Comments on: The Bear comes out of hibernation http://blog.usni.org/2009/03/17/the-bear-comes-out-of-hibernation/ The Naval Institute’s taken its independent forum to a new level - with you in the middle of it. Fri, 10 Feb 2012 21:43:10 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Jay http://blog.usni.org/2009/03/17/the-bear-comes-out-of-hibernation/comment-page-1/#comment-85224 Jay Thu, 19 Mar 2009 12:48:25 +0000 http://blog.usni.org/?p=1740#comment-85224 I also wonder the effect of the supposed "brain drain" from Russia over the past 15 years. Lots of smart scientists came over here. I also wonder the effect of the supposed “brain drain” from Russia over the past 15 years. Lots of smart scientists came over here.

]]> By: Galrahn http://blog.usni.org/2009/03/17/the-bear-comes-out-of-hibernation/comment-page-1/#comment-82604 Galrahn Wed, 18 Mar 2009 17:03:48 +0000 http://blog.usni.org/?p=1740#comment-82604 Patton asks a good question. As one who follows Russian military affairs, the answer is, yes, they can afford it. Their plan is quite smart, though it comes with some risk and makes a bet on the future I think many will see as a good bet. I'll fill in the details in a future post. Patton asks a good question. As one who follows Russian military affairs, the answer is, yes, they can afford it. Their plan is quite smart, though it comes with some risk and makes a bet on the future I think many will see as a good bet. I’ll fill in the details in a future post.

]]> By: UltimaRatioReg http://blog.usni.org/2009/03/17/the-bear-comes-out-of-hibernation/comment-page-1/#comment-81979 UltimaRatioReg Wed, 18 Mar 2009 11:53:20 +0000 http://blog.usni.org/?p=1740#comment-81979 From the Associated Press this morning: MOSCOW — Russian news agencies say a top defense official has confirmed that Russia has signed a contract to sell S-300 air-defense missiles to Iran but that none of the weapons have been delivered. Russian officials have consistently denied claims that it already has provided some of the powerful missiles to Iran and had not clarified whether a contract existed. The state-run ITAR-Tass and RIA-Novosti news agencies and the independent Interfax quoted an unnamed top official in the Federal Military-Technical Cooperation Service as saying Wednesday the contract had been signed two years ago. Service spokesman Andrei Tarabrin told The Associated Press he could not immediately comment. Supplying the S-300s to Iran would markedly change the military balance in the Middle East. From the Associated Press this morning:

MOSCOW — Russian news agencies say a top defense official has confirmed that Russia has signed a contract to sell S-300 air-defense missiles to Iran but that none of the weapons have been delivered.

Russian officials have consistently denied claims that it already has provided some of the powerful missiles to Iran and had not clarified whether a contract existed.

The state-run ITAR-Tass and RIA-Novosti news agencies and the independent Interfax quoted an unnamed top official in the Federal Military-Technical Cooperation Service as saying Wednesday the contract had been signed two years ago.

Service spokesman Andrei Tarabrin told The Associated Press he could not immediately comment. Supplying the S-300s to Iran would markedly change the military balance in the Middle East.

]]> By: UltimaRatioReg http://blog.usni.org/2009/03/17/the-bear-comes-out-of-hibernation/comment-page-1/#comment-81966 UltimaRatioReg Wed, 18 Mar 2009 11:47:17 +0000 http://blog.usni.org/?p=1740#comment-81966 Well, being cognizant of Russian intentions hardly constitutes pissing ourselves. Also, in the early 1930s with post-war Germany in dire economic times, those very same questions were asked regarding the new Hitler government. Seems they exceeded expectations. Well, being cognizant of Russian intentions hardly constitutes pissing ourselves.

Also, in the early 1930s with post-war Germany in dire economic times, those very same questions were asked regarding the new Hitler government. Seems they exceeded expectations.

]]> By: Patton http://blog.usni.org/2009/03/17/the-bear-comes-out-of-hibernation/comment-page-1/#comment-80785 Patton Wed, 18 Mar 2009 02:25:04 +0000 http://blog.usni.org/?p=1740#comment-80785 The question is, intentions aside, *can* Russia rearm? That is, can they afford to rearm? Will Russia have the financial power to pay for all the stuff they'll need to "rearm", which includes not just the actual rearming, but also training and sustainment (maintenance, extra maintainers, etc, etc). In the short term, depending on how the whole global economic shitstorm sorts out, how long it lasts, etc., they may not be able to sustain it. And they may not be able to sustain it in the long, long term, either, if their oil dries up, or oil becomes less necessary to the global economy. In short, let's not piss ourselves yet. The question is, intentions aside, *can* Russia rearm? That is, can they afford to rearm? Will Russia have the financial power to pay for all the stuff they’ll need to “rearm”, which includes not just the actual rearming, but also training and sustainment (maintenance, extra maintainers, etc, etc). In the short term, depending on how the whole global economic shitstorm sorts out, how long it lasts, etc., they may not be able to sustain it. And they may not be able to sustain it in the long, long term, either, if their oil dries up, or oil becomes less necessary to the global economy. In short, let’s not piss ourselves yet.

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