Posted on 05/11/2006 2:43:11 PM PDT by neverdem
The smaller the dog, the shriller the bark.
I HIGHLY doubt that the recent arms buildup is directed at Russia' allies to the southeast (China). Rather, it is directed at the United States.
Ping!!!
Makes you wonder if Putin is making a run for President For Life.
Standard Operating Procedure for dictators is to point at American aggression, power, wealth, and other policies as a reason for a strong, central government in a time of crisis.
(Of course... the crisis is usually locally manufactured.)
"Putin warns arms race not over yet"
That's because we are still waiting for Russia to drag her tired butt accross the finish line in dead last place.
They've gotten a few bucks ahead now. What with selling arms and nuclear advice to Iran, they figure they can blow some on sustaining the old Russian ego.
An unequal comparison to the US may be a little humiliating, which may give some impetus to rebuild. But the real threat is from China, and from his own muslim separatists.
These two threats are real, and he has to prepare for them or else.
Wow, news like this is sending my Vanguard precious metals fund through the roof.
Don't forget the waste and corruption coefficient. Out of the resources allocated, part will disappear without a trace, another part will be stolen, and still the third part will be wasted ["The Gaul is divided in three parts..."]. He'd do much better by allocating the bulk of resources to such basics as military housing - for then within a couple of years he could sort it out, and that alone would do a lot towards retaining personnel.
should be an oz in there
Armies based on Communist strategy don't care about how their soldiers are treated. This can be seen in Russia, China, and Cuba.
How's he gonna pay for it?
Try reading ALL of the article dummkopf!
I'll bet if we cut off aid to Russia their arms program will suffer a setback.
We give over 5 billion dollars to Russia on an annual basis.
how about we cut off all foreign aid for say, six months, and send the US taxpayers that supply it a nice 'thank you' check. yeah, i know, pipe dream
Well he's wrong. The US stopped long ago
MOSCOW, March 9 (RIA Novosti) - First-stage flight testing of next-generation attack helicopters for the Russian Air Force has been completed and the choppers will soon be in service, an official said Thursday.
Head of the Air Force press service Alexander Drobyshevsky said that the Mi-28N Night Hunter had completed its first test flights, and the Rostov Helicopter Plant (Rosvertol) will launch full-scale production in the immediate future.
The company will initially produce 20 Mi-28Ns under a three-year contract with the Air Force, the official said.
According to Drobyshevsky, a serial model of the Mi-28N Night Hunter conducted its first flight in late December and has made 140 flights since then.
The helicopter is primarily designed to locate and destroy enemy armored vehicles, personnel, small surface ships, low-speed air targets and fortifications and to lay mine fields day or night in adverse weather conditions.
High reliability and powerful weaponry make the chopper competitive on global aircraft markets, the Rosvertol press service said. Military experts said helicopter's effectiveness was four to five times higher than of any existing helicopters of its type.
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