[Russ]

This has been going on since I was in the Air Force in the ‘60s and before. They test our defenses, we test theirs. Nothing to see here...

[ETL]

This has been going on since I was in the Air Force in the ‘60s and before. They test our defenses, we test theirs. Nothing to see here..

It would only mean "nothing" to someone who is basically clueless about what has been going on for the past 3 or so years, regarding the Russians' failed attempt at getting Hillary Clinton elected president. And also of the greatly stepped up measures taken by the Trump admin to undo much of the dangerous things the Obama admin did while they were in office, regarding missile defense, the New Start nuke treaty, the Iran nuke deal, his rallying NATO, etc, etc. This week's move by the Russians must be viewed in this context. It's foolish to say it doesn't mean anything, considering these actions by the Trump admin.

[rrrod]

Which proves Russia is either our #1 or#2 enemy.

[ETL]

“As president, my first duty is the defense of our country. I will accept nothing less for our nation than the most effective, cutting-edge missile defense systems.”

-- President Donald J. Trump

_________________________________________________________________

Campaign trail, February 2008...

Obama Pledges Cuts in Missile Defense, Space, and Nuclear Weapons Programs

February 29, 2008 :: News
MissileThreat.com

A video has surfaced of Presidential candidate Senator Barack Obama talking on his plans for strategic issues such as nuclear weapons and missile defense.

The full text from the video, as released, reads as follows:

Thanks so much for the Caucus4Priorities, for the great work you've been doing. As president, I will end misguided defense policies and stand with Caucus4Priorities in fighting special interests in Washington.

First, I'll stop spending $9 billion a month in Iraq. I'm the only major candidate who opposed this war from the beginning. And as president I will end it.[not win it -etl]

Second, I will cut tens of billions of dollars in wasteful spending.

I will cut investments in unproven missile defense systems.

I will not weaponize space.

I will slow our development of future combat systems.

And I will institute an independent "Defense Priorities Board" to ensure that the Quadrennial Defense Review is not used to justify unnecessary spending.

Third, I will set a goal of a world without nuclear weapons. To seek that goal, I will not develop new nuclear weapons; I will seek a global ban on the production of fissile material; and I will negotiate with Russia to take our ICBMs off hair-trigger alert [they are NOT on "hair-trigger alert" now -etl], and to achieve deep cuts in our nuclear arsenals.

You know where I stand. I've fought for open, ethical and accountable government my entire public life. I don't switch positions or make promises that can't be kept. I don't posture on defense policy and I don't take money from federal lobbyists for powerful defense contractors. As president, my sole priority for defense spending will be protecting the American people. Thanks so much.

Article: Obama Pledges Cuts in Missile Defense, Space, and Nuclear Weapons Programs:
https://web.archive.org/web/20100526142854/http://missilethreat.com/archives/id.7086/detail.asp

"MissileThreat.com is a project of The Claremont Institute devoted to understanding and promoting the requirements for the strategic defense of the United States."

________________________________________________________________________________

"I will not weaponize space"

"I will cut investments in unproven missile defense systems"
_____________________________________________________________________________________

[ETL]

Feb 9, 2017:

Exclusive: In call with Putin, Trump denounced Obama-era nuclear arms treaty [New Start Treaty] - sources

By Jonathan Landay and David Rohde

February 9, 2017

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - In his first call as president with Russian leader Vladimir Putin, Donald Trump denounced a treaty that caps U.S. and Russian deployment of nuclear warheads as a bad deal for the United States, according to two U.S. officials and one former U.S. official with knowledge of the call.

When Putin raised the possibility of extending the 2010 treaty, known as New START, Trump paused to ask his aides in an aside what the treaty was, these sources said.

Trump then told Putin the treaty was one of several bad deals negotiated by the Obama administration, saying that New START favored Russia. ...”

https://www.yahoo.com/news/exclusive-call-putin-trump-denounced-obama-era-nuclear-171036908.html?ref=gs

or,

https://web.archive.org/web/20170209182918/https://www.yahoo.com/news/exclusive-call-putin-trump-denounced-obama-era-nuclear-171036908.html?ref=gs

____________________________________________________________________________________________

Trump says NATO is obsolete but still ‘very important to me’

January 16, 2017

LONDON (Reuters) - U.S. President-elect Donald Trump said NATO was obsolete because it had not defended against terror attacks, but that the military alliance was still very important to him, The Times of London reported.

“I took such heat, when I said NATO was obsolete,” Trump told the newspaper in an interview. “It’s obsolete because it wasn’t taking care of terror. I took a lot of heat for two days. And then they started saying Trump is right.”

Trump added that many NATO members were not paying their fair share for U.S. protection.

“A lot of these countries aren’t paying what they’re supposed to be paying, which I think is very unfair to the United States,” Trump said. “With that being said, NATO is very important to me. There’s five countries that are paying what they’re supposed to. Five. It’s not much.”

https://www.yahoo.com/news/trump-says-nato-obsolete-still-very-important-004548554—finance.html?ref=gs

____________________________________________________________________________________________

NATO head: Trump's tough talk has added $100B to alliance, helped deter Russia

FoxNews.com ^ | Jan 27, 2019 | Gregg Re | Fox News

"President Trump has been very clear," Stoltenberg told fill-in host John Roberts.

"He is committed to NATO. He stated that clearly just a few days ago and also at the NATO summit in July.

But at the same time, he has clearly stated that NATO allies need to invest more. And therefore at the summit in July last year, we agreed to do more to step up -- and now we see the results."

In all, Stolenberg continued, "by the end of next year, NATO allies will add hundred – 100 billion extra US dollars toward defense. So we see some real money and some real results. And we see that the clear message from President Donald Trump is having an impact."

In July 2018, NATO leaders pledged their “unwavering commitment” to boost defense spending, following stern words from the president. The U.S. and European allies signed a declaration stating they were “committed to improving the balance of sharing the costs and responsibilities of alliance membership.”

(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...

[ETL]

May 2018...

“President Trump’s announcement Tuesday that the U.S. will withdraw from the Iran nuclear deal and reimpose economic sanctions in 90 days delivers a death blow to a deeply flawed agreement approved in 2015 by President Obama and representatives of other nations...”

https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/trump-killing-deeply-flawed-iran-deal-is-the-right-move

==================================================================

Aug 2015

[MayflowerMadam]

“This has been going on since I was in the Air Force in the ‘60s and before.”

My first husband was stationed at Elmendorf in the early ‘70s. This same thing happened now and then. We’d get a call in the middle of the night for him to report. War games, I guess.

[EQAndyBuzz]

“This has been going on since I was in the Air Force in the ‘60s and before. They test our defenses, we test theirs. Nothing to see here...”

True. I think they are probing the F22’s systems, looking for vulnerabilities.

[Hot Rod Garage]

Disagree, could let be practice for EMP delivery?

[Georgia Girl 2]

Yes this is totally a common event.

[hdstmf]

Right. That is not news. Those bombers are old technology vs our super tech fighters by comparison. It doesn’t mean they should be ignored. Our B-52s are also old, but they have been upgraded for decades.