Russian Subs Patrolling Off East Coast of U.S.

The New York Times ^ | August 4, 2009 | Mark Mazzetti & Thom Shanker

[Saint Reagan]

WASHINGTON — A pair of nuclear-powered Russian attack submarines has been patrolling off the eastern seaboard of the United States over recent days, a rare mission that has raised concerns inside the Pentagon and intelligence agencies about a more assertive stance by the Russian military.

The episode has echoes of the cold war era, when the United States and the Soviet Union regularly parked submarines off each other’s coasts to steal military secrets, track the movements of their underwater fleets — and be poised for war.

But the collapse of the Soviet Union all but eliminated the ability of the Russian Navy to operate far from home ports, making the current submarine patrols thousands of miles from Russia even more surprising for military officials and defense policy experts.

“I don’t think they’ve put two first-line nuclear subs off the U.S. coast in about 15 years,” said Norman Polmar, a naval historian and expert on submarine warfare.

[ErnstStavroBlofeld]

They can easily be ballistic missile subs in the future.

[Mr. Silverback]

True, and these movements probably aren’t a real threat. Still, if they wanted to decapitate our government and make a retaliatory strike much less likely, a launch from right off the coast would be the way to go.

[madinmadtown]

Putin may be the only guy that I have seen intimidate Obama...Obama already respects his Communist ideology, but Obama knows that Putin thinks he is putz.

[SoldierDad]

Loose lips sink ships?????

[SoldierDad]

LOL. You know I was being rhetorical with my question, right???

[Sistyelder]

“The Russians are coming, the Russians are coming”!! One of the funniest movies I have ever seen...sorry...couldn’t help it. This reminded me of it.

[RushIsMyTeddyBear]

[BradyLS]

“’Deal,’ Comrade Kenya? I am not recalling ‘deal.’ Refreshing memory, perhaps???”

[dervish]

Maybe they are trolling for the off shore oil we don’t want/sarc

[Mamzelle]

Are the Russian sailors on board wearing their shirts?

[the invisib1e hand]

That reminded me of this...

[GQuagmire]

"One ping only..."

[dfwgator]

"Andrei...you've lost another submarine?"

[ErnstStavroBlofeld]

Russian missiles these days,including ones on boomers, have a poor operational record

[ErnstStavroBlofeld]

Spikey,

You are forgetting many of these Russian subs are equipped with nuclear tipped torpedoes.

[Eric Blair 2084]

Looks like I picked the wrong week to quit doing Vodka shots with former Soviet sailors.

[Slump Tester]

"I had no idea..."

You're not alone - that's why I like to mention it on here every so often.

[Munz]

probably just some old timers there to help Comrade Obama with his plans for a new direction to take Amerika to

[RedCell]

Where the heck is Jack Ryan when you need him???

He saw what Jack Bauer could do, pissed his pants and went cryin' home to his momma.

[rlmorel]

Jeez. What is it with all these creepy pictures of Putin lately? I really am starting to take seriously all the homosexual comments about him...posing in various uniforms (and without them)