[Blitzer:] It's an aggressive move certain to strain the already tense relationship between Moscow and Washington. Russia now planning to send warplanes on patrols off U.S. coastlines. Brian Todd is looking into this story for us. Brian, what is going on over here?
[Brian Todd, Cnn Correspondent:] Wolf, this is about Russia's risky calculated pattern of aggression toward the U.S. and its western allies. There have been multiple incursions close to U.S. air space this year. Recently, a Russian military plane came within 50 miles of the California coast. Some of these encounters have come within a razor's edge of causing serious casualties.
[Todd:] A dangerous maneuver: a Russian jet fighter buzzes right in front of a U.S. Air Force surveillance plane, within about 100 feet of the nose. A move which U.S. officials said endangered the American crew. Another incident: a Russian military aircraft comes within 50 miles of the California coast, the closest in years. Get ready for more. Russia's defense minister says his military is about to send long-range bombers to patrol near American coastlines.
[Barry Pavel, The Atlantic Council:] You're going to have bombers coming in this direction from Russia. You're certainly going to have longer range bombers coming down this coast almost certainly. And you're also going to have bombers coming down this coast. And he also mentioned in particular flying in the Gulf of Mexico. So we're talking about ringing the United States, with the exception of the Canadian border.
[Todd:] The Russian planes likely won't fly inside U.S. Air space, within 14 miles of the coast. But U.S. Officials call the action "provocative and destabilizing." Russia's defense minister says it's in response to aggression near its border with Ukraine.
[Pavel:] This is a rationalization by Russia and, in particular, by President Putin to strengthen Putin his appeal with his base.
[Todd:] Russia's aggression playing out around the globe. A Scandinavian passenger jet nearly colliding with a Russian surveillance plane. One incident right out of a Tom Clancy novel: In waters near Stockholm, a mysterious underwater vessel makes an emergency call in Russian. It triggers the largest submarine hunt off Sweden since the Cold War. All this has taken place since Russia invaded Crimea in February. More than 40 close military encounters in that period, according to one European report. Analysts say this is one man, Vladimir Putin, flexing his muscle, desperate to restore Russia's Cold War power.
[Flora Hill, Brookings Institution:] Putin is personifying as the tough guy, the image of Russia he wants to present, a Russia that will not back down, a Russia that will take on the west. And a Russia that will take on everybody.
[Todd:] The dangers now, according to analysts, that Russian or western forces might miscalculate, and there might be some kind of military confrontation. Also, that given all the air traffic around the United States, especially the Eastern Seaboard, there might be some kind of accident with a Russian aircraft. Or that some other American adversary will follow Vladimir Putin's lead.
[Blitzer:] These Russian planes, when they fly into these areas, including off the U.S. Coast, whether in the gulf of Mexico, the Caribbean, areas close to the United States, they won't necessarily be using some key instruments.
[Todd:] That really makes it dangers, Wolf. Analysts say the Russian military aircraft often don't file flight plans. They turn their transponders often. They sometimes don't fly with their lights on at night. They don't always respond to radio queries from air traffic control. That is the real concern, about a potential aviation accident with a commercial aircraft. That could happen. It's very worrisome. Brian, thanks for that report. Just ahead, he performed a second autopsy on Michael Brown. Now this pathologist, hired by the teen's family, is sharing his findings with the grand jury investigating the controversial police shooting. We're taking a closer look at the impact his testimony could have on the case.