Russia is GIFTING Lebanon Mig-29 planes!

[CrackSmokeRepublican]

Let's consider the following:

1. Missiles

2. Borders

3. Alliances

4. Recent Provocations

5. Economy

6. Jewish-Israeli Control of media

7. Nationalism - Cooperation in the M.E.

8. What if USA/UK withdraws? Vacuum of power.  Who controls the switches at that point?  

9. Bush Admin - Obama Admin change over - divide the last shards of the "Coalition"

10. Stop proxy advances of missiles/paramilitary in E. Europe and Southern Borders by Israeli-US "democracies".

11. Pipelines long term

12. Preoccupy USA in M.E. to get them out of S.Europe

13. Leverage during Missile Negotiations

14. The Cold War was mostly a Jew Intelligence farce that allowed Israel to get blanket protection from the US/UK/UN.  Israel grew because of the cold war. Arming up everybody may start new rounds of arms sales and commitment. Russian Jews have supplied Israel's enemies once before.

15.  Give Obama's team a judo kick to the balls - "the game is on". Bush's team was too close to the Sheiks and Obama's team is mouthing idiotic threats to Russia.

16.  Russia looks to join OPEC?

17.  Russia needs loans from Arab countries?

18.  Russia discovered a false flag and defused it - now its a reminder with payback?

19.  Put Europe really on the hook - support Israel at a higher political cost - Gas or Israel?

20.  Jew Oligarchs, Currency and Stock Market sunk in Russia - now a more "nationalistic" group in Russia threatens from the shadows to answer M.E. nations who have asked for Russian help in the past.  

21.  If the Jews are really running Russia, which I suspect they do with some kind of leverage, then this is all portends a big negative for M.E. peace. If Jews run things, then a big double cross is likely being staged.  Nationalism versus Zionism in Russia and how this translates into political rulership and foreign policy for Russia is a big question mark.  I think the oligarchs are no longer supplying Russian politicians - perhaps a "MAJOR" bailout from Bahrain-Saudis-Iran-etc. has conditions for supplying the larger M.E. with weapons.  The Jewish question in Russia now has ramifications for the entire planet.

[MikeWB]

Can you name one, just one, country that's done more to stop and work against Zionists in the last 5 years than Russia?

[CrackSmokeRepublican]

Can you name one, just one, country that's done more to stop and work against Zionists in the last 5 years than Russia?

Interesting question MikeWB but let me rephrase it slightly...

Can you name one, just one, group of people that's done more to stop and work against Zionists in the last 5 years than Russian (military leaders, oligarchs, intelligence officers, Chabad Lubs., Putin and his team, Russian Nationalists, Industrialists)? Zionism not only threatens the Arab nations, it threatens the control of Russia over non-Russian nations. The Southern Russian borderlands could erupt into little independent minded states if they see Israelis doing military exercises nearby and the larger Russia is doing nothing to stop it. Russian leaders probably see Israeli hijinks in India-Pakistan as a MAJOR DESTABILIZING Move for Russia's Southern region. Iran most not fall or get attack either by Zionist forces.  Zionism apparently killed the Soviet Union and I'm sure Putin and his team know it could spell the end of a larger Russia if Israel stokes independence down South and International Jewry impoverishes the country with Financial Troubles.  Military Trouble always helps the price of Oil and this kind of trouble may take the dollar down a few more pegs if Israel-US-UK are seen as weak in the region or have to give up Iraq or Afghanistan.   In this list of potential scenarios, it is important to consider which groups are affected. Is it the Nationalists in Russia or the Zionists?  Putin is a hard read as to which side he is on, but at the end of the day, I think he is with the Zionists program but not at Russia's expense like the Soviet Union was.  Putin would not be in power without Jewish power brokers. So, Russia at all costs, must prevent a mini-nation breakout particularly if the US-UK withdraw from Iraq or get Israel to train another independent movement like in Georgia.

22. Russian leaders sees US/Israeli controlled currency speculators attacking the Ruble offshore.   And they can't stop it in the FX markets.

23. Russia has been tipped as to a launch date for the invasion/attack on Iran and wanted to push the ball down the court to let the US/Israel play defense?

24. Russia has been threatened by a combination of the US/UK/Israel and wants to push the agenda.

They are doing a full court press, with Missles and Heavy Weapons to several groups - it is timed at a moment when the US is weakened politically and during the holidays when the US/Europe are politically uncoordinated.  A good chess move.  It is hard for the Israel/US/UK Zionists to pick one target to attack back on - Palestine, Syria, Iran, Eygpt - who can they isolate?  US wants to put Missles in Poland and probably got something in the air? How about Missiles in Syria?

[LatinAmericanview]

interesting...

[MikeWB]

Putin is a hard read as to which side he is on, but at the end of the day, I think he is with the Zionists program but not at Russia's expense like the Soviet Union was. Putin would not be in power without Jewish power brokers

Hard to read? Maybe if you don't know the recent history. He's not hard to read at all once you put him in the context.

He can't be "with the Zionists program but not at Russia's expense". That just doesn't make sense in the grand scheme of things. Zionists have Israel's benefits in mind and not Russia's. More of then than not, these two are diametrically opposed. Since Putin's climb to power, he's been working hard to bring Russia's nationalism to the forefront. How does that benefit Zionists when their modus operandi has been to demolish nationalism in every state they've been in? Take USA for example... what has happened to US in the last 50 years? It's become more "globalized" and immigration has weakened its national identity. TV and movies have also changed its cultural landscape and all kinds of perversions and behavior that was unaccented 50 years ago is now acceptable. The national identity has also been reduced to the point that many Americans are ashamed to call themselves Americans.

Yeltsin was definitely the worst thing that happened to Russia. After he privatized Russian industry, those 7 oligarchs with the aid of Rothschild managed to buy off all of the shares of the biggest industries. After they made the move, Yeltsin was "shocked" and almost sent in the police to arrest them. But they made some kind of a deal and averted that. At that point, Russia was in a perfect position for Zionists: weak, people depressed and all the wealth is in Jewish hands (well, 1 of those oligarchs is not Jewish but anyway...).

