Russian Warships Cruise Into Venezuela

President Hugo Chavez Welcomes Flotilla As Moscow Seeks To Flex Muscle In Region

(CBS/AP)  Russian warships sailed into a Venezuelan port Tuesday, greeted by a 21-gun salute and an eager welcome from President Hugo Chavez as Moscow seeks to expand its influence in Latin America.

Russians sailors dressed in black-and-white uniforms lined up along the bow of the destroyer Admiral Chabanenko as it docked in La Guaira, near Caracas. The deployment is the first of its kind in the Caribbean since the Cold War and was timed to coincide with President Dmitry Medvedev's visit to Caracas - the first ever by a Russian president.

For the past six months, it seems that Medvedev has been working hard to dismantle his liberal image and revive memories of the Cold War, reports CBS News' Alexsei Kuznetsov.

Chavez, basking in the support of a powerful ally and traditional U.S. rival, wants Russian help to build a nuclear reactor, invest in oil and natural gas projects and bolster his leftist opposition to U.S. influence in Latin America.

Chavez also wants weapons - he has bought more than $4 billion in Russian arms, including Sukhoi fighter jets, helicopters and 100,000 Kalashnikov rifles, and more deals for Russian tanks or other weaponry may be discussed after Medvedev arrives Wednesday.

Russia's deployment of the naval squadron - the behemoth flagship Peter the Great, the missile destroyer and two support vessels - is widely seen as a demonstration of Kremlin anger over the U.S. decision to send warships to deliver aid to Georgia after its battles with Russia, and U.S. plans for a European missile-defense system.

But Bush administration officials mocked the show of force.

"Are they accompanied by tugboats this time?" U.S. State Department spokesman Sean McCormack joked to reporters in Washington. He noted that Russia's navy is but a shadow of its Soviet-era fleet, and reasserted U.S. dominance in Latin America.

"I don't think there's any question about ... who the region looks to in terms of political, economic, diplomatic and as well as military power," McCormack said. "If the Venezuelans and the Russians want to have, you know, a military exercise, that's fine. But we'll obviously be watching it very closely."

Venezuelan sailors stood at attention along the pier where the destroyer docked, while two support ships also pulled into port. The Peter the Great, the largest ship in the Russian fleet, anchored offshore in the distance due to its size.

When Russia sent two strategic bombers to Venezuela in September, some drew comparisons to the Soviet Union's deployments to Cuba during the Cold War.

But both countries have also shown signs of trying to engage President-elect Barack Obama.

And Chavez told reporters that it's ludicrous to invoke the Cold War to describe the naval exercises beginning Dec. 1.

"It's not a provocation. It's an exchange between two free countries," Chavez said.

Russia's ambitions to make inroads in Latin America may be checked by global events. Both Venezuela and Russia are feeling the pinch of slumping oil prices, and their ability to be major benefactors for like-minded leaders is in doubt given the pressures of the world's financial crisis.

The maneuvers starting Dec. 1 "should be viewed largely as a propaganda exercise," said Anna Gilmour, an analyst at Jane's Intelligence Review.

"Pragmatic Russian policy suggests that it will content itself with a brief high-profile visit, rather than a longer-term deployment that could cause severe tensions with the U.S., at a time when Russia may be looking to re-engage with the new administration," she said.

Next week, the warships will participate in exercises enabling sailors to practice reconnaissance, anti-drug patrols, anti-terrorism and search and rescue operations. There will also be anti-aircraft exercises involving Venezuela's newly bought Sukhoi fighter jets, though no live ammunition will be used, Rear Adm. Luis Morales Marquez said.

He said two of the Sukhois welcomed the ships with a flyover early Tuesday as they neared the coast.

Medvedev's tour this week to Peru, Brazil, Venezuela and Cuba was planned before the financial crisis, and Russia must now downsize its ambitions in Latin America because its pockets are no longer so deep, said Fyodor Lukyanov, the editor of Russia in Global Affairs Magazine.

"Russia will have to put off big projects like the construction of a gas pipeline across South America," Lukyanov said. The proposed natural gas pipeline is Chavez's brainchild, a controversial and ambitious plan for which he has explored Russian investment.

But Russia still has an economic interest in selling more weapons and boosting business in Latin America, and Venezuela can help "open the doors," noted Venezuelan political scientist Ricardo Sucre Heredia.

"It's a win-win relationship for the two countries," Sucre said. "Russia gains in terms of its international power and its presence, and Venezuela gains in terms of having an ally."

[likenoone-2009]

thay know that obama is weak

[earache4]

Well played by Russia and Venezuela. The Monroe Doctrine doesn''t apply....

[spinproof]

If the U.S. Navy has to rescue Russian Sailors out at sea again I suggest we just return them back to Russia without the new suits or treats at McDonalds next time.

