Posted on 05/03/2005 3:04:14 PM PDT by jb6
Jerusalem, Israel, Apr. 28 (UPI) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin Thursday wound up the second leg of his Middle Eastern tour, creating a warm atmosphere with Israeli leaders, calling Israel a strategic ally, pledging to fight anti-Semitism, but insisting on going ahead with the sale of anti-aircraft missiles to Syria
Putin arrived in Jerusalem Tuesday from Cairo. On Friday, he will travel to Ramallah in the West Bank to meet Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, also known as Abu Mazen, and visit the grave of the late Palestinian President Yasser Arafat. He will then return to Moscow.
Putin also visited the Holy Sepulcher and the Western Wall. He apparently surprised his bodyguards when he emerged from the armored limousine he has brought with him and started walking toward the wall. Security men prevented him from reaching the structure, a spokesman for the Jerusalem police said.
The trip signaled a Russian attempt to assert its position as a world power and play a greater role in the Middle East peace process, something it has not done for years. From the mid-1950s to its collapse, the Soviet Union backed the Arabs.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...
"...calling Israel a strategic ally, pledging to fight anti-Semitism, but insisting on going ahead with the sale of anti-aircraft missiles to Syria..."
WTF, Over?!
"Hello. I'm Mr. Nice Guy! I may sell advanced weapons to all your worst enemies, and I may have backed Saddam to the hilt, and I may be helping the Iranian Mullahs with their cute little nuclear program, but I really, really like Israel!"
Only the MSM could lap this stuff up.
"Only the MSM could lap this stuff up."
Unfortunately, and no reflection on you, you're wrong. That fact bothers me...
I would hardly call Putin backing Saddam to the hilt, especially compared to the vast majority of our NATO allies. As for selling weapons to Syria, that is silly. On the other hand, Russia sells oil to Israel and the FSB and Mossad have close working relationships. Putin also turned down Arafat 3 times on Arafag's desire to declare his own state.
Silly in that it's a stupid idea on Putin's part.
"Putin strikes a chord in Israel"
Was it A major or A minor?
Putin has been selling nuclear weapons to Iran along with the missles to deliver them. If Israel welcomes this Judas they are officially nuts! When they are blown all over the ME maybe they will wake up!
"To say that the relationship with Israel is strategic is a very important code with Russia ... That is to say, 'We're not going to change tomorrow, you can count on this.'
Quoth the Former Soviet.
Sorry, but they haven't sold a single nuclear weapon or delivery system, that's plan BS. Our ally Pakistan has sold them the nuclear weapons tech and know how for 20 years now, which we've choosen to ignore. Just like we ignored the fact that our Most Favored Trading Partner China sold them the missiles, just like China gave Pakistan the missiles and the tech.
bump
We sell weapon systems to Saudi Arabia, don't we?
weapons systems do not equal nukes
LOL - Syria is not being sold nukes - only truck mounted surface to air missiles.
Obviously, I was referring to Iran.
Reputedly, Israelis of Russian extraction include not only Jews, but also many Orthodox Christians. Is that true?
islamists and anti-Zionist Jews make much of the Russian Orthodox who are supposed to be in Israel, and express resentment and hatred toward them.
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