buzzcut73: You do know our bases in Guam have been there since just after WWII don't you? They aren't exactly new. One of the reasons there is a continued presence is so that we don't have to build stupidly expensive bases in other countries. Last I knew, we were about to close our expensive base in Okinawa and move that operation to Guam.

Aside from all of that, Guam is a US territory, so we're pretty much obligated to defend it. Or do they not count because brown people live over there?

From what I've seen of overseas bases, basically everything has been rebuilt on that base twice over, or had the equivalent assets invested in them. The age of the base is irrelevant.

And yes, we are obligated to defend it. That's not really relevant either. People never want to justify the status quo with a quantifiable argument. Apparently we just need to keep doing shiat that is arguably good no matter the cost

Except when it comes to shiat in our own country.

And considering it's 1/10th the size of Rhode Island with 1/10th the population and no significant natural resources, how many military assets are required to secure their defense? I guarantee you the current answer to that is "as much as we can possibly justify"

Snarfangel: In retaliation, Obama fired up the meteor machine. Take that, you dirty Russkies.

Because all major military powers do this to each other every day.

More important question is why this is news now. Guam must need money I'm guessing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PjwXoWdhtVg

/ Tangentially relevant

AverageAmericanGuy: This is just to distract the Japanese from the murderous rampage a few days prior.

Don't blame me, I voted for Ackerman

SurelyShirley: Do the Russians have the right to bear bombers?

They launch bears. Steroided Kodiak bears. And attack blimps. If you want change, put out your cup.

texdent: Is Guam even that vital to us?

Only if we ever have to fight another war in Asia.

The Russians have been flying ELINT modified Bears to the edge of and sometimes into our air space since the 60s.  It's kinda their thing.  We fly out and say GTFO and they turn around and go back to Russia.  Everyone goes home and nothing happens (except that one time when someone collided with one by accident)

http://tu-95.net/tupolev-tu-95-bear-intercepts-from-the-1960s-till-t od ay/#

Doktor_Zhivago: The Russians have been flying ELINT modified Bears to the edge of and sometimes into our air space since the 60s.  It's kinda their thing.  We fly out and say GTFO and they turn around and go back to Russia.  Everyone goes home and nothing happens (except that one time when someone collided with one by accident)

http://tu-95.net/tupolev-tu-95-bear-intercepts-from-the-1960s-till-t od ay/#



As been said, this happens pretty much weekly, particularly in Alaska. Non-story.

HighOnCraic: [www.tommyjournal.com image 539x503]
"As Putin rears his head and comes into the airspace of the United States of America, where do they go? It's Alaska. It's just right over the border. It is from Alaska that we send those out to make sure that an eye is being kept on this very powerful nation, Russia, because they are right there, they are right next to our state."

I will always love that image.

ethics-gradient: Apparently Putin's getting more and more unpopular with an increasingly sophisticated Russian middle class, so his tactics get cruder and cruder to distract the window licker vote into kneejerk anti-Americanism.
Might work for him, maybe he actually means business. I dunno.

Really, people are thinking too much about this.

Putin's not going to do anything particularly provocative, especially with the G20-Finance going on this week.

ethics-gradient: Apparently Putin's getting more and more unpopular with an increasingly sophisticated Russian middle class, so his tactics get cruder and cruder to distract the window licker vote into kneejerk anti-Americanism.
Might work for him, maybe he actually means business. I dunno.

Our foreign policy is weak and our president prefers projecting power against terrorists instead of world powers. Look for the Chinese to make some noise around Taiwan next. America has bigger teeth but our lead wolf is a puppy.

archichris: Our foreign policy is weak and our president prefers projecting power against terrorists instead of world powers. Look for the Chinese to make some noise around Taiwan next. America has bigger teeth but our lead wolf is a puppy.

Holy shiat.. you are dangerously clueless.
I consider myself slightly to the right of the President in terms of foreign affairs (which would make me damn near imperialist), but what you just posted.. wow.

SurelyShirley: I think Russian bombers are the least of Guam's worries:
Link

Holy Shiat. Americans elected that moron? His command of the English language is amazing. Thanks for the giggle!

dennysgod: [www.geekyasianguy.com image 550x400]

Is Guam a scandal yet?

Shut up, Milhouse.

SurelyShirley: I think Russian bombers are the least of Guam's worries:
Link

Also I'm supposed to go out to Guam for two weeks this spring (work-related.) Any tips on what to do, besides lie on beach/drink until I'm having fun?

voodoomedic: SurelyShirley: I think Russian bombers are the least of Guam's worries:
Link

Holy Shiat. Americans elected that moron? His command of the English language is amazing. Thanks for the giggle!

As someone who lives in Hank Johnson's district.. yeah.. banner moment there. The sad thing is, he's still better than who he replaced, Cynthia McKinney.

/considered running against him

badhatharry: texdent: Is Guam even that vital to us?

Only if we ever have to fight another war in Asia.

Oh please, what possible strategic value would an island 1600 miles from the South China Sea have?

And yes, I'm being sarcastic.

PsiChick: PacManDreaming: jake_lex: I wonder how many American planes were probing Russian defenses at around the same time.  Or Chinese defenses.  Or North Korean defenses.  Etc. etc.

Non-story.

Yep. I keep forgetting that a lot of Farkers were born after the Cold War. If something like this is making them wet their pants, they would've been nervous wrecks in the '60s, '70s and '80s.

Actually, I'm kind of wondering if they honestly got lost and were too embarrassed to admit it, since TParanoidFA implied it was a training exercise. Or, hell, something equally stupid. I seriously doubt Russia's going to actually try fighting us after the Cold War, there's probably a lot of people in both America and Russia who would go let our leaders know where to shove it.

I would think it was a navigational training mission. As in, find this little island in the Pacific ocean and come back. They also do this with our carrier task forces.

deadsanta: Forget bear cavalry, the Russkies have bear bombers?!? We're so farked.

We have Raptors.