Posted on 07/01/2022 11:04:28 AM PDT by SpeedyInTexas
“Russian strength has shown itself to be so overrated that it gives us an opportunity to rethink what makes a power “great.” Going into the war, Russia’s military capabilities—including a large nuclear stockpile and what was thought to be one of the biggest and most-advanced armed forces in the world—were pointed to as the reason for its strength. What this war might be showing us, however, is that a military is only as strong as the society, economy, and political structure that assembled it. In this case, Russia was nowhere near a great power, but in fact a deeply flawed, in many ways weakening, state.
From this point of view, indeed, it can be seen as a power in relatively steep decline. Its economy is about the tenth largest in the world, comparable to Brazil’s, but even that masks how remarkably unproductive it is, basing most of its wealth on extracting and selling natural resources, rather than on producing anything advanced. When it comes to technology and innovation, Russia would hardly rank in the top 50 most important countries in the world.”
(Excerpt) Read more at theatlantic.com ...
They do have a lot of nukes, though.
Vaxxish
Russia is still dangerous.
I see “The Atlantic” and I remember they were the ones that fabricated the debunked hit piece about Trump insulting soldiers...and I take nothing they say seriously.
China is far more dangerous than Russia will likely ever be
Russia has to conquer and absorb to become strong again, and that is what they are trying to do.
This Ukraine debacle is badly delaying by decades, and with the reawakening of NATO to the extent that even Finland and Sweden are seeking to come under it’s protective umbrella, even derailing their eternal USSR goals.
Do they have enough to spare a few to sell to Middle East countries in exchange for gold or embargoed currencies? If they felt sanctions were really pushing them.
Once one is reduced to getting their news from The Atlantic, then you know they’ve gone full commie-pedophile.
This is a liquidation war effort. There are three major communist countries right now (US, China, and Russia). China controls the US and Russia by proxy.
To keep the money flowing from the world’s middle class population to the elites, China encourages the US and Russia to take on periodic military endeavors to liquidate stocks of older weaponry, to make room for newer products that can further enrich the communists in power.
You mean like Afghanistan exposed America as a “Not-So-Great Power”? After 20 years of America trying?
Russia is beating all of NATO’s resources (save direct fighters) at the moment. They are grinding away bit by bit, aren’t being overly affected by the latest sanctions, and have time on their side. They will have secured (I won’t say liberated, but it’s residents may wish to use that word) the entire Donbass within a few weeks. That’s almost game over, as compared to initially stated objectives. We’re being gaslit by our press, just like many times in the past. The facts (per western sources) simply don’t support this nonsense we’re being fed. This war was over before it began. Will Russia win the peace? That we’ll see.
I remember when all the pundits said Saddam had the 4th largest army in the world. I remember shock and awe. Not surprised Ukraine event has problems. I don’t believe Russia is going full fledged....they are not trying to destroy their targeted goals. They seem to be mopping up, cause all we seen to hear about is how the Ukrainians are fighting.
“You mean like Afghanistan exposed America as a “Not-So-Great Power”? After 20 years of America trying?”
We see ourselves as exceptional regardless of circumstances. We are the police of the world. Moral authority of the world. The way we do things is simply the best and that’s final. This is how we view things as we swirl the drain, bankrupt in every conceivable way.
Every bar that can be lowered has been lowered.
A few billion more and I’m sure Ukraine will win.
It’s not Ukraine vs Russia, it’s NATO vs Russia via proxy.
Phillips Payson O’Brien is a name you often see on the gloryhole board at Man's Country in Chicago...
They do have a lot of nukes, though.
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As I understand it, nukes require a lot of maintenance, maintenance that cost money and take a high level of skills.
What we are seeing in Ukraine is the visible effect of corruption (top to bottom). So the question is, have the nukes been maintained or have the records been fudged?
Yeah, Russia’s military adventure in Ukraine cannot compare to our glorious and long-lasting victories in Libya, Iraq, Afghanistan, etc.
Agreed. Also, see 19.
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