A Chequer-Board of Nights and Days

It is no secret that the Russians are seeking to project power in the Western Hemisphere and that they are working closely with Cuba and Venezuela to come up with ways in which Russia can display its military power on our side of the globe. As mentioned in this report, Russia is now considering whether it can use airbases in Cuba or Venezuela and that while the Bush Administration never really thought much of this attempt to impress--believing that Russia could not constitute much of a military threat to American interests--it appears recently that concerns have been ratcheted up a notch:

The previous US administration of George W. Bush officially shrugged off the Russian aviation and naval moves in Latin America, characterising them as more for show than anything representing a military worry for the United States.

Last July however, a top US air force officer warned that Russia would cross "a red line" if it were to base nuclear capable bombers in Cuba.

"If they did, I think we should stand strong and indicate that is something that crosses a threshold, crosses a red line for the United States of America," said General Norton Schwartz said on July 23.

Thus far, there is no indication whatsoever that General Schwartz has been reprimanded by the Obama Administration for departing from policy and talking out of line. Absent such reprimands, it would therefore appear that the general is accurately reflecting Administration policy concerning this issue.

Isn't it therefore fair to ask whether the Obama Administration plans on doing anything about this Russian effort to project power into the Western Hemisphere? General Schwartz has spoken on the subject. But everyone else in the Administration remains curiously silent.