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Sociologists forecast Putin victory in Russian presidential polls
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Sociologists forecast Putin victory in Russian presidential polls
Ukrainian Parliament increasing size of army
Much of the increse will be dedicated to training combat troops.
By Ed Adamczyk http://www.upi.com/img/clear.gif http://www.upi.com/img/clear.gif | Updated March 5, 2015 at 1:30 PM
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Ukrainian troops march during the Independence Day military parade in Kiev on August 24, 2014. UPI/Ivan Vakolenko | License Photo
KIEV, Ukraine, March 5 (UPI) -- A Ukrainian Parliament bill, passed Thursday, will increase the size of Ukraine's army from 184,000 to 250,000 troops. After Defense Minister Petro Mekhed argued the increase was needed for an "anti-terrorist operation" against pro-Russian rebels in eastern Ukraine, 270 legislators in Kiev, among 314 present, voted in favor of boosting the military. Serhiy Pashynyskyy, chief of Parliament's national security and defense committee, said the formation of additional combat units would be a priority. The bill will go to President Petro Poroshenko, who is expected to sign it into law.
The upgrade to the military comes as both Ukrainian and separatist forces pull back heavy weaponry in their conflict, as mandated by a cease-fire agreement, but delivery of more weapons to the Ukrainian army remains under discussion by Western governments.
"We completely share the view that the stronger the Ukrainian army, the bigger the chances of slowing down the escalation of the conflict," said Stanislaw Koziej, chief of Poland's National Security Council, Thursday. "Hence it is in the interests of Europe, Poland and Ukraine to strengthen and additionally arm the Ukrainian army."
Polish Foreign Minister Grzegorz Schetnya announced Polish military instructors will take part in training Ukrainian troops, adding, "Polish instructors in Ukraine are part of a wider NATO program, which started last year. It has nothing to do with the events in the east of Ukraine and Russian-Ukrainian relations."
The United States said previously it would send 300 instructors to Ukraine.
21 minutes ago
Support for Putin Among Russian Voters Doubles
- By Gabrielle Tétrault-Farber
- Mar. 05 2015 19:49
- Last edited 19:50
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Alexei Druzhinin / Reuters / RIA Novosti / KremlinSupport for Putin has skyrocketed since Russia's annexation of Crimea last March.
More than half of Russians would vote for President Vladimir Putin if a snap presidential election were held, a survey published Thursday showed.
Fifty-five percent of the 1,600 adults across Russia polled about their voting intentions by the independent Levada Center last month said they would cast their ballot in favor of Putin if a snap presidential election were held the following weekend. Of those people who said they would definitely turn out to vote and who had already made up their minds who to vote for, 86 percent would choose Putin, according to the poll, which had a margin of error not exceeding 3.4 percent.
Support for Putin has skyrocketed since Russia's annexation of Crimea last March. In January 2014, 29 percent of Russian voters said they would vote for Putin in a snap election. In April, after Crimea had joined Russia's federal fold, 49 percent of Russians were ready to cast their ballots in his favor.
Putin's approval rating currently stands at 86 percent, according to the Levada Center. The president's approval rating hit a historic high of 88 percent in October, amid intense fighting between pro-Russian rebels and Ukrainian military forces in eastern Ukraine.
The latest Levada Center poll also revealed that 57 percent of Russians would like to see Putin re-elected in the 2018 presidential election. One-quarter of the population would like to see another candidate assume the presidency, according to the poll.
The patriotic fervor that has inundated Russia since its annexation of Crimea has prompted the proliferation of Putin merchandise in the country's souvenir stores. A survey published Thursday by the Levada Center found that despite their support for their president, Russians are not in a hurry to purchase Putin paraphernalia. Seventy-two percent of the population had not purchased and had no interest in acquiring a T-shirt featuring an image of the stunt-happy Putin, the poll showed, while 80 percent expressed no desire to purchase a traditional Russia nesting doll featuring their president's image.
All other Russian politicians trail far behind Putin in terms of voting intentions, according to the Levada Center. Gennady Zyuganov, the long-time head of Russia's Communist Party, would garner a mere five percent of the vote if snap elections were held. A mere one percent of those polled said they would vote for former Moscow mayoral candidate and opposition blogger Alexei Navalny, the poll found.
