[daniel1212]

How is a nation a “First World state’’ with a “Third World economy”’? Seems a contradiction in terms and reality.

I think he meant “First World status" as regards world military power. Think nukes.

[jmacusa]

Nukes are all they've got. The Russkies are using late 70’s and 80’s equipment and technology. When the USSR fell apart no one was interested in the ‘’Glorious Red Army’’ anymore. All that “Patriotic War For The Motherland’’ was so much twaddle. All anyone wanted to do was become a ‘’bizinessman’’. Get rich selling off the collective farm and all the equipment they could. Including what ever military hardware they could. Russians are thieves at heart. A nation of prostitutes of every stripe and entirely with out scruples.