[mtminds]

It was Bush''s non existent South America foreign policy that opened the door for Chavez and several other South American countries to turn their backs on what was 8 years ago, a friendly partnership.

As far as GW Bush''s attempts to follow " G o d''s will" and bring Armageddon to this earth, its mission accomplished again.

[antoniof123]

thay know that obama is weak
Posted by likenoone at 12:47 PM : Nov 25, 2008

Hey you neo cons got it wrong again the Republicans are still in office. And thanks to you morons we have now to deal with those that could have been friends.

Neo cons relgious Republicans give new meaning to the word dumber than dirt.

Don''t worry though we swing voters will not forget you in the next elecition. I see another blood bath coming.

Until the GOP learns humility they are going to be SOL for a long time.

[evian_ycnan]

Posted by tj217 at 01:02 PM : Nov 25, 2008

Good grief fella, where`s your jingoism? My, my, but 8 years of the Crawford Cockroach has destroyed your psyche.

I''ll bet ol Georgie tries to pardon himself for his 8 years in office.

[biblethumpar]

"Operation Condor" has finally been exposed as a total Failure....

[lemonskink]

So, what''s the problem. The US ships are everywhere. Not to forget the invasion of Iraq under the guidance of America''s very own Chavez, GWB.

[lovegetpeace]

This is the direct result of the following policies of our great Republican President Bush''s:

1) We will never talk with our Communist and/or Socialist Enemies until they become democratic 100% even when we talk everyday with Communist China and Vietnam.

2) We will continue to the plan of 28 August 2008 to place U.S. Missile-Defense systems in Eastern Europe even when I know Russia will eventually placed them in Venezuela, Nicaragua and Bolivia - our backyard.

Mission Accomplished!

Obama will reverse these 2 U.S. Policies.

[notblue]

antoniof123, facsist dictators like Chavez and Sadam may be your friends but most Americans do not consider that type of ruler a friend. Of course, thanks to peole like you, the new progressive wave of socialism now sweeping America may prove to be more receptive to these types time will tell.

[notblue]

lovegetpeace, you truly make it up as you go don''t you! LOL!

[lovegetpeace]

This is the direct result of the following policies of our great Republican President Bush''''s:

1) We will never talk with our Communist and/or Socialist Enemies such as Venezuela and Cuba until they become Democratic 100% even when we talk everyday with Communist China and Vietnam.

2) We will implement the plan of 28 August 2008 to place U.S. Missile-Defense systems in Eastern Europe even when I know Russia will eventually placed them in Venezuela, Nicaragua and Bolivia.

Mission Accomplished!

President Obama will Reverse these 2 Great U.S. Policies.

[biblethumpar]

notblue, you want to Blame the Wave of U.S. Socialist Buyouts on Democrats?
LOL..... get off the Peyote amigo.
this was SHRUBS own doing....

[lovegetpeace]

Posted by notblue at 01:26 PM : Nov 25, 2008

Wow! I thought you had jumped off the Empire State Building at 5:00:01 PM Eastern Time zone when it was officially announced that Obama won the election big.

Happy to see you have life after death.

[ramos937]

This tears it. The Monroe Doctrine, enforced by every President before Bush, is null and void.

[truthrocks1]

Missle shield now!

I wonder if your "Yes We Can" bumper stickers will survive the nuclear holocaust we are going to suffer under Obongo?

[ioweign]

Of course, thanks to peole like you, the new progressive wave of socialism now sweeping America may prove to be more receptive to these types time will tell.

Posted by notblue at 01:25 PM : Nov 25, 2008


Didn''t McCain suspended his campaign to give the $700 billion Bailout a leg up?

[lovegetpeace]

Posted by truthrocks1 at 01:31 PM : Nov 25, 2008

"Yes, we can" reverse the policies of the Great Republican President Bush that got us where we are now domestically and internationally.

Amazing how the NeoCons will not blame Bush even after suffering more loses in the U.S. Congress and the White House.

This is what I call Reverse-Survival mode DNA.

[ioweign]

Posted by notblue at 01:26 PM : Nov 25, 2008

Wow! I thought you had jumped off the Empire State Building at 5:00:01 PM Eastern Time zone when it was officially announced that Obama won the election big.

Happy to see you have life after death.

Posted by lovegetpeace at 01:30 PM : Nov 25, 2008


Can you smell the sulfur...

[lovegetpeace]

Of course, thanks to peole like you, the new progressive wave of socialism now sweeping America may prove to be more receptive to these types time will tell.

Posted by notblue at 01:25 PM : Nov 25, 2008

Please put on your Seat Belts because you have seen nothing yet regarding the Ton and Ton of new Government Regulations to control the Greed and Speculation of Capitalism. To start, I read Congress is going to Rollback the De-Regulations of Republican Ex-Senator Phil Gramm.

