Posted on 01/27/2005 5:27:10 AM PST by SJackson
Russian President Vladimir Putin, in an exclusive interview with The Jerusalem Post, Thursday, refused to rule out his country's sale of anti-aircraft missiles to Syria, insisting that such missiles served defensive purposes only and would not affect the balance of forces in the region.
Putin was speaking to The Post through a translator at a luncheon in Krakow hosted by the Polish President Aleksander Kwasniewski.
He was asked first about the direct link he had drawn between Nazism and modern terrorism in a speech he delivered earlier in the day. Questioned as to whether he regarded modern terrorism as a threat to humankind, Putin replied: "Definitely. That has been our direct experience. Those extremists who represent international terrorism in our territory in the northern Caucauses, what they want is to establish a global caliphate. This resembles the Nazis' aspiration to global leadership. The same can be said, by the way, of the Communist revolution."
The Post then put it to Putin that Israel was extremely concerned by terrorism, and had specific anxieties regarding planned Russian missile sales to Syria, a state notorious for its support of terror groups. Putin responded at length.
"First of all," he said, "we understand and are committed to maintaining the balance of forces in the region. We understand our responsibilities. We have not taken a single step to violate that balance and we will follow that pattern in the future."
Waiting patiently while his translator rendered this into English, Putin then continued, "Second of all, we won't bring to the region weapons that can be used by terrorists or that can be transferred to terrorists without controls."
The Russian President then repeated, "We have and will always act according to our international obligations."
In that light, he went on, the contemplated missile sale to Syria would not constitute a violation of responsibility because, he asserted, these were purely defensive missiles.
"While we're talking about supplies of weapons to countries in the region," he said, "such a supply should be understood in the light of supporting defensive capacities, as in Syria." Putin added that he was discussing the planned sale along with all other issues, "with all participants" in what he called "the Middle East settlement, including frankly and openly with our Israeli partners."
Indeed, Prime Minister Ariel Sharon talked with Putin only last week. And it is understood that Russia's planned missile sale to Syria are currently on hold – neither definitively on, nor definitively off, according to Israeli sources.
"Our actions, I say again," Putin then reiterated, "have never violated and will never violate the balance of power in the region."
The Post then pointed out to the Russian President that at the moment, that balance finds Israel with a vital military advantage. Putin's response: "Definitely, today, Israel has all the powers compared to its neighbors."
The Post would have liked to clarify that rather equivocal response but Putin indicated that the interview was now over.
Israel, and the US for that matter, have been particularly concerned by Russian plans to sell FA-18 anti-aircraft missiles, launched from the back of a vehicle, to Damascus. According to Israeli sources, the FA-18 may indeed be described as defensive missiles but Israel's concern is that from Damascus they will find their way to Hizbullah and then to the West Bank, and come to constitute a threat to civilian airliners landing at and taking off from Ben Gurion International Airport.
The United States' concern is that the missiles, in a deal valued in the tens of millions of dollars, might find their way to insurgents in Iraq. There is also concern over other types of anti-aircraft missiles whose sale to Syria Russia may also be contemplating, in still larger deals estimated in the hundreds of millions of dollars.
Despite the American pressure and the Israeli concern, Putin has plainly not definitively ruled out any of these planned sales. At the same time however, it is believed that Putin chose not to finalize any such deals in the course of Syrian President Bashar al Assad's visit to Russia this week.
Does that mean they are rigged to blow up on the launcher?
I've never seen an anti-aircraft missile that could not be used offensively. Technology is astounding.
Putin....you clown...
All Defensive weaponry can be used offensively
"Russian President Vladimir Putin, in an exclusive interview with The Jerusalem Post, Thursday, refused to rule out his country's sale of anti-aircraft missiles to Syria, insisting that such missiles served defensive purposes only and would not affect the balance of forces in the region. "
Yeah, right! Liar, liar, pants on fire, Vladdy!
I would support Israel sinking whatever ship these missiles are due to arrive on.
Why didn't we think of that?
My goodness, all Russian weapons are "defensive". Even those defensive missiles stationed to defend Syria's defensive WMD (acquired from....?) from destruction.
Oh yeah.. Just defensive missiles.
Reminds me the same bullshit when after the Six Day War, thousands of demonstrators in Moscow boiled from anger on Israel because Israel dared not to be destroyed by the Soviet weapons of Syria, Jordan and Egypt.
Same ole carp.
Yeah, it's a new technology that lets it do that... the secret is the special "Muzz-o-tector" grip that refuses to fire if it detects traces of feces on the left hand.
LOL
related:
Crisis in Israel-Russia Ties
Jpost
Posted on 01/12/2005 8:06:39 AM PST by Alex Marko
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1319205/post
Israel condemns Russia arms plan
BBC news information | BBC news information
Posted on 01/14/2005 2:41:17 PM PST by anonymoussierr
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1321069/posts
Putin promises Israel not to sell missiles to Syria
Middle East Online | January 24 2005
Posted on 01/24/2005 2:16:30 PM PST by knighthawk
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1327560/posts
Russia, Syria work super-weapons deal
worldnetdaily.com | January 21, 2005 | FROM JOSEPH FARAH'S G2 BULLETIN
Posted on 01/21/2005 4:31:25 AM PST by ovrtaxt
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1325278/posts
Russia denies Syrian missiles deal
al Jazeera | January 13 2005
Posted on 01/13/2005 1:55:57 PM PST by knighthawk
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1320246/posts
Russia-Syria arms deal alarms Israel
Aljazeera | 12 Jan 2005 | By Khalid Amayreh in the West Bank
Posted on 01/12/2005 2:35:58 PM PST by Cornpone
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1319492/posts
Syria eager for missiles, experts say
Jpost | Jan. 13, 2005 | NINA GILBERT
Posted on 01/12/2005 11:41:41 PM PST by F14 Pilot
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1319789/posts
Syrian Missile Sale Slots into Secret Russian Air Defense System for Iran
(Our "ally" in action)
Debka | January 24, 2005
Posted on 01/24/2005 6:46:21 PM PST by TapTheSource
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1327739/posts
Syrian president to visit Russia on reported missile shopping trip
AFP | 01-12-2005
Posted on 01/12/2005 1:13:32 PM PST by Tailgunner Joe
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1319437/posts
U.S. and Russia Seeking Limits on Portable Antiaircraft Missiles
NY Times | January 12, 2005 | THOM SHANKER
Posted on 01/12/2005 4:17:36 PM PST by neverdem
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1319563/posts
U.S. demands Russia cancel proposed missile sale to Syria
Ha'aretz | 13 January 2004 | Ha'aretz Service
Posted on 01/12/2005 2:50:05 PM PST by anotherview
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1319501/posts
somewhat related:
Sources: Syria hosted terror wedding
WorldNetDaily.com | Wednesday, January 12, 2005 | Aaron Klein
Posted on 01/11/2005 11:05:56 PM PST by JohnHuang2
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1318979/posts
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