Well this is interesting. The Russians are talking like they did in the bad old days when they were trying to win friends and influence people while giving Preznit Inordinately Immature the geo-political middle finger salute:
Russia's top military chief on Thursday warned the United States against launching a military strike against Iran and a top diplomat voiced hope that close cooperation with China could help resolve the Tehran nuclear crisis.
With tension mounting over Iran's nuclear programs, Gen. Yuri Baluyevsky, the chief of Russia's general staff, warned the United States against attacking Iran.
"A military scenario can't be ruled out," Baluyevsky was quoted as saying by Russian news agencies.
...
"This may stir the whole world, and it is crucial to prevent anything like that," Baluyevsky was quoted as saying.
...
Moscow is deeply concerned about the current Iranian regime's prospects for acquiring nuclear weapons, not only because Russia is geographically located close to Iran, but also because of the impact that could have on other Middle East players' nuclear aspirations, including Saudi Arabia's, the diplomat said.
Yeah, that may be true, but Russia has it's own problems with Islam separatists who are causing enough of a headache that the Russians don't need a nuclear-capable power next door to help them out. The added benefit for the Russians is that they get to tweak the tiger's tail, and make Beloved Leader and "Old Russian Hand Rice" look like idiots by becoming the go-to arbitrators for the problem.
Oh,and they get to rattle their all too real nuclear arsenal for old-times sake. Some of those boys in the Kremlin have gotta be lovin' that shit.
posted by Jo Fish on 02.16.06 at 09:26 PM
Comments:
They want to play, too. And we cannot afford to piss China off, too.
posted by: hate-the-kool-aid on 02.16.06 at 11:27 PM [permalink]
The soviets were brought down in large part by their extended war in Afghanistan, where we assisted bin Laden and trained his forces to fight the soviets. Funny how friends turn into enemies and enemies into friends, eh?
I think perhaps this is a veiled warning that our hubris could very well bring down our economy and military as well.
Funny how just, oh, 5 years of a Bush in the White House (how soon we forget the last time we were close to national "no-will-to-live-any-longer" was just 4 years of Poppy) and suddenly, Russia's oil money and China's Wal-Mart money have turned us into the basket-case...
That's an overstatement, of course. But not enough of one for any comfort level...
And there is no JFK who will turn down the use of nuclear weapons in a stand-off with the Russians or with anyone else. Yeah, Rummy, I'm talking to you, Mr Shoot-nukes-from-the-hip.
posted by: Nina on 02.19.06 at 12:05 PM [permalink]
