This sounds like fun. Playing rubber duckie in a small pond with explosives.

Reports: Russia To Send Warships To Mediterranean To Protest

[ For Educational Purposes Only ]

3/31/99 -- 4:40 AM

MOSCOW (AP) - Russia will send warships to the Mediterranean in response to NATO airstrikes against Yugoslavia after Moscow's diplomatic efforts failed to end the bombings, Russian news agencies reported today.

However, Russia has said repeatedly that its military will not become directly involved in the conflict in Yugoslavia.

[ Yeah, right, and we're 100% compliant & tested too ]
[ oopsie, how'd *that* accident occur? Must've been human error or malfunctioning equipment. Now that you mention it, didn't we publicly proclaim we'd use Y2K to "accidently" nuke you if you didn't leave Yugoslavia alone? oopsie, there goes another one ]

A squadron of seven ships, including missile frigates and anti-submarine frigates from the Black Sea fleet, will be sent to the Mediterranean in early April, the Interfax and ITAR-Tass news agencies reported. Turkey has been notified the squadron will pass through its Bosporus Straits that link the Black Sea to the Mediterranean, the reports said.

A Russian Navy spokesman, who requested anonymity, declined to confirm the reports, saying all Russian naval forces would be conducting training exercises in April.

The appearance of a Russian naval squadron in the Mediterranean could cause concern among NATO commanders. U.S. and allied warships are deployed in the region for operations against Yugoslavia.

President Boris Yeltsin and other officials have strongly condemned the NATO action but ruled out any Russian military intervention. While any deployment of warships would likely be symbolic, it would be a step up in the Russian response.

With its military and economy in shambles, Russia does not have the means to mount a credible military response to support its Yugoslav ally. Moscow is also desperate to secure new Western loans to prop up its economy.

[ Nothing like a Bear faking an injury while preparing to ambush ]

Prime Minister Yevgeny Primakov returned to Moscow today after his diplomatic mission to Yugoslavia failed to produce a breakthrough. Moscow had hoped to resume international talks on ending the Kosovo dispute.

Primakov said he believed Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic had signaled he was ready to start talks on a peaceful solution.

``A signal was received from Milosevic which, in Russia's opinion, is sufficient for starting a political process and renouncing military options which are leading the sides nowhere except to a deadlock,'' Primakov said on Russia's NTV television channel.

Alexander Lebed, a leading nationalist politician and a presidential aspirant, said Russia should break the U.N. arms embargo on Yugoslavia and provide military aid, such as air defense missiles, to the Serbs. Several other opposition leaders have said Moscow should supply weapons to Belgrade.

``We are witnessing a precedent of (NATO's) total and global control being formed, which is very dangerous for Russia, Europe and the world,'' Lebed said Tuesday.

The Russian military has suspended contacts with NATO in protest over the alliance's action in Yugoslavia and recalled its general representing the Defense Ministry at NATO headquarters.
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Anybody from the Navy here posting/reading? How would you feel sharing the Mediterranean, maybe the Adriatic, with Russian warships during a war where they're really mad at you. Hhhmmmm. Please comment.

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-- Leska (allaha@earthlink.net), March 31, 1999

Answers

If the Russians are swimming around stung, humiliated, angry as hornets, with their stingers loaded and ready to fire, will they show restraint? Has this situation ever occurred before?

mmmmmmmmmm mmmmmmmmmm mmmmmmmmm

-- Ashton (allaha@earthlink.net), March 31, 1999.

This sort of thing happened all the time during the Cold War. The only difference is there've been lots of exchange visits since then. I hope this movement is nothing more than an empty gesture to Yugoslavia. Fingers crossed.

-- Old Git (anon@spamproblems.com), March 31, 1999.

Thanks, Old Git! Finding out it has happened before without major disaster is a relief. Like most, we're always searching and hoping for good news in the middle of dark swirling.

-- Leska (allaha@earthlink.net), March 31, 1999.

Must add I've never been in the Navy, but you know Sweetie (who WAS in the Navy) will tell you I can say "Hello, Sailor!" in seven languages. Was described as "a leading light" in the British community in New Orleans, always at the forefront with a committee when Royal Navy ships visited--including those part of Nato squadrons. Also knew lots of people from several countries from Nato US HQ in Norfolk. Those chosen for Nato duties are la creme so I doubt there'll be any slippy fingers. As for the Russian Navy, I keep seeing pictures of the sailors "let loose" for the first time in New Orleans and Norfolk, video of the young lads and their officers at supermarkets, movies, clothing stores, electronics stores. invited out for family stuff with American families--and it's been going on for well over 10 years now. Let's hope the young sailors and officers, who are now older and probably wiser, made some lasting friendships and adjusted their mindset.

-- Old Git (anon@spamproblems.com), March 31, 1999.

Old Git, New Orleans sounds amazing. Have read about Nola in Anne Rice books, and want to go there someday (fat chance of that now!). The cultural exchanges you describe must be good for increased understanding. Thanks -- those types of descriptions give us much to think about.

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-- Leska (allaha@earthlink.net), March 31, 1999.

