The Rise of the Russian Empire: Russo-Armenian Relations

[skhara]

Re: The Rise of the Russian Empire: Russo-Armenian Relations

Russia should treat this US missile shield exactly the way the US handled the missiles in Cuba.

There is no sea to blockade.

[Armenian]

Re: The Rise of the Russian Empire: Russo-Armenian Relations

There is no sea to blockade.

Figuratively speaking Skhara, figuratively.

Moscow can at the very least threaten to bomb the sites that it claims poses a security risk to the Russian Federation, as any self-respecting American government would have done if such a thing was to happen close to American borders. Moscow should also set up bases in Venezuela. Perhaps they can place some radars and missiles on the Cuba island as well. And why not set up bases in Serbia. There are many options for Moscow to take. However, none of them are easy, for the world is essentially administered by the West. And lets not loose sight of the fact that Russia is still recovering from the ten year looting of the country and their armed forces are, by in large, still in a dilapidated state. The Russian Federation today is on the road to self-reliance, but it's not fully there yet. Although the last several years have seen the reemergence of Russian power, it will require some more years before they fully realize their global potential.

[Armenian]

Re: The Rise of the Russian Empire: Russo-Armenian Relations

Poisoned ex-Russian spy was 'MI6 agent'



Former Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko, poisoned in a London hotel, was a British secret service agent. Litvinenko worked for MI6 and was receiving a monthly retainership fee of 2,000 pounds from the agency at the time he was murdered, the 'Daily Mail' reported on Friday, quoting intelligence sources as saying here.

According to the unnamed sources, Sir John Scarlett, now the Head of MI6 and once based in Moscow, was involved in recruiting him to the secret intelligence service. The disclosure is the latest twist in the Litvinenko affair which has plunged relations between Britain and Russia to their lowest point since the Cold War. The former Russian spy, who had defected to Britain in 2000 and was granted political asylum the following year with his wife Marina (44) and son Anatoly (12), was poisoned on November one, last year, by prime suspect Andrei Lugovoy at the Millennium Hotel in Grosvenor Square in London.

After a Scotland Yard investigation, the Crown Prosecution Service had announced earlier this year that there was sufficient evidence to charge KGB agent-turned businessman Lugovoy with "deliberate poisoning" of his former colleague who was very critical of Russian President Vladimir Putin. Subsequently, Britain had called for his extradition so he could stand trial at the Old Bailey, but the Kremlin refused the request in July. In an echo of the Cold War era, Britain then expelled four Russian diplomats from London. Days later, Moscow responded with expulsion of four Britons.

"President Putin is providing Lugovoy with his personal endorsement and backing in the eyes of the world. This indicates that Russia has something to hide and adds credence to Alexander's deathbed statement naming Putin as the instigator of his murder," Litvinenko's wife had said.

Source: http://www.hindustantimes.com/Homepage/Homepage.aspx

[skhara]

Re: The Rise of the Russian Empire: Russo-Armenian Relations

Moscow can at the very least threaten to bomb the sites that it claims poses a security risk to the Russian Federation, as any self-respecting American government would have done if such a thing was to happen close to American borders. Moscow should also set up bases in Venezuela. Perhaps they can place some radars and missiles on the Cuba island as well. And why not set up bases in Serbia. There are many options for Moscow to take. However, none of them are easy, for the world is essentially administered by the West. And lets not loose sight of the fact that Russia is still recovering from the ten year looting of the country and their armed forces are, by in large, still in a dilapidated state. The Russian Federation today is on the road to self-reliance, but it's not fully there yet. Although the last several years have seen the reemergence of Russian power, it will require some more years before they fully realize their global potential.

I'm thinking it terms of what I would do if I had any say in Russian policy. I would work diplomatically to express strong opposition to these plans. These are several years away from being installed, so before construction begins, I would try to ensure that Europeans fully comprehend the fact that Russia considers this a serious national security threat. (Basically lay the ground work). I would not threaten to bomb it directly, instead I would continue to express opposition and indicate that several options are being considered to counter the system. I am looking forward to the possibility that by the time its 50-75% complete, Russia will be in an even stronger position, and Europe has been conquered by Gazprom. In that circumstance, I would take out the installations in a careful attack and do everything possible to avoid any kind of collateral damage (don't want the Czechs and Poles many of whom are in opposition to this system to consider that an attack against them).

