Two Russian strategic nuclear bombers entered the U.S. air defense zone near the Pacific coast on Wednesday and were met by U.S. interceptor jets, defense officials told the Free Beacon. It was the second time Moscow dispatched nuclear-capable bombers into the 200-mile zone surrounding U.S. territory in the past two weeks. An earlier intrusion by two Tu-95 Bear H bombers took place near Alaska as part of arctic war games that a Russian military spokesman said included simulated attacks on “enemy” air defenses and strategic facilities. A defense official said the Pacific coast intrusion came close to the U.S. coast but did not enter the 12-mile area that the U.S. military considers sovereign airspace. The bomber flights near the Pacific and earlier flights near Alaska appear to be signs Moscow is practicing the targeting of its long-range air-launched cruise missiles on two strategic missile defense sites, one at Fort Greely, Alaska and a second site at Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif. In May, Russian Gen. Nikolai Makarov, the chief of the Russian General Staff, said during a Moscow conference that because missile defense systems are destabilizing, “A decision on pre-emptive use of the attack weapons available will be made when the situation worsens.” The comments highlighted Russian opposition to planned deployments of U.S. missile defense interceptors and sensors in Europe. The U.S. defense official called the latest Bear H incident near the U.S. West Coast “Putin’s Fourth of July Bear greeting to Obama.” http://freebeacon.com/putins-july-4th-message/
Sends a slight chill down my spine... "What're we doing? Nothing... Just testing to see how close we can get. We promise we aren't gonna use it."
"Sends a slight chill down my spine.." What, the fact you have a Russian flight crew probley all fucked up on Vodka with nuclear weapons remembering the "good old days" of the cold war?
This type of probing of our air defenses used to be routine during the Cold War...the Soviets wanted to time how long it took for us to scramble fighters and intercept their planes, always the Bear bombers because they have a really long range. I used to work with a guy who was stationed at Otis ANGB, and he said the F-15's that intercepted the Bears would always take photographs. In one photograph, there was one of the Soviet crew members in a window blister holding something up. When they blew it up, it was a Playboy magazine, with the crew member giving a thumbs-up with a wide smile.
This is, in a strange way, good for us as a nation. Except for the usual libs, the Cold War style tensions tested presidents, made the Olympics exciting, and there was an enemy you could understand. It also helped keep the cave dwellers in check (sort of). Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2
Hey, hey, hey!!! It takes a lot if vodka for a Russian to get fucked up. On a serious note, if you knew what kind of prison these guys would end up in, if they get caught drinking in their job, you probably would not say that. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Obama already failed his test in the Spring when he was caught on an open mic telling Medvedev that he "would have more flexibility" after the election. I, for one, don't wish to see what that flexibility toward Russia entails with such a socialist in the White House. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Silent Running Russian attack submarine sailed in Gulf of Mexico undetected for weeks, U.S. officials say Russian Akula Submarine / AP BY: Bill Gertz August 14, 2012 5:00 am A Russian nuclear-powered attack submarine armed with long-range cruise missiles operated undetected in the Gulf of Mexico for several weeks and its travel in strategic U.S. waters was only confirmed after it left the region, the Washington Free Beacon has learned. It is only the second time since 2009 that a Russian attack submarine has patrolled so close to U.S. shores. The stealth underwater incursion in the Gulf took place at the same time Russian strategic bombers made incursions into restricted U.S. airspace near Alaska and California in June and July, and highlights a growing military assertiveness by Moscow .http://freebeacon.com/silent-running/