The survey also found that 45 percent of Russian voters would cast their ballot in favor of the ruling United Russia party in the event of snap elections for the State Duma. Another 12 percent would support the Communist Party, while 2 percent would vote for Navalny's Progress Party. The country's next parliamentary elections are scheduled to take place next year.
NATO Uses Baltic States to Draw Red Line, Send Message to Putin in Russia
On a desolate plain where Soviet tanks once prepared for a possible invasion of Western Europe, American troops are training to deter Moscow from another invasion.
Through a dense smokescreen, soldiers of the Second Cavalry Regiment advance amid intense gunfire on the imaginary positions of a NATO enemy. On their flanks are fellow NATO soldiers from Lithuania where the war game is being held — who just a quarter century ago would have been enemies, as Lithuania was one of the fifteen republics of the Soviet Union.
The U.S. and NATO are ramping up their deterrence capabilities against any Russian threat to Europe's borders —and this joint exercise is aimed squarely at Russia. NATO is drawing a red line in the three Baltic states, all of them alliance members, with a message to Moscow: "Don't cause trouble here and don't try to invade!"
American Stryker armored vehicles speed across the churned ground; later this year they will be replaced in Lithuania by Abrams main battle tanks and another rotation of American troops will arrive.
U.S. Army Capt. Russell Moore, who is leading the troops involved in the current exercise, said the war games show not just that the "the U.S. is willing to stand with all of its NATO alliance partners — It shows that we're strong, Europe is strong and there's a collective defense ready to defend against any foreign aggression."
Lieutenant Evaldas Milkintis, his Lithuanian comrade, agrees.
"We feel safer training together," he said. "We're trying to be ready to react to any threat from outside."
Lithuania has good reason to feel threatened. It was ruled by Moscow for decades until the end of the Cold War — and doesn't want to be ruled by Vladimir Putin now. That's why the small nation has watched with growing alarm as Ukraine's borders were torn up by Moscow-backed fighters.
To its west is the Russian enclave of Kaliningrad, home to Russia's Baltic warships. And in the skies above the Baltic Sea, it watches Russian warplanes test NATO's responses.
Lithuania has become one of Russia's main adversaries because it has sent military help to the Kiev government.'
Russian warplanes are constantly tweaking the West's nose, flying in formation along the borders of NATO members such as Lithuania and sometimes violating their airspace. While the flights could be merely an intimidation tactic, NATO is taking no chances because many in the Alliance believe Russia's real aim is not just to test it, but to split and destroy it.
Certainly, Lithuania doesn't trust Vladimir Putin.
"We cannot trust anything... they say, not a single word," says Lithuania's Foreign Minister Linas Linkevicius. "What's happening now it's not just about us. It's about the security of our continent."
When asked what exactly Putin wants, the minister laughs."Who knows the answer because what he's doing is irrational," Linkevicius said.
As a NATO member, Lithuania is protected by the doctrine of collective defense — in particular Article 5, which states that an attack on one member is an attack on all. Article 5 has only been invoked once in NATO's history, after the 9/11 attacks on New York and Washington.
Linkevicius suggested that even if Russia hits Lithuania with a cyberattack, Article 5 could be invoked given that it would undermine his country's strategic communications and security systems.
Still, exactly how to respond if Russia tests NATO by interfering in one of the three Baltic states is a source of debate among NATO members.
The Lithuanians are clear: there must be no mixed signals — and the country is getting ready.It has just reintroduced the military draft and has sent a booklet to every school and family advising them "what to do in case of invasion."
Russia's redrawing of the map of Europe in Ukraine has been a wake up call to the people of this young and fragile country.
NATO warplanes scramble here almost daily. People near the main NATO air base at Saiuliai used to complain about the noise from low flying warplanes, but they don't complain any more.
The leaders of the NATO alliance warn of a real and present danger from Russia —a danger greater now than at any time since end of the Cold War.
Lithuanians were the first to breakaway from Mikael Gorbachev's Soviet Union. They don't want to be back under Moscow's domination ever again.
In the first video there near the end was a scene with school kids learning to use weapons.
What ever happened to us in that respect?
Well, I have a different belief. The belief that America was founded to get away from Monarchies, and Statists of all sorts.
My belief is that the Constitution stands, regardless of extra "laws" put in place. You know, for example the Second Amendment. It's there for a reason. ALL gun laws are null and void other than the Second. All of them are bullshit, all of it is aimed at taking away the Second Amendment.
