It was therefore..not only a nervous reaction..to the fact of flying around by the Russin bomber..which was common practice during the Cold War...The reaction of the Americans was due to the fact that most modern system,..especially its informative or radar part, did not work adequately...Therefore, there was such a nervous reaction to the whole episode.

After the incident, the foreign media reported that "Donald Cook" was rushed into a port in Romania...There all the 27 members of the crew filed a letter of resignation...It seems that all 27 people have written that they are not going to risk their lives.

This is indirectly confirmed by the Pentagon statement according to which the action demoralized the crew of the American ship.

What are the possible consequences of the incident provoked by the U.S. in the Black Sea? Pavel Zolotarev forecasts:

I think that Americans are somehow going to reflect on improving the system “Aegis". This is a purely military aspect. In political terms, there is hardly any likelihood of demonstrative steps by either side. That is enough.

Meanwhile, for Americans it is a very unpleasant moment. In general, the missile defence system which they deploy involves huge expenditures. They have to prove each time that it is necessary to allocate funds from the budget.
..At the same time, the ground component of the ABM was tested in ideal conditions and showed a low efficiency. This fact is concealed by the Pentagon. The most modern component, the sea-based system "Aegis" also showed its shortcomings in the present case.

The system with which the Russian Su-24 shocked the American destroyer "Donald Cook" has the code name "Khibiny". This is the name of the mountain range on the Kola Peninsula in the Arctic Circle. "Khibiny" is the newest complex for radioelectronic jamming of the enemy...They will be installed on all the advanced Russian planes .

Recently the complex has undergone regular testing exercises on the ground in Buryatia...Apparently, the tests which were conducted under conditions as close to real as possible, were successful.
Read more: http://indian.ruvr.ru/2014_04_21/Russian-Su-24-scores-off-against-the-American-USS-Donald-Cook-5786/

Dear Poirot,

Talking about the Courier Mail ...

Here's an interesting article on Queensland MPs
who will pocket more than $3 million in backpay
after they were awarded a lucrative pay rise
which will place them among the nation's highest
paid politicians.

http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/huge-pay-rise-to-place-queensland-mps-among-nations-highest-paid-politicians/story-fnihsrf2-1226867001953

BTT please.

Here is the original post,
onthebeach, Sunday, 20 April 2014 10:53:30 AM
http://forum.onlineopinion.com.au/thread.asp?discussion=6343&page=1

Foxy, I note the difference in the style of reporting of both articles. The Larissa Waters story is full of emotive lingo but light on fact. Whilst the Queensland poly pay rise story is simple reporting of the facts.

Beach ans SPQR. you are trying to imply that Larissa Waters was in some way acting dishonestly with this <<What else cost the big money? That is the mystery, isn't it?>> and << that before we examine any (potential) Green misdeeds>>. This is all above board, unlike the actions of Liberals, Senator Sinodinos or NSW Premier O'Farrell.
If there was the slightest chance that any Green had been in anyway involved in any kind of impropriety the 'Murdoch's Muck Rakers' would be having a field day bringing it all to you in glorious black and white in all of Rups notorious fish wrappers! I fully expect a huge swing to The Greens in next years NSW State election, as we are the only creditable party that can claim to be free of corruption. To vote for a Coalition or Labor candidate the voter has no idea what he's getting, an honest person like Bob Brown or a Arthur Sinodinos or a Eddie Obeid.

Dear Paul,

You might enjoy the following from the web:

"I love to have a wine with Arfur
'n' I love to a glass with Bazz
Water Board deregulation
See the ICAC razzamataz
The corruption there is great
And every crooked Liberal
Is Eddie Obeid's good mate."

After I'd waded through the usual morass of who hates who more, I realised that most of the posts totally miss the point.

These politicians aren't getting the money themselves, they are working on behalf of their constituents by channelling most of it to ordinary workers. This is especially important in regional areas.

Think about what's involved in these projects. The politician need a private office, there will be 4-5 staff, one probably a receptionist. They may each need an office (privacy when talking to constituents). There will be a waiting or reception room, meeting room(s), bathroom and toilets, a kitchen, probably also a laundry with storage for clothes changes needed for formal events, maybe one or more bedrooms - the staff may need to stay overnight to man the office to be available during late night parliamentary sittings. There will need to be an office management room - storage, bookcases, filing cabinets, maybe a compactus, with a multifunction scanner-printer, fax etc. Each staff member will need a desk, desk chair and visitors' chairs, the reception meeting area will need appropriate furniture.

To do this in an existing building especially a 'dilapidated' one may require structural change (walls, doors etc added/removed), but definitely kitchen/bathroom updates, painting, flooring (sanding/carpet), light fittings suitable for office work, etc. Everyone will have a computer, and these will need cabling etc.

So, the money doesn't go to the 'those parasites' of politicians - it goes to local small business and their employees: brickies, carpenters, electricians, floor sanders or carpet layers, bathroom/kitchen fitters, tilers, and so on. Apart from computers and other electronic items, most of the office and other furniture will be bought in Australia.

Perhaps they orta be congratulated. Much better than money funnelling into the personal pockets of really corrupt politicians.