Posted on 08/25/2012 10:56:46 AM PDT by DeaconBenjamin

Akula class submarine
An unusual story has been circulating of an Akula class Russian submarine lurking in the Gulf of Mexico for weeks, evidently undetected by the U.S.
The story is odd not only because such a mission would be unusual and alarming, but also because of the source in this case, veteran national security reporter and former Washington Times columnist Bill Gertz.
While the Russian navy under Putin and Medvedev has undertaken well advertised symbolic missions, such as a 2008 visit by a contingent of its weathered North Sea Fleet to Venezuela, these have generally not been much more than extremely visible ways to demonstrate displeasure with U.S. and NATO policy and/or maintain good relations with its arms customers.
Likewise, when Russias air force deploys its ancient propeller-driven Tupolev Tu-95 Bear bombers to buzz close to American airspace, the U.S. deploys fighter jets to intercept.
So, then, would Russia be willing to escalate the situation by sailing an attack sub into the Gulf of Mexico?
Two U.S. officials confirmed that the Akulas incursion took place at the same time that Russia once again trotted out its Tupolevs into restricted airspace in June and July.
Requests for confirmation of the story from the Navy were declined, the Pentagon has thus far denied the incursion, and the Russian Defense Ministry will not disclose information either way.
Meanwhile, Republican Senator John Cornyn, a member of the Armed Services Committee, sent a letter to the Pentagons Chief of Naval Operations demanding clarification, stating that the incident is especially troubling given the drastic defense cuts sought by President Obama, which include reductions in funding for antisubmarine defense systems.
(Excerpt) Read more at businessinsider.com ...
Russia is going to put bases in Cuba or Venezuela or something, will BO even consider voicing opposition?
The Akula shouldn’t be even close to “undetectable” with the detection arrays that were in use once. Should be tracked as it left home base.
The "learned" Oliva no doubt characterizes the BUFF as a dinosaur.
You kidding??...The Russians are Obama’s commie calvary.
Protecting Cuba’s drilling interests no doubt
They ought to be getting friendly with us, rather than continuing to be an adversary. We don’t have our eyes on Siberia’s wide open spaces like China does. They are pairing with the wrong side.
He will have more flexibility after his reelection
/johnny
Red August?
They are pairing with who they see as the likely winner if we don’t turn things around.
My thoughts exactly. They are hanging around with the hope to exercise their “flexibility” if Obama remains in the WH.
TU-95 carries 30k in bombs, top speed of 575mph, and flies 9000 miles unrefueled. B-52 carries 70k in bombs, top speed 650 mph, and goes a little over 8700 unrefueled.
B-52 is better, but the TU-95 doesn’t rate any sort of booby prize.
The writer sounds not too bright.
How long before one is seen cruising up the Chesapeake Bay?
Who says this sub was “undetected”?
Hunt for Red Obama.
You are saying Bill Gertz is a liar?
Also the current service Tu-95MS were all built in the 1980s and early 90s, while the last B-52 came off the line in 1962. Which is ancient?
Why worry so much about communists in the Gulf??? What about the one in the White House?????
Does anyone really believe that Russian nukes ever stopped patrolling our coasts?
They are not, never were and never will be our “friends”. Their intentions haven’t changed since 1948.
Did all of the communists suddenly die?
Putin is KGB and always will be KGB.
Duped and uninformed not a liar! AFAIK we know if a Russian sub left her base, too huge to be undetected...
If it wasn’t detected, how does he know about it?
It’s possible that even the leak-happy 0bama regime would not disclose that the subs WERE detected. If the Russians knew we detected them, they would develop countermeasures, so.. Let them think we didn’t, then when the SHTF we can detect them. Okay, I dreaming.. Back to 0bama world.
This isn’t news; it’s neocon propaganda. For anyone who worries about the future of Christian civilization, it isn’t Russian subs that are the problem.
The first B-52 (Serial Number 52-8711) was delivered to SAC on 29 June 1955.
The last B-52 (Serial Number 61-0040) was delivered to SAC on 26 October 1962.
So the BUFF is an old airplane.
Is there anybody flying on a B-52 that was born before the plane was built?
(btw designed with slide rules, drawn with pencil on vellum, and the BOM was in 3-ring binders, LOL)
Are you kidding? The operative factor is Christianity, and not geopolitics? LOL
Yes, exactly. The Church sees them all come and go.
“He will have more flexibility after his reelection.”
Good one. When the Russkies install their navy/missile base in Cuba, the Bamster will probably welcome them to our hemisphere and send them some baloons and flowers. Maybe enclose an apology card for America’s awful treatment of them in the past. (sarc)
There must be at least 1 person.
Was he duped by the US officials, or was this part of his report a lie?
“I’d be much more concerned about the Soviet Nuc Sub prowling around in the Great Lakes.”
They would simply be protecting the Commie base in Chicago?
Don’t pay any attention to this SUBteruge.
Repubicrats are shoving grandma over the cliff!
And what about the Marxist Brotherhood a.k.a the dhimmocrats?
If I’m reading you correctly, then my faith in a Christian God makes me unconcerned that the Soviets, er Russians, possibly send Akulas to the Gulf of Mexico.
Agree, just making a small adjustment.
But when you have complete air superiority and SAM suppression, it’s a nice bomb truck.
Now THAT'S very true!
Who knows. U.S. official who?
UFO
UNDERWATER FLOATING OBJECT!
That's the way it was done when I started a career in engineering. Our first computer was a time share with 110 baud access via teletype, programing language was FORTRAN II. I've lost count of the number of programming languages and operating systems I've run through. Things really got exciting when we started 3D solid modeling and rapid prototyping. Amazing what 40 years can bring...
Regards,
GtG
I was at an air show earlier this summer.
Just happened to be talking to an old guy but still working at one of the big suppliers to Boeing.
He laughed in the old days when we used slide rules and drafting boards we could put out a new plane in 4 years, now with all the computerized stuff it takes 20.
The ways I sees it—The Russian Communists are GONE—no more socialist world empire for the workers of the world. That’s dead BUT what didn’t die is Russian Nationalism and a desire for a Russian World Empire under the two headed eagle with the Orthodox Church to return the world to their brand of Christ. No more idealism of Marx, now it blatant Imperialism and power! This might be worse. Now its the Third Rome! They are not our friend—they will tell you Russia has no friends.
It’ a lost “Red” seal trying to find its way back to the Arctic circle.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.