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Russia Relaunches Cold War Patrols

Pointed message to US from Putin

By Mary Papenfuss,  Newser Staff

Posted Aug 18, 2007 8:06 AM CDT

(Newser) – In a resumption of some of the tension reminiscent of the Cold War and a message to the US, Russian President Vladimir Putin has relaunched long-range Russian bomber patrols after a 15-year hiatus. Fourteen bombers took off yesterday just days after Russian jets buzzed the skies off Guam and began exercises over the North Pole.

Russia ended such flights in 1992, though "unfortunately, our example was not followed by everyone," Putin said, apparently referring to the US. That "creates problems for security." If Russia "wants to take these old aircraft out of mothballs, that's their decision," said State Department spokesman Sean McCormack.

A Russian Tu-160 strategic bomber flies above an airfield near the northern city of Murmansk, Russia, in this Tuesday, Aug. 16, 2005 file photo. Russia's President Vladimir Putin said Friday he ordered to resume regular long-range flights by Russia's strategic bombers. (AP Photo/ITAR-TASS, Presidential Press Service, Alexei Panov)
A Russian Tu-160 strategic bomber flies above an airfield near the northern city of Murmansk, Russia, in this Tuesday, Aug. 16, 2005 file photo. Russia's President Vladimir Putin said Friday he ordered...   (Associated Press)
ed some 6,000 troops from Russia and China and also a handful of soldiers from four ex-Soviet Central Asian nations that are part of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, a regional group dominated by Moscow and Beijing.  (AP Photo/RIA-Novosti, Dmitry Astakhov, Presidential Press Service)
ed some 6,000 troops from Russia and China and also a handful of soldiers from four ex-Soviet Central Asian nations that are part of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, a regional group dominated by...   (Associated Press)
Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks to the media after joint military exercises at Chebarkul testing range on Friday, Aug. 17, 2007. President Vladimir Putin said Friday that he had ordered the military to resume regular long-range flights of strategic bombers, news agencies reported. Russian and Chinese forces on Friday held...
Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks to the media after joint military exercises at Chebarkul testing range on Friday, Aug. 17, 2007. President Vladimir Putin said Friday that he had ordered the military...   (Associated Press)
entral Asian nations that are part of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, a regional group dominated by Moscow and Beijing.  (AP Photo/RIA-Novosti, Dmitry Astakhov, Presidential Press Service)
entral Asian nations that are part of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, a regional group dominated by Moscow and Beijing. (AP Photo/RIA-Novosti, Dmitry Astakhov, Presidential Press Service)   (Associated Press)
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