Russia may base nuclear bombers in Cuba

[Smurf-Herder]

Here we go again ...................

Russian Bombers Could Be Deployed to Cuba
Move Would Be Response to U.S. Missile Defense System, Newspaper Izvestia Says

MOSCOW, July 21 -- Russian bombers capable of carrying nuclear weapons could be deployed to Cuba in response to U.S. plans to install a missile defense system in Eastern Europe, a Russian newspaper reported Monday, citing an unnamed senior Russian air force official.

Full story:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/story/2008/07/22/ST2008072200062.html

[Moby]

I just heard about that. We better get Dick and Bush our of office fast since our air defense stopped working right after Bush got back to work from the longest vacation any first term President has ever taken.

[Smurf-Herder]

I just heard about that. We better get Dick and Bush our of office fast since our air defense stopped working right after Bush got back to work from the longest vacation any first term President has ever taken.

I don't understand what you're talking about and how it relates.

What does Bush's vacation during his first term have to do with anything?

[SeedyROM]

We need a Pact with Russia that outlines the missle usage and intended purpose which could also include defending thier lower border if needed. Satellites will be re-tasked to monitor Cuban air bases to see if upgrades are being made to hangers and runways. So we'll see how far they go with this talk. Hopefully it is just more talk designed to stall USA's desire to build sites in the EU. The EU needs to build its own defense system.

[Moby]

I don't understand what you're talking about and how it relates.

What does Bush's vacation during his first term have to do with anything?
Weren't our air defenses a little slow on 9/11 around the city of New York?

This is just posturing and the next administration can work with Russia to calm their fears and allow Putin to save face. We need a leader that understand both are needed for diplomacy.

Smurf, you might know better then I do about this but are bombers really a threat? We have an air base in Pensacola and maybe even closer to Cuba. Wouldn't it be pretty easy to detect if bombers were being loaded with nukes and send fighters in the air ready to shoot them down?

It's not good being forced to use the military like this but could this be anything more then posturing?

[SeedyROM]

We have a Naval Air Station at Key West. The link below lists all active bases in FL for all armed forces. Homested ARB is still active too. Coco Beach and Tampa too, we have plenty of early response locations, if Russia follows thru we'll see those bases upgraded long before the first bomber lands in Cuba.

If Russia persists and mans a base in Cuba, there will always be at least 2 destroyers cruising the waters near Cuba.

If Cuba wants to emerge from the Castro slums, they'll need to just say no to Russia. We'll be listening to all communications between the 2 countries. I believe Homestead ARB has a AWACS wing there. No doubt they have a listening post on location.

http://benefits.military.com/misc/installations/Browse_Map.jsp?state=FL

[Smurf-Herder]

Weren't our air defenses a little slow on 9/11 around the city of New York?

This is just posturing and the next administration can work with Russia to calm their fears and allow Putin to save face. We need a leader that understand both are needed for diplomacy.

Smurf, you might know better then I do about this but are bombers really a threat? We have an air base in Pensacola and maybe even closer to Cuba. Wouldn't it be pretty easy to detect if bombers were being loaded with nukes and send fighters in the air ready to shoot them down?

It's not good being forced to use the military like this but could this be anything more then posturing?

Our air defenses were geared toward expecting missiles coming from Russian subs off the coast - not airliners headed to the coast from the interior.

Calm Russia's fears? You have this ass-backwards. Russia just wants Europe vulnerable to Russian intimidation and Iranian threats.

Actually, you're talking about bombers that would be flying regular patrols just off our coast, similar to the flights that have tested our readiness over the past couple years.

But it will not get that far, hopefully. Because we will not allow nuclear weapons to be stationed in Cuba.