In a not-so-friendly start of talks between the United States and Russia, in the presents of the Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Defense Secretary Robert Gates, Russian President Vladimir Putin threatened to abandon a key nuclear missile treaty while demanding the U.S. back off it's plans to deploy an anti-missile defense system in eastern Europe.

If the U.S. does not, it risks relations with Moscow, Putin said.

Secretary Rice told reporters on Thursday on her flight to Moscow that the United States would go ahead with the missile defense program as planned.

Putin warns U.S. in missile talks

Addressing Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Defense Secretary Robert Gates, the Russian president appeared to mock the U.S. missile defense plan, which is at the center of a tangle of arms control and diplomatic disputes between the former Cold War adversaries.

"Of course we can sometime in the future decide that some anti-missile defense system should be established somewhere on the moon," Putin said, according to an English translation.

"But before we reach such arrangements we will lose the opportunity for fixing some particular arrangements between us."

Putin also said Russia might feel compelled to pull out of a 20-year-old arms control deal unless it is expanded.

The Russian government sees the U.S. missile defense plan, which Washington describes as a hedge against the threat of missile attack from Iran, as a worrisome step toward weakening Russian security. It has been a longstanding dispute, and Putin's remarks seemed to raise the level of tensions.

Rice and Gates appeared taken aback at the firm tone and forcefulness of Putin's remarks, which were made from notes in the presence of American and Russian news media before they began a closed-door meeting around an oval table in an ornate conference room at his country house outside the capital.

"We will try to find ways to cooperate," Rice said in response. "Even though we have our differences, we have a great deal in common because that which unites us in trying to deal with the threats of terrorism, of proliferation, are much greater than the issues that divide us."

After Putin addressed further comments about U.S.-Russian military cooperation to Gates, the American defense secretary responded by saying the Pentagon was ready to intensify a dialogue on military relations.

"We have an ambitious agenda of security issues that concern both of us, including, as you suggest, development of missile systems by others in the neighborhood -- I would say in particular, Iran," Gates said.

Gates did not directly comment on the missile defense dispute.

After keeping Rice and Gates waiting for 40 minutes, Putin began the session with a lengthy monologue in which he also said that Russia may feel compelled to abandon its obligations under a 1987 missile treaty with the United States if it is not expanded to constrain other missile-armed countries.

Referring to the Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces treaty that was negotiated with the United States before the breakup of the Soviet Union, Putin said it must be applied to other countries, including those "located in our near vicinity." He did not mention any by name, but in response, Gates said Washington was interested in limiting missile proliferation in Iran.

Putin said the treaty must be made "universal in nature."

The Russian President appears to be more comfortable playing the adversary role, while flexing his new found "Oil Muscles," than work with the U.S. on these very serious issues.

Stay tuned.

The Sunday Times is reporting today that according to officials in Washington, under Russian President Vladimir Putin, Russia’s covert foreign intelligence operations against America and American interest worldwide have reached Cold War levels.

Reports are that Russia is using private U.S. companies based in Russia and in America, as cover for their spy program.

Putin spy war on the West

White House intelligence advisers believe no other country is as aggressive as Russia in trying to obtain US secrets, with the possible exception of China.

In particular the SVR, as the former KGB’s foreign intelligence arm is now known, is using a network of undercover agents in America to gather classified information about sensitive technologies, including military projects under development and high-tech research.

Yuri Shvets, a former KGB agent, said: “In the days of the Soviet Union, the number of spies was limited because they had to be based at the foreign ministry, the trade mission or the news agencies like Tass. Right now, virtually every successful private company in Russia is being used as a cover for Russian intelligence operations.”

Intelligence experts believe that since Putin became president in 2000, the Russians have rebuilt a network of agents in the United States that had been depleted during the country’s transition from communism.

Putin served 16 years in the KGB, including a spell in foreign intelligence in East Germany. He became head of the FSB, the domestic security service. According to Shvets, the FSB has been operating widely in America because of its favoured status with Putin. Agents, some acting under diplomatic cover, are said to be trying to recruit specialists in American facilities with access to sensitive information.

A rare insight into the SVR’s methods was gained six months ago when the authorities in Canada deported a Russian man who had been masquerading as a Canadian citizen.

The alleged SVR agent had been living under a false identity as Paul William Hampel and was detained carrying a fake birth certificate, £3,000 in five currencies and several encrypted pre-paid mobile phone cards.

He claimed to be a lifeguard and travel consultant but counter-intelligence officers believe he based himself in Montreal because the city is the centre of the Canadian aerospace industry. Carrying a Canadian passport, he would have been able to travel freely to the United States.

In another incident last year, the Americans arrested Ariel Weinmann, a former US navy submariner, on charges of spying for the Russians. Weinmann was accused of making electronic copies of classified information which he sought to pass on to his handlers. He was sentenced to 12 years in jail.

John Pike, a military and security analyst who runs GlobalSecurity.org, said a surge in recruitment of US intelligence operatives since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 had presented great opportunities for the Russians to penetrate the CIA and other agencies. Shvets believes Russian agents are also entering America legally as immigrants, a rarity in the strictly controlled Soviet era.

