Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

unhappycamper

(60,364 posts)
Thu Jul 9, 2015, 08:06 AM Jul 2015

Air Force Secretary Deborah Jones calls Russia the ‘biggest threat’ to US security

http://www.rawstory.com/2015/07/air-force-secretary-deborah-jones-calls-russia-the-biggest-threat-to-us-security/

Air Force Secretary Deborah Jones calls Russia the ‘biggest threat’ to US security
International Business Times
08 Jul 2015 at 23:05 ET

U.S. Air Force Secretary Deborah Jones said on Wednesday that she considers Russia to be the biggest threat to American national security, according to Reuters. Tensions have risen recently in light of what Washington views as an increasingly confrontational Kremlin.

"I do consider Russia to be the biggest threat,” James told Reuters after a series of meetings and visits with European allies, including Poland. The U.S. is urging its NATO allies to commit to spend 2 percent of their gross domestic products on the defense, though the countries doing so have been slow to make the commitment. “This is no time to in any way signal a lack of resolve in the face of these Russian actions.”

Russia has been seen as an increasingly aggressive force in the region since the uprising in Ukraine. Putin has announced the expansion of his country’s intercontinental ballistic missile capacity as well, and there have been a string of close encounters between NATO aircraft and Russian aircraft in what is suspected to be a threat from Putin to western countries. Russia is also reportedly developing multipurpose missile launchers that it will install onto ships in the Russian Navy. The new launchers will be able to shoot different types of missiles from the same launcher tube.

In response, the United States recently threatened to send the top American F-22 fighter jets to the region to keep the Kremlin threat in line.

--

Russia? Really?

ISIL
Middle East exploding
Pivot to Asia
A forever AUMF

I think the chickenshit hawks are the biggest threat.
10 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Air Force Secretary Deborah Jones calls Russia the ‘biggest threat’ to US security (Original Post) unhappycamper Jul 2015 OP
Blah, blah, blah. SamKnause Jul 2015 #1
Makes me wonder what will happen once the Insurance Industry and the MIC have to djean111 Jul 2015 #2
Enough of war mongerin newfie11 Jul 2015 #3
Is it budget time? Sherman A1 Jul 2015 #4
Chickenhawks and the DoD are now working on the 2016 budget. unhappycamper Jul 2015 #5
I am sure that we need to replace and upgrade Sherman A1 Jul 2015 #7
Career-promoting time-servers like Sec. Jones are the biggest threat to the USA. bemildred Jul 2015 #6
Word. nt Mnemosyne Jul 2015 #8
She might look in her own backyard, first. GeorgeGist Jul 2015 #9
Good old ISIL, we get along jakeXT Jul 2015 #10

SamKnause

(13,107 posts)
1. Blah, blah, blah.
Thu Jul 9, 2015, 08:16 AM
Jul 2015

The Pentagon, The Military Brass, Wall Street, CEO's,

Lobbyists, and our revolving door government is the biggest

threats to the citizens of the U.S. and sadly many other countries.

 

djean111

(14,255 posts)
2. Makes me wonder what will happen once the Insurance Industry and the MIC have to
Thu Jul 9, 2015, 08:17 AM
Jul 2015

fight each other for our money.

And, yeah, some people sure do want to start some more wars.

newfie11

(8,159 posts)
3. Enough of war mongerin
Thu Jul 9, 2015, 08:25 AM
Jul 2015

How many wars are WE in now? How many countries are we currently bombing?
How many foreign bases are we up now?
Didn't we just send troops to 3 countries bordering Russia?

And RUSSIA is a threat????

Give me a freaking break!
The REAL threat is the MIC and their corporate lords wanting more money!
To hell with humanity!

Sherman A1

(38,958 posts)
4. Is it budget time?
Thu Jul 9, 2015, 08:50 AM
Jul 2015

sounds so much like the inflatable soviet threat doll that was rolled out each year in the past at budget time .

unhappycamper

(60,364 posts)
5. Chickenhawks and the DoD are now working on the 2016 budget.
Thu Jul 9, 2015, 09:08 AM
Jul 2015

We need more ships, aircraft, spacecraft, more drones, more precision weapons, more .........

When you buy UNFINISHED aircraft carriers to the tune of $13.9 billion dollars it's getting tough for the MIC to claim they need more money.

The Navy is building 1 ~ 2 Virginia-class submarines for $$7 ~ $9 billion dollars each. (They are also bitching that Ohio-class subs need to be replaced).

One of the cheapest ships we have built over the last ten years is a Coast Guard cutter:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Security_Cutter



Name: Legend-class National Security Cutter
Preceded by: Hamilton-class cutter
Cost: $684m(average), $735m(FY13 ship)[



Sherman A1

(38,958 posts)
7. I am sure that we need to replace and upgrade
Thu Jul 9, 2015, 09:47 AM
Jul 2015

equipment, but much of what we have is more than effective and probably doesn't need to be replaced with "the newest gee whiz, really won't work in any event, not really state of the art" designs.

bemildred

(90,061 posts)
6. Career-promoting time-servers like Sec. Jones are the biggest threat to the USA.
Thu Jul 9, 2015, 09:35 AM
Jul 2015

We are rotting from within.

Latest Discussions»Issue Forums»Foreign Affairs»Air Force Secretary Debor...