U.S. Researchers: Russian Military Plagued

By Michael Bruno

Several U.S. researchers in Washington painted a grim picture of the Russian military Aug. 24, saying the former Cold War adversary has embarked on a necessary reform campaign after decades of corruption and shrinking capacity.

Two researchers, Stephen Blank of the U.S. Army War College and Dale Herspring of Kansas State University, told a Hudson Institute audience that Russian media and military leaders are widely lamenting the state of Russia’s military, recently brought to worldwide attention by its difficult – albeit ultimately successful – invasion of Georgia a year ago. “The Russians were not ready for that war,” Herspring said. ....