Putin came to power not because Zionists wanted him, but because there was a power vacuum after Yeltsin started having heart attacks and he used his KGB files on politicians to blackmail them to allow him a fair chance and put give him a Deputy Prime Minister's position (one of thee). Once he was  a deputy, he made a deal with Yeltsin who was looking to retire. He promised Yeltsin not to prosecute him for the looting that happened under his watch and allow him to retire in peace and to leave his family alone. Yeltsin accepted that and threw his support behind him once he resigned. There's nothing in this story that somehow indicates that Zionists had the choice in selecting Putin. Yeltsin made the move knowing full well that Putin is a strong guy and would have risen to power anyway since the rest of the deputies were much weaker and didn't have Putin's skills. he wanted to make sure he was safe after retirement.

Now let's look at what Putin did. He quickly started nationalizing and reversing Yeltsin''s moves and started flexing his muscles to try to keep the Russia strong and united. He took care of Chechnya and installed puppets in other regions that were under the influence of the West/Zionists. He also went after oligarchs. He went right after Mikhail Khodorkovsky. Why him? Well, Yukos oil was the most valuable of them all and he also knew  that his shares were being held by Rothschild. Putin knew who the "chosen one" of the bunch was and who was Rotshchild's favorite protege. Mikhail Khodorkovsky is now rotting in Siberia and when he comes out, he'll be a changed man and won't pose any problems again. He also went after the rest, most notably after Boris Berezovsky who escaped to London and hasn't been able to liquidate all of his shares before he left and after some others (Abramovich who had to liquidate his positions in Sibneft). Rest are playing ball and Putin knows he can't get rid of them all since it would cause a huge instability in markets and  reduce investments into Russia which would do a lot of damage to economy. He's a very smart guy and he knows he'll have to fight a 100 year war to defeat them since they're so powerful and Russia and China are still not at the top of its game. He decided to postpone the confrontation when the terms will be more favorable in his direction.

Putin also made a deal with Israel that allows anyone who's a Jew in Russia a free ticket to israel. Works great for both countries: Russia gets itself rid of Jews and Israel gets new blood to defend Israel... something they greatly need.

What else has Putin done? Well, he paid off Russia's debt COMPLETELY! IMF and Zionist bankers were hoping to reap the interest from Russia for a very long time... but Putin screwed them over and returned them the money and now Russia is debt-free.

Israel is so scared of Russia that they went to Georgia and OVERTLY started funding Georgia through US military links and helping them train them so they become a stopping block and a quagmire for Russia so they don't move further south and to the East. Putin/Medvedev surprised everyone when they steamrolled through this roadblock and took care of the enemy. I already explained why Olmert then went to Russia the same week to ask for forgiveness since he knew that Russia's response would have been much tougher towards Israel.

So Putin is NOT their man... far from it, he's done so much damage to them that he's probably their most hated and feared opponent. No one has done as much damage to Zionist influence in Asia's sphere than Putin.

And yes, DBS is dead wrong on this one like he's wrong on few other issues. DBS is a bit too paranoid (paranoia in moderation is healthy) for my tastes and he fails to see the long-term strategy and wants results yesterday. His strategy of openly fighting Israel would create a severe turmoil and would vilify Russia in the eyes of the World and would do them no good. Just look at the tactical mistakes that Ahmedinejad made... the man is just a bit screwup. He should have been quiet and kept his mouth shut and he would have had the nukes already.

[CrackSmokeRepublican]

Four questions for you MikeWB:

1. Why hasn't Putin pulled the Jewish Question card  or promoted anti-semitic policies when Russia is clearly attacked by anti-Russian Jewish enemies?

2. Why hasn't Putin installed a successor that will achieve purely "Russian" long-term objectives? He stands alone for a period of time like a mayor of St. Petersburg.  But his term will end one day. What follows?

3. Why has he let a lot of Jewish criminals get off scot-free. He got a few but there are many many more still loose and operating criminally?

4. Why didn't Russia foil the US/UK/Israeli invasion of Iraq or make it more difficult? Perhaps the whole goal here is to take Iran's oil exports off the table like Iraq's?

Here's a Jewish Russian author asking similar questions. He unfairly compares Putin to Stalin but why Putin never drops the hammer is still open:

Putin's Jewish Anomaly Comes as a Surprise

By Vladimir Shlapentokh

Josef Stalin and President Vladimir Putin epitomize the type of leader who is ready to sacrifice the country's interests to maintain his power. Of course, Stalin and Putin used ideologies extensively for propagandistic purposes and for the legitimization of their personal power. But given the fact that they were concerned only about personal power, these two leaders were extremely flexible and open to the idea of changing the country's ideological course in any direction.

Though Putin respects Stalin as a great leader, he has condemned Stalinist repression. For example, many took note of Putin's October visit to Butovo, in the south of Moscow, where more than 20,000 people were killed during the peak years of Stalin's terror in 1937 and 1938.

Another area where Putin differs from Stalin is his policy toward Jews.

If Putin were a dogmatic leader, he would have included anti-Semitism in his public ideology. Anti-Semitism was introduced as official Soviet state ideology during Stalin's reign in the late 1930s. Jews were barred from high positions in virtually all spheres. In the media, literature and films, they were almost never shown in a positive light.

The open propaganda against Jews ran counter to Lenin's heritage and internationalism. For this reason, the Soviet authorities replaced the term "Jews" with "Zionists." Since Zionism was a "legitimate" enemy of socialism, it was easy to carry out an anti-Semitic campaign under the guise of the fight against this movement. Soviet propaganda tended to describe Zionism as a greater evil than the United States, suggesting that U.S. imperialism was merely a tool used by the Jews to conquer the world. The anti-Zionist campaign continued until the last days of the Soviet Union.

Traditional anti-Semitism, honed by Stalin over many years, was seen by his successors as a fundamental element of the Russian psyche. In Nikita Khrushchev's four-volume memoir, "Time, People, Power," he wrote a lot about Stalin's anti-Semitism. He did not, however, risk even indirectly mentioning Stalin's anti-Semitic policy in his public reports to the Party congresses in 1956 and 1961, when he harshly denounced his former boss.

The same was true about Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev. From the beginning of glasnost to the end of his rule, he was almost never critical of his predecessors' state policy toward Jews. Gorbachev continued to keep his distance from any involvement in the "Jewish question" and did not appoint Jews to any significant position in his administration, continuing the old Party tradition.

When Putin came to power and declared his affinity for certain elements of the Soviet empire and traditions, it was only natural to expect a gradual restoration of state anti-Semitism. During the Soviet period, there was a strong link between anti-Americanism and anti-Semitism, and Putin started his harsh anti-U.S. campaign in earnest in 2005. Furthermore, Putin's professional background strengthened the pessimistic expectations about the revival of a state anti-Semitic policy; since the late 1930s, the KGB was indeed a bastion of anti-Semitism.

