Are Russians Probing for Weaknesses?

[Max 86]

https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/1916672/p ... cept-them/


"FOUR European countries were forced to scramble fighter jets after two Russian Blackjack bombers blasted across the continent, it has been revealed.

The UK, Norway, France and Spain all intercepted the TU-160 planes as they made a daring flight from Norway to northern Spain and back."

Well, this is certainly interesting. We all know how much Putin enjoys irking the west but could this be a prelude to something more? What are your thoughts?

[Qwixt]

I think the Russian people like it when Putin does stuff like that, so it's part of trying to keep his popularity up as a dictator, and distracting the people that he is a dictator. I also think he has the people thinking all their country's problems are due to the west. So this all ties in together.

Then you have to look at how NATO is moving right up to the Russian border, and consider history of how the Russians are always invaded in the past. As long as there is a prepared show of force back, I don't think it means anything.

[Chickenboy]

I think this event and these like them (Bear bomber sorties off the coast of CONUS or Canada) have been going on for years now and I don't view them individually as specific threats. But these belie the very real threat that Russia's land forces increasingly pose to their neighbors, including NATO countries that they border. Those very much concern me.

[Poopyhead]

How about if we don't scramble 21st century fighters in response to the last handful of operational cold war bombers the Russians possess? Instead, the radar tower personnel should radio to the bomber crews that they are "Clear to defect", followed by laughter. Don't forget that not one single soldier fired one shot to defend the Soviet Union from falling apart. A return to Stalinism won't save the Russians.

[wings7]

I think the sanctions against Russia has really irked Putin (and others) so there might be some sort of retaliation on. They have been probing at least since after WWII so I don't think anything serious is happening, that being said, the NATO (and nuclear) presence is still very important.

[Chickenboy]

ORIGINAL: Poopyhead
Don't forget that not one single soldier fired one shot to defend the Soviet Union from falling apart. A return to Stalinism won't save the Russians.

While I concur with the sentiment, is the first sentence accurate? Couldn't one say that this event was part and parcel a fight regarding the Supreme Soviet and Russian forces?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1993_Russ ... nal_crisis

[Poopyhead]

Only if you contend that the SU would have been resurrected. It had fallen in 1991.

[Max 86]

I think it also has to do with the Russians monitoring the response of the other countries. Had no fighters been scrambled, what message would that send to the Russian high command, rightly or wrongly? They might think that would be a show of weakness which could possibly be exploited down the road, militarily or diplomatically.

[warspite1]

Well I don't know about all this Russian/Putin stuff, but one thing I do know. Probe is a positively disgusting word [:-]

[wings7]

ORIGINAL: warspite1

Well I don't know about all this Russian/Putin stuff, but one thing I do know. Probe is a positively disgusting word [:-]

Not half as disgusting as war...[:-]

[warspite1]

ORIGINAL: wings7

ORIGINAL: warspite1

Well I don't know about all this Russian/Putin stuff, but one thing I do know. Probe is a positively disgusting word [:-]

Not half as disgusting as war...[:-]

warspite1

....or crevice

[PipFromSlitherine]

Moist.

That is all.

Cheers

Pip

[wings7]

ORIGINAL: warspite1

ORIGINAL: wings7

ORIGINAL: warspite1

Well I don't know about all this Russian/Putin stuff, but one thing I do know. Probe is a positively disgusting word [:-]

Not half as disgusting as war...[:-]

warspite1

....or crevice

or crevice? [&:]

[warspite1]

ORIGINAL: wings7

ORIGINAL: warspite1

ORIGINAL: wings7




Not half as disgusting as war...[:-]

warspite1

....or crevice

or crevice? [&:]

warspite1

Obviously not a fan of Blackadder then Patrick? [:)]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Daa8ZnxC-0Y

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_vafxnkWndI

@ 0:34

[wings7]

ORIGINAL: warspite1

ORIGINAL: wings7

ORIGINAL: warspite1


warspite1

....or crevice

or crevice? [&:]

warspite1

Obviously not a fan of Blackadder then Patrick? [:)]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Daa8ZnxC-0Y

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_vafxnkWndI

@ 0:34

That's great! You Brits have a unique sense of humor that very often goes over your cousins heads here! [:)]

[Aurelian]

ORIGINAL: warspite1

Well I don't know about all this Russian/Putin stuff, but one thing I do know. Probe is a positively disgusting word [:-]

Depends on where you probe.

Or if you own a Probe.

[Erik Rutins]

ORIGINAL: Poopyhead
Don't forget that not one single soldier fired one shot to defend the Soviet Union from falling apart.

They did, at least in the Baltic States, but admittedly it was not many compared to the armed forces as a whole. There were also some casualties in the 1991 coup attempt, if I recall correctly.

Regards,

- Erik

[Chickenboy]

That's great! You Brits have a unique sense of humor that is entirely indecipherable to everyone else on the planet. Were you all collectively dropped on your heads as infants?

I fixed that for you, wings7. [;)]

[wings7]

ORIGINAL: Chickenboy

That's great! You Brits have a unique sense of humor that is entirely indecipherable to everyone else on the planet. Were you all collectively dropped on your heads as infants?

I fixed that for you, wings7. [;)]

You do have a great sense of humor! [:)] And, a great intellect, writer and historian also, that is not a joke! [&o]

[OttoVonBlotto]

ORIGINAL: Max 86

https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/1916672/p ... cept-them/


"FOUR European countries were forced to scramble fighter jets after two Russian Blackjack bombers blasted across the continent, it has been revealed.

The UK, Norway, France and Spain all intercepted the TU-160 planes as they made a daring flight from Norway to northern Spain and back."

Well, this is certainly interesting. We all know how much Putin enjoys irking the west but could this be a prelude to something more? What are your thoughts?

A continuation of the same types of games the west have played with them for decades.