Russian Bomber Buzzes U.S. Ship

U.S. Fighter Jets Intercept 2 Of Moscow's Bombers In Western Pacific

(AP)  U.S. fighter planes intercepted two Russian bombers, including one that buzzed an American aircraft carrier in the western Pacific during the weekend, The Associated Press has learned.

A U.S. military official says that one Russian Tupolev 95 flew directly over the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz twice, at a low altitude of about 2,000 feet, while another bomber circled about 58 miles out. The official was speaking on condition of anonymity because the reports on the flights were classified as secret.

The Saturday incident, which never escalated beyond the flyover, comes amid heightened tensions between the United States and Russia over U.S. plans for a missile defense system based in Poland and the Czech Republic.

Such Russian bomber flights were common during the Cold War, but have been rare since.

The bombers were among four Russian Tupolev 95s launched from Ukrainka in the middle of the night, including one that Japanese officials say violated their country's airspace over an uninhabited island south of Tokyo.

U.S. officials tracked and monitored the bombers as two flew south along the Japanese coast, and two others flew farther east, coming closer to the Nimitz and the guided missile cruiser USS Princeton.

As the bombers got about 500 miles out from the U.S. ships, four F/A-18 fighters were launched from the Nimitz, the official said. The fighters intercepted the Russian bombers about 50 miles south of the Nimitz.

At least two U.S. F/A-18 Hornets trailed the bomber as it came in low over the Nimitz twice, while one or two of the other U.S. fighters followed the second bomber as it circled.

The official said there were no verbal communications between the U.S. and the Russians, and the Pentagon has not heard of any protests being filed by the United States. Historically, diplomatic protests were not filed in such incidents because they were so common during the Cold War era.

This is the first time Russian Tupolevs have flown over or interacted with a U.S. carrier since 2004.

In that incident, a Russian Tupolev flew over the aircraft carrier USS Kitty Hawk in the Sea of Japan on Jan. 29, 2004. Since then, however, relations between the U.S. and Russia have deteriorated to their worst point since the Cold War, largely due to the United States' plans to put a radar system in the Czech Republic and 10 missile defense interceptors in Poland.

The U.S. has defended the plan as necessary to protect its European allies from possible attacks by Iran. But the Kremlin has condemned the proposal, saying it would threaten Russia's security.

"We are being forced to take retaliatory steps," said Russian President Vladimir Putin, who also warned that a new arms race is under way.

Japan, meanwhile, filed a formal protest with the Russian Embassy in Tokyo after Saturday's incident, saying that one of the Russian bombers crossed into Japanese airspace for three minutes. Russia has denied there was an intrusion.

[beehive21-2009]

Check out that flag ? What''s with the red ,white,blue,they seem to playing copy cat.Playing politics who can rattle the swords best, for the economic boost ,we are going to need more bombs ,flying machines and boats ,lots of jobs and $$$$ involved.Buy military weapon stocks.

[mcvet]

Check out that flag ? What''''s with the red ,white,blue,they seem to playing copy cat.Playing politics who can rattle the swords best, for the economic boost ,we are going to need more bombs ,flying machines and boats ,lots of jobs and $$$$ involved.Buy military weapon stocks.


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Posted by beehive21 at 08:41 PM : Feb 11, 2008
+ report abuse

LOL That''s about all that worthless Southern Nazi has given us in this country... MORE tension, MORE hatred and MORE military spending. After all he did take a nation at peace, with a balanced budget and a surplus and totally distroyed it. For some reason I do think the Russian''s are OPPOSED to a Nazi building Missle Stations next to them... kinda like we felt when the old USSR put them in Cuba. Sieg Heil Bush

[walt1944-2009]

PREPARE! WORLD WAR III IS ON THE HORIZON! Celebrate all you neocon Fascist Nazis out there and prepare to witness the fireballs and feel the 1,000 degree firestorm vaporize you. You will never survive to see the ugly mushroom clouds sprout all over the country, witness the scorched earth, and sicken with radiation poisoning!

The only ones who will bear witness will be the Great Emperor Bush II, Darth Vader VP Cheney, and all their stupidly-loyal neocon Fascist Nazi allies who will all be safely underground in caves and bunkers, while all the other "under-privileged" INCLUDING those neocon Fascist Nazis regarded as expendable will live the nightmare of Armeggidon up close and personal!!

