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Oprichnina or Local Armies
In general, it is logical in light of recent experiments, the authorities really will have to somehow solve a number of issues in the new democratic methods. So ...
Governor-Generals
Will regional commanders will have their own militias?
Recently, around the Ministry of Defense of Russia rumors began to circulate that in addition to regular military forces of the Russian army in the country will appear alternative regional combat units. While for now such an option is regarded only as an experiment, but perhaps some republics and regions of our country will be taking the first steps to creating their own units. Where this may lead, investogated the correspondent for "Our Version".
The idea of establishing regional forces at first glance seems absurd, but people in the know say: another regular reduction of the army is not far off, and a number of governors, in order not to dismiss the experienced military personnel, offered a surprise move, allowing all personnel to survive and preserve their pay. Several regions are prepared to employ officers in their profession and maintain their rank and, of course, salary, moving them from Ministry of Defence funding to regional pay.
It's no secret that the first unit of the National Guard or Militia - the name remains to be determined - will appear in the North Caucasus. Defense expert says that all the prerequisites for this are already long-established: "Caucasians prefer to serve at home, and, in general, the army command does not resist that as it was in Soviet times. Often, by age officer's time to retire, but he is still strong and, moreover, has behind him a considerable combat experience. Firing him is stupid, and regional militias would solve such a problem once and for all. The Ministry of Defence would thus be rid of all the material costs of such an officer, in return, the Ministry would provide to a region the management and command of militarized units with the logistical base and transport."
Similar units may also appear in the Chelyabinsk, Sverdlovsk and Orenburg regions. If, in some southern regions of the emergence of the militias seems somewhat justified, then from whom are the governors in Siberia and the Urals going to defend themselves and their regions? "There will be more order - Ataman of Great Don [Cossack] Army, State Duma deputy [Parliament Member], Viktor Vodolatsky. - These military units will be able to assemble and use the same principles as the Cossacks. Why write off the roster of experienced and physically strong officers, if you can let them continue their service, while freeing the Ministry of the financial burden, in whole or in part? In regions, these people will always find something to do: they are involved in protection activities, and additional assistance to law enforcement agencies, and even a special role in the proper education of youth. After all the military not only fights, but raises true patriots by their example!"Listen
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Experts believe that the risk of noncompliance of the militias to the federal center is very low. This was possible in 90-ies, but not now. Yes, but will regional militia violently settle scores with each other, doing the bidding of their local leaders? There is now a strong central authority, but another question: what if it again, as, say, 20 years ago, "gives the slack" [weakens]?
We must note that the Ministry of Defence did not invent anything new, but merely examined the experience of Norway, Switzerland and the United States. Militaries of these countries formed the so-called mixed army-militia principle, and in contrast to the Regular Army, the militia is funded not only by defense agencies, but also, those regions, in which they are based. For example, the almost half a million-strong US National Guard is deployed in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, and receives funds including from the budget of any state. Similarly arranged financing compounds the Swiss Civil Defence. In Norway, approximately on the same principle is built financing of territorial defense forces. "All these units can be used to support the army in time of armed conflict, and to perform various tasks within a particular region in time of peace - told "Our Version" on a confidential basis a senior official of the Ministry of Defence. - In particular, they perform the task of disaster management, law enforcement in the event of mass unrest, protect various activities with local authorities along with police. Sometimes they serve same as our Internal Troops ".
In the early 90-ies the President of Tatarstan Mintimer Shaimiev and Governor of Sverdlovsk Region Eduard Rossel wanted to create their own militia forces, but the idea did not receive adequate support in the Defense Ministry. The President of Kalmykia Kirsan Ilyumzhinov also dreamt of his own "steppe army", but his hopes were not realized then either. At the time the concept was dismissed and forgotten. And brought back only now, during a large-scale military reform.
Total military personnel take to the idea of establishing regional militias with understanding: the Ministry of Defence has ben ordered to save money, and some regional budgets could well afford maintenance of own units, staffed by experienced soldiers, why is this bad? Was it better when, during the Khrushchev era, honored and experienced officers were sent to a pension by the thousands, thereby putting them on the brink of survival? Armed militias in the regions certainly will not include nuclear warheads and missile systems, and will not ever be able to match the full force of the Army. Chances are also low that yesterday's regular military personnel will be used in raider attacks and other improper actions, because the operational command of such units will be carried out not only by the leadership of a region, but Russia's defense ministry. So, there will not be any "independent" small-town armies following the whims of regional leaders.
Summary: after shaking off their shoulders medicine and education in the regions, our "strong centralized government" plans to push out on the fragile shoulders of the regional budget the armed forces as well. At the same time, the administration of regions receives a powerful tool for solving problems of power with the opposition and more efficient ways of milking the region for collecting dues ... another step back from governors to warlords. Will there be other opinions?
http://nnm.ru/blogs/951109/oprichnina_ili_pomestnoe_voysko/
