New reports of Russian Tupolev 95, known as Bear H reconnaissance patrols are edging closer to American bases, friendly nations (countries) in both Atlantic & Pacific Oceans, namely Norway, English coasts, Guam, Alaskan coasts, aircraft battle groups and maritime exercises since 1992. According to news (including DOD) sources, Russia is agressively patrolling the areas known to friendly countries - US, GB, NATO, & Asian nations since the downfall of the Berlin Wall. Bear H is turboprop (Cold War icon); maritime recon., patrol, target acquisition platform for Russian SSBN's, capable of launching air/surface missiles (AS-4 Kitchen), nuclear capability, in layman's terms this is "bad Russian machine!" Couple of days ago, the Brits (RAF) had to scramble their fighter (interceptors) planes edging close to the english coasts. Brits are dusting off ROE for Cold War intercepts. Question? What can we do? There is upcoming Presidential election (Hillary Clinton is frontrunner), changing public opinions of Iraq, Congressman Murtha (D-PA) is screaming to get out! There is changing mission(s) for the folks (gals) in uniform.

Well..where do I start?

My biggest worry here is that I will end up working unpaid overtime. You see, I am in a Pacific Coast Air National Guard Rescue unit, so if there is an incident offshore, we are the ones with aerial refueling capability (not the Coast Guard), so it will be OUR job to go out and rescue the poor Russian aircrew when their rusted out Tupolevs...(like putting a bunch of P-3's out on patrol, say, TOMORROW???)...decide to quit flying, and find the happy glideslope to the churning deck. I'm SURE the Russian maintenance squadrons are ALL following ISO standards these days...TQM...Six Sigma...suuuuuuuure they are.

Weren't they the first to try and prove that a turbofan could cross an ocean purely on Vodka? Was it FOD that grounded that flight, or just a bunch of REALLY LONG straws the crew had in the fuel tanks pre-launch?

Is it a threat? NO. Is it a political sign of the times? You damned right it is. Is it an example of where our brand of diplomacy is getting us? Where Putin's equally hard head is getting us?

YUP.

Putin would love for Iran to get into the squabble in Iraq. He already has a hard one for us over Afghanistan and the natural gas 'right of way', if you will...(do your Google homework if you don't understand what that means...it would take too long to spell out here). There are Rubles ALL OVER Iran right now...in the form of weapons and ammo...which means that there are Rubles in Syria...and then Rubles in Lebanon...in the Palestinian Territories...etc, etc.

Putin is as much a Cowboy as Bush is, in his own right. He is not stupid, but between Putin and Bush, we could achieve synergistic levels of (as Carlos Mencia puts it)..."Dee De Dee!!!".

Petroleum is going to be the motivating force of everything big, bad and ugly for the next 10 years AT LEAST...it's clear as day. Russians didn't split with us in the 40's so sharply because of deeply held political and social values...that was just the story they all sold the world. They are the big dogs in a really rich fossil fuel deposit. If all the middle eastern kiddies went to play in the freeway, they would STILL be big dogs (not THE big dogs, but big enough). They want control, and they don't EVER want to worry bout having to ask the US for permission to do SQUAT.

Americans, over the past 15 years or so, have forgotten that.

Any administration will have to address this fact. The Clinton camp knows EXACTLY what is going on (they are B.S. artists, but they ain't dumb). They also are smart enough to not approach the subject in public forum.

I've been watching the Rooskies for a while, and wondering what the play would be. I am no intel geek, nor a Russian expert, but I knew we'd get to this soon enough. Smiles, handshakes, a few hot-dogs for Vladmir...some fresh Borscht for Laura and George...this is all nothing more than a photo op...like Britney getting out of a limo sans drawers.

It's a chess game...and you and I were not invited to the match.