And it''s all Al Qeada''s fault! RIGHT???!!!

SIG HEIL, BUSH!!!!

[ringading3]

Walt1944 is off his meds again!

[ringading3]

MCVet and Walt1944 are both off their meds. Maybe they will do something and we can lock them in the same cell FOREVER! They are coming for U MCVet and Walt1944. Sleep good tonight!

[manms0808]

now they are saying the terrorists are us americans..I hope they dont survive , I know they wont survive WWIII, and will burn in hell for thier sins...SIG HEIL BUSH!!!!

[ioweign]

The games are back...

[ioweign]

Thank you, Georgie...

[sevenveils]

B F D

[fettkonserv]

Never saw a foreign air craft buzz a Carrier, when Jimmy Carter was in office.
It don''t sound like a big deal, but it is a sign that US Aircraft Carriers are vulnerable.
When I played the game enemy planes never see the Carrier.
So much for Security, Stupid GWB.

[prinzowhales]

Bush was lying when he spoke of Putin as a friend...It was more to assure the American people that peace was the Chimp''s game...Bush, while speaking of peace in the tender embrace of his male military prostitute, allows Chechen terrorists to have sanctuary in the United States and supports the admitted financier of Chechen terrorism, the outlaw Oligarch, Boris Beresovsky, who has shelter under the Queen''s skirts in the police state of Great Britain...God Da*n the Queen!

And this while the faye Obama has as his handlers the Brzezinskis who have dedicated themselves to destroying Russia.

The dumb Demopublican animals will conjure themselves up a war with their votes come November...they cannot help themselves...as Ron White says, "You can''t fix stupid."

[fettkonserv]

We don''t need missiles in Poland or the Czech Republic.
Maybe Raytheon needs missiles there, the Crackhead is trying to spend the last bit of money available before he retires to a life of golf and leisure. Thanks Republicons.

[prinzowhales]

Bush and the Neocons are busy restarting the Cold War and ABCCBSNBCCNNFOXPBS, America''s propaganda machine is busy painting Putin as anti-democratic, while Soros and the other political rainmakers of the City create dissension and distrust and violence whereever they raise their nasty little heads...from Kosovo to Lebanon to the Ukraine to the U...S...of...A.

[prinzowhales]

MagicMerlin8--I do to...and I know Sting does...

[caliengineer]

This regrowth of Russia was well prophesied by Dumitru Duduman. The coming attack on the U.S. by Russia is also prophesied by Henry Gruver, Tom Deckard, Daniel Rodes, and Chuck Youngbrandt.

[fettkonserv]

Putin''s trash talk is as hollow as George''s.
I see two leaders going down in flames. Do you wonder what George has done to our Submarine Fleet? That one will keep you up tonight!

[caliengineer]

This regrowth of Russia was well prophesied by Dumitru Duduman. The coming attack on the U.S. by Russia is also prophesied by Henry Gruver, Tom Deckard, Daniel Rodes, and Chuck Youngbrandt.

[jerkeedoodle]

Putins'' trash talk?I saw on the BBC a couple of months ago where he''s got the backfires flying again.I wouldn''t worry about the U.S.S.R. making a return though,since I think Vlads got more in common with Adolph than he does Joe.

[hawksprings]

"Never saw a foreign air craft buzz a Carrier, when Jimmy Carter was in office.
It don''''t sound like a big deal, but it is a sign that US Aircraft Carriers are vulnerable.
When I played the game enemy planes never see the Carrier.
So much for Security, Stupid GWB."
Posted by fettkonserv

Did you even read the article Fettkonserv???
It explicitly says this kind of stuff happened all the time in the Cold War but it was never reported.

Do you think that maybe that''s why you never heard of it happening then.

[nearl4511]

Oh oh. Cold war''s back on.

Looks like the Russians skimmed enough money from Un humanitarian programs to rebuild their military.

[gce65]

But George W Bush looked into Putin''s eyes as a window to his soul and decided he was a man he could do business with!!! George, you need glasses!

[mcv57]

Oh oh. Cold war''''s back on.

Posted by Nearl4511

Gitmo is going to be needing a expansion program very soon. They need to build a larger prison for the russian citizens now.

