Russian Naval Exercise

[Linton]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/12/05/wrussia105.xml

It would seem an odd time for an exercise.

[Kapitan]

I think they are just trying to make a point.

[Kazuaki Shimazaki II]

Well, about bloody time they did, I say. Quite frankly, the unipolar world has gone on long enough - we need to get back to multipolar...

Against a backdrop of growing international concern (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml;jsessionid=TUILTVHE5SIFNQFIQMFCFGGAVCBQ YIV0?xml=/news/2007/09/07/nraf207.xml) over Russia’s rapid re-armament (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml;jsessionid=TUILTVHE5SIFNQFIQMFCFGGAVCBQ YIV0?xml=/news/2007/08/19/wputin119.xml) and its government’s increasingly belligerent rhetoric, naval cruisers and air-force jets will test-fire missiles in both the Atlantic and the Mediterranean Sea over the next three months.

I am howling at such statements. More than really rearming, they are more repairing their military from a decade of neglect. If Britain did something similar, the cheering would be unanimous, at least on this board, so let's not have too many saying Russia should build schools instead.

As for the Bulavas ... well, what choice does Russia have, really, except to put them in "experimental operation" and hope they can weed out the bugs.

[Reaves]

Well, about bloody time they did, I say. Quite frankly, the unipolar world has gone on long enough - we need to get back to multipolar...

Against a backdrop of growing international concern (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml;jsessionid=TUILTVHE5SIFNQFIQMFCFGGAVCBQ YIV0?xml=/news/2007/09/07/nraf207.xml) over Russia’s rapid re-armament (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml;jsessionid=TUILTVHE5SIFNQFIQMFCFGGAVCBQ YIV0?xml=/news/2007/08/19/wputin119.xml) and its government’s increasingly belligerent rhetoric, naval cruisers and air-force jets will test-fire missiles in both the Atlantic and the Mediterranean Sea over the next three months.
I am howling at such statements. More than really rearming, they are more repairing their military from a decade of neglect. If Britain did something similar, the cheering would be unanimous, at least on this board, so let's not have too many saying Russia should build schools instead.

As for the Bulavas ... well, what choice does Russia have, really, except to put them in "experimental operation" and hope they can weed out the bugs.


I agree, it is expected for any nation to do military excersices and Russia is simply trying to rebuild it's forces.

Nothing to worry about at all, it's the lingering threat of communism and distrust built by media and the cold war years that makes this news.

[Skybird]

"Die wollen doch nur spielen..." :lol:

[Chock]

I think people tend to forget that, even after its post Soviet-era downsizing, Russia does still have a fairly hefty coastline to defend and patrol, and of course it has interests around the globe too. The media is making much of the fact that TU-95 'Bear' maritime patrol aircraft/bombers keep probing the UK's radar defences, but I suspect it is nothing more than a convenient location for them to fly to and get crews proficient, after all, why on earth would they be arsed to invade the UK when they can just sit back and watch it flush itself down the pan in a flurry of political correctness? At least the White Elephant that is the Eurofighter Typhoon can now get a bit of an airing.

:D Chock