U.S. SAYS "PRETTY PLEASE" TO...VIETNAM – AT 8:17 A.M. ET:  There are consequences to losing a war politically that is being won on the battlefield.  Thus, the United States finds itself, 40 years after the end of the Vietnam War, dealing with a Vietnamese regime that is doing favors for the Russians.  From Reuters: 

(Reuters) - The United States has asked Vietnam to stop letting Russia use a former U.S. base to refuel nuclear-capable bombers engaged in shows of strength over the Asia-Pacific region, exposing strains in Washington's steadily warming relations with Hanoi.

The request, described to Reuters by a State Department official, comes as U.S. officials say Russian bombers have stepped up flights in a region already rife with tensions between China, U.S.-ally Japan and Southeast Asian nations.

General Vincent Brooks, commander of the U.S. Army in the Pacific, told Reuters the planes had conducted "provocative" flights, including around the U.S. Pacific Ocean territory of Guam, home to a major American air base.

It is the first time that U.S. officials have confirmed the role of Cam Ranh Bay, a natural deep-water harbor, in Russian bomber plane activity that has increased globally.

Brooks said the planes that circled Guam were refueled by Russian tankers flying from the strategic bay, which was transformed by the Americans during the Vietnam War into a massive air and naval base.

COMMENT:  We are constantly being told of our "warming" relations with Hanoi, conveniently forgetting that Vietnam is a Communist country, and will do Russia's bidding.  Asia is getting to be a dangerous place, and you may be sure that the masters in Hanoi always know which way the wind is blowing.

We also note that Russia is clearly returning to major-power status.  Putin dreams of a new Russian empire.  These "provocative" flights are Moscow's message that it will expand its areas of operations at will.  The Russians see, from our weakness over Ukraine, that there will probably be very little pushback.  Obama is still pushing the "reset" button.

March 12, 2015