The Devolution of Russian Military Power,

In the mid 1980s the Cold War was still cold. The United States and the Soviet Union were increasing their defense spending as they entered a new cycle of rearming. North Atlantic Treaty Organization NATO and Warsaw Pact forces faced each other across Central Europe. Today, a mere ten years later, there is no Soviet Union or Warsaw Pact. Former Soviet allies are clamoring to enter NATO and Russias military is a literally a shadow of its former self. Table 1 summarizes a dramatic evolution in the traditional indicators of SovietRussian military power. Standing capabilities such as troops and tanks are less than one-third former levels. Weapons production hovers at 1 of the rates. And most significantly, there are no Russian forces in Eastern Europe.