[alex]

Yet another ceritified moron still thinking in categories of the pre 1979 world.

First of all, there is a question of manpower - I would not be surprised that the population of Russia now will be around 1/3 of Warsaw Pact countries population.

Second, since 1979 Russia had a number of pretty unsuccessful and bloody wars: Afgan War, First Chechen War, and Second Chechen War (which is still going on and on). Russian society had openly tired of wars, even Second Chechen War which was widely supported by society at the beginning is running out of steam.

Third, if one would compare disarray of armed forces, Russia's problems are the biggest. So, it is not surprising to see the change of stance on the right to use nukes first. Russia now assumes the possibility of using nukes first - it is a clear defensive stance of the country which is thinking mostly about its own defences and their cost(I can expand on it, if it is not evident).

Fourth, Gorbachev is a moron, the author's accolades to him is yet another evidence that the author is moron too.

[flamefront]

There are numerous instances of technolical improvements to the Russian military recently. This means nothing?

Russia now assumes the possibility of using nukes first - it is a clear defensive stance of the country which is thinking mostly about its own defences and their cost(I can expand on it, if it is not evident).

Sounds desperate. Also it sounds anything but defensive.

[John H K]

This Nyquist guy, on his site prominently features a link to a guy who claims that we are a year away from a massive surprise Russian nuclear attack. :-)