But, contrary to what many expected, Putin has been very supportive of Jewish issues and concerns. Hence, his so-called Jewish anomaly. Taking into account all of Putin's publications, meetings and speeches since 2000, he has said more positive words about Jews than all the Russian leaders before him except Lenin. In his memoir, Putin did something that no other Russian or Soviet leader had done. With a high degree of warmth, he described a Jewish family that shared a communal apartment with his family in Leningrad. He talked about his Jewish wrestling coach, Anatoly Rakhlin, as a person who "probably played a crucial role in my life." In a meeting with Russia's chief rabbi in June 2007, he promised to donate a month's salary for the construction of a Jewish museum of tolerance. Speaking in Krakow on Jan. 27, 2005, in connection with the 60th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, Putin urged other nations to consider the lessons learned from the Holocaust and warned against anti-Semitism, racism and xenophobia worldwide.

What's more, he also acknowledged the existence of anti-Semitism in Russia — a statement that none of the Soviet leaders after Lenin dared to make. No Russian leader after 1945, including Gorbachev and Boris Yeltsin, even indirectly mentioned the Holocaust. Such a reference was forbidden in Soviet media. Moreover, Putin was also the first Russian leader to visit Israel.

Anti-Semitism in Russia today is lower than it has been in the past seven decades. Jews in Russia are much less inclined to hide their ethnic origin or their interest in Jewish culture and religion. Although Jews in Russia continue to feel some hostility, the government has never treated Jews as well as they treat them today. In fact, state anti-Semitism — as opposed to popular anti-Semitism — has almost completely disappeared from the political scene. Jews or so-called half Jews hold a large number of prominent positions in the state apparatus, including the government and leading state corporations.

To be fair, however, Putin has not fully risen to the level of a Western leader on the Jewish question with regard to one issue: Unlike Western leaders, he did not openly take a position against the two most outspoken anti-Semites of our time when he met them — Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad and Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

In the end, Putin's refusal to incorporate anti-Semitism into his domestic and foreign policy reveals his inordinate flexibility as a politician, despite his poor record on democracy and human rights and as supporter of several heinous regimes in the world.

At the same time, however, we can only speculate about Putin's motivation on this Jewish issue. Putin's foreign policy combines deep hostility toward the West with a willingness to maintain a bridge with the United States and the European Union. His positive attitude toward Jews represents another part of his dualism. By maintaining the image of a civilized ruler, Putin enhances his connection with the West and keeps many opportunities open for his future career.

If, however, the danger to Putin's elites from Russian nationalists increases, Putin could very well play the Jewish card. In this case, the Kremlin, without any compunction, could deprive its opponents of their powerful weapon, anti-Semitism, and resort to moving the regime even closer to that of Stalin. In any case, the West is dealing with a very flexible and pragmatic Russian leader.

Vladimir Shlapentokh is professor of sociology at Michigan State University.

http://www.sptimes.ru/index.php?action_ ... y_id=25019

Keep in mind:

Russian Deputy (Medvedev) Talks Up Legislation With Jewish Community Officials (Lazar of KKK-like Chabad-Lubavitch)

h ttp://www.chabad.org/news/article_cdo/a ... Deputy.htm

Dmitry Medvedev, President Putin's Favored Successor, Makes Hanukkah Visit to Moscow Jewish Center

h ttp://www.fjc.ru/news/newsArticle.asp?AID=608642

Vladimir Putin lights Menorah

h ttp://apple770.blogspot.com/2007/12/vla ... norah.html

Lazar Praises Russian Security Services

h ttp://www.chabad.info/index_old.php?&ur ... n&id=10571

First Rabbi of the Russian Army

h ttp://www.chabad.org/news/photo_cdo/aid ... n-Army.htm


--------
This guy has a lot of positive things to say about Putin's approach:
http://www.realjewnews.com/?p=198
---------

Some more stuff to chew on over:

Rumors that Putin's successor is Jewish has community worried

By Anshel Pfeffer, Haaretz Correspondent


MOSCOW - The Jewish community of Russia is worried over a rumor campaign by nationalist parties claiming that Dmitri Medvedev, President Vladimir Putin's handpicked successor, is Jewish.

Russian Jewish leaders declined to comment on the rumors officially, fearing to lend them credibility. Off the record, however, one said: "I pray it isn't true, because it would only make trouble, for him and for us."

Medvedev, who recently told a Russian weekly that he was baptized into the Russian Orthodox Church at age 23, has not commented on these rumors. But Russian Internet sites are full of reports about his alleged Jewish roots.


The rumors are based in part on the fact that his maternal grandfather's first name was Veniamin - similar to the Hebrew Binyamin (Benjamin) - while his family name, Shaposhnikov, is sometimes a Jewish name. But beyond that, accusing an electoral rival of being Jewish is a tactic that nationalist parties have employed in the past, both in Russia and in other former communist countries.

Nikolai Bondarik, who heads the St. Petersburg branch of the nationalist Russian Party, told the Moscow Times on Wednesday "we are categorically against him Medvedev because he is an ethnic Jew and does not conceal his sympathies toward Judaism." He also charged that with Medvedev in power, foreigners and Jews would plunder Russia's natural resources; "tens of thousands" of Israelis would be given key positions in bodies such as "the police, army, and secret services"; and Russia's relations with the Arab world would be destroyed.

The Russian Party, which is considered anti-Semitic, is not running in the March 2 presidential election. Due to both Putin's backing and the disqualification of several opposition candidates, Medvedev's victory in the balloting is virtually certain.

Medvedev visited the Jewish Community center in Moscow during the Hanukkah holiday in December, just three days before Putin anointed him as his preferred successor. Thus all the television reports of the new heir presumptive included shots of him surrounded by leaders of the Jewish community, with Hanukkah candles and a Torah in the background.

Jewish community leaders said that Medvedev's visit and the good will he radiated during it encouraged them to hope that his presidency will be good for the community. "Medvedev will be wonderful for the Jews," just as Putin was, declared Israeli-Russian businessman Lev Leviev, who heads the Federation of Jewish Communities of Russia.

Yet off the record, several said they feared this good will could create a backlash that would strengthen anti-Semitic currents in Russia.

Asked about Medvedev's alleged Judaism, they declined comment, beyond noting that he identifies himself as a Russian Orthodox Christian.

