I am sure that Robert Bridge knows that term “Black Hawk Down” is associated with the 1993 downing of 3 Blackhawk helicopters in Somalia with probably Soviet made anti-air defense missiles that were left over from the short lives but glorious Soviet training of Somalia’s once greatest African military force-which was systematically destroyed after the departure of the Soviets and the arrival of the Americans in 1979 and not in 1991 as many historically challenged Americans think. If the Russians want to sell superior helicopters to the empire of chaos in support of its imperial war Afghanistan that is for Russians to decide but this will have profound implications for Russia and Russians. I am convinced that the Russians will come to regret this in big way for the true aim of the empire of chaos in Afghanistan is to dominate central Asia according to Bzezinki’s doctrine of Full Spectrum Dominance. The drugs will continue to flow to Russia from Afghanistan and the Caucasus will get only worse. This is horrific blunder in the part of Russia. The U.S has already spent billions dollars in the invasion and occupation of Afghanistan and yet it was not able to build suitable military hardware to meet the Afghanistan challenging environment. I guess it has also been suggested that Hitler failed to conquer Russia because he forgot to prepare his soldiers for the harsh winter climate in the vast land of Mother Russia! In this case, the Americans may succeed where Hitler’s Third Reich has failed because the Russians, it seems, are eager to please the empire of chaos. Something is profoundly sad about this picture and the Russian will regret this and similar tactical errors to meet the demand of the fake reset with the empire of chaos.

"Islamophobic" U.S. is going to sell $60 bn. in weapons to Islamist Saudi Arabia..For the Russian Federation something equivalent only could take place with (former) Iraq or (recent) Iran. But Iraq has changed hands to the U.S. after the invsion becoming another private market for American companies, while Iran is banned to Russian manufacturers as a consequence of sanctions.... Perhaps those helicopters are an small compensation, but better if Saudi Arabia buys also Russian weapons instead of just Americans. It would be difficult to explain by the King and elite of Saudi Arabia why their main ally is the U.S. where priests talk about burning the Koran and the Republican "tea" Party opposes the construction of mosques and talk about Islam as the evil. ¿How the King of Saudi Arabia can explain their submission, and the submission of Mecca, to a next Republican Islamophobic President in America? It will be difficult to explain to the people. "Yes, the Government of America hates us and hates Islam...but they are our main ally.".... Russia, who is more religion blind than America, could be a net exporter of weaponns to Saudi Arabia.

PR101 is absolutely correct. If such a deal is made; it will mean that the actual Russian leadership has no morale values. It forgot that American weapons have killed thousands of your soldiers. It will also show that Russia is now a typical capitalist state. I also thought that your Constitution forbid to sell armaments and their delivery systems to aggressive states. Unfortunately with a businessman president who has a cash-register instead of brain, you can expect anything. PR101's remark about drugs invasion in Russia should be sufficient to ignore such a stupid sale... Sorry Future Russian Generations ! Your friend...JCM

I have a better idea: sell Igla MANPADS hardwired with a tamper-proof IFF system that only works on american hardware. Then the "alliance" of one puppet president and a whole bunch of opium druglords better known as "ISAF" will lose in Afghanistan faster than they would say "those damn Rooskies", and then help build up international relations by letting Iran help Afghanistan to install a proper government and help get rid of any and all parts of al-Quaida in that country once and for all. Any positive relations and burying of any left-over problems from the conflict between Russia and Afghanistan in the past will NEVER EVER be solved by helping USA stay in that country. They already messed it up once, and their a-la 70`s nation-building tactics that were used in Vietnam are sure as hell not working this time either.

I will not enter into a debate about this all i will say is for goodness sake stop living in the past.

This would be a great opportunity for Russia to make a huge military equipment sale and give a boost to Russia's helicopter manufacturing industry. Russia and the USA have become partners due to the current world situations. They have much in common and both are struggling against the evil of terrorism. If they complement each other,it is a win, win for both countries in their endeavors against the bad guys.

venice, The Pentagon is an extension of the U.S corporations. The Pentagon is using corporate marketing strategy called "flooding." This marketing scheme is used by other well known U.S global brands such as Starbuck and Gap. The formula goes like this: take over as many spaces as possible in space of interest and overwhelm the competition, literally. Just look short distances between Starbuck and Gap stores in major blvds of the world’s leading cities such as London, Berlin, and increasingly Moscow. The U.S spends annually $700 billion dollars in the military. The U.S wanted to gain control over Afghanistan since Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. How are we to assume that the Pentagon had no clue what military hardware does and not work in Afghanistan before deciding to invade that country in 2001? In reality, the U.S imperialists are proving to be very bad military strategists. Just like the Third Reich, the U.S expansionists show naïve faith in mechanized warfare but little planning in the what ifs alternative scenarios if the grand plan does not work. So, even if the Russians do decide to sell these helicopters to the U.S. still, it will not solve the U.S quagmire in Afghanistan. Instead of purchasing Russian helicopters why not hand the Afghan mess to the neighboring countries to deal with it ? Of course, the U.S will not do that. It has the Manifest Destiny to fulfill: the U.S imperialists want a Full Spectrum Dominance over central Asia or nothing. A "reset" between Russia and the U.S is possible and desirable but it will not happen as long as the U.S is run by aggressive expansionists.