Incidentally, where is Phil hiding these days?

[wdrussell1]

I have seen this song and dance before.
America does whatever it can to turn other nations into potential enemies.

[jazzer99]

The militarization of Venezuela and remilitarization of Cuba has been in process for over a year, why was this not covered in the news or the candidates queried during the campaign interviews this issue will impact us more than wardrobes.

[enzoc45]

notblue...Chavez is not fascist!!! Communist yes...would he be fascist he would be a great friend of gwb!! just like berlusconi!! ty!

[cariboubarbi]

Hmmm...maybe the Russians were serious when they said they''d be upset if we put up missile defence in Poland?


Poke a bear with a stick and eventually he''ll bite your arm off.

[demdump]

THE SUB. ARE WAITING TO WELCOME THEM TOO.....

[cariboubarbi]

Bush has been doing everything he can to provoke the Russians.

Looks like their responding now.

[lovegetpeace]

Of course, thanks to peole like you, the new progressive wave of socialism now sweeping America may prove to be more receptive to these types time will tell.

Posted by notblue at 01:25 PM : Nov 25, 2008

Please put on your Seat Belts because you have seen nothing yet regarding the Ton and Ton of new Government Regulations to control the Greed and Speculation of Capitalism. To start, I read Congress is going to Rollback the 1999 De-Regulations of Republican Ex-Senator Phil Gramm.

Incidentally, where is your idol Phil hiding these days?

[lovegetpeace]

Dear NeoCons,
FYI...
In case you have not watched the news lately, the Banking, Investment, Housing industries have been Nationalized by the U.S. Government. The Auto Industry is waiting in line among others Free Market Private Enterprises. Even hundreds of Cities, Counties and States are waiting in line patiently for a bailout from the U.S. Government.

Socialism is always kind and there to rescue Capitalism.

[lovegetpeace]

The vultures are circling...
Oboma hasn''''''''t even taken office yet and the commies are moving in.
Hey, Obama, you frickin'''''''' idiot, you ever hear of the Monroe Doctrine?
At least Kennedy had enough sack to kick the Russians out of Cuba.
You gonna do something or you just gonna stand there and bleed?

Posted by axomomma at 01:43 PM : Nov 25, 2008

Please open your 2 eyes, we are witnessing the fruit of that no-talks and Embargo policies since 1961 against Cuba now in Venezuela and elsewhere in Latin America.

Just imagine if Cuba was our Best Friend in Latin America. My great mother always told me to make friends of my enemies because you never know when you need them the most like in these days.

[drinuk]

SO WHAT! Thanks to the Governments we have been blessed with for the last twenty years and especially the last eight, the Chinese will be cashing in their chips during the next decade. Not only will we have Russians enjoying the banana''s in the Caribbean, we will have Chinese in the Senate, invited in by the profligate Bush Empire who have hocked us up to our eyeballs with debt to China. Sooner or later they are going to demand retribution and with no way of paying they will dictate future policy.

[lovegetpeace]

Posted by drinuk at 01:50 PM : Nov 25, 2008

Perfect. I could not have said it better.

Folks, soon, there will be Chinese Warships and Submarines 5 miles off the coast of San Diego California and there is nothing the U.S. Military can do because the U.S. Government will be under the mercy of China with our Federal Debt.

[sincity_q]

The Russians have always covested warm water ports and allies in the new world. A banana boat republic invites the Russians to pull up and share a mug of Caribbean rum? No biggie.

[drinuk]

If this man Obama can turn this s h i t around, he will prove to be the greatest leader the World as ever known because thats how bad it is. Wake up you partisan morons, bury the hatchet, hold hands and start pulling this country back together otherwise you are going to be eating one bowl of rice a day. You Aint Seen Nothing Yet !

[chris32324]

likenoone,,if you think obama s weak,,what would you call bush?,strong,,responsible,,couragous,,intelligent,,honest,,you should get on your knees and give thx that the majority of americans had the guts to vote obama in,the whole world,not part of the world,but the whole g/d world is glad the repubs cant cause any more trouble then they already have.

[smclimans]

1)

Don''t worry,
we conservatives will give Obama the same "respect"
that liberals gave George Bush.
LOL


2)

For the last eight years, all I heard from liberals who
relentlessly criticized Bush, was that "DISSENT IS PATRIOTIC"

Okay

So I WILL BE PATRIOTIC for the next four years
by dissenting against Obama

[sepa2]

SO WHAT! Thanks to the Governments we have been blessed with for the last twenty years and especially the last eight, the Chinese will be cashing in their chips during the next decade. Not only will we have Russians enjoying the banana''''s in the Caribbean, we will have Chinese in the Senate, invited in by the profligate Bush Empire who have hocked us up to our eyeballs with debt to China. Sooner or later they are going to demand retribution and with no way of paying they will dictate future policy.
Posted by drinuk
-----------------
Hey but we are safe from terrorists. Any more pet projects against terrorist threats? If not invent one. Surely it will be funded at double the request.

