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Russia surprised by U.S. reaction to bomber flights
MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia expressed surprise on Tuesday that the United States had scrambled fighter jets at the weekend to intercept strategic Russian bombers, one of which flew over a U.S. aircraft carrier in the Pacific.
That's US territory you are overflying.
Four U.S. F/A-18 fighters were launched after Russian Tu-95 Bear bombers flying south of Japan were detected turning towards the Nimitz aircraft carrier and its escort, a U.S. defense official said.
Messing with us in the UN security counsel is one thing. Messing with a Carrier strike group is totally different. Please learn said distinction ASAP.
One of the Russian bombers flew over the deck of the Nimitz, said the official, speaking on condition of anonymity. The U.S. fighters escorted the Russian bombers out of the area.
Lucky for you. That was a 'Look Down Shoot Down' episode if I've ever saw one.
"It is standard operating procedure for U.S. planes to escort aircraft flying in the vicinity of U.S. Navy ships," the U.S. defense official said.
That is a nice way of putting it.
The Russian Air Force said the February 9 mission by four Tu-95s was part of long-distance patrols of the Pacific, Atlantic and Arctic oceans and the Black Sea begun in August last year. It said all flights were made over neutral waters, did not breach international borders and all concerned parties were notified in advance.
When you get whithin striking distance of a US flat-top, you are no longer in 'neutral waters.'
"We are surprised by all the clamor this raised," RIA news agency quoted Russian Air Force spokesman Alexander Drobyshevsky as saying.
Nice climb-down.
A Russian bomber last flew over a U.S. aircraft carrier in July 2004, when a Bear flew over the USS Kitty Hawk in the Sea of Japan, the official said.
They're lucky to be alive.
Russian bombers have ramped up their flights near U.S. territory and U.S. naval assets over the past year, demonstrating their long-range strike capability.
Those 'assets' are known as STATE INSTRUMENTS, and the Russians should be VERY careful about provoking a response to silly challenges.
Posted by: Free Radical 2008-02-12
http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=225599