OCB wrote:..
I do seem to remember discussing the lack of “Russian analysts” at FO and NATO level.
..
There's a 2-page article in last Saturday's Times discussing the current woes at the FCDO, including the loss of country-expert staff from both FCO and DfID since their enforced merger. New SoS is reported to have given a speech to staff meant to boost their very low morale (with 20% further staff cuts apparently in the offing, in the promised era of 'global Britain'). She is said to have promised
inter alia 'more fun', not realising that they've had to cope with rather too much 'fun' over the last few years
Visiting JAM recently was a youngish father with small son. Father, chatting, revealed he was a (British) Army Officer, a Russia analyst at the NATO ARRC HQs at former RAF Innsworth. I asked him how good his Russian was; he did not know any.. "I have soldiers for that"
.. very different from the Cold War era analogues whom I remember. Fortunately, at the ARRC there will be among the other Officers Balts, Poles, Czechs, Bulgarians, Romanians, .. whose Russian is probably excellent.
(mere guide at) Jet Age Museum, Gloucestershire Airport
http://www.jetagemuseum.org/TripAdvisor Excellence Award 2015
http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Attraction ... gland.html