Last week Russian fighter jets flew 75 feet from USS Cook (ship superstructure). Two concerning encounters happened Tuesday night 4/12/16 on international waters. The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer had a Polish helicopter on board for training purposes. Supposedly the Russians were sending a message to Poland; which is a border country of Russia. The Polish government has expressed concern at earlier acts of Russian aggression by asking for more NATO troops to be deployed along the border. The overflight was conducted by a Russian SU-24 and helicopter. Polish helicopter training was interrupted due to the distance of the Russian overflight.
The US Naval ship Cook had been watched over by Russian intelligence. The U.S. crew radioed the Russian ship that they were just training. U.S. ships and aircraft run into Russians a lot, but they are usually conducted as safe operations. This time the U.S. crew said it was unsafe. Russian military aircraft and U.S. warships encounters have increased these past months. Back in October, U.S. Navy jets intercepted Russian Tu-142 aircraft, because they did a flyover of the carrier USS Ronald Reagan in the Pacific.
The Department of Defense said it will spend $3.4 billion in an effort to diminish Russian aggression against NATO allies. Moreover, the U.S. responded by deploying more military assets to Europe as part of Operation Atlantic Resolve. Earlier this month, the U.S. Air Force deployed F-15s in Iceland and the Netherlands and F-22s to the United Kingdom.
If we ever got to war with Russia the U.S. Senate would officially and legally give a declaration. The Constitution grants Congress the sole power to declare war. Congress has declared war officially only on 11 occasions, including its first declaration of war with Great Britain in 1812. Congress approved its last formal declaration of war during World War II. This action of Russia is kind of like a drive by threat of a rival gang. Is it worth an all out war? Usually it is not.
To learn more about this encounter click here.
To contact members of the Congressional Armed Services committee regarding this international military action CLICK HERE.
