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| Russia |
| Putin's military shakeup a prelude to modernization |
| 2004-07-20 |
| Follows up this story. [Fired military chief of staff]General Kvashnin will be replaced with his first deputy, General Yury Baluyevsky, who is generally seen as pro-Western and reform-minded. Experts said it has been clear for weeks that drastic changes in the top brass were on the way. "After what happened in Ingushetia, a shakeup was inevitable," said an independent defense analyst, Pavel Felgenhauer. "That was a huge blunder." But analysts also said that the shakeup — and Mr. Kvashnin's firing in particular — were a result of a power struggle over the future of the military. Mr. Putin has made a top priority of reforming Russia's increasingly ineffective military, which is beset by funding problems, aging equipment, and frequent desertions. The president has promised to streamline the military by cutting staff and turning the 1.3 million-strong force — made up mostly of unwilling conscripts — into a professional one. I guess Rummy's unavailable for this one. General Kvashnin, who first gained prominence as the leader of the failed war to seize control of Chechnya in 1994-96, was known to be among those most opposed to reform plans. "[General Kvashnin] is one of those most responsible for the military's miserable state," Mr. Felgenhauer said. His replacement, General Baluyevsky, is well-regarded as a proponent of change and international cooperation. General Baluyevsky has helped negotiate an arms reduction treaty with America and also set up the joint NATO-Russia Council. Compare Iraq to Chechnya. Yeah, it's reform time. |
| Posted by:someone |
| #3 The Russian Army is long in need of reform. A lot has been done since 1991, the Russian Army went fron almost 200 divisional flags to about 40, from 16 military districts to eight, changing over from regiments to brigades for independant and cadre units, but the quality has suffered for all branches except for the elites. (naval infantry and airborne troops ) One possible suggestion about ten years ago is that the Russian Army start converting some of its motorized rifle formations into light infantry units to lessen the logistical load required to move such troops. Of course making such a move means the quality of things such as logistics and command/staff would have to improve a bunch before they can do that to make light infantry an effective fighting element. |
| Posted by: badanov 2004-07-20 3:30:25 PM |
| #2 they're both martial arts fans... |
| Posted by: Frank G 2004-07-20 2:08:50 PM |
| #1 I guess Putin is a Rummy fan. |
| Posted by: Super Hose 2004-07-20 1:52:38 PM |