ABC News Radio reports: "In Alaska, two Russian bombers were headed for U.S. territory. The United States Air Force scrambled fighter jets to intercept those bombers. The Russian planes, though, turned away before they entered U.S. air space. The Air Force is still scratching its head. It says this the first time an incident like this has happened in years."

-- Gayla (privacy@please.com), September 18, 1999

Answers

Gayla,

When you say "U.S. Territory" do you mean the continental U.S.? Alaska after all, is part of the U.S. We have a large oil pipeline there don't we?

-- @ (@@@.@), September 18, 1999.

....believe the term to be US Territorial waters. Similar to incident in Iceland earlier in the year. US Air Force has been scratching their heads since they got caught with four rockets on the pad, and several space shuttles in buildings less than ideal for protection against a hurricane. Who would have thought...a hurricane, in hurricane season. Hope these guys are a little better forewarned for Y2K.

Got any rocket scientists around?

-- (snowleopard6@webtv.net), September 18, 1999.

"@" I copied it down word for word as they announced it. I've been to Alaska, I know where it is. :-)

Snow leopard, that's a little close for you, isn't it?

-- Gayla (privacy@please.com), September 18, 1999.

It's only 100 miles between Alaska and Russia. Anyone know where the actual "airspace" borderline is?

-- @ (@@@.@), September 18, 1999.

Wow Gayla! A little sensitive aren't we? Your statement says "In Alaska" but headed for U.S. territory. Which is it? If they are "In Alaska" then they are in U.S. territory! Bitch.

-- @ (@@@.@), September 18, 1999.

No, "@", I'm not being sensitive. You apparently don't know that a :-) is an emoticon that represents a smiley face. If you will read again what I said, I wrote it down WORD FOR WORD the way ABC News Radio announced it. I did NOT write it, I transcribed it. You'll have to ask ABC news for the interpretation.

Your name-calling says a lot about you.

-- Gayla (privacy@please.com), September 18, 1999.

And your snotty answers to sincere questions explains the name- calling.

-- @ (@@@.@), September 18, 1999.

On my doorstep. Apparently Russian Bombers were reported by a passing Northwest Airliner (our first line of defense), and then two fighters were launched from Elmendorf AFB out of Anchorage. Incident occured Thursday, and appears to just be a little posturing in preparation for a meeting soon with the Coast Guard in Kodiak, Alaska over some fishing incidents this summer in th Bering Sea similar to those between North and South Korea earlier this summer. Full story on AP Breaking off the Drudge site for anyone interested. Boundary is as close as about 2 miles between Big Diomede (Russian) and Little Diomede (US) Islands in the Bering Sea and widens significantly as you go Southward.

-- (snowleopard6@webtv.net), September 18, 1999.

Well, "@", I can verify the excellent job Gayla did in transcribing the report from ABC news. I heard the same report. In fact, I made reference to it in a thread prior to Gayla's post.

Also, "@", please respect this board as the community it is. I suggest you spend some time here and get to know the regular posters before you begin to make assumptions. Gayla has been posting on this board for a heck of a long time : ) and you have demonstrated poor judgement in your "assessment" of her.

Thanks,

Mike

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-- Michael Taylor (mtdesign3@aol.com), September 18, 1999.

Mr. Taylor,

I'll have you know that I've been posting on this board for well over a year and I am familiar with all of the regulars, and you are not one of them. Perhaps since you haven't been around that long it is you who needs to get to know us. This is not an excercise in "political correctness". I tell it like I see it. When someone offends me, I let them know. I am very familiar with Gayla and find her to be intelligent and very agreeable for the most part. This is why I brought it to her attention that I think she misunderstood my question. Regardless of what the news report said, the statement was confusing to me and I merely asked her if she could speculate as to the meaning. If I wanted to know what ABC said I could probably go find it on the net. The whole purpose of this forum is to get perspectives from other people. She apparently thought I was tearing her post apart when I was merely questioning the way it was phrased. If all we are supposed to do is quote ABC and then say go ask them what it meant then we won't have much of a forum will we? Thanks for the lecture Michael, but no thanks, I don't need it.

