U.S. Apologizes for Naval Vessel Being in The Way of Russian Fighters
Introduction; American Kestrel is the latest addition to our stable of writers here at TAH. He’s a former 18F special forces intel sergeant and he writes at a number of other places around the internet. Now he writes here, too. – Jonn
In response to Russia’s repeated flybys in the Baltic Sea, Secretary of State John Kerry made this authoritative statement:
“We condemn this kind of behavior. It is reckless. It is provocative. It is dangerous. And under the rules of engagement, that could have been a shoot-down. [The U.S.] is not going to be intimidated on the high seas.”
Here are five reasons (not an exhaustive list) the United States will CONTINUE to be “intimidated on the high seas.”
- Russia: See above.
- China: The U.S. has continued to do virtually nothing to prevent China from forcefully taking over territory in the South China Sea from our allies. The Chinese have literally built islands in contested waters, militarized said islands, and threatened U.S planes flying over “their airspace.”
- Iran:Iran captured our sailors, exploited them for propaganda, celebrated and mocked their capture in parade form, and have plans to commemorate the ordeal with the construction of a statue. Oh, and Secretary Kerry THANKED them for their professionalism.
- Funding: Chronic underfunding of Navy and Marine assets. Here’s one example. Six months ago, Lt. Gen. Jon Davis–the deputy commandant for Marine Aviation– stated that the F/A-18 was 19 percent below its minimum acceptable number of operational aircraft. This has resulted in less flight time for pilots and a five-year high in Marine aviation deaths.
- Poor leadership: Remember, Obama believes that Cold War-style tactics are ancient history. In Obama’s world, all “Western” style nations solve their problems with diplomacy (not of the gunboat variety). States taking over another country’s sovereign territory doesn’t happen anymore (except in Georgia, Ukraine and the South China Sea).
While the Obama administration tries desperately to fit the real world into their liberal international affairs framework, the realists of the world–Iran, Russia and China–are outplaying the United States at every turn.
In response to Russia’s provocation, Former Ambassador John Bolton stated, “I just hope Obama doesn’t apologize for destroyer getting in the way of that airplane.”
I’m sure this was said tongue-in-cheek but, after all of the apologies that have flowed from this administration, who knows anymore.
As an aside, being an Army guy, I realize that I should default to a Naval officer’s verbiage, but do people still refer to international waters as the “high seas?”
Category: Foreign Policy, Navy
Maybe Obama will go on an around-the-world apology tour, kowtowing to the leaders of Russia, China, Iran, etc. Does he not know he is viewed with disdain, that he is viewed as little more than comic relief by so many world leaders and his own citizens? He must, but apparently he doesn’t care. I hold equally with disdain those officials who surround him and kiss his ass at every opportunity.
Just who HASN’T B. Hussein 0bama bowed down to when he’s gone on one of his international junkets?
GOD, Jesus, Joseph and Mary, I need a drink…
Ha! You picked the only four he has NOT bowed down to… And drinking will not bring January any faster 🙂
Before he leaves, he will probably create “Office of the President Emeritus” and give himself the authority to apologize to the world once he’s out. It’ll give him an excuse to get away from Michelle.
As an aside, being an Army guy, I realize that I should default to a Naval officer’s verbiage, but do people still refer to international waters as the “high seas?”
And we like to throw in a hearty ARRR now and again. Seriously, it’s a valid term and still used.
And welcome aboard!!!!
Noted, and thanks.
Being a Navy guy … your Army guy style of writing is just fine with me.
Carry on!
Welcome Aboard AK.
Prior to deploying to Iraq as 11B, I did maritime/littoral deployments as a fleet sailor with the Navy.
Either term is used, I’d understand what you say regardless of whether you use Army or Navy words. 
“The Pond” is another acceptable term.
I remember, during the first part of Operation Decisive Edge, unknown aircraft flying into our AO, rapid or otherwise, listened to our vanguard warnings to turn away from their course and to leave the AO. All that was needed for them to do that was to hear, one time, “…United States Warship…” and they’d high tail it out of there. They did the same for our allies, after 3 warnings.
The Russian Navy was there to, but they didn’t want to play games with us, as the entire Adriatic was a NATO Armada pond, and they were greatly outnumbered.
