Path: utzoo!attcan!utgpu!watmath!att!cbnews!military
From: cperlebe@encad.Wichita.NCR.COM (Chris Perleberg)
Newsgroups: sci.military
Subject: Soviet Force Reductions in Europe
Keywords: Soviets,NATO]
Message-ID: <11646@cbnews.ATT.COM>
Date: 22 Nov 89 04:14:00 GMT
Sender: military@cbnews.ATT.COM
Organization: NCR Corporation Wichita, KS
Lines: 43
Approved: military@att.att.com



From: cperlebe@encad.Wichita.NCR.COM (Chris Perleberg)


Alright, my last posting on Eastern Europe was either lost or rejected 
(although I haven't got anything back).  Most of the points I raised there 
were covered in other postings on the same subject.  But I'd like to pursue 
the main issue I raised there.  The following thread is meant strictly as a 
military science application.  I don't want it to enter the political realm 
(nor, I am sure, will it be allowed).

I have seen nothing to indicate any real conventional arms reductions on 
the eastern side of central Europe.  ABC stated the other night that the 
Soviets have reduced their troop strength by 250,000. (I think -- that 
figure seems overblown beyond belief.  That's more than 10 divisions.  I 
hope I heard wrong.)  Charles Kamps, in the latest issue of Strategy and 
Tactics, claims that the Soviets are building 53 combat aircraft and 283 
tanks (T-80s, I presume -- that's roughly 1 division) a month.  He further 
claims that the Soviets added several divisions in the Eastern U.S.S.R some 
years ago, and that promised troop reductions will barely eliminate these 
divisions (it wasn't clear to me whether these where actual additions or 
merely an increase in "category A" divisions).  

The question then becomes: Are there any actual troop reductions in East 
Germany or Czechoslovakia?  Are there any hardware reductions?  Are the 
Soviets removing T-55s or T-64s and claiming tank reductions?  What 
promises have been made regarding troop cuts?  It what ways has the threat 
been reduced?  Should the West react immediately with troop cuts of its 
own?

I don't know of any actual reductions (outside of medium-range nucs, but 
that was by treaty).  I think Gorbachev has promised troop cuts sometime in 
the 90s, but I'm hazy as to how many.  Just this weekend, the paper 
indicated that U.S. intelligence sees a reduction in Soviet military 
spending.  On the other hand, Cuba still gets $3 million a day, and the 
FMLN got arms and money from somebody.

I'm interested in numbers here.  Political implications belong in 
alt.Commie.plot.

Chris Perleberg
cperlebe@encad.wichita.ncr.com