So, my guns are mine. I will get a gun if I don't have a gun. I will keep one if I own it. I will hide them if necessary to keep them. Most important for the statists to understand is *I WILL USE THEM ON THE STATISTS* when they come.
Sure, I might die. Probably will, as they will always send in a force that will trump my force, but I will take them with me if I can, I will resist, I WILL KILL them if I can, and I will die FREE.
This is what it has come to. The true line in the sand. Americans all need to draw that line, and they need to do it now.
When it comes to Russia, I'm more concerned about them using nuclear weapons on our major cities than I am some kind of an invasion. They won't get far in the US if we're invaded, and trust me, we know who the turncoats are, where they live and what they will do. At the first sign of cooperation with a communist invasion force, they will die too.
Don't get me wrong, I want ALL Americans to live, but I honestly have no interest in protecting "freedom of speech" for those who try to take mine, or try to fundamentally change America.
Holy Shit and Wow.
James Woolsey is on TV right now.
He just described in a few simple steps how Iran could knock out the USA.
2/3rds of US dead because of lack of food and water (no power, no gas, etc).
Another estimate says up to 90% of the United States could be killed.
Iran, Korea, nukes, and primitive missiles that can put a nuke into orbit and hit us.
And he is a man after my own heart... "The Soviets, while awful, they communicated with us. The other don't."
20 billion bucks would mitigate the grid problems in EMP attack.
compared to the crap we spend money on, that's a drop in the bucket.
If the former CIA director is saying this stuff, it is NOT in the realm of SciFi, or kooks (like me) who predict EMP attacks from rogue nations.
This is a REAL, CLEAR and PRESENT danger and if this administration doesn't act TODAY, they are signing our death warrants.
Russian military increasing capabilities, overflights near Alaska airspace
Sean Doogan
March 14, 2015
http://www.adn.com/article/20150314/...laska-airspace
Today: Gregor Peter @L0gg0l 2m2 minutes ago
Rumor very very unconfirmed though some kind of a military incident in the Arctic #Russia #Alaska #Canada
This is the DEFCON Warning System. Alert status for 1:51 A.M. Monday, March 16th, 2015. Condition Yellow. DEFCON 3. Condition Yellow. DEFCON 3.
Condition Yellow. DEFCON 3.There are currently no imminent nuclear threats against the United States at this time, however the situation is considered fluid and can change rapidly.We continue to monitor unusual and disturbing military radio traffic including what appear to be engagements with hostile actors. Additionally, monitored radio reports indicate a heightened base alert and Canadian Air Force involvement.We must stress that we can not confirm what is actually happening, and we have no official word on events. We must react to the information on hand.We will continue to update as information comes in.
The DEFCON Warning System is a private enterprise which monitors world events and assesses nuclear threats against the United States by national entities. It is not affiliated with any government agency and does not represent the alert status of any military branch. The public should make their own evaluations and not rely on the DEFCON Warning System for any strategic planning. At all times, citizens are urged to learn what steps to take in the event of a nuclear attack.
If this had been an actual attack, the DEFCON Warning System will give radiation readings for areas that are reported to it. Your readings will vary. This system serves northern Stevens County, Washington and Hutchinson County, Texas. Official news sources will have radiation readings for your area.For immediate updates, go to www.defconwarningsystem.com. Breaking news and important information can be found on the DEFCON Warning System message board and on the DEFCON Twitter feed DEFCONWS. You may also subscribe to the YouTube channel DefconWarningSystem and the DEFCON Warning System mailing list. Note that Twitter and YouTube updates may be subject to delays. The next scheduled update is 8 P.M. Pacific Time, March 23rd, 2015. Additional updates will be made as the situation warrants, with more frequent updates at higher alert levels. http://www.defconwarningsystem.com/
Gregor Peter@L0gg0l · 21m21 minutes ago Russia's nuclear forces command staff to conduct exercise March 17th "with the central bodies of the military administration" -- RIA
Russia puts Northern Fleet on 'full alert' - Posted less than two hours ago by CNN
Anything further on this?
