DescentBB

Russians Conduct Huge Nuke Drill

Russian nuclear forces hold large exercise involving movement of strategic and tactical warheads

BY: Bill Gertz
March 5, 2013 4:59 am

Russian nuclear forces conducted a major exercise last month that tested the transport of both strategic and tactical nuclear weapons near Europe, according to United States officials.

The exercise raised concerns inside the Pentagon and with the U.S. European Command because it was the largest exercise of its kind in 20 years and involved heightened alert status of Russian nuclear forces.

The nuclear drills were part of other military maneuvers in Russia carried out between Feb. 17 and Feb. 21.

The exercises followed a recent surge in Russian strategic bomber flights that include a recent circling of the U.S. Pacific island of Guam by two Tu-95 Bear bomber and simulated bombing runs by Tu-95s against Alaska and California in June and July...

callmeslick wrote:that we have confidence in our capability?

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Diminished U.S. deterrence means a more unstable world

Potential U.S. adversaries have been flexing their military muscles of late, taking provocative action that is specifically directed against the United States and our allies. These actions have important strategic significance. In light of our unilateral disarmament, our potential adversaries are clearly testing our resolve and our military readiness to respond, as well as the Obama administration’s reaction.

On Feb. 15, investigative journalist Bill Gertz reported that two Russian Bear-H Tu-95 strategic strike bombers equipped with nuclear-tipped cruise missiles circumnavigated Guam on Feb. 12 in what can only be categorized as a reconnaissance-simulated strike mission. At some point, they were intercepted by U.S. Air Force F15s operating out of Guam.

It appears to be more than mere coincidence that this provocative mission occurred just “hours” before President Obama’s State of the Union address. Further, it cannot be ignored that this first-of-a-kind mission over vast ocean areas occurred on the same day that North Korea detonated its third underground nuclear device.

Clearly, the Russian strategic bomber flights cannot be viewed as an isolated event. Last summer, Russia sent an Akula class cruise-missile attack submarine to the Gulf of Mexico and operated undetected for an unspecified period of time. We did not find out it was there until after it departed. With Iran’s missile base in Venezuela now operational, according to former ambassador Roger Noriega, the Akula deployment takes on added significance.

callmeslick wrote:Washington Times invites stupidity..........the voice of the late Sun Yun Moon.

ThunderBunny wrote:

callmeslick wrote:Washington Times invites stupidity..........the voice of the late Sun Yun Moon.

And so I suppose all of the events discussed in the column must be all fairytales you can easily dismiss. Keep your head up Obama's rear if you want Slick. Keeps you comfy and blind.

sigma wrote:Call though one reason, why the territory of the USA is necessary to Russia? All conversations on threat for the USA from Russia, are started only when it is necessary to allocate even more money of the American taxpayers for military expenses which are allegedly necessary for compensation of the invented danger from Russia. And blind it is visible that actually "the Russian threat" is whose that quite good business in the USA =)

sigma [Foil's rough translation] wrote:Give me a reason, why would Russia be interested in the US?
All this talk of a Russian threat is being invented for purposes of pushing US military spending. Even a blind person can see that "the Russian threat" is good business for some in the USA. =)

sigma wrote:Call though one reason, why the territory of the USA is necessary to Russia? All conversations on threat for the USA from Russia, are started only when it is necessary to allocate even more money of the American taxpayers for military expenses which are allegedly necessary for compensation of the invented danger from Russia. And blind it is visible that actually "the Russian threat" is whose that quite good business in the USA =)

Foil wrote:Feel free to correct my rough translation here, Sigma:

sigma [Foil's rough translation] wrote:Give me a reason, why would Russia be interested in the US?
All this talk of a Russian threat is being invented for purposes of pushing US military spending. Even a blind person can see that "the Russian threat" is good business for some in the USA. =)

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Personally, although I don't believe it's a military-spending conspiracy, I think sigma is correct that there is no threat directed at the US. I also think Spidey is likely correct that North Korea's saber-rattling is driving some of this.

Ferno [Thorne's rough translation] wrote:I have no sense of humor, Thorne--you're an idiot.