Russia Plans New ICBMs, Nuclear Subs

[eddie]

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/R/RUSSIA_NEW_WEAPONS?SITE=WIRE&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

My thoughts?

I feel like this trend, the single announcement's veracity aside, is ultimately a shock to many people, when it really shouldn't be.

"We crushed them economically when they were a superpower! How can they have recovered so quickly? What do they have to gain from posturing of this sort anyways?"

Just a gentle reminder that POWER still matters and will continue to matter when it comes to states, despite everything you may hear about globalization.

 

[Fly Navy]

From what I understand (I could be WAY off), the FSU still took care of their Rocket forces, even in the bad times.

 

[BarrettRC8]

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/R/RUSSIA_NEW_WEAPONS?SITE=WIRE&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

My thoughts?

I feel like this trend, the single announcement's veracity aside, is ultimately a shock to many people, when it really shouldn't be.

"We crushed them economically when they were a superpower! How can they have recovered so quickly? What do they have to gain from posturing of this sort anyways?"

Just a gentle reminder that POWER still matters and will continue to matter when it comes to states, despite everything you may hear about globalization.

Agreed. When viewing international relations, the only way to do it is from within the realist perspective.

 

[Lawman]

Putin has had delussions of grandure for a while now about seizing the Mighty Soviet Empires former glory for mother Russia..... He has also been promising a lot in the way of new stuff and money to the Russian military especially the Navy.

Remember right before the Kursk. Putin went to those massive excersises being held by the fleet in order to show his support and lend weight to his promises that money was coming to rebuild the fleet to its former glory. Since then what have we seen? Any new capital ships commissioned by the Russian Navy in the last 5 years? Any new designs go forward to the ship yard? Heck they've been selling off everything they can to the Indian and Chinese Navys from what we have seen. I think its pretty obvious to everybody where the money of the Russian military goes and that is into the bleeding open wound that is Chetznia.

 

[Flash]

From what I understand (I could be WAY off), the FSU still took care of their Rocket forces, even in the bad times.

Typical Russians, all talk and little action.

As for them taking care of their Strategic Rocket Forces, they do in the Russian sense.........still potent there but they are a sad shadow of what they used to be.........

 

[Fly Navy]

As for them taking care of their Strategic Rocket Forces, they do in the Russian sense.........still potent there but they are a sad shadow of what they used to be.........

Enough to fvck us up, but not to the level they used to.. yes.

 

[eddie]

Agreed. When viewing international relations, the only way to do it is from within the realist perspective.

Meh, I'd say I've got quite a bit of construcivist in me as well. I think, to a degree, culture and history matter very much, and most theory is only so useful / frustrated me enough with it's limitations to make me want to change majors.

 

[Brett327]

Meh, I'd say I've got quite a bit of construcivist in me as well. I think, to a degree, culture and history matter very much, and most theory is only so useful / frustrated me enough with it's limitations to make me want to change majors.

Stick with it. The good stuff comes after the theory you need to give you a foundation from which to view everything else.

@ Ryan: While I agree that policy generally needs to be made from a realist perspective, you ought not exclude the other theoretical bases out of hand, as they provide their own unique and important perspectives. Understanding a thing in a multi-dimensional way helps you see the nuance that can oftentimes make a big difference /end IR theory soapbox

Brett