| Tango01 | 08 Mar 2014 10:52 p.m. PST |
"The U.S. Air Forces in Europe is sending a KC-135R aerial tanker and an extra six F-15C fighters to join four F-15s already defending Lithuania and its neighbors against Russian air patrols. The seven planes are the first American forces to deploy in apparent reaction to Russia's bloodless invasion of Ukraine's strategic Crimea region starting in late February. The twin-engine, single-seat F-15 routinely carries up to eight air-to-air missiles in additions to its built-in 20-millimeter cannon. At least 15,000 Russian troops occupy key Ukrainian facilities, eliciting outrage from some countries and world bodies—and pointed silence from other, less assertive states. Germany and the U.K. are unwilling to jeopardize Russian gas imports, but the U.S. has threatened a wide range of economics sanctions…" Full article here.
link Amicalement
Armand |
| Mako11 | 08 Mar 2014 11:30 p.m. PST |
Wow, a sitting duck, and 6 x 1980s era fighters to join the four others there. Can't even spare an AWACS for proper aerial surveillance? I'm sure Vladimir is really scared now. Surely, there's a troop or two of elite girlscouts with cookies to sell, that we could forward deploy in Poland too, to really send a strong message. Some of them can be rather pushy. I have a rubber raft, and plastic paddle, if they need a new naval unit for the Black Sea. Heck, if they'll pay my airfare over, I'll even volunteer. Have paddle, will travel. |
| Tango01 | 08 Mar 2014 11:51 p.m. PST |
Ha!Ha!Ha!. Amicalement
Armand |
| Zargon | 09 Mar 2014 6:39 a.m. PST |
Mako11 are you willing to go? I see your saber is rattling but is it sharp enough those Cossacks know how to dance, not sure about your crack team of girl scout cookie sellers though, I can see you leading your team into the breach hollering "Peppermint chocs $2 USD a box!" LOL |
| BW1959 | 09 Mar 2014 6:40 a.m. PST |
Love Mako's post. Agreed that you have to watch those Girl Scout' s at cookie time. Right now they are $4.00 USD a box. |
| Only Warlock | 09 Mar 2014 7:41 a.m. PST |
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| Only Warlock | 09 Mar 2014 8:46 a.m. PST |
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| Only Warlock | 09 Mar 2014 8:46 a.m. PST |
especially from the freezer. |
| Redroom | 09 Mar 2014 9:35 a.m. PST |
Girl scout cookies from the freezer are awesome, esp thanksalots. |
| Gear Pilot | 09 Mar 2014 12:47 p.m. PST |
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| Lion in the Stars | 10 Mar 2014 11:35 a.m. PST |
Yeah, and they have a real racket going in Washington state and Colorado: They're setting up shop in front of the pot stores! |
| Bangorstu | 10 Mar 2014 3:10 p.m. PST |
Makes sense for the USA to send planes as currently it's their turn to protect Baltic air space (which seems to be the responsibility of a number of NATO nations on rotation). If things kicked off, I would be surprised if the Swedes and Finns didn't help out – neither wants a resurgent Russia. |
| AzSteven | 10 Mar 2014 4:20 p.m. PST |
I think the NATO-operated AWACS planes are already in Lithuania and Poland, so probably no need for the USAF ones |
| Jemima Fawr | 10 Mar 2014 7:20 p.m. PST |
Yes, NATO (Luxembourg-flagged) E3s are already operating there. And Mako, much as I like you, you really don't have a clue. On the plus side, at least this isn't yet another F35 or A10 bore-fest. |
| GROSSMAN | 11 Mar 2014 5:55 a.m. PST |
They are also sending an F-35 and a platoon of M-60 tanks… |
