Miami – Kerry Says Navy Ship Could Have Fired On Russian Planes

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    An U.S. Navy picture shows what appears to be two Russian Sukhoi SU-24 attack aircraft flying over the U.S. guided missile destroyer USS Donald Cook in the Baltic Sea in this picture taken April 12, 2016 and released April 13, 2016.  Two Russian warplanes with no visible weaponry flew near the destroyer in what one U.S. official described as one of the most aggressive interactions in recent memory.  REUTERS/US Navy/Handout Miami – Secretary of State John Kerry said Thursday that under U.S. military rules of engagement, the Navy ship that Russian military jets buzzed in the Baltic Sea this week could have opened fire.

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    The guided-missile destroyer USS Donald Cook reported that pairs of Russian Su-24 attack planes made numerous close-range passes on Monday and Tuesday. The planes appeared to be unarmed. On at least one occasion an Su-24 came within an estimated 30 feet of the Cook, which was in international waters about 70 nautical miles from the Russian enclave of Kaliningrad, which hosts Russian military forces.

    The Cook did not respond except to unsuccessfully query the Russian pilots by radio.

    In remarks to CNN Espanol in Miami, Kerry condemned the Russian actions and said that “under the rules of engagement” it “could have been a shootdown.”

    In all cases a military commander has the authority to defend his or her ship, plane or other unit. The commander is expected to use his or her best judgment under the circumstances to determine whether the ship faces an imminent threat.

    White House spokesman Josh Earnest said the U.S. raised its concerns through its military defense representative at the U.S. Embassy in Moscow.


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    5 Comments
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    DMD45
    DMD45
    7 years ago

    US ship should have at least locked them up with radar missle tone warning of immediate missle launch !!! דמד

    fat36
    fat36
    7 years ago

    They should have fired and scare the heck out of them the problem is they have no ……

    acanada
    acanada
    7 years ago

    I was wondering what happened to all the brilliant military strategists that Obama obviously doesn’t employ. I’m pleased to note that they all got lives as commentators here!

    CountryYossi
    CountryYossi
    7 years ago

    if trump becomes president the Russians wouldn’t dare trying this shtick.