Author
|
Topic: Iranian Shahab 3 missiles and the New Apocalypse (Read 11093 times) |
|
Blunderov
Archon
Gender: 
Posts: 3160
Reputation: 8.30
Rate Blunderov
"We think in generalities, we live in details"
  
|
 |
Iranian Shahab 3 missiles and the New Apocalypse
« on: 2008-07-09 18:25:30 » |
 |
[Blunderov] Doubtless y'all will have been just as afflicted as I have been with repetitive images of Iranian missiles launching themselves at (what we have all become accustomed to assuming must be) innocent peace loving Israeli citizens. (It reminds me of 9/11 when Osama bin Laden flew thousands of airliners into thousands of American buildings unceasingly for almost a month at the cost of millions of precious American lives.)
AFAIK these missiles are nothing new at all. TMM what IS significant is that these missiles were launched from mobile platforms. This, too, is not exactly fresh news. But it is a whole new ball game.
It seems to have reminded Israel of her manners anyway. Sort of. Within the confines of Israel's limited understanding of the word.
http://voanews.com/english/2008-07-09-voa34.cfm
Israel Expresses Concern Over Iran Missile Test
By Jim Teeple
Jerusalem
09 July 2008
<snip>
Israeli officials are expressing concern over Iran's test firing of nine missiles on Wednesday. VOA's Jim Teeple has details from our Jerusalem bureau.
Mark Regev, a spokesman for Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, issued a statement saying "Israel has no desire for conflict with Iran, but the Iranian nuclear program and the Iranian ballistic missile program must be of grave concern to the entire international community." </snip>
[Bl.] Of course Israeli, or indeed American, missiles are of no legitimate concern to anybody in the 'entire' international community at all. Very especially not anybody who lives on top of copious quantities of hydrocarbons. Such persons or nations are, of course, not members of 'the international community' and are merely motley clusters of inconvenient niggers and such. Pretty little heads need not be bothered.
Fire at will.
|
|
|
|
|
Fritz
Adept
Gender:
Posts: 1746
Reputation: 7.93
Rate Fritz
|
|
Re:Iranian Shahab 3 missiles and the New Apocalypse
« Reply #1 on: 2008-08-11 19:00:11 » |
|
[Fritz] This was pasted to me ... for contrast to 3 missiles ....
Source: A blog hosted by the Right Honorable The Earl of Stirling
Date:Thursday, August 7, 2008
Massive US Naval Armada Heads For Iran:
Operation Brimstone ended only one week ago. This was the joint
US/UK/French naval war games in the Atlantic Ocean preparing for a naval
blockade of Iran and the likely resulting war in the Persian Gulf area.
The massive war games included a US Navy supercarrier battle group, an
US Navy expeditionary carrier battle group, a Royal Navy carrier battle
group, a French nuclear hunter-killer submarine plus a large number of
US Navy cruisers, destroyers and frigates playing the "enemy force".
The lead American ship in these war games, the USS Theodore Roosevelt
(CVN71) and its Carrier Strike Group Two (CCSG-2) are now headed towards
Iran along with the USS Ronald Reagon (CVN76) and its Carrier Strike
Group Seven (CCSG-7) coming from Japan.
They are joining two existing USN battle groups in the Gulf area: the
USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN72) with its Carrier Strike Group Nine (CCSG-9);
and the USS Peleliu (LHA-5) with its expeditionary strike group.
Likely also under way towards the Persian Gulf is the USS Iwo Jima
(LHD-7) and its expeditionary strike group, the UK Royal Navy HMS Ark
Royal (R07) carrier battle group, assorted French naval assets including
the nuclear hunter-killer submarine Amethyste and French Naval Rafale
fighter jets on-board the USS Theodore Roosevelt. These ships took part
in the just completed Operation Brimstone.
The build up of naval forces in the Gulf will be one of the largest
multi-national naval armadas since the First and Second Gulf Wars. The
intent is to create a US/EU naval blockade (which is an Act of War under
international law) around Iran (with supporting air and land elements)
to prevent the shipment of benzene and certain other refined oil
products headed to Iranian ports. Iran has limited domestic oil refining
capacity and imports 40% of its benzene. Cutting off benzene and other
key products would cripple the Iranian economy. The neo-cons are
counting on such a blockade launching a war with Iran.
The US Naval forces being assembled include the following:
Carrier Strike Group Nine
USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN72) nuclear powered supercarrier
with its Carrier Air Wing Two
Destroyer Squadron Nine:
USS Mobile Bay (CG53) guided missile cruiser
USS Russell (DDG59) guided missile destroyer
USS Momsen (DDG92) guided missile destroyer
USS Shoup (DDG86) guided missile destroyer
USS Ford (FFG54) guided missile frigate
USS Ingraham (FFG61) guided missile frigate
USS Rodney M. Davis (FFG60) guided missile frigate
USS Curts (FFG38) guided missile frigate
Plus one or more nuclear hunter-killer submarines
Peleliu Expeditionary Strike Group
USS Peleliu (LHA-5) a Tarawa-class amphibious assault carrier USS Pearl
Harbor (LSD52) assult ship USS Dubuque (LPD8) assult ship/landing dock
USS Cape St. George (CG71) guided missile cruiser USS Halsey (DDG97)
guided missile destroyer USS Benfold (DDG65) guided missile destroyer
Carrier Strike Group Two
USS Theodore Roosevelt (DVN71) nuclear powered supercarrier with its
Carrier Air Wing Eight Destroyer Squadron 22 USS Monterey (CG61) guided
missile cruiser USS Mason (DDG87) guided missile destroyer USS Nitze
(DDG94) guided missile destroyer USS Sullivans (DDG68) guided missile
destroyer
USS Springfield (SSN761) nuclear powered hunter-killer submarine
IWO ESG ~ Iwo Jima Expeditionary Strike Group
USS Iwo Jima (LHD7) amphibious assault carrier
with its Amphibious Squadron Four
and with its 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit
USS San Antonio (LPD17) assault ship
USS Velia Gulf (CG72) guided missile cruiser
USS Ramage (DDG61) guided missile destroyer
USS Carter Hall (LSD50) assault ship
USS Roosevelt (DDG80) guided missile destroyer
USS Hartfore (SSN768) nuclear powered hunter-killer submarine
Carrier Strike Group Seven
USS Ronald Reagan (CVN76) nuclear powered supercarrier
with its Carrier Air Wing 14
Destroyer Squadron 7
USS Chancellorsville (CG62) guided missile cruiser
USS Howard (DDG83) guided missile destroyer
USS Gridley (DDG101) guided missile destroyer
USS Decatur (DDG73) guided missile destroyer
USS Thach (FFG43) guided missile frigate
USNS Rainier (T-AOE-7) fast combat support ship
Also likely to join the battle armada:
UK Royal Navy HMS Ark Royal Carrier Strike Group with assorted guided
missile destroyers and frigates, nuclear hunter-killer submarines and
support ships
French Navy nuclear powered hunter-killer submarines (likely the
Amethyste and perhaps others), plus French Naval Rafale fighter jets
operating off of the USS Theodore Roosevelt as the French Carrier
Charles de Gaulle is in dry dock, and assorted surface warships
Various other US Navy warships and submarines and support ships. The
following USN ships took part (as the "enemy" forces) in Operation
Brimstone and several may join in:
USS San Jacinto (CG56) guided missile cruiser
USS Anzio (CG68) guided missile cruiser
USS Normandy (CG60) guided missile cruiser
USS Carney (DDG64) guided missile destroyer
USS Oscar Austin (DDG79) guided missile destroyer
USS Winston S. Churchill (DDG81) guided missile destroyer
USS Carr (FFG52) guided missile frigate
The USS Iwo Jima and USS Peleliu Expeditionary Strike Groups have USMC
Harrier jump jets and an assortment of assault and attack helicopters.
