Russian bombers intercepted near US Navy vessel (Tupolev 95 flew 2000ft directly over USS Nimitz)

ynet ^ | 02.12.08 | ynet

[El Gato]

Jimmy Carter was not a better CINC than Ronald Wilson Reagan. The veteran versus civilian canard does not fly.

Reagan served in the Army Air Corps during WW-II. Neither saw any combat. Reagan made training films...somebody had to do it, and he was after all an actor.

[nicmarlo]

Well....that’s to be expected.

Why put up defenses if they don’t defend from potential 360-degree inbounds?

[1COUNTER-MORTER-68]

The Russians started squeeelin’ as soon as they found out

how close to their border the system will be built...

[nicmarlo]

Well, it’s not exactly like the ruskies have been friends, nor even trusted friends.

While Bush said he “looked the man in the eye. I was able to get a sense of his soul,” I could see the soul without looking in his eyes. They are evil.

[Non-Sequitur]

But I'll bet they did not fly right over it, and they were escorted, as this one was.

I was in escorts - destroyers and frigates - and we operated with carriers and amphibs. And sometimes they did fly right over it. When we were with the carrier they did intercept them. The time we were with the LPH there obviously wasn't anything to intercept them with. We did go to GQ though.

BTW, I never said it should have been shot down, I said it was performing an unfriendly act or a hostile act.

So what should they have done that they did not do, if not shoot it down?

[1COUNTER-MORTER-68]

While Bush said he “looked the man in the eye. I was able to get a sense of his soul,”
~~~
Needs his eyes checked...;0)

[nicmarlo]

lol

I think he needs more help than just that. : )

[nicmarlo]

Russian overflight of US warship ‘benign’: US Navy chief

16 hours ago

WASHINGTON (AFP) — The chief of the US Navy said Tuesday an overflight of a US aircraft carrier by a Russian bomber off Japan was “benign” and unprovocative, adding that US crew were not called to combat stations.

Admiral Gary Roughead said he had not asked Moscow for an explanation, but offered one of his own: the Russian military is trying to re-emerge as a global force.

“But I did not consider it to be provocative,” he said of Saturday’s overflight of the USS Nimitz in the western Pacific.

http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5hQwYooD1CiqCqcmYUG1lZgfXMARA

[nicmarlo]

From the same article:

the State Department did not “at this point intend to do anything on behalf of the Department of Defense,” McCormack said.

The Russians have decided to resume “some of their long-range aviation flights” using material left over from the Cold War and were keeping “them in good, working order,” he said

“But beyond that, I don’t think we view it as a particular threat. It is something that we watch, it is something that we watch closely,” he said.

Some members of Congress raised concerns about the incident, however, at a hearing with senior Pentagon officials.

[nicmarlo]

Last quote (somewhat more interesting, at least, to me):

"Now what we're concerned about is, what are the indications of this return to a Cold War mindset -- what are the implications of that activity and how do we best address that?

"We're just trying to now go back and look what message was intended by this overflight," he said.

[AxelPaulsenJr]

Truly worthy of du, wny don’t you post over there? Over here even if we disagree with Bush, (as I do on Mexico),we still refer to the Republican President of the United States with respect.

[Piquaboy]

My Grandson is on the Nimitz. Looks like we are going back to the cold war again. The Ruskies need to be slapped down some how. They are checking out our electronic emissions.

[M. Espinola]

The Russian tyrant is continuing to probe and test the West, while preparing for total war against the West.

[Kenny Bunk]

train a few flight crews...

LOL. These planes, as useful as they may be as standoff AS and cruise missile carriers, are relics more than likely flown by old, deaf, ex-Soviet pilots.

The only training these senior citizens need is new flag recognition and to learn the new (or old) Russki National Anthem. They and these planes were bought and paid for 40 years ago!

I don't mean to knock their equipment ... a turboprop that can do better than 500mph ... with Moscow to Havana range ... they are a positive danger to the fleet because they can stand off many hundreds of miles and let fly ... with something! Unfortunately for the Russkis they have a huge radar profile and are so damned noisy they can be heard before they are seen.

[nw_arizona_granny]

Thank you for the ping.