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Thursday, September 11, 2008
10:38 Mecca time, 07:38 GMT
 
News Americas
Russian bombers arrive in Venezuela
Chavez, right, supported Russia in its recent conflict with Georgia [Reuters]

Russia has flown two long-range bombers to Venezuela for military exercises, a move likely to cause concern in Washington.

Hugo Chavez, the Venezuelan president, said on Wednesday that the Tu-160 strategic bombers had arrived to strengthen military ties and to counter US regional influence.

"They go around saying Chavez has brought the Cold War to Venezuela," he said.

"What's coming is a multipolar world in which Venezuela is a free country, that's what's coming," Chavez said in a televised speech.

The planes arrived days after the two nations announced plans to hold joint naval exercises in the Caribbean later this year involving a nuclear-powered Russian battleship.

Al Jazeera's Mariana Sanchez in Caracas said the move also sent a message to Venezuela's opposition, who have been critical of Chavez in recent days, over the power of the president.

Poor relations

The Russian defence ministry said the bombers flew to Venezuela on a training mission and would conduct training flights over neutral waters in the next few days before returning, according to Russian media reports.

Russia remains angry at the US for its support for Georgia during the recent conflict over the region of South Ossetia, when US military vessels delivered aid to Georgia.

Alexander Konovalov, head of the Institute for Strategic Assessment in Moscow, said the deployment would lead to a further deterioration in relations between the US and Russia.

"It's a demonstration of Russia's ability to do things nasty: you send warships to the Black Sea and we send bombers next to your door," Konovalov said.

"It will have a negative impact on global stability."

Planned operation

Chavez has strongly backed Russia's stance on the Georgian conflict and recently visited Moscow to seal a series of defence and economic agreements.

He denied that Russia's plans for naval exercises to be held later this year are related, saying the Russian navy's visit had been planned for more than a year.

Chavez, a former paratrooper, also said he would fly one of the aircraft himself.

"What's more, I'm going to take the controls of one of these monsters," he said.

The planes, huge supersonic combat aircraft that can fly long missions with a heavy payload, are capable of carrying nuclear or conventional bombs.

 Source: Al Jazeera and agencies
Feedback Number of comments : 38
 
Sadalla
United States
11/09/2008
Russia&Venezuela
I wonder what the Americans are saying now after Russian bombers landed in the western hemisphere ? I also hope that the Russians will land soon in Cuba and offer these 2 countries a missile defense system, maybe Bolivia will join too hopefully. Now, who started all this ? It is King George and his cronies. Poking at Russia from the Ukraine, the Czecj republic and Georgia. Georgia even went further, giving Israel 2 air bases to attack Iran. Why does the US and its spoiled baby do this ?

Craig H. (New Jersey)
United States
11/09/2008
Russian bombers in Venezuela
Here we go again tit for tat, when will Russia grow up. Good thing for the 4Th Fleet, just in time. Castro, Putin (he's still in charge) and that nut Chaves are at it again and we will kick their azz again. Boycott Citgo we're paying for Russian military hardware and China's planes.Hopefully a coup is being planned still because this guy is sick

Stephan
Switzerland
11/09/2008
Its time to stop the US-terror
I am glad each time I read that there indeed is a power which is capable to resist to the US-terror in this world. It is too said that the US and EU citizens are not more critical and give their money and taxes to a cynical government in the US which is responsible for 99% of the terror that happens now in the world, including the millions of war victims. I hope Russia and its allies can bring back a better balance in this world.

TimothyL
United States
11/09/2008
Monroe Doctrine
So much for the Monroe Doctrine - times are a'changing and Obama is the one to steer us through.

Tafadzwa
Zimbabwe
11/09/2008
Venezuela, a free country in a Multipolar World
"What's coming is a multipolar world in which Venezuela is a free country, that's what's coming," I hear Botswana is contemplating of hosting a US Africcom. I urge the son of Khama to read this story over & over again, until he can speak it without even thinking of it. Venezuela wants freedom, so does Africa. Food for thought, esp to those who were given independEnce on a silver plate, who do not know the VALUE OF INDEPENDENCE AND FREEDOM. And have no ambition to prosper from within themselves!

Poyan
Canada
11/09/2008
Use of Planes
I am shocked at the ignorance of some who have posted here. 1. The planes are unlikely to be a detterent against the US. The visiting Russian ship and improved military ties will do that. The planes are likely to balance US backed Columbia's military hegemony in South America. 2. Chavez is a popular democratically elected leader of Venezuela, which the US tried to depose. He has done no ills to the US but due to oil interests they tried to overthrow him. Blowback is a bitch!!

Jim
United States
11/09/2008
Russia and Venezuela?
The Bush/US chickens are coming home to roost. Bush unilaterally cancelled the ABM treaty, Congress sat on its hands and then approved funding for the so-called missile "shield" and with NATO the US is encircling Russia . . How does any intelligent person with any sense of history expect Russia to react? And Bush has constantly tried to tell Russia how to govern itself. And the US has consistently tried to destabilise the Chavez government.