[ndjam]

This proves how dirty the russians are. They are NOT our friends, They are NOT our allies and they will never be. They are power hungry animals who have killed millions of people. The Chechens are a complete example of how Russia works. They have slaughtered a million Chechens till now.

[mcv57]

. . . or do you suppose that white people don''t count?

[mcv57]

I wonder who is the most beastly killer, the religeous Muslims or Atheist Russians.

[mcv57]

The Russians has already proven to be dishonest and untruthy. General Patton hated their gusts.

[ubrew12]

Article: "Such Russian bomber flights were common during the Cold War, but have been rare since"

Gee, whats changed since then? Oh, that right, its a foreign policy DISASTER called GW Bush!!!

Bush famously was so keen on creating missile ''defense'' systems (that would allow us to bomb Russia with no response) that he ignored the threat posed by Al-Qaeda until after 9-11. Now those missile defense sites are back on the front burner! Is there ANYTHING Bush has done that hasn''t been a disaster? AIDS relief in Africa, anyone?

[puritan9]

Yep! Just like the crisp smell of winter breeze the scent of WW-III is in the air. What a great time for bloody violence. We can obliterate anyone we ******* feel like with our guided bombs and missiles from the comfort of our soft Corinthian leather saddles in Florida. While we try to provoke Iran into firing at us, the Russians are playing the same roulette with us. Like the feller said the cold war is back on, but in the 21st century we are all going to be microwaved!

[gce65]

They flew near the Princeton too? Is that old wreck still afloat? Must''ve spent a lot of $$$ repairing it after the mine damage in ''91.

[dsr57]

How come when Iran sent a few Jon Boats near one of our ships, Bush D*mn near acted like it was an act of war?

[gce65]

ndjam:
nakocTHoe XNBoTHoe = dirty animal

[neobrian-2009]

W `s WAR is Against His oWn People
Contrived Prices,..The Oil barons ( led by W ) have destroyed our economy.With Deceit and Greed the GOP operatives have infiltrated Every branch of Shrubs massive CIA root system.
They only have a few months left to carry out their agenda.Citizens beware,...Shrub WILL go Out with Twang.
With NASCAR rednecks parading,country music blaring,the push is On !They`ll squeeze Every cent from the flag-waving amoebas.
Shrub Knows he`s the WORST president Ever.SO,he has Nothing to lose.More details later,But,when the skies are filled with roaring military force burning up our fuel,you`ll know the time is near.

[amazedd]

Somebody stooled that Anna Kournikova was sun-bathing on deck.

[beehive21-2009]

Mankind kills everything that walks ,crawls,or slithers,nature of the beast,welcome to the party let the killings begin,as usual,since the beginning to the end,arm yourselves and join in the battle.Yahoo

[brianbwb-2009]

"It''s a plot by Bush and Putin to put a hawk in the White House.
Russia wants the US to fight all the dirty battles."
Posted by ilikecats1

No, If the US fights, then the US controls the oil and land. Russia was just (and properly so) wondering what US warships with nuclear capabilities are doing in the western Pacific (their eastern seaboard).

We would do the same if we spotted Russian warships off our eastern seaboard.

[inventagod]

Be Afraid -

Vote McCain

[j-whitman]

TheGateway1,,,, Our B-52 first flew in 1953, introduced into service in 1955, we still use it.... When you folks stop watering down national security issues America just might be a little safer.

[watcher269-2009]

When you folks stop watering down national security issues America just might be a little safer.

Posted by j-whitman
---------------------

Hey j- whiteman

If I could believe for one minute that National Security was REAL I would feel comfortable however - National Security is more like National Secrecy to protect the bumbling idiots in Washington a place to hide their mistakes and their illegal actions from the laws they freely and willingly BREAK.

So National Security is a Stay out of Jail Card these days and has nothing to do with protecting this country and deep down inside you know this is true but are too Scared to admit it!

So go did you bomb shelter and stock up on canned goods that have China Lead in them (from neglect and the cutting of funds from the FDA to fund an illegal war) and hide and die painfully.

It is the brainwashed people like yourself that are degrading this country thinking that Bush is like Reagan instead of Bush like a traitor.

[downtowner97]

Somebody switch on the phalanx system. Please. It''s stupid to let a plane or missile near a ship that can obviously defend itself. As for the pilot of the plane that buzzed the carrier, somebody measure that guy''s balls, they must be huge!

