Posted on 08/21/2002 2:06:03 PM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
WASHINGTON -(Dow Jones)- U.S. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld bluntly warned Russia on Wednesday that if Moscow continues to "parade" its ties to Iraq, it will lose foreign investment and support from the West.
Rumsfeld made the comments at town hall meeting with troops at Fort Hood, Texas, following a meeting with President George W. Bush.
Asked about the news over the weekend that Russia has signed a high-profile trade agreement with Iraq, Rumsfeld said he thought it would wind up hurting Russia.
"It sends a signal across the globe that that is what Russia thinks is a good thing to do, to deal with the terrorist states, to have them as their relationship developers," Rumsfeld said.
"What that tells people in business is that is not an environment that is hospitable for investment, that it is not a place that they want to invest....To the extent that the country is saying to world that they want to be known as close personal friends to Saddam Hussein, and Fidel Castro and Kim Jong Il and those folks, it sends a signal that is harmful to them," Rumsfeld said.
In another part of his remarks, Rumsfeld also included Libya in the list of states he was warning Russia not to do business with.
Rumsfeld added that he hoped Russia would give up its past ties to countries that support terrorism and turn more towardsthe West and stop taking actions that can be viewed as supporting the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.
Rumsfeld wrapped up his comments by saying he thought they were a "measured response."
-By Alex Keto, Dow Jones Newswires; 202-862-9256; Alex.Keto@dowjones.com
As your parents told you, you're judged by the company you keep.
This really bums me out......bigtime.
BUSH-RUMSFELD 2004
RUMSFELD-RICE 2008
RUMSFELD-RICE 2012
RICE-J.BUSH 2016
...
You got that right. Putin is parading it. I would not rule out that Putin is cooperating Bush under the surface, pretending to be a Saddam's friend, but keeping close taps with Iraqi situation, sometimes working discreetly to influence the mood inside Saddam's regime. Some may think this is far fetched. But I think that Russians in Iraq now can be a Trojan horse for upcoming operation. Or at least that is on the table for bargaining. It will be decided by whether Putin is satisfied with what Bush can offer in return.
Putin has no reason to stick to Saddam if Bush can make a better offer.
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