[Armenian]

Re: The Rise of the Russian Empire: Russo-Armenian Relations

Suicidal tendencies in Georgia continue unabated. Basing my opinion upon their actions in the region, Tbilisi seems very confident that Washington DC and Ankara will save them once the proverbial kaka hits the fan. Nevertheless, from the Baltic to the Balkans, from Caucasia to far-Asia, demarcation lines are currently being drawn by various power in preparation of an imminent global conflict.

Armenian

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Saakashvili: Georgia has no claims for Sochi, but let others have no claims for Abkhazia



Georgia does not plan to practice neutrality in its foreign policy and must increase its military capacity, Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili said speaking to graduates of the Military Academy in Tbilisi today. According to him, Georgia will have a modern, few in number, but very well equipped army, the one Georgia has never had in its history. As the Georgian leader said, Georgia is forming its Armed Forces on a new basis. Saakashvili believes that Georgia’s ill-wishers “have several key tasks”: “First, it is to get rid of the acting government, because, contrary to the government of 1921, it can give orders when necessary. The second one is to throw in an idea of neutrality to Georgia.” Saakashvili reminded that in 1920, Georgia signed such a treaty with Russia and “six months later Georgia was occupied and subjugated again.” He explained that Georgian politicians of those times did not expect help from Europe and with the treaty on neutrality were trying to “satisfying those, who wanted our subjugation.” Meanwhile, Saakashvili reminded that Georgia has no claims for Sochi. “But let nobody have claims for the territory several kilometers away from Sochi.” At the same time he emphasized that his country remains adherent to principles of democracy and good neighborhood, but it “would never make pledges that could bind it later.” Mikhail Saakashvili stressed that Russia imposed a 100-percent trade and economic embargo against Georgia. “Any other country would collapse after that, but we had 14-percent economic growth this year only,” Saakashvili said adding that the economic growth in Russia was 6-6.5%. “Georgia managed to develop better than Russia that has oil and gas, because our resource is people and freedom,” he said.

Source: http://www.regnum.ru/english/905072.html

[Armenian]

Re: The Rise of the Russian Empire: Russo-Armenian Relations

On Track for U.S. Collapse



Bush and Cheney are steering the U.S. into a collapse. Only strong public voices by influential people can prevent the coming disaster. We desperately need for men and women who are known to the public and have credibility to speak up in the critical period ahead to avoid catastrophe.

* A few weeks ago, Israel bombed a alleged nuclear facility in Syria. This is a warm-up for an attack on Iran.
* In the last few days, the U.S. unilaterally tightened sanctions on Iran. Russia and China do not support this move.
* A week ago Bush warned Iran that its attainment of nuclear arms would lead to World War III.
* Russia, which has been assisting Iran in its nuclear construction program for decades, regards Western military action against Iran as unacceptable.
* China has been arming Iran with missiles. Its relations with Iran have been improving for years.

We know that Bush and Cheney are capable of pre-emptive attack. We know that Bush will act if he believes he is right no matter what the costs are. In his distorted worldview, Iran with nuclear weapons is a scenario worth any cost to avoid. We know that Bush, Cheney, and Rice have repeatedly warned Iran of meaningful consequences if Iran arms itself with nuclear weapons. We know that their terms in office end in 15 months. These are the critical months. But it is by no means clear that the front-running candidates for office who may replace them hold substantially different views. Hillary Clinton has publicly called for sanctions against Iran and has called Iran a threat to Israel. Why may an unprovoked attack on Iran lead to WWIII and why may it lead to the collapse of the U.S.?

Imagine this scenario. The U.S. encourages Israel to bomb the Natanz nuclear facility in Iran. Russia attempts to restrain an Iranian response but fails. Iran responds in any of many ways, such as launching missiles on Israel, firing on shipping in the Straits of Hormuz, mining the Straits of Hormuz, sending troops into Iraq, or allying its military with Hezbollah and attacking Israel from Lebanon. The U.S., citing Iran’s aggressions (that will be the story), launches a full-scale attack on Iran designed to devastate the country. This attack has actually been planned by the U.S. for years. Syria is unable to maintain neutrality and quickly becomes a battleground between Iran and Israel.