venice Russia and U.S have different relationship to terrorism. The U.S needs terrorism to justify it project of global expansion; Russia is fighting daily assault against Russian people by terrorists. Saudi Arabia is the key exporter of radical Islam and terrorism not Iran or Iraq. Yet, the U.S is a close friend of Saudi Arabia. The U.S invaded Iraq and is planning to invade Iran. However, few days ago the U.S announced sell of $60 B of latest military hardware to Saudi Arabia!

PR101....I like your comments not only on this story but also on previous-past one to, so do not take me wrong but I must say something about this"gravely dangerous Russian winter" for any invaders true history. Story about winter who "win" everyone is a fake one.....Napoleon lost almost 450.000 soldiers (Russia 500.000 plus) just in two major fights on Russian land. He was prepared superb for winter....Nazy Germany-Europe(minus England,Greece and Serbia) was training for almost 9 years their best units in Siberia with Russian instructors prior atack.....They know where they going(both of them and all the rest-50 plus aggressive wars against Russia, on Russian land-some of them for 30 plus y. non-stop) for sure...To dowplay Russia power and might, this become a trade mark of those who can not stand that relative small population with biggest(real huge-bigger than Usa with Alaska,Australia and Great Britan)) state in the world can possibly survive all this and save their home from "all kind barbarians" true history...Winter play role after Russians cut chain of amunition,food,petrol,new soldiers,airfilds etc....Only then,real truble begin with no luck in sight,with no hope of win! If Napoleon or Hitler never atack Russia, today we will not have EU but France or Germany said all about Russian love for motherland,their state of art (always some suprises)weapons,briliant millitary brains and above all a brave heart demolish all of them....Napoleon and Hitler together hold only(about) 1/17 to 1/25 part of Russian land-a moskito bite on Great Bear. Thats how it was and this is to be in future...Russia remain only land where no one (include those from West ) can win...Their weapons are among the best in the world-Helicopters for sure.All up, I believe in general they are the best ..Winter stories are lies for kids.Russia is only superpower in history books,by history facts. It will remain so-becouse it must! Thank you.

September 17, 2010, 11:46, Meslin wrote > PR101 is absolutely correct. If such a deal is made; it will mean that the actual Russian leadership has no morale values. It forgot that American weapons have killed thousands of your soldiers. It will also show that Russia is now a typical capitalist state. I also thought that your Constitution forbid to sell armaments and their delivery systems to aggressive states. Unfortunately with a businessman president who has a cash-register instead of brain, you can expect anything. PR101's remark about drugs invasion in Russia should be sufficient to ignore such a stupid sale... > Sorry Future Russian Generations ! Your friend...JCM JCM, How soon you forget! Do you remember the "Soviets" in Vietnam killing THOUSANDS of US soldiers? Watch RT, You will see a show about this! "Soviets" were there only as advisors.........That's a LAUGH!

Zak, likewise, thank you for your comments. How ever, I would like to differ from your assessment of the past glory of Russia for the following reasons. First, the Russia/Soviet armies have not been always successful. Russia/Soviet Union had number of well known defeats including the war between Japan and imperial Russian Army, 1938 war between the Soviet Union and Finland and the 1941-42 period of the German invasion of the Soviet Union. Second, and this relates to my first point, thus, the notion that Russia is a graveyard for imperialists is good a myth but very dangerous myth. This is because, we need to keep in mind that Russia became under the Soviet Communists rule because the nation had been weaken morally, politically and militarily. Today, I see clear signs that Russia is again in state of moral decline. This moral decline will facilitate the would be conquerors of Russia. Think about it: Russia's Minister of Defense stands shoulder to shoulder with the Minister of War of the Empire of Chaos.What would the rest of the world think of Russia? Keep in mind that winter may had been a great defense in WWII or in 1812 against the Napoleonic army! Today’s imperialists can conquer winter much faster than the army of the Third Reich. Today, we are living in the age technological supremacy over space. Today, Russia’s greatest threat comes from moral corruption that may expose the nation to the designs of the very oligarchs who brought Russia to its knees in the 1990s. Have you noticed now in Russia economic fraud is not considered a crime against the people. This is part of modernizing Russia. Now Russia’s military would be equipped with U.S made weapons. As for these helicopters, this is a gimmick PR stunt. The Americans are selling billions dollars of BlackHawks to the ME oil sheikhdoms and elsewhere. This is PR stunt to bring Russia onboard to the agendas of the empire of chaos.