Annals of the Cold War: Again, Russia Menaces America with Nuclear Attack
The International Herald Tribune reports more totally unprovoked provocation of the U.S. by Russia (we are not buzzing their cities, but they are buzzing ours):
Russian warplane exercises around Alaska have become routine in the past few months, U.S. military officials said Monday, as the former Cold War superpower steps up flights from its Arctic bases. Over the summer, Russian bombers have staged at least seven exercises in a buffer zone outside U.S. air space, each time alerting the U.S. through reports by Russian news agencies, said Maj. Allen Herritage, a spokesman for the Alaska region of the North American Aerospace Defense Command. U.S. and Canadian fighter jets, including F-15s, were dispatched each time to escort the Russian planes in the exercises, which ranged from two to six aircraft, Herritage said.
The latest exercise came Sept. 19 and involved two planes flying somewhere off the coast of Canada, Herritage said. They were met by Canadian planes from NORAD, which is jointly operated by the U.S. and Canadian militaries. At least five exercises by the Russian Tu-95 Bear heavy bombers have taken place off Alaska's Aleutian Islands and other historic Cold War outposts, such as Cape Lisburne and St. Lawrence Island, according to NORAD records. All occurred beyond the 12-mile boundary that constitutes U.S. airspace. "They used to have them from time to time, but not nearly in this frequency," Herritage said. "These exercises used to be more common during the Cold War."
The exercises come amid troubled relations between Russia and the West and are seen by some as intimidating moves by an increasingly assertive Russia, but Herritage said the exercises are not a cause for alarm. "The recent exercises appear to be routine training activities," he told The Associated Press. "They are nowhere near U.S. airspace." President Vladimir Putin announced in August that Russia was resuming long-range bomber flights over the Pacific, Atlantic and Arctic oceans for the first time since the breakup of the Soviet Union. Russian Air Force officials could not be reached for comment after hours. They have repeatedly said that the planes were not violating any nation's airspace or any international agreements. But in mid-September, British and Norwegian jets intercepted Russian military aircraft after they breached NATO airspace close to the U.K. and Finland. And on a handful of occasions this year, NATO nations, including Britain and Norway, have sent fighters to escort Russian bombers nearing their territory.
Nobody in his right mind can now dispute that Russia is provoking a new cold war it cannot possibly even wage, much less win. In other words, it is repeating verbatim the outrageously aggressive action that destroyed the USSR. And remember, the leader who is ordering these attacks enjoys 70%+ popularity in Russia, so the Russian people themselves are equally culpable.Maybe it's time for U.S. planes to start buzzing Vladivostok or Minsk?
Labels:
cold war II,
militarism,
russia
6 comments:
It was noted by Heritage that the exercises were made "nowhere near U.S. airspace." So no outrageous retaliation in the part of the U.S. such as buzzing Russian cities is needed. Sometimes people need to think moderately, there is no point to exaggerate simple issues such as military drills.
You're very misleading.
This is far from the first time that Russia has caused Western forces to scramble jets to meet the threat of Russian nuclear bombers. Your claim of moderation is quite pathetic in light of your one-sided statement.
You also totally ignore that America is doing nothing of the kind to Russia.
Moreover, are you suggesting that American could fly nuclear bombers this close to Russian territory without Russia raising an eyebrow?
Finally, it's appropriate to post a link to the material you claim to be citing. Rudimentary fairness and moderation requires this, so you set a very bad example.
READER FYI:
You can click the "militarism" link at the bottom of this post to see the numerous other examples of naked Russian military provocation aimed at the West.
russian pilots are poorly trained and are among the worst pilots in the world. the greatest danger these flights pose is that a poorly trained russian pilot, in the cockpit with a 'devyatka' and cigarette dangling from lower lip, crashes into a civilian population. so the more they train the better.
The flights are a cheap way to ratchet things and cause someone to spend a lot more money, and create a bit of instability in a population. (and testing were systems 'pick you up' at is also valuable)
never watch the hand the magician wants you to watch.
russian pilots are not poorly trained. in american movies they are, but in real life, they are not poorly trained.
as far as the rest of the country, its a imitation of frostbite. that when things get dangerously cold, blood shifts away from the extremities (average people, lumpen proletariat), and over to the vital organs (state, military, elite, etc).
this could also be a desensitization tactic. that over and over they do it, but never do a wrong thing. then off home thye go. after a few years of this and even stepping up on it, the defense system falters. the people have become complacent and acclimatized.
its also a decent way to get an opponent who is tech top heavy and has big pockets to pay for upgrades, and higher sensor elert, etc. So it also helps drain your enemy of his lifeblood.
not poorly trained??? other than chopper pilots in chechnya they haven't been flying for 15 years!! pilots for years not only didn't fly, but they weren't even paid!! up until a few years ago there wasn't money to fly and their ships and subs haven't been at sea. this is common knowledge. their planes and ships are outdated and rusting as well, but that's a different story. stop watching movies and read. again, its good they're flying again---a untrained and drunk pilot isn't good for anyone.
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