This week Russia agreed to sell $1 billion worth of weapons to Iran. Many American policy experts are trying to understand if this is part of some new Russian foreign policy. They are right to ask - why does Russia sell weapons to an Islamic theocracy that has armed Chechen terrorists and other Jihadists around the world?
Abu Omar Mohammed bin Abdullah al-Saif would've answered that it's because Allah wants Russians to help the extremists with their Jihad. But after a life devoted to murdering civilians and children, Mr. Omar, etc. has been killed during a successful operation conducted by Russian forces. I'll try to answer for him.
Russia is well-known for corruption and kick-backs on business contracts. RussiaBlog has reported about President Putin's "gifts" and the bribing of the head of Rosvooruzhenie, among others (Rosvooruzhenie is the government company that deals with weapons sales).
I honestly believe that this is no realpolitik or other strategy on the part of Putin's administration. The truth is that no one is in charge to prevent such exports; no one is actually considering what is going to happen to the missiles Russia is selling to Syria and Iran.
1) there are individuals who profit from certain sales operations;
2) these individuals have nothing to do with foreign policy decisions;
3) the only competitive Russian product is weapons;
4) margins and kick-backs on Russian weapons are very high;
5) there is no working government system to control complicated foreign policy processes and these corrupt individuals.
So, don't worry, Russia doesn't intend to equip Jihadists with weapons which will be used against US, NATO and Russia itself, however, it's doing it anyway, because at the moment, Russia is a very confused, disorganized and mismanaged country. So if you are afraid of Russia -- please don't be; though if you are afraid of the terrorists, just be afraid, there's nothing you can do about it at this point.
I found it ironic last year (or two years ago) when Bush signed in the steel tariffs to appease the Democrat unions (which screwed the Ukraine which is a major steel producer) that later in the week, Ukrainian nuclear scientists were caught in Iran. Hmmm, if we screw people on legitimate trade, then why should they not engage in "bad" trade. It ain't Kyiv that will be nuked first afterall...
Ironic. However, not so different from US policy with Iraq a few years ago. We armed Irag and placed Saddaam in power, to fight the Iranians. Now we are fighting the beast we created.
When Mr. Mamchur spoke on Russian histpry and current events in October, he mentioned the relationship with China. He stated that Russia is selling the most high-tech advanced weapons to China. The Russian army cannot afford them, but China can. So in the "free market" (actually "Gangster Capitalism") those who can and will pay for it, get it no matter the ramifications. They may well use them against the Russian people.
I'm not so sure in the 'cockup' theory/left hand doesn't know what the right hand is doing. While there is corruption as can be seen with various assassinations of military industrial companies like "Almaz" (who apparently sold and S-300 system to the USA illegally in the 1990s), I think that Iran is being deliberately bolstered not just by Russia but also by China to thwart continued US sponsored/direct regime change in their near abroad and to also bolster the multi-polar world concept that they have both proclaimed themselves supporters of.
Supplying Iran is not as insane as it seems as Iran is in effect like a animal that willingly walks into its own cage. It is hostage to Russian and Chinese support to a degree, despite its energy trump card it holds over China. Iran is also in the process of returning to 'normal' regardless of the current meaningless rantings of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who is kept on a tight leash by Rafsanajani and has been serially humiliated by Iranian parliamentarians. With over half the population over 21 and with no memories of the 'revolution', these people will be running the bureacracy in Iran soon, and even old warriors have started to mellow. Even 'worst case' scenario of Iran acquiring nuclear weapon techonology is not that bad. What would they do with it? If you use it, you get one free in return. Nuking Israel means also nuking Palestinians. Israel apparently has submarine launched nuclear armed cruise missiles. The India-Pakistan 'nuclear testing' episode show the limits of coming out, i.e. 'you join the club, but you have to play by the rules if you ever want to have friends'... Putin understands this, and I'm sure many others do, but it's politically unacceptable to publically say "so what", especially after "The famous case of the non-existant WMDs".
Lest us not forget the economic rationale of keeping Russia's military factories working. Russia may be rolling in oil wealth, but Putin has been suprisingly spartan on military spending, preferring to concentrated on real issues like ICBMs that work and space based early warning. Throwing money at the manufacturers makes it much harder for him to force reform which despite the critics, is increasing momentum. He's forcing the merger of factories and design-houses, and is steadily reforming the army with regards conscription, with more money going to the 'new' semi-professionalized units.
Finally, Putin is bending over backwards (not entirely successfully), in trying to convince the 'moslem' world that Russia is a 'friend'. He has been very active in making overtures for example at ASEAN, and renewed efforts in the Gulf states and the significant 'aid' Russia has provided Afghanistan. He needs their money, but he also needs their help in limiting the fall out from Chechnya in the sense that Russia = anti-moslem does not gain common currency. He is also trying to show that he is more 'trustworth' than the western states where there is much more of a percieved anti-moslem slant in the Media.
"Even 'worst case' scenario of Iran acquiring nuclear weapon techonology is not that bad."
It's not a matter of "worst case", it's a matter of reality unless the regime in Tehran is reigned in. The implications of a nuclear armed Iran would be terrible on a multitude of levels. I'm amazed someone can reconcile themselves with the idea so easily, much less the single greatest state sponsor of terrorism on the planet.
"What would they do with it?"