-- @ (@@@.@), September 18, 1999.

Thanks, Mike. I'm not sure exactly how "@" expected me to respond to his statement "Alaska after all is part of the U.S." I didn't think "DUH!" was an appropriate response, but maybe I should have used it anyway.

Snow Leopard, thanks for the info! Here is the article:

Russian Bombers Approach Alaska

By ALLEN BAKER Associated Press Writer

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) -- U.S. fighter jets were sent to confront a pair of Russian bombers caught on radar headed toward the Alaska coast Thursday, Air Force officials said Friday.

Both bombers turned before crossing into U.S. airspace and about 90 miles from the approaching fighters, according to officials at Alaska's Elmendorf Air Force Base and the North American Aerospace Defense Command in Colorado Springs, Colo.

The Soviet Union regularly tested U.S. air defenses by flying toward Alaska during the Cold War, but this was the first time the Air Force has documented it happening since March 1993.

``What ever they were doing, NORAD is protecting the air sovereignty of North America,'' said Air Force spokesman Maj. Les Kodlick, who is based at Elmendorf. He said the planes were positively identified as Russian bombers, but he wouldn't speculate on a reason for their flight pattern.

In June, two TU-95 Bear bombers flew so close to the coastline of Iceland that a pair of U.S. Air Force F-15 fighters were scrambled from a NATO air base to escort them around the island. And Norway sent up fighter jets when two other Russian bombers flew down its coastline.

The Clinton administration dismissed both June incidents as militarily insignificant but acknowledged then that it was the first time in years the Russian air force had flown so near a NATO member's airspace.

Defense Secretary William Cohen told a Pentagon news conference that Russia wanted ``to be seen as remaining a force that has to be dealt with'' and that the flights should not be seen as a dangerous trend.

Thursday's incident near Alaska came a few days before a Russian delegation is to arrive in Kodiak, Alaska, to tour the Coast Guard base and discuss recent tensions in the waters along the U.S.-Russian border.

Air Forces officials said radar at Elmendorf picked up the two unidentified aircraft Thursday afternoon about 200 miles from the coast and heading toward Alaska.

Controllers tried to contact the planes and identify them, then scrambled a pair of F-15 Eagle fighters to confront them. The F-15s came within 90 miles of both planes before the bombers turned away while still in international airspace.

The planes were identified as Russian Tu-95 Bear bombers with the help of Northwest Airlines pilots who saw them in the air, the Air Force said. It was unclear how far the Northwest plane was from the two bombers. A spokesman for the Federal Aviation Administration said the incident was under investigation.

The recent tensions along the U.S.-Russian border have been primarily on the sea, which was one of the reasons the Coast Guard invited Lt. Gen. Vladislav Prokhoda -- chief of the Northeast Region Directorate of the Russian Federal Border Guard Service -- to tour the Coast Guard's Air Station Kodiak and talk with U.S. officials.

Last month, a Russian vessel was spotted fishing nearly a half-mile inside the U.S. exclusive fishing zone, the fifth such incident recorded by the Coast Guard this year.

The Coast Guard was preparing to tow the Russian boat to a U.S. port when more than a dozen other Russian vessels surrounded both. After interpreter on one of the Russian vessels radioed to the Coast Guard that they were prepared to prevent the towing, the Coast Guard remove its boarding party and transferred control to a Russian patrol vessel.

-- Gayla (privacy@please.com), September 18, 1999.

Apparently Russian Bombers were reported by a passing Northwest Airliner (our first line of defense)Snowleapord

roflmao...let's see...how would the advertising go?

