[Vinnie]

The Bear is a pretty cool plane.
Contra-rotating turbo props. Speed is close to a B-52. Huge payload.

As for restarting the patrols, I think we are making a mistake surrounding Russia with ex-USSR, now NATO Countries.
Then installing missile shields in them.

Russia has been and will always be paranoid.
IMHO we should have taken up Putin’s offer to place the missile shield in one of the ‘Stan’ Countries( don’t recall which one).

[scan59]

As for restarting the patrols, I think we are making a mistake surrounding Russia with ex-USSR, now NATO Countries. Then installing missile shields in them.

I agree. It's like we're pointing a gun at them, and when they call us on it we say we're actually pointing at the guys standing behind them. Not to worry. At least that's how I think they're beginning to view it. Those ex-Soviets are paranoid, and we're just goading them on.

[mad_as_he$$]

Bear is 75mph slower than a BUFF. 39,000 foot ceiling vs Buff’s 50,000. Bomb load isn’t even close. BUFFs have been updated and carry a wide array of weapons. We actually train our pilots.