Posted on 07/23/2008 8:21:37 PM PDT by bd476
Cuba silent on Russian bomber report: Fidel Castro
24 Jul 2008 01:30:02 GMT
Source: Reuters
HAVANA, July 23 (Reuters) - Former Cuban leader Fidel Castro on Wednesday said Cuba does not have to explain or "ask forgiveness" about a report out of Russia this week that Russia might use its Cold War ally Cuba as a refueling base for nuclear-capable bombers.
He did not address whether the report was true or false, and Cuban officials have made no comment.
"Raul did very well keeping a dignified silence," Castro wrote, referring to his brother, President Raul Castro, in a column published online at www.cubadebate.cu.
"One doesn't have to give explanations nor ask excuses or forgiveness," the ailing 81-year-old said in one of his increasingly frequent opinion pieces.
Russia's Izvestia newspaper this week quoted a "highly placed source" as saying Russia could land Tu-160 supersonic bombers nicknamed "White Swans" in Cuba in response to a planned U.S. missile defense shield in Europe that Moscow opposes.
On Tuesday, U.S. Air Force Gen. Norton Schwartz told the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee that if the Russians did refuel the bombers in Cuba "we should stand strong and indicate that that is something that crosses a threshold, crosses a red line for the United States of America."
Russian officials have denied the Izvestia report, but the dust-up has stirred memories of the 1962 Cuban missile crisis when the United States and Russia faced each other down after the discovery of Soviet missiles on the island 90 miles (144 km) south of Florida.
The two-week crisis brought the Cold War foes close to a full-blown war until the Soviets agreed to take down the missile sites in exchange for a U.S. pledge not to invade Cuba and to remove U.S. missiles from Turkey.
Castro said the comments by Schwartz, who has been nominated to become the Air Force's top military officer, were an example of the "Machiavellian strategy that the empire (U.S.) applies to Cuba."
"If you say yes, I kill you. If you say no, it's the same, I'll kill you anyway," he wrote.
Castro led Cuba after taking power in a 1959 revolution until he provisionally put Raul Castro in charge two years ago following intestinal surgery. The younger Castro, who is 77, formally replaced him in a February vote by the National Assembly.
The elder Castro has not been seen in public since his surgery, but of late has been writing lots of opinion pieces and occasionally appears in videos and photos.
(Reporting by Jeff Franks; Editing by Eric Beech)
Die already Castro. Unless you are in great pain, then linger on for a while.
They know that Obambi “ain’t no JFK”!
Enough.
Kennedy’s Deal is off. Just invade already.
Yep, the Sov's smell an Obamination victory and they're setting up the test, just like they did with Kennedy, when Krushchev smelled weakness.
Only this time they KNOW this boy's weak.
I guess we could park a few F-22s at MacDill...maybe a few more at Eglin.
Pingsky.
Exactly. Just incredible that anyone would even consider him to be qualified to run for President.
The man gives empty suits a bad name.
My biggest fear is nObama laying waste to the US Military. He will do much more damage than any Russian Bombers!
Still, the Nouveau Soviets are setting up a test. Obambi will wanna have a chit-chat and determine how many concessions the US will make.
LOL! Perfect!
This is sort of off-topic but on another thread there was mention of the story about Russian geologists being eaten by starving bears while the geologists were working in a platinum mine in a very remote Northern region of the Kamchatka Peninsula.
After an unsuccessful internet search for a specific map of the area the mine is located in, I am guessing that the area is either so remote that the Russians do not consider the area important enough to list, or perhaps there is a security issue regarding the area surrounding the platinum mine. Also I wonder if there is a defense application for platinum.
While searching for maps of the Olyotorsky District in the Kamchatka Peninsula, I noticed some interesting Russian news headlines:
Prime Minister Vladimir Putin to chair meeting on metallurgy in Nizhny Novgorod region
Russia needs bombers in Cuba due to NATO expansion - ex-commander
Russia 'must punish Prague over U.S. shield with beer boycott'
Oops, it seems that a door is being slammed shut in Russia:
Medvedev calls for creating reserve of managers in Russia
New Russian Satellites will be monitoring both polar regions:
Russia creates Arktica system for polar monitoring
Russian polar station SP-36 to start work in September
Moscow introduces quota for 500,000 migrants in 2009
Police chief's house attacked in Ingushetia; explosion wounds five people
London Times Online excerpt:
"...Their arrival has paralysed work at platinum mines owned by the Koryakgeologia company. Geologists refused to leave their compound in Mount Ledyanaya after 20 bears were seen wandering around, while at least 10 animals were spotted at nearby Penisty..."
"...The Koryakgeologia platinum mine is owned by Renova Group, the management company headed by the billionaire Viktor Vekselberg. He is also one of the four Russian shareholders waging war with BP over the future of their joint venture company TNK-BP..."
Excerpted. Bears besiege Russian mine after killing guards
Russia — Always a work in progress and progressively working for change...maybe, they should start at home. What a great idea!
Thanks for the ping bd476.
Interesting links.
Wrong thread...sorry.
Year of Estimate: 2006 Source: United States Geological Survey (USGS) Minerals Resources Program |
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Good point and well said.
Is there a legitimate reason we haven’t managed to off this guy and his family yet?
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