12:03AM
Bringing Russian helos into the Af-Pak mix: a great move
Friday, July 16, 2010 at 12:03AM 
pic here
WAPO story on US buying Russian helos to form the core of Afghan's military force structure in rotary aircraft.
In a turnabout from the Cold War, when the CIA gave Stinger missiles to Afghan rebels to shoot down Soviet helicopters, the Pentagon has spent $648 million to buy or refurbish 31 Russian Mi-17 transport helicopters for the Afghan National Army Air Corps. The Defense Department is seeking to buy 10 more of the Mi-17s next year, and had planned to buy dozens more over the next decade.
Congress pissed because it wants only US firms to provide, but I like us getting the Russians involved. The only way we win in Afghanistan is to get the entire neighborhood involved and incentivized economically.
tagged Afghanistan, Russia, US foreign policy | in Citation Post | Email Article | Permalink | Print Article
Afghanistan, Russia, US foreign policy | in Citation Post | Email Article | Permalink | Print Article 
Reader Comments (1)
Not only is it smart to get the Russians (and other neighbors) interested in Afganistan's positive outcome, it is smart to use Russian equiptment for Afgans. Afgans have a long history of using Russian equiptment such as the AK47. The chopper pilots have a core of people already familiar with Mi 17's. Also Russian military tech has a long history of Keep It Simple Stupid engineering. =)