Russia’s Double Game

front page magazine ^ | 23 march 2006 | Kenneth R. Timmerman

[unionblue83]

The talks at the United Nations over Iran’s nuclear weapons program have stalled, and the culprit is clear: the Russian government of ex-KGB officer Vladmir Putin.

Russia has chosen to help the Islamic Republic of Iran buy more time to complete its nuclear weapons programs, turning down repeated U.S. and European offers to soften a UN Security Council statement during yet another round of negotiations in New York on Wednesday.

“Why anybody in Moscow thinks it's in their interest to have a nuclear-capable ballistic missile-equipped Iran near their southern border is a mystery to me,” U.S. ambassador to the United Nations John Bolton said last week.

And yet, that’s precisely what the Russians are doing.

[McGavin999]

This is going to reach around and bite Russia on the backside. They are going to find themselves in the same position they will find themselves in in Iraq. The people of Iran will hate them forever. Someday, the people of Iran will be free and then Russia will find themselves out of luck when it comes to doing business in Iran.

[JudgemAll]

Mr. Bolton, it's not Russia but ourselves submiting to the UN who let Iran arm.... and who submit to demands that we disarm, nay, transfer power to them by letting them arm themselves or us disarming ourselves.

[JudgemAll]

Russia is laundering for the crack heads of the world. It'd be better if Iran were free for Russia, but right now it makes for a good nuclear Vietnam & they bet their chances that we'll surrender like in the 60s.

[wolfcreek]

I'm not sure if Iran cares if it has any friends in the world but, as long as Russia is in their court, they will not submit.

[unionblue83]

You would think that with the problems that Putin has had with the Chechen Muslims that he would realize that a nuclear Iran is bad for him as well. However, Putin is an old-style KGB hardliner and probably views this as a strategic move to stick one to the West. and buffer the democracy emerging in Iraq. A new style Cold War?

[ClaireSolt]

Russia and Iran deserve each other. They are both wannabes posing as superpowers.

[GarySpFc]

Everybody knows the US is not going to let Iran have a nuclear bomb...except Iran. The Russians are fully aware of what is going to happen, and will not object too loudly when we take them out. BTW, it is the heavy-water reactor at Arak built by the Iranians that is being used to make their bomb, not the light-water reactor sold by the Russians.

[balk]

"On October 27, 2005, Russia launched Iran’s first spy satellite, the Sina-1, from the Polstesk space base in Murmansk province. Iran has integrated the Sina-1 in its latest contingency plans for waging a massive naval campaign against the United State in the Persian Gulf."

I would hope there is a capability to take this out when the battle begins...

[Thunder90]

Putin is a communist, and Communists have a track record of doing things that are bad for their countries.

[RusIvan]

Someday, the people of Iran will be free and then Russia will find themselves out of luck when it comes to doing business in Iran.==

What if we put China instead of Iran. Then think a little who has biggest economical cooperation in the world? What if free chinese people will hate that country?

[RusIvan]

Putin is a communist, and Communists have a track record of doing things that are bad for their countries.==

So stupid:).

[samcgwire]

Anyone paying attention would know that the Russkies' behavior is anything BUT mysterious. Their ideology is very much entwined with the Stalinist Islamic ideology in that their objective is a New World Order in which America as we know it is no more. The Axis of Evil started with the Communist Chinese (Chicomms were with the Taliban in Afghanistan ON September 11th, 2001) and the Communist Russians (Iraq, Syria, Iran, etc.) - and that's ultimately where it ends as well.

[samcgwire]

Putin isn't the same kind of Communist he used to be, because the Soviet model of Communism morphed in order for the end game to stay in play.

Putin is actually a more dangerous mix of Fascist and Communist today.

[RusIvan]

Putin is actually a more dangerous mix of Fascist and Communist today.==

It is new thought:). Same is to be a mix of christian and muslim. Or to be a mix of judei and buddist:). Or to be mix of american and mexican:).

[samcgwire]

I'm being completely serious. You're joking around.

[Thunder90]

Don't call them Russians, they are Soviets!!!

[Thunder90]

So are the Chicoms... All governments that call themselves "Communists" are actually a mix of Communism and Fascism, with China and Russia being the two best examples of this.

[monkeywrench]

It's interesting that there is no mention of the chicoms in this article. They are the ones building the alliances in the area, and are actively trying to push US out. China has every intention making iran a nuclear armed proxy.

[McGavin999]

China has plans of gobbling up Russia. It's a long term strategy, but it's there. They have a huge population and they need land. Russia has land and a very small population (Russia also has oil and China needs oil) They'll buy it for awhile, but sooner or later they're going to try to take it.

Russia has the opportunity to be a big player in the future of Iran, but only if it does not help the mad mullahs. Those people want to be free and they will love those who help them, and hate those who help the mullahs. The simple fact is 70% of Irans population is under 30. That demographic alone tells you that sometime in the next decade or two those people WILL be free, and those 30 somethings today will be the ones who are in charge in the future. If Russia helps the mad mullahs, the Iranians will feel about them the same way the average Iraqi feels about Russia because Russia propped up Saddam.