AS PUTIN STRENGTHENS RUSSO-VENEZUELAN MILITARY TIES, CHAVEZ EXPELS US AMBASSADOR AND RECALLS HIS OWN...

NYTIMES:

President Hugo Chavez says the U.S. ambassador has 72 hours to leave Venezuela and he's recalling his ambassador from Washington.

Chavez said he's asking U.S. Ambassador Patrick Duddy to leave as a means of showing solidarity with Bolivian President Evo Morales, who expelled Washington's envoy in La Paz.

''That's enough ... from you, Yankees,'' Chavez said, using an expletive.

• THIS COMES AS TWO LONG-RANGE STRATEGIC RUSSIAN BOMBERS LAND IN VENEZUELA AND THE TWO NATIONS PREPARE TO GO ON A JOINT MILITARY EXERCISE.

• AND AS CHAVEZ RENEWS CLAIMS THE USA IS TRYING TO ASSASSINATE HIM...

• HERE'S WHAT'S BEHIND THE HEADLINES: PUTIN IS GETTING READY TO PULL A 21ST CENTURY VERSION OF THE CUBAN MISSILE CRISIS. (THOUGH THEY CLAIM THESE BOMBERS HAD NO NUCLEAR BOMBS ON THEM - NOT YET AT LEAST...)

• PUTIN IS TRYING TO CREATE SOMETHING... A BARGAINING CHIP HE CAN TRADE FOR GEORGIA AND THE UKRAINE.

STAY TUNED...