Counterbalance

**~~diplomaticview~~** · 17 Oct 09,, 21:50

Russia stages mly drills with ex-Soviet republics

Saturday, October 17, 2009

MATYBULAK, Kazakhstan: Russia and four former Soviet republics staged war games on Friday to showcase a new Nato-style rapid reaction force designed to cement Moscow’s hold over allies in Central Asia and the Caucasus.

Dressed in combat fatigues, the leaders of Russia, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan looked on as the force carried out a mock attack to destroy “insurgents” who had taken control of a chemical plant.

Smoke rose from a dew-drenched firing range in the Kazakhsteppe, revealing paratroopers landing from helicopters and storming a building to rescue hostages. Russian President Dmitry Medvedev arrived at the Soviet-era firing range in a helicopter and wore desert-style camouflage uniforms created by fashion designer Valentin Yudashkin.

Russia is building up the Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO), a military alliance among former Soviet republics, as a counterweight to Nato. The organisation commits members to defend each other if attacked.

“This is our answer to those threats which our states are coming up against, threats which know no borders — drug crime, religious radicalism and several other threats which we all intend to battle,” Medvedev told reporters.

“This is a milestone in the development of the CSTO and our cooperation.” Five of the CSTO members agreed to create the rapid reaction force in February, when Medvedev said the units should be comparable to Nato structures. Officials said 7,000 troops and 90 aircraft took part in the”Interaction-2009” drills, which covered an area of 1,600 square kilometres at the Matybulak firing range in southern Kazakhstan.

After inspecting troops and weapons, Medvedev and the other leaders moved to a two-storey brick command centre where they watched the exercises for 90 minutes through binoculars.

It was necessary and i think this new organization can solve other regional security problems & Afghan problem better than NATO.

It will be better if Iran, Pakistan & India also come to join it.

**andrew** · 19 Oct 09,, 01:04

We will be lucky if the CSTO doesn't fall apart before the end of the next decade.

India and Pakistan? Is it a joke?

**Mihais** · 19 Oct 09,, 06:44

Originally Posted by andrew

We will be lucky if the CSTO doesn't fall apart before the end of the next decade.

Why do you think it will fall apart.You guys aren't that weak to allow it.

**Dreadnought** · 19 Oct 09,, 17:42

Originally Posted by diplomaticview

It was necessary and i think this new organization can solve other regional security problems & Afghan problem better than NATO.

It will be better if Iran, Pakistan & India also come to join it.

You must be joking.

Go ahead let all of us watch Russia put troops in Afghanistan, You dont perhaps think they have forgotten the clash in the 80's do you?

First Iran prevokes hostilities, yeah she would do well helping to secure the area. The question is for whome more terrorists? Even giving legitimacy to that regime is a joke of the first order. They are a terror supporting theocracy that backs terror groups in countries such as Iraq, Lebannon and the Gaza strip.

You hate the terrorists in Chechnya but yet you would support the terrorists of Iranian offshoots? A tad hypicritical to say the least one would imagine since both are extremeists.

Pakistan is doubtfull as well since the US is conducting operations and also gives their government aid and training.

India? Do you really think that after this fiasco with the carrier in building and other "deals" that they would trust your word again without hesitation? If anything they know the US is actively hunting groups in Pakistan, saving them the trouble and political ramifications. And at current they have been on manuvers with the US military as of late.

**~~diplomaticview~~** · 21 Oct 09,, 22:47

Originally Posted by Dreadnought

You must be joking.

Go ahead let all of us watch Russia put troops in Afghanistan, You dont perhaps think they have forgotten the clash in the 80's do you?

First Iran prevokes hostilities, yeah she would do well helping to secure the area. The question is for whome more terrorists? Even giving legitimacy to that regime is a joke of the first order. They are a terror supporting theocracy that backs terror groups in countries such as Iraq, Lebannon and the Gaza strip.

You hate the terrorists in Chechnya but yet you would support the terrorists of Iranian offshoots? A tad hypicritical to say the least one would imagine since both are extremeists.

Pakistan is doubtfull as well since the US is conducting operations and also gives their government aid and training.

India? Do you really think that after this fiasco with the carrier in building and other "deals" that they would trust your word again without hesitation? If anything they know the US is actively hunting groups in Pakistan, saving them the trouble and political ramifications. And at current they have been on manuvers with the US military as of late.

Change is necessary to maintain peace of whole world and if it happens than this is requirements of time.

