"I am sure that the cooperation between the countries in the field of strategic security is more effective for both Russia and the United States than any AMD , any armed forces or any military operation."

VOA: standard.2009.09.17

The head of the Cuban armed forces, Raul Castro, once boasted that Russia obtained 75% of its military strategic information from Lourdes.

BBC: Base closure blow for Cuba

General Sergeyev might argue, too, for the general staff to be revamped, and given oversight of Russia's 16 other armed forces, which between them account for at least 600, 000 more men in uniform.

ECONOMIST: Russia

Russia's armed forces may be ramshackle, but many European members of NATO are in poor shape too.

ECONOMIST: NATO and Russia