Privatizing the Army? You mean turning the Army into a mercenary force for the richest Russians? Flat tax, awesome. But a privatized Army is a disaster for a nation-state in the long run.
Putin had a chance for realignment. Instead he chose the declinining old Europe and the old Soviet dreams. When the Chinese, Turks, Koreans, and Indians swarm over Russia, we in the US will simply sit back and say "payback's a bitca!"
Yup, just like the US army has fought to annex Hawaii for US buisness, helped put down the Boxer Rebellion for business, various banana republics and oil princes...your point?
Check out my bookmarked article: Russia removes itself from the Endangered Species list, Russian birth rates have been swinging around for 3 years now (along with the economy...funny about that). Local governments are running out of money for their deals to buy houses for working families willing to have 3 kids in 5 years...demand has outstripped supply.
The Turks have gotten their arses handed to them 5 times in a row...doubt they are that stupid. The Koreans? Hahahaha, not if N. Korea wants to live. The Indians? What drugs are you on? Besides, they'd kinda have to "swarm" through a few other countries first...go check a map. As for China, if the US is stupid enough to let China conquer (doubt they'd be able to do it anyways) Siberia, then the US won't survive another generation. With all the oil and resources, China would outstrip the US in no time.