Gates Ridicules Russia

Secretary of Defense Robert Gates: “The Russian leadership might seek to exorcise past humiliations and aspire to recapture past glory along with past territory. But mauling and menacing small democracies does not a great power make.”

“In reality, Russia's policies are born of a grievance-based desire to dominate its 'near abroad', not an ideology-based effort to dominate the globe. And Russia's current actions -- however egregious -- do not represent the existential and global threat that the Soviet Union represented. Russia's conventional military remains a shadow of its Soviet predecessor in size and capability.”

“Images of the Russian armor and artillery overwhelming Georgia's tiny military -- an active force of some 30,000 troops -- does not reverse that reality. I believe the Georgia incursion will, over time, be recognized as a Pyrrhic victory at best and a costly strategic overreach. Russia's recent behavior raises questions about how successful we can be in trying to pursue a constructive relationship.”