Thursday, August 07, 2014

Russian Bombers Intrude On U.S. Airspace More Than 16 Times

By Douglas V. Gibbs

When a nation exudes weakness, enemies are encouraged to test the waters, and make moves against that nation's interests.  Among the many threats to the United States that are obvious attempts to escalate political pressure against a floundering superpower in the grasp of an anti-American leader, Russia has made more than sixteen incursions into U.S. Air Defense Zones with Russian Strategic Bombers over the past ten days.

The unusual aerial penetrations were largely performed by Tu-95 Russian Bear H bombers, prompting the immediate scrambling of U.S. jet fighters.

Near Alaska, a Russian intelligence-gathering jet was also detected along with the bombers.

“Over the past week, NORAD has visually identified Russian aircraft operating in and around the U.S. air defense identification zones,” said Major Beth Smith, spokeswoman for U.S. Northern Command and the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD).

Smith called the Russian flights “a spike in activity.”

Most of the incursions into American air space occurred near the Aleutian Islands and the continental part of Alaska.  One happened in Canada’s air defense zone.

The saber-rattling is not limited to only Russia.  North Korea has also been making threats, including the threat of nuclear missiles being sent towards the United States, and specifically the White House.  The Chief of Naval Operations has also asserted that China’s advanced cruise and ballistic missiles pose a significant threat in future conflict with the United States.  Hamas attacking Israel, and other hot spots emerging, are further signs that the world views America in a different light with Barack Obama serving as our Commander in Chief.

Russian incursions, when considering what is going on in Ukraine, and the mocking that Moscow has been leveling at the Obama administration, is a sign that like a petulant child, Russia is testing how far they can push the envelope and test the limits.  Russian President Vladimir Putin is confident that Washington lacks the intestinal fortitude to stand up to him, and that Obama and his international minions and liberal left allies will continue to negotiate in a manner of appeasement, and toothless sanctions.  The Cold War is alive and well, and the threat of a nuclear conflict has emerged as a potential by product - and the fear of such is the tool the Putin is using to revive the Soviet Union.

As Russia floats their not-so-veiled threats against the United States, Russia is in the midst of a major buildup of its strategic nuclear forces. The modernization includes new missiles of several ranges, new strategic missile submarines, and new long-range bombers.  Moscow has also increased its military activities along the Ukrainian border, and in the Pacific Northwest near Alaska, Canada, and the West Coast.

On June 9, Russians flew nuclear-capable bombers near the California coast, an event that also sent American defense forces scrambling.

Defense officials, in relation to increased bomber forays, have stated that Russian strategic nuclear forces appear to be "trying to test our air defense reactions, or our command and control systems."

“These are not just training missions,” the official added.

Russian activities have become increasingly viewed as aggressive by American officials, and the Pentagon has toughened its rhetoric toward Russia since the Russian military annexation of Ukraine’s Crimea in June.

Last month, the State Department accused Moscow of violating the 1987 Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces treaty by developing a new cruise missile.  One thing is clear, Russian military and nuclear activities have increased, and the increase coincides with actions taken by Putin to annex Crimea, and parts of eastern Ukraine.  The activities also coincides with President Obama's reduction of the overall number of American forces, systematic removal of the missile defense system in Europe, and the elimination of portions of our overall supply of defensive weapons including nuclear weapons, and the discontinuance of the Tomahawk and Hellfire missile programs.

Moscow also conducted several large-scale nuclear war games in May, and have increased significantly their strategic aircraft deployments in the vicinity of places like Japan, Korea, and even our West Coast.

“Russia continues to modernize its strategic capabilities across all legs of its triad, and open source [reporting] has recently cited the sea trials of its latest [missile submarine], testing of its newest air-launched cruise missile and modernization of its intercontinental ballistic force to include its mobile capability in that area,” said Admiral Cecil Haney, commander of the U.S. Strategic Command.

The encounters over the Pacific with Russia follows an earlier U.S.-Russian aerial duel in Europe.

U.S. officials confirmed that an RC-135 Rivet Joint electronic intelligence gathering aircraft was forced into violating Swedish airspace by a Russian fighter jet July 18. The U.S. jet was seeking to evade the Russian interceptor jet at the time.

That encounter took place a day after Malaysian Airlines Flight MH17 was shot down by a missile over eastern Ukraine.

The media failed to make much of the encounter, either by design, or because they were distracted by reports regarding the downing of the Malaysian flight, and Israel's war with Hamas.

-- Political Pistachio Conservative News and Commentary








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1 comment:

Janson Smithers said...

Even a stale piece of bread could do better as POTUS than what we have now.