A Sea Change In The Caribbean
12-07-2008, 05:22 AM
#1
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Joined APC: Jun 2008
Position: USAF
Posts: 1,398
A Sea Change In The Caribbean
The Hemisphere: A Russian warship passes through the Panama Canal for the first time since World War II. Is it a mere annoyance or the beginning of a challenge in America's backyard?
IBDeditorials.com: Editorials, Political Cartoons, and Polls from Investor's Business Daily -- A Sea Change In The Caribbean
Once, the Panama Canal was considered a triumph of American technology and a symbol of American power. Today it's a waterway managed by a Chinese company with links to the People's Liberation Army through which Russian warships pass.
Last Wednesday, Russian Navy spokesman Capt. Igor Dygalo announced that the 554-foot guided missile destroyer Admiral Chabanenko would transit the Panama Canal and arrive at Panama's Pacific port of Balboa for a six-day visit after carrying out naval exercises with the Venezuelan Navy in the Caribbean dubbed "Venrus 2008."
"The only time such an event took place was in 1944 during the Second World War, when four Russian submarines passed through" the canal to help in the battle against Nazi Germany, the Russian embassy in Panama said in a statement.
In his announcement, Capt. Dygalo made a point of referring to the naval base the ship will visit by its former American name — Rodman. Rodman naval base was the naval hub for all U.S. naval activities in the water around South America. It was turned over to Panama in 1999.
The Chabanenko participated in maneuvers that included an air defense exercise in which a Venezuelan Sukhoi jet fighter simulated an attack on vessels that included three Venezuelan frigates, such as the F-21 "Mariscal Sucre," and an exercise to spot, pursue and detain an enemy vessel.
In that exercise, the commander of the Russian squadron captained a Venezuelan frigate while Venezuelan Rear Admiral Louis Morales acted as captain of the nuclear-powered Kirov-class heavy missile cruiser Peter the Great.
It is one of the largest and most powerful warships in the world. It is armed with 20 SS-N-19 "Shipwreck" long-range anti-ship missiles and 500 surface-to-air missiles. She and her sister ships were sailing in an area where nine out of every 14 barrels of imported oil, even some Alaskan oil, must transit. At last report, it showed very little rust.
U.S. officials have openly mocked the show of force, saying the Russian fleet is a shadow of its former self. "Are they accompanied by tugboats this time?" U.S. State Department spokesman Sean McCormack joked to reporters in Washington.
That may be true, but it is also true we no longer have President Reagan's 600-ship navy. We have very capable ships, but not nearly enough to meet our commitments stretching from the Taiwan Strait to the Persian Gulf and beyond.
Earlier this year, the U.S. Navy decided to re-form the Fourth Fleet, disbanded in 1953, to patrol the Caribbean. But retired Rear Admiral Joseph Callo has called the Fourth Fleet "mostly a paper command, with tangible military assets to be added 'as needed.'" Our currently undersized and shrinking navy would have to draw from critical areas such as the Middle East and the Western Pacific.
Venezuela is using money from its oil exports to the U.S. to buy significant amounts of Russian weaponry, nearly $4 billion worth, including 100,000 AK-103 and AK-104 assault rifles, a dozen Mi-17 military helicopters and 24 SU-30MK fighter jets.
It is also negotiating a multibillion-dollar, multiyear contract to buy four Kilo-class diesel submarines and four state-of-the-art Amur submarines.
A potential threat is also building in the skies. Venezuela is expanding its small air force, and on Sept. 10 a pair of supersonic and nuclear-capable Russian Tu-160 "Blackjack" bombers landed in Venezuela, ostensibly to conduct patrols over neutral waters in the Caribbean and the Pacific. They were escorted by U.S. aircraft all the way, but the potential presence of Russian bombers in the Caribbean if that phone rings at 3 a.m. seriously complicates things.
Last year, Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov announced that Russia was embarking on a five-year military modernization plan costing $189 billion. According to Jane's Sentinel Country Risk Assessments, the new and improved Russian navy will eventually include up to six new nuclear-powered aircraft carriers.
The Russians are great chess players, a game of patience and strategy, and they've just moved their queen.
IBDeditorials.com: Editorials, Political Cartoons, and Polls from Investor's Business Daily -- A Sea Change In The Caribbean
Once, the Panama Canal was considered a triumph of American technology and a symbol of American power. Today it's a waterway managed by a Chinese company with links to the People's Liberation Army through which Russian warships pass.
Last Wednesday, Russian Navy spokesman Capt. Igor Dygalo announced that the 554-foot guided missile destroyer Admiral Chabanenko would transit the Panama Canal and arrive at Panama's Pacific port of Balboa for a six-day visit after carrying out naval exercises with the Venezuelan Navy in the Caribbean dubbed "Venrus 2008."
"The only time such an event took place was in 1944 during the Second World War, when four Russian submarines passed through" the canal to help in the battle against Nazi Germany, the Russian embassy in Panama said in a statement.
In his announcement, Capt. Dygalo made a point of referring to the naval base the ship will visit by its former American name — Rodman. Rodman naval base was the naval hub for all U.S. naval activities in the water around South America. It was turned over to Panama in 1999.
The Chabanenko participated in maneuvers that included an air defense exercise in which a Venezuelan Sukhoi jet fighter simulated an attack on vessels that included three Venezuelan frigates, such as the F-21 "Mariscal Sucre," and an exercise to spot, pursue and detain an enemy vessel.