"Northwest Airlines...Fly first class with a bad ass"

"Northwest Airlines. When we play Top Gun it isn't just an in-flight movie."

or

"Northwest Airlines...we're just like Top Gun only with more comfortable seats**." mouse type **More comfortable seats available in first class only. Passengers fly at their own risk. Nuclear war or air to air missle attack are beyond our control and are not covered under grounds for refund. Please refer to the back of your ticket under World War 3 for further details.

Thanks Snowleapord : )

Mike

==============================================================

-- Michael Taylor (mtdesign3@aol.com), September 18, 1999.

Gayla, anytime : )

-- @ (@@@.@),

You're obviously fairly sensitive tonight so I hope you can accept this. I am not trying to lecture you. My "job", as one of the volunteer moderators, is to try to keep emotion on a thread within reason. Though I certianly don't feel worthy of the "job" I do try to help when I can.

As for you, I'm sorry if I don't recall you posting until recently, but if you've been posting here for over a year has it always been under the "-- @ (@@@.@)," handle?

As for my not being a "regular", you're certainly welcome to your opinion and I have no desire to change it. I don't consider myself much of a "regular" either.

Best wishes,

Mike

============================================================

-- Michael Taylor (mtdesign3@aol.com), September 18, 1999.

We're all a bunch of irregulars :)

Did the NW Boeing buzz the Bears :)?

-- Andy (2000EOD@prodigy.net), September 18, 1999.

Thanks Snow Leopard! I'm not sure what Gayla's post meant exactly by "In Alaska, two Russian bombers were headed for U.S. territory". Apparently she took it personal when I asked her for clarification, but you have been most helpful. Now that's what I can appreciate, someone who can have an intellignet conversation without being defensive.

The boundary is as close as 2 miles! Wow, that must get pretty tense up there when something like this happens. Glad to see that our Air Force was ready. Thanks again for the article.

-- @ (@@@.@), September 18, 1999.

Just a routine exercise or something more? Reminds me of what they did on the eastern side in June during ther 'West 99'.

@ - The news report was confusing. I for one understand your question to Gayla.She mistook your question. But if you have been on this forum for over a year you should have known better than to call her a B****. A short apology would help you here.

Gayla, just a few more posts and you'll overtake catsy for sole possession of fifteenth place. Another FRL party shoud do it! :-) Congratulations!!

-- BB (peace2u@bellatlantic.net), September 18, 1999.

lol Andy : )

BTW "@ (@@@.@),"

I can pretty much pinpoint for you what contributed to my reaction regarding your tone. Scroll up to where you make reference to Gayla in what I consider to be a way unlike a true gentleman. You mention in an earlier post that you consider Gayla to be intelligent, etc. which leaves me puzzled as to why you would then choose such a term to end your post above.

You wrote, "Now that's what I can appreciate, someone who can have an intellignet conversation without being defensive." I hope you can practice what you preach.

Other than this, I've enjoyed reading your posts. When did you start posting again?

Mike

============================================================

-- Michael Taylor (mtdesign3@aol.com), September 18, 1999.

Andy LOL,

Flying bears? I thought they were the sleeping bear?

-- BB (peace2u@bellatlantic.net), September 18, 1999.

Gosh, Mike! You're not a regular! You're just 3 spots behind me with 1318 posts! :-)

Hey, BB! Chris is actually posting again but has dropped the catsy part of her e-mail address. So she's really way ahead of me. I notice that several of the regulars on that list are still posting, but under a different handle.

-- Gayla (privacy@please.com), September 18, 1999.

