George H. Wittman: Russia Redux
[George H. Wittman is a member of the Committee on the Present Danger and the founding chairman of the National Institute for Public Policy.]
What exactly did Western leaders and pundits think would happen as Russia regained economic stability and again gained leverage in the world of international politics? What did they think would be the outcome of a weakened United States undercut by lack of support by some Western European allies?
What they didn't contemplate was a rebirth of the spirit of the Cold War among Russia's leaders. They certainly didn't think that Russia's defense strategists would rush toward development of new multiple warhead and inflight retargetable missiles. Why would the Russian Strategic Rocket Forces believe they ever would have a priority need for such weapons at a time when a clearly non-confrontational U.S. administration is willing to turn its efforts toward major reductions in strategic armament?
A Cold War mentality has marked Vladimir Putin and his stalwart security, intelligence and military cadre that constitute the siloviki, and this has infected Russia's perception of dealing with the external world. Of course this is hardly unexpected. Putin and his generation of dedicated former Communist Party members grew up in and were educated by the old Soviet system. Back then they were the young heart and soul of their nation. That the "old folks" mismanaged Russian dominance was not the fault of Vlad and his now middle-aged buddies.
After nearly twenty years of struggling through evolution of a new format, Russia -- with its modernization and expansion of its oil and gas industry -- is ready again to accept an international leadership role. Russia didn't lose its scientific genius. It didn't lose its traditional nationalism. Russia, with the continuation of its substantial oil and gas income, has weathered the global financial breakdown rather better than expected. Why not show the world it's back in the game? What better way than bulking up their military capability and politically challenging American strategic ambitions?..
Read entire article at American Spectator
What exactly did Western leaders and pundits think would happen as Russia regained economic stability and again gained leverage in the world of international politics? What did they think would be the outcome of a weakened United States undercut by lack of support by some Western European allies?
What they didn't contemplate was a rebirth of the spirit of the Cold War among Russia's leaders. They certainly didn't think that Russia's defense strategists would rush toward development of new multiple warhead and inflight retargetable missiles. Why would the Russian Strategic Rocket Forces believe they ever would have a priority need for such weapons at a time when a clearly non-confrontational U.S. administration is willing to turn its efforts toward major reductions in strategic armament?
A Cold War mentality has marked Vladimir Putin and his stalwart security, intelligence and military cadre that constitute the siloviki, and this has infected Russia's perception of dealing with the external world. Of course this is hardly unexpected. Putin and his generation of dedicated former Communist Party members grew up in and were educated by the old Soviet system. Back then they were the young heart and soul of their nation. That the "old folks" mismanaged Russian dominance was not the fault of Vlad and his now middle-aged buddies.
After nearly twenty years of struggling through evolution of a new format, Russia -- with its modernization and expansion of its oil and gas industry -- is ready again to accept an international leadership role. Russia didn't lose its scientific genius. It didn't lose its traditional nationalism. Russia, with the continuation of its substantial oil and gas income, has weathered the global financial breakdown rather better than expected. Why not show the world it's back in the game? What better way than bulking up their military capability and politically challenging American strategic ambitions?..