Russian attack sub patrolled Gulf of Mexico undetected for several weeks...and we only knew about after it left the region!

Was this news released deliberately to counter President Obama`s proposal to slash $1.3 billion from the defense budget for the Navy`s shipbuilding projects? It may seem so, but what does it say about our national defense and cost to our ballooning defense spending? (RSA)

Russian Akula sub, image credit: AP

Russian attack submarine sailed in Gulf of Mexico undetected for weeks, U.S. officials say
BY: Bill Gertz
Washington Free Beacon
August 14, 2012 

A Russian nuclear-powered attack submarine armed with long-range cruise missiles operated undetected in the Gulf of Mexico for several weeks and its travel in strategic U.S. waters was only confirmed after it left the region, the Washington Free Beacon has learned.

[...]

The officials who are familiar with reports of the submarine patrol in the Gulf of Mexico said the vessel was a nuclear-powered Akula-class attack submarine, one of Russia’s quietest submarines.

The fact that the Akula was not detected in the Gulf is cause for concern, U.S. officials said.

A Navy spokeswoman declined to comment.

One official said the Akula operated without being detected for a month.

“The Akula was built for one reason and one reason only: To kill U.S. Navy ballistic missile submarines and their crews,” said a second U.S. official.

“It’s a very stealthy boat so it can sneak around and avoid detection and hope to get past any protective screen a boomer might have in place,” the official said, referring to the Navy nickname for strategic missile submarines...

(click here to read the full article on the Washington Free Beacon)