From: brian@coombs.anu.edu.au (Brian)
Subject: Re: NATO/Warsaw Pact forces (was Re: Greatest Prez...)
Organization: Computer Services Centre, Australian National University
Date: 26 Jul 92 03:18:32 GMT

cramer@optilink.UUCP (Clayton Cramer) writes:

>In article <JMC.92Jul21180301@SAIL.Stanford.EDU>, jmc@SAIL.Stanford.EDU (John McCarthy) writes:
>> The extreme superiority of the M1A1 tank to the T-72 was a big
>> surprise to the U.S. as well as everyone else.  A Soviet general
>> said that this was just to the export version of the T-72.
>> Maybe so.
>> --
>> John McCarthy, Computer Science Department, Stanford, CA 94305

>There is a book titled _Inside the Soviet Army_, written by a 
>Soviet Army defector using the pseudonym Viktor Suvorov, which
>explains why the Soviet Union sold export models of major weapon
>systems, rather than the internal consumption version: to make
>sure that today's "allies" didn't become tomorrow's enemies.  Also,
>the cost was lower on the stripper export models.

>There are aspects to the book that are suspicious -- too much
>information seems to be in the book for an army captain to have
>had access to.  On the other hand, there are large numbers of
>facts that I have had confirmed by Soviet expatriates (about
>recruiting practices, the inductees giving away all their personal
>possessions the night before, brutality of recruiting sergeants)
>and from other, more trustworthy sources.

	"Victor Suvorov" is the pen name of a group of Soviet Defectors
who wrote extensively during the early to mid-1980's.  Some of the claims
made by this group (particularly in "Inside the Soviet Army") leaves quite
a lot to be desired.  In particular there are the claims WRT to the "foxing"
on a massive scale the US's satellite intelligence systems by hiding whole
units and having "fake" units come out of hiding.  That sort of organisation,
whilst possible, and in some cases even desirable IMO if your intening to 
mislead your "enemies" would make the day-to-day running of an army the size
of the Soviet one rather difficult.
	However, as to the reporting of the conditions experiences by soldiers
within the Red Army, Suvorov's group rings very true and since the collapse
of the Soviet Union its been proven through official sources.  Life as a 
Soviet (and I suspect a CIS) soldier was hell.
	In addition, Suvorov's claims WRT to "new" Soviet equipment (and old
as well, particularly some of the SU-series of SPAT guns) have also been proven
quite correct.  What does though have to be taken with a considerable grain
of salt is the claim that are made in all of the Suvorov books WRT to Soviet
intentions and abilities.  I suspect that Suvorov and Co., all with their
own particular axe to grind, particularly  WRT to their own beliefs (and the 
particular beliefs of their intended audience - the right in the West)
pandered to their own worst fears in order to sensationalise and sell their
books.  I also suspect that they are unrepentant about such things in the
belief they had a particular mission to fufill to "awaken" a complacent
West to the terrible "dangers" of the Soviet conspiracy.


--
Brian Ross____________________________________________________________________
"I express many absurd opinions.  But I am not the first man to do it; 
	American freedom consists largely of talking nonsense."
____________________________________ E.W.Howe, Preaching from the Audience____