11, 1877.) Venezuela's El Libertador airbase (pictured above) received two Tu-160 Blackjack bombers yesterday, the first time Russia's strategic bombers have landed in the Americas since the First Cold War (1945-1991). The aircraft arrived in the South American country to hold "training flights" in the region ahead of the joint naval exercise that Caracas and Moscow will conduct in the Caribbean Sea between November 10 and 14.
"Their return has been scheduled for September 15," Russian Air Force spokesentity Lieutenant-Colonel Vladimir Drik explained. However, Major-General Pavel Androsov, commander of Russia's strategic aviation, admitted that "The planes' return could take place later than September 15. It all depends on Venezuela's hospitality." Androsov revealed that the Tu-160s could also be used to escort Venezuela's communist dictator Hugo Chavez on international trips: "We are not a commercial organization, but if they [the Venezuelans] ask us and we receive proper permission, then we will give him [Chavez] a safe flight over the Caribbean."
With respect to the Blackjacks' flight plans, Drik disclosed: "During their stay in Venezuela the bombers will conduct a number of patrol flights over neutral waters in the Pacific and the Caribbean." He was quick to add that "The planes are not armed with any weapons." The Russian Foreign Ministry denies that through this mission the Kremlin is establishing a military base in Venezuela or seeking to counter US influence in Georgia. However, "President" Dmitry Medvedev in a speech today directly linked the alleged military threat posed by tiny Georgia against gigantic Russia to the Kremlin's current program of remilitarization and a "new wave" of Russian military exercises, including specifically the Tu-160 deployment in Venezuela.
Russian bombers set to leave Venezuela in mid-Sept. -2
21:0811/ 09/ 2008
MOSCOW, September 11 (RIA Novosti) - Two Russian Tu-160 Blackjack strategic bombers that landed in Venezuela on Wednesday are scheduled to return home on September 15 but will stay on if Venezuela gives its approval, Russia's Air Force said on Thursday.
The bombers landed at Venezuela's Libertador airfield late last night and during the 13-hour flight from their home base in central Russia were accompanied by NATO fighters.
"Their return has been scheduled for September 15," Air Force spokesman Lt. Col. Vladimir Drik said.
However, Maj.-Gen. Pavel Androsov, commander of the Air Force's strategic aviation, said the planes' return "could take place later than September 15. It all depends on Venezuela's hospitality."
During their stay in Venezuela, the bombers will conduct a number of patrol flights over neutral waters in the Pacific and the Caribbean.According to the Drik, the planes are not armed with any weapons.
The Tu-160 Blackjack is a supersonic, variable-geometry heavy bomber, designed to strike strategic targets with nuclear and conventional weapons deep in continental theatres of operation.
Russia's Foreign Ministry said on Thursday that the landing of strategic bombers in Venezuela did not mean that Russia had established a military base in the South American country.
"Russia does not have military bases in Latin America," Andrei Nesterenko, a spokesman for the Foreign Ministry said. "The landing at the Venezuelan airbase was carried out in line with prior agreements between Russia and Venezuela."
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said on September 1 that "if Russian long-range bombers should need to land in Venezuela we would not object to that."
Androsov also said the Russian planes could used to escort the Venezuelan leader.
"We are not a commercial organization, but if they ask us and we receive proper permission, then we will give him a safe flight over the Caribbean," he said.
Russia resumed strategic bomber patrol flights over the Pacific, Atlantic and Arctic oceans last August, following an order signed by then-President Vladimir Putin. Russian bombers have since carried out more than 90 strategic patrol flights and have often been escorted by NATO planes.
The Air Force spokesman reiterated on Thursday that all Russian strategic patrols were performed in strict accordance with international rules on the use of airspace over neutral waters, without violating the borders of other states.
Source: Novosti
We will not be surprised, however, if in the near future Communist Cuba and neo-Sandinista Nicaragua, contrary toearlier denials, offer their airfields for use by Russian military aircraft. Indeed, the Russian brass is once again raising the subject of deploying their strategic bombers in Cuba, an idea first floatedthrough the Kremlin media in July, several weeks before Russia invaded Georgia. In an interview held today, Major-General Androsov conceded: "Cuba has sufficient infrastructure to accommodate strategic bombers, but the Russian air force is not yet planning to land on Cuba, although we have studied its capacity." When asked whether Russian strategic aviation were going to fly to countries other than Venezuela, Androsov retorted: "I can see no reason why they should not. The US Air Force has already visited a lot of countries. We are not looking for enemies, rather, we are looking for friends, and friendship should be active. Russia is looking for long-term partnerships."
In recent months the Moscow-Havana Axis has rematerialized for the world to see. For example, following Hurricane Gustav, which ravaged Cuba on August 30, Russia dispatched two planeloads ofhumanitarian aid to the island gulag state. The Kremlin was no doubt poking a finger in America's eye in view of the relief flights that the USA directed to war-wracked Georgia earlier that month.
Along with maturing operational military relations between Caracas and Moscow, Venezuela is also expanding military relations with fellow Latin American Red Axis member Brazil under the auspices of the Venbras "anti-drug" operations. "In addition, Chávez highlighted the start of Venbras operation," reports the Venezuelan state media, "which is an air exercise in joint with Brazil. 'We are getting ready for a bigger exercise with Brazil from November 2-14.'" The Soviet-Venezuelan and Venezuelan-Brazilian war games will run concurrently, as noted above. Last month, using Chinese-built radar systemsmore than 400 troops from the two South American nations mobilized for the first stage of Venbras 2008 at the Santa Elena de Uairen air base in the Venezuela's Bolivar state. The previous joint Venezuelan-Brazilian naval war game Venbras 2007 took place one year ago. "The maneuvers," Prensa Latina reported at the time, "will comprise training to respond to crisis situations and application of guidelines to update operational doctrines in the multilateral use of joint forces."