Taylor,

Listen, I'm more interested in interesting discussion than continuing this little kiddie game, so I'm going to set you straight and end it right here. I am not a "gentleman", and unlike you, have no interest in being charming and protective of the ladies. I realize your new position of power as a moderator makes you feel rather fatherly, but personally I could care less. You may consider your little stats about the "1000+ Club" to be significant but I don't give a crap about that either. One thing you don't mention is that these figures are for those who start the most posts, not everyone who contributes answers, so all you are really doing is rewarding the Type A aggressive personalities, which also happens to be a major flaw in our society. The word "bitch" means a female dog, so you don't have to do this, "b***h", and you don't have to act like a knight in shining armor coming to her rescue, she can take care of herself. "BB" can certainly understand my confusion with this news report saying that they were in Alaska but approaching US territory, and as it turns out they were not in Alaska, but approaching it. Glad we finally got that straight, although you still don't seem to understand what I was asking. Again, I could care less. Gayla, somewhat out of character, responded rather rudely to my inquiry and I responded appropriately. Let's not make a federal case out of it. Asta La Vista! I'm on to newer topics.

(I've always posted as "@" for over a year, though a bit more active recently as we approach the big date)

-- @ (@@@.@), September 18, 1999.

"they were not in Alaska, but approaching it."

@, did you really read the title I put on this thread?

-- Gayla (privacy@please.com), September 18, 1999.

"@ (@@@.@)"

lol...my posts are more questions than anything and I'm truly unworthy of any "power" let alone the "moderator" position. There are a group of us here who "try" to help out but there is no "power" associated with the "position". Furthermore, even our Sysops are volunteers. There are no "power trips" here.

You have absolutely no concept of who I am and I'm sure you are unable to appreciate how far off you are in every assumption you've made thusfar. Your last post, however, speaks volumes.

In the posts above I was just pointing out that you should try to be more civil. You speak of the ills of society as if you are above reproach and the rules of civility do not apply to you. I find that interesting.

Thanks,

Mike

============================================================

-- Michael Taylor (mtdesign3@aol.com), September 18, 1999.

When the Russians invaded Afghanistan I was on fishery patrol in the Bearing Sea (USCG). We boarded numerous Russian fishing boats during our patrol. They were quite friendly and always happy to see us. We'd sometimes have a sit-down dinner with them......ever try to climb onto a ship on a rolling ocean after vodka?

Anyway, it would appear the Russians are still feeling a bit "inadequate" and/or frustrated in the wake of the U.S. and NATO spanking their Serbian allies.

-- Tuan Cu Mhara (Strider X6@aol.com), September 18, 1999.

Have to run, couldn't finish all the posts but I have to add this. Gayla is very polite poster and one of my favorite. I think her statements were taken out of context.

You go girl!

-- Moore Dinty moore (dac@ccrtc.com), September 18, 1999.

@$$h01e (@@@.@)

-- @$$h01e (@@@.@$$h01e), September 18, 1999.

"I AM NOT A GENTLEMAN"

About says it all @. Not much of a man either.

-- BB (peace2u@bellatlantic.net), September 18, 1999.

Blast from the past:

XXXXX DRUDGE REPORT XXXXX WED, JUNE 30, 1999 20:59:23 ET XXXXX

INTELLIGENCE WORRY: TWO RUSSIAN BOMBERS FLEW WITHIN STRIKING DISTANCE OF USA LAST WEEK

During a massive military exercise last week, Russia flew two of its strategic bombers to within striking distance of the United States.

The move, the first of its kind since the cold war, alarmed and astounded U.S. intelligence officials and underlined recent Western concerns about the military leadership in Moscow, the WASHINGTON POST is reporting in Thursday editions.

The Russian TU-95 Bear bombers were intercepted by four U.S. F-15 fighters near Iceland early Friday morning and escorted around the island, according to us intelligence.

[Russia's wire service ITAR-TASS claimed that the interceptors failed to reach the bombers before they turned back. DRUDGE REPORT 6/27/99]

"White House officials said Wednesday night that the United States considers the Iceland incident a military matter and has not formally raised it with Russian officials," reports the POST's Dana Priest, in a detailed Page One accounting of the event.

Russian news reports claimed that the military exercise drew NATO aircraft and ships into the region. A Norwegian reconnaissance "turned up so close to Russian fighting ships taking part in the exercise that it had to be driven out of the dangerous area," one Russian newspaper reported over the weekend.