The Expeditionary Strike Groups have powerful USMC Expeditionary Units
with amphibious armor and ground forces trained for operating in shallow
waters and in seizures of land assets, such as Qeshm Island (a 50 mile
long island off of Bandar Abbas in the Gulf of Hormuz and headquarters
of the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps).
The large and very advanced nature of the US Naval warships is not only
directed at Iran. There is a great fear that Russia and China may oppose
the naval and air/land blockade of Iran. If Russian and perhaps Chinese
naval warships escort commercial tankers to Iran in violation of the
blockade it could be the most dangerous at-sea confrontation since the
Cuban Missile Crisis. The US and allied Navies, by front loading a Naval
blockade force with very powerful guided missile warships and strike
carriers is attempting to have a force so powerful that Russia and China
will not be tempted to mess with. This is a most serious game of
military brinkmanship with major nuclear armed powers that have profound
objections to the neo-con grand strategy and to western control of all
of the Middle East's oil supply.
The Russian Navy this spring sent a major battle fleet into the
Mediterranean headed by the modern aircraft carrier the Admiral
Kuznetsov and the flagship of its Black Sea Fleet, the Guided Missile
Heavy Cruiser Moskva. This powerful fleet has at least 11 surface ships
and unknown numbers of subs and can use the Russian naval facility at
Syria's Tartous port for resupply. The Admiral Kuznetsov carries
approximately 47 warplanes and 10 helicopters. The warplanes are mostly
the powerful Su-33, a naval version (with mid-air refueling capability)
of the Su-27 family. While the Su-33 is a very powerful warplane it
lacks the power of the stealth USAF F-22. However, the Russians insist
that they have developed a plasma based system that allows them to
stealth any aircraft and a recent incident where Russian fighters were
able to appear unannounced over a US Navy carrier battle group tends to
confirm their claims. The Su-33 can be armed with the 3M82 Moskit
sea-skimming missile (NATO code name SS-N-22 Sunburn) and the even more
powerful P-800 Oniks (also named Yakhonts; NATO code name SS-N-26 Onyx).
Both missiles are designed to kill US Navy supercarriers by getting past
the cruiser/destroyer screen and the USN point-defense Phalanx system by
using high supersonic speeds and violent end maneuvers. Russian subs
currently use the underwater rocket VA-111 Shkval (Squall), which is
fired from standard 533mm torpedo tubes and reaches a speed of 360kph
(230mph) underwater. There is no effective countermeasures to this
system and no western counterpart.
|
Where there is the necessary technical skill to move mountains, there is no need for the faith that moves mountains -anon-
|
|
|
Hermit
Archon
Posts: 4289
Reputation: 8.50
Rate Hermit
Prime example of a practically perfect person
|
|
Re:Iranian Shahab 3 missiles and the New Apocalypse
« Reply #2 on: 2008-08-13 14:00:23 » |
|
This chap is clearly not your usual blogger. Even if he has his own rich fruity flavor ("the quatrains of Nostradamus", "hell," etc.) the article you cross-posted seems to have scooped everyone on multiple fronts and this next one seems to have done it again. These two articles are strongly recommended. After careful research at Stratfor, Dekba and FAS, I think he is calling it correctly. That the US, UK and France intend to force a war with Iran and that the elements are currently being deployed. I'm not sure that Iran will use its bioweapons, but am quite sure that they have them. China and Russia may well end up in the way. Yes WW III may already have started.
Thank-you for pointing me in his direction.
Kindest Regards
Hermit
08/08/08 The Beginning of the Summer Olympics and the Third World War
Source: Blog of Lord Stirling
Authors: Lord Stirling
Dated: 2008-08-11
Labels: advanced biological warfare, Georgia war, Iran war, neo-con, Third World War, WWIII
The Olympics are what is right about the world. On this last Friday, the eighth day of the eighth month of the eighth year of the new millennium we witnessed a fantastic spectacle, a peaceful gathering of the many nations of our small blue planet; a competition of the best young athletes from all over the world. The Olympics make us proud to be humans; proud to be citizens of Earth.
Sadly on this same day, we saw what future historians will count as the day that the Third World War began. It was designed this way, by the evil people who worked hard to begin the war under the cover of the Olympics.
We all like to be right, myself included, but sometimes it is not so wonderful. I have written a series of articles over the last few weeks on the coming nightmare centered on the neo-con grand strategy. I predicted the outbreak of hostilities in Georgia and Russia and said that there is a strong link between what is happening there and to what is about to happen against Iran. I said that the war in Georgia was intended as a strategic distraction for Russia as America, the United Kingdom, France, Israel, and others assemble their large naval blockade of Iran, but a strategic distraction that would backfire. I also described the massive US Naval armada headed for Iran; the make-up of this extremely large and powerful force is as I described it several days ago (this has now been confirmed by Israeli sources).
