Comments on: Low morale in the Russian military http://siberianlight.net/low-morale-in-the-russian-military/ The Russia Blog Thu, 19 Apr 2012 13:30:39 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Alexei http://siberianlight.net/low-morale-in-the-russian-military/comment-page-1/#comment-5560 Alexei Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 http://65.124.18.226/~siberian/?p=408#comment-5560 I'm ready to assume the military wouldn't interfere but you can't ignore the "vnutrennie voyska," or "internal troops" -- a huge army under the command of the MVD, the Police Ministry. Plus, FSB's anti-riot units. I’m ready to assume the military wouldn’t interfere but you can’t ignore the “vnutrennie voyska,” or “internal troops” — a huge army under the command of the MVD, the Police Ministry. Plus, FSB’s anti-riot units.

]]> By: Andy http://siberianlight.net/low-morale-in-the-russian-military/comment-page-1/#comment-5561 Andy Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 http://65.124.18.226/~siberian/?p=408#comment-5561 True, but I'd imagine that they are afflicted by the same low morale as the regular military. Their pay is also low, their children have to survive on low student grants, their grandparents have to live on a pitifully low pension. And, although I don't know for sure, I'd be surprised if their equipment and general conditions are much better than that of ther regular army. How committed do you think the grunts of any particular branch of service are to their masters? True, but I’d imagine that they are afflicted by the same low morale as the regular military. Their pay is also low, their children have to survive on low student grants, their grandparents have to live on a pitifully low pension.

And, although I don’t know for sure, I’d be surprised if their equipment and general conditions are much better than that of ther regular army.

How committed do you think the grunts of any particular branch of service are to their masters?

]]> By: Alexei http://siberianlight.net/low-morale-in-the-russian-military/comment-page-1/#comment-5562 Alexei Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 http://65.124.18.226/~siberian/?p=408#comment-5562 I think most Army officers, although professionally inferior on average to their Soviet predecessors, are still instinctively averse to the Army being used a police force. But they would not rebel against their military superiors either, although the generals should be responsible for the fact that the fast-growing fedral defense expenditures literally disappear into thin air. The cadre of the internal troups may have a different mentality, and it does not take a large force to dispel even hundreds of thousands demonstrators. A handful of well-paid professionals would be enough. Or of poorly-paid amateurs who would enjoy beating up the officially designated bad guys and rob the detainees of their pocket money. Then again, why would people take to the streets? Most feel there's nothing to protest against: everybody complains how bad things are but few believe that government policies, no matter how good, can change that, just like they can't make the summer last longer. The problems the country faces are so fundamental that no government and no political or economic reforms will help. A lot of people feel the country is doomed. Hence the pessimistic sentiment despite strong GDP growth. I think most Army officers, although professionally inferior on average to their Soviet predecessors, are still instinctively averse to the Army being used a police force. But they would not rebel against their military superiors either, although the generals should be responsible for the fact that the fast-growing fedral defense expenditures literally disappear into thin air.

The cadre of the internal troups may have a different mentality, and it does not take a large force to dispel even hundreds of thousands demonstrators. A handful of well-paid professionals would be enough. Or of poorly-paid amateurs who would enjoy beating up the officially designated bad guys and rob the detainees of their pocket money.

Then again, why would people take to the streets? Most feel there’s nothing to protest against: everybody complains how bad things are but few believe that government policies, no matter how good, can change that, just like they can’t make the summer last longer. The problems the country faces are so fundamental that no government and no political or economic reforms will help. A lot of people feel the country is doomed. Hence the pessimistic sentiment despite strong GDP growth.

]]> By: News from Around the World http://siberianlight.net/low-morale-in-the-russian-military/comment-page-1/#comment-5563 News from Around the World Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 http://65.124.18.226/~siberian/?p=408#comment-5563 <strong>Low morale in the Russian military</strong> We were thinking the exact thing a second ago:... Low morale in the Russian military

We were thinking the exact thing a second ago:…

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