Russia to Deploy 10 Strategic Bombers to Crimea for Snap Drills
Military & Intelligence(updated 21:49 18.03.2015)
As an element of the drills involving the Northern Fleet and some units of the Western Military District, ten Tu-22M3 Backfire C supersonic strategic bombers will be deployed to Crimea.
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Russian Northern Fleet’s Nuclear Forces Hold Snap Drills
MOSCOW (Sputnik) — The Russian military will deploy ten Tu-22M3 Backfire C supersonic strategic bombers to Crimea as part of the current large-scale snap inspection of combat readiness, a source in the Defense Ministry told RIA Novosti on Wednesday. "In the framework of the snap inspection of the combat readiness of the Northern Fleet and some units of the Western Military District, 10 TU-22M3 strategic bombers will be deployed to the Crimean Peninsula," the source said.
Tu-22M3 is a long-range strategic bomber capable of carrying nuclear weapons.
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© Sputnik/ Sergey Mamontov
Russia Kicks Off Tank Drills With 1,500 Personnel in Western Military District
The source added that a large motorized infantry unit from the Central Military District will also be deployed to Crimea as part of the training exercises. The snap inspection of the combat readiness of the Northern Fleet as well as several units of Western, Southern and Eastern Military Districts began on March 16 and will last until Saturday.
Russia warns Denmark its warships could become nuclear targets
Russia tells Denmark not to join Nato missile shield or face becoming a target for Russian missiles
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The Danish military said that it had scrambled its F-16 squadrons 58 times in 2014 to head off Russian aircraft Photo: ROBIN VAN LONKHUIJSEN/AFP/Getty Images
By Julian Isherwood, Copenhagen
2:51PM GMT 21 Mar 2015
Russia has gone on the offensive in the Baltic, warning Denmark that if it joins Nato’s missile defence shield, its navy will be a legitimate target for a Russian nuclear attack.
“I don’t think that Danes fully understand the consequence if Denmark joins the American-led missile defence shield. If they do, then Danish warships will be targets for Russian nuclear missiles,” said Mikhail Vanin, the Russian ambassador to Denmark, to the Jyllands-Posten newspaper.
• How do we protect the Baltic states?
“Denmark would be part of the threat against Russia. It would be less peaceful and relations with Russia will suffer. It is, of course, your own decision - I just want to remind you that your finances and security will suffer. At the same time Russia has missiles that certainly can penetrate the future global missile defence system,” Mr Vanin said.
Denmark’s Foreign minister, Martin Lidegaard, reacted strongly to the comments, calling the ambassador’s statement “unacceptable”.
“If that is what he has said, then it is unacceptable. Russia knows full well that Nato’s missile defence is defensive and not targeted at (Russia).
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Denmark’s Foreign minister, Martin Lidegaard, called the statement 'unacceptable'
“We disagree with Russia on many important issues, but we also cooperate, for example, in the Arctic and it is important that the tone between us does not escalate,” said Mr Lidegaard.
• Putin will target the Baltic next, Defence Secretary warns
The ambassador’s statements came shortly after Denmark’s military published details of encroachments or near-encroachments of Danish airspace. The military said that it had scrambled its F-16 squadrons 58 times in 2014 to head off Russian aircraft, twice the number counted in 2012.
Russian military aircraft have the habit of switching off their transponders as they approach the western Baltic in a manoevre that is seen as dangerous to civilian air traffic, but prevents them being identified other than by sight.
Mr Vanin’s statements also come eight months after Denmark announced it would take part in Nato’s missile defence system. Denmark has said that it will install special radar systems on one or more of its frigates, in order to become an integral part of the system.
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Russian military troops take part in a military drill on Sernovodsky polygon, close to the Chechnya border
But Nicolai Wammen, the Defence minister, has been at pains to calm Russia, saying that the move is not targeted at Russia, but at “rogue states, terrorist organisations and others who would have the capacity to fire missiles at Europe and the United States”.
Nevertheless, Mr Vanin made it clear that Russia feels that NATO is encroaching on its borders.
“Denmark is a small country with a small army. OK - you are part of Nato, but a very small part. Moscow will not appreciate you joining the missile defence system - or any of the other countries that take part. It will escalate a situation that is already tense and will make things even worse,” he said.
“I cannot imagine the Cold War coming back again; but there are some who feel that Nato is moving closer and closer to the Russian border and strengthening its position. That creates insecurity in Russia,” he added.
