...ever since the Soviet collapse. Yet Putin, then his puppet...and Putin again have increased military spending and implemented modernization programs, increased training, developing a next generation fighter (in conjunction with other nations), planning an aircraft carrier, etc. Hardly sounds like a military on the wane...but rather on recovery.
Granted the Russian military budget is nowhere near the US....but, they aren't seeking out wars, concerned primarily with their immediate sphere of influence and other than a port in Syria (primarily wanted to guard their economic shipping interests)...really don't need a bloated military budget. Besides, trying to keep up militarily with another nation didn't work out so well for them the last time. Which was dumb thing to do in the first place...why do that when you can nuke them to the stone age?
As for the Georgia War...that sounds like spin. To them it was obvious the fruit loop in Georgia was going to do something stupid, so they enacted war games near the border. One to deter the stupidity and two, be ready to engage if stupidity won the day. So of course, the military units are going to be "cherry picked". Why on earth wouldn't you use the best units for the possible crisis on hand? C'mon, if the USA expected an attack on its "peace keepers" in Iraq...it would be stupid not to place ready the units that could deal with it best. Don't fall for the "cherry picking" to make good planning sound inferior. The US military obviously "cherry picked" who was going to get Bin Laden.
Now if your trying to say the USA will win in a conventional fight against Russia...I'd say no shit Sherlock. But they aren't preparing for a fight with the USA, but only preparing to guard their interests in the Arctic, contested areas with Japan, its European trade, etc. Whenever they assert their influence in their sphere we accuse them of a Cold War Mentality....but if you ask me, too many people (particularly right wing politicians) have shown they never left the Cold War.
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