(July 19, 2018 at 1:27 pm)Shell B Wrote: I wonder why anyone would want to maintain military readiness against Russia?
Russia exhibit every evidence of wanting to reclaim dominant influence over parts of old czarist empire or soviet sphere and regard domination over these and basic condition for its own security. If Russian gains these, then the central position of Russia in Euroasia would give Russia outsized influence over euroasia compared to its economy. Other powers with much greater economic power, including the US, China and the EU, look at moribund Russian economy and demographics with contempt and do not wish to cede such outsized influence to a country with so little stake in, and ability to contribute to, the world economy.
Russia has invaded 2 countries in the last 10 years. Most of the countries Russia want to assert dominance over are close to Russia. Russia can attack and occupy them with little warning. Russia’s strategic nuclear arsenal means once Russia successfully occupies a country, it would be very risky to throw it out, as the US did in Iraq in 1991. So the only real way to prevent Russia from grabbing the territories it wants by sudden armed invasion is to be fully prepared to meet the invasion as it happens.
This is why preparedness against Russia matters.
