Watching Russian Air & Sea Activity

[AdamG]

At the same time that Russia was denying having blockaded Ukrainian naval facilities in Crimea, little-noticed reports came out of Moscow saying that Vladimir Putin’s government had ongoing conversations with eight foreign countries with the objective of building overseas military facilities, including in Cuba, Venezuela and Nicaragua.

“We need bases for refueling near the equator and in other places,” Russian Defense Minister, Sergei Shoigu, was quoted as saying by news agency ITAR-Tass.

http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/new...ase-expansion/

Can't criticize Putin. He was invited.

At a time when the Middle East, Afghanistan and China monopolize U.S. foreign-policy, Latin America hasn’t received much attention. Until today, that is, when Secretary of State John Kerry declared the expiration of the nearly 200-year old lodestar of U.S. diplomacy in the Americas.

“The era of the Monroe Doctrine is over,” Mr. Kerry said in a speech at the Organization of American States in Washington, D.C.

That prompted some tepid applause, which Mr. Kerry encouraged: “That’s worth applauding. That’s not a bad thing.”

http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2013/1...trine-is-over/

[AdamG]

This article is from last September, setting up a base in the New Siberian Islands. I had to look up where those where
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Siberian_Islands

http://www.golos-ameriki.ru/content/...c/1751157.html

Russia to restore the Soviet military base in the Arctic, which was abandoned after the collapse of the Soviet Union.

This was announced by President Vladimir Putin .

This step is part of the transformation of the northern coast of Russia in the global shipping route and secure the vast energy resources of the region.

Base on the New Siberian Islands, has not been used for twenty years, but recently , Russia sent him to a group of four nuclear-powered icebreakers and 10 warships to signal the restoration of a permanent military presence in the Arctic .

Flotilla headed by the Russian nuclear cruiser "Peter the Great " was held on the Northern Sea Route from Europe to Asia through the Russian waters - from the Kara Gate to the Bering Strait .

" Our military is left there in 1993 , and yet it is a very important point in the Arctic Ocean . Mean and a new stage of development of the Northern Sea Route ", - Putin said at a meeting in the Ministry of Defence .

" We agreed that at this point we not only recreate a military base , but let me order airfield , make it possible to participate in teamwork MOE representatives , hydrologists , professionals who deal with climate, to ensure the safety and efficiency of operations in the North sea way , so that Russia could effectively control this part of its territory, " - said the Russian president more .

Russia is making big bets on the development of huge reserves of Arctic energy and busy shipping route is an integral part of this plan .

Climate warming has led to greater melting ice in the Arctic and the lengthening of the navigation period , which gives hope that the Northern Sea Route can be a shorter alternative to the southern routes .

However, experts point out that poor infrastructure , ice floes , narrow straits , shallow waters and harsh winters preclude the safe and profitable shipping in the region.

[AdamG]

A somewhat breathless assessment -

Since taking 51 vessels from Ukraine without resistance, Russia now has more warships than America. The U.S. Navy has 283 active vessels, and Russia had 280 warships until last week, when it began taking over Ukrainian vessels stationed in Crimea.

The last of Ukrainian’s 17 military vessels stationed in Crimea not already taken by Russia, the minesweeper Cherkassy, was sabotaged by its crew Wednesday after several unsuccessful Russian capture attempts. Tuesday night, gunfire, explosions and smoke were seen and heard coming from the vessel during a Russian attempt. Ten Ukrainian vessels, not stationed in Crimea, still remain in the possession of Ukraine.

Russia has also gained navy officers. About 12,000 of Ukraine’s 15,450 navy personnel were stationed in Crimea when Russia invaded at the end of last month. Most of the officers have joined the Russian navy or resigned, according to representatives of the Russian government.

The 204th Tactical Aviation Brigade, based at the Balbek airbase, had 39 Mig-28 fighters, which were seized by Russia in the early days of their invasion. Three hundred surface-to-air missiles were seized at the Fiolent airbase, as well.

A representative of the Russian navy gave an interview Tuesday. According to Yuri Borisov, deputy defense minister for the Russian Navy, the Russian navy will have 40 more warships, including submarines and support vessels, set up for combat duty this year. Borisov stated the increase would make “resolution of the whole range of tasks that the Navy assumed [and] become more combat effective in any parts of oceans in the world,” as reported by Russian news agency ITAR-TASS.

http://guardianlv.com/2014/03/russia...ne-navy-ships/

[JMA]

A somewhat breathless assessment -

http://guardianlv.com/2014/03/russia...ne-navy-ships/

Yes, this adds to the list of Russian actions which the US and the EU find if not acceptable then tolerable. Quite disgraceful.

[wm]

A somewhat breathless assessment -



http://guardianlv.com/2014/03/russia...ne-navy-ships/
The 204th Tactical Aviation Brigade, based at the Balbek airbase, had 39 Mig-28 fighters, which were seized by Russia in the early days of their invasion. Three hundred surface-to-air missiles were seized at the Fiolent airbase, as well.

OMG Mig-28s. I hope we can get Maverick and Cougar with their F-14 Tomcats back on active duty to take them out.

[JMA]

OMG Mig-28s. I hope we can get Maverick and Cougar with their F-14 Tomcats back on active duty to take them out.

Infantile comment.

[wm]

Infantile comment.

Are you sure it wasn't puerile, kindisch or kinderagtige?

At least my post commented somewhat humorously on the quality of the fact checking done by some of the sources cited here.

BTW, here's a link for you:The Hunting of the Snark (he said with tongue firmly in cheek).

[JMA]

Are you sure it wasn't puerile, kindisch or kinderagtige?

At least my post commented somewhat humorously on the quality of the fact checking done by some of the sources cited here.

BTW, here's a link for you:The Hunting of the Snark (he said with tongue firmly in cheek).

Well OK then... a puerile sense of humour. Some people never grow up.

Instructors at any Officer School would typically observe for those who have that character flaw of laughing at expense of people rather than with them. Some fatally flawed individuals do however manage to sneak through though. This is a pity.