The price of oil by this point has already soared to $200 a barrel. The U.S. begins to use its strategic reserve and to divert Iraqi production. Russia responds by taking steps to prevent its oil production from reaching the U.S. China responds by cutting off its support of the U.S. Treasury market. Venezuela halts oil shipments to the U.S. The first stages of WWIII are economic warfare designed to cripple the U.S. and halt its war-making capacity.

The U.S., unable to finance its deficits and fund its sovereign debt, is forced into raising interest rates drastically in order to borrow. The Fed is forced to print money. An inflationary spiral occurs. Meanwhile the high interest rates and high oil prices, not to mention the shock of a spreading conflict, drive the U.S. economy into severe decline. The U.S. attempts to raise taxes in order to fund itself, further crippling the economy. Gold soars to $1,500–$2,000 an ounce. The U.S. attempts to bolster its military forces. The draft is reinstated. The severity of the emergency allows Bush and Cheney to assume emergency powers and begin a dictatorship. Elections are postponed.

The U.S. collapses.

Unfortunately, even if this scenario does not occur, the position of the U.S. is so precarious that any number of other scenarios equally disastrous lie in wait. This house needs urgently to be put in order or it will fall, and especially if it does not terminate its imperial adventures. The very fact that Bush and Cheney (or any major U.S. political officials) gain by starting WWIII is a terrible indictment of our entire political system. Who can stop this? Who can prevent this? It will only take a few well-placed people to prevent this catastrophe. My guess is 5–20 people could sway public opinion against war or provide enough cover for Congressional dissenters to screw up their courage. Maybe even as few as 3 or 4 influential people could derail the Bush-Cheney train to disaster. They need to speak out at the right times and they must be heard. Previously mute or muted voices simply must speak out. They know who they are. They know that their silence will mean silent approval of a U.S. collapse.

Source: http://www.lewrockwell.com/rozeff/rozeff183.html

[skhara]

Re: The Rise of the Russian Empire: Russo-Armenian Relations

http://www.presstv.com/detail.aspx?id=28839&sectionid=351020101

Russia: Attacking Iran is attacking us
Sat, 27 Oct 2007 19:25:04

Iran and Russia have agreed on plans to quash Washington's relentless drive towards launching an attack on Iran.

Discussions took place during Russian President Vladimir Putin's recent visit to Tehran, according to the Asia Times.

Putin held a face-to-face meeting with Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, where the agreement was finalized.

According to a high-level diplomatic source in Tehran, the Supreme Leader and the Russian president essentially agreed that an American attack on Iran would be viewed by Moscow as an attack on Russia.

The two states are officially united in a strategic partnership, in which World War III is definitely not on the cards.

US Vice President, xxxx Cheney, who is notorious for elevating the war rhetoric against Iran at any given opportunity, is now facing an increasingly difficult challenge in fanning the flames of war.

The US president and top US officials, who often attempt to demonize Tehran as a threat to world peace, have themselves been threatening Iran with military force over the country's nuclear standoff with the West.

[Armenian]

Re: The Rise of the Russian Empire: Russo-Armenian Relations

Analysis: West Asian oil for Chinese arms



A Chinese aviation industry official says the country is introducing a new batch of military equipment to the international market. This includes an FBC2 fighter-bomber, an upgraded version of its JH7A fighter, intended for export. China is now promoting its FBC2 and J10A fighters to Iran. The J10A was officially offered on the overseas market this year, but under the name FC20. The new generation YJ6-2 and C802A anti-ship missiles are also being promoted to Middle East countries including Iran. Sudan is reportedly seeking to acquire FC1 fighters from China. As China faces an ever greater demand for energy, it is importing more crude oil from West Asian countries in recent years. It is also exerting greater political and military influence upon this region through expanded sales of military weapons. The long shadow of Chinese weapons has fallen over all six Gulf countries, and continues to do so. Iran has already become an important source of oil for China, as well as a key target market for China's arms exports.

