I Hope We Got Some Readiness Points Off it ...

Wow. A lot of people are excited about this report from yesterday.

A Russian nuclear-powered attack submarine armed with long-range cruise missiles operated undetected in the Gulf of Mexico for several weeks and its travel in strategic U.S. waters was only confirmed after it left the region, the Washington Free Beacon has learned.

It is only the second time since 2009 that a Russian attack submarine has patrolled so close to U.S. shores.

A few things to remember:
- Rarely does what happen under the water make it open source; especially in this type of what in the Cold War was a standard patrol by a Red SSN. A SSK popp'n up in a CSG to say "Hai" is one thing. This is another.
- It is good that what little does make it out is often inaccurate, poorly described, and usually off phase.
- The real story may be better or worse than what you read; and that is good. If we had real good and accurate information on this - then someone needs to go to jail.

Sad thing is this: it distracts from the real ASW story out there. No naval weapon of the last century has been or continues to be a strategic concern from the sea for our navy than the submarine. From sensors, training, and weapons - platforms and payloads - this nation has never been as unprepared for ASW as we are now since the 1930s.

What area had already reached a point of atrophy by the time of the 911 attacks? What Primary Mission Area has been ignored more than any since then?

Do the math. Review your inventory. Ponder.