US and Soviet ships have played games for years. The Soviets used the Med for years, but that has been curtailed recently (costs money to sail ships). Both sides have 'raced' to see who has the fastest ships, there actually was a case of a collision between two ships (only minor damage), and one incident of the Soviets conducting naval gunfire practice by shooting over a US cruiser -- which just happened to be claiming 'right of passage' within Soviet waters.

The boys have fun and play nice -- or at least they used to.

-- been (on@a.few), March 31, 1999.

Here's hoping their "antics" don't become nasty. Manners have been in decline recently.

-- Leska (allaha@earthlink.net), March 31, 1999.

and all in the same week we tell them we are sending them another $4 billion.

Got fox holes?

-- Taz (Tassie@aol.com), March 31, 1999.

Not to worry. The Russians will all go home when their toilet paper runs out. I have more TP in my attic than they have in their whole country. They couldn't resupply any of their ships for any length of time. The Russian Navy is a joke. The country of Russia is a joke.

-- Admiral Rickover (glow@nuke.com), March 31, 1999.

A joke country with nuclear bombs and citizens armed with hand held rocket launchers (non-functioning this time)!

-- Bill (y2khippo@yahoo.com), March 31, 1999.

Really. Some joke. What's the punch line?

-- Spidey (in@jam.commie), March 31, 1999.

Nobody remembers the Chechens, who totally kicked Russia's ass with just a few homeboys. Not that there weren't a few dinks in some Chechen hides at the end of the day. Anyway, that's why the only possible US-Rusian war would go nuclear, real fast.

-- Blue Himalayan (bh@k2.y), March 31, 1999.

Sheesh!

More saber rattling. Who knows, maybe they're carrying humanitarian aid supplies for the refugees.

That would be "unexpected."

Diane

-- Diane J. Squire (sacredspaces@yahoo.com), March 31, 1999.

And now to tie in Y2K with the War in yet another way ...
There might be something to this March 31st + eMail + virus wave:
This just up on AP Breaking News:

[ For Educational Purposes Only ]

3/31/99 -- 10:28 AM

BRUSSELS, Belgium (AP) - NATO said Wednesday that Yugoslav computer hackers are inundating its web site with viruses and firing off thousands of e-mails each day, overloading the site.

``We have been dealing with some hackers in Belgrade who have hacked into our web site and caused line saturation of the server,'' NATO spokesman Jamie Shea said.

``Our e-mail system has also been saturated by one individual who is currently sending us 2,000 e-mails a day, and we are dealing with macro viruses from Yugoslavia into our e-mail system,'' Shea added.

NATO officials said the disruption was limited to the web site and e-mail system and was not affecting military computers.

NATO began air assaults on Yugoslavia last Wednesday in response to a deadly, widespread Serbian crackdown on ethnic Albanians in the southern province of Kosovo.
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It's getting weird ...

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-- Leska (allaha@earthlink.net), March 31, 1999.

Included the URL formatting in above post, but it didn't show up; left out one little > that'll do it:

Yugoslav Computer Hackers Disrupting NATO E-Mail

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-- Leska (allaha@earthlink.net), March 31, 1999.

SERBIA MUST BE DESTROYED!!!

-- K Steve (Lurker123@Serbs suck.com), March 31, 1999.

A lot of folks have tried, starting with the Romans ( Balkan History )

What makes you think that the current crop of contestants have any better chance than the earlier ones?

-- Hardliner (searcher@internet.com), March 31, 1999.

"But Mr. President, our hackers are better than their hackers!"

-- Spidey (in@jam.com), March 31, 1999.

I wonder what else they talked about in these closed sessions:

Moscow, March 31(AFP)-Russia should use it's nuclear weapons if it's security is threatened, armed forces Chief of Staff General Anatoly Kvashnin said Wednesday, the Interfax news agency reported.

"If the choice between life or death for Russia, then whatever armed forces have, in particular nuclear weapons, should be used," the general told Interfax.

The armed forces chief was speaking after a closed session of the State Duma, the lower house of the Russian parliament, on the state of the Russian military.

http://asia.yahoo.com/headlines/310399/world/922885 680-90331130833.newsworld.html

-- Deborah (infowars@yahoo.com), March 31, 1999.

man... this just get's better and better... uh, or is that worser and worser? eh... what ever.

"Russia should use it's nuclear weapons if it's security is threatened,"

I'd say massing a few hundred thousand troops, armor, etc. to invade Kosovo and Yugoslavia MIGHT make the Russians a little nervous about their own security.

This would has gone absolutely insane and the really interesting thing is I think Russia has shown a whole lot of restraint thus far.

Mike ==============================================================

-- Michael Taylor (mtdesign3@aol.com), March 31, 1999.

Not for the serious,...this link to:

A novel resolutions for the Kosovos problem from your friends at The Onion

-- Donna Barthuley (moment@pacbell.net), March 31, 1999.

I usually lurk, but c'mon guys, Serbia is the modern day version of nazi Germany or Stalin's USSR. Really, this is why I joined the Marines. What a "good" fight. The Serbs have shown themselves to be butchers and savages, going back to 1991. I DESPISE Klinton, but this is one fight we MUST not flinch from. If your neighbor was being robbed, his wife raped, and dog slaughtered, would you just stand there????????????? If so, then may y2k strike you down. InFidEl!!

