#6005
#5
From: "Dale Herspring" <falka@ksu.edu>
Subject: Russia and NATO
Date: Thu, 3 Jan 2002
I would like to pick up on Hank Gaffney's comments on Russia and NATO. My experience, including an official visit to the Russian miltiary last summer, suggests to me that the problems of familiarity lie not only with civilians (and I am not especially impressed by Rogov to be honest), but it is an even more serious problem with the military.
We have a problem -- what to do with the Russians at a time when Putin is doing everything we want while pushing Russia closer to the West. My proposal is that we suggest to NATO increased military to military contacts -- in the form of permitting Russian officers to spend three to six months with a variety of NATO militaries. I have in mind a wide variety of functional positions. I would put them in line positions as well as recruit depots. I would let them spend some time working with press liasion, as well as with legislative affairs. Spending some time dealing with the Italian Parliament would probably send them home grateful for the rationality of the Duma. The key point to remember is that this would give them a first hand opportunity to see how democratic militaries work (or don't work).
This kind of a process could last for 5-6 years. It would not only give us a breathing space, it would show our Allies that we were not trying to go it alone, and it would have a major impact on the Russian military at a time when it is more susceptable to outside influence than at any point in the last 70 years.
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