The paper claimed: "An Orion-class aircraft flew almost directly above the masts of the nuclear heavy missile cruiser Petr Velikiy and other combat ships of the Northern Fleet, while an American nuclear submarine took a position in the immediate vicinity of a target practice range."

Neither U.S. defense nor administration officials could comment on the accuracy of the reports, according to the POST.

-- Linda (lwmb@psln.com), September 18, 1999.

Gosh @ (@@@.@), CHILL OUT!

Gayla is a real old threader and so is Michael Taylor. (Lot older than you, BTW! Clearly!) The B-word is uncalled for.

When using a B-word... in referring to Gayla... try... Babe or some other epithet like Beauty. Shes NOT the Beast in this encounter!

Harrumph!

(And Michael Taylor is most definitely on the TBY2K MoD team! And has always been a real gentleman. You could learn some gentle-person pointers).

Diane
A TBY2K Sysop

Now... to other newz...

Tagline: Fly Northwest Airlines, And Well Serve Flying Russians With Your In-Flight Vodka. Its An Adventure!

Or... Fly Northwest Airlines, And You Never Know Who Youll Meet... In Mid-Air

-- Diane J. Squire (sacredspaces@yahoo.com), September 18, 1999.

or this.......

Fly Northwest and you could end up going south..........

-- BB (peace2u@bellatlantic.net), September 18, 1999.

Holy poly bears!!!

You mean Alaska is part of the US now??

I gotta get out more often.

-- Lon Frank (lgal@exp.net), September 18, 1999.

@ writes-- "One thing you don't mention is that these figures are for those who start the most posts, not everyone who contributes answers..."

Wrong.

I am shown on that list with 1,591 posts. I have originated very few threads on this forum, less than a dozen I believe.

Verbal abuse seems to me to be a demonstration of incompetence. As in When in danger or in doubt, run about the deck and shout.

-- Tom Carey (tomcarey@mindspring.com), September 18, 1999.

The stats aren't the whole picture. Several posters have changed their handles, monikers, addys, etc.

Some of us alternate identities. There are various posting styles. And sometimes old-timers come back and delight us with their homecoming fanfare. WheeHeeeeeeee!

-- Ashton & Leska in Cascadia (allaha@earthlink.net), September 18, 1999.

A & L... there's one poster on that list, with a changed handle, that when added together, just barely tops you guys! At least... officially.

Diane

-- Diane J. Squire (sacredspaces@yahoo.com), September 18, 1999.

@ (@@@@) -

Do ya 'spose this phoney Russian bomber story is jest a coverup of the FACT that it was actually the MIR falling from the sky after being aimed at our territory??? I'm with ya buddy! Those commie bastards!!!

-- CD (not@here.com), September 18, 1999.

Geez,

All this mudslinging and King of Spain failed to show-up!

Lon, Alaska is considered to be part of the US only as long as we have "OIL!" Then we will return to being only a mere outpost.

Historically, commercial or civilian aircraft are the first to spot in-bound enemy aircraft (Pearl Harbor). Northwest pilot was probably a former military pilot, recognized the significance and made the call into Anchorage International. If they were close enough to see the markings and identify the type of aircraft, they must have been quite close! Russians may have intentionally flown by a commercial airline corridor, with the intent of being spotted!

The only significance of this incident was it is the first intercept in this region since the Cold War! Military on both sides have done a lot of joint search and rescues in recent years, and as recently as last month when the US Coast Guard found several boatloads of missing Russian Eskimos attempting to return across the Bering Sea from a visit to their relatives on St Lawrence Island (US). The US Coast Guard after completing its search of American waters was asked to search the Russian coastline, because the Russians did not have the assets to search for their own people!