"The irony," said one, "is that we're doing everything possible to bring Jews back to Judaism, but in this particular case, with the next president, it would be better for the Jewish community if he did not identity himself as Jewish, so as not to draw fire."

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/957003.html

[LatinAmericanview]

I will tell you something that i fond rather interesting. I have never heard any by any modern leader refering to the Romanovs. Never! I find this curious. For example, I my country they still mention Anastasio  Somoza the old dictator. However, we never hear about the Romanovs. We never hear about how great life was before the communists. We never hear about the great culture create by this regime. I wonder why that is the case?

[CrackSmokeRepublican]

US to establish naval base in Georgia
By: Press TV on: 07.09.2008 [15:32 ] (3176 reads)

US to establish naval base in Georgia
Sun, 07 Sep 2008 11:26:05 GMT

The US is negotiating with Georgia and Turkey to establish a naval base at one of the two key Georgian ports of Batumi or Poti, reports say.

Turkey, in an attempt to avoid political tension with Russia, has not officially revealed its position regarding the plan, said Gruzya Online, a Russian-language internet site.
Russia had previously announced its intention to station its own special forces at the Georgian ports.

One of the responsibilities of US Special Forces in the region is to ensure the security of an oil pipeline passing through Georgia.
http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=68 ... =351020606

What is Russia waiting for , why not establish
by cosmo on 07.09.2008 [16:39 ]    
a base in Venezuela, Chavez wold welcome that, unless we are watching theatrics of the higher school of the Zionist NWO.

by falluja_superstar on 07.09.2008 [19:39 ]    
russia should stop playing games and provide real advanced weapons to Syria and Iran. If not, I am pretty sure the Russians are in this Illuminati charade of a West-Russia conflict designed for world war III.

@ falluja_superstar
by Invictus on 07.09.2008 [22:20 ]    
Yes, as I have said before; the question of first-rate weapons for Iran and Syria is the acid test of Russian independence.

You asked the magic question Invictus...
by Crack_Smoke_Republican on 08.09.2008 [02:36 ]    
It is a true test with no looking back.

My proposal:
by Seele on 08.09.2008 [18:01 ]    
@all

I think Russia should prepare itself for future confrontation with the west in several ways. Most important -> Deliver S-16 & SA-18 man portable AA systems and related stuff en masses to 1st Iran (appx. 2000 pieces), 2nd to Syria an additional (1500 pieces). And better now then later at least the same amount as with Iran to Venezuela ( 2000 pieces ).

Another important item which is a must delivery to all countries but especially to Syria and Iran is the RPG-29V. 6000 pieces of the upgrade version of RPG-7 to each country is an absolute must to secure Russias interests. (For the amount to deliver to Venezuela i m not sure what amount is needed). Whatever advance AA gun and rocketsystems for Iran , Syria and Venezuela are a "must do" i think. Everything else would be unwise I think. ( If it - the delivering - should be done fully open or not is of course another question).

http://iraqwar.mirror-world.ru/article/174594
----

And so it goes...

[MikeWB]

Four questions for you MikeWB:

1. Why hasn't Putin pulled the Jewish Question card  or promoted anti-semitic policies when Russia is clearly attacked by anti-Russian Jewish enemies?

It would do them no good. Look what it did to Iran & Ahmedinejad... all those detractors are again using Holocaust as the reason why Iran should be attacked. By not raising this issue, they're free to do as they please and they've taken the ace out of Zionists's pocket. Like it or not, Zionist have built a huge awareness around Holocaust through the ownership of media and Hollywood. Whole World is sympathetic to them. YOU CANNOT confront this head-on. That's downright stupid. What you need to employ is asymmetric and informational warfare. Guns and jail don't help much here. How do you think Soviet Union & communism was taken down? It was not done with guns. It was done through Samizdat. It was not done through open channels. Same informational warfare needs to be employed against Zios. Asymmetrical warfare is what wins big wars. It's time to start reading about AW!
 

2. Why hasn't Putin installed a successor that will achieve purely "Russian" long-term objectives? He stands alone for a period of time like a mayor of St. Petersburg.  But his term will end one day. What follows?

Because he is the power behind Medvedev. He will rule from shadows until he's dead or they find a successor who's as smart as him.

3. Why has he let a lot of Jewish criminals get off scot-free. He got a few but there are many many more still loose and operating criminally?

Because they hold a lot of keys to Russia's economy. Like it or not, he inherited a hornet's nest from Yeltsin and the damage was done long before he got in. They already transfered everything. He did dislodge Rothschild's protege and chased away few other ones and has started to heavily tax them. In the long run that's a good strategy. had he taken a sledge hammer & started pounding, he would have destroyed confidence in Russian economy.

4. Why didn't Russia foil the US/UK/Israeli invasion of Iraq or make it more difficult? Perhaps the whole goal here is to take Iran's oil exports off the table like Iraq's?

That's a simple one: they knew it would be a quagmire and would tie down the US for a very long time. They knew it would be as bad of a move as they made in Afghanistan. And they knew they would control the Shia factions through Iran and would be able to fund them to fight Americans. Trillions of dollars went into Iraq and war still hasn't been won and US is still tied up there and soldiers are dying. And the economy is toast. It worked out  better than they projected!

[Free Truth]

If Putin wasn't down with the script he would be dead.

Bottom line.

[MikeWB]

If Putin wasn't down with the script he would be dead.

Bottom line.

You think there'd be no reprisals??? You think that FSB & Putin's men don't have Rothschild's address and his whereabouts???

[CrackSmokeRepublican]

Can you name one, just one, country that's done more to stop and work against Zionists in the last 5 years than Russia?

4. Why didn't Russia foil the US/UK/Israeli invasion of Iraq or make it more difficult? Perhaps the whole goal here is to take Iran's oil exports off the table like Iraq's?

That's a simple one: they knew it would be a quagmire and would tie down the US for a very long time. They knew it would be as bad of a move as they made in Afghanistan. And they knew they would control the Shia factions through Iran and would be able to fund them to fight Americans. Trillions of dollars went into Iraq and war still hasn't been won and US is still tied up there and soldiers are dying. And the economy is toast. It worked out better than they projected!