As Russian troops and air force pilots, and thousands of Russian civilians, die in combat in Europe for the first time since 1945, only miles from their homeland (on land that was part of the Russian Empire and Soviet Union for centuries), the sleeping Russian Bear has been awaken and filled with a terrible resolve. The fact that only within the last few weeks have the 1,000+ American Marines, sent in to train the Georgians for this very war, left is not overlooked by the Russians. The fact that (according to DEBKE the well connected Israeli strategy and military site) over 1,000 Israeli “mercenaries” are actively engaged in combat with the Russian Army on the side of the Georgians is also not overlooked. The fact that the American neo-con administration and the Israelis have been engaged in a furry of advanced arms sales and deliveries over the last year, and that these weapons are killing Russians on their historic territory, is not overlooked. The fact that the Bush administration tried very hard to get its European NATO partners to accept Georgia as a NATO member without success (too many European nations saw the trap and smelled a rather large rat), and the fact that had this neo-con gambit succeeded NATO would be in war against Russia now ~ this also is not overlooked by the Russian bear. The fact that the Georgian Defense Minister is a ‘former’ Israeli and many current and retired Israeli generals are deeply involved in Georgia is also not overlooked by the Russian bear.
The American supported, Israeli commando staffed, attack on the civilian population of South Ossetia ~ where Georgian troops conducted volley-fire artillery cleanings of a number of villages and settlements housing Russian citizens, destroying people’s homes and killing 1,500 civilians (and killing 10 lightly armed Russian peacekeeping troops and wounding 30) in the opening stages of the attack ~ is also not overlooked by the Russians. This is the Russian 9/11.
While the Russian 9/11 was taking place, the massive American/British/French naval armada was/is assembling to begin the blockade of Iran (a blockade is considered an act of war under international law), and the European Union, acting under cover of the media coverage of the Olympics, has formally approved a blockade of Iran (not using the word blockade but establishing tough new sanctions on Iran with cargo inspections and intercepts ~in other words a BLOCKADE). Neither Russia nor China, which gets a large percentage of its oil and natural gas from Iran, are willing to allow this to happen. The strategic distraction for Russia is not going to work; nor is China going to allow its distraction ~ the hosting of the Olympics ~ to rob it of its strategic source of oil and natural gas, so necessary for its economy.
Grand strategy is very interesting and complex. It is rather like space chess or space checkers ~ played on several levels. However, in real life grand strategy, the various levels have players that are often not aware of the nature of the game on the level above.
We have the Israeli population, a majority who support an attack on Iran, “to prevent it from acquiring nuclear weapons of mass destruction”, who do not know that the Iranians already have advanced biological weapons of mass destruction with potential kill levels very similar to that of strategic nuclear war. They will pay with their lives for this lack of knowledge. On one level, the neo-cons are all about creating a new Middle East environment where Israel is safe from any regional Muslin power and holds regional military supremacy. On another level, the global bankers are using Israel and the neo-cons to bring about the End Game of their long quest to establish a New World Order with themselves as lords and masters of all those allowed to remain alive.
At one level, the public is told that Iran “must be stopped from acquiring nuclear weapons” and that this is the reason for whatever action is necessary. Of course, we are not told ~ at least by the main stream news media ~ that even the American intelligence establishment (as well as United Nations inspectors) state clearly that the Iranian nuclear enrichment program is but several orders of magnitude below that necessary for a nuclear weapons program. The reality is that the nuclear enrichment issue is but a smokescreen for the on-going neo-con grand strategy. This same grand strategy gave us the 9/11 false flag attacks in America, the 7/7 false flag attack in England, and the Bali and Spanish false flag “terrorist” attacks and the war in Afghanistan and the war in Iraq. The next targets on the hit list of the neo-con grand strategy are Syria and Iran. This has been the plan for years and the neo-cons are staying on course.
If the well being of Israel is not the reason for the grand strategy at the highest level, we have to ask ourselves just what in the hell is the driving force. Sadly the answer lies in the wording of the question just posed ~ Hell. At a certain level you simply cannot separate the military/economic/political/strategic from the spiritual. When you analyze the grand strategy being employed, you essentially have to come to the conclusion that it is either so damn crazy as to be a form of mass insanity by its backers or just plain evil. I think that it is the latter.
The blockade is not being set up to “stop” the Iranians ~ there is in reality nothing to stop in terms of a nuclear weapons program and they already have a global strategic advanced biowar (ABW) program that is as good as a global strategic nuclear war program at a fraction of the cost. The blockade is being set up to cause a war. To cause a war with a nation that has a true MAD (mutually assured destruction) environment with the neo-con controlled nations. To cause a war that will eventually result in the use of weapons of mass destruction throughout the world. To cause World War III.
The “strategic diversion”, that is the war between Georgia and Russia, is being set up to drive Russia into the devil’s brew of the coming war; you can bet that China will also be given good “reasons” to be totally committed in the days and weeks ahead.
There are certain global banking families who have made countless billions and even trillions over the last 200+ years organizing wars, economic depressions, revolutions, etc. to profit on everyone’s misery. They have been very successful at this. But it is simply too late in human history to be doing this now. The level of mass murder/destruction from 21st Century warfare is beyond our ability to recover. So why continue. Again, we get back to the question is this just totally crazy or just plain evil.
On the 5th of August, days before the attack on South Ossetia, in my article “The Good and the Bad and the Truly Ugly”, I quoted an interesting prophecy from Nostradamus, Quatrain X.74 which reads "The year of the great seventh number accomplished, it will appear at the time of the games of slaughter, not far from the age of the great millennium, when the dead will come out of their graves." This could refer to the Seven Year Tribulation, which could well be the time from 9/11/01 to 9/11/08, at the time of the Olympic Games, not far from the age of the great millennium (the beginning of the Third Millennium in 2000/2001), and Armageddon (when many dead saints are suppose to "come out of their graves"). It is interesting that the dates of the 9/11 and 7/7 attacks and now the 8/8/8 attack all have occult meanings.
I suspect that this is all simply unstoppable. However, being human we want to live not be killed in some insane Third World War. The trouble is, time is very short and most political leaders are totally corrupt, bought and paid for time and again by many of the same forces arranging the coming global war. Still, if you want to live, contact your political leaders and demand that they stop the coming war on Iran and the resulting global nightmare. It may be you only hope to stop the events that are unfolding before our very eyes. My most recent article, MASSIVE US NAVAL ARAMADA HEADS FOR IRAN, has become perhaps the largest “happening” in the history of the Internet. It has been posted on a truly massive number of web sites and blogs, emailed to hundreds of thousands, and seen by more people than any similar article in history. This was done not by the main stream lying media or by political hacks but by ordinary people concerned about their lives and the lives of their friends and loved ones in the days and weeks ahead. By all means people please continue this ~ post this on every site you can, email it to every person you can. Our time is short and our very lives depend on it.