-- Richard, USMC (rkb65@hotmail.com), March 31, 1999.

I was in 1st grade when Japan invaded Manchuria. In 3rd grade when Hitler took power. In 5th grade when Italy invaded Abyssinia. In my first year of high school when Germany invaded Poland. Had just graduated from college when North Korea invaded South Korea.

In those days I knew from nothing. And I'm a slow learner. But by now I can put together what I see happening in the world. This current business in Yugoslavia is like seeing an avalanche starting on the slopes up above the road you're on. The difference is, with luck and skill you might outrun the avalanche. I don't see how to dodge what seems to be coming down now.

Yeah, I agree this is way off topic here. Unless Y2k turns out to be the wild card in the game. Either way, it's going to be interesting.

-- Tom Carey (tomcarey@mindspring.com), April 01, 1999.

Tom, it does seem an uneasy poke into an evil festering wound that inflames quickly and infects widespread. The Serbs shoved aggression back into NATO's face. But the Serbs were showing disturbing indications of re-Hitler puppetry. Don't know what to think, but have a black uneasy feeling. It has made us realize that Y2K is at least a familiar form of stupidity and actually will be easier to survive than Balkanized war, because after all our neighborhoods are all American. At least everybody around here speaks bare English!

I do not believe Y2K will be as villainously ferocious as the current Kosovo scorched earth burning genocide rampage.

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-- Leska (allaha@earthlink.net), April 01, 1999.

Richard, I admire your spirit, but I've been seeing reports that most of the Kosovo Albanians are fairly recent (post-WW2) immigrants from Albania itself, moved into Yugoslavia for economic reasons. Doesn't justify brutal treatment, but puts things in a different light. US govt may do something similar to Mexican economic immigrants one day in the near future...

-- Blue Himalayan (bh@k2.y), April 01, 1999.

Ow. This does not look good. They may use our soldiers as bait.

BULLETIN

[ For Educational Purposes Only ]

4/1/99 -- 2:07 AM

BELGRADE, Yugoslavia (AP) - Serbian television showed pictures Thursday of men it said were three U.S. soldiers who disappeared near the Yugoslav-Macedonia border. There was no independent confirmation that Serbian officials had captured the men.

The pictures showed the three men, wearing camouflage uniforms, with blood on their faces. They were speaking to someone off camera, and subtitles were shown with what the Serb TV said were their names.
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Ugh. Good night, folks; tomorrow may be an intense news day.

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-- Leska (allaha@earthlink.net), April 01, 1999.

Guys, this may or may not be of interest...

..but you are not the only people who think that Kosovo could turn into a bloody mess. My understanding from Canberra is that there was a Cabinet/defence meeting on it Tuesday, and that the prevailing opinion was "it could get REAL ugly. Stay out at all costs."

Now if only the rest of the world could be as intelligent as down here ;)

-- Leo (lchampion@ozemail.com.au), April 01, 1999.

This hit me as being a security threat to Russia as well.

We now have B1-B and B2 Stealth bombers operating in the region. Correct me if I'm wrong but weren't these planes developed to be a long range nuclear strike threat to the USSR? I think the U.S. would go crazy if planes such as these were based in Cuba.

Mike ================================================================

-- Michael Taylor (mtdesign3@aol.com), April 01, 1999.

Donna: ROTFLMAO!!

-- coprolith (coprolith@rocketship.com), April 01, 1999.

Speaking of ships, and wars, and Y2K, and rollovers, here's an excellent article on the upcoming GPS rollover August 22.

" ... Developed by the military as a precise navigation system for ships, planes and ground troops, GPS navigation is used in everything from Tomahawk cruise missiles and smart bombs to Coast Guard cutters and tankers. ..."

Hhhmmmm.

GPS Meets Y2K

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-- Leska (allaha@earthlink.net), April 01, 1999.

You think y2k problem? WWIII BIGER problem. Live near train tracks(say what ever Mr. BIG guy. (don't drop your keys)) see more Big stuff on the move.

-- BIG T you guess (DUMB@blond.Hee), April 01, 1999.

The very idea of the US and Russian navies floating in close proximity of one another gives me chills.

There is a distinct possibility this conflict could get hot quickly.

Russia going nuclear first, or by accident (Y2K... sorry...), looks plausible. Who knows, maybe Y2K will be the ploy to GO nuclear...

"What if's" will drive you crazy if you let it.

I think there is a major turning point in human existance just around the corner... Now what is it going to be.......

Y2K may only be the beginning...

-- Dog (desert dog @-sand.com), April 04, 1999.

You think y2k problem? WWIII BIGER problem. Live near train tracks (say what ever Mr. BIG guy. (don't drop your keys)) see more Big stuff on the move. -- BIG T you guess (DUMB@blond.Hee), April 01, 1999.

Ya wanna try fleshing that out a bit??
What part of the country??

What kind of STUFF??

Chuck

-- Chuck, a night driver (reinzoo@en.com), April 04, 1999.