But the problem is Putin didn't stop the adventures of Israel in Lebanon-Palestine.  Iraq turned out to be a military waste and financial mess true - but Israel achieved its first objectives for Greater Israel and Russia impoved its economy on the back of higher oil prices.  It is a terrible, idiotic  war for the Iraqi people and the USA but not for Israel and Russia, no? I don't see Putin making moves to stop PNAC but maybe flunky Bush-Rice in that regard. If I was Putin, I would have focused a laser on the foreheads of each of these meglomanical PNAC Jews because they launched this crap with the help of Mossad-CIA's 9/11. It was a Jew Job.  But there is nothing - he treats them like the Oligarchs.  Unless something threatens Russian borders, then it is not worth paying attention to. If Mossad-CIA are messing around then no problem, but if you setup missiles, or station a carrier at a base nearby, or sponsor a proxy war, then you are going to get a response.  Perhaps if Putin tried to take action against Mossad/IDF adventurism, he would become a target?  Maybe Israel's Georgia adventure put Israel in the enemy camp for Russia?  Putin is testing the Obama administration - showing that they will be hostile to Zwigb and others.  

IF I WAS PUTIN - I WOULD MAKE THE NEOCON-PNAC IRAQ WAR , AND THE IRAN WAR BUILD UP, AND THE GEORGIA PROXY -- PURELY AND 100% ISRAELI LIKUD AFFAIRS with DUAL LOYALIST TRAITORS IN THE USA/EUROPE  IN EVERY PUBLIC STATEMENT.  I mean, let's be honest and assign guilt were it is due.  Damn all, Putin will let your country go up in smoke as long as it doesn't affect territorial Russia.  I respect Putin, but his approach is only for Russia. He's not a champion against Jewish geo-political criminality.

[GordZilla]

Can you name one, just one, country that's done more to stop and work against Zionists in the last 5 years than Russia?

Lebanon.





Sorry was away for holidays, but it seems this debate went on just the same... good as  it's one worth having.

WB since I answered your question, I'd like to point out mine still remains;
Where did they go after the wall came down?

Answer;
NO WHERE!

Just like here, there and everywhere they are not seen but are always present behind the curtain (excuse the pun)

As for giving weapons to the Palestinians, think of it this way; right now with Palestinians only firing those cheap homemade rockets from Gaza into Israel proper the Israelis can only justify blowing up a few blocks in 'retaliation', if they used something more modern and devastating then they could take out the whole of Gaza and 'justify' it in the international court of opinion. Remember, always remember, they do not care for the people living in Israel any more than those in Palestine, the ends justify the means. Supplying the enemy is a necessary evil they must perform. They certainly, for example, couldn't justify and all out military attack on say Syria if it were full of nothing more than 'camel jockeys' firing Katyusha rockets , now could they? Same story with Iran, first convince the world that they are a real viable threat to Israel then they can 'justify' whipping her off the map too.

An enemy armed with only truth and a voice to express it with is much more a threat to them than an enemy with –and I stress – 'apparent' means to pose a threat to them. In other words, the enemy must be built up first as a real threat before Israel can readily call them such. This has been, and still is Russia's role to fill. As it was when she was a communist country, is how it is still today. America's role has always been to try to stay one step ahead of Russia in military technology and then to supply Israel with those arms. For the last 100 years these roles were played by both countries, respectively, to a 'T'. And ALWAYS under Israel's, or rather the ideology of Israel's, direction.

WB, you simply do not understand the depth of our common enemy, the incredible saturation of his reach into EVERY nation (even Lebanon and Iran). No country is immune to this, especially a country once dominated by their ideology, an ideology  you believe was magically lifted after the communist party folded (publically). With no revolution, no bloodshed, no public exposure of their crimes. If Russia was lead by Jews then and is not now, just how exactly do you think this transformation occurred? Good luck with that, I'll give you a hint; It didn't!

I often say every country has at least two things that all other countries share as well;
A bank and a Jew.


My original question needs to be addressed, for if you cannot answer it then you cannot assume that Russia is now (again magically) anti-Zionist. Now that assumption would be truly naive.
Don't be fooled by what is being played in the media as Russia supporting Israel's enemies. They may be -but for a reason, and not one that necessarily benefits the people on the ground in Israel, but one that will forever insure her 'god given' right to BRUTALLY and OVERWHELMINGLY 'retaliate' against her enemies . It insures this over-the-top retaliation will not be questioned, after all these aren't Katyushas those Arabs are firing back at Israel anymore, they have real weapons now.  Israel must remain with a perceived image of being the underdog, not the bully. For this she needs Russia's help, America cannot publically perform that role, as hers is that of the 'good guy' in this world wide game of charades. Of course, if you were Russian, you would, thru Russian (Jewish) controlled media, perceive this in the exact opposite light. But in the end, only Israel gets her wish, the one 007 enjoyed; a license to kill.

As you yourself stated before, WB, you must look at the big picture.

[CrackSmokeRepublican]

Don't be fooled by what is being played in the media as Russia supporting Israel's enemies. They may be -but for a reason, and not one that necessarily benefits the people on the ground in Israel, but one that will forever insure her 'god given' right to BRUTALLY and OVERWHELMINGLY 'retaliate' against her enemies . It insures this over-the-top retaliation will not be questioned, after all these aren't Katyushas those Arabs are firing back at Israel anymore, they have real weapons now. Israel must remain with a perceived image of being the underdog, not the bully. For this she needs Russia's help, America cannot publically perform that role, as hers is that of the 'good guy' in this world wide game of charades. Of course, if you were Russian, you would, thru Russian (Jewish) controlled media, perceive this in the exact opposite light. But in the end, only Israel gets her wish, the one 007 enjoyed; a license to kill.

------
No disrespect to any on this board, but I fully agree with Gordzilla above - well said.   Lebanon is the best answer.

I had at one time thought that Russia could lead the anti-Zionist effort and return stability like it did in Georgia, but now I think it is simply an agent to further the game for Greater Israel at least outside of its borders. And I do sometimes flip my point of view on this as more evidence is found. However, there are lines that still can't be crossed with Russia and expectations that can't be made upon the Russian government. If the US/UK/Israel attacked Iran, Syria and Lebanon - would Russia get involved? Perhaps, but with more than just providing Heavy Defensive weapons - can they make the Middle East fully M.A.D ready between Israel and all others?  Would it be a repeat of Iraq or Lebanon 2006 where Russia just watched?  Russia has made agreements with Iran for mutual protection but would it really come to her aid? I bet all of the M.E. has already second guessed Russia's support at this point - as in, "thanks but we won't count on you in the event of war". If Putin had himself surrounded by zero Jews, I might fully believe he could stop criminal Israel as an example to world and shut up the criminal Zio-Puppets in the West. With even one Jew in his administration, I simply can't trust him 100%. He reminds me of the Rothschild's J.P. Morgan.

