Rebirth of the Russian Bear or just a Turkey Puffing his chest?

LTC Scott O'Neil — Fri, 14 Nov 2014 14:32:02 -0500

Rebirth of the Russian Bear or just a Turkey Puffing his chest?
Flights into NATO Airspace, Air Patrols into the Gulf of Mexico, and Nuclear Capable Units moving into the Crimea? Vladimir Putin is playing a dangerous game of psychological warfare within the world’s sandbox. Here is just another statement he is making to the civilized world.

“Vladimir Putin is underlining his presence at a major summit of world leaders in Australia by stationing warships in waters off the country's northeastern coast, prompting the Australian prime minister to angrily accuse Russia of trying to reclaim the "lost glories" of the Soviet Union
In recent days, four Russian warships have entered international waters off the northeast Australian coast to coincide with Putin's visit to Australia for the summit that brings together the leaders of the world's 20 biggest industrialized and developing economies. Australia, in turn, sent three warships of its own to monitor them.
"Russia is being much more assertive now than it has been for a very long time," he said at a press conference with British Prime Minister David Cameron, also in Australia for the summit. "Interestingly, Russia's economy is declining even as Russia's assertiveness is increasing.”

Fox News “Russia arrives at G-20 with warships”Published November 14, 2014, Associated Press

Response by SGM Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 14 at 2014 2:40 PM

SGM Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 14 Nov 2014 14:40:34 -0500

Both. Testing, posturing to divert attention from a very weak economy

Response by PO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 14 at 2014 2:43 PM

PO1 Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 14 Nov 2014 14:43:20 -0500

Testing, training and developing skills. Keeps their military busy and their people focused on something other than the cold reality of their own economy.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 23 at 2015 4:12 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 23 Jan 2015 04:12:29 -0500

"US Sending Uniformed Advisers" - Released two days ago, and who is Hodges kidding? This thread is one of three which even mentions Russia with any real sense of knowledge.

Type "Russian Intelligence Community" "Russia GRU" "Cold War Tactics" in the RP Topics search and you'll see how many know absolutely (sorry sir) dick, including the geography.
We better "mentor" these people quickly on buildups, taunting (saber rattling), and some serious command and control.

Map #1 from Aug 2014. Map #2 Visual Aid that's not Iraq or Afghanistan.

Threat of new Russian incursion as violence flares in Ukraine

There are signs Russian forces are building up their presence in eastern Ukraine. Lt. Gen. Ben Hodges, commander of U.S. Army Europe, said during a visit to Kiev that it was “irrefutable” that the separatists were getting “direct support from Russia.”

Response by PO3 Donald Murphy made Apr 18 at 2016 4:52 PM

PO3 Donald Murphy — Mon, 18 Apr 2016 16:52:50 -0400

I'm gonna go out on a limb. September 1939; Stalin and Hitler sign a deal to partition Poland. Both nations get chunks of Poland that they feel were unlawfully taken from them. Hand shaking all around.

September 2009; Putin and Merkel sign a deal for Germany to administer/deliver Russian natural gas throughout Europe. The EU laughs as it now has pennies-on-the-dollar power. And of course, not to be stereo typical, but it's German-run, so you know it's gonna be uber quality and run like a wrist watch.

Germany "updated" ('amended' - whatever) it's constitution to allow its military to kill once again. The Germans wasted no time getting involved in missions here and there and everywhere. Within the space of a few short years the German military was back to it's "traditional" quality level. France and Russia in the meantime, have embarked on major/MASSIVE reductions in force via sales. Within the next decade, the bulk of Russia's Cold War Navy could be in China/India's hands. All for a nice hefty price as well. Note the China signed a deal with Russia last year for a rail link to update Russia's Eastern rail network.

France appears to enjoy the 'sport' which it has long loved; politics. France has become the EU's mouthpiece while Germany is the bully-boy. Germany free's itself from having to be political and concentrates on what it does best. Warfare. Russia likewise, is content to rake in vast energy profits from the EU gas deal.

Now obviously you want to buy good stuff. So Russian "demonstrations" and occasional uses appear to highlight the "shop's inventory" and how well it performs. I don't fear anything else.

Response by PO2 Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 21 at 2016 12:36 AM

PO2 Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 21 Apr 2016 00:36:11 -0400

I'm going to go with "turkey puffing his chest", and a balding one at that.

Response by SSG Don Maggart made Apr 22 at 2016 10:02 PM

SSG Don Maggart — Fri, 22 Apr 2016 22:02:53 -0400

Sir if think for 1 second that the Bear is puffing his chest whilst spending the past 10 years modernizing it's Military while We and NUTZO slashed our budgets but now we are going to add a new BCT to USAEUR grow up get a real job...