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)Suchlicki
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 on the island.
The world avoided nuclear war when Washington agreed not to invade
Cuba and Moscow agreed to withdraw its missiles and not to 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
July 22, 2008
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