I am very happy about this. I also am thinking of a good target...someone who needs to see some “shock and awe”

Agreed. SA is more corrupt than pretty much any other recognized country int eh Middle East.

That is exactly what I was saying. U.S. Allies in the region are pretty damn evil. On Syrias worst day, I doubt they could approach Saudi Arabia’s record. I did forget to mention turkey though.

On the whole, I personally don’t regard the close intercepts as much. I think they are just a tactic to decrease moral and deter further flight. Not the most professional thing, but not really going to hurt anything unless they collide

Actually, that is a common myth about Russia’s western territory being stolen. A lot got shuffled around during the USSR, but their borders are very close to what they were for Imperial Russia.

Good clarification. I was about to email a friend that was on a KC-10. I was pretty sure that all military aircraft require parachutes for the crew.

And you just described why I don't like Hollywood representing anything military!

Yah, foreign relations is a tough one. I wish more people would not accept that “enemy of my enemy thing. I fell this picture sums up the Middle East.

depends on the definition of “good guy.”

That sucks. Pilots probably were dead due to most of the damage being focussed forward of the wing. Hopefully, Russia will transfer them some more Su-24s

I know the Bede BD-5J is pretty deadly, to its operators. 3 of the 4 test pilots died

One thing I find cool is that if you look at older Lego space shuttles, it appears to be located at Vandenberg, judging by the background and the color of the structures.

I do agree with you there. If we (and Japan) are aggressive, it gives China cause to be aggressive.

Ah, I hate red tape. Having some experience in the aviation industry, I think the general public is a pain in the neck with their “not in my backyard” attitude. I especially hate it when people move close to an airport and then try to sue the airport for noise.

You make a good point. China has been around for eons and they have a record of long term goals that take decades to accomplish. It is not far fetched to think they may just be trying to wear down the general public in Taiwan.

I think he meant years behind in strategy. It seems like we don't respond to anything until years later than we should (i.e. We probably should have countered China before they had a permanent presence in the SCS and had expanded their anti-ship systems).

You make a really good point. I think the turning around part is the most terrifying. Once those bomb bay doors are open, your are no longer stealth. May prove devastating for the B-2 in that scenario. Another thought I had had was that if they decide for airspace penetration, Russia could just vector in fighters to…

Actually, 3 complete Borei Class. And the Kilo Class can go way more than 4 miles on battery. That is WWI era U-boat

I highly doubt Vladimer Putin’s foreign goals revolve around the U.S. forgetting it has the most expensive bombers ever made

Well put!