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This will either be the Russian or the Chinese century

Russian century? Hilarious.

Russia, and especially its military, is absolutely overrun with corruption. All of their new procurement programs have problems that make those of the F-35 look like a joke (you just don't hear about it.)

Their economy is entirely based on exporting oil and gas, but they have high production costs and a decaying transport infrastructure, and they are probably going to be destroyed by the growth of shale oil and gas around the world.

And then you've got millions of people drinking themselves to death. I realize FR has gotten all squishy in admiration of Russia's recent anti-gay policies but the country is still a train wreck.

“And then you’ve got millions of people drinking themselves to death. I realize FR has gotten all squishy in admiration of Russia’s recent anti-gay policies but the country is still a train wreck.”

Fair enough. I’m not well versed on the internals of the Russian military. Either you are, or you think you are.

Assuming you’re correct, then it will be the Chinese century.

There is a void. And Putin does love his country, unlike Obama. I stand by those points.

"I realize FR has gotten all squishy in admiration of Russia's recent anti-gay policies but the country is still a train wreck."

The F-35 has its share of problems and the US seems to be declining at a brisk pace just like China and Russia (Which is not healthy for stability). Last thing the US needs to be doing is cutting defense when the "fiat" wars are potentially blooming in the coming decades; those who are well disciplined combined with a tech edge will emerge.

The US has a tech edge but lack traditional discipline, i.e. your male anal/pole smoking buddies, social reforms, and chicks "qutota'ed" to "the front lines" in a voluntary force will degrade when confronted by a force made of brainwashed Utopians and the well discipline drones/"gang-bangers" led by the "vory v zakone" as well as the Russian army who will be called to protect their interest. Air power alone won't amount to squat, plus our space exploration is focusing on Muslim outreach programs instead of primarily "weaponizing" space (Which unfortunately is necessary).

The US ground game is best at sticking with third/fourth world armies; even then COIN "preoccupation" is making us look like fools by draining trillions in resources (Do they take Clausewitz seriously anymore and yes Clause can be used against guerrilla tactics). I guess military isolation, tech preparation, psych-ops with the Eastern Europe (Heterogenous Russia against their quest at nationalistic aspirations) and "siege protection" is the best strategy against China and Russia (Easing the government's claws away from private industry is also preferable).

Yes, the Russian armed forces are but a shadow of their former selves and have a long ways to go to catchup to the West. The interesting thing if you read a lot of global defense articles is that they have very few concerns with the U.S. or NATO, even though the rhetoric is often aimed at them. Their big worry and the reason for any kind of buildup is that they fear a massive Chinese ground invasion that could take away a quarter of the country.