Fears of a Cuba crisis emerge

    Now that rumors are circulating that Russia may be planning to base or re-fuel long-range strategic bombers in Cuba or Venezuela, experts are beginning to sound the alarm about a possible future crisis over Cuba. In a piece titled A New Missile Crisis? University of Miami Cuba think tank leader Jaime Suchlicki is one of the first academic experts in the United States to raise the issue of a possible coming confrontation. (You can read Suchlicki’s article here. )  “Look, it may be nothing or it may be the glimmer of a strategic Russian challenge to the United States,’’ Suchlicki told The Miami Herald Tuesday. (Suchlicki is in the photo at right)

   Speculation about a possible crisis began when the Russian newspaper Izvestia reported on Monday that Moscow is considering the possibility of sending long-range bombers to Cuba in response to the possible deployment of an anti-missile shield in eastern Europe. (The Associated Press photo above shows a Russian aircraft in China during joint Russian-Chinese military exercises in 2005).

   Though the Russian defense ministry denied Izvestia’s report, Suchlicki followed up with his article saying: “It’s possible that the Russians may be willing to gamble again in Cuba.’’

   Meanwhile, a Reuters story from Washington said a top U.S. Air Force officer warned Congress on Tuesday that Russia would be crossing "a red line" if it were to use Cuba as a refueling base for nuclear-capable bombers.Reuters said Gen. Norton Schwartz spoke at his Senate nomination hearing to become the Air Force's top military officer.

  Suchlicki said Russians may be thinking about using not just Cuba but also Venezuela as a refueling stop for long-range bombers. After all, there is no understanding between Washington and Moscow over Venezuela as there is over Cuba in the aftermath of the 1962 Cuban missile crisis caused by Moscow’s decision to send nuclear missiles to the island.

   The world avoided nuclear war when Washington agreed not to invade Cuba and Moscow agreed to withdraw its missiles and not send nuclear weapons again to the island.

    Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez is now visiting Russia and on Tuesday was quoted as saying that he is interested in a strategic alliance with Moscow to protect his country from possible U.S. intervention.

-- Alfonso Chardy

Comments

[brian terry]

Isn't it time to get rid of that waste of skin that goes by the name of H Chavez? How much longer do you think the American public can put up with his ignorance, lies and insults?