Report: Russia May Send Nukes To Cuba
Actor-director Tom Hanks would prefer to be with the 80% of people who he says have a good nature - and avoid the 20% who are "crooks and liars." / CBS
Ailing Fidel Castro said Wednesday that Cuba's president was right to adopt a "dignified silence" over a Moscow newspaper report that Russia may send nuclear bombers to the island, and said Cuba doesn't owe any explanation to Washington about the story.
In a brief, cryptic essay posted on a government Web site Wednesday night, the 81-year-old former president neither confirmed nor denied the Monday report in Izvestia newspaper.
Moscow is angry about U.S. plans for missile-defense sites in eastern Europe and Izvestia cited a "highly placed" military aviation source as saying, "While they are deploying the anti-missile systems in Poland and the Czech Republic, our long-range strategic aircraft already will be landing in Cuba." Izvestia said this apparently refers to long-range nuclear-capable bombers.
Izvestia points out that there would have to be a political decision on landing bombers in Cuba, and quoted the unnamed source as saying there have been such discussions.
Former Russian Air Force Commander-in-Chief Anatoly Kornukov told Russia's Interfax news agency Thursday that the country's "strategic bombers are entitled to use airfields in any country, including Cuba, as long as its leaders do not object."
A well informed military-diplomatic official in Moscow told CBS News Thursday that Russian strategic bombers "could use an airfield in Cuba for refueling during flights for air patrol over the Atlantic." The source spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the topic.
Kornukov's statement was made in response to remarks earlier in the week by the nominee for U.S. Air Force chief of staff, Gen. Norton Schwartz, who said a move by Moscow to position nuclear weapons on the Caribbean Island would cross "a red line for the United States of America".
The London-based AFX news wire quoted Schwartz as saying: "If they did I think we should stand strong and indicate that is something that crosses a threshold, crosses a red line for the United States."
"The statement by Gen. Schwartz cannot be called other than inadequate and childish," Kornukov said, according to Interfax, which, like all Russian media, is closely monitored by the Kremlin. "Gen. Schwartz, being a professional, must know that missile carriers have the right to fly over neutral waters in any part of the world, which, by the way, is what U.S. bombers are doing as well."
"We continue to continue to work with the Russians on this issue," Gallegos said Tuesday, referring to talks aimed at explaining the U.S. government's missile defense plan. "We have consistently made it clear to them that our proposed deployment of a limited missile defense system in Europe poses no threat to them or to their nuclear deterrent."
According to CBS News Foreign Affairs Analyst Pamela Falk, Russia may be using the report as another way to show its opposition to a missile defense system close to its borders.
"Although plans to begin a second 'Cuban Missile Crisis' were dispelled at the State Department, it is perfectly plausible that Russia would leak a report of Russian bombers to Cuba, even if it denies it later, in order to make the point about how it sees the U.S. plans for a missile defense system in eastern Europe," said Falk.
"The next steps will be closely watched, because technology has changed significantly since 1962 and Washington would not risk allowing such a plan to move forward.
"The report is an indication, however, of how much the U.S. missile defense proposal has soured U.S.-Russian relations," Falk added, "and Castro's comments are a reflection that if any crisis occurred, he is still on the scene to deal with it."
While Castro said the president, his brother Raul Castro, was wise not to respond to the newspaper report, he did not make clear why he was commenting.
Fidel Castro also said Cuba is not obligated to offer the United States an explanation about the newspaper report, "nor ask for excuses or forgiveness."
Despite Cuba's one-time alliance with the former Soviet Union, it seems unlikely that Raul Castro would allow Russian bombers on the island and risk the ire of the U.S. government.
Raul Castro has been president only since February, securing a seamless transition from his brother, who ruled for nearly a half-century. He has repeatedly said he is willing to discuss the two countries' differences in talks held on equal terms with America's next president.
Soviet nuclear missiles stationed in Cuba during the height of the Cold War pushed the world to the brink of nuclear conflict on Oct. 22, 1962, after President John F. Kennedy announced their presence to the world. After a tense week of diplomacy, Soviet leader Nikita Krushchev removed them.
© 2010 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report. In a brief, cryptic essay posted on a government Web site Wednesday night, the 81-year-old former president neither confirmed nor denied the Monday report in Izvestia newspaper.
Moscow is angry about U.S. plans for missile-defense sites in eastern Europe and Izvestia cited a "highly placed" military aviation source as saying, "While they are deploying the anti-missile systems in Poland and the Czech Republic, our long-range strategic aircraft already will be landing in Cuba." Izvestia said this apparently refers to long-range nuclear-capable bombers.
Izvestia points out that there would have to be a political decision on landing bombers in Cuba, and quoted the unnamed source as saying there have been such discussions.
Former Russian Air Force Commander-in-Chief Anatoly Kornukov told Russia's Interfax news agency Thursday that the country's "strategic bombers are entitled to use airfields in any country, including Cuba, as long as its leaders do not object."
A well informed military-diplomatic official in Moscow told CBS News Thursday that Russian strategic bombers "could use an airfield in Cuba for refueling during flights for air patrol over the Atlantic." The source spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the topic.