In that exercise, the commander of the Russian squadron captained a Venezuelan frigate while Venezuelan Rear Admiral Louis Morales acted as captain of the nuclear-powered Kirov-class heavy missile cruiser Peter the Great.
It is one of the largest and most powerful warships in the world. It is armed with 20 SS-N-19 "Shipwreck" long-range anti-ship missiles and 500 surface-to-air missiles. She and her sister ships were sailing in an area where nine out of every 14 barrels of imported oil, even some Alaskan oil, must transit. At last report, it showed very little rust.
U.S. officials have openly mocked the show of force, saying the Russian fleet is a shadow of its former self. "Are they accompanied by tugboats this time?" U.S. State Department spokesman Sean McCormack joked to reporters in Washington.
That may be true, but it is also true we no longer have President Reagan's 600-ship navy. We have very capable ships, but not nearly enough to meet our commitments stretching from the Taiwan Strait to the Persian Gulf and beyond.
Earlier this year, the U.S. Navy decided to re-form the Fourth Fleet, disbanded in 1953, to patrol the Caribbean. But retired Rear Admiral Joseph Callo has called the Fourth Fleet "mostly a paper command, with tangible military assets to be added 'as needed.'" Our currently undersized and shrinking navy would have to draw from critical areas such as the Middle East and the Western Pacific.
Venezuela is using money from its oil exports to the U.S. to buy significant amounts of Russian weaponry, nearly $4 billion worth, including 100,000 AK-103 and AK-104 assault rifles, a dozen Mi-17 military helicopters and 24 SU-30MK fighter jets.
It is also negotiating a multibillion-dollar, multiyear contract to buy four Kilo-class diesel submarines and four state-of-the-art Amur submarines.
A potential threat is also building in the skies. Venezuela is expanding its small air force, and on Sept. 10 a pair of supersonic and nuclear-capable Russian Tu-160 "Blackjack" bombers landed in Venezuela, ostensibly to conduct patrols over neutral waters in the Caribbean and the Pacific. They were escorted by U.S. aircraft all the way, but the potential presence of Russian bombers in the Caribbean if that phone rings at 3 a.m. seriously complicates things.
Last year, Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov announced that Russia was embarking on a five-year military modernization plan costing $189 billion. According to Jane's Sentinel Country Risk Assessments, the new and improved Russian navy will eventually include up to six new nuclear-powered aircraft carriers.
The Russians are great chess players, a game of patience and strategy, and they've just moved their queen.
12-07-2008, 07:03 AM
#2
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Joined APC: Dec 2007
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Posts: 409
The thing that will always set us apart from the ruskies.... Our industry... At a moments notice we can crank out world class arms, tanks, planes, and boats faster than any country in the world. To openly be aggressive towards the US would really be the final nail for Russia's fledgling economy... Sure ole chavo is sending him some money, but in the end, Russia, is no longer a super power, and will not be in the foreseeable future. If they do get to cantankerous down there, HIT them, and HIT THEM HARD. Im talking a swift and brutal kick in the old nutsack.
12-07-2008, 11:43 AM
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http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/15/wo...pe/15duma.html
In light of the new term extension for the Russian President.... perhaps Dmitri Medvedev will resign and give Putin the ball for 12 years? It will be interesting for the US if that were to happen.... interesting now... I wouldn't count Russia out... I think they are holding some valuable cards in this game.
In light of the new term extension for the Russian President.... perhaps Dmitri Medvedev will resign and give Putin the ball for 12 years? It will be interesting for the US if that were to happen.... interesting now... I wouldn't count Russia out... I think they are holding some valuable cards in this game.
12-07-2008, 11:59 AM
#5
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Joined APC: Nov 2008
Position: Livin' the dream
Posts: 626
Oh hey.. Um Main Street America?
Yeah, hey Man, this is your old buddy, Wall Street.
Remember me, all those good times we had?
Well, uh yeah, I know this thing going on lately, yeah, well..
I...umm,
Who told you that? Sheesh, she always did talk a lot.
Lemme just say, everything's cool now Man.
Seriously, nothin' to worry about.
I'm gettin' that problem under control, I've matured a lot since those days.
Well, I was just calling to see how you are, can't an old friend check in once in a while?
Oh and uh hey, I just wanted to let you know what I heard about those Ol' Rooskies...
Remember them, that time they crashed that party at the Czech frat house? And that time up in the 'Stan?
Yeah, good times.
Well guess what I heard they're up to these days?
You're not gonna believe this, Man.
We gotta go check this one out!
Yeah, hey Man, this is your old buddy, Wall Street.
Remember me, all those good times we had?
Well, uh yeah, I know this thing going on lately, yeah, well..
I...umm,
Who told you that? Sheesh, she always did talk a lot.
Lemme just say, everything's cool now Man.
Seriously, nothin' to worry about.
I'm gettin' that problem under control, I've matured a lot since those days.
Well, I was just calling to see how you are, can't an old friend check in once in a while?
Oh and uh hey, I just wanted to let you know what I heard about those Ol' Rooskies...
Remember them, that time they crashed that party at the Czech frat house? And that time up in the 'Stan?
Yeah, good times.
Well guess what I heard they're up to these days?
You're not gonna believe this, Man.
We gotta go check this one out!
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