US General Philip Breedlove, the outgoing Supreme Allied Commander for NATO, is calling for the US to bring back U-2 spy planes to Europe to conduct increased surveillance of the Russian military, insisting NATO needs more intelligence collection against them.
High-flying U-2 planes were a major component of US surveillance of Soviet territory through much of the Cold War. However, in recent years the U-2 has largely been supplanted by the use of satellites for reconnaissance, and the planes have been scheduled for retirement for a decade now.
Gen. Breedlove, who has been pushing for an ever-increasing US military presence in Europe to target Russia, argued that Russia poses a “long-term existential threat” to the United States, and that more surveillance of the nation is needed.
Experts indicate that even if the U-2s are sent to Europe, they almost certainly will not overfly Russian territory, but will instead climb to a high operating altitude within NATO airspace and surveil Russian border areas.
To be involved with NATO one has to be a total moron I take it. I thought that that fruit Fog Rasmussen was about as dumb as it gets, but Interbreedluv is doing his best to surpass him.
Gen. Phillip Strangelove is a tin-hat crackpot straight out of central casting.
The best way to retire all U-2’s is to fly them over Russian territory.
LOL, excellent. I suspect Putin isn’t as irresponsible as, say, that embodiment of an existential threat: Erdogan.
RUSSIA — OUR EXISTENTIAL BLESSING
For example, Russia causing Syria to give away it’s chemical weapons, Russia bombing the Islamic State to the extent that our Empire is void of an excuse to invade Syria and now Putin bringing his fighter-bombers out of Syria establishing that nothing short of an angel from heaven is that most affectionate caregiver Russia.
Russia as “existential blessing”– I like that.
Breedlove is a dinosaur from the Cold War days. Can’t retire these guys quick enough. Unfortunately, the next class of “warrior” generals are not much better – maybe even worse. These modern day “crusaders” – especially in the Air Force officer corps – are more interested in flexing their gladiator hormones than waging diplomacy.
Is this a response to Trump’s view that NATO is a costly and obsolete relic that ought to be “retired”? You know, defensive bureaucratic pushback?
And here was me thinking The US keyhole surveillance satellites could read the print on Izvestia in red square! OOp’s perhaps the US satellites have over blown capabilities.
General Philip Van Winkle!
Actually Breedlove(hate) Europe should kick NATO out along with the U.S. DC stormtroopers.
NATO must go – it’s belligerence is a major threat to world peace.
Trump is right. Nato leaders are delusional.
Russia would defeat them within a matter of days.
It is a parent that NATO lacks surveillance resources to keep an eye on Russia. Calling for U2 Surveillance planes, old technology, is sure indication our Satellite surveillance are not working properly. Interesting. Why? Is it because United States resources for surveillance is spread so thing all over the world.
It sounds like its time for Europe to pick up the Cost of such surveillance on Russia for their own defense of Europe. Trump is correct, Europe is spoiled, and needs to get more skin in the game for own defense.