.Guam community raises concern over Russian bombers
MONDAY, 18 FEB 2013 03:00AM BY LOUELLA LOSINIO AND JOY WHITE | VARIETY NEWS STAFF HITS: 643
Frank Aguon Jr.
CAUGHT unaware, the Guam community yesterday expressed concern over the two Russian bombers that flew near the vicinity of Guam last week while two sets of military exercises were being conducted on-island.
Sen. Frank B. Aguon, in an interview with Variety, said the incident shows the U.S. continues to have adversaries and there is a need to continue to keep a close eye on the military presence here and how this ultimately benefits the community.
“The U.S. military forces were able to identify and ensure the security of our island and carry out their responsibilities accordingly,” Aguon said.
The bombers tracked over Guam were likely equipped with
six cruise missiles with either a high-explosive warhead or a 200-kiloton nuclear warhead that can hit targets up to 1,800 miles away, the Washington Free Beacon reported.
The Okinawa-based Marines and sailors with the III Marine Expeditionary Force began the three-month Exercise Guahan Shield 2013 on various military facilities in Guam last week, while the Cope North exercise was entering its concluding week.
Aside from the Russian bomber incident, increased tension between China and Japan and concerns over North Korea’s nuclear weapons program point to the reality of threats to the island’s security, Aguon said.
The F-15s launched from Andersen Air Force Base that intercepted the bombers were originally based at Kadena Air Base, Japan, but were deployed to Guam for the ongoing Exercise Guahan Shield 2013, which began last Monday.
AAFB Public Affairs Officer Capt. Christopher Hoyler was unable to comment on the details of the incident, referring all comments to PACAF in Hawaii. PACAF Public Affairs Office was also unavailable for comment as of press time last night.
But an NBC report quoted U.S. military officials as saying “it’s highly unusual but not unprecedented” that Russian bombers would fly training missions in the vicinity of Guam. According to one official quoted in the same report, “It wasn’t provocative but it certainly got our attention.”
Community off-guard
Although national media picked up on the fact that two Russian bombers flew over Guam last week Tuesday, the local population seemed largely unaware.
Dededo Mayor Melissa Savares, head of the Mayors’ Council of Guam committee on military affairs, was concerned upon hearing about the Russian bombers, but declined to comment as she had not received any information from officials about the occurrence.
Dededo resident Phil Anthony heard about it from national media. “I don’t like it at all, especially since North Korea started loading missiles. I think it’s very aggressive,” he said.
A Sinajaña resident who was also unaware the incident had occurred said, “It's somewhat disturbing that Russian bombers are flying over Guam. Is that a warning? With all the things you see on CNN. ... We don’t know what’s going on. Then all of a sudden Russia decides to provide an intimidation kind of show. It should be a concern to all people living here.”
Chalan Pågo-Ordot Mayor Jessy Gogue had not previously known about the incident either, but said he was not surprised given the increased focus on Guam. He said the situation would be more worrisome if there was conflict between the U.S. and Russia.
Guam community raises concern over Russian bombers