Addendum: Order of Battle of the US/EU Naval Amanda
[ Hermit : I don't think I need comment beyond saying that the fire power represented here is massively greater than anything that has ever been assembled on this planet before. ]
The US Naval forces being assembled include the following:
Carrier Strike Group Nine
USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN72) nuclear powered supercarrier
with its Carrier Air Wing Two
Destroyer Squadron Nine:
USS Mobile Bay (CG53) guided missile cruiser
USS Russell (DDG59) guided missile destroyer
USS Momsen (DDG92) guided missile destroyer
USS Shoup (DDG86) guided missile destroyer
USS Ford (FFG54) guided missile frigate
USS Ingraham (FFG61) guided missile frigate
USS Rodney M. Davis (FFG60) guided missile frigate
USS Curts (FFG38) guided missile frigate
Plus one or more nuclear hunter-killer submarines
Peleliu Expeditionary Strike Group
USS Peleliu (LHA-5) a Tarawa-class amphibious assault carrier
USS Pearl Harbor (LSD52) assult ship
USS Dubuque (LPD8) assult ship/landing dock
USS Cape St. George (CG71) guided missile cruiser
USS Halsey (DDG97) guided missile destroyer
USS Benfold (DDG65) guided missile destroyer
Carrier Strike Group Two
USS Theodore Roosevelt (DVN71) nuclear powered supercarrier
with its Carrier Air Wing Eight
Destroyer Squadron 22
USS Monterey (CG61) guided missile cruiser
USS Mason (DDG87) guided missile destroyer
USS Nitze (DDG94) guided missile destroyer
USS Sullivans (DDG68) guided missile destroyer
USS Springfield (SSN761) nuclear powered hunter-killer submarine
IWO ESG ~ Iwo Jima Expeditionary Strike Group
USS Iwo Jima (LHD7) amphibious assault carrier
with its Amphibious Squadron Four
and with its 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit
USS San Antonio (LPD17) assault ship
USS Velia Gulf (CG72) guided missile cruiser
USS Ramage (DDG61) guided missile destroyer
USS Carter Hall (LSD50) assault ship
USS Roosevelt (DDG80) guided missile destroyer
USS Hartfore (SSN768) nuclear powered hunter-killer submarine
Carrier Strike Group Seven
USS Ronald Reagan (CVN76) nuclear powered supercarrier
with its Carrier Air Wing 14
Destroyer Squadron 7
USS Chancellorsville (CG62) guided missile cruiser
USS Howard (DDG83) guided missile destroyer
USS Gridley (DDG101) guided missile destroyer
USS Decatur (DDG73) guided missile destroyer
USS Thach (FFG43) guided missile frigate
USNS Rainier (T-AOE-7) fast combat support ship
Also likely to join the battle armada:
UK Royal Navy HMS Ark Royal Carrier Strike Group with assorted guided missile destroyers and frigates, nuclear hunter-killer submarines and support ships
French Navy nuclear powered hunter-killer submarines (likely the Amethyste and perhaps others), plus French Naval Rafale fighter jets operating off of the USS Theodore Roosevelt as the French Carrier Charles de Gaulle is in dry dock, and assorted surface warships
Various other US Navy warships and submarines and support ships. The following USN ships took part (as the "enemy" forces) in Operation Brimstone and several may join in:
USS San Jacinto (CG56) guided missile cruiser
USS Anzio (CG68) guided missile cruiser
USS Normandy (CG60) guided missile cruiser
USS Carney (DDG64) guided missile destroyer
USS Oscar Austin (DDG79) guided missile destroyer
USS Winston S. Churchill (DDG81) guided missile destroyer
USS Carr (FFG52) guided missile frigate
The USS Iwo Jima and USS Peleliu Expeditionary Strike Groups have USMC Harrier jump jets and an assortment of assault and attack helicopters. The Expeditionary Strike Groups have powerful USMC Expeditionary Units with amphibious armor and ground forces trained for operating in shallow waters and in seizures of land assets, such as Qeshm Island (a 50 mile long island off of Bandar Abbas in the Gulf of Hormuz and headquarters of the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps).
The large and very advanced nature of the US Naval warships is not only directed at Iran. There is a great fear that Russia and China may oppose the naval and air/land blockade of Iran. If Russian and perhaps Chinese naval warships escort commercial tankers to Iran in violation of the blockade it could be the most dangerous at-sea confrontation since the Cuban Missile Crisis. The US and allied Navies, by front loading a Naval blockade force with very powerful guided missile warships and strike carriers is attempting to have a force so powerful that Russia and China will not be tempted to mess with. This is a most serious game of military brinkmanship with major nuclear armed powers that have profound objections to the neo-con grand strategy and to western control of all of the Middle East's oil supply.
The Russian Navy this spring sent a major battle fleet into the Mediterranean headed by the modern aircraft carrier the Admiral Kuznetsov and the flagship of its Black Sea Fleet, the Guided Missile Heavy Cruiser Moskva. This powerful fleet has at least 11 surface ships and unknown numbers of subs and can use the Russian naval facility at Syria's Tartous port for re-supply. The Admiral Kuznetsov carries approximately 47 warplanes and 10 helicopters. The warplanes are mostly the powerful Su-33, a naval version (with mid-air refueling capability) of the Su-27 family. While the Su-33 is a very powerful warplane it lacks the power of the stealth USAF F-22. However, the Russians insist that they have developed a plasma based system that allows them to stealth any aircraft and a recent incident where Russian fighters were able to appear unannounced over a US Navy carrier battle group tends to confirm their claims. The Su-33 can be armed with the 3M82 Moskit sea-skimming missile (NATO code name SS-N-22 Sunburn) and the even more powerful P-800 Oniks (also named Yakhonts; NATO code name SS-N-26 Onyx). Both missiles are designed to kill US Navy supercarriers by getting past the cruiser/destroyer screen and the USN point-defense Phalanx system by using high supersonic speeds and violent end maneuvers. Russian subs currently use the underwater rocket VA-111 Shkval (Squall), which is fired from standard 533mm torpedo tubes and reaches a speed of 360kph (230mph) underwater. There is no effective countermeasures to this system and no western counterpart.
