Apropos Russia’s abysmal record in economic competitiveness from the post below, the always-interesting Moscow News is reporting this from another Russan publication, Kommersant – Russia in a Hurry to Sell Weapons to Iran.
Moscow “has stepped up military-technological cooperation with Tehran,” the business daily said, citing an unidentified source.
It said top officials within Russia’s military-industrial complex decided to concentrate on arms sales to Tehran for two reasons.
“Firstly, as many weapons as possible must be sold to Iran before an international embargo against this country comes into force.”
Secondly, should the United States decide to go to war in Iran, Russia wants Iran to be well-armed to ensure that U.S. forces become at least as bogged down there as they already are in Iraq, the daily said.
“In either case, such a policy carries a high risk of creating a major international scandal, at the very least,” the newspaper commented.
Desperation, greed and stupidity have ruled Russia since the tsars. Why should it change now?
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6 Comments
1. PacRim Jim:Russian weapons? Wait six hours until the rust before attacking. No matter how much Iran were to arm, it would be ill prepared to face an integrated assault. Just bigger booms.
Sep 29, 2005 - 11:02 am 2. thibaud:This should not shock anyone. First, it’s not at all clear that any nation occupying Russia’s geopolitical position would welcome the extraordinary increase in US influence and military presence all across Russia’s multiple backyards.
The US and NATO now has or is preparing relatively new forward deployments in (starting from the west and moving east)
–Poland
–Romania
–Bulgaria
–Georgia
–Iraq
–Afghanistan
–Uzbekistan
If China were to one day develop forward deployments in, say, not just Venezuela but also Cuba, Colombia (soon to be formerly Russian) Kamchatka, and Indonesia, I daresay our military establishment would be a mite alarmed and seeking ways to kick back.
And get kickbacks. Remember, Putin’s barely in charge. When you talk about weapons sales from Russia, you’re referring to sales by dozens of groups that are, in effect, quasi-privatized, entrepreneurial concerns run by all kinds of military, foreign ministry and FSB (ex-KGB) characters operating without much central control. Of course Putin gets his cut, but I think it’s likely that he’s little more than a puppet. No Russian president today can really rein in the criminalized Russian state and its security services.
I’d peg the chances of Russia taking our side vs the mullahs at less than 10%. Not being cynical, just assessing the situation honestly and realistically.
Sep 29, 2005 - 12:11 pm 3. richard mcenroe:Russian weapons? We should insist they buy some before we invade…
Sep 29, 2005 - 5:39 pm 4. exmaple:What does Russia have that anyone will buy?
1. Weapons.
2. Nuclear technology.
3. Oil.
4. Vodka.
Nos. 3 & 4 Iran unlikely to buy.
It’s about the money.
There could be bribery too. On Saddam’s Oil Coupon list were several Russian parties and politicians. Iran likely bribing the Russians the same.
Sep 29, 2005 - 5:57 pm 5. Anthony (Los Angeles):I don’t know why anyone should be surprised the Russians are selling weapons to the Persian Nazis. After all, how else are they going to replace the bribes Saddam used to give them?
Sep 29, 2005 - 7:57 pm 6. dougf:Russian weapons? We should insist they buy some before we invade…–Richard Mc.
Both funny and true.
Frankly the best thing that could happen is if Iran spends all its OIL money on Russian junk. The weapons would be of marginal use in any conceivable combat situation and the diversion of resources from useful economic development would further weaken the kleptocracy there.
It’s not Russian weapons that that are the problem in Iran. It’s the lunatics in charge and their support of terror.
As for Russia — it’s a lost cause. A 2nd rate has-been rapidly regressing to a 3rd world criminal state. It’s BAD news, and it has LOTS of nukes. Right now it runs on its Oil exports, but without those, it is a basket case in training.
Sep 29, 2005 - 8:37 pm