Yakov Kedmi, social activist (Israel):
- In regards to the defense strategy of the Russian President, we have to bear in mind the fact that the US aimed to reach absolute military supremacy in terms of strategic arms by 2018-2020. And they believed in it. And suddenly, it turned out that what they were doing was nothing but child's play compared to what's out there now. Not only did they fail to achieve their goal, but, as of now, their strategic situation, even if we disregard the issues of the southern NATO-countries (as briefly mentioned by Putin), Crimea, and Syria, in terms of arms development, they turned out to be pretty far behind.
Now, the US will have to make a colossal, expensive effort, doing a lot more than they had expected, in order to stop the gap from expanding. Because the things Putin said today, apart from the other surprises, shows that Russia is one, two, or even three generations ahead in terms of strategic arms development compared to the most advanced US prototypes. Russian arms are beyond the prototype stage. That's why it's so important.
And the thing your President stressed at the end of his speech: "It's impossible to develop, design, and create something like this when your science, education, and technologies are weak. It's the result of our hard work." I'd like to conclude the quote with somebody else's words. Either Bismarck or Moltke said them after Prussia defeated France in the Franco-Prussian War.
- Bismarck.
- He said: "Our generals didn't win the war. Our teachers did".
- Prussian teachers.
- The most important thing is that despite being in ruins, Prussia managed to win. That corresponds to his other quote about the teachers' salaries and education. It confirms that it's the teachers who will ensure the future of Russia.
