[george76]

Through these phases, Russian secret services gained a tight hold on international terrorism, and specially on Islamism. It was nothing new.

During the 1920s, Soviet intelligence had succeeded in thoroughly infiltrating fiercely anti-Soviet monarchist emigrant organizations. Furthermore, “dozens of mythical organizations came into being.

[Marine_Uncle]

It is a shame tens of millions of muslim have not a clue as how they have been used over the past sixty years or so by the Russians.

[BIGLOOK]

Thanks George......saving this for leisurely reading.

Of course the Soviets were delighted with the fall of the Shah. In a word...oil. The Russians have huge reserves in Siberia, but lack the technology to extract and transport it across the frozen country. The Saudis and the Emirates had little use for wagon loads of Rubles so Iran was a windfall.

Soviet/Russian practices in the exploitation of the region found common ground with the Ayatollahs.