On eve of 9/11, Chávez invites Russian military forces to the Western Hemisphere

[sixdollarchampagne]

[Just before the seventh anniversary of the terrorist attacks on New York and Washington, DC, Hugo Chávez, that man of peace, has invited two Russian strategic bombers and a guided missile cruiser into the Western Hemisphere. Incredible timing! This news story comes from PRESSTV dot IR. My opposition to Chávez' action is my own opinion, no one else's. -- sdc]

Chavez: Russian bombers for training
Wed, 10 Sep 2008 23:24:45 GMT


Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez says that two Russian Tu-160 strategic bombers that have landed in Venezuela are for training flights.

"What's more, I'm going to take the controls of one of these monsters," said Chavez, a former paratrooper.

The moves came amid mounting tension between Russia and the United States over various issues, including the presence of US military vessels near the Russian coasts.

Chavez also said plans for joint Russian-Venezuelan naval exercises in the region in November were currently being worked out, and said his closeness to the Kremlin would result in a cooperation that would "strengthen the country."

His announcement confirmed an Interfax report saying the bombers would be in Venezuela for training flights over "neutral waters."

Russia said Monday it was dispatching a nuclear cruiser and other warships and planes to the Caribbean for the joint exercises with Venezuela -- the first such maneuvers in the US vicinity since the Cold War.

Among the Russian ships to take part in the exercises would be the heavy nuclear-powered guided missile cruiser Peter the Great, a vessel with massive firepower whose cruise missiles can deliver nuclear or conventional warheads.

Russian Foreign ministry spokesman Andrei Nesterenko said Monday that the exercises were "not in any way connected to the current situation in the Caucasus," and were "not aimed at any third country."

[Dean]

I sincerely hope U.S. hegemony in the western hemisphere is challenged.

[Raúl Duke]

I sincerely hope U.S. hegemony in the western hemisphere is challenged.

They probably feel challenged...

Not sure if it is a real challenge but they could feel that they are being challenged since, possibly, in the past the only people who would invite Russian troops over in Latin America were strongly affiliated to the USSR (pro-Soviet; and the U.S. hate pro-soviet regimes even if they weren't exactly socialist/anti-U.S. and demonstrated this by causing unrest, coups, etc. Especially so in Latin-America.) or are a socialist country (Cuba) as well.

[sixdollarchampagne]

I sincerely hope U.S. hegemony in the western hemisphere is challenged.

So do I. I would guess that a proletarian revolution in Venezuela would be a better tool for making that challenge, better, that is, than a Russian ballistic missile or long-range bomber.

With socialist greetings,
sdc

[Yehuda Stern]

Well, I am completely opposed to the Chavez regime politically, but I fully defend Venezuela's right to defend itself from an attack by American imperialism. If that means taking arms from another imperialist state, as long as Venezuela doesn't come under that state's direct control, I see nothing wrong with it. And to criticize Venezuela for doing so on 9/11 is a clear capitulation to American chauvinist hysteria.

[Chapaev]

It is excellent news that Venezuela-Russia relations are being continuously consolidated and developed. It is in the interests of progressive humanity for the people of Latin America to throw off the yoke of Yankee neocolonialism. If the people of Latin America are ever to break free, they should appeal to Russia and China for help.

[Guerrilla22]

It's ironic that people in the US and especially the US government are crying about this. The US has moved to incorporate many former eastern bloc countries into NATO, sells these countries arms, places bases in some of these countries, engages in military excercises all the time in former eastern bloc countries, has permanent military bases there and even has placed ballastic missiles in Poland, with plans to place them them in the Czech Republic. Hypocrisy?

[RedHal]

oh how about US reactivating the Navy's 4th fleet in the carribean to "combat terrorism, to keep the economic sea lanes of communication free and open, to counter illicit trafficking and to provide humanitarian assistance and disaster relief" but of course the US are the good guys, that's why it's ok for them to have military bases all over the world ...:sneaky:

[RedHal]

[Just before the seventh anniversary of the terrorist attacks on New York and Washington, DC, Hugo Chávez, that man of peace, has invited two Russian strategic bombers and a guided missile cruiser into the Western Hemisphere. Incredible timing! This news story comes from PRESSTV dot IR. My opposition to Chávez' action is my own opinion, no one else's. -- sdc]


get over it, you expect the world to grieve over 9/11? The US has killed millions and millions, has destroyed entire countries and you want me to grieve for a few dead Americans and destroyed financial bulidings?

[JimmyJazz]

I too am skeptical that this was timed to make Americans mad. Maybe on the Russian side, but not the Venezuelan. Chavez is quite aware that his power potentially depends more on U.S. public opinion than on opinion within his own country, and he often does things to reach out to Americans. For instance (http://www.commondreams.org/views05/0918-24.htm). He also grants lots of interviews with American journalists in order to tell his/Venezuela's side of the story. The world does not revolve around the U.S. and I don't think we should expect all countries to suspend military shipments on September the 11th forevermore out of respect.