(Vice News) Today Russia is wrapping up a massive military exercise in the Arctic. The five-day excursion involved some 80,000 troops, 220 aircraft, 41 ships, and 15 submarines. While the scale and scope of the exercise are clearly impressive, what is less clear is the objective.
Military exercises are generally straightforward affairs with a very direct purpose: Practicing mobilization for war, or creating an excuse to move large forces around without drawing undue attention, or reminding the neighbors that you've got a big stockpile of whoop-ass on their border. One thing military exercises usually aren't is multifaceted. There's not a lot of orders you can issue to a force with 80,000 troops, 220 aircraft, 41 ships, and 15 submarines that will reliably capture nuance and convey info with a high degree of refinement. […]
Read More © Vice News