Although only casually mentioned, the fishing boat incident with the Coast Guard could have had major consequences. Little news leaked out of this because it was in the wake of the JFK Jr. crash. In short, a Russian Trawler was caught fishing in American waters. It was boarded by the Coast Guard, and was to be towed to Dutch Harbor. The Coast Guard was then surrounded by at least a dozen Russian vessels with weapons. The Russians claimed they would not allow the boat to be towed, and if the American Commander wanted to cause World War III to go ahead. Keeping his cool during a major stand-off, the American Coast Guard Commander diffused the situation by backing down and possibly saving his crew.

This is the incident that both sides will be meeting over in Kodiak next week, and may have prompted this little pounding of the chest.

-- (snowleopard6@webtv.net), September 18, 1999.

Where's Pot Kettle@Black when we need him?

@@@@@@ must have Paul Milne as his idol, obviously.

Gayla and Michael, I admire your poise. You handle flames like the lady and gentleman you are :-)

(PS: I had to post this under my catsy handle to round it to a nice and even 1520 ;-))

-- Chris (catsy@pond.com), September 18, 1999.

Well, fer cryin' out loud!

All this fuss over ALASKA, no less. I mean, it ain't nothin' but frozen wilderness full of critters what'll eat you. Why, I been told that it's coldern a well-digger's lunch box up there, even in the summer. And just what has a polar bear done for you lately? Nothin', that's what. Same thing goes for otters, and eagles, and wolves. It's great when they get respectable work at Disneyland, but the rest of the time, they're just hangin' out, waitin' to eat the tourists.

They ain't got no real food up there neither. They just sit around all winter chewin' the fat (and I don't mean conversin') Who the heck do ya think invented frozen dinners anyway? Probably some chilly old coot from Chilkoot, that's who.

I mean, what kinda life is that? Summer is two days in July, and the rest of thr time there ain't nothin to do, but sit in the igloo and make muck-lucks with the ole' lady. And speakin' of the ladies, why there ain't none! No, siree, nothin' but left-over miners and lumberjacks. (I heard that they imported some French dancin' girls once, but they all froze their can-cans off.) And who would want to date a gal from "Skag-way" anyhow?

So, I say, give it to the durned Russians, if they want it so bad. Let THEM fight the two-pound mosquiters and grizzle-bears. And then, ya know, Texas will rightly be the biggest State again, the way things ought to be!

-- Lon Frank (lgal@exp.net), September 18, 1999.

ROTFL, Lon!

I bow to your superior humor!

-- Gayla (privacy@please.com), September 18, 1999.

I would like to make it clear at this time the the preceeding inflamitory and slanderous posting was made by my evil twin, Lon Frankstien.

I, personally, am fully aware that Alaska is a scenic wonderland of unimaginable majesty and awe-inspiring vistas, surpassed only by the views afforded along the main highway through Vidor, Texas.

I further am aware that there are many charming and attractive women in Alaska; each and every one of which is a pure vision in long underwear. Also, I hereby convey both my appologies and condolences to anyone from Skagway.

I am also cognizant of the fact that the cuisine in Alaska, while generally thought of as nuts and berries, is actually both nourishing and delectable, particularly the (gulp) uncooked fat of endangered marine mammals.

As to Ursus Arctos Horribilis, and the other gentle woodland creatures which inhabit the flower-filled meadows, beside the murmering streams of crystal waters, I am a stalwart supporter of preservation. (In fact, I have heard that Polar Bear preserves are quite good on whole wheat toast.) And what's a few missing tourists now and again? They're mostly from Florida, anyway.

I now trust that this clears up the misconception that I may be harboring a grudge about Alaska being the biggest State, and all. In fact, my lawyer has instructed me to say that I am tickled DANGED NEAR TO DEATH about it.

-- Lon Frank (lgal@exp.net), September 19, 1999.

Yeow, Gayla!

NICE cave-girl outfit.

Yaba-daba-do!

And I like my women subserviant.

(Ow! What Dear? Now, Dear? Yes Dear. But, but, I was just, Oh, rats.)

-- Lon Frank (lgal@exp.net), September 19, 1999.