Addendum 2:
The two-ton elephant in the living room of the neo-con strategy is the advanced biowar (ABW) that Iran, and to a lessor extent Syria, has. This places the motherlands of the major neo-con nations (America, France, the United Kingdom), as well as Israel, in grave danger. When the Soviet Union fell the Iranians hired as many out-of-work former Soviet advanced biowar experts as possible. In the last 15 or so years they have helped to develop a truly world class ABW program utilizing recombination DNA genetic engineering technology to create a large number of man made killer viruses. This form of weapon system does not require high tech military delivery systems. The viruses are sub-microscopic and once seeded in a population use the population itself as vectors. Seeding can be done without notice in shopping malls, churches, and other public places. The only real defense to an advanced global strategic biowar attack is to lock down the population as rapidly as possible and let those infected die off.
If this were more widely known, it would be a great casus pax, a reason for peace, as war between enemies both having weapons of mass destruction (WMD) is insane. Hence the aptly named "MAD", for mutually assured destruction, where both sides can cause truly massive fatalities on their enemy in the event of a all out war.
My recent article, WAR ON IRAN: THE PERFECT STORM FROM HELL, carried by several of the leading on-line/non-MSM sites, and read by hundreds of thousands world wide was a frightening eye opener for many to the intense danger from a all-out war between US/EU/Israel on one side and Iran/Syria/Hezhollah/Hammas on the other side. The public has been largely ignorant about the rise of a new type of global strategic warfare based on Advanced Biological War (ABW). Most people understand Biological War (BioWar or BW) as powered anthrax or smallpox and the like. That is really "your grandfather's biowar". Over the last twenty-five or so years, an entire new level of mass killing has evolved. Only this new ABW has a technology base that is far less expensive than than required for entry into the "nuclear club" of nuclear weapon producing nations. Where it costs approximately $1 million to kill a person using nuclear weapons, it only costs approximately $1 to kill one person using ABW weapons. Comparing BW to ABW is like comparing a old Model T Ford to a 2008 Rolls Royce Phantom ~ both are automobiles (or types of biological warfare) but there is a difference of several orders of magnitude. ABW has a kill level in global strategic warfare similar to that of nuclear war.
It is a known fact that when the Soviet Union fell, the Iranians offered US$5,000 a month salaries to a large number of destitute out-of-work former Soviet biowar experts. Not all took Iran up on the offer, but many did. The Iranians have built up, over the last 15 plus years a truly world class ABW program, as well as co-developing with Syria the Earth's largest chemical warfare program. ABW weapons do not require ICBMs and $2 billion dollar per copy B2 bombers to kill hundreds of millions. The genetically engineered viruses are sub-microscopic and can be spread unnoticed in public places and continue spreading, through replication from person to person. An advance global strategic biological war, like a global strategic nuclear war, cannot be kept in control. In fact, the horrific massive death from global strategic biowar will certainly lead to all-out nuclear war between Russia/China and NATO/Israel.
|
With or without religion, you would have good people doing good things and evil people doing evil things. But for good people to do evil things, that takes religion. - Steven Weinberg, 1999
|
|
|
Fritz
Adept
Gender:
Posts: 1746
Reputation: 7.93
Rate Fritz
|
|
Re:Iranian Shahab 3 missiles and the New Apocalypse
« Reply #3 on: 2008-08-17 22:28:00 » |
|
Quote:| [Blonderov]It seems to have reminded Israel of her manners anyway. Sort of. Within the confines of Israel's limited understanding of the word. |
[Fritz]full circle back to BL's original post ... though if it can get into orbit it can send presents to any of us ... and no mention of ABWs, just communications satellites. 
Cheers
Fritz
PS: Video at the BBC link
Iran launches satellite carrier
Source: BBC News
Author: n/a
Date: Sunday, 17 August 2008
Iran says it has successfully launched a rocket capable of carrying its first domestically built satellite.
Officials said only the rocket had been fired, correcting state media reports that the communications satellite itself had been sent into orbit.
The White House voiced concern, saying the technology could also be used for launching weapons.
Tehran has pursued a space programme for years, despite international concern over its nuclear plans.
In February it sent a probe into space as part of preparations for the launch of the satellite.
Long-held ambition
Footage aired on Irinn (Islamic Republic of Iran News Network) showed the launch of the Safir rocket in darkness.
The presenter said that the satellite launch was a trial which was successful. State and military officials confirmed the launch had taken place.
President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was at the event, said one report.
In October 2005 a Russian-made Iranian satellite named Sina-1 was put into orbit by a Russian rocket.
Sunday's launch comes amid a long-running dispute over Iran's nuclear activities.
White House spokesman Gordon Johndroe said: "The Iranian development and testing of rockets is troubling and raises further questions about their intentions.
"This action and dual use possibilities for their ballistic missile programme are inconsistent with their UN Security Council obligations."
The US and some European countries have demanded that Iran curtail uranium enrichment - but Iran protests that its purposes are peaceful and says it has a right to continue.
|
Where there is the necessary technical skill to move mountains, there is no need for the faith that moves mountains -anon-
|
|
|
Fritz
Adept
Gender:
Posts: 1746
Reputation: 7.93
Rate Fritz
|
|
Re:Iranian Shahab 3 missiles and the New Apocalypse
« Reply #4 on: 2008-08-17 23:12:30 » |
|
[Fritz]Not Lord Stirling for sure; but interesting to see that the "Great Minds" are not on side either; or the usual smoke screen.
Cheers
Fritz[/b]
U.S. Policy Should Utilize Vulnerabilities in Iran's Political, Economic Conditions
Source: Rand
Author : Rand Corporation
Date: July 10, 2008
The United States should pursue a mixed strategy toward Iran, using a variety of means to promote favorable social developments within the country and at the same time exploiting vulnerabilities in the nation's political, economic and demographic conditions, according to a study issued today by the RAND Corporation.
However, Iran's vulnerabilities are "not extraordinary" and have become less severe over the last decade as Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and other Iranian leaders have consolidated their power.
"The United States can use Iran's vulnerabilities to advance U.S. goals, but expectations should be kept low," said Keith Crane, the study's lead author and a senior economist at RAND, a nonprofit research organization. "This is going to be a long-term proposition. Although economic and social forces within Iran are pushing for liberalization, the current regime has been able to maintain its hold on power."
Despite hostile rhetoric expressed by Iranian leaders toward the United States, Iranian society has a generally favorable view of the United States, partly because there is a large population of Iranians living in America, Crane said. Although it faces many problems, the current Iranian regime is likely to resist external pressure for change. It may, however, become more democratic over time, as economic, political and demographic pressures from within force the government to respond to popular desires for a more democratic state.
