Re: manpower. Russia has the same problems of any modern nation with a low birthrate. No one in their right mind has any interest in moving to some hopeless place like Russia. The folks w/ any skills or training are getting out while the getting is good. Makes sense. There is nothing in Russia except decline. Same goes for America. Without the influx of illegal immigrants, the birthrate in our nation would not even scratch the paint on the scale of replacement births. It is hitting plenty of other nations where if it were not for migrants moving in, the nation would be loosing population. JMHO. Sincerely. bruce.