[GordZilla]

No disrespect to any on this board, but I fully agree with Gordzilla above - well said.   Lebanon is the best answer.

Now why would it be disrespectful to agree with Gordzilla?

   :lol:

[MikeWB]

Lebanon? All it's accomplished is to destroy its infrastructure. They haven't taken an inch of Israel's territory.

As for why Russia doesn't fight Zios in Middle East... heh, do you know how much it costs to fund something like that? Russia doesn't have that kind of money.

[CrackSmokeRepublican]

Pavel Felgengauer, one of Russia's top defense analysts, believes that the relationship can be attributed to the "powerful pro-Syrian lobby in the Kremlin."[75] He points specifically to Viktor Ivanov, a confidant of Putin's who also heads Almaz-Antei, a Russian monopoly producing anti-aircraft weapons systems. If not for the personal interests and sympathies of high ranking government officials in the Kremlin, it is possible that Russia would temper its policies of arming Syria, legitimizing Hamas and Hizballah, and sharing nuclear technologies with dangerous Islamist clerics.

http://meria.idc.ac.il/journal/2006/iss ... no2a1.html

Actually, I think Viktor Ivanov is the Rothschild behind the Putin story...     He helped bring down some of the Oligarchs with Putin fresh in power.   Putin is a player Mike... you just don't get in those shoes without making a deal.

PUTIN AND RUSSIA'S MIDDLE EASTERN POLICY
Ilya Bourtman*

Russian President Vladimir Putin is currently pursuing a two track policy towards the Middle East, allowing Russia to develop friendly ties with Israel while simultaneously nurturing alternative, sometimes competing, interests with Arab countries. This non-ideological policy has allowed Russia to reclaim a part of the economic and strategic leverage it lost following the collapse of the Soviet Union. Thus far, Russia has successfully signed diplomatic, military, and energy deals and developed ties with both Israel and its Arab neighbors without significantly alienating one or the other. Whether Putin's embrace of Hamas in March 2006 or his continued armament of Iran will damage Russia's relations with Israel is still an open question.

Almaz-Antey -- (THEY MAKE THE S-400s?)

OJSC "Concern PVO "Almaz-Antey" (Russian: ОАО «Концерн ПВО «Алмаз – Антей») is a Russian joint undertaking, a result of a merger of Antey Corporation and NPO Almaz, unifying some of the national military enterprises, in particular, the developers of anti-aircraft defence systems (PVO in Russian). The organisation is headquartered in Moscow.

Founded in 2002 by the Decree of the Russian President.

In 2003 the Director General of the Concern, Igor Klimov was shot dead. Criminal investigation founded that it was linked to a property revision inside the company.

The current Board is headed by Viktor Ivanov, Director General; Vladislav Menshikov, Chief Designer; and Anatoly Savin.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Almaz-Antey


Viktor Petrovich Ivanov (Russian: Виктор Петрович Иванов, born May 12, 1950, Novgorod, Soviet Union) is a Russian politician and businessman, former KGB officer, who served in the KGB Directorate of Leningrad and its successors in 1977–1994.

In 1987–1988 as a KGB officer he took part in the Soviet war in Afghanistan.

In December 1990 together with Boris Gryzlov and Valentin Chuykin he founded the small-scale enterprise Blok engaged in various businesses and became its director.

In October 1994 he resigned from FSK and was appointed Chief of the Administrative Staff of the Saint Petersburg Mayor Office. In 1999 he succeeded Nikolai Patrushev as the Head of the Internal Security Department of Russia's FSB. Since January 5, 2000, he has been a Deputy Head of the Presidential Staff for personnel appointed by Vladimir Putin. Viktor Ivanov is considered one of Putin's closest allies.

In September 2001 Russia's Prime Minister appointed Ivanov representative of the state in the Boards of Directors of the Antey Corporation and Almaz Scientific Industrial Corporation, developing and producing air defence systems, including S-300. On November 22, 2001, he was elected Chairman of the Board of Directors of Almaz and initiated the merger of Almaz and Antey. Since June 2002 Ivanov has been the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the result of the merger, OJSC Almaz-Antey Air Defense Concern.

Since November 4, 2004, he has also been the Chairman of the Board of Directors of JSC Aeroflot airline.

[CrackSmokeRepublican]

A senior adviser to Yukos fingered two top administrators on Russian President Vladimir Putin´s staff who, some believe, instigated the Yukos investigation. Viktor Ivanov, deputy head of presidential administration, and Igor Sechin, head of Putin´s secretariat, are "hardened anti-Semites," the source told JTA. "There is clearly an anti-Semitic trace in this situation," said Alexander Osovtsov, project director at the Open Russia foundation, a public organization funded by Yukos. "This is evident in the actions of those who stand behind the campaign and of those who serve as its direct executors." The government has remained relatively silent on the matter. Putin distanced himself from the situation around Yukos and tiptoed around several opportunities to comment on the case — while stressing that "we need to punish economic violations." Osovtsov, former executive vice president of the Russian Jewish Congress, said he saw many parallels between this case and the situation around Goussinsky, who was president of the Russian Jewish Congress when legal proceedings were launched against him. The same team of prosecutors accused Goussinsky of financial wrongdoing and effectively forced him into exile four years ago. While the reasons behind the current attack are unclear, many analysts say the case has little to do with the rule of law, but rather is an attempt by Russian security services and some members of Putin´s administration to redistribute property — either to another individual or to a member of the government. "The actions of law enforcers in the economy have often gone beyond the framework of the law recently, and in essence are being based on political expediency," said a carefully worded draft of a letter from the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs, a lobbying group for big business, that was handed to Putin recently.

