To adress B~E

[Kuzmich]

here are certain domain of influence where Russia isnt a world leader, such has economy, military and survival rate in new born.

In order not to spam the other thread i decided to make a new one. So lets look herem B~E says that Russia is not a military power anymore, yet the facts speak differently. Many nations are buying our equipment, we are the world best in creation of RPGs, easpecially our SA-18 "Igla" RPG which is superior to the western counterparts. Many nations and soon-to-be superpowers are buying those, especially India and China, also they are buying many of other types of Russian military technology, such as SU-32 Super flankers, SU-27 flankers, T-90 main Battle Tanks, our missiles, like Topolev class missile. We launch more military satelites then any other nation exept US. Our nuclear arsennal is almost equal in number and is bigger in power then that of US. Our assault rifles are valued around the world, even in some NATO nations where our A-9 personal defense weapon/assault rifle, is being bought.

Russian army conscripts receive combat experience in Chechnya which is needed for any good soldier. Russian logistical capabilities on the European and Asian mainland are emmense. We have 25 million people in reserves. Our military budget has grown 18% just last year Yes we are still a military power. Facts suggest that.

Now moving on to the economics. Foreign companies have invested more then a trillion dollars in Russian economy and still keep investing. Over 30% of EU's energy resources come from Russia. Some other nations like Ukraine and Georgia depend on Russia for their economic survival. China, India and South Korea are basically at each others throats over the issue of who gets the deal with Russia on the creation of an oil pipe. Our economic future is quite secure.

Child survival rate, hmm, not particulary lower then in any other eastern european nation, but the birth deficiency has decreased by 5% last year, and 12% the year before last. Birthrate is increasing.

[B~E]

Your banned.

No, seriously, first of all, I said you weren't a world leader in many domain, but I never said that you werent a power. There is a difference.
Also, I'll comeback latter with actual tangible matter to argue yours, and in the meantime, try to bring up a couple of sources and quotes to back some of your claims concerning weapon technology, if its really is whats best on the market or not, because I doubt it is.
Maybe its because I still have the images of rusty soviet era nuclear submarines leaking in the north sea stuck in my memory, or the poor performence of soviet military material during the gulf war and many other regional conflict, but I have this stereotype that russian military material is far from being top notch.

As for your claims on Russia's economic performence, I already have those figured out, but I'll come back latter.

And note that military and Russia are FAR from being my usual domains of knowledge, so I'll have to scourge the Internet for usefull information.

And if anyone jump in this thread and post something that isn't apropriate or toughtfull, or that doesnt contribut anything to that discution, he'll get warned.

[Kuzmich]

I'll edit this post with the links and such. Can you just get on MSN? That would make this a much quicker discussion. Plus i have to soon, but i'll try to get you the links.

Okay here is a good source on all of Russian technology, and its comparison to western couterparts.

http://warfare.ru/

During Gulf War Iraqies used horribly outdated T-72s, without any upgrades received for atleast a decade, and their air force, it never even took of from the ground so its performance can not be measured, however, we do lead the world in many ways military equipment wise, and military research wise. I mean we actually made a Plasma stealth generator that only weighed a 100 kgs and could fit aboard any fighter, it was tested and tests were deemed succesful, neither US nor anyone else had such breakthroughs in that area, plasma stealth makes planes that do not have stealth materials or features, stealth planes. The ionic cloud generated by plasma stealth generator reduces radar signature by a factor of a hundred.

Russian planes, YAK-141 for example. It can achieve hypersonic speed, and it has been around for more then a decade and US has its first hypersonic fighter (JSF) scheduled for production in only in 2010.

Russians invented vertical thrust technology which enables jet fighters to spin their nose in any direction in less then a second, sharp 360 degree rotations are no possible, americans have copied this and are using it on their new F-22 fighters.

Assault rifles, AEK-971 surpasses any NATO counterpart in categories like rate of fire, weight, and recoil. It is bold operated, meaning the recoil is greatly reduced, also we have a series of other very interesting assault rifles. For example OC-14 "Groza" (Lightning"), or silenced assult rifle, Val.

where is an interesting site on guns in general and Russian included.

http://world.guns.ru

[Tipsy]

Well, heres my two cents on the issue. First off, just to once again point out somewhat of a pointlessness to this thread I will point one thing out. In October 1994 Lt. Gen. Ivanov (Assistant Defense Minister for Policy) gave a presentation to an American delegation that outlined a "model of military deterrence". He gave four scenarios, three used nuclear weapons. The only way that nuclear weapons will not be used in a Russian war is IF the country Russia is fighting does not have, and is not supported by a country that has nuclear arms. And also, despite the many bunkers located throughout Russia that could survive a nuclear blast, if a full scale war occurred it would only be a matter of time until the inhabitants of the bunkers died from other sources of not getting enough supplies and such.

Now onto my specific views of Russia.
I agree with the United States government's view on Russia, to give you a quote: "U.S.-Russia relationship of continued central importance in U.S. foreign policy. Russia's importance in the world is multidimensional, and is not confined to its current or potential military power."

And if you ask me what specifically Russia can hurt the United States with is in my opinion their willingness to ship all types of their military products to countries around the world which could easily fall into the hands of a wannabe freedom fighter who is not backed by any country and could use them in random attacks.

Once again to emphasize, whoever has the better troops, planes, tanks, weapons, etc does not matter. Unless somehow the United States becomes a nation without nuclear arms which is incredibly unlikely, nuclear weapons will be used if Russia follows its' foreign defense policies.

Edit:
I found this very interesting, and this is also where my quote came from. If you actually have the time to read this, because it is fairly long, take a look at Chapters 9, 10, 11, and 12.
http://policy.house.gov/russia/contents.html