The Red Menace

It really is NOT applicable when speaking in terms of force projection.

The Russian's ability to get troops from A to B within their own borders are as good as they ever were, the Russian rail system and highway system being what they are. But to project their force globally, against threats to Russian interests extending beyond their borders? Maybe not so much.

This applies to their Chinese neighbors as well. Last week there was a big stink about their "stealth" fighter being deployable in the next few years... Sabre rattling AT BEST... At worst a good diversion for their GDP and American interest payments. The technology itself is 40 years old, it's only a matter of time, really... But then, all things being equal, you have a pilot versus a pilot. Bar none, argument cold and dead before it leaves one's lips, name a nation that can beat the United States name your branch of the armed forces pilot. Anyone?

Whatever the Russians are calling their Spetsnaz (sp?) teams nowadays, I'm sure they'll do fine against their home grown separatists... And it is VERY interesting how these nameless, faceless attacks from within Russian territories accomplish more to consolidate Putin's power. The school attacks essentially give Putin the authority to appoint regional governors instead of having them elected... And that is just the latest. Imagine all these attacks being a Sith Lord plot or a Maskirovka on a scale even Clancy would balk at. I believe Ryan has mentioned that possibility in the past.

Ah... It is nice having someone writing their name in Cyrilic standing in the OpFor line for a change.