'Merica gets punked by russians: Europeans better learn to speak russian

[abaris]

The only explanation is that he likes cock. He likes to use cock as often as he can coz he likes the way it feels in his mouth.

Oh, he likes cock. Only when a truck driver offers to pay for cock he's got some reaservations.

[drfuzzy]

Oh, please DON'T get him started on truck drivers!!  He'll start regaling us again with tales of a special truck driver who converted him and made him scream "OH MY GOD!" and he was devoted to Jeebus from that moment on . . .

[Thumpalumpacus]

Another point regarding North Korea: They fired off their first nuke on W's watch. If you're talking about responding to provocations in a strong manner, I'd say that's several orders of magnitude past buzzing a ship in international waters.

Of course, Dripshit gives W a pass, for being a right-wing Christian.

no they detonated a dirty bomb. It was a weak failed attempt at a nuke in 2006
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2006_North...clear_test

Bush gets a pass because his reaction promped a humble appology by Kim Jong IL:

On October 20, 2006, Kim Jong-il allegedly said that he was "sorry" over his country's nuclear test, and wished to return to talk with the United Nations. According to a Chinese envoy, Kim Jong Il said,
“
If the U.S. makes a concession to some degree, we will also make a concession to some degree, whether it be bilateral talks or six-party talks
”
Kim Jong-Il also stated that he had no future plans to test another nuclear device; the U.S. State Department discounted this report.[18]

Until Obama took office in 09 and they went blasting away again, and have met no reason to stop.

Setting aside the fact that your claim is arguable, you seem to still think buzzing a ship in international waters rates as more provocative than a dirty bomb being tested.

That rather impeaches your judgment, not that any further support for your weakness in that field is needed.

[Drich]

its not the act that the problem it is the sense of impunity in which the act is committed that is the problem. After Nkorea did what it did their was a series of appologies and a commitment to 'never do it again' (under bush) russia just spit in our eye and told us it was our fault that they didn't do anything wrong.

[abaris]

russia just spit in our eye and told us it was our fault that they didn't do anything wrong.

Which is entirely true. Since, as many of us already said, it was business as usual. If you were the least bit interested in history and/or politics outside your christian rightwing bubble, you would know that.

Sense of impunity, my ass. So, again, what would you do in order to not have a sense of impunity? Simple question, still no answer.

[TheRocketSurgeon]

In case someone hasn't already posted it, you should consider this map:



The U.S.S. Cook was operating very near to Russia. While the flyby was certainly provocative, no doubt its intent, I can't imagine we'd do differently if a Russian destroyer and frigate were operating in the Gulf of Mexico.

Edit to Add: Oh, and incidentally, the Cook is an Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer (DDG), literally one of the most advanced warships on the planet. The Su-24 bomber is a design from the 1970s, and posed little credible threat. Had the Cook wished to potentially start a war by shooting it down, they could have done so without difficulty. The anti-missile weapons on that DDG, like the SM2 Standard missile and the CIWS radar-guided gatling guns, are capable of hitting supersonic missiles 1/10th as wide, flying ~30 feet above sea level. They could have vaporized that plane miles from where it could see the ship. They chose not to, and whom the current Commander in Chief happens to be has next to nothing to do with a Captain's decisions in a potential threat situation. Stop with the hype and propaganda, or rather, stop believing those who feed it to you.

[abaris]

The U.S.S. Cook was operating very near to Russia. While the flyby was certainly provocative, no doubt its intent, I can't imagine we'd do differently if a Russian destroyer and frigate were operating in the Gulf of Mexico.

Even more so, since the ship was visiting Poland. To pay respect to the newly elected clerical fascists there, who just made it their business to cut the rights of their supreme court and come down hard on freedom of the press. A government just now rewriting it's own history by claiming that the 2010 plane crash in Russia has been a terrorist act. A government under heavy scrutiny by the EU and heavily opposed to Russia.

This in itself was an act of provocation on too many levels to count. So the Russians reacting to it, doesn't really come as a big surprise. They did it in the most harmless way possible, as I already mentioned, since the planes were unarmed, which the ship's sensors acknowledged. It was just a demonstration.

[Ivan Denisovich]

Even more so, since the ship was visiting Poland. To pay respect to the newly elected clerical fascists there,

Calling it fascist may be a bit too harsh but I won't quibble about such word choice. Clerical is spot on though.

A government just now rewriting it's own history by claiming that the 2010 plane crash in Russia has been a terrorist act.

Little correction here - claims about plane crash being something more than accident aren't new so gov is not rewriting history but firmly holding to it's own line from the time when it was in opposition.

A government under heavy scrutiny by the EU and heavily opposed to Russia.

L&J reason to oppose Russia may be idiotic but it is not like Poland have reasons to be cordial with said country. History kinda prevents such possibility.

[abaris]

L&J reason to oppose Russia may be idiotic but it is not like Poland have reasons to be cordial with said country. History kinda prevents such possibility.

Germany committed much bigger atrocities in Poland than the Russians. And yet, there's not that kind of animosity. True, the Soviets more or less called the shots for almost 40 years. Hungary or the Czech republic would have more reason to hate the Russians with 1956 or '68. Well, maybe the Gomulka crisis falls into the same category too. But if even a person like Lech Walsesa, heavily catholic, calls for moderation, it says something on the current government.

[Ivan Denisovich]

Germany committed much bigger atrocities in Poland than the Russians. And yet, there's not that kind of animosity.

Going by numbers probably but measuring atrocities in such way can lead one astray. There are others things to consider like the forced "alliance" and feeling that Russian are inferior. Being hurt by someone who you deem your lesser could affect one more I guess.

True, the Soviets more or less called the shots for almost 40 years.

Exactly.

Hungary or the Czech republic would have more reason to hate the Russians with 1956 or '68.

Probably, but psychology of societies isn't so easy. And at least Czechs that I talked to - not many - were bitter about Russian action.

Well, maybe the Gomulka crisis falls into the same category too.

It was something different I would say.

But if even a person like Lech Walsesa, heavily catholic, calls for moderation, it says something on the current government.

Wałęsa isn't someone that I'm willing to listen but there are many problems with current government.