COMIC GOLD:

Its placement in Latakia would grant Russia aerial oversight over practically all of Syria, Lebanon and Cyprus, over half of Turkey, parts of Iraq and Jordan -- and, of course, Israel: Planes flying in and out of Ben Gurion International Airport -- approximately 395 kilometers (245 miles) from Latakia -- would be within Russian sights.

"Do we have something to fear? The answer is: yes and no," Russia expert Zvi Magen told The Times of Israel on Wednesday.

"If [the S-400] is indeed deployed," Magen explained, "it will be a game-changer."

However, that is a big "if," according to Magen, who served as Israel's ambassador to both Ukraine and Russia in the 1990s. "I don't see it actually reaching Syria," the former Israeli ambassador to Moscow and Kiev explained.

The 2,000-pound JASSM uses infrared and a jam-resistant GPS receiver to find its way to targets. Half of the missile is a 1,000-pound payload, designed to penetrate fortified targets, and the JASSM cruises to its targets with its own jet engine. The original missile could travel about 200 miles, but the extended-range version (JASSM-ER) can hit targets at least 500 miles away. That range is what makes them so attractive for the B-52; while the plane still flies fine, it's not in the least bit stealthy and anti-air defenses have improved dramatically since the Stratofortress was designed in the 1950s. Hitting targets an extra 300 miles further away than previously available keeps the B-52 in the fight, making the aging fleet a valuable Pentagon tool for years to come.

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