According to RIA Novosti, the Kremlin is not happy with Iranian President Ahmadenijad's position rejecting any peaceful enrichment of uranium outside of Iran's borders. Of course, Iran's foreign minister was later trotted out after Ahmadenijad's belligerent remarks to say that Iran was still open to negotiations, provided that no more sanctions were imposed by the UN Security Council. Without military action, it appears the world is going to have to sleep tight with atomic bombs in the hands of the mullahs who have threatened to kick off nuclear Armageddon with Israel.
Meanwhile, Defense Minister Ivanov, in an interview with Germany's Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (FAZ) newspaper, denied that Iran sponsors Chechen terrorists.
Ivanov has done very little to prevent Russian Army officers and NCOs from torturing and murdering the soldiers they are supposed to lead, so telling a few lies to a Western reporter is nothing in comparison.
Comments
Ivanov's no fool and neither is Ahmanajid. Despite all the bluster and Media 'friendly' soundbites, what do they both want, and what will they accept?
Putin has been actively trying to ingratiate Russia with Asia and the moslem world. See his efforts to get Russia accepted as a member of ASEAN or the risks he's allowing his companies to take for energy in Iraq.
This is remarkable.
The Soviet retreat from the Middle East lead to a ME-US love in that the United States threw away. Russia is not being understated yet active there.
Look at Afghanistan and the Soviet humiliation by the Mujhedeen (with western help of course). It's hard to find any information on what the Russians are doing there, but apparently it has the largest 'diplomatic' presence out of any country. Not to mention that on Afghanistan's 'liberation' from the Taleban (where the US apparently paid Russia to Supply Dostum(?) et al to provide extra weapons), that it was reported 10 IL-76 cargo planes flew in to Kabul. They weren't providing aid...
Back to the Iran thing, what is Ivanov saying for domestic/international consumption. It is quite likely that the Iranian authorities turn a blind eye to certain Chechen 'activities' like Turkey does, but limits them.
Putin is clearly providing the 'you scratch my back, I'll scratch yours' offer which is extremely tempting considering US behaviour. Look at how the US is damaging its' relations with South America, particularly its embargo on the Spain/Venezuela deal. The US is throwing away its trust and it's not as if there is somebody or something not there to fill the vacuum (in this case the mainly the EU (soft economic power) and Russia (military/space)).
It looks to me that Iran will settle for less, but it still has time on its side and a few options up its sleeve. It's minima must be a solution that it will be able to claim is 'honorable' or what the West would call 'saving face'.
As for the Russian army, if the Russian media is controlled by Putin, then why aren't they covering up the horrendous crime committed against the soldier??? It was only a short while ago that Putin's proposed modest reforms of the Army were pooh-poohed, yet the 'reports' coming out on other reform since have been regular. Is this a case of Putin using the Media to strengthen his hand against the old guard who won't reform and are not easily 'retired'? Now that's up there with Tony Blair leading the Media to fulfill his own policy objectives. For all the PR gaffes, Putin and/or his advisors are definately learning (though no bets for when they screw up next time)....
As for Ahmanajid, it's my take that the the Iran nuclear soap opera is just as much a home game is being fought to 'protect' the revolution in which Ahmanajid is only a small (yet visible) cog in these machinations, as a quest for security in a world where the US doesn't appear to need rules.
Sorry, a bit of a rant, but it was a 'stream of consciousness'...
Spokoini Nochi.
Posted by: Aleks | February 7, 2006 4:02 PM
Iran is under no obligation to make itself reliant on Russia when it has every right to manufacture its own uranium fuel. Also, even if Iran accepted Russia's offer and forever gave up that right, the matter would not end. The US would continue making false accusations against Iran about "secret facilities" etc. and the US would only make more demands for yet more concessions from Iran -- the nuclear issue is just a pretext.
Posted by: hass | February 10, 2006 3:24 PM