The RAND report is based upon an assessment of the ethnographic, political and economic literature about Iran, in addition to official Iranian government statements and monitored blogs maintained by Iranians. Economic assessments from the Central Bank of Iran and the International Monetary Fund also were a part of the material assessed.
The study recommends that U.S. policy should be crafted with the goals of fostering conditions for a more democratic Iranian society, weakening the ability of the Iranian government to crack down on dissenters, and penalizing the Iranian government for policies that harm the United States.
Other actions the U.S. could take include a mixture of policy options, including:
* Fund more educational and other exchanges between Iranians and Americans. • Pursue a more aggressive policy of public diplomacy by encouraging U.S. officials to provide interviews and commentary for Iranian media.
* Tone down U.S. policy statements advocating regime change in Iran.
* Discourage Iranian ethnic groups from revolting against the current regime.
* Support International Monetary Fund and World Bank efforts to encourage better economic management in Iran to open up more opportunities for private businesses.
* Maintain the embargo on gas liquefaction and gas-to-liquids technologies as a bargaining chip to nudge Iranian policies more in line with U.S. interests.
* Expand contingency plans to seize Iranian foreign accounts.
* Encourage U.S. allies to bar selected Iranian officials -- those connected with pursuing nuclear fuel enrichment or funding terrorist groups -- from traveling to those nations.
Iran has a complex political system in which religious authorities and democratically elected leaders share power, making Iran one of the more democratic countries in the Middle East, according to RAND researchers. Although political candidates are thoroughly vetted by clerical leaders before they are allowed to run, both men and women are allowed to vote, and Iranians directly elect both the president and the parliament.
Crane and his colleagues concluded that military action against Iran is likely to have negative effects for the United States. Unlike pre-war Iraq, the United States cannot count on support from Iran's ethnic minorities, even though many Iranians are unhappy with clerical rule and several minority groups have faced decades of oppression.
While Iran's population is comprised of many ethnicities, Iranians have a strong national identity and not likely to support any regime change imposed by outside forces, according to researchers.
However, Iran does face a number of internal challenges that could push the state along a more-democratic path, according to researchers. The number of young people in the labor market has risen by 80 percent over the last 10 years, the result of a population explosion during the 1980s. Iranians also face some of the highest urban housing costs relative to income in the world and inflation runs in the double-digits.
In addition, Iranians are disgusted with high levels of corruption, which have contributed to a skewed distribution of wealth. The Iranian economy is inflexible, due to a highly inefficient system of price supports and subsidies. Despite being rich in oil, the nation's economic policies have kept many Iranians poor.
The study, "Iran's Political, Demographic and Economic Vulnerabilities," is available at www.rand.org. In addition to Crane, the other authors of the study are Rollie Lal and Jeffrey Martini.
The study was prepared for RAND Project AIR FORCE, a division of RAND and a federally funded research and development center for studies and analysis aimed at providing independent policy alternatives for the U.S. Air Force.
|
Where there is the necessary technical skill to move mountains, there is no need for the faith that moves mountains -anon-
|
|
|
Fritz
Adept
Gender:
Posts: 1746
Reputation: 7.93
Rate Fritz
|
|
Iran War ~ How It Will Unfold
« Reply #5 on: 2008-09-07 19:36:07 » |
|
The Sunday kick in the groin to get ya started for the work week; and keep ya asking why ?
Cheers
Fritz
Source: Europebusines blog
Date: 2008.09.05
Author: Lord Stirling
Iran War ~ How It Will Unfold
I have served as a consultant to three very high tech aerospace firms. My specialty is conceptualizing advanced warfare especially as it relates to new cutting edge advanced weapon systems. What I see unfolding with a war on Iran is the most frightening set of circumstances I have ever seen; and I have been involved in advanced theoretical weaponry strategy and design for over 20 years.
Sometime in the weeks to months ahead, there will be a war launched against Iran. The war may be started by Israel, or by the United States, or by a NATO/EU/US embargo, or by some 'false flag' attack. What matters is that it will begin; and where it will take the world.
Regardless if the war begins with a limited number of air strikes against Iranian military and nuclear targets, or if an all-out several thousand target attack begins from day one the probabilities of the war becoming a major regional war within 48 hours are 90% or higher.
The Iranians will simply not allow Israeli and/or American military forces to attack its territory without a major response. Any significant counter-attack on Israel and/or American regional bases will trigger a much greater counter-response.
The Iranians have equipped and paid for, and trained, a massive unguided rocket and guided missile force in Lebanon (the largest such force in human history). These missiles are in-place as a MAD force (a MAD ~ mutually assured destruction ~ force is one that is a doomsday force; established to prevent the use of overwhelming military force by allowing a return "punch" of overwhelming military destructive force upon one's enemy). The total number of missiles and rockets in Lebanon are variously estimated at between 40,000 and 110,000. While many are unguided Katyusha rockets, many are longer ranged guided missiles. All are operated by Hezbollah Special Forces launch teams.
The Hezbollah Special Forces are in-effect a highly trained and well-equipped Iranian commando force of at least a Brigade in size. They man and protect a large number of mostly unguided and rather crude rockets, generally Katyusha 122mm artillery rockets with a 19 mile/30km range and capable of delivering approximately 66 pounds/30kg of warheads. Additionally, Hezbollah are known to possess a considerable number of more advanced and longer range missiles. During the 2006 war Hezbollah fired approximately 4,000 rockets (95% of which were Katyshas) all utilizing only "dumb" high explosive warheads. Some Iranian build and supplied Fajr-3 and Ra'ad 1 liquid-fueled missiles were also fired. It is believed that the larger and longer range missiles are directly under the control of Syrian and Iranian officers.
The combination of short to medium range rockets and guided missiles in Lebanon, and the longer range guided missiles in Syria, the smaller number of rockets and missiles in the West Bank and Gaza, and the longer range guided missiles in Iran present a massive throw weight of warheads aimed at Israel.
The 2006 Israeli-Hezbollah War (called the Second Lebanon War in Israel) was an attempt by Israel at eliminating the MAD counter-force in Lebanon. It was an attempt that failed. The Syrians had purchased (and supplied to Hezbollah) a large number of very nasty, relatively low cost Russian AT-14 Kornet solid fuel anti-tank guided missiles (ATGM) and the Iranian trained Hezbollah commandos dug in massive numbers of concrete bunkers and firing positions. After over 50 Merkava main battle tanks were hit, and the high tech American made warplanes and pinpoint weapons proved ineffective, the handwriting was on the wall. Either use neutron bombs or lose a large number of Israeli solders to remove the Hezbollah threat; or declare peace and walk away for the time being ~ the Israelis chose the latter.
