From the BBC today:
Russia sparks Cold War scramble
The Tu-95 pilots exchanged smiles with their US counterparts
Russian bombers have flown to the US Pacific island of Guam in a manoeuvre reminiscent of the Cold War era.
Two Tu-95 turboprops flew this week to Guam, home to a big US military base, Russian Maj Gen Pavel Androsov said, a story confirmed by the US.
They "exchanged smiles" with US pilots who scrambled to track them, he added.
The sorties, believed to be the first since the Cold War ended, come as Russia stresses a more assertive foreign policy, correspondents say.
The flight is part of a pattern of more expansive Russian military operations in recent weeks, says BBC diplomatic correspondent Jonathan Marcus.
Old practice
Gen Androsov said the strategic bombers had flown 13 hours from their base in the Russian Far East during the exercise. We prepared to intercept the bombers but they did not come close enough to a US Navy ship or to the island of Guam to warrant it.
2007-08-09 13:14:20 · 6 answers · asked by lana_sands 7 in Politics & Government ➔ Military
Buzzing U.S. again? What are you talking about? That has never happened. To buzz someone you have to fly over them.
They flew to the base not onto it.
What are you getting at? You discount the whole story with your last sentence. This happened for 40 years or more, during the cold war. But I doubt you remember that.
2007-08-09 13:20:10 · answer #1 · answered by Oldvet 4 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Russia has been testing the waters for awhile now. Putin indeed, would like to bring Russia back to the time when it and the US were the two big players on the world stage.
New found wealth in natural resources has given Russia a new sense of bravado. Rather than put their new wealth to good use, the first thing these power hungry Bolsheviks can think to do, is stand up to the US, once again.
The world must realize that a shooting war with mother Russia is highly unlikely. If things do get nasty, and Putin seems hell bent to continue challenging the US, there will be no winners. Well, perhaps China, if it has the wisdom to sit back and watch !
2007-08-09 21:29:52 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The flew over Guam, actually, UK translators have to study more.
The pilots need more training: future war between Iran and USA may require their skills.
2007-08-09 20:56:09 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sounds a little ominous....wonder how Bush will handle that bit of intelligence...probably in his usual way...badly!
2007-08-09 20:21:16 · answer #4 · answered by ArRo 6 · 0⤊ 3⤋
just another tale out of the sky! a big BS & more propaganda.
2007-08-09 20:39:08 · answer #5 · answered by J Kthefisherman 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Russia is saying, "Don't f with us".
2007-08-09 20:20:10 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