MOSCOW, February 18 (RIA Novosti)
of those polled believed the army was in a position to defend the country against a military threat. In 2010, the percentage is down to 63%. The number of skeptics has increased from 17% to 22%.A sense of military threat in Russian society grows every time armed conflicts actually or symbolically involving Russia intensify. In 2000, it was Chechnya and Yugoslavia; in 2003, Iraq; in 2005, the Beslan tragedy; and in 2008-2009, anti-missile plans for Poland and the Czech Republic, and the war with Georgia. Only 47% of Russians now believe Russia poses any kind of threat to other countries, although 5% more thought so during the war between Russia and Georgia.
Today, one in two Russians support cutting troop numbers and using the freed up funds to equip the army with up-to-date weapons. The military itself admits problems with both rearmament and personnel.
Analysts say Russia sells about 95% of all the arms and equipment it produces abroad. Even the Chief
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