[gonzo]

The single thing that happenned that stuck in my mind for days, was the re-appearance of the Russian TU-95 Bear bombers.
The Soviet Union used to fly them over the North Pole (as TU-142's) almost daily, just to probe our Air Defence Systems, and, of course, our Air Force would always respond. We did the same with our B-52's for quite a while, too. After years of this, it became a game for both sides, but it still went on.

After the Fall of the Soviet Union, Russia quit flying those sorties, and mothballed their fleet sometime around 1990. It was expensive and pointless.

The TU-95, a variant-upgrade of the TU-142, is their most durable heavy-lifter for bombs, and compares favourably with our B-52. I'll post some links later here.

I'll also post what links I still have to some of stories mentioned here (I lost some while trying to save my bookmarks - wish I was better at this 'puter stuff).

Well, that's my opinion, and I'm stickin' to it! I hope President Bush is working on something like this.

The UN is a joke, and, like the 'League-of-Nations', should cease-to-exist! Flame away...

[El Gato]

The TU-95, a variant-upgrade of the TU-142

Actually it's the other way 'round. The Tu-95, Bear A, was first seen in the mid 1950s, although the first prototype flew in November of 1952. The TU-142 is a Maritime recon version, with lots of radomes, depending on the variant. It first flew as an upgraded Tu-95RTS in 1968, the Tu-95RTS itself having first flown in Sept. of 1962. The changes from the RTS version were enough to earn it a new designation.

[pax_et_bonum]

ping

[sauropod]

Agreed. UN is a massive Joke.

[Ancesthntr]

Here's a very interesting, and very scary, scenario to consider: http://www.therant.us/staff/kraft/10242006.htm

Without spilling the beans too much, it involves a sneak attack on a sleeping America...on a future December 7.

Read it, enjoy the Maalox, and consider what could well happen if we don't take out the Iranian and NK nuke facilities.

[M. Espinola]

"#1)-The USA and Great Britain (and others) are in Iraq, and will commence Air and Ground ops against Iran as noted above. There may well be an amphibious incursion in the East (Google Maps of Iran).All conventional weaponry."

Your projection(s) seems highly probable and well thought out.

At all costs Iran must be prevented from launching missiles at the Arabian or other Gulf based oil fields along with supertanker 'targets', which would be tantamount to Iran creating a back door 'Western financial panic' resulting in skyrocketing energy prices (far higher then Katrina related), coupled with ultra-bullish precious metals trending, while major stock indexes would quickly turn bearish in massive sell-off.

There is also a risk Iran has pre-planted terrorist saboteurs operating within the Arabian plus other Gulf oil sheikdoms, these being activated once the Iranian régime is confronted, which means preferably wiped out.

I would like to add, it is very possible the Bush doctrine regarding Iran, even previous to 9-11, was to take out Taliban controlled Afghanistan first, thus gaining the old Soviet air bases especially Herat which is in close proxcimitry to the eastern Iranian border.

Saddam's former ruled Opec Iraq was second on the list of terrorist exporting states bordering Iran, placing American /Western forces directly on the oil rich border of south-western Iran.

We should also keep in mind the US and other allied navies are patrolling the Persian Gulf and will be utilized against Iran when required.

"#2)-Israel will move North into Lebanon and finish-off Hizbolla (it made NO sense for them to stop last time), and will probably continue into Syria. The USA and Brits will probably lend Air cover as needed. All conventional weaponry."

I fully agree with you. It would not be surprising if Damascus was 'neutralized' which will result if Assad authorizes the diabolical usage of Saddam's 'stored' WMD (biological/chemical weapons) against the Jewish state.

Memories of the Shoah run very deep in Israel, so any attempts by Syria/Iran & their Hizballah or Hamas terrorist proxies to use 'gas' against Israelis will be met with swift & deadly reciprocity.

[scan58]

ping

[ßuddaßudd]

bump for later...

[Salem]

'Bump' on gonzo's thread here. Lines up with conversations "off site" with other Middle East observers.

---

AMERICA AT WAR
At Salem the Soldier's Homepage ~
Honored member of FReeper Leapfrog's "Enemy of Islam" list.
Islam, a Religion of Peace®? Some links...  by backhoe
Translated Pre-War IRAQ Documents  by jveritas
Mohammed, The Mad Poet Quoted....  by PsyOp
"PLAES DO NOT TOCH THE WAR"  by AnnaZ
One FReeper On The Line  by SNOWFLAKE
The Clash of Ideologies - A Review

"...It's time we recognized the nature of the conflict. It's total war and we are all involved. Nobody on our side is exempted because of age, gender, or handicap. The Islamofacists have stolen childhood from the world." [FReeper Retief]

"...That the totalitarian force pitted against freedom wears a religious makes this civil war among mankind all the more difficult to engage. Loving freedom as we do, it seems reprehensible to deliberate against a religion. But this is no ordinary religion as it demands absolute obedience of all to their religion at the cost of freedom itself." [FReeper Backtothestreets]

[zeaal]

Interesting.