yitbos
Posted on 09/22/2008 10:50:47 PM PDT by fishhound
Russian warships are sailing towards the Caribbean for the first time since the Cold War to take part in a joint naval exercise with Venezuela. In a display meant to show off Russia's military resurgence and to provoke the United States, four vessels from the Northern Fleet set sail on a mission replete with an atmosphere of Soviet-era bombast and brinksmanship. Symbolically at least, the manoeuvres represent the Kremlin's boldest challenge yet to US military hegemony. By sailing so close to the American coastline for a series of exercises with Washington's principal detractor in Latin America, Russia seems to be deliberately attempting to irritate the White House. The flotilla that left the northern port of Serveromosrk on Russia's Arctic coast was lead by the guided missile cruiser Peter the Great, one of the largest warships of its kind. The Kirov-class warship is equipped with cruise missiles that can be armed with nuclear warheads. It was accompanied by the Admiral Chabanenko, an anti-submarine destroyer, and two support vessels. Although navy chiefs insisted that the exercises had no political overtones, most analysts believe the Kremlin is signalling its determination to challenge the United States and retaliate for Washington's support of Georgia during last month's war in the Caucasus. Vladimir Putin, the Russian prime minister, vowed that Moscow would respond in kind after accusing American naval vessels ordered to Georgia to deliver aid of carrying weapons to re-arm the government of President Mikheil Saakashvili.
(Excerpt) Read more at telegraph.co.uk ...
That’s a good point about Albright. ;-)
yitbos
""The US response to this Russian move should be to sail next to their warships and hold up signs telling the crew to "jump overboard and defect now; our ship is American territory". Or "To defect, follow me. You can sell your ship on ebay". "
yitbos
Big whoop.
A cruiser, a tin can and a screen. Five minutes work for any CVBG — if that. Not to mention they are going to be in range of land so the Air Force has an opportunity for some fun tracking exercises.
I can’t imagine anyone getting seriously perturbed about this.
Where are the “Pirates of the Caribbean” when you need them?! :)
Yep, real close to the coastline of the United States, what 500 to 800 miles. Give me a break Telegraph. They may come within a hundred miles of Puerto Rico, but I doubt very much that Russia is going instigate an incident.
The Silent Service is about to have some cruising fun.
1 Los Angeles class should be enough :)
We might actually do this. A few years back the Russians overflew on of our carriers & photographed the flightdeck before it could launch fighters to chase them off. There was no CAP, and no Alert-5 fighter (thank you Bill Clinton).
Supposedly the photos of the (organized) chaos on the flightdeck were faxed directly to the vessel.
I'd like to see a little payback for that incident.
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