What did Putin hope to accomplish?

[fdcg27]

Everyone is by now aware that a couple of Russian Su-24s buzzed an American destroyer in international waters while a Russian helo stood nearby, maybe enjoying a Kodak moment.
Our Secretary of State is on record as having said that the commander of the American ship would have been within his rights to have destroyed the Russian aircraft.
Two questions.
What did Putin hope to accomplish?
Why did the commander of the Donald Cook show so much restraint?
Everyone is well aware that the Cook could have easily splashed the two Sukhois and this would have been justified since they clearly showed hostile intent whether they were carrying underwing missiles of not.
This is a strange incident in my view. No real gain for the Russians and I can't see what the US achieved in showing such great restraint.
What do all of you think of this episode in the continuing saga of Russian provocation of the West?

 

[NHGUY]

If we really have laser weapons as the conspiracy theorists claim,time to slice one of those MIGs a little bit next time they zoom by,breakup wouldn't take long afterwards and maybe then they'd get sent a message.But the current occupants of the WH aren't so inclined.

 

[d00df00d]

Justified? Of course. Wise? Probably not.

Our countries screw with each other all the time. Maybe not this brashly, but it happens. Let's not be in such a hurry to make war with a nuclear power. We could crush them, but only at great cost (especially geopolitically in the long run) and to no good end -- and with a real risk of a nuclear exchange. Better to let saber rattling be saber rattling.

As for what Putin hoped to gain, I'm sure a nationalistic ego boost figured prominently among his motivations.

 

[skyactiv]

We probably do the same thing.

 

[HerrStig]

Turn on the fire control, light them up and let the great Russian hero fliers watch the turrets follow them. Their feet will get colder than a Siberian midnight.

 

[Trav]

Originally Posted By: fdcg27

Everyone is well aware that the Cook could have easily splashed the two Sukhois and this would have been justified since they clearly showed hostile intent whether they were carrying underwing missiles of not.


He played it smart IMO, sure he could have dispatched the 2 SU24 but then what?
This could escalate quickly. Putin was provoking a weak president, testing him before he makes another move. He wants to know just how far he can go, now he has his answer.

 

[440Magnum]

It used to be standard procedure, on both sides, to do that kind of thing in international waters, and both countries used to send long-range bombers up near the others' airspace where the would be dutifully intercepted and escorted by fighters. I think Putin is very intent on trying to portray Russia as having regained some of the strength it once had. He's got Bears flying in international airspace again, after a very long absence. I think a bunch of young, story-hungry newsreaders that didn't grow up during the cold war are working this up into something bigger than it is. It would have been page 6 news at best when I was a kid.

Of course the commander of Donald Cook showed restraint... what possible benefit would he have had from taking aggressive action? Loss of his command and triggering an international incident would be more likely! For heaven's sake, people were on deck in ball-caps and filming the aircraft with hand-held cameras. If the captain had felt that his ship was actually threatened, that would NOT have been going on.

 

[GiveMeAVowel]

Originally Posted By: skyactiv
We probably do the same thing.


Exactly, and I can almost promise you that if the US ship was in international waters they were right at the very edge of what is within Russia's territorial waters. So the US was baiting the Russians.

I respect Putin, he's hard nosed, and isn't afraid to do what is in the best interests of Russia, the globalists be [censored].

 

[Danh]

Originally Posted By: GiveMeAVowel
Originally Posted By: skyactiv
We probably do the same thing.


Exactly, and I can almost promise you that if the US ship was in international waters they were right at the very edge of what is within Russia's territorial waters. So the US was baiting the Russians.

I respect Putin, he's hard nosed, and isn't afraid to do what is in the best interests of Russia, the globalists be [censored].


80 miles off the Russian coast. Hardly at the very edge of Russian territorial waters. And the exercise was with Poland, which happens to be next right next door and pretty interested in Russia's aggressive posture. Putin is a thug, narcissist, regular violator of human rights, international assassin, invader of neutral counties, etc. Yup, lots to respect there.

 

[cjcride]

Originally Posted By: Danh
Originally Posted By: GiveMeAVowel
Originally Posted By: skyactiv
We probably do the same thing.


Exactly, and I can almost promise you that if the US ship was in international waters they were right at the very edge of what is within Russia's territorial waters. So the US was baiting the Russians.

I respect Putin, he's hard nosed, and isn't afraid to do what is in the best interests of Russia, the globalists be [censored].


80 miles off the Russian coast. Hardly at the very edge of Russian territorial waters. And the exercise was with Poland, which happens to be next right next door and pretty interested in Russia's aggressive posture. Putin is a thug, narcissist, regular violator of human rights, international assassin, invader of neutral counties, etc. Yup, lots to respect there.
and Ex KGB.

 

[fdcg27]

Originally Posted By: d00df00d
Justified? Of course. Wise? Probably not.

Our countries screw with each other all the time. Maybe not this brashly, but it happens. Let's not be in such a hurry to make war with a nuclear power. We could crush them, but only at great cost (especially geopolitically in the long run) and to no good end -- and with a real risk of a nuclear exchange. Better to let saber rattling be saber rattling.

As for what Putin hoped to gain, I'm sure a nationalistic ego boost figured prominently among his motivations.