Some observers say Khodorkovsky, who often is credited with creating one of the most transparent business empires in Russia, may have aroused the Kremlin´s ire when he indicated that he might leave business for politics in a few years. Named as the richest Russian by Forbes magazine, Khodorkovsky, 41, also recently publicized the list of political parties whose candidates he would support in December elections for Parliament. The list did not include the pro-Kremlin United Russia Party. Gazeta.ru, a Web site that focuses on politics, has written that the Kremlin believes Khodorkovsky violated an unwritten agreement that Putin struck with top business magnates when he came to power in 2000. Under that agreement, the Kremlin would not look into the legitimacy of capital accumulations if the most powerful business owners, referred to as oligarchs, renounced aspirations to political power. Instead, the Web site argued, Khodorkovsky began financing several political parties, which could give him influence over as many as half the deputies in the new Duma, the Russian Parliament´s lower house. One Jewish leader, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told JTA that "there is definitely a Jewish angle to this story. It´s part of election politics." Those who fear that the case involves anti-Semitism say it might help Putin and his supporters if the public sees it as a Kremlin attempt to get rid of some of the new Jewish rich, who hardly enjoy public sympathy. But not all Jewish leaders agree that the Jewish backgrounds of Khodorkovsky and Nevzlin, who is known as one of the most generous domestic donors to Russian Jewish causes, play any role in the case. Nikolai Propirniy, editor in chief of the Jewish News, said his weekly publication was not going to write about the case. "Since Khodorkovsky and Nevzlin were summoned to the prosecutor´s office not as Jewish leaders but as business leaders, this situation has nothing to do with the Jewish community," Propirniy said. However, another prominent Russian Jewish leader, who spoke to JTA on condition of anonymity, said the situation could lead to serious difficulties for some of the leading Russian Jewish groups that have established close ties with big business and government. "This is not directly a Jewish issue," the leader said. "But indirectly it has great ramifications for the Jewish community. It will put those Jewish groups that are close to the government and to any of the oligarchs into a very difficult position." At least one U.S. Jewish leader responded to speculations about anti-Semitism in the case, JTA has learned. On July 10, Abraham Foxman, national director of the Anti-Defamation League, met in New York with Russia´s ambassador to the United Nations, Sergey Lavrov, to express his apprehension that anti-Semitism may play a role in the Yukos case. The Russian envoy reportedly promised to report these concerns to Moscow.

http://jta.org/news/article/2003/07/21/ ... investigat

[Canard]

LOLOLOLOL  :mrgreen:

[CrackSmokeRepublican]

I found out some new info from this radio interview with Dr. Matthew Raphael Johnson by Peter Schaenk. THIS IS A GREAT INTEVIEW!

THIS HAS HELPED ME SEE A LOT MORE INTO THIS QUESTION.  

http://reasonradionetwork.com/_archive/PS_20090211.mp3

http://reasonradionetwork.com/?p=1070

http://rusjournal.com/

Peter Schaenk interviews Matthew Raphael Johnson - Wed., Feb. 11

February 7, 2009 · Print This Article
About the show

VoR radio host Peter Schaenk interviews Dr. Matthew Raphael Johnson, an editor at the Barnes Review and American Free Press. Peter and Matt discuss such topics as the Russian mafia and some of its prominent figures, the techniques necessary to create an effective revolutionary political movement, Russia as the best hope to defeat the Globalists, the events & effects of the 2008 South Ossetia war, and Matthew's affiliation with the Russian Orthodox Church.
About Matthew Raphael Johnson

Matthew Raphael Johnson symbol
Matt is originally from Union County, New Jersey. He took his master's degree from the University of Missouri, writing his thesis on social alienation in the works of Hegel and Nietzsche. He went on to complete his PhD at the University of Nebraska, writing his dissertation on Michael Oakeshott's critique of modernity. His first job out of college was working with the Barnes Review. He has recently left his job teaching history at Mt. St. Mary's University in Emmetsville, MD and is now an independent writer and priest of the Russian Orthodox Church.

Matt has written numerous articles, which can be found on his Web site, http://rusjournal.com. He is also author of several books, including: Lectures on Medieval Russia, Ethnicity, State, and Utopia, The Manifestation of Holiness, Selected Essays on Russian Literature, and The Third Rome: Holy Russia, Tsarism, and Orthodoxy.

[scooby]

As'ad AbuKhalil, Angry Arab and Lebanese-born professor who teaches in California, wasn't terribly impressed with this donation:

http://angryarab.blogspot.com/2008/12/g ... otato.html

"Officials said the State Department has contacted the Lebanese Foreign Ministry for clarification of Lebanon's decision to procure the MiG-29 fighter-jet from Moscow. They said the procurement would escalate regional tension, particularly with Lebanon's southern neighbor, Israel." Oh, yes. US is worried. Lebanon acquired 10 used fighter jets from Russia, and they will be delivered without their missiles. It will take around 5 years before they become operational. 10 Lebanese fighter jets pose a great threats to the Israeli 600 fighter jets. The Middle East military balance is tipped once again thanks to another useless trip by the useless (and corrupt) Lebanese Minister of Defense. Ilyas Al-Murr and Michel Al-Murr are part of one the most corrupt families in Lebanon. They represented Israel when Israeli invaded Lebanon, and then represented Syria after 1985. In 1998, after Salim Al-Huss formed his cabinet on an anti-corruption platform, I asked him: how can you fight corruption when you have Michel Al-Murr as a minister. He said: I did not pick him. I said: who did? He said: "Regional powers." I said: why would you agree to Syrian pressures? He said: please change the subject and don't ask me about Syria.

[Chargeemquick]

If Russia is not under the Jew`s complete control,then why is the Russian central bank still issuing Rothschild debt-notes/lavatory paper?

[CrackSmokeRepublican]

Pretty Interesting interview with Matt Johnson... Russia is a head spinner:

------
The Orthodox Medievalist: Obama in Russia

July 9, 2009 · Print This Article

Matt Johnson discusses Obama's trip to Russia, the New World Order, and related topics:

    * Obama seems to reject American hegemony over the world
    * Obama calls for a world order based on "soverignty"
    * Medvedev calls for independent Palestine under Russian protection
    * Why Russia is the center of the world and the chief warrior against the NWO
    * Israel's reponse to Medvedev

11 MB / 32 kbps mono / 0 hour 50 min.


http://reasonradionetwork.com/_archive/MRJ_20090709.mp3

[scorpio]

How about the IMF, aren't they also under their umbrella?
Did all the Jews in Power suddenly drop everything and leave Russia after the Cold War?
Seriously, think about it.

Exactly! Just because they don't call it communism doesn't mean that the same Jews aren't in power now.

Communism was just a means to the end: Total Jewish Control.

Don't believe me? Find a copy of World Hoax by Ernest Elmhurst. It was published in the 30's and he lays out exactly what happened in communist Russia - All very well documented.
The BIG Jews always play both sides of every war.


Map of Eretz Israel

 The hardcore zionnazi's wet dream: Restoring Israel to its biblical boarders.
As this map shows, Lebanon is all within the boarders of Eretz Israel.