Not only does the Iranian military have operational Chinese-made QW1 and FM80 ground-to-air missiles, they are also producing batches of the missiles within their country. Iran seems to have upgraded the QW1, or Mithaq-1, to Mithaq-2. The exterior structure of the newer missile seems to be different from the QW2 portable missiles. The FM80's Iranian name is Shahab Thaqueb. This is the first time for China to export such ground-to-air missiles to another country. As for cooperation between Iran's navy and China's missile industry, it is widely known that Iran has acquired C802 anti-ship missiles from China. Iran has also started manufacturing its own ship-to-ship and land-to-ship versions of these missiles.



China first exported 200 of the C802 missiles to Iran in 1998. They were later renamed "Noor" by Iran. During the same period of time, the Iranian Navy also imported 10 Houdong (Thondor) class missile fast attack craft, each armed with four units of C802 missiles. A second agreement on naval cooperation was finalized in 2000. According to the agreement between the two countries, Iran will eventually acquire a total of 10 "China Cat" missile fast attack craft, each of which will be fitted with 4 FL-10 serial ship-to-ship missiles produced by Hongdu Group Ltd. Iran will also build more "China Cat" missile fast attack craft indigenously. The Iranian Navy also plans to purchase LY60 ship-to-air missiles.

In addition to the above programs, the exterior and structure of a number of Iran's other advanced weapon systems seem to connect them with China. For instance, the Iranian edition SHKVAL-E heavy-duty torpedo that made its appearance in recent naval exercises has caught the attention of military observers. Only Russia, Ukraine and China have the technologies to produce this type of torpedo. Kazakhstan had the capability to assemble this torpedo during the Soviet Union years and exported 40 such torpedoes to China. A source from the Russian military industry says that they did not transfer similar production technologies to Iran.

At the same time it has been exporting large batches of arms to Iran, China has also received huge business opportunities in Iran as well as a stable oil supply. Chinese companies are not only actively involved in the construction of an underground railroad system in Tehran, but are also helping Iran to develop its oil resources. China's oil imports from the Middle East now make up as much as 40 percent of the country's total oil purchases. In the first quarter of 2006, from Iran alone China imported 377,000 barrels of oil per day. China's total imports of oil from Iran in 2005 rose to more than 14 million tons, amounting to a little over 11 percent of China's annual oil imports.



Solid military cooperation between the two countries has guaranteed a stable trade between China and Iran, which is very much immune to changes in the international situation. Iran has also agreed to supply China with 3 million tons of liquidized natural gas annually over the next 25 years, lifting the total export to 75 million tons. Bilateral trade between Iran and China has reached US$7 billion annually. Other Chinese weapon systems in operational service in the Iranian armed forces include 100 Type 59 tanks, 100 Type 54 122-mm howitzers and 24 J7M fighters. Saudi Arabia has become China's single biggest source of oil supply. Since 1980s, China has been actively promoting military weapons to this country. In 1988, China exported to Riyadh 40-50 1,700-km-ranged DF3 ground-to-ground missiles and 10 sets of towed launchers.

In 2000, observers of Middle East military affairs said that Saudi Arabia hoped China would help upgrade these missiles so as to enhance their strike accuracy. Pakistan has been promoting Al-Khalid main battle tanks to Saudi Arabia for two consecutive years. It plans to deliver the MBT directly to Riyadh for testing within this year. Last year, two Saudi ground force delegations visited Pakistan and field-tested this MBT. The Al-Khalid MBT specifically targeted at Saudi Arabia is equipped with the thermal imaging system produced by the French SAGEM Company. Saudi Arabia will need at least 150 of the tanks, totaling around US$600 million. This Al-Khalid MBT was jointly developed by Pakistan and China. An authoritative source from Islamabad says that the promotion of the K8 trainer to Saudi Arabia is what China and Pakistan feel most confident about. China and Pakistan have jointly promoted to Egypt 80 K8 trainers and have sold Egypt the production technology of the aircraft.



