Cyprus-Forum.com

[Raymanoff]

Hi, missed me? I am back from Venezuela, been installing and tuning some 3D flight simulator software updates for some people.

Any solution from the talks yet? Any recent Orgies? Wassuuup! I missed you all!

[Oracle]

We thought you'd been drafted by Russia to teach Saakashvili respect!

[Raymanoff]

No, i been teaching Chavez how to fly Tu-160

[Oracle]

Why, where does he want to go?

[Raymanoff]

CARACAS, Sept 11--Two Russian strategic bombers landed in Venezuela as part of military maneuver, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has said.

Addressing supporters in a televised speech, Chavez welcomed the unprecedented arrival of the two Russian Tu-160 bombers and said the planes will conduct maneuvers. He indicated he would fly one himself.

"Russian planes, strategic bombers, TU-160 have landed in Venezuela, Yes. So that you hurt, 'pity-yankees', I'll even fly one of those things," he said.

Chavez called the Russian planes' arrival as part of a move to counter US dominance and explained that Venezuela was keen to strengthen ties with Russia.

Russian air force Maj. Gen. Pavel Androsov also said in televised comments that the Tu-160 bombers were carrying only test missiles.

He said the jets would conduct several test flights over neutral waters then return to Russia on Monday.

The deployment -- which will include a naval squadron and long-range patrol planes -- is expected to be the largest Russian naval maneuvers in the Caribbean and perhaps the Western Hemisphere since the Cold War.

NATO fighters escorted the two Russian bombers on their 13-hour way to Venezuela over the Arctic and Atlantic Oceans, the Russian Defense Ministry said.

The Russian deployment appeared to be a tit-for-tat response to the US move to send warships to deliver aid to US-ally Georgia after its war last month with Russia.

Earlier this week, Russia said it will send a naval squadron and long-range patrol planes to Venezuela in November for a joint military exercise in the Caribbean.

Venezuela remains a leading oil supplier to the United States, but as tensions have grown with Washington, Chavez has purchased billions of dollars in weapons from Russia, including helicopters, Kalashnikov rifles and Sukhoi fighter jets.

Chavez also said his government is looking to buy Russian submarines and is working with Russia to set up an air defense system including long-range radar and rockets.

Tit for tat... just like children but in megascale.

[Oracle]

Excellent work ....