Posted on 02/22/2007 10:43:36 AM PST by Tailgunner Joe
Russia's foreign minister Wednesday warned the United States not to take military action against Iran.
"The Russian foreign minister said Wednesday U.S.-led multinational foreign forces in Iraq must not conduct military operations outside the country, including against Iran," the RIA Novosti news agency reported.
"The multinational force in Iraq should abide strictly by the UN Security Council's mandate, which does not provide for any operations outside the country," Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told the Lebanese magazine Al-Watan Al-Arabi in an interview.
"The escalation of the conflict and its possible spread beyond the Iraqi borders will inevitably result in catastrophic consequences and not for the Middle East alone," Lavrov said according to the report. "I believe Washington understands this."
Lavrov told Al-Watan Al-Arabi that a timetable needed to be drawn up for the coordinated and gradual evacuation of all foreign military forces from Iraq. He said that was essential to bring stability to the troubled Middle eastern nation.
"But at the same time we believe that U.S. Army detachments and their coalition allies should not leave Iraq tomorrow," Lavrov said.
Lavrov also said that Iraq's own police, army and other security forces needed to be increased in size and strength to prepare for the pull out of U.S. and other forces.
"The long-standing confrontation between the U.S. and Iran deteriorated further Jan. 11 when American servicemen burst into Iran's mission in Erbil (Kurdistan) and detained five officials. American troops disarmed guards and confiscated computers and documents without providing any explanation," RIA Novosti noted.
The Russian news agency also noted that "earlier this month the United States accused Iran of backing the insurgency and unrest in Iraq, and suspects the Islamic Republic of pursuing a secret nuclear weapons program."
deja vue all over again?
Russia is getting very nervous that we have a lot of forces on their borders. Russians, traditional, have a great fear of being invaded by former friends, and as a result do not like any large power on the borders.
Not that we are going to attack Russia, but they are a paranoid people in this respect. Which, after Napoleon and WWII, I can understand somewhat.
"Don't you dare touch our cash cow until the checks all clear!"
Dear Mr. Russian Minister - Nuts!
Nuts.
Protecting it best customer!
Probably some truth to that.
You may have read this already but it's a paper on U.S., Chinese and Russian nuclear forces:
http://www.foreignaffairs.org/20060301faessay85204/keir-a-lieber-daryl-g-press/the-rise-of-u-s-nuclear-primacy.html
"Or in plain English, 'Go to Hell'."
Ping.
since Russia is going / has gone, into oil and gas business with Iran, they feel they need to protect their joint company
Russia has promised Iran no UN sanctions will happen. Iran has concluded that more violence in the Middle East will force us out and leave Isreal ripe for the pickings.
"The Russian foreign minister said Wednesday U.S.-led multinational foreign forces in Iraq must not conduct military operations outside the country, including against Iran,"
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Russia afraid we'll find where they hid Saddam's WMD stockpiles in the weeks leading up to conflict ?
Anyone who got any invitations to Russian tea parties,
be advised .... it ain't suger they add !
I can believe that. But what is this "not for the Middle East alone" business about? Sounds like a bit of "fatherly advice" (read: threat) to me.
Gromyko... or Molotov?
Hamas leaders are going to Moscow for consultations. Somethings up and Russia is in on it.
Don't screw with us, Ivan. We outspent you once...we can do it again.
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