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Would you please respond as best you can to my post #351?

NothingMan, help me understand why you feel Russia's upcoming exercises are designed as a warning, not so much to the U.S., but more so to N. Korea and Iran to "backoff" so to speak when Russia, in fact, is known to have assisted these countries with much of the techology and knowledge necessary to produce their nuclear weapons programs.

Sean, I sent you a private mail late last night regarding a post you made elsewhere. I'd be interested in a response if you don't mind.

"help me understand why you feel Russia's upcoming exercises are designed as a warning, not so much to the U.S., but more so to N. Korea and Iran to "backoff" so to speak when Russia, in fact, is known to have assisted these countries with much of the techology and knowledge necessary to produce their nuclear weapons programs."

I mentioned in a previous post that I am referring to the aftermath or crossfire of an international crisis involving these countries. Terrorist proxies are being used against Russia as well as us. They are under jihadi attacks sponsored by external forces. Those forces may use WMD terrorism or its threat to compel Russian acquiescence to their strategic objectives (just as AQ has tried with US - - w/draw from Mideast, stop supporting Israel, etc). If Russia were hit with a 9/11 or worse, and they could trace it back to a government that supported the act or harbored those who did (like we did in Afghanistan), they would be virtually powerless to react conventionally as they are unable to project significant conventional power beyond their borders.

North Korea and Iran are not Russian puppets because they receive Russian aid any more than Pakistan and Saudi Arabia are American puppets because they received American aid.

Nuclear war in the Mideast, the Subcontinent, the Taiwan Straits, or the Korean Peninsula would be as serious for them as it would be for us

Anyway, like I have already said, this is most-likely election related.

Clinton tried to take away a GOP issue when he focused on welfare reform in the mid-1990s. Pres. Bush is trying to take away Medicare from the democrats (misguided though it may be) with his drug benefit. Putin is trying to take away the patriotism issue away from the national-socialists.

Putin's opposition is not communists. Communism is dead. The two choices in Russia now are not democracy and communism. They are nationalism and neo-fascism (national socialists). If you don't like Putin, try a 21st century Hitler. The communist candidate for President will not make the runoff, may not even come in third, and may not even get 15% of the vote.

On the other hand, Putin's Nationalist Party (United Russia) controls 2/3rds of the parliament, and the other third is split between the Motherland Party (Rodina) which is national-socialist, the LDP (which is neo-fascist), and the communists.

The communists are no longer a major factor in Russia.

Bush Says CIA Director's Job Is Secure
1 hour, 25 minutes ago Add White House - AP to My Yahoo!
By DEB RIECHMANN, Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON - President Bush (news - web sites) said Saturday that CIA (news - web sites) Director George Tenet's job is not in jeopardy despite election-year questions about the accuracy of prewar intelligence on Iraq (news - web sites).

"I strongly believe the CIA is ably led by George Tenet," Bush said in an Oval Office interview to be broadcast Sunday on NBC's "Meet the Press."

Asked whether Tenet's job was in jeopardy, Bush answered: "No, not at all, not at all," according to an excerpt of the interview provided by the network.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20040208/ap_on_go_pr_wh/bush_interview&cid=544&ncid=716

Aurora,Illinois

UPDATE: Saturday, February 7, 2004 19:19

A precautionary boil order REMAINS in effect for all City of Aurora water customers.

While additional tests conducted in the past 24 hours have shown that the total coliform that caused the original precautionary boil order is not passing from the water treatment plant officials are still working to isolate the actual source of the total coliform.

The presence of total coliform can indicate the possible presence of harmful bacteria.

Although the City believes city water does not present a serious health hazard, we continue to advise our residents to boil their water for five (5) minutes before drinking, making ice cubes, washing foods, brushing teeth or any other activity involving human consumption.

Bathing, showering and washing of clothes using city water may continue, as usual.

Because of the continuing testing required, the precautionary boil order is expected to extend through mid-week.

PLEASE DO NOT CALL 911

Aurora Emergency Homeland Security

Cook's new war intelligence queries

Ex-Cabinet minister Robin Cook has raised fresh questions over intelligence sent to Tony Blair in the run-up to war with Iraq. Mr Blair says he did not know reports that Saddam Hussein could launch a chemical or biological attack in 45 minutes only related to battlefield weapons when he asked MPs to back him. However, an assessment from intelligence chiefs said Saddam Hussein's ballistic missiles were dissembled and would take days to prepare to fire, reveals The Independent on Sunday.

Redcaps gave back ammo before attack

The Ministry of Defence has refused to comment on reports that the six Royal Military Police (RMP) killed by a mob in Iraq were forced to hand back vital ammunition and medical supplies just days before they died. The Red Caps should have been equipped with 600 rounds of bullets rather than the 20 they relied upon to defend themselves, the News of the World claimed. They were reportedly told to return supplies of morphine before embarking on their mission which ended in disaster at Al Majar Al Kabir on June 24, last year.