[shamdamerica]

You wanted Change and Change is coming. President Bush could have buried his head in the sand like Clinton did. The Terrorist would have set off another bomb on American soil, maybe even a nuclear bomb killing hundreds of thousands of Americans on American soil. That would have taken place in the northeast for maximum affect. Yea, President Bush should have turned his head and done nothing. Of course, a couple of hundred thousand people would have been out of work because that would not have been needed ot make ammunition, weapons, tanks, boots, and socks. Our budget would have been balanced by now to because we would not have been paying all of those military service members that Know to Salute the Flag of Their Country. Yes, President Bush should have buried his head. How many of you Democrats live in the northeast. The Terrorist favorite bombing grounds? You wanted chang, Change is coming. For the First Time In My Adult Life I am Ashamed To Be An American.

[generey]

I wondered who would "test" PRESIDENT Obama, and how, but I dont think the ruskies will be the ones. Shoot, they are better "friends" to us than Pakistan & look what we do for them!

[axomomma]

apple2pie

As a matter of fact I am an Air Force Veteran.
How about you? You going to man up and do your time? Or you gonna run away to Canada?

[generey]

Far as Russia goes, that will be just another era of "cold war" episodes. No big deal.

[nailinpalin]

Posted by ShamdAmerica at 02:22 PM : Nov 25, 2008

When you''re cuddled up with your war monger president, are you the big spoon or the little spoon? You and thousands of others are now scared of your own shadows. Being an American is not "do as we say not as we do" as the Bush administration has clearly demonstrated. If that is your idea of being an American, perhaps you should move.

[enlightenu]

1)

Don''''t worry,
we conservatives will give Obama the same "respect"
that liberals gave George Bush.
LOL


2)

For the last eight years, all I heard from liberals who
relentlessly criticized Bush, was that "DISSENT IS PATRIOTIC"

Okay

So I WILL BE PATRIOTIC for the next four years
by dissenting against Obama

Posted by smclimans at 02:10 PM : Nov 25, 2008

you need a reason, otherwise it''s just bogus

[easeup-2009]

When you''''re cuddled up with your war monger president, are you the big spoon or the little spoon? You and thousands of others are now scared of your own shadows. Being an American is not "do as we say not as we do" as the Bush administration has clearly demonstrated. If that is your idea of being an American, perhaps you should move.

Posted by NailinPalin at 02:39 PM : Nov 25, 2008

When you cuddle up with your socialist hero, Chavez, I''m going to guess you''re the little spoon.

How cute, you even have a name that shows everyone what a childish myopic follower you are.

[sst01]

Not to overstate the obvious,
but Obama hasn''t taken the oath yet.

So whats keeping King George making you
all proud of him yet again?
Could it be a lack of resources?

[easeup-2009]

Not to overstate the obvious,
but Obama hasn''''t taken the oath yet.

So whats keeping King George making you
all proud of him yet again?
Could it be a lack of resources?

Posted by sst01 at 02:44 PM : Nov 25, 2008

Read the article--Russia didn''t invade or anything.

You droolers are hilarious.

[generey]

I have to admit although I was in the Air Force I have always been amazed at Navy ships. Some of those things are awesome. We used to go to the Navy base in Charleston alot...those things are unreal, but no-one can deny...the Army & Marines might stir something up but when they get stuck they always call in the Air Force to get them out of it! Chavez, or anyone else aint gonna mess with us, at least not in "conventional" way''s.

[easeup-2009]

Dear Neocons.
Americans have grown tired of your fear tactics and have overwhelmingly voted to send you back to the basement where you belong. We know you feel slighted that your excellent Iranian adventure didn''''t pan out but please refrain from attempting to stir up conflict with the Soviet Union. January 21, 2009, the end of an error.

Posted by SgtStedenko at 02:55 PM : Nov 25, 2008

Nice irrelevant ''bumper sticker'' post.

[guadalcanal3]

Generay..I don''t know about the Army but the Marines have their own air force...(not to mention the Navy as well.)...Thank you very much

[get_it_str8]

Wow, imagine that; two completely useless countries hanging out together!

[notblue]

it''s always amazing to read the libs who frequent these posts siding with anyone but America, it will be interesting to read these posts come January when the Dems have complete control. It''sas if these same libs do not realize the election is over and there is no need to lie to the 67 percenters any longer, Obama won the election, yet I guess the need to perpetuate the move.on political talking points are still neccessary for some.