Remember that's their land! How do we know? Because they told us so!! :lol:

Scorpio11

[MikeWB]

scorpio, your writing style... with all those italics and underlines and bold text makes it hard to read. Sorry I really tried but gave up after a single paragraph.

[scorpio]

scorpio, your writing style... with all those italics and underlines and bold text makes it hard to read. Sorry I really tried but gave up after a single paragraph.

Yes Master....Your writing style is perfect....I'm Sorry master....

Let me make it real simple for you mikewb: The big Jews play both sides of every war. You think this is somehow different? :lol:

Scorpio11

[CrackSmokeRepublican]

The Plot thickens...

-------
Russia and Iran Join Hands

http://informationclearinghouse.info/article23146.htm
By Kaveh L Afrasiabi

July 28, 2009 "Asia Times" — The United States may think of Russia as a strategic partner when it comes to Iran. In reality, the geostrategic tensions between Washington and Moscow are still powerful enough to warrant a common approach by Russia and its eastern neighbor Iran with respect to a deterrent strategy towards the intrusive Western superpower.

This week, a small but significant clue is on full display with joint Russia-Iran military exercises in the Caspian Sea involving some 30 vessels. This is partially disguised by a benign environmental cause.

The maneuver, dubbed "Regional Collaboration for a Secure and Clean Caspian", combines security and maritime objectives in the Caspian Sea, the world's largest lake and also a main energy hub that is now the scene of competing alternatives for energy transfer. It signals a new trend in Iran-Russia military cooperation that will most likely increase in the near and intermediate future in light of Iran's observer status at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. The continuing standoff over Iran's nuclear program should affect this warming of relations.

Iran's willingness to join this exercise represents a complete about-face from seven years ago. In May 2002, Tehran reacted sharply to a Russian military exercise in the Caspian - held in the aftermath of a failed summit on the issue - by refusing to even send a military observer to the maneuver.

Despite all the ups and downs of Iran-Russia relations since then, the weight of geopolitical and geo-economic considerations on both countries has increasingly switched towards greater cooperation, much to the chagrin of Washington, which is keen on isolating "nuclearizing Iran".

At a time when Russia feels undermined by US-backed pipeline projects in the region, as well as dismayed by the absence of any compromise by the Barack Obama administration on its planned installation of an anti-missile shield in Eastern Europe, Moscow's intention to upgrade its military connections with Tehran is calculated. The signal to Washington is that Russia does not tolerate any direct or indirect "regime change" scenario with respect to Iran, a major pillar of anti-US sentiment in the region.

The two-day military exercises are being closely watched by the region's other littoral states - Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan - as well as neighboring states in the Caucasus and Central Asia, some of which are aligned with the West and are wary of a new level of Russia-Iran military ties.

Should Russia make good on its promise to put into operation the much-delayed Bushehr power plant that it is building in Iran, a good deal of present Iranian misgivings about Russia will disappear. After all, Russia is Iran's sole nuclear partner and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev openly rebuffed Obama's attempt, in his recent Moscow visit, to link a new arms limitation treaty with the issue of new sanctions on Iran.

Not surprisingly, on the eve of the Russia-Iran military exercise, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton expressed the US's toughening approach toward Iran, by stating categorically that the US was opposed to Iran's possession of a "full enrichment" program, even though this is allowed under the articles of the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty to which Iran is a signatory. Clinton's statement on Sunday is in sharp contrast with Obama's statement during his tour of Prague, when he hinted that the US was willing to accept Iran's enrichment program as long as it was fully monitored by the United Nations' atomic watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency.

A widening gap between Moscow and Washington over Iran is indisputable and will likely impact the Obama administration's plans for tough new sanctions later this year. Tehran has already been slapped with several rounds of UN sanctions, as well as those imposed unilaterally by the US over its nuclear program.

United States Defense Secretary Robert Gates, visiting Israel this week, told his hosts that he would remain "hopeful" about the administration's engagement with Iran for the next few months, hinting about an emerging deadline for the "engagement" that has unnerved Israel and some moderate Arab states as well.

Compared with the hypothetical US-Iran engagement, relations between Russia and Iran are progressing toward a honeymoon born of geostrategic considerations. The joint maneuver in the Caspian may prove a starting point for more comprehensive military collaboration between the Russian and Iranian navies, particularly if Moscow sets aside its previous refusal to allow new Iranian naval vessels to enter the Caspian through the Volga channel.

Russia's Caspian neighbors - above all Azerbaijan - may not like it, given the dispute between Tehran and Baku over a Caspian oil field. Still, the imperative of closer Russia-Iran cooperation to fend off Western influence dictates the need to beef up Iran's naval presence in the Caspian.

An important question deals with the possible ramifications of closer Russia-Iran military cooperation on the stalemate over the ownership of the Caspian Sea. Most of the Caspian is already portioned out by bilateral and trilateral agreements, involving Russia, Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan. Iran remains unhappy over Russia's lack of cooperation on this matter. This has been somewhat compensated by both countries agreeing on the common use of Caspian surface water, going back to the 1921 Iran-Russia friendship agreement. The earlier pact is the legal foundation for today's naval cooperation between the two countries.

Meanwhile, the predominant sentiment in Iran is that Moscow must make some concessions to Iran on the thorny issue of the Caspian's legal authority in order to gain Tehran's full confidence. Even Iranian officials in charge of Caspian affairs are unclear about what exactly Russia can do about a situation that is partially controlled by the other Caspian littoral states.

Blaming Russia for the stalemate over Caspian legal rights is a favorite pastime of some of Iran's reformists, who despise Moscow's early embrace of President Mahmud Ahmadinejad after the June 12 presidential elections. Such criticisms must be tempered by a cold calculation of Russia's limits of influence on the other Caspian states which have carved up the inland sea among themselves.

Another question raised by the maneuvers pertains to the Persian Gulf, considered a de facto "American lake", where France has entered the scene via a deal with the United Arab Emirates for a permanent military base. Iran's weak response to France's arrival, inexcusable by Iran's foreign policy standards, may be balanced by similar Iran-Russia military exercise in the Persian Gulf.

As such, the Caspian joint maneuver may well turn out to be the harbinger of a broader agenda that includes the concept of a gas cartel.



Kaveh L Afrasiabi, PhD, is the author of After Khomeini: New Directions in Iran's Foreign Policy (Westview Press) . For his Wikipedia entry, click here. His latest book, Reading In Iran Foreign Policy After September 11 (BookSurge Publishing , October 23, 2008) is now available.