The Warrior Who Could Rule Russia: Profile of Aleksander Lebed - Softcover

Lambeth, Benjamin S.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1857532546 ISBN 13: 9781857532548

Publisher: Chrysalis Books, 1997

The warrior who would rule Russia offers a detailed portrait of a man who has in the past been treated by the Western press as a curiosity. Benjamin Lambeth draws on Lebed's statements and interviews and finds that they reveal a persona both deeper and more balanced than most media accounts would suggest.

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From the Publisher:

RAND is providing analytical support to the Deputy Chief of Staff for Plans and Operations, Headquarters United States Air Force, on a variety of global security trends and their possible impact on USAF institutional needs over the next two decades.This report was written in connection with that effort. It offers a detailed portrait of retired Russian army Lieutenant General Aleksandr I. Lebed, who rose to prominence three years ago as the commander of Russia's 14th Army in Moldova and has since been appointed security adviser by the recently reelected President Boris Yeltsin. Lebed, who himself finished asurprisingly strong third in the June 16, 1996 presidential election, promptly joined forces with Yeltsin and helped ensure the latter's winning of a second term in the subsequent July 3 runoff. Because of his current role as the new point man in Russian security affairs and his manifest ambition for higher office, he warrants careful attention by American military leaders anddefense planners. A richer understanding of Lebed's declared outlook on a broad range of issues can offer valuable insight into what kind of Russia the United States will have to deal with in the years ahead, for better or for worse. The analysis presented here--drawing on his many statements and interviews over the past two years--looks beyond the often superficial characterizations of Lebed that have until recently been put forward by the media, to develop a fuller picture of what he actually believes and where he stands on fundamental issues. It portrays him as a respected professional of strong authoritarian bent and unsure devotion to the idea of democracy, yet one who has spoken out strongly against crime and corruption, appearscommitted to a market economy, and is less aggressively nationalistic than many Western accounts have suggested. This report was written for the Strategy and Doctrine Program of RAND's Project AIR FORCE. It should be of interest to USAF officers and other members of the U.S. defense establishment concerned with Russian political development, foreign and defense policy, prospects for military reform, and security relations with the United States and its allies.Project AIR FORCEProject AIR FORCE, a division of RAND, is the Air Force federally funded research and development center (FFRDC) for studies and analysis. It provides the Air Force with independent analyses of policy alternatives affecting the development, employment, combat readiness, and support of current and future aerospace forces. Research is being performed in threeprograms: Strategy and Doctrine; Force Modernization and Employment; and Resource Management and System Acquisition.In 1996, Project AIR FORCE is celebrating 50 years of service to the United States Air Force. Project AIR FORCE began inMarch 1946 as Project RAND at Douglas Aircraft Company, under contract to the Army Air Forces. Two years later, theproject became the foundation of a new, private nonprofit institution to improve public policy through research and analysis forthe public welfare and security of the United States--what is known today as RAND.

From Library Journal:

Aleksandr Lebed served in the Soviet army for 20 years, including tours in Afghanistan and Moldova. He exhibited an independent nature before a 1995 reorganization of the military caused him to return to civilian life and enter politics. Lebed's frequent appearances in the Western news media, as a Russian presidential candidate in the summer of 1996 and as negotiator in Chechnya have sparked interest in his background. This study, commissioned by the Air Force, was written by a Rand Corporation staff analyst; it is based on both Western news accounts and Russian military journals. In addition to the biographical facts, chapters analyze Lebed's thoughts on foreign relations, security issues, domestic social questions, the proper role of the military, and his likely agenda should he reach elective office. The final chapter, on Lebed's near-term prospects, is out of date following his October 1996 dismissal and Boris Yeltsin's heart surgery, but the rest will still be of interest to specialized collections.?Marcia L. Sprules, Council on Foreign Relations Lib., New York
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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