Washington Launches Secret Study of Russia's Growing Military Clout

The United States has reportedly launched a secret study of Russia's resurgence as a military force and how Washington should meet the challenge.

Politico says Russia's successful "quasi-secret incursion" into Ukraine has prompted U.S. officials to appoint Lt. General H.R. McMaster to oversee the project and determine how the Army should adapt to this "Russian wake-up call."

News of the study comes following an incident in the Baltic Sea on Monday when four Russian fighter jets and a Russian helicopter conducted "aggressive flight maneuvers" close to the deck of a U.S. Navy destroyer. Alarmingly, the Russian aggression occurred in international waters.

Last week, according to Politico, McMaster told the Senate Armed Services Committee: "Russia possesses a variety of rocket, missile and cannon artillery systems that outrange and are more lethal than U.S. Army artillery systems and munitions."

He noted: "It is clear that while our Army was engaged in Afghanistan and Iraq, Russia studied U.S. capabilities and vulnerabilities and embarked on an ambitious and largely successful modernization effort."

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