It now appears that Israel has given up on the idea of a ground assault to remove the many rocket and missile launchers in Lebanon. A senior Israeli general has resigned with the complaint that the Army is not training sufficiently to fight in Lebanon. The alternative is the use of FAE (fuel air explosive) technology weapons and neutron bombs (a type of nuclear weapon that produces a higher short term radiological output and less blast output than normal nuclear weapons).
Any use of such WMD by the Israeli Army on the Hezbollah forces in Lebanon will likely automatically trigger the use of WMD warheads on whatever rockets/missiles remain operational (if their use has not already been authorized due to the nature and scope of Israeli and/or American attacks on Iran).
The bottom line of this is that Israel will face a truly massive number of rockets and missiles from Lebanon with radiological, chemical, biological and FAE weapons of mass destruction warheads. Additionally, a sizable number of such weapons/warheads will be fired from Gaza and the West Bank. The Syrians will be using larger more accurate guided missiles to shower WMD upon Israel as will the Iranians. To counter this, the Israelis will be using their Green Pine Radar system and a combination of Israeli and American anti-missile missiles. They will have good success in knocking down many incoming missiles but the sheer number of incoming weapons will totally overload all defensive measures.
Large parts of Israel will be contaminated with radiation with extremely long half-lives (many tens of thousands of years in some cases), with a mix of chemical, FAE, and biological nightmares thrown in for good measure. Total deaths will amount to one-third to one-half of the Israeli population with a large additional number being injured.
The Israeli response will be the nuclear annihilation of Syria, Iran, and parts of Lebanon with many tens of millions killed. Expect to see every city of any size destroyed. There will be insufficient people left in Syria, Iran, and large parts of Lebanon to even bury the dead. Radiation will spread around the world from the nuclear bombs.
Iranian sleeper teams in North America and western Europe will begin to "seed" the populations of these areas with a number (perhaps in the several dozens) of different man made killer viruses (about 15 years ago, the Iranians hired a number of out-of-work ex-Soviet biological war experts to set up their state-of-the-art advanced biowar program). People in movie theaters, churches, synagogues, shopping malls, subway stations, airports, etc., will be exposed without anyone knowing it at the time, to these advanced biowar viruses. About nine to ten days later the national medical computer reporting systems in the western countries will begin to report back strange illnesses. That will trigger a host of government measures to contain the advanced biowar viruses but it will simply be too late to prevent a massive outbreak of horrific illnesses. International travel and trade will effectively stop. People will be ordered to stay home from work and school with only critical job holders being allowed on the streets. Hospitals will be overcome with sick and dying people of all ages. The medical community will be among the first to die off. Where temporary hospitals are established in school gyms and other areas, the cross infection of several different genetically engineered viruses will ensure 100% mortality of everyone in the temporary hospitals.
In the event that the neo-con nations have sought to expand the Georgia war by new attacks on Russian forces or by creating some naval incident in the Black Sea the probabilities of an quick expansion into a all-out Third World War involving Russian and NATO nuclear weapons will be at approximately 50%. Even without a global total war being initiated, Russia is apt to "sweep" the Black Sea of NATO ships with considerable loss of life on both sides.
The world will be in the worst economic depression in history as global trade will be halted for at least several months due to fears of the spread of the various advanced biowar viruses. If Israel releases the Arab specific designer advanced biowar viruses, that many claim she has, the Saudis are apt to fire their Chinese IRBMs (intermediate range ballistic missiles) and send their very well equipped air force against Israel with the small number of nuclear weapons that they possess (they have funded the Pakistani nuclear weapon program and have several Pakistani made nuclear devices). Of course, what is left of the Israeli forces will respond with additional nuclear attacks, this time on Saudi Arabia and other Arab nations for good measure.
In North America and western Europe the total number of civilian deaths, after two months of advanced biowar illnesses, is apt to be at least a third of the population ~ a total death count of well over 200 million persons. Despite the best efforts of all nations, the man engineered super killer mutant viruses will spread throughout the world causing total numbers of perhaps a billion or more to die.
The after effect of all of this may well lead to even more war as the non-neo-con nations will be so incensed at the massive lost of life of their citizens that total global war may be unstoppable.
Stirling
|
Where there is the necessary technical skill to move mountains, there is no need for the faith that moves mountains -anon-
|
|
|
Hermit
Archon
Posts: 4289
Reputation: 8.50
Rate Hermit
Prime example of a practically perfect person
|
|
Re:Iranian Shahab 3 missiles and the New Apocalypse
« Reply #6 on: 2008-09-07 23:23:22 » |
|
This is a very conservative scenario.
It is far too conventional. Some biowarfare weapons are designed to target population groups who do not have specific DNA matches (ie rather than binding to specific protein sites, only activate in the absence of such sites). This allows such weapons to do a very good job of targeting population groups other than a specific group which is protected by heritage rather than inoculation, providing the opportunity to introduce plausibly deniable biowarfare). The first use of such weapons would at least theoretically offer the deployer a major advantage. Should the biowarfare genii be released from its flask, I anticipate the deployment of such agents by more than one side in the belief that their use will be a first. The results could be stomach churning. Certainly it would imply that even without the use of nuclear war, the culling effect on mankind may exceed the Rand/NATO "desired optimal cull" of 2/3 of the planet's population or around 2 billion survivors (WASPS predominating in the survivors of course).
As I think that the optimal sustainable human population level is probably around 600 million, this might not seem all bad looked at impersonally, but when culling at ratios of 1000:1 or more there is a very real risk of being far too successful and forgetting to leave a few alive. Speaking personally, the Northern hemisphere will bear the brunt of it, but the Southern hemisphere will be sorely hit too and the deaths are likely to be somewhat nasty with no treatment - or even painkillers or suicide pills - likely to be available in meaningful numbers.
The number for a 10 day incubation period need not be accurate, they could be designed for much longer or shorter gestation periods, although disease designers (as opposed to mere weaponisers) tend to try for as long as possible to optimize distribution. It is also possible that the disease targets reproduction and potentially in prepubescents or pubescents, greatly delaying detection and potentially allowing the perpetrators to escape detection. An additional concern ought to be organisms engineered to grow on oil and oil derived products, both of which were first developed in the late 1970s and early 1980s and which may be released in the event of widespread war. Such organisms might seem positively benign compared to those targeting humans, but it is quite probable and certainly possible that their impact may result in more deaths in the medium term than even the most virulent anti-personal bioweapons.
