Current Events –
Russia Tests US Resolve
With Missile, Spying
Amid reports that Donald Trump and his administration may be in bed with Vladimir Putin, Russia is blatantly testing the limits of US resolve by violating a Cold War missile treaty and sailing spy ships along the eastern seaboard.
Current Events
Earlier this week, Russia purposely violated the 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty by developing and testing a prohibited Cold War-era cruise missile. Three years ago, then-President Obama accused the Russians of taking steps to violate the INF treaty, a charge they adamantly denied. Now, the Russians have proven Mr. Obama’s premonition to be correct.
U.S. intelligence agencies believe the missile became operational late last year after the November election, which has understandably caused concern on Capitol Hill, where Sen. John McCain, the Senate Armed Services Committee chairman, called on the Trump administration to ensure that US nuclear forces in Europe are ready.
“Russia’s deployment of nuclear-tipped ground-launched cruise missiles in violation of the INF treaty is a significant military threat to US forces in Europe and our NATO allies,” McCain said in a statement. He added that he believes Russian President Vladimir Putin is “testing” Trump.
Meanwhile, a US defense official has confirmed that a Russian spy ship has been sailing 30 miles off the coast of a Connecticut Navy Base and that an armed Russian warplane recently carried out a “mock attack” against a US ship.
The vessel (known as “The Leonov”) is a Vishnya-class spy ship and is outfitted with an impressive variety of high-tech spying equipment designed to intercept intelligence signals.
The ship is part of Russia’s northern fleet on the North Sea that stopped over in Cuba. The fact that it sailed along the eastern seaboard of the United States from Cuba to Connecticut, likely intercepting communication calls and intelligence signals along the way, should be of grave concern to the Trump administration.
So, exactly what are Donald Trump and his administration doing to address the anti-treaty missile test? Or the spy ship brazenly sailing along the eastern US? Or Russia’s annexation of Crimea? Absolutely nothing!
Granted, a military official said that the US Navy is “keeping a close eye on it [the spy ship],” but that’s really it.
John Tierney, executive director of the Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation, said strategic stability on the European continent is at stake.
“If true, Russia’s deployment of an illegal ground-launched cruise missile represents a very troubling development and should be roundly condemned,” Tierney said.
Donald Trump is currently without a national security adviser following the forced resignation Monday night of Michael Flynn. However, his inaction regarding the 2 Russian operations against the US only plays deeper into the perception that Trump and his cronies are mere puppets of Vladimir Putin and the Russian government.
Is Donald Trump too incompetent to recognize the immediate threat from Russia to US national security, or is he purposely turning a blind eye in a “wink-and-a-nod” move to an adversary he’s deeply indebted to?
Either way, both are wrong!
Many Trump supporters said they voted for him because they didn’t like the Hillary Clinton “email scandal” (although Trump is doing the exact same thing with an unsecured and personal Android cellphone and Twitter account). They also said they wanted an outsider who “tells it like it is.” Well, is this REALLY the person you want in control of life or death decisions as Russia proceeds with illegal nuclear warheads while sailing a few miles outside your bedroom window??
It’s easy to laugh at the horrific incompetence of Donald Trump and his White House. However, the joke is not so funny once we recognize the severity and dire consequences from the aggressive actions of a foreign government.
You are right DJ this is not funny anymore. We are all in some serious danger no joke. This is not going to end well, I just hope it is sooner than later.