Claude
Afghanistan
13/09/2008
Russian Bombers arrive in Venezuela
Hats off to Mother Russia! You want to start parking weapons of mass destruction on her doorstep - you're gonna pay a terrible price.

John
Afghanistan
13/09/2008
Claude Afghanistan Don't be ignorant. The missile defence system is a kinetic device - namely a warhead which does NOT explode, a case of a solid lump, like a practice round which has to hit an incoming warhead. So how is what effectively is just a heavy lump defined as a weapon of mass destruction? Also the plan is to place 10 devices, sufficient to destroy one or two incoming missiles from rogue States. Not Russia.

Robert
United States
11/09/2008
Thats nice
Amusing. Tu-160s? From the US perspective those are maybe a step more threatening then a Sopwith Camel, not that the politicians won't try to make a bid deal out of it anyway for political reasons.

Colin
United Kingdom
11/09/2008
Bombers
Now we know that a Sopwith Camel is more likely to penatrate U.S. defences than a big usless bomber. Its a childish attemp to get their own back. Better to talk than make silly guestures.

chou
Malaysia
11/09/2008
i like tactics played the real men in action towards the growing cold war..........good plan mr.putin

camar
United Kingdom
11/09/2008
Jogging towards extinction ...
By the looks of US foreign policy and habits developed over the time of poking sovereign countries, economically hijacking them, invading weaker underdeveloped nations only makes sense that we are not very far from the planned ENDGAME!

Paul C
United States
11/09/2008
Russian bombers in Venezuela
How cracking!   Venezuela finally has some interesting visitors for her air show.   My God, even the Russian Republic's tired old "same missiles again, in case you missed them last year" sense of pagentry has to be more fun than what Chaves' people have had to watch for years. I seriously only feel more sorry for the Cubans.

venkataramana
India
11/09/2008
america is trying to do what they have plans.
russia is the only nation,which is capable of watching & do the things in a right mode to help the chaveez's nation & he. to protect from the claw's of the eagle. iam an individual from india .see the pakistan what the invaded nation has done to pak, they are targeting civilian in border area, once they have given there land to foriegn invaders.they are playing with them & now they are not listening the pak words also

GeorgeB
United States
11/09/2008
Bombers
Next on the agenda is Russian naval and military exercises with Iran. That would really cause a stir in the West.

Tim
United Kingdom
11/09/2008
Craig..
Spoken like a true believer in democracy. This event is BECAUSE of the 4th Fleet, and the US hardware build-up in the Caribbean. One would hope on a day like today you could begin to contemplate the world your country is creating. Putin is hardly a role model, but the West did nothing to save the Russia Gorbachov dreamt of, and Yeltsin melted down for scrap. Venezuela needs to protect its interests, and with an increasingly dangerous whitehouse it cannot afford to be choosy about its friends.

Poyan
Canada
11/09/2008
Paul C from United States "...sense of pagentry has to be more fun than what Chaves' people have had to watch for years. I seriously only feel more sorry for the Cubans." Don't you love Americans that have been educated by the US mainstream media? Paul, Cuba has nothing to do with this story. Chavez (note the Z) is the twice democratically elected president of Venezuela. He is disliked by the American government because he overthrew their military dictatorship in Venezuela in 2003.

mukhtar Adam
Ghana
11/09/2008
venezuela/russia
I am very happy about the latest development of Russia sending bombers to south america. it is high time somebody proved to the US that we have had enough of brutal aggression against other nations. Russia is proving that it is that that country. Russia should stand firm. Peace loving ppl in the world are behind Russia.

Thomas
Russian Federation
11/09/2008
Bush`s long term peace plan ...
While Mr. Bush was busy teaching the world a lesson during his presidency - a smart Mr. Putin quietly brought Russia back into standing up again and hence sharing world power. More serious tasks are to come - next September parliament elections in Lebanon ... - with the Hezbollah alliance winning the majority. This is democracy not appreciated by the West, yet a direct result of their own policies. And maybe it will then be Russia coming for a peace-keeping mission - and gaining even more ground

Beth Lunsford
United States
11/09/2008
Russia & Chavez
What a ridiculous spectacle! Is that the best you can do, Russia?? How pathetic. You are showing yourself to be a laughingstock all over the globe. You know that the U.S. is in 2 wars, or you wouldn't be doing this very undiplomatic " flexing ".

ken
United States
13/09/2008
Russia/ USA
Bush policy has created all of these messes, anyone who thinks differently is wrong, sorry to inform you. I actually am starting to think that bush is tring to create a new cold war now. Its really the only thing left he can successfully give his military industrial complex supporters before he leaves office. I just hope my US people are smart enough to get bush/Mc-same out of office and get Obama in there so he can save whatever goodwill is left for the USA people which is close to none.

C Mendes
Angola
13/09/2008
Russia vs US
Russia should: 1) provide Cuba, Venezuela and Nicaragua with missile defense shields 2) deploy military bases in oil-rich counties of Venezuela and Bolivia 3) create billion-euro international fund for supporting democracy, human rights and development under South perspective, countering US/EU double-sized policies. This could come through 0.01% of Russian gas annual revenues...Russia should not establish alliances,but strengthen ties with close countries.From this, the world should balanced..

