SOURCE


My opinion:
This isn't anything new in the middle east game, considering how many Afghans we armed to throw back Russia. But it does seem like Russia is rolling back the clock by doing this. For a country that pays lip service to wanting a better relationship with the US for economic reasons, actively arming Iraq seems out of character.

The article did seem to make the distinction that it is a couple of Russian companies rather than a Russian government backed operation, although it is hard, at least for me, to sell that distinction. The lack of response from the Russian government sounds like the hardliner, nose thumbing tactics of the cold war.

Just another example of how hypocritical this invasion is.

Hypothetically, Iraq could do some bad stuff. So, we leveled them.

Russia, not hypothetically, is a key supplier of the really, really bad stuff. Disarming them would actually make the world safer. Unfortunately, they can fight back.

How can you not make a distinction between Russian companies and the government? The Russian state has been in a period of stable collapse for over a decade. The government may not actually be in a position to reign in corporations that operate.

Then again, I can't see them rushing to do the U.S. any favours while the U.S. is running spy-planes across their borders.

gandalfh

Are you serious? The Russian state has almost zero control over its many internal interests. Did you know that the Chechnyans actually buy their weapons and ammunition from the Russian soldiers they are supposed to be fighting against?

The Chechnyans can do this because the Russian army, like the Russian state in general is so badly funded that many state workers and soldiers have not been paid for months.

Vladimir Putin and his inner cabinet may be behind the USA, but even some of his own people are busy making major cash in illegal weapons deals.

Interesting stuff about Chechnya, Moif.

Under those circumstances I'm not sure there's much you can really say against the Russian government, outside perhaps their handling of the situation and those companies engaging in the weapons sales. Clearly, though, if they can't stop the internal sale of arms to groups they are currently engaged with, they can hardly be expected to stop the sale of arms to outside nations, such as Iraq, which they are not engaged with.

One thing that got me when I read the article covering this in my local paper was a quote from an allegedly high U.S. official stating, "This is a disregard for human life. It sickens my stomach." I'm not sure how officials can say this while simultaneously waging a war utilizing almost the very same weapons and also selling such weapons to more questionable regimes that don't currently pose any threat to American interests. Just as violent and oppressive regimes are only "rogue" and "evil" when they threaten our interests, the tools and trade of war are only such when directed at our soldiers... as though there is something to separate us from them in regards to "human life."

Er - let's not forget, also not hypothetically, that the US is also a key supplier of the really, really bad stuff. A joke I've heard fairly often recently:

Q: How do we know that Iraq has weapons of mass destruction?
A: We kept the receipts.

Moif,

If Russia can't control those companies, they should say so, instead of saying "No we didn't." Do you have a source about the "enemy" buying weapons from Russian Army? I would be interested in reading that.

UJ,



It all depends on if the Russian government is in a position to reign those companies in. You left your point up in the air to go either way. Are they doing it to make sure we have heavier casulaties? Or are they just completely ineffective at policing their own private companies? Considering all the angst they have over Iraq, it certainly seems likely that they might want to inflict max casualties.

DaytonRocker,

That seems to be a self evident truth. Most of us aren't big on the whole nuclear winter thing that comes along with a war with Russia. Whereas with Iraq we can prevent a new, more dangerous, Russia from rising. Sign me up. So, do you have some information or comment that is relevant to the topic "Why are the Russians STILL arming Iraq?"

Touche...you are exactly correct.



Awwww..I'm getting scolded. How touching...

But, to answer your question, no. Just ignore my comments above of how Russia is a key supplier of the really bad stuff. Meaning, they just might have more than one customer to earn the title "key". It's just possible they could be still selling crap to Iraq the same reason they sell the it to everybody else in the world. I could use crayons and stick figures if you'd like...

I think the american governement should go do a blockade in international waters along the iraqi coast as well. Since america will soon march into Baghdad. Also freeze all assests of the russian military and expell their diplomatic people as well. I dont want to destroy relationshsips with the governement of Russia, but if its supplying IRAQ with weapons of destruction. This will be a feasable measure

I don't have a link but I've listened to Congressman Curt Weldon talk about it often. He's been to Russia more than 20 times and is widely regarded as an expert on that country. He's also highly regarded by the Russians themselves.

He explains that when the USSR broke up, the Soviet generals were left out in the cold, but they also kept control over many of the weapons. They then sold those weapons to the Chechyans. The Chechyans then either used them or sold them on the black market. Included in the weaponry were 'suitcase bombs', which are 'dirty bombs'. Weldon brings a silver briefcase to his talks to demonstrate. Apparently, a fair number of these bombs are unaccounted for by the Russians and are feared to have made their way into terrorist hands.

gandalfh



They should indeed, but how often to nations openly admit to their failings?

I can't provide you with a link I'm afraid since I learned of these things from television. A German documentary crew filmed a deal in Chechnya where the rebels bought several shoulder borne anti aircraft missiles (similar to Stingers) from Russian soldiers.

When the German journalist asked the Chechnyan rebel commander how much stuff he'd bought, the rebel laughed and pointed at his men. Apparently they were all armed in this manner. When he was asked who paid for the weapons the Chechnyan answered, Saudi Arabia.

Whether or not this is true, I don't know, but there is an organisation in Saudi Arabia called the al-Haramein Islamic Foundation which has been linked by the USA to many different terrorist interests.

Several weeks after I saw the documentary a Russian transport helicopter carrying something like 140 Russian soldiers was brought down by just such a rocket.

SOURCE

I found an interesting followup on bbc, below is an excerpt from the article, the context of the text is a brochure from the Russian company that sells the GPS jammer.