Russian Bombers Intercepted Near US Coast

http://www.theblaze.com/stories/report-russian-nuclear-capable-bombers-intercepted-near-west-coast-for-second-time-in-2-weeks/

http://freebeacon.com/putins-july-4th-message/

I know that I come across as a broken record, but like him or not, but G.W. Bush's biggest foreign policy blunder, beyond a shadow of a doubt, was alienating Russia.

The US had a grand opportunity for a easy win-win relationship with Russia. I can't even begin to imagine the range and scale of business partnerships that could have been made. We could have had a ready and able partner to balance against the military and economic growth with China. Russia's strategic location would have been ideal for coordinating anti-terror operations instead of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, etc. Unlike Eastern or Muslim-majority nations, they think and act more like we do. They also have a long tradition of an Apostolic Christianity.

Instead, we took advantage of their economic turmoil and trouble with Chechnya, rounded up their old Warsaw Pact satellites and former USSR countries, and brought them either into NATO or trained and supplied them in an manner that could be seen as provocative or threatening to Russia. We also created another missile threat for them. Those missiles, if they were only intended for defense against Iran, could have been deployed in a manner that did not make the Russians feel as if they were being targeted and pushed into a corner.

-Now, having regained their footing, they are letting us know that the Bear was not quite dead.

"Two Russian strategic nuclear bombers entered the U.S. air defense zone near the Pacific coast on Wednesday and were met by U.S. interceptor jets, defense officials told the Free Beacon.

It was the second time Moscow dispatched nuclear-capable bombers into the 200-mile zone surrounding U.S. territory in the past two weeks.

An earlier intrusion by two Tu-95 Bear H bombers took place near Alaska as part of arctic war games that a Russian military spokesman said included simulated attacks on “enemy” air defenses and strategic facilities.

A defense official said the Pacific coast intrusion came close to the U.S. coast but did not enter the 12-mile area that the U.S. military considers sovereign airspace.

The bomber flights near the Pacific and earlier flights near Alaska appear to be signs Moscow is practicing the targeting of its long-range air-launched cruise missiles on two strategic missile defense sites, one at Fort Greely, Alaska and a second site at Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif.

In May, Russian Gen. Nikolai Makarov, the chief of the Russian General Staff, said during a Moscow conference that because missile defense systems are destabilizing, “A decision on pre-emptive use of the attack weapons available will be made when the situation worsens.” The comments highlighted Russian opposition to planned deployments of U.S. missile defense interceptors and sensors in Europe.".........

We really screwed this one up badly. The Russians don't take kindly to being treated as aslo-rans or has-beens. Russia is too inherently strong to be brushed aside. This is why they conducted naval maneuvers with Venezuela a while back, invaded a region of Georgia in which many Russians lived, and are letting us know that their bombers can reach us. They in all likelihood expected that the end of the Cold War would see an era of cooperation between Russia and the US. That image was conveniently shattered by a smug US.

.....and now, unless we pull back withing our borders, which may be necessary soon anyway if the dollar collapses, we will have to contend with the rise of hostile elements of  China, Islam, and Russia. 
Those of course are in addition to the rise of Leftism in the US, which is an internal threat that itself threatens the onset of civil war.

Great job, G.W.