Sunday, February 12, 2012

Flexing The "Stupid" Muscle...!

That's something that politicians have been doing for years!

So many times we could have been in major trouble because of the stupid act of pulling the tail feathers of another country! Maybe it's not surprising that the U.S. has been the instigator of many of these cases of "Double Dare Ya!"

Think I'm kidding? Just check this story from History.com!

Feb 12, 1988:
Russian ships bump U.S. destroyer and cruiser

Two Soviet warships bump two U.S. navy vessels in waters claimed by the Soviet Union. The incident was an indication that even though the Cold War was slowly coming to a close, old tensions and animosities remained unabated.

The incident between the ships took place in the Black Sea, off the Crimean peninsula. The American destroyer Caron and cruiser Yorktown were operating within the 12-mile territorial limit claimed by the Soviet Union. They were challenged by a Soviet frigate and destroyer and told to leave the waters. Then, according to a Navy spokesman, the Soviet ships "shouldered" the U.S. ships out of the way, bumping them slightly. There was no exchange of gunfire, and the American ships eventually departed from the area. There was no serious damage to either U.S. vessel or any injuries.

In many ways, the incident was an unnecessarily provocative action by the United States. For many years, the United States had challenged the Russian claim of a 12-mile territorial limit in the waters off the Crimean peninsula. However, the timing and the use of the Caron in this particular operation made this a rather foolish act. The United States and the Soviet Union were engaged in negotiations to limit long-range nuclear weapons, and in December 1987, the important INF Treaty, by which both the United States and the Soviet Union agreed to eliminate their medium-range nuclear missiles in Europe, had been signed. The Caron was well known as an intelligence gathering vessel and its appearance in waters claimed by the Soviets would be seen as suspicious at best. For their part, the Soviets probably overreacted. American ships regularly moved through the area and were usually unchallenged. Perhaps the Soviet military felt a message should be sent that Russia, which was experiencing severe economic and political problems, was still a nation to be taken seriously as a major military power.

Now, you all know I totally support all our troops and appreciate all that they do. I only have a problem with the fact that most of our men and women in the armed services are foolishly put in harm's way far too often by leaders just wanting to play "King of the Mountain!" That's just my opinion, of course!

Once more it's coffee in the kitchen, as the rain is still here and the patio is wet!

7 comments:

Rob said...

I agree. Coffee indoors is a good thing. Cold here in Florida this am.

Gorges Smythe said...

There's always someone wanting to start a p_ssing contest!

Oldfool said...

I remember that event. I was living out of the country at the time and was coming to realize the being American was no protection at all. If you had a problem the U.S. government would just shrug it's shoulders and did nothing. That is unless it was involved in a "mine is bigger than yours" contest. We called it playing chicken with nukes.
In 1961 I was part of a the USA's nose thumbing and mooning of China close enough to see the beach. Their navy was very primitive and when we would be warned off we just laughed in their face at their coal burning tugboats they called warships and steamed off with a show of speed when we were good and ready. I'm sure there are plenty of living Chinese that remember those incidents of false bravado. I wonder whose laughing now.

Sixbears said...

They play King of the mountain, but it's our sons and daughters on the firing line. Darn few politicians have family in the military.

HermitJim said...

Hey Rob...
Ya know, like most folks I never think of Florida being cold! Funny how our perceptions of a place can be so wrong at times!

Stay warm and thanks for dropping by today!


Hey Gorges...
That does seem to be the case, doesn't it?

Too bad that so often leads to an armed conflict!

Thank you sir, for coming by today!


Hey OldFool...
Isn't that always the case? Starting something and then letting someone else finish it seems to be a game played by a lot of politicians even today!

Now days an action like that probably be met with one quick missile being fired! Probably wouldn't be us, either!

We just never seem to learn!

Thanks, my friend, for coming by today!


Hey Sixbears...
I'm starting to think that our leaders just feel they have to have some conflict going on to stay in power!

It would be nice to see one of them stand up and say "Enough! Bring 'em home!"

We all know that ain't gonna happen anytime soon! Makes way too much sense!

Thanks, buddy, for coming by today!

BBC said...

Soldiers don't start wars, fucking politicians do.

HermitJim said...

Hey BBC...
I couldn't agree with you more, my friend!

They start something and then send in the troops to clean up the mess!

That truly sucks, if you ask me!

Thanks for coming by this morning!