What they wouldn't do with it might be a shorter list. It would represent a tremendous proliferation risk (whether through direct assistance from the regime in Iran, or in encouraging others in the region to match Iran's ambitions), Iran could threaten and demand blackmail (see North Korea), use it or threaten its use to discourage any attempts to reign in Iran's support for terrorism. A nuclear armed Iran is 100 percent unacceptable and will alter regional and global security in a significant manner.
"If you use it, you get one free in return. Nuking Israel means also nuking Palestinians. Israel apparently has submarine launched nuclear armed cruise missiles."
Iran could nuke Tel Aviv and kill very few Palestinians. Aside from that, when has the Iranian regime displayed a sense that they care about a few casualties, Muslim or otherwise, if the strategic goals of the regime are met? Never. Members of the Iranian government, including the former President, have already gone on record as saying that a mutual nuclear exchange would be beneficial for Iran and the greater Muslim world. To be blunt, there are factions in Iran that could care less if Israel retaliated, so long as the goal of destroying Israel is met. Mutually assured destruction is not only a reasonable policy in the eyes of some policymakers in Iran, it's advocated.
"The India-Pakistan 'nuclear testing' episode show the limits of coming out, i.e. 'you join the club, but you have to play by the rules if you ever want to have friends'..."
Iran could care less about friends. Based on your theory, then everyone should have nuclear weapons. Won't that make the world much safer and more stable? Until the day one goes off, followed by many more.
why not?
Its pretty obvious why Russia arms Iran, because they have a commen enemy, the USA. The USA is currently on a campaign to control the Eurasia (which includes the Middle-East) by any means possible and put its millitary forces in bases strategically around Russia and China. This is commen knowledge and as openly admited by neo-cons.
Iran is one of the most democratic countries in the Middle-East. Its never invaded any of its neighbours and its record on human rights is far better than Americas Middle-East dictatorship allies like Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Eygypt, Turkey, and Pakistan. However, all this makes no difference, Iran is just a pawn in a global game between super-powers and is going to be invaded regardless of what happens.
1. I believe Russia is keeping USA busy so they can regroup and grow and become stronger again.
2. Russia needs Iran to stay out of USA hands for the obvious reasons.
3. I would have thought Putin would have made a deal with Iran to place Missile defense system in South and Western Iran to make sure the Americans would not think of attacking and also to ensure Russia would have a foot hold in the persian gulf.
4. Sells of arms, information, cross border fights are nothing new as there are too many people and groups involved in the region.
5. Iran and Russia don't control all these factions and therefore anything can be bought and sold anywhere as long as you have the money and the cause.
Russia is growing in every way and gaining a new personality from the old.
It has a bright future with the right strong leadership. For America the future is also great if they learn to balance power and diplomacy rather than becoming the overbearing inlaws.
tanya think what you say russia sells to china the hiest weapons and cant afford it self hie thek weapons?you dumd girl sheet russia as you know today 2008 hase best nuclear navy world best jet fighting and most troops that are reddy to go in wor any time also russia is the fastest growing economy today 2008 -> also russia life style is almost like in europe new (2008) also usa is bank-roped economy corrupted and is fucket up sheet while russia is the fastest growing nation 6the population starts to increase new people have more kids not like often brok up of ussr and even in cold wor russia (ussr) could've destroy usa in sheet because USSR hade nuclear weapons all over the cuba pointing in usa and usa surrendered to USSR and took all its crap from europe and that usa made nato so other countries will protect usa in case of wor but as you can see usa wanted to take in Ukraine and george ussr ex countries in nato but germany and france were agents usa and they stopped them from joining nato because germany and france dont wantr to break theyr friend sheep with russia because russia supports over 40% of energy to europ and alot to asia to and today late 2007 usa top goverment anounced that russia is the only countr that can go agenst nato because usa is bankroped economy corrapted and luses thousend of solders every year and while russia is growing the fastes hase most mony in world bank and it can over take nato in power any day also russia is a g8 member richest top 8 countries fuck usa welcome russia back and dont forget to look at the new ex soviet union CSTO it already 7 members of ex soviet joined this uion (russian union) and buy 2020 it will have over 10 members ex soviet countries good luck nato keeping up with csto because nato alredy dosent suport usa no more because usa is sheet always makes wor and fights never bean in peace and new usa need solders but france and germany refused to suport usa in iraq hahahaha you can see usa is no more soul super power without germany and france.. also usa top government announced that russia is the sould super power from 2008 and is the strongest energy super power 2.. and you can see also that people dont respect usa no more because even usa made 9/11 people from white house new about 9/11 but it was secret so they can go fight in iraq for cheep oil fuck this country i swa this on cnn american channel because usa made 9/11 on theyr own self dumb country from europe with love
the owner of this take of the "about russia popular music" or cheng it because russia hase best music in the world not like in usa only balck people sing americans cant even sing sheet also russia dosent have cheepest music it is the world top country in sining and alway wins the euro music(dima bilan) and he is also one of the most popular singers in usa today. peace out
It took years to get hold of Raja, Kalmadi, Balma, Hasan Ali etc & put them in Tihar but it took only a few minutes to put Annaji in the same place. What a shame?
According to Jewish religious writings, the entire planet is made exclusively for the Torah and the Jewish people. All the rest of us are subhuman beasts prefabricated only to obey the Jew.