[doorgunner69]

My gut feeling after doing threat study for some years, is that if the Russians put their mind to something, serious stuff results.

More than a few of their engineering achievements are not to be scoffed at. The general malaise of the country and shabby civilian conditions should not be taken as an indicator of what they hold most sacred: defense of the country.

Our military did not hold such a dismissive attitude as you seem to have, though that may have changed in recent years.

[The Antiyuppie]

“More than a few of their engineering achievements are not to be scoffed at. “

That 100+MPH torpedo of theirs is pretty darned clever, and, AFAIK has no countermeasure other than stealth.

[cloudmountain]

What I was told about Russia and the Russians was told to me by the Russians when my husband and I visited Russia (2008).
Their dismissive attitude was a little surprising to me after hearing of their achievements. But, who was I to argue with them when they spoke to me of their own country?