Kornukov's statement was made in response to remarks earlier in the week by the nominee for U.S. Air Force chief of staff, Gen. Norton Schwartz, who said a move by Moscow to position nuclear weapons on the Caribbean Island would cross "a red line for the United States of America".
The London-based AFX news wire quoted Schwartz as saying: "If they did I think we should stand strong and indicate that is something that crosses a threshold, crosses a red line for the United States."
"The statement by Gen. Schwartz cannot be called other than inadequate and childish," Kornukov said, according to Interfax, which, like all Russian media, is closely monitored by the Kremlin. "Gen. Schwartz, being a professional, must know that missile carriers have the right to fly over neutral waters in any part of the world, which, by the way, is what U.S. bombers are doing as well."
In Washington, U.S. State Department Acting Deputy spokesman Gonzalo R. Gallegos said that American officials had received no official confirmation from the Russian government about the newspaper report, and was unaware of any U.S. efforts to directly contact Moscow about it.
"We continue to continue to work with the Russians on this issue," Gallegos said Tuesday, referring to talks aimed at explaining the U.S. government's missile defense plan. "We have consistently made it clear to them that our proposed deployment of a limited missile defense system in Europe poses no threat to them or to their nuclear deterrent."
According to CBS News Foreign Affairs Analyst Pamela Falk, Russia may be using the report as another way to show its opposition to a missile defense system close to its borders.
"Although plans to begin a second 'Cuban Missile Crisis' were dispelled at the State Department, it is perfectly plausible that Russia would leak a report of Russian bombers to Cuba, even if it denies it later, in order to make the point about how it sees the U.S. plans for a missile defense system in eastern Europe," said Falk.
"The next steps will be closely watched, because technology has changed significantly since 1962 and Washington would not risk allowing such a plan to move forward.
"The report is an indication, however, of how much the U.S. missile defense proposal has soured U.S.-Russian relations," Falk added, "and Castro's comments are a reflection that if any crisis occurred, he is still on the scene to deal with it."
While Castro said the president, his brother Raul Castro, was wise not to respond to the newspaper report, he did not make clear why he was commenting.
Fidel Castro also said Cuba is not obligated to offer the United States an explanation about the newspaper report, "nor ask for excuses or forgiveness."
Despite Cuba's one-time alliance with the former Soviet Union, it seems unlikely that Raul Castro would allow Russian bombers on the island and risk the ire of the U.S. government.
Raul Castro has been president only since February, securing a seamless transition from his brother, who ruled for nearly a half-century. He has repeatedly said he is willing to discuss the two countries' differences in talks held on equal terms with America's next president.
Soviet nuclear missiles stationed in Cuba during the height of the Cold War pushed the world to the brink of nuclear conflict on Oct. 22, 1962, after President John F. Kennedy announced their presence to the world. After a tense week of diplomacy, Soviet leader Nikita Krushchev removed them.
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Reuters uk January 18, 2008 : " Iran has some awesome colleagues. Russia and China have become guardians of the Iranian economy. They don''t put religion between business and political advantages. The US is sorely lacking in intelligent Foreign Policy. Hitler''s Foreign Policy has been resurrected to serve the needs of an oil agenda and turn the US into the most disrespected and despised world power ".
POSTED: Friday, January 18, 2008
Moscow -- Armed forces will be used if necessary, including preventively and with the use of nuclear weapons, for protection of Russia and its allies, the Russian Armed Forces Chief of the General Staff Yuri Baluyevsky said on Saturday.
"We do not intend to attack anybody. But all our partners must realize that for protection of Russia and its allies if necessary armed forces will be used, including preventively, including with the use of nuclear weapons," Baluyevsky was quoted by the Itar-Tass news agency as saying.
Baluyevsky reportedly made the statement at a scientific conference of the Academy of Military Sciences January 19, 2008
Whatever happened to that idea....Posted by mjlewis6 at 02:01 PM : Jul 25, 2008
Yeah, I would REALLY sleep well at night feeling warm and fuzzy all over knowing that the RUSSIANS are protecting me and my family from a nuclear jihad by Irans president Ahmanutjob. Get REAL...
If you like the idea of the Russians protecting you, you are welcome to go live with them, comrade!!!
Posted by donbl1 at 04:23 PM : Jul 25, 2008
He would have to wait until he learned to speak spanish and russian first! He wouldnt want to "offend" them, now would he?
Make life more interesting by confronting the Russians with missiles in Poland and a radar station in the Czeck Republic? And likely a Georgian mutual defense pact? Ostensibly to guard against an Iranian missile threat? Gee, talk about transparency....there seems to be NONE from this Bush Administration.
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Posted by mjlewis6 at 02:01 PM : Jul 25, 2008
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its like the joint US/UN peace plan for middle east..UN was there just to hinder..pretty much just like russia..of course its so transparent you did not see that..
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Posted by dakotaclark at 12:40 AM : Jul 25, 2008
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as long as you have american liberals willing to bed with castro and defend this aging piece of communist dung..there will always be a threat of another cuban missle crisis..
THIS is nothing more than a ploy by the russians to divert attention AWAY from iran...
kinda like the same thing the last time..its tragic that most people who think that cuba has access to these missles were born after the the crisis..HUMANS..WE TEND TO FORGET TOO FAST