Friday, May 09, 2008

Russian Military Parade Down Memory Lane

Imagine my giddy delight when I turned on the Beeb early this morning, only to see a good ol' fashioned Cold War era military parade! Live (almost)! In Red Square! Despite all the hand wringing from the West, I think it's quaint, brings me the warm and fuzzies, and definitely lifts the morale of Russians, who involuntarily played the role of losers for more than a decade.

Here are some highlights...

Tu-160 Blackjack supersonic bomber, the heaviest and most powerful combat aircraft ever built

Truck mounted Topol-M ICBM; 14-wheeled truck reminds me of the one from 80s comedy, Spies Like Us

The Russians even thoughtfully polished and re-erected Hammer and Sickle sculpture; pretense for parade was anniversary of victory over Nazis


Awesome Il-76 airlifter flyover with MiG-29 escorts


Piece de resistance: Defense minister in ZIL-4104!

Now, where's Yakov Smirnoff?

CKY

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