ARTICLE: Russian Weapon Is in Need of Rescue, By MICHAEL SCHWIRTZ, New York Times, July 15, 2009

Sad state of affairs in the Russian military (not so resurgent): a missile that's seen as emblematic of Russia's military recovery suffers a ton of operational issues.

So why the effort?

Still, many Russian military analysts see the emphasis on nuclear modernization here as less strategic than political.

"Every fourth ruble of government military orders goes toward atomic weapons," said Viktor N. Litovkin, deputy editor of the magazine Independent Military Review. "If you have strategic nuclear weapons, then you are a great power; if not, then you are no one."

Indulging such thinking does us no good long term.