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Originally posted by Kirkules:

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Originally posted by Kwicko:

One can only assume that you are lumping the U.S. into that category as well. I mean, since we already blew BILLIONS on a piece of complete and utter crap (the F-22 Raptor) that can't even get wet.

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That's kind of my point, the F-22 is three generations ahead of any other non-US jet in the world. Which means the bulk of our aircraft are two generations ahead. It's poinless to buy airplanes to defend youself against the US unless you can get something in the same generation. Even that would'nt help, because we could mount our missile syatems on a WWII Byplane and still have air superiority.

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Originally posted by Kwicko:
I note for the record that you ONLY suggested that AFTER a military coup put a U.S.-backed government into power.

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I also note that you'd NEVER suggest leaving Venezuela alone and letting them work it out without sanctions or pressure from the outside.

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Oh, by the way, you WEREN'T discussing possible reasons for U.S. flyovers of Venezuela

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Originally posted by Geezer:

That's right. I can see none

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Originally posted by SignyM:
Can I answer for Geezer?
Can I?
Can I please?
Huh? Huh? Huh?

Then I can put words in HIS mouth for a change!

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Originally posted by rue:
We can ALL do it AND go around with bumper stickers "WWGS ?"

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That's right. I can see none, and no one has provided any reasonable ones.

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Since the advent of radar and guided missiles, it is a not uncommon practice for SIGINT gathering aircraft to skirt another countrys airspace in a attempt to provoke the target into activating its military tracking and targeting radars. When the aircraft is targeted (but not fired upon, obivously) information can be gathered about the type, number and location of the enemy's air defenses. Handy info to have when the sabres start rattling.

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Originally posted by GinoBiffaroni:
I guess the only thing for Chavez to do, is ask Putin to base some Bears and do ferret flights along the Southern US border...

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Originally posted by JKiddo:
You're effing shitting us, right?

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Originally posted by Geezer:
Why overfly the country when you can gather the same info while in international airspace?

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Originally posted by Kwicko:
We would enter their airspace to probe their air defenses, note locations of radars and SAM sites, and the like, especially if we thought we could get in and out quickly with minimal risk to the pilots and aircraft.

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Originally posted by AG05:
That info is needed because Venezuela is a powerful country in that region headed up by a belligerent dictator who talks openly of war with the US, the Dutch, and Colombia. Info on air defenses is the kind of thing you want BEFORE the opening of hosilities, not after.

Also, while flying in international airspace is still a good way to locate air defenses in the borderlands, it might be necessary to overfly the interior of the country to gain intel on targets there. as I said earlier, this is not a new technique, so most trained AA crews know not to turn on their individual targeting radars (the ones attached directly to the SAM site) until the last minute, so as to reduce the chance of being killed by any Wild Weasel aircraft in the area.


Thanks also BTW to whoever it was that mentioned ferret flights by name. I couldn't remember what these operations were called, but I knew it had something to do with a polecat

Mercy is the mark of a great man.
Guess I'm just a good man.
Well, I'm alright.

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