Are you seriously suggesting that a well deserved brushback would have brought us to the brink of a nuclear exchange?
If you were the leader of Russia, would you seriously consider launching missiles aimed at a foe who has a more reliable arsenal and could utterly devastate your country as well as you personally? No place to hide if such a thing came to pass. Putin may be an egomaniac, but he probably isn't seriously mentally ill, unlike the guy running North Korea.
When Turkey got tired of having its airspace violated by Russian aircraft engaged in attacks in Syria, they shot one down.
Putin promised dire consequences, which have yet to materialize. Talking tough is easy while walking the walk is another matter.
In any event, Kerry's words make it clear that if this sort of thing happens again, the Russian crews will be sleeping with the fishes.
That alone will do much to cause ole Vlad to control his ego for the moment.

 

[Mr Nice]

Navy officer in charge of ship doesn't have the balls to shoot at those aircraft for fear A Bozo would instantly end his long Navy career....

Just like those sailors held by Iran, they had zero back up by this terrible president. US Navy made to look like children given a 'time out'.

No Navy officer would risk their career without permission from a bozo in charge. All senior military officers are puppets..... they can't do anything without the big boss saying it's OK. Not even firing warning AAA to let Russian aircraft they are not gonna play games.

 

[GiveMeAVowel]

Originally Posted By: Danh

80 miles off the Russian coast. Hardly at the very edge of Russian territorial waters. And the exercise was with Poland, which happens to be next right next door and pretty interested in Russia's aggressive posture. Putin is a thug, narcissist, regular violator of human rights, international assassin, invader of neutral counties, etc. Yup, lots to respect there.


LIES? Oh couldn't be. I wouldn't trust ANYthing the US zionist controlled mass media says.

As far as the qualities you mention of Putin, you could say the SAME EXACT thing about George Bush Sr.

 

[RoadRaceJosh]

Say we do have lasers or other advanced weapons. Wouldn't shooting down the Russian planes with those weapons with the helo standing off taking pictures expose our capabilities? Playing this close to the vest I feel is smart. And not engaging in such circumstances is highly likely to be standard procedure. Being easily provoked is generally viewed as immature.

 

[dparm]

You can't kill someone (the pilot) for being annoying. Just sayin'.

 

[fdcg27]

How are things going for you in Connecticut 'shell?
Did you finally land a decent paying job?

 

[dishdude]

Originally Posted By: Mr Nice
Navy officer in charge of ship doesn't have the balls to shoot at those aircraft for fear A Bozo would instantly end his long Navy career....

Just like those sailors held by Iran, they had zero back up by this terrible president. US Navy made to look like children given a 'time out'.

No Navy officer would risk their career without permission from a bozo in charge. All senior military officers are puppets..... they can't do anything without the big boss saying it's OK.


Well that's two major countries you want to go to war with. I'm glad you're not the Prez.

 

[Y_K]

Originally Posted By: d00df00d
Justified? Of course. Wise? Probably not.

+++ a million

The aircraft are being tracked by various means since the take-off. They were known to be trouble-makers in advance. Sat and telecom and other means made it obvious: no payload, exchanges, etc. You have to understand that this is mainly for internal consumption - the Russian press is going gaga over this, with various experts commenting, e.g. 'we wanted the mofos to wash their eyes with the seawater splash, but decided to have mercy on them after seeing their scared faces', etc. The same ship was buzzed in Black Sea 2 years ago, and Russians claim that half of staff was scared scheisless and asked for transfers, that their on-board systems were totally paralised leaving the ship and her crew defenseless,. that kind of propaganda.

Collective, mass euphorias don't last much of a year, and it's been much longer after the Crimea mass euphoria, so they use all means they can. Actually, lilliputin is scared and is bluffing, doubling down as a lot of losers do. They keep losing their aircraft under mysterious circumstances in Syria, where they announced a 'pull-out', their economy is back to prostitution, taxis and casinos, their currency is halved and there is a bunch of business loans are coming up due pretty soon with no refinancing venue - they hoped China would lend them, but Chinese play it safe. Half of their lands east of Urals are Chinese anyway.

United Stated have been regularly saving Russian Empire from starvation and outright death for the past 150 years. Time to stop this.

never ask what the goal of a schizophrenic is, it's the process, results are always the same - murder-suicide.

 

[d00df00d]

Originally Posted By: fdcg27
Are you seriously suggesting that a well deserved brushback would have brought us to the brink of a nuclear exchange?

I said risk. Risk means it might happen, not that it will happen.


Originally Posted By: fdcg27
If you were the leader of Russia, would you seriously consider launching missiles aimed at a foe who has a more reliable arsenal and could utterly devastate your country as well as you personally?

Going out on a limb here, but I suspect you're more likely to remember the Cold War than I am. I shouldn't have to remind you that as long as each side's warheads can reach the other, no one wins a nuclear exchange, regardless of whose arsenal is better.


Originally Posted By: fdcg27
When Turkey got tired of having its airspace violated by Russian aircraft engaged in attacks in Syria, they shot one down.
Putin promised dire consequences, which have yet to materialize.

Exactly. An airspace violation. Not an overflight in international waters.


Originally Posted By: fdcg27
In any event, Kerry's words make it clear that if this sort of thing happens again, the Russian crews will be sleeping with the fishes.
That alone will do much to cause ole Vlad to control his ego for the moment.

Then why worry?

 

[Y_K]

Originally Posted By: GiveMeAVowel
As far as the qualities you mention of Putin, you could say the SAME EXACT thing about George Bush Sr.


No, Bushes were not known bi-sexual paedophiles like Putin.. He is a Clinton with a secret police academy diploma