A.Ahmed
United Kingdom
13/09/2008
What goes Around comes Around. I hope the american people will know better and choose their leader(s) carefully. I believe that a great leader is someone with brains not someone with pistols.

rich
United States
13/09/2008
Russia & Venezuela
Typical propaganda by a bias news agency to allow comments driven by ignorance. #1, without the US, most if not all 3rd world countries would be more like 5th world, if there was such a thing, freedom, human rights, medicines, protection, education, all come from real democracies, not the fake crazy ones, like Russia & Venezuela. #2, who if not the US, to do this, damned if you do damned it you don't, #3, The US and its real friends aren't afraid to do what is needed to maintain peace. Bring it!

United Earth
United States
13/09/2008
End this nonsense
Scrap the missile program and end this nonsense. Putin told Bush he did not want missiles in his backyard and he put them in there anyway. Dumb. We do not want missiles in our either. In fact, if they ever went to Cuba the US would have every right to blow them up. Just like Russia would have the right to hit those missiles.

Raoul deVosjoli
France
16/09/2008
Russia+Venezuela=Cold War redux
Washington is hardly uncomfortable denying its default back to the Cold War paradigm. When Korean bankers refuse to bail out Lehman Brothers-Kuhn Loeb,one of the jewels in Lady Liberty's crown amping up the tension may even be good for business, for everbody involved. Chine is all over South and Central America like white on rice. So you can bet the Kremlinistas are more than happy to let American trained (Escuela de las Americas) Hugo Chavez fly their big plane on a cruz to nowhere:)

Chris
United States
17/09/2008
US Media lapdogs will incite dumbed-down Amerikans
This is perfect for GW to show the US just how dangerous the world is. It's a hand-off to McCain who will chest-beat these events to greater hostility. Meet the new boss...

Mark Amato
United States
17/09/2008
Russian bombers. Ha!
Russians could only send 2 dilapidated, obsolete pieces of junk to Venezuela. That joke equals Chaves's joke ego. Saddam had huge amounts of Russian military junk. Look how long he lasted!

Jon
Philippines
17/09/2008
There's nothing wrong with the arrival of the Russian bombers in Venezuela, the purpose is to train them soldiers so that in the future they can defend themselves against "the Real Terrorists" of the world. I do hope that Venezuela, Bolivia and Cuba also look into the Russian missile shield project.

Paul C
United States
17/09/2008
Chill in relations
We're still waiting on the Russian navy to bring us some iceski and Stoli here in Houston. Help a mestizo out, bro.

andrew
Uganda
17/09/2008
Russian bombers arrive in venezuela
i think the USA should learn to respect Russian concerns and russia will do the same,all this is happening because USA is not will to listen to other world learders and always takes its decision as superior..well u got it wrong USA this time.Russia is on the right point of action,,bravo Russia

M N Nazim
Sri Lanka
17/09/2008
russian bombers
Hi Mark Amato: you say "Saddam had huge amounts of Russian military junk. Look how long he lasted!" Well, saddam may be gone, but his men are still lasting and kicking a lot of US azz. look at the US casualty figures. this is what asymmetrical warefare is all about! you will not last long in iraq - that is for sure!

United Earth
United States
16/09/2008
Russia and China are just as bad
Stephan, have you considered how strange your reasoning is? If the US does something bad, does that make a counter by Russia and China somehow "good"? And speaking of terror Russia and China are arming rogue states and making nuclear terrorism possible.This is somehow good because it is against the US? strange logic. To me the US is being bad. But Russia and China are just as guilty as bringing the world close to a nuclear holocost. No good guys here but the Anti-US crowd can only think one way

Michael
United States
16/09/2008
Russian bombers arrive in Venezuela
The U.S. seems to think it can do as it pleases, wherever it pleases, whenever it pleases, but gets nervous when Russian Bombers land is Venezuela. May I suggest Russia land a little further North next time, say, Mexico. If the U.S. can encroach and place bases in former Soviet satellite countries then maybe Russia should place a base in every Central and South American country. Turn around is fair play, eh George Junior? Let's see how you like it.

Very Funny
Afghanistan
16/09/2008
How funny
these planes actually made it to over there, I would never guess that - they should hurry up get done with the overhaul and take them back they may have another air show comming up

Mohammed
Ghana
16/09/2008
Russian bombers arrive in Venezuela
If that will stop the bulling behavior of the US, that is welcome. Americans choose leaders who have brains and all these nthings will stop including the sinking of Lehman brothers.

michael Davis
United States
26/11/2008
putin and chavez
For all those who are stupid enough to think this is a good retaliation. God have mercy on your souls. This is playing with fire. Maybe we should isolate keep business in America and denounce the citizenship of those who want to play international ball and dare anyone to cross our boarders. If we want to be friends with Israel then whose business is it but America. Russia can say what she wants but no one has molested her country. Our congress handled attack well. God, please bless America.

 
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