----------
In article , "Keith W"
wrote:

However the OP also claimed those revenues were available
for weapons purchases. This does not follow, in fact the total
^^^^^^^^^

Compared with the defence budgets of the USA ($417 billion),
or even the UK ($55 billion) this isnt going to buy
a lot of development.
^^^^^^^^^^^

He was not discussing "development" but "acquisitions" (i.e. "purchases").
Their equipment is relatively cheap to buy compared to the US.

What we're discussing is theoretical, and in that regard the original poster
was right--the increase in Russian oil revenues _should_ make more money
available for buying weapons. But they are not really doing that.




D