THE RUSSKIES ON THE MOVE – AT 2:15 P.M. ET:  Russia, over the decades, has made periodic attempts to move militarily into the Western Hemisphere.  The most spectacular of these attempts, of course, led to the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962, after Nikita Khrushchev tried to plant nuclear-tipped offensive missiles in Castro's Cuba.   Are we seeing the start of a repeat?  From Fox: 

The Russian government has been mum on how long two nuclear-capable strategic bombers will stay in Venezuela as Secretary of State Mike Pompeo decried the collaboration between "two corrupt governments."

Russia's Defense Ministry on Monday announced that a pair of Tu-160 bombers landed at an airport outside Caracas. The ministry didn’t reveal whether the bombers-- which flew over 6,000 miles to reach the socialist country-- carried any weapons. An An-124 heavy military transport plane and an Il-62 long-haul plane also arrived in Venezuela.

The Tu-160 bombers were deployed in Russia's campaign in Syria where they employed conventionally-armed Kh-101 cruise missiles. But the bombers are also capable of carrying nuclear-tipped cruise missiles with a range of 3,410 miles.

Pompeo criticized the move by Russia, issuing a short and a scathing statement on social media.
“#Russia's government has sent bombers halfway around the world to #Venezuela. The Russian and Venezuelan people should see this for what it is: two corrupt governments squandering public funds, and squelching liberty and freedom while their people suffer,” he wrote in a tweet.

Venezuela’s defense minister, Vladimir Padrino López, insisted that the bombers were not intended to be a provocation. “We are makers of peace, not war,” he told a state broadcaster, according to the Guardian. 

COMMENT:   Truly provocative on Moscow's part.  One wonders how smart it is.  Why would Russia appear to be trying to prop up a horribly failing government?

Oh, have you noticed any concern on the part of the Democratic Party?  Weren't they deeply worried about President Trump's "collusion" with Russia?  Guess that's yesterday's news.

December 11, 2018