Kim Sengupta, The Independent: War in Syria: Russia’s 'rustbucket' military delivers a hi-tech shock to West and Israel
As the Kremlin showcases its military capabilities in Syria, Kim Sengupta says Nato leaders are having to reassess.
Their army’s equipment and strategy was “outmoded”; their air force’s bombs and missiles were “more dumb than smart”; their navy was “more rust than ready”. For decades, this was Western military leaders’ view, steeped in condescension, of their Russian counterparts. What they have seen in Syria and Ukraine has come as a shock.
Russian military jets have, at times, been carrying out more sorties in a day in Syria than the US-led coalition has done in a month. The Russian navy has launched ballistic missiles from the Caspian Sea 900 miles way, and kept supply lines going to Syria. The air defences installed by the Russians in Syria and eastern Ukraine would make it extremely hazardous for the West to carry out strikes against the Assad regime or Ukrainian separatists.
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WNU Editor: Russia's capabilities have been known for a long time. The difference is that Russia is focused on the Syrian war .... NATO, the U.S., our Arab allies, Turkey .... they are all focused elsewhere with different agendas and priorities. In short .... there is no leadership.