MOSCOW. July 24 (Interfax-AVN) - Thoughtless introduction of Western military experience is to blame for miserable condition of the Russian Armed Forces, former defense minister Igor Rodionov told reporters on Thursday.
"Thoughtless copying is to blame for the miserable state of the Armed Forces and national defense," said Rodionov, who is now a member of the State Duma lower house of parliament. He was asked to voice his opinion about plans to create a professional army in Russia.
"Compare Russia with any Western nation, compare their borders: Russia cannot be compared with Western nations as far as its geography, history and Eurasian position are concerned. Thus, we cannot copy somebody else's experience," Rodionov said.
"We lack a healthy sense of nationalism," he stressed. According to him, the plans to create a professional army are "an unbearable burden" for Russia.
"The U.S. military budget for next year amounts to USD400bn. They pay USD1,000 a month to a private. Russia does not have so much money," Rodionov said.
"A professional army is good when there is a competition among applicants for vacant soldier positions. In this country, they hire anybody who turns up. When anybody is hired, it is not a real army," he said.
At the same time, the Russian Armed Forces remain a containing and intimidating factor, Rodionov argued.
"The Armed Forces are capable of maintaining defense capability, because there is something left in the Strategic Missile Forces and Navy," he said.
"However, an army-level joint operation involving three divisions interacting with aviation and the Navy with the help of a well-trained headquarters and inflicting efficient fire strikes is something that we cannot carry out," he said. The events in Chechnya confirm this, he stressed.
"We are currently incapable of sealing out Chechnya efficiently enough to prevent any gang and any cart with TNT from going through. We cannot do it," Rodionov stressed.