So Putin is playing Biff from the Back the Future movie series and President Obama is playing Marty McFly - an analogy I wish I could take credit for but which belongs to Ralph Peters.
Putin sent two Sukhoi Su-24 attack jets to buzz the USS Donald Cook this week, which was conducting combined training with Polish helicopters in the Baltic Sea. One of the jets came within a mere 30 feet of the ship, according to the US Navy.
I laughed aloud when TV anchors (FNC, anyone?) said the Sukhois were flying "simulated attack profiles."
If they had really been simulating an attack the crew of Donald Cook would never have seen them. They would have "launched" their anti-ship missiles from beyond visual range.
Here is a US Navy still photo taken from the stern of Donald Cook. Yeah, that's close.
Putin also sent a patrol helicopter to harass the Polish helicopter crews operating off the landing deck of the Cook.
An analysis by a retired US Navy captain is here.
So what was Putin really up to?
Here is a short, close look at the Su-24:
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