What this SU-24 did was insane. Beyond the realm of dangerous. A very slight miscalculation and BOOM! Dead pilot and dead U.S. Sailors.
Follow that up with the reaction to the RC-135 this weekend. The pilot of the Russian fighter did a BARREL ROLL over the RC! More certifiable insanity.
http://www.cnn.com/2016/04/16/politics/russian-jet-barrel-rolled-us-aircraft/index.html
If the Rooskies don’t get a grip, we are on our way to another Hainan Island type incident.
Things similar to this happened in the 80’s, but nothing this reckless. We were “thumped”, planes put their wing over our wing. Stuff like that. But I chalked that up to isolated cases of temporary insanity by particular pilots. And even they stayed mostly within the bounds of relatively prudent behavior.
I remember one time when I was on an IO cruise on USS America back in 1983. The Iranian P-3 came a bit too close to us and we got on the radio and told them to depart or they would be slicked. I still remember the fear in the pilot’s voice as he apologized and beat feet. Real fear.
No more, sad to say.
It could have been a shoot down, so instead these clowns apologize. Makes no sense to any sane person.
Point well made, AK.
Not sure about any familial relationships, but I do remember taking short bay trips on the MV KESTREL in Auckland, New Zealand — but welcome aboard.
Not to be picky, but I would have gone with a slightly different headline on this since the potential apology was speculative on the part of Bolton and hasn’t actually happened yet. Something along the lines of:
U.S. to Apologize for Naval Vessel Being in The Way of Russian Fighters?
Same effect but it sticks to the facts.
You’re probably right. I just assumed the title was absurd enough to be considered sarcastic.
No worries, AK. The rest of the piece was solid.
Not with this administration.
Welcome, AK.
Time was, even during the Cold war, they played their games, but at the same time, we played ours.
Their flyby might be countered with a discreetly sent photo of one of their capital warships through the scope of a submarine, showing the details on the uniforms of the bridge crew, or other such message.
It was usually enough to get the point across.
Too many army guys. You didn’t even request permission to board this dingy!
Kestrel, welcome to This Ain’t Hell. As a regular contributor here, I can assure you, they’re a tough bunch to write for because they represent a huge body of military service experience and all the other associated knowledge gained during the performance of that service.
The primary problem is that they’re just so damned reluctant to express their richly informed opinions.
Heh…
Seriously, it’s good to have another contributor with solid credentials giving us more to chew on.
Welcome aboard.
P.S. You’ll know you’re on the right track when Lars responds,
“A.K., you’re fulla shit!”
Wear that as a badge of high honor.
Can’t wait. Thanks.
Russkie fighter jet pesters USAF recce plane…
http://edition.cnn.com/2016/04/16/politics/russian-jet-barrel-rolled-us-aircraft/index.html
American Kestrel: I suspect you realize that the description of the American Kestrel bird is, “Swift, silent and deadly”.
“Swift, Silent and Deadly” is the motto of the MARINES’ Recon. Unless you served with USMC Recon, I call fowl (sic) on your handle.
Welcome aboard. – An ex-8505 with 1st Recon
Celer Silens Mortalis!
BTW…how the heck did an 8505 wind up at first Recon?
No, I never served in the Marines.
However, the guy that married my Wife and I was a former Marine, and “swift, silent and deadly” describes our ceremony.
Thanks.
Pretty sure aGrimm was being “tongue-in-cheek” above, Kestrel. And at least he didn’t call you the FNG. (smile)
Welcome.
I got the humor.
OK, wasn’t sure and decided better to be sure than assume. It’s sometimes hard to tell from only written word vice in-person; the nonverbal clues aren’t there.
And Grimm can be, well, a touch grim from time to time. So “That’s my story, and I’m sticking to it.” (smile)
“And Grimm can be, well, a touch grim …”
I’m gonna tell my mommy on you for making fun of my name. I’m microaggressed – or something. Oh well, at least you gave me an excuse for another scotch – to soothe the pain of course. 🙂
PS: I do wood carvings and the American Kestrel is my favorite bird to carve, so AK already has a fan just because of his handle. Does that make sense? No, but what do you expect from a FNG/FMG?
Glad to be of service. (smile)
I pity the fool that gets elected in the Fall and has to clean up the shitpile left behind by bodaprez.