Russia revives long-range bomber patrols capable of striking deep inside USA with nuclear weapons

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/russia/article/0,,2151237,00.html

Luke Harding in Moscow and Ewen MacAskill in Washington
Saturday August 18, 2007
The Guardian


The Russian president, Vladimir Putin, yesterday announced Russia had resumed long-range flights of strategic bombers capable of striking targets deep inside the United States with nuclear weapons.

Mr Putin said Russia had restarted the Soviet-era practice of sending bomber aircraft on regular patrols beyond its borders.

Speaking after Russian and Chinese forces completed a day of war games in Russia's Urals, Mr Putin said 14 Russian bombers had taken off simultaneously yesterday on long-range missions.

"We have decided to restore flights by Russian strategic bombers on a permanent basis," he said.

He added: "Russia stopped this practice in 1992. Unfortunately not everybody followed suit. This creates a strategic risk for Russia ... we hope our partners show understanding towards the resumption of Russian air patrols."

[jeff30997]

1. So...

Vlad the Poisoner wants to start Cold War II or what ?

[sailor65]

2. They don't have anything left...

that's capable of actually penetrating our airspace and causing us harm.

[Phrogman]

3. Unless they send Arabs with boxcutters, right?

LOL

[billbuckhead]

4. They have excellent cruise missiles

It hardly matters they launch them from antiques.

[ruiner4u]

5. thats not the point,,,

the point is they are sending a message... and they realize our military is broken...

[Selatius]

6. The move is purely symbolic. They could still crater the continental US with long-range missiles.

I'm pretty sure they still have thousands of nuclear warheads and inter-continental ballistic missiles that could reach US soil in 30 to 40 minutes from Russian soil. Also, Russian bombers can also fire cruise missiles loaded into bomb bays to give them stand-off capability against well-defended targets. Our B-52s have this same stand-off capability.

[tkmorris]

7. The TU-160 looks to be a very capable plane

No, I don't think the Russians could win an all out war with the United States. But they could hurt us. Oh yes, they could do that much. Don't doubt it.

[Lasher]

8. The only winning move is not to play

Neither the Russians nor the US would win in such a conflict.

The Russians were ready to substantially reduce their nuclear arsenal. So what did Junior and his neocons do? They built up our military and beat their war drums. We could have turned our swords into plowshares but the worst president in our history had to come along and screw this up along with everything else.

[Babsbrain]

9. Why Russia is saber-rattling:

1. The United States is deeply divided with its leader representative of the minority viewpoint and goals.

2. The United States has Weapons of Mass Destruction.

3. The United States has a repressive government, denying basic rights to its citizens.

4. It utilizes fear to control its citizens.

5. The minority government of the United States cultivates wealth for itself while ensuring the majority will not share in that wealth.

6. The United States is a breeding ground for terror.

7. The United States uses government-sponsored propaganda to further its goals and control the populace.

In short, the United States has become exactly what bush accused Iraq of being under Saddam.

Therefore, if the Russians wanted to liberate us through 'shock and awe', they would have historical justification.