WTF: Russia Stations Warships Off Australian Coast Ahead Of G-20 Summit In Australia

[Cali_Democrat]

BRISBANE, Australia (AP) — Vladimir Putin is underlining his presence at a major summit of world leaders in Australia by stationing warships in waters off the country's northeastern coast, prompting the Australian prime minister to angrily accuse Russia of trying to reclaim the "lost glories" of the Soviet Union.

The diplomatic drama, which has been simmering since a Malaysia Airlines plane was shot down over an area of Ukraine controlled by Russian-backed separatists in July, threatened to overshadow Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott's goal of keeping this weekend's G-20 summit focused on economic growth.

But Abbott, who had previously said he would physically confront the Russian president over the Flight 17 disaster that killed 298 people, including 38 Australian citizens and residents, did little to dampen tensions with his latest critique of Putin's Russia.

In recent days, four Russian warships have entered international waters off the northeast Australian coast to coincide with Putin's visit to Australia for the summit that brings together the leaders of the world's 20 biggest industrialized and developing economies. Australia, in turn, sent three warships of its own to monitor them.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/11/14/russia-g20_n_6156950.html

[GGJohn]

1. Comrade Putin compensating?

Fact is that the Russian Navy, except for a few modern warships, is no match for most western Navies, including Australia's Navy, which is equipped with modern, technologically advanced warships, while the bulk of the Russian Navy is old, out of date rust buckets that would fare very poorly in a Naval battle.

[sharp_stick]

2. I think the Russian Government

is using some of that old fashioned power projection to take everyone's minds off things back home. Back in the 80's when Vlad was just a little KGB'r it was bread lines and Lada's. Now he's the Big Kahuna it's the tanking Ruble and a faltering import/export base.

[greytdemocrat]

3. Provocative

But it is international waters so not
much the Aussie's can do but bitch and
send some ships as they have.

[haele]

4. Putin - "look at me, look at me! You need to RESPECT my Authority. I'm above criticism."

He's got Tsarist dreams of an old, powerful Russia that never really existed. The country was always internally powerful, but like China, pretty much isolated from the rest of the world.

Also, I've heard the worst insult you can give a Russian is to say s/he has "no culture". Personal honor is a big deal there.

Haele

[Dawson Leery]

5. The men/women of the modern Russian Armed Forces are yellow cowards

just like their thug in chief.

[GGJohn]

7. Except their modern armed forces aren't so modern,

except for some modern equipment, most of their equipment is old, out dated and in disrepair, in any conventional war away from the motherland, Russia would suffer a humiliating defeat against Western forces.

[Barack_America]

6. Oh Vladimir, just go with your shirt off and beat your chest.

A much more cost-effective display of machismo.

[LanternWaste]

8. Most bemusing rationalization for this action to date...

Most bemusing rationalization for this action to date: The Russian navy is there to ensure Putin doesn't get arrested (read earlier on DU). Kinda tempts you want to pat them on the heads and say, "bless your little heart... aren't you special!"

[GGJohn]

9. That had to be the most ridiculous rationalizations for those warships being there.

As if that's really going to happen, and even if by some wild chance it did, what would those warships do? Fire some missiles into Australia?
That would end very badly for those ships, about 1 minute after firing, those ships would become scrap metal.

[larkrake]

10. he should be banned from the summit as an aggressor