StumpChunk

All those stories about soviet military power were exaggerated by up to 80%. I served in different branches of the army and I saw it myself. Mostly, high ranking officers (generals) got their positions because family connections. I have never met in smart or intelligent and well educated generals. So ou can judge my skepticism from this statement about any surprise I may have had.

I was very well informed because I had clearance to all western classified materials and therefore never truly afraid.

To give you an example I was already using touch screen technology in 1982.

My opinion is that Putin is the typical and thevworst product of the Soviet system and not because he was a KGB operative but because of his behavior presently meaning first of all it looks like he is aspiring to restore the soviet empire. Secondly his behavior is a typical examplr of behavior of a high ranking soviet operative. If you ever hearf about the soviet union's foreign minister Andrey Gromyko whose nickname in the west was Mr. Net (no) he also rejected each and every iniative of the west. He unleashed an unprecedented anti west and anti american campaign in russia. Putin supports one of the worst regimes in Russia, namely Chechneya. Presently it looks likethr Russian regime is a mixture of Stalin's and Brezhnev's regime. I personally dispise this man and all efforts should be made to remove him from power.

Sterling Vodka is my favorite.

The whole service in the Soviet armed forces was useless and pointless. The myth about the so called undefeatable soviet army in practice is a real myth because starting from the high ranking officers of the soviet army up to the lowest level of soldiers was involved in drinking. There was no combat readiness at all, only on paper. I dare to state that from 60-70 percent of all soviet military technologies were not effective and broken. The command was not effective and all military excercises were stupid and dull.

1. It was youth romanticism. At the time the saying went "bitches piss steaming hot for anyome from the suvorov academy". To get into the school I had to pass numerous intellectual examinations.
2. I was a bright student. Studying for me was always easy and fun as I always studied much more than the material taught in class.
3. They all varied. Some got in like me due to good grades others had good family connections.
4. I am 62 years old now. Most of my core students are retired now. Some have died due to various circumstances.
5. After the soviet union, during the perestroyka I became the GM of a large freight forwarding company that had 7 branches all over the former soviet union. Today I work in personal injury in Canada.

I believe that it was a historical mistake that it has ever existed in the first place. America deserves respect because they represent a real sample of democracy. Of course it's not perfect but it's one of the best.

I have never dealt with the KGB directly nor did I want to but the whole country was affected the KGB. I moved the Canada because I decided it was the best place to raise a family in.