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Eugene

(61,592 posts)
Wed Jun 21, 2017, 11:51 AM Jun 2017

NATO jet approached plane carrying Russian defense minister, reports say

Source: Washington Post

NATO jet approached plane carrying Russian defense minister, reports say

By Andrew Roth June 21 at 8:26 AM

MOSCOW — A NATO F-16 fighter approached and was then warned away from a jet carrying Russia’s defense minister, Russian media reported Wednesday, the latest in a string of aerial incidents that have marked rising tensions between the West and Russia.

The incident occurred over the Baltic Sea in northeast Europe, according to reporters traveling with the defense minister, Sergey Shoigu, in international airspace crowded with Russian and NATO jets testing one another’s nerve in close — sometimes dangerously — proximity.

But no incidents yet had involved high-ranking members of the Russian or U.S. government on board.

There was no immediate comment from NATO, which has been conducting military exercises in Eastern Europe, nor was it clear which nation was flying the NATO warplane. The alliance’s press office responded to phone calls with a press statement concerning NATO intercepts of Russian aircraft last week.

Shoigu landed in Kaliningrad on Wednesday.

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Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/nato-jet-approached-plane-carrying-russian-defense-minister-reports-say/2017/06/21/a082ad9e-5674-11e7-a204-ad706461fa4f_story.html
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NATO jet approached plane carrying Russian defense minister, reports say (Original Post) Eugene Jun 2017 OP
Supposedly, Gen. Mattis is in charge of deciding how to use force Kolesar Jun 2017 #1

Kolesar

(31,182 posts)
1. Supposedly, Gen. Mattis is in charge of deciding how to use force
Wed Jun 21, 2017, 12:30 PM
Jun 2017

That is a function that is supposed to be with the State Dept and the President. Who knows what Tillerson is doing, besides lobbying to remove sanctions so Exxon can drill the Russian Arctic.

All the ambassadors were fired and driven off months ago. State dept employees who understood Russia were dismissed. About 36 of 37 appointments at the Army are yet unfilled.

They are not prepared to deal with Russia or anybody.

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