In 2005, bilateral trade between China and Saudi Arabia reached US$16 billion, in which China's exports to Saudi Arabia were valued at US$3.82 billion. At present, China is importing 1.9 million barrels of oil from Saudi Arabia every day. In 2005 Saudi Arabia exported to China a total of 22 million tons of oil, mainly used as China's strategic energy reserve. Oman is China's fifth largest source of oil. It exported 10 million tons of crude oil to China in 2005, approximately 8.5 percent of China's total oil imports in that year. With China's increased demand for oil, China's promotion of military weapon systems to Oman is also becoming more active. Around 2001, Chinese arms successfully penetrated the Oman market. In that year, NORINCO exported to Oman six sets of Type 90A rocket guns, and later NORINCO also promoted to the Oman Royal Guards a new batch of Type 90B rocket launchers.

Almost during the same period of time, NORINCO sold to the Oman Royal Guards around 50 WMZ551 wheeled armored vehicles, which was the first time for China to export wheeled armored vehicles to the Middle East Region. The United Arab Emirates is one of the key target markets of China's arms promotion in the Middle East region. The UAE was in fact the first country to use the Chinese made HJ8A anti-tank missiles. Around 2003, NORINCO exported to UAE one 23-mm rapid-fire gun for testing purposes. In 2005, UAE exported to China 2.5 million tons of crude oil, which made up about 2 percent of China's total oil imports. China was also one of the first countries to target Kuwait's rebuilding of its military machine. China's most successful promotion of arms to Kuwait was the deal of 27 sets of PLZ45 155-mm self-propelled guns in 2000. These self-propelled guns were delivered to Kuwait in two different batches, totaling 54. In 2005, China imported 1.6 million tons of oil from Kuwait, approximately 1.3 percent of China's total oil imports.

In 2005, Yemen exported to China 6.8 million tons of crude oil, which makes up 5.4 percent of China's total oil imports, and Yemen is China's sixth largest source of oil. In recent years, China's financial loans to Yemen and economic aid have also increased. In 1989, North Yemen purchased 6 J7 fighters from China. At present, thanks to rapid economic recovery, Yemen is expanding its navy and air force arsenals. Yemen has ordered a batch of the latest version of MiG29SMT fighters from Russia. It can be concluded that China is using arms sales and oil development as its leverage to further strengthen its relations with oil-rich countries in West Asia, and at the same time stepping up efforts to sell more arms to most of the six Gulf countries.

Source: http://www.upiasiaonline.com/people/..._chinese_arms/

[Armenian]

Re: The Rise of the Russian Empire: Russo-Armenian Relations

Give yourself a pat on the shoulder, Tavarish. What you just outlined is more-or-less what Moscow is doing currently. Your assessment skills are getting better and better, Skhara. Perhaps you could ask the Kremlin for a top-level position

I'm thinking it terms of what I would do if I had any say in Russian policy. I would work diplomatically to express strong opposition to these plans. These are several years away from being installed, so before construction begins, I would try to ensure that Europeans fully comprehend the fact that Russia considers this a serious national security threat. (Basically lay the ground work). I would not threaten to bomb it directly, instead I would continue to express opposition and indicate that several options are being considered to counter the system. I am looking forward to the possibility that by the time its 50-75% complete, Russia will be in an even stronger position, and Europe has been conquered by Gazprom. In that circumstance, I would take out the installations in a careful attack and do everything possible to avoid any kind of collateral damage (don't want the Czechs and Poles many of whom are in opposition to this system to consider that an attack against them).

[Armenian]

Re: The Rise of the Russian Empire: Russo-Armenian Relations

Russia begins large-scale military exercises in Far East



Russia began on Sunday large-scale military exercises in the Far East to practice interoperability between troops, the press office of the Far Eastern military district said. "The strategic command-and-staff military exercises to practice control of force groupings in the Eastern region, East-2007, are being held in accordance with the training plans of the Russian Armed Forces. The exercises will be held from October 28 through November 3," the press office said. The exercises will be supervised by Yuri Baluyevsky, chief of the Russian Armed Forces General Staff, and will aim to practice measures to localize internal armed conflicts, destroy illegal armed formations and terrorist groups, the press office said. In addition, the exercises are intended to study the operation of the single system of troops' logistic and technical support in the Far Eastern region, the press office said.

Source: http://en.rian.ru/russia/20071028/85709221.html