[kabar]

The Russians don't have a great track record. They didn't perform well in Afghanistan. Except for its nuclear arsenal, Russia is not exactly a military juggernaut.

Russia has negative population growth with a fertility rate of 1.61, far below a replacement rate of 2.1. Males have a life expectancy of 64.7 years at birth. Alcoholism is rampant. Their life expectancy rate of 70.47 is 153rd in the world, lower than Bangladesh.

The Russian per capita income of $24,400 is 75th in the world. Turkey is 85th.

Russia is a gas station posing as a country. Russia is a major exporter of crude oil, petroleum products, and natural gas. Sales of these fuels accounted for 68% of Russia's total exports.

[piytar]

The only reason Russia didn’t turn Afghanistan into goo was because the US backed the Afghanis with modern weapons and logistical support. This was back in the days of Reagan and the USSR, when the USSR was (rightly) seen to be the biggest threat to the US.