[HipShot]

I'd be willing to wager that they've already got what they need from Ivan. I'm starting to believe that the weapons sales to OBL were legitimate, but that they were actually sanctioned by Ivan and not committed by a profiteer.

The whole "soldiers eating dog food" thing was part of the same scam. All the stories at the time of weapons and weapon grade materials disappearing was no more than a KBG operation, IMHO. When you look at whose running things over there now, it fits like a custom glove.

These guys are NOT our friends, nor are they our allies. The fact that Putin nationalized the media en toto before the election speaks volumes. The fact that he named one of our biggest haters, (Sergei Ivanov), to take total control of their military does likewise.

Plausible deniability. Watch them volunteer to send troops over here to help out after a devastating attack.

[jerseygirl]

Yup. Or stage a false attack on themselves via "Chechen rebels"....

Putin has been saying some strange things recently about how there really never was any problem with security of nuclear material....

hmmmmmm

He HAS to know that we know Russia gave/sold AQ the nukes and other....and if/when one goes off, the source can be confirmed...

No wonder he is talking about their wonderful defense systems!

[all4one]

Don't forget Putin's recent meetings (Spring '04) with Fox from Mexico....that made me very wary of both of their intentions.

[ExSoldier]

These guys are NOT our friends, nor are they our allies.

Just think, in the spirit of our new found "friendship" coiniciding with the fall of communism, we invited them to train with our armed forces and let them see first hand all of the inner workings of both our battle doctrine and our best technology. Gee, everybody figured we'd all be buds forever...or at least until death do us part....