Letters to the Editor
Up Front: I am a hardcore, unrepentant, Cold Warrior. My
confession notwithstanding, the Russian Air Force is engaged in a provocative
and very dangerous game of international chicken. Media reports that in 2014
over 100 flights of Russia bombers have probed the airspace of NATO
countries.
What is even more alarming than the three fold increase over
last year is the bombers are operating several thousand miles from the Russian
border. To accomplish this new mission, fighters and refueling aircraft are
accompanying the bombers. These cat and mouse probes have skirted several NATO
countries, as far south as Portugal. Add to this long range “total package”
mission is the bombers have not filed the necessary international flight plans
and they are flying with the aircraft identifiers turned off.
The potential for an accidental shoot down is within “the
pucker factor” range of probability. If NATO is to effectively respond to these
challenges, there must be a major increase in NATO resources---Translated: US
defense spending.
The talking heads on TV tell us the probing flights and the invasion
of the Ukraine is playing well with the Russian people who long for Russia to
regain international super power status. The mix of strengthened Russian
nationalism and massive cuts in US defense spending does not bode well for our
national security.
Glenn <><
JUST WEST OF YESTERDAY
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