Yeoman_dai
18th Mar 2009, 14:55
BBC NEWS | Programmes | Newsnight | Russia's military rethink (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/newsnight/7950224.stm)
Two things struck me, one is that their cutting more officer positions than we have overall Armed Forces personel, and that they no Longer see NATo as a threat, which was interesting.
Linked to this
BBC NEWS | Programmes | Newsnight | Russia's military rethink (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/newsnight/7950224.stm) it seems like their really trying to copy the USA
(yes, for those of you on RumRation, its exactly the same post as I put there :P)
Major problems with the GRU and the Spetsnaz.
The Streetwise Professor: Priorities (http://streetwiseprofessor.com/?p=1598)
Medvedev Overplays the “Military Card” in Trying to Impress Obama (http://www.cdi.org/russia/johnson/2009-62-30.cfm)
In his March 17, 2009 speech to Russia’s top military brass, Russian President Dmitri Medvedev raised the specter of a strong and robust Russian military. The fact is that while Russia is undergoing a major reform of its armed forces, and beginning to pump money into it, it will be several years, 2020, according to many Russian officers, before the Russian armed forces will be equipped with modern weapons. The reality is that the Russian military is in no position to threaten anyone. By their own admission, Russian generals view the war in Georgia as a “disaster.” Russia won, but only by using outdated weapons and equipment and the kind of frontal military attack that was more reminiscent of World War II, than of the modern type of warfare. In short, Medvedev’s effort to play the military card was nothing more than an effort to gain a diplomatic advantage by pulling the wool over the West’s eyes............................
Conclusion
We have no doubt that Serdyukov is serious about reforming the Russian military. Furthermore, while we are aware of the unhappiness of Russian officers vis-a-vis many of his actions, there is no sign to date that there is much the officer corps can do to stop him from making changes. Besides, it is clear to most outside observers, that while one many decry Serdyukov’s personality in dealing with military officers, the changes he is making are badly needed but will be years in making an impact on the army’s combat efficiency.
From a policy standpoint, the foregoing suggests that Medvedev’s references to a military build-up are a bluff, used to convince the West that it is in its interest to make a deal with the Russians. While we take no position on policy, we think it is important to emphasize that the Russian military build-up should not be seen as a major factor in negotiating with the Russians.