Russia to Evacuate Over 800 from Iraq

Reuters ^ | Wed Apr 14, 2004

[Cap Huff]

That's one thing that has me worried.

[EGPWS]

and now more than ever we need to remain resolute, and those who can't, need to get out of the way

I can't recall who it was /sarcasm/ however I recall a resolute word of truth from a friend that has made your statement a profound one to me.

I wish I could recall his name, sarcasm again, but I DO recall his words of wisdom...

"Either you are with us or against us"

[MJY1288]

:-)

[Cap Huff]

OK, the Oil for Food Scandal is one angle I'd not thought of here. But it provides a short term plus, at the expense of a long term minus. Normally Russians don't think that way. They have the long term more clearly in focus at times than we do.

[Mo1]

I see a lot of downside for the Russians in doing this, but no upside, and that means I'm seriously missing something here.

Russians are proud people .. cutting and running with their tails between their legs won't go over well

Unless maybe there are specific threats being made within their own country

I honest have no clue why they would do this

[Mo1]

That's possible .. but then when has Russia really cared what others thought of them?

My gut is telling me it's something else

[MJY1288]

Well, pulling their people out of Iraq is short sighted in my view. What long term gain can anyone obtain from capitualting to terrorist demands?

So my guess is they will use thier retreat from Iraq as part of Putin's plan to place the blame for their involvement in the Oil for Food scandal on Boris Yeltzen, and that Putin thought it best to take his people out of there until the investigation is over

[Mo1]

let me re-phrase that .. when has Russia cared about who they ripped off

They care more about being top dog and a strong country in the world

[gipper81]

[Cap Huff]

" They care more about being top dog and a strong country in the world . . . "

This is their long term goal. I'm trying to understand how this action serves their long term goal. It must. That is how they operate.

[MJY1288]

Russia is trying very hard to be recognized as a economic player in the world. To be neck deep in the coming investigation will not help their cause. Putin is no dummy and he wants to become a member of the economic super powers, right now, California has a larger economy than Russia, and they know the path to becoming a super power again relies upon their economic credibility in the world

[gipper81]

Oil prices. Think oil prices.

[Mo1]

I agree with all of that you say .. but to do it this way?

It makes them look week in the knees

[MJY1288]

Russia's oil sales is not what Putin is banking on. Russian Oil is not what is called "Sweet Crude", their oil requires more refining and therefore less desirable. What Russia wants more than anything is to be considered as a safe investment in the world markets, right now they dont have that label. Without it, global investors will avoid them.

[Robert_Paulson2]

Is Russia pulling its covert ops people out, the ones who have been backing the Sunnis?

Does anyone think that Russia and China are part of the proxy war between islamists and the West?

I do.

[MJY1288]

Considering that Russia and China are Godless Governments and have been victims of these radical Islamic terrorists for decades, I can't subscribe to that theory

[gipper81]

What I was trying to say was that Putin's Russia is more than happy to have the price of oil stay at currently high levels. Any geopolitical problems assists with that goal.

[Mo1]

I'll admit I wouldn't put anything pass Russia and China .. but that one?? .. well it's a stretch

[Truth666]

This might hold the answer to the question "why did the US close the Sadr media and arrested his aid, provoking the shiite insurgency ?"

[Boot Hill]

"Seven flights will be made from Kuwait and Baghdad..."

If the Russians choose to use "Aeroflop" for this evac, I'd have to think long and hard about which would be more dangerous: Getting on Aeroflop or risk being kidnapped, tortured and killed by terrorists!

--Boot Hill