Just Invite Them for Broward Navy Days Already ....

Oh great. The whole "Russians in our lake; mess'n wit our bid'ness" tempest in a teapot has now fully intertwined itself with the silly season.

After receiving no satisfaction to earlier comments to the media, Cornyn wrote a letter today to Admiral Jonathan Greenert, the Pentagon’s Chief of Naval Operations, demanding answers.

“The submarine patrol, taken together with the air incursions, seems to represent a more aggressive and destabilizing Russian military stance that could pose risks to our national security,” Cornyn wrote. “This is especially troubling given the drastic defense cuts sought by President Obama, which include reductions in funding for antisubmarine defense systems.”

Give me a break. The Russians no longer have the demographic, economic, or philosophical foundation to be threat to our nation by traditional means. Their conventional forces are not an issue. Their support of iffy nations around the world, an irritant - sure - but that has nothing to do with their Navy.

We should want them to deploy more, not less. The more they deploy, the more we get to "play" with them. You can finish the rest of the equation.

We should take it another step - invite them to visit us on patrol. Your standard issue Russian Navy guy is just like you and me, except he can handle his booze better.

Norfolk, Mayport .... and every Fleet Week port should invite them. Why not? Those poor Sailors don't have decent ports at home to visit.

Note to politicians of all stripes; Russians are only a problem if they feel you are a threat to their territory or near abroad, or you act like you think they are an enemy. This is 2012 ... keep your Russians closer.