CARACAS, Venezuela March 16, 2009
Venezuela: Russian Bombers OK, But No Base
President Hugo Chavez Denies Report Of Russia Building Base, But Venezuela Is "Available"
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In this photo released by Miraflores Press Office, Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez speaks during his weekly radio and television show "Hello President" in Cumana, Venezuela, March 15, 2009. (AP PHOTO)
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A file photo of a Russian TU-95 strategic bomber surrounded by MiG-29s. (Getty Images/AFP/Stringer)
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Chavez - a fierce critic of Washington with close ties to Russia and Cuba - said his government did not raise the possibility, as Russian media had reported.
"It's not like that," the president said, responding to a report by Interfax news agency quoting the chief of staff of Russia's long range aviation, Maj. Gen. Anatoly Zhikharev, as saying some strategic bombers could be based on an island offered by Venezuela.
Zhikharev reportedly said Saturday that Chavez had offered "a whole island with an airdrome, which we can use as a temporary base for strategic bombers."
Speaking during his weekly television and radio program, Chavez said he told Russian President Dmitry Medvedev that his nation's bombers would be allowed to land in Venezuela if necessary, but no such plans have been made.
Venezuela hosted two Russian Tu-160 bombers in September for training flights and joined Russian warships two months later for naval exercises in the Caribbean.
"I told President Medvedev that any time Russia's strategic aviation needs to make a stop in Venezuela as part of its strategic plans, Venezuela is available," he said.
Interfax also reported that Zhikharev said Russian bombers could be based in communist-led Cuba, but a Kremlin official said Zhikharev had been speaking hypothetically.
Kremlin official Alexei Pavlov responded to the report on Saturday, saying that "the military is speaking about technical possibilities, that's all."
"If there will be a development of the situation, then we can comment," Pavlov said.
Venezuela and Cuba have close political and energy relations with Russia, which has been working to reassert itself as a military force.
Russia resumed long-range bomber patrols in 2007 after a 15-year hiatus.
During Sunday's program, Chavez said his government may expand a military base on the Caribbean island of La Orchila, approximately 110 miles (180 kilometers) off the South American country's central coast.
"It's a strategic point, but not just for a naval base. It's also an economic zone," he said, noting that installations for fishermen could be constructed.
La Orchila is already home to a small military base, including helicopter landing pads and docks, as well as a presidential residence.
© MMIX The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Add a Comment See all 214 Comments
- We have our bombers over there, next to Russia. A bomber without fighter escort or missile defense capabilities is basically a large transport.
Posted by bajajohn1 at 12:14 PM : Mar 16, 2009
Not true. Our B-2's didn't need fighter escorts when we bombed Iraq. Heck, they flew their missions directly from Whiteman (talk about global reach). Of course, Iraq had nothing in the way of air defense and the threat from their fighter aircraft were destroyed or marginalized. - Reply to this comment
- neocons start claiming that Obama is a whimp and Georgie was the savior.
Posted by expatriate2 at 12:39 PM : Mar 16, 2009
I thought most people learned to never listen to Neocons. They are Repugs that need 'oral enemas' because of all the crap they talk, - Reply to this comment
- Perhaps this was a test to see how Obama would react would he be content or would he stomp his feet and complain about the bombers being to close as Bush would have. If he stays cool about them then he would have one the issue but Chavez can't have his bombers without base support for them because they have to land somewhere just not in his back yard.
- Reply to this comment
- Russian bombers in Cuba and Venezuela. Sounds like '62 all over again. We had a democrat in office then too.
- Reply to this comment
- Who cares I know I don't we have enough problems here in the US without adding more.
Leave it alone neocons I have had enough of your madness. - Reply to this comment
- We have our bombers over there, next to Russia. A bomber without fighter escort or missile defense capabilities is basically a large transport.
- Reply to this comment
- Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez
NEEDS a MAKE OVER,
GURL IS UGLY ! - Reply to this comment
- Isn't it wonderful to live in the United States of America? One may be antagonistic toward everyone who doesn't believe in the same way as that one. One may be heaping praise on those who believe in the same way(s) as that one. One may say almost anything and not be censored for what he/she says. Wouldn't it be good to hear something good about someone more often? But that's not the way the too many of those who live here are. If something good can't be said about someone don't say anything. Saying something bad about someone or something usually sets someone else off and here we go again. In most of the news programs on TV or Online we hear the bad news. Seldom do we hear the good things. Come on, Americans, lets start feeling good about ourselves and others even if we disagree with each other.