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Russian ambassador to Denmark Mikhail Vanin
In follow up statements that will worry the Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania in particular, Mr Vanin went on to say that from being one of the most peaceful parts of the world a year ago, the Baltic is now “one of the most unpredictable in the world”.
Germany, Poland, Lithuania, the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad, Latvia, Estonia, Finland, Sweden and Denmark all border the Baltic Sea. Six of them are Nato states.
The three formerly Soviet Baltic states, now all members of Nato and the European Union, have repeatedly expressed their concern at their own situation, not least because as with Ukraine, both Estonia and Latvia in particular have large Russian populations and fear Russian encroachments.
As events in Ukraine have developed, and the Minsk Agreements remain to be fully implemented, the three Baltic states have been among the hawks in the EU and Nato, calling for increased sanctions against Russia.
“Why believe the hysteria that Lithuania is Russia’s next target? It’s just an example of very bad theatre. The only people it is good for is the weapons producers,” said Mr Vanin.
Mike Walker@New_Narrative · 23m23 minutes ago US commander: The Russian cruise missile threat is growing — by @BillGertz http://read.bi/1CKnPQQ pic.twitter.com/keM1OrGWx3
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Michael Letterle@mletterle · 29m29 minutes ago Polish Army summons reservists for military exercises “immediately" http://thenews.pl/1/2/Artykul/201195,Polish-Army-summons-reservists#sthash.6YVQN0i8.dpuf… via @thenews_PL
Thomas C. Theiner[/COLOR][/B]@noclador [/U] · 30m30 minutes ago Is #EU ready for war when #Russia attacks? You decide... #Poland Army 1989 & 2015 #Germany Army 1989 & 2015 pic.twitter.com/3vrUI2zZr6
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Monster US warship anchors off Portsmouth, defense chiefs downplay British shrinkage
Published time: March 23, 2015 11:50
Edited time: March 23, 2015 14:30 Get short URL
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USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71).(Reuters / Todd M. Flint)
At more than 100,000 tons, laden with warplanes and missiles and with 5,000 men and women aboard, the American Nimitz Class aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt anchored at Portsmouth has British defense chiefs talking down military cuts.
The Roosevelt – known to her crew as Big Stick – is currently moored off Portsmouth because she is simply too big to dock in the port.
Serving alongside the thousands of US sailors and marines, as part of an exchange program, are six aircraft handlers and a navigator from the Royal Navy.
In a statement on the Ministry of Defence (MoD) website, Britain's First Sea Lord, Admiral Sir George Zambrellas, lauded the US-UK defense relationship.
“It is excellent to see US Navy carrier steel in Portsmouth.
“And in barely two years we will see UK carrier steel here too,” he said, referring to the UK's two carriers, HMS Queen Elisabeth and the planned HMS Prince of Wales
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Very concerned’: Top US general attacks UK military spending cuts
“We warmly welcome the Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group – a reflection of the close partnership between our nations and navies, and the value of credible sea power in support of our shared national interests.”
The carrier is in the UK for five days, having made the initial transatlantic leg of her round-the-world operational mission to project US military power around the globe.
But the arrival of so potent a symbol of American might comes at a time when civilian and military defense chiefs on both sides of the Atlantic are airing their concerns over Britain's willingness and capacity to commit to the symbolic NATO contribution of 2 percent of gross domestic product (GDP).
British Defense Secretary Michael Fallon downplayed fears.
“The USS Theodore Roosevelt’s visit shows yet again that UK/US relations are as close as ever. Ten days ago, I was the first of his counterparts to meet incoming Defence Secretary Ash Carter.
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NATO will be harmed by UK defense cuts, Obama tells Cameron
“Having the Roosevelt in Portsmouth today is yet another example of the world’s broadest, deepest and most enduring defense relationship at work. I’m thrilled to be going aboard today to welcome the crew personally.”
Yet behind this Atlanticist ardor, a narrative of fear over defense cuts has come to dominate in recent months.
Writing in the Telegraph on Monday, Fallon sketched out the broad range of threats he believes Britain confronts.
“In Eastern Europe, Russia is subverting democracy – seeking to change international borders by force and destabilizing a sovereign state,” wrote Fallon.
