Russian Navy Group Goes to Mediterranean

[951-Riverside]

Source: ASSOCIATED PRESS

MOSCOW (AP) -- Russia dispatched an 11-ship aircraft carrier group to the Mediterranean Sea, the defense minister said Wednesday - part of what he said was an effort to resume regular Russian naval patrols on the world's oceans.

The announcement by Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov is the latest move by Russia to expand its military presence internationally and flex growing economic and military strength.

Speaking at a Kremlin meeting with President Vladimir Putin, Serdyukov said an aircraft carrier, two anti-submarine ships, a guided missile cruiser along with refueling ships from Russia's Northern and Black Sea fleets and 47 aircraft would be part of the group in the Mediterranean.

He said the group would conduct three tactical exercises with real and simulated launches of sea- and air-based missiles and make nearly a dozen port calls.

Read more: http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/R/RUSSIA_NAVY?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2007-12-05-13-15-37

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:toast: :puke:

[whistle]

1. Will they end up close to the Strait of Hormuz?

[Nihil]

13. Not unless they get really lost! (n/t)

:silly:

[MetaTrope]

20. Maybe Taiwan...

;-)

[SyntaxError]

2. I thought their sold their only carrier to India....

[Adsos Letter]

5. I thought so too...

the Kiev wasn't it?

[russian33]

7. Admiral Gorshkov

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Admiral_Gorshkov

they do still have Admiral Kuznetsov
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_aircraft_carrier_Admiral_Kuznetsov

[Captain Hilts]

6. The Gorshkov. They couldn't even get the toilets to work right on their carriers...

that's what I was told.

[knitter4democracy]

14. Well . . . that is a pretty usual problem there.

I was never so happy to see my own toilet as after I got home from a semester there.

[Captain Hilts]

16. I had "Moscow's nicest toilet." So my friends said. As they were, it was pretty nice. nt

[Captain Hilts]

3. The Russians need to spend all that oil money we gave them somehow. nt

[rockybelt]

4. uh-oh nt

[lovuian]

8. Seems like Russia wants to give Israel a big headache

its fleet will dock in Syria and also hook up with Iranian navy ships

close to Israel shorelines

I think Russia is retaliating for the missile shield defense being put in Europe pointed at Iran or Russia

cause really the more deadly of the two is Russia
I bet thats in a NIE report

Iran was the cover smoke and mirror its really Russia thats the real problem

[cliss]

10. Thanks Lovuian for the

"inside scoop". I was just about to ask if anyone knew what the real story is.

=========
In related news, I read a while back that the US is beating the war drums against IRAN, not because of the nuke issue. The writer speculated that it's actually a way for us to indirectly go after China.
China gets a lot of its oil from Iran (so does Japan). If we keep up the saber rattling, it's going to make China really upset.
It's the issue of the trade imbalance.

Any thoughts?

[lovuian]

15. I agree cliss that China is also part of this they want to control

the oil so they can control China's fuel line... Iran is their fuel line
so yes China is part of this too

Its all more than WMD and Nukes thats the cover story

its about OIL and the Missile shield in Europe

[Strelnikov_]

11. "bet thats in a NIE report"

And thats an NIE the public will never get wind of.

"Iran was the cover smoke and mirror its really Russia thats the real problem"

Yep.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=2399548&mesg_id=2411585

[SyntaxError]

12. I don't fully understand how that would benefit the Russians though.

Would this pretty much just be some lame pissing contest then?


Which is what it appears to be on the surface anyways...

[TheLastMohican]

17. To make sure the Kosovars don't break away from Serbia

on the whim of guys from NATO and Washington D.C. who decided to go around UN resolution as it will be blocked 100% by China and Russia.
There are also friendly ports in the proximity - Syria, Greece, Cyprus, Macedonia.

[Supersedeas]

9. paging the self-proclaimed Soviet expert - Dr. Rice - have relations improved with your expertise to

guide us?

[ohio2007]

18. So the great white Russian fleet sails into the Med and plans a dozen port calls.

Can't imagine to locals making much $ off poorly paid Russian conscripts. At least the Russians will see the world.

[TheLastMohican]

19. Your post is reeking with arrogance

Gloating and salivating over someones financial fortune is as low class as it gets.

[ohio2007]

21. wrong answer mohican

Those Med countries love U$ $ailor$. Unlike you, I've been ther and know first hand.
They are not impressed with those who come ashore and loiter. It doesn't fuel the local economy.

Your just jealous the locals would prefer US presence because we spread a certain type of capitali$m .



no wonder you are last of the mohicans LOL

[Nihil]

22. That's not the only thing that US sailors spread around the Med ...

:evilgrin: