Posted on 03/01/2011 12:16:52 PM PST by americanophile
Moscow The graying bear is getting a make-over. Russia's military is launching its biggest rearmament effort since Soviet times, including a $650 billion program to procure 1,000 new helicopters, 600 combat planes, 100 warships, and 8 nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines.
Analysts say Russia, while already the world's fifth-largest military spender, needs strong conventional forces to reduce its overreliance on its aging Soviet-era nuclear missile deterrent. Valentin Rudenko, director of the independent Interfax-Military News Agency, says it could create "a whole new ballgame."
"For about two decades we've had no real modernization, at least not like what's being proposed now," he says. "Russia will finally have a modern, top-level armed forces that are capable of protecting the country."
Deputy Defense Minister Vladimir Popovkin last week announced the unprecedented new outlays, which will see a massive re-equipping of Russia's strategic nuclear deterrent as well as its conventional forces. The Defense Ministry today said the "modernization drive" will begin this year with the deployment of new generations of air defense and antimissile weapons by Russian ground forces.
The impressive shopping spree comes on the heels of a painful military reform that severely downsized Russia's conscript Army, eliminating 9 out of 10 Soviet-era units and cutting 200,000 officers. The goal now, experts say, is to equip Russia's new lean-and-mean, largely professional armed forces to face 21st-century threats. These are mainly considered to be regional conflicts such as the brief 2008 Russo-Georgian war, which highlighted military shortcomings.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
I hear what you’re saying and I agree to a point. I have some Hispanic friends who are hard-core conservatives and Christians. But these are people who’s families go way back.
The new interlopers are just here to raid the wal-mart that is Texas. I really would like to think you’re right but I doubt it because it didn’t pan out for conservatives in CA. Plus the school systems teach them anglos are the boogeyman.
Oh thank god we signed the START treaty.
So we have nothing to worry about. :)
To put it in perspective, $650 billion is one year of our defense budget. I see this as an upgrade on the Russians’ part, not the launching of an arms race, something that they have far less ability than we do to run, even with our lamentable economy. This will, however, strengthen their hand in dealing with what they like to call “the Near Abroad,” those countries they see as sitting in their sphere of influence. Georgia, for instance, had better stay cool and not get overly bold, as we’re not in a position to come to their rescue. By contrast, we can readily defend our Baltic allies of Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia, which are geographically contiguous with our other continental European NATO allies.
Next step, pull the trigger!
Sorry.... pull squeeze the trigger!
.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.