If we don't make it, so long and thanks for all the fish.
Kindest Regards
Hermit
|
With or without religion, you would have good people doing good things and evil people doing evil things. But for good people to do evil things, that takes religion. - Steven Weinberg, 1999
|
|
|
Fritz
Adept
Gender:
Posts: 1746
Reputation: 7.93
Rate Fritz
|
|
After Georgia Europe stands:Iranian Shahab 3 missiles and the New Apocalypse
« Reply #7 on: 2008-09-08 19:58:55 » |
|
Albeit mainstream speak, it still paints a different picture then on the TV over here. The Ukraine is leading the Russians navy vessels to patrol the Black Sea and Germany gets almost 50% of its Natural Gas from Russia. I am sure there are a few sailors left from Her Majesties Royal Navy the might suggest they should have stayed on coal and not commited to oil way back then.
Cheers
Fritz
After Georgia Europe stands up to Russia
Source: Economist
Author: The Economist print edition
Date: Sep 4th 2008
The European Union has wobbled woefully, yet Russia too will pay dearly for its Georgian adventure
IT IS now close to a month since the reckless Georgian effort to retake breakaway South Ossetia by force sparked off what Russia is now calling its August war. There is no new iron curtain descending across Europe, no ideologically based �new cold war�; but there is a deep, wounding division that stretches far beyond wrecked Georgia, South Ossetia and Abkhazia. To paraphrase Winston Churchill, from Tallinn on the Baltic to Tbilisi and beyond, the violence of the past month, along with Russia�s assertions of its �privileged interests� in its far-flung neighbourhood, has done more damage to relations between Russia and the West than Russia�s leaders think they need to care about and many Europeans care to admit.
That was the background against which Europe�s squabbling leaders met on September 1st. The talk the day before was that it would be impossible for the hawks (such as Britain and the Baltics) to agree on anything with the gas-swilling Russophiles (such as Italy and Germany). A day later they had united enough to condemn Russia�s actions and produce a punishment of sorts: there will be no talks on a new partnership agreement between Russia and the EU until Russian troops leave Georgia proper and resume their positions of August 6th (see article). Yet a smirking Vladimir Putin and Dmitry Medvedev do not seem to be quaking in their boots�indeed they think they have triumphed diplomatically as well.
Like a chocolate fireguard
In fact both Europe and Russia have lost. The European response has been weak. No doubt, it was a little tougher than some predicted a week ago, but jump back a month. In early August Mr Putin would not have dared imagine that Russia could invade and partially occupy a neighbour for the first time since the cold war, let alone recognise South Ossetia and Abkhazia as independent states�and meet such a wobble. It is not just that the partnership talks matter little to the Russians. The Europeans have not even insisted on formal restoration of Georgia�s territorial integrity before they start; merely a withdrawal of troops, which Mr Medvedev promised anyway. EU leaders have in effect condoned Russia�s smash and grab.
Thus the second casualty, after wretched Georgia, is the idea of a common European foreign and security policy. This was supposed to be a morally superior combination of the soft power of Europe�s economic attraction (morally superior, of course, to trigger-happier America) with an occasional harder edge only in the lawless bits of the world beyond Europe�s shores. After Georgia�s folly, not even the United States was proposing to take on Russian tanks as they rolled in. Yet how quickly talk of sending EU troops to uphold the ceasefire that Russia was flouting died away. Instead, civilian EU monitors�not even the paramilitary police Europeans claim to be their speciality and who might protect Georgian villagers from South Ossetian militias�may eventually, if Russia agrees, join those from the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe, a body to which Russia belongs.
Such a collective Euro-shrug only stores up trouble, since there are other places where Russia enjoys fomenting bother. NATO needs to reassure all its members, including places like Estonia and Latvia with large Russian minorities, that they are protected by the alliance�s mutual defence guarantees. Harder to help will be Ukraine, genuinely divided over whether its closest ties should be with the West or with Russia, and with plenty of ethnic Russians. But the EU can do more to encourage economic reform and the fight against corruption.
In fact the most useful cure for the Eurowobbles over Russia lies not in diplomacy but in Europe�s internal market: liberalising the EU�s energy markets and where possible connecting up its internal supply lines. It makes economic sense and does not involve picking a needless fight with Russia. As long as governments like Germany�s prefer to cut separate deals with Russia, Europe�s inevitable dependence on Russian oil and gas will always offer a tempting way for an opportunistic Kremlin to exert pressure on this country or that, by turning off the taps for �pipeline repairs�. Recent promises that Russia will remain a reliable energy supplier should be viewed warily.
Imperious follies
Mr Putin once described the collapse of the Soviet Union as the greatest geopolitical catastrophe of the 20th century. That is not a view shared by Georgia, Ukraine, the Baltic states or the Central Asian countries that escaped the Soviet empire to win their independence. Yet his aim is to restore Russia as a great power, not to bring back communism as a global ideology. His officials insist that Russia wants more respect, not more territory. Thus, after what many Russians see as years of slights from the West, NATO�s suspension of co-operation has been swatted aside. So has the unprecedented rebuke from Russia�s G8 partners in the world�s premier political club.
Yet the limits of Russia�s August �victory� are becoming clear. Its erstwhile friend China, struggling to keep a grip on its restive regions, has expressed �concern�. None of Russia�s other friends�bar, belatedly, Belarus and Venezuela�has volunteered support. And while the Georgia adventure may have scared the neighbours, Russia�s support for separatists in South Ossetia and Abkhazia risks emboldening its own would-be breakaway regions, notably in the north Caucasus.
Ordinary Russians will bear the cost. Russia�s stockmarket has taken a knock and the costs of doing business there have shot up. Russian companies seeking to invest or list abroad ought now to face the closer scrutiny of their finances that earlier dodgy ones didn�t, but should have. And Mr Medvedev�s supposed plans for reform and strengthening the rule of law are in about the same shape as Georgia�s beaten army.
[Fritz]yet the stats Russia trade balance is $174 billion and t he US minus -$836 billion
But what Russia may come to regret losing most is something Mr Putin longs for: the opportunity to become an accepted European power. He likes to skip over communism�s mistakes and dwell on Russia�s tsarist grandeur. But what did for both was imperial overstretch, a rotten economy and, like Russia�s today, a mostly unaccountable ruling caste that led a proud country to disaster.
|
Where there is the necessary technical skill to move mountains, there is no need for the faith that moves mountains -anon-
|
|
|
|
Logged
