Cuban army

Military equipment modernization is cost-prohibitive

May 7, 2011

“Cuba is very interested in modernizing its military equipment that date to the Soviet era, but lack financial resources,” stated Polina Temérina, an analyst at the Moscow-based Centre for Analysis of Strategies and Technologies (CAST), to RIA Novosti. She further added: “Cuba has, on more than one occasion, asked Russia to modernize its arsenals but the problem continues [...]

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Considerable resistance

March 21, 2011

According to an early March, 2011 note on the Cuban military in CIA’s The World Factbook, “Cuba remains able to offer considerable resistance to any regional power.” The note further adds:

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Cuban armed forces of yesteryear

December 4, 2010

Via the Atlantic Monthly, twenty-two years ago: Since 1980 Cuba has become the most thoroughly militarized nation on earth. According to the authoritative London-based International Institute of Strategic Studies, the Cuban regular army numbers 145,000 men, most of them conscripted privates who serve for three years. They are backed up by at least 110,000 ready [...]

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Stark contrast between military/security personnel and populace

August 22, 2010

Havana Times on luxurious apartments in Havana built for high-ranking officers of the Cuban Army (Ejército Revolucionario) and the MININT (Ministry of the Interior—State Security) in stark contrast with housing units constructed a few miles away in the capital’s community of San Agustin.

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A Cuban military “comeback”?

July 5, 2010

George Mason University’s History News Network has an interesting interview with Daniel Masterson, History Professor at the United Stated Naval Academy, about the Cuban Embargo, South American security, and teaching America’s “Officers-In-Training”: Cuba has what I call a “septocracy”—an oligarchy of 70-year-olds. It is similar to China in this regard. When Raul Castro came to power, [...]

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