Discussion: Russia Wants To Start Flying Surveillance Planes Over U.S

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Discussion for article #246308

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I wish I had a ray gun that could make every voter understand the implications of situations like this. Somebody has to come up with an interdepartmental response to this that makes sense for the United States and the world as the years go on. And multiply this by God knows how many similar situations—hundreds and thousands. Leaders and the people they hire need experience, knowledge, and sound judgment. You can’t just grab somebody off the street because you think he’s funny or talks with grandiose assurance. I just wish I had a ray gun to make people understand. Or failing that, a real gun to just shoot them with.

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The first sentence seems like one crafted to impart the obvious implications of such flyovers upon idiots.

Second, how does flying over with the latest in gadgetry violate either the spirit or the letter of the open skies agreement?

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Because Russkies!!!

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So Russia is basically demanding to be able to fly through US airspace with their own version of an AWAC. Am I the only person that sees a problem with this?

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“The official also said that the treaty, which was entered into force in 2002.”

How long before the right claims that Obama did this?

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When and who signed this agreement? Was it ratified bt the congress???

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Already the squeal and howls from the Rightie Wingnuts have begun. “Obummer’ has sold us out! This treaty is Barry’s fault. He’s giving our secrets to the Russians…blah! blah! blah! SSDD” ~ Gawwd’ the stupid burns with these people!~

First, of course, it hasn’t happened yet. And a little history: The treaty was signed in 2002…That would mean Dear Leader George Dubya the First signed the treaty and it was approved by the Republican controlled Congress. Still, as usual, for conservatives, facts are of no consequence. The truth is of no concern.

I’m sure Putin just wants pictures of Sarah Palin’s house so he can see her too!

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One flew East
One flew West
One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest

Why not? In 20 years, if Corporate America has its way, they’ll be a drone up everyone’s ass anyway.

Fucking drones.

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TPM:

Steve Rademaker, former assistant secretary of state for the bureau of arms control and the bureau of international security and nonproliferation, told Congress … that Russia complies with the Open Skies Treaty, but has “adopted a number of measures that are inconsistent with the spirt” of the accord.

The treaty, for instance, obligates each member to make all of its territory available for aerial observation, yet Russia has imposed restrictions on surveillance over Moscow and Chechnya and near Abkhazia and South Ossetia, he said. Russian restrictions also make it hard to conduct observation in the Kaliningrad enclave …

Let’s do the same thing to Russia then. Tell them they can’t photograph anything in the US that isn’t already available via Google Earth.

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Trump: Putin is my friend. I trust him. Why would he ever harm US if I am POTUS?

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This bullshit is Putin masturbating in a closet about being the tough guy as Obama is kicking his sorry ass with oil. If he wants another Cuban missile misadventure, bring it on. Unless Russia has mastered stealth technology, an overflight intercept with overwhelming force is in the cards. But this is more about posturing than real security threats.

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Well, Sarah Palin also gets pretty upset when “Putin rears his head and comes into the airspace of the United States of America.”

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The treaty is supposed to ‘share’ their pictures with all those in the treaty, but Russia already is balking on some the areas. What are we to make of that? Scary.

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Is Russia’s satellite technology that piss poor? If so, Vlad is playing with an incredibly weak hand.

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This story is quite mysterious. How can this treaty be such that (1) all participants are to allow surveillance flights over their entire territory, (2) Russia is complying with its treaty obligations, and (3) certain parts of Russia are restricted from surveillance flights? And while we’re at it: is the implication that Russia currently conducts no surveillance flights at all over the US under this treaty?

I don’t get this.

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Technically, wouldn’t those be sodomizing drones?

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There are satellites that can focus a camera sharp enough to read the headline on a newspaper. I hardly think observations from an aircraft constitute an escalation any more intrusive than other means already available to gain the same information.

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If they’re looking for intelligence, they’ll be disappointed.

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Putin can already see Alaska from the porch of his dacha in Lavrentia on the tip of the Chukostskiy Peninsula. Rumor has it he takes his personal ferry over to visit Sarah and after some borscht and vodka they go off riding bare chested together brandishing Kalashnikovs.

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