Posted on 05/01/2006 11:49:59 PM PDT by neverdem
WASHINGTON -- The Cold War may be over, but relations between the United States and Russia are slowly begging to freeze over once again. Nowhere has this become more evident than in our dealings with the Islamic Republic of Iran. While the United States and its European allies remain committed to ensuring that Tehran will not acquire the capability to produce a nuclear weapon, Russia maintains its opposition -- along with China -- against any use of sanctions or the threat of force. This has damaged efforts to convince the Iranian regime that serious consequences can result from noncompliance. However, the current situation in Iran is only one element in a comprehensive Russian strategy that seeks to boost its defense industry and undermine its geopolitical rivals.
The Russian economy remains largely dependent on weapons sales. When the Soviet Union collapsed, Russia's vital defense industry faced an enormous crisis. Not only would domestic spending be decreased, but exports to friendly regimes would no longer be necessary in many cases. As a result, even after enormous downsizing in the Russian defense industry -- an estimated 2.5 to 6.1 million lost their jobs between 1991 and 1995 -- by 1996, the sector was working at a capacity of only about 10 percent of its potential. Thus, to maintain the country's military industrial complex the Kremlin has taken on the role of the world's weapons supplier. From Algeria and Venezuela to Syria and Iran, Moscow displays few reservations to arming any regime that can help fuel its defense industry.
The well-publicized sale of 29 Tor-M1 missile systems to Iran provides a glimpse into the vast arena of advanced weapons being transferred to the world's most dangerous rogue regimes. These mobile air defense systems are capable of destroying both aircraft and cruise missiles and were...
(Excerpt) Read more at spectator.org ...
Eastern Europe ping!
we should offer Russia Iran , after we take it
poor consolation prize,they already think they have it
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True. Putin is a communist.
Ping
A man is known by a company he is keeping [or is seeking]. So is a country.
"Equally disturbing have been the further reports of additional Iranian weapons purchases from Russia. According to the Indian national daily the Hindu, "Russian sources said talks were under way to sell Iran long range air-defence systems codenamed S-300PMU1, radar stations, and T-90S tanks." This, however, may turn out to be one area where the Russians decide to use their leverage for a constructive manner. Agence France Presse reports that Moscow has used the potential sale of the S-300 long-range air defense missile system as a means to convince Tehran to suspend the enrichment of uranium."
LOL! These French aren't as bad as people think. Good sense of humor. This is a joke, right?
ibtrwc!
Just wait for all Putin little friends get on this thread :)
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