“In the Middle East, the ISIL (Islamic State) death cult is spreading a new form of fascism in its warped drive to create a caliphate spanning Syria and Iraq. And in Africa, another jihadist franchise, Boko Haram, is causing chaos in northern Nigeria and along its borders.”
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£5bn black hole in UK defense budget poses ‘real risks,’ say MPs
Yet he downplayed concerns about impending strategic impotence, and to some extent buttressed the view on defense taken by Prime Minister David Cameron, writing: “Our Armed Forces now rest on firm financial foundations.
“National security is underpinned by economic security, which is why we have gone from a £38-billion black hole in the defense budget left by Labour, to a properly funded £34-billion-a-year budget. After taking some tough decisions, we still have the largest defense budget in the EU and the second largest in NATO.”
“We are one of only four NATO countries meeting the target to spend 2 percent of our GDP on defense and we will do so this year and next.”
In early March, US Army Chief of Staff General Raymond Odierno said he was “very concerned” about military austerity given the deeply “uncertain global environment.”
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Hubris, cowardice, delusion’: MP blasts generals & politicians in defense debate
“We have a bilateral agreement between our two countries to work together. It is about having a partner that has very close values and the same goals as we do,” explained Odierno at the New America Foundation’s ‘Future of War’ conference.
“What has changed, though, is the level of capability. In the past we would have a British Army division working alongside an American army division,” he added. Cuts mean the US Army now expects Britain to provide only half its previous commitment.
Despite fears of British military decline – many of which were expressed in a much-hyped but poorly attended Commons debate on defense reductions two week ago – UK defense spending remains the sixth highest in the world.
US test-fires intercontinental missile in California (VIDEO)
Published time: March 23, 2015 21:18 Get short URL
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An intercontinental ballistic missile was fired early Monday from a facility in California, the US Air Force announced, saying the tests were a message to the world about Washington's nuclear capabilities.
The Minuteman III missile was fitted with a “test re-entry vehicle” instead of a live thermonuclear warhead, and was test-launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base (AFB) in California at 03:36 local time (10:36 GMT), according to the Air Force statement.
U.S. Air Force ✔ @usairforce Follow
Check out this morning's #ICBM test launch thanks to @30thSpaceWing, F.E. Warren & @AFGlobalStrike #Airmen! http://bit.ly/1xrSVfE #AirForce
"With these launches, we not only verify our processes and the ICBM (intercontinental ballistic missile) weapon system, we provide a visual to the world that the Minuteman III is capable of striking pretty much anywhere with extreme precision," said Lt. Col Tytonia Moore of the 90th Missile Wing, based out of the Francis E. Warren AFB in Wyoming, according to the statement.
The "Mighty Ninety" is one of the USAF’s three missile wing commands – the other two being the 91st at Minot AFB in North Dakota and the 341st at Malstrom AFB in Montana. There are roughly 450 ICBMs between the three.
Since Peacekeeper missiles were retired under the START II treaty, the LGM-30G Minuteman-III is the only land-based ICBM in US service. The silo-launched, ground-attack guided missile is normally equipped with W87 thermonuclear warheads.
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Drills for me but not for thee: NATO launches war games near Russian border
Vandenberg, home to the 30th Space Wing of the USAF Space Command (AFSPC), has conducted multiple missile tests over the years, most recently in September 2014. In April 2013, a test was postponed for a month due to tensions with North Korea.
According to the US Air Force, the ICBM test launch program “demonstrates the operational credibility of the Minuteman III and ensures the United States’ ability to maintain a strong, credible nuclear deterrent as a key element of US national security and the security of U.S. allies and partners.”
The missile test comes amid massive NATO war games across Eastern Europe. Meanwhile, the Russian military has deployed 76,000 troops, over 10,000 vehicles, 65 warships, 16 support vessels, 15 submarines, and 200 warplanes and helicopters for surprise drills across the country.
That... is very... surprising.
I do not believe that at ANY time in history we have "said" something like that. We do not, in general "beat our chests" and say "we can nuke you".Quote:
the US Air Force announced, saying the tests were a message to the world about Washington's nuclear capabilities.
Normally, we would have said "this is a regularly scheduled test" and left it at that.
Who said that, I wonder?
Very strange!
That is my thought.
If we're acting like turd worlders, we might as well go all the way and slap our gorilla chests and say "Fuck you! No, FUCK YOU!" at them.
I just think its very barbaric.