- Reply to this comment
- Time to Go Yul Brenner and Debra Kerr of the King and I.
What Siam is to America is what America is to the world.
Welcome to the 21st century of world globalization America.
SHALL WE ALL DANCE? - Reply to this comment
- Hugo Chavez was democratically elected by the people of Venezuela. The only dictators in Venezuela are those who are waiting on further instructions from the United States in regards to another illegal coup
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- Are there poor Israelis in Israel? if so, then Israel has its own suicide bombers.
Posted by whitemale08 at 7:12 AM : Mar 16, 2009
Israel does not believe in self-inflicted martyrdom, that is a 'Muslim' thing.
Posted by toolmangler-2009 at 9:28 AM : Mar 16, 2009 --
You sound like a racist bigot popping off at the lip these racists stereo-types.
Why not look the City of London when Winston Churchill and so-called King Edward III flew to Germany and congratulated Hitler for 'eradicating the Jews from Europe' to kick off the Psykes-Picot agreement of religous and ethnic conflict in the former territories of the Ottoman Empire? - Reply to this comment
- I WONDER HOW MANY OF THESE IDIOT NEO-CON's ARE BUILDING BOMB SHELTER's
Posted by pythoncharly at 9:08 AM : Mar 16, 2009
October 23, 1962 I went to sleep that night not believing I would wake up the next morning due to a bad case of nuclear bombing, I wasn't really worried because of my faith, but I knew we lived in a priority target zone of the USSR. (Defense plant nearby) so it seemed to me to be a primary target. Thankfully I was able to go to work the next day because cooler heads prevailed here and in Russia. Lets not go there again people. - Reply to this comment
- Are there poor Israelis in Israel? if so, then Israel has its own suicide bombers.
Posted by whitemale08 at 7:12 AM : Mar 16, 2009
Israel does not believe in self-inflicted martyrdom, that is a 'Muslim' thing. - Reply to this comment
- Hey neo-cons...STOP BEING A TOOL FOR THE BRITISH!!!!
Posted by whitemale08 at 7:15 AM : Mar 16, 2009
this has anything to do with the story.....how?
Posted by jwind1 at 7:48 AM : Mar 16, 2009 --
...because the neo-***** are using articles like this to spark a crisis so the British can have their WWIII. - Reply to this comment
- Looks like co-president Hillary Clintoon has emboldened the Ruskies. I invite all to Google the
missile crises of 1962. We had a president in 1962 that had balls. Nobama and co-president Hillary will have to remind the Ruskies of those agreements. I certainly hope Nobama's answer to this possible threat is stronger then "PRESENT"!!
Kerry had Balls too but you losers elected W and look at the mess we are in!
Posted by glidescube at 6:46 AM : Mar 16, 2009
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The fact is that W kept the door closed and locked. BO on the other hand, is inviting problems due to his leanings. We are seeing Biden's prediction proven true that BO will be tested. I'm not pro-W and I'm not pro-BO...I'm just stating that we're back to the era of sabre-rattling. - Reply to this comment
- Venezuela and Russia are sovereign nation-states and as long as they do not attack the United States and we have bombersin NATO based on the Russian border then SO WHAT!
We are not an empire!
We reject empire!
Hey neo-cons...STOP BEING A TOOL FOR THE BRITISH!!!! - Reply to this comment
- LOL if Venezuala has Russian Bombers there then we have undeniable proof that they have real WMD's.
Heck we've gone to war for less.?!?! - Reply to this comment
- Are there poor people in Iran? if so, then Iran has its own suicide bombers.
Posted by toolmangler-2009 at 7:49 PM : Mar 15, 2009 ==
Are there poor Israelis in Israel? if so, then Israel has its own suicide bombers. - Reply to this comment
- Looks like co-president Hillary Clintoon has emboldened the Ruskies. I invite all to Google the
missile crises of 1962. We had a president in 1962 that had balls. Nobama and co-president Hillary will have to remind the Ruskies of those agreements. I certainly hope Nobama's answer to this possible threat is stronger then "PRESENT"!!
Kerry had Balls too but you losers elected W and look at the mess we are in! - Reply to this comment
- it amazes me every day what i can read in these comments
- Reply to this comment
