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Originally Posted by Garry
hei Bluesman, come down. I mean you need humbly ask Russians not Iranians..... there is nothing you can ask and get from Iranians... but Russians can get what they want.... if they do! Niether you nor Europeans have any leverage on Iran, only two countries really do - Russia and China. If you need their help go and ask like a man does dont't play an arrogant game cause you will get nothing then.....
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Russia will sell to anyone with money. We have no need of their products, and so there is no reason to buy stuff from them. Hence, there is very little we can offer the Russians to stop them from selling weapons to Iran.
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Unlike your statements nobody in Bush administration will even dare to dream of calling a war with Russia..... :-)
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Perhaps, but I doubt that too many in the Bush administration also want to repeat the mistakes of the past... such as allowing Russian ships to dock in Haiphong harbor unmolested, or not touching the Chinese railheads supplying the NVA with arms. If we declare Iranian territory to be a war zone, then anything in it, Russian or not, would become a potential target. Russia would not fight us over such a thing, especially as it is a fight they would
lose.
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Russia will help Iranians as much as they believe is good for their interests.... US can do nothing to Russia, except for WTO problems (which Russia cares less - oil exports are not taxed anyway).
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Untrue. Up until now, we have merely been accepting (albiet gladly) these pro-Western democratic movements that have been taking place in the Russian sphere of influence. We could begin actively supporting them in nations that still possess "pro-Moscow" regimes.
That is definately a bargaining chip. So is shipping weapons and specialists to all of those Muslim republics that still want to become free of Moscow. Not just Chechnya, but a lot of the territories in the south could easily spill over into Russia proper if given the proper equipment. You equip our enemies, we'll equip yours.
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However Russia has a lot of leverage on US. They can easily make so much troubles.... or help with some issues. It is up to Bush administration to decide what they want to sacrifice if they want Putin to help them.
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Putin has proven to be a most unreliable "friend" of the Bush administration. I doubt that we have much more to say to him regarding concessions. Don't get me wrong... I think the man is highly intelligent and definately a good thing for Russia (which needs strong leadership). However, that being said, I doubt that President Bush and President Putin have much to talk about at this point.
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You don't even have a base to send A-10 deep into Iranian territory.....
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We have all of Iraq. I guarantee you that the Kurds will assist us if it would ensure a permanent US military presence in their territory.