[brianbwb-2009]

"It is the brainwashed people like yourself that are degrading this country thinking that Bush is like Reagan instead of Bush like a traitor." Posted by watcher269

Under Reagan, we egged Iraq on in a war against Iran, then sold weapons to both sides, funded terrorists in central America, not to mention misusing the US military by unilaterally invading tiny no-possible-threat-to-us Grenada.

Reagan was also a traitor.

[andrew_693]

It was under Reagan that "these colors did ran" remember how he ran away after 200 marines died on an attack in Beirut Lebanon? they want us to believe that under republican leadership our guys are winners.

[demslie]

Democrats are hating America as much as any Russian. If we flew a plane over a Russian ship, they would shoot it down in a heartbeat. Then Democrats and Russians would accuse the Bush administration of trying to start a war. If the US NAVY had shot down the Russian plane, then (read same statement above). Democrats are the enemy of America. That%u2019s why when a terrorist straps bombs to children and sends them to die of ISLAM; Democrats get mad at George Bush.

[borris007-2009]

America brought these types of acts upon themselves. The good ole'' US of A''s ignorance, war monger, war creating, political interference and meddling has pi**ed a lot of nations, so much so that the stronger nations have said enough%u2026 If the US continues in its destructive foreign policy ways, China, India, and Russia and many other nations will create a counter balance to the US. And if the US, meddles future into other nations business, these countries will join together to retaliate. Every day that goes by, they get stronger%u2026.I%u2019ve traveled the world and can honestly say that other nations prey that the US %u201Cget there%u2019s too%u201D. A little secret Yanks, a majority of the NATO nations HATE you as well. Who knows if the populous of NATO nations will come rushing in to help you, when you get yours. But what do I know%u2026 Oh %u2018but the US has the best trained, best equipped military history has ever know%u2019%u2026 Ha Right, keep on thinking your so superior, Germany made that mistake too.

[ioweign]

Did you even read the article Fettkonserv???
It explicitly says this kind of stuff happened all the time in the Cold War but it was never reported.

Do you think that maybe that''''s why you never heard of it happening then.

Posted by hawksprings at 11:01 PM : Feb 11, 2008

I was in the USN from 68 to 72 and had this happen in the Mediterranean - but they were never allowed near a carrier - other ships yes fly over a carrier no way - they were probably taking pictures too.

[ioweign]

This regrowth of Russia was well prophesied by Dumitru Duduman. The coming attack on the U.S. by Russia is also prophesied by Henry Gruver, Tom Deckard, Daniel Rodes, and Chuck Youngbrandt.

Posted by caliengineer at 10:36 PM : Feb 11, 2008

Where is Nostradamus ?

[gkc99]

One of the greatest blunders of the Darth Bushit regime is the way they have squandered the historic possibility of reducing tensions with the Russians.

The Russians are U.S. natural ally against Muslim religious fascism. But the Bushits have spat in the Russians face over and over.

The current "bushit" about how ABM systems stationed in the Czech Republic and in Poland are to deter North Korea and Iran is a case in point.

Only a *** like a Repugniscum could believe something that stupid.

[antoniof123]

If the democrats get in we''''re all doomed.


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Posted by guyfrompa45 at 08:15 AM : Feb 12, 2008

Oh lord you are a complete idiot and moron.

This is the fault of your fools in the Republican party. Russia was moving towards us but the morons told you it was old Soviets so you idiots believed it and now we have what we had before.

God Republicans are so stupid.

[ici2i]

If you do the research you''ll find out that when we tapped into the Russian phone lines incl their command and control, we realized tha they were more afraid of us than we realized. When this was tested during training excercises by monitoring communications, we found that they only took defensive measures. They were broke and scared sh**less. Soon after both countries concluded we were spending ourselves into the poor house, diplomacy began, and the cold war ended. Stop thumping your red, white and blue chests out there and encouraging this mad man and his military industry. Does anytbody really think that the Russians can afford an arms race anymore than we can?

[rowdytexan2]

Good God, now we have to be scared of the Russians...the only thing we need to be afraid of is not getting these stupid NEOCONS out of our White House!!!

[omega39-2009]

Just remember, nuclear arms treaties which promise the hope of peace are written on toilet paper so they are easy to shred. Free trade agreements, that destroy the economy, are set in stone.