Soviet Military - Theoretician A. A. Kokoshin
Abstract
Before the coup attempt of August 1991, it would have been difficult to foresee a civilian Minister of Defense in the USSR. Now, such a possibility is not only plausible, but also being advocated by the military itself. Andrei Kokoshin should be among the top future contenders for the post. He possesses a solid academic background in military thinking that encompasses both theoretical and practical work; is well-connected with the current High Command; understands the domestic and international threats to his country; has participated in the major events of the Gorbachev era (Reykeyavik, G-7, Malta, etc.); and has a conceptualization of the future. Concerning the latter point, his forecasting skills will be particularly helpful, since the defense priorities of the independence-minded republics must be subsumed by the military reform package under development at MoD. Wise decisions now will prevent the system from undergoing more renewal in just a few short years. It is also noteworthy that Kokoshin's primary interests are the stability of the Soviet and international systems, and military-political and arms control issues. These coincide with many of President Bush's concerns as he and his staff continue to wrestle with the idea of a "New World Order"; and with the interests of Gorbachev and Yeltsin. This report discusses Kokoshin's background, beliefs, history, etc..
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 01, 1992
- Accession Number
- ADA338824
Entities
People
- Timothy L. Thomas