Russia reportedly agrees to reopen spy base on Cuba

[jakeXT]

Source: AFP

MOSCOW: Russia has provisionally agreed to reopen a major Cold War listening post on Cuba that was used to spy on the United States, a Russian daily reported Wednesday after President Vladimir Putin visited the island last week.

Kommersant reported that Russia and Cuba had agreed "in principle" to reopen the Lourdes base, mothballed since 2001, citing several sources within Russian authorities.

"The agreements were finalised while President Vladimir Putin visited Havana last Friday," the respected daily wrote.

Russia had closed the Lourdes spy base south of Havana on Putin's orders to save money and due to a rapprochement with the United States after the September 11 attacks.

Read more: http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/world/russia-reportedly-agrees/1267008.html

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“Returning to Lourdes now is more than justified," military expert Viktor Murakhovsky, a retired colonel, told Kommersant. “The capability of the Russian military signal intelligence satellite constellation has significantly downgraded. With an outpost this close to the US will allow the military to do their job with little consideration for the space-based SIGINT echelon.”

http://rt.com/news/173092-russia-sigint-facility-cuba/

[DeSwiss]

1. Ve vill be vatching you Amercanskis! Closely.

[center]

''Ve vill give your NSAski the bird! Ha-Ha!!''[/center]

[dipsydoodle]

2. At least they're being open about it.

.

[Adrahil]

11. Yeah, those guys are peaches!!!! Cold War II, here we come. :(

[another_liberal]

3. Thank you NSA.

(sigh)

[lexx21]

13. Absolutely!

Had they not been up to their now normal shenanigans then Russia would really have no reason to do this.

Then again, they fell from "super power" fame and it's probably nationalistic pride that they want to reclaim that title. Last year (or maybe the year before) they started flying their bombers again. Putin said that it put the qualified pilots back to work and was for 'defense'. Not sure if we still fly those missions or not.

[FailureToCommunicate]

4. Deja vu all over again?

[another_liberal]

21. Great graphic!

I loved those guys.

[7962]

5. But so many people here think Vlad is only interested in peace and harmony!

[jakeXT]

6. Is Cuba the new Sweden ?

Swedish television cited a document dated April 18 saying Sweden's National Defence Radio Establishment (FRA), which conducts electronic communications surveillance, had helped in providing the United States with information on Russia.

"The FRA provided NSA ... a unique collection on high-priority Russian targets, such as leadership, internal politics," it quoted the document saying.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/12/05/sweden-spying-idUSL5N0JK3MV20131205

[Diclotican]

10. jakeXT

jakeXT

That the Swedish intelligence have helped the US with INTEL when it come from Russia have been a official "secret" since - well the 1970s at least... The Swedish government never openly stated that Sweden's FRA was doing work for the americans under the cold war - but it was known at least from the middle of the 1970s - by books and rumors that US indeed was getting intel from swedish sources - under the table of course - often by the british intelligence who was given information from sweden - and then translated it directly to the US - and the swedish intelligence agency es have always been good at keeping an eye on the russians - even before Peter the Great messed up the fine little imperium Sweden had in the baltic sea by the end of the 1600s sweden had a first class intelligence agency - who was able to spy on her enemies - but in many cases her leaders - the king and the nobles was seldom listing to its advices - and the mess of the 1700s and the end of Sweden as a big player in 1809 really hurt Sweden - but in the end she survived - and recovered much of her grace - even on a smaller scale... But mostly it have been because its intelligence agency have been good at doing its job - keeping a tab on the world around - and give its leaders the possibility to do the right things at the right time - well most of the time at least...

Diclotican

[jakeXT]

18. And then you have the secret submarine war in the 80's

Following the stranding of a Soviet Whiskey-class submarine in 1981 on the Swedish archipelago, a series of massive submarine intrusions took place within Swedish waters.

However, the evidence for these appears to have been manipulated or simply invented. Classified documents and interviews point to covert Western, rather than Soviet activity. This is backed up by former US Secretary of Defense Caspar Weinberger, who stated that Western "testing" operations were carried out regularly in Swedish waters. Royal Navy submarine captains have also admitted to top-secret operations.
Ola Tunander's revelations make it clear that the United States and Britain ran a "secret war" in Swedish waters. The number of Swedes perceiving the Soviet Union as a direct threat increased from 5-10 per cent in 1980 to 45 per cent in 1983. This Anglo-American "secret war" was aimed at exerting political influence over Sweden. It was a risky enterprise, but perhaps the most successful covert operation of the entire Cold War.

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

[Billy Budd]

7. as incredible as it may sound

Some believe the US is a source of good in this world ....Unnnnbelievable...

[TwilightGardener]

12. Yeah, crazy...

We'll never be the source of goodness that Russia is...

[another_liberal]

14. International polling shows . . .

We rank far above the Russian Federation as a country people all over the World see as "dangerous" and "militarily aggressive." As a matter of fact, the United States ranks first on the list.

http://www.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2009/08/07/the_worlds_10_most_dangerous_countries


http://www.ibtimes.com/gallup-poll-biggest-threat-world-peace-america-1525008

[TwilightGardener]

15. Sure. We're dangerous, but then everyone demands we help them, financially

and militarily. Please. What sort of countries turn to Russia when they need help? Iran, North Korea, Syria, Cuba--I mean, bastions of freedom, democracy and human rights! Are you an American? Do you believe Russia is a better country? And if so, why aren't you getting a visa to live there?

[another_liberal]

20. Don't try to pull any "Love it or leave it" crap on me . . .

I've been ignoring that nonsense for too long to start paying it any attention now.

This is my country too, you see, and I don't intend to leave it. I intend to save it!

[TwilightGardener]

22. You intend to save it by wanting it to be more like Russia?

I don't think you're going to get a lot of takers on that proposal.

[another_liberal]

23. I have never suggested the US should be like Russia.

Could you stop putting words in my mouth?

More seriously though: Our country may be saved if its people demand the United States government treat other countries with honesty and respect, end our imperialistic wars and begin to care for our own people, instead of lavishing their tax dollars on power-hungry foreign monarchists and fascists.

There are, of course, other problems, but first things first.

[WhoWoodaKnew]

8. political posturing. you don't announce spying.

[ballyhoo]

9. Knew this would finally happen... The walls

keep circling inward on the yellow submarine.

[olddad56]

16. The US has had forever to reach out to Cuba but instead we have blown them off for 55 years.

They didn't turn to the USSR when Castro took over until the US blew him off. I don't blame the Cuban government from doing this.

[fireflysky46]

17. It's so hot to have stupid for idiot base close of us. The stupid for idiot

Will compliment. The very useful idiot will justify.

[bobthedrummer]

19. "Spy base"-lol!