**Mess** · 22 Oct 09,, 01:15

I don't see the Central Asian Republics staying too cozy with the Russians. I would be shocked to see Turkmenistan provide a new pipeline diplomacy model, but if they're the first then I don't think the Kazakhs or Kyrgyz will wait very long to follow suit.

The bottom line is that the ethnic Russians are the only people in the republics who still appreciate the Russian influence. The rest are still trying to piece their cultures back together.

**Zampolit** · 22 Oct 09,, 13:51

Originally Posted by Mess

I don't see the Central Asian Republics staying too cozy with the Russians. I would be shocked to see Turkmenistan provide a new pipeline diplomacy model, but if they're the first then I don't think the Kazakhs or Kyrgyz will wait very long to follow suit.

The bottom line is that the ethnic Russians are the only people in the republics who still appreciate the Russian influence. The rest are still trying to piece their cultures back together.

Apparently you have never been in the ex-SU Central Asia and you are not aware of regional affairs and issues either.

**Mess** · 23 Oct 09,, 21:50

No, I haven't been to the former SU. I get my information from the Uzbeks, Kyrgyz, Kazakhs and Turkmen that I've been working with for the past year. And yes, that includes ethnic Russians living in Bish'kek and in Kazahkstan.

How do you explain the purging of "-ev" and "-eva" endings from their surnames other than trying to wipe the Slavic influence from their cultures? That's how they explain it, at least...

PS while we're all here, how on earth did Putin and Medvedev convince educated Russians that the country was better off under socialism?

**Zampolit** · 23 Oct 09,, 22:39

Originally Posted by Mess

How do you explain the purging of "-ev" and "-eva" endings from their surnames other than trying to wipe the Slavic influence from their cultures? That's how they explain it, at least...

That is common trend in ex-SU republic which is not related to the question of Russian influence.

while we're all here, how on earth did Putin and Medvedev convince educated Russians that the country was better off under socialism?

you are talking s*it. the present Russian government is more conservative and right-winged compared to almost any western government.

**gunnut** · 23 Oct 09,, 23:58

Would Georgia be involved in this organization?

**Mess** · 24 Oct 09,, 02:09

Originally Posted by Zampolit

you are talking s*it. the present Russian government is more conservative and right-winged compared to almost any western government.

I am just asking you about what a Russian who went to university in Moscow told me. Didn't really think she represented a fringe. She was a supporter of the Putin and Medvedev government, too.

Maybe I made an inference where I shouldn't have. Is it a common belief in Russia that "things were better under the Socialist system" than today's Russian Federation?

**Mess** · 24 Oct 09,, 02:14

Discussing the OP is more worthwhile anyway...

Originally Posted by diplomaticview

It was necessary and i think this new organization can solve other regional security problems & Afghan problem better than NATO.

It will be better if Iran, Pakistan & India also come to join it.

I am curious why you feel that this organization could effectively 'solve' the Afghan problem.

**Herodotus** · 24 Oct 09,, 05:24

Originally Posted by gunnut

Would Georgia be involved in this organization?

Probably not while the current regime is in place in Georgia. I doubt the Ukraine will be absorbed either. Though the CSTO has expressed interest in Iran joining.

**Herodotus** · 24 Oct 09,, 05:34

Originally Posted by Mess

I am just asking you about what a Russian who went to university in Moscow told me. Didn't really think she represented a fringe. She was a supporter of the Putin and Medvedev government, too.

Maybe I made an inference where I shouldn't have. Is it a common belief in Russia that "things were better under the Socialist system" than today's Russian Federation?

Mess,

I think there are a sizable number of Russians, even academics, who may view this as true. You have to understand that the transition from a command to a capitalist economy was pretty brutal for Russia. Yeltsin's government was endemically corrupt, and capitalism became synonymous with this kind of corruption.

Also the socialist Soviet Union was, if not respected, at least feared in many quarters internationally during the Cold War. The collapse of the Soviet Union, not just the economic system, but the power and prestige the Russians lost internationally could be seen as a tremendous blow in hindsight.

**Herodotus** · 24 Oct 09,, 06:17

Originally Posted by Mess

I don't see the Central Asian Republics staying too cozy with the Russians. I would be shocked to see Turkmenistan provide a new pipeline diplomacy model, but if they're the first then I don't think the Kazakhs or Kyrgyz will wait very long to follow suit.

The bottom line is that the ethnic Russians are the only people in the republics who still appreciate the Russian influence. The rest are still trying to piece their cultures back together.

As long as those states stay authoritarian I would be shocked if they didn't stay "cozy" with Russia. The other option for them for security, at this point, is China. But for now Russia has guaranteed the security of these states through the CSTO.