The increase in Russian intelligence activity abroad is in step with Moscow’s more aggressive stance since Putin came to power and turned the country’s lagging economy around on the back of record high oil prices.

Putin’s abrasive style has frustrated Washington. Relations between Russia and the United States are worse than at any time since the collapse of the Soviet Union. Comparisons with the tension of the cold war years have become commonplace.

“President Putin thinks the United States has been weakened by Iraq,” said Richard Holbrooke, a former US ambassador to the United Nations. “He thinks he has been strengthened by recent events and high-priced oil and he is trying to put Russia back on the international map.”

Read more about this story.

Another reason to Boycott Lukoil...

While the United States works to get approval from the Czech government to build a U.S. anti-missile system in the Czech Republic, Russian leaders are all up in arms, calling it a "a mistake which will bring about negative consequences for international security."

The U.S. system proposed to be built near the Russian border with the Czech Republic is intended to protect European countries from the threat of Russian made, long-range missiles currently being supplied by Russia to the Iranian government. Iran continues building it's arsenal of WMD.

The U.S. base would be manned by approximately 200 U.S. military personnel, and could be operational by 2011.

Russia to raise European anti-missile plan with U.S.

Russia said on Friday a U.S. plan to deploy an anti-missile system in Poland and the Czech Republic was a "mistake" which would have negative consequences for international security.

The State Department announced on Sunday the two countries had agreed to start detailed talks on allowing their territory to be used for the system, designed to shoot down missiles with rockets.

U.S. officials say the system is intended to counter a long-range Iranian missile threat, not Russia.

"This issue will be a subject of our detailed analysis and dialogue with the United States and their partners."

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov rejected Washington's reassurances on Wednesday, saying Iranian missiles could not reach Europe.

The Russian military say they have modern missiles which can neutralize the planned U.S. missile defense system. But political leaders insist any NATO activity near Russian borders carries broader geopolitical threats for Moscow.

Russia, whose reviving self-confidence is backed by a windfall of oil and gas revenues, suspects Washington and NATO of trying to surround it and replace Moscow as a patron of ex-Soviet states.

"The creation of a U.S. anti-missile base in Europe can only be viewed as a considerable change in the configuration of the American military presence in Europe," the Foreign Ministry statement said.

"The presence of such a base near our borders will be a factor we will have to take into account when planning the next military and political steps, building national defense," it added.

We can't just sit back while Russia continues to supply our enemies with WMD.

Russia, friend or foe?

Well that seems to be a "no-brainer." Russia is no ally of the U.S., although Putin tries to act like he is. It supports and helps arm with weapons of mass destruction, every enemy and foe of the U.S. and will do whatever it takes to put down any and all U.S. interest around the world.

I, for one, am sick and tired of hearing about Russia's support of Iran and North Korea in their efforts to destroy our way of life. They continue to sell and supply Iran and North Korea with nuclear technology in support of them building a nuclear bomb. They also support the militant group Hezbollah in their war with Israel in spite of the wishes of the Lebanon government.

Let's stop sending our hard earned U.S. dollars to a country who has done everything in it's power to harm the U.S. every chance it gets. It's easy. Just stop purchasing gas and oil from Lukoil of America and you'll be doing your small part.

Lukoil is one of Russia’s largest integrated oil and gas companies. With 1.3 percent of global oil reserves, it is the second largest privately-owned oil company in the world in terms of proven reserves. Lukoil produces 20 percent of the total Russian oil output and is responsible for 18 percent of total Russian oil refining.

Lukoil has been spreading like wildfire across the United States, as it continues its aggressive growth into mainstream U.S. markets. It already has over 2,000 stations pumping over two billion gallons of gasoline annually.

LukoilAmericas.com

LUKOIL Americas, through its subsidiary Getty Petroleum Marketing Inc., proudly flies the flags of its two premier brands LUKOIL and GETTY. With the recent acquisition of ConocoPhillips premium assets in the states of New Jersey and Pennsylvania (Mobil brand), LUKOIL Americas is on it’s way to becoming a major force in the Eastern U.S. market.

LUKOIL America’s is a wholly owned subsidiary of LUKOIL Oil Company which is the leading vertically integrated oil company in Russia. Founded in 1991, LUKOIL Oil Company is one of the world’s top five publicly traded oil companies in terms of proven oil reserves. The Company’s retail network of gas stations in the US market will enable it to more efficiently use export facilities of the terminal in Vysotsk (Leningrad region). The transfer of oil products via this terminal will provide for significant increase of shipments of its own products to the United States and Europe.

Russia has been getting it's world power and status back using it's oil and gas supplies to hold countries hostage. Don't let this happen to us.

Stay independent. Support U.S. oil companies.

Two Russian Chechen platoons, Vostok and Zapad, already deployed in Southern Lebanon, are setting up surveillance posts on the Lebanese border with Israel and are giving Russian, Syrian and Hezbollah intelligence agencies detailed and real time information on the movements of all military operations including the IDF in Israel.

Caroline Glick writes of the reappearance of past hostilities toward Israel by Russia and it's absolute support for Hezbollah in their recent conflict.

As the storm of war approaches

The clouds of the coming war are converging upon Israel. But our political and military leaders refuse to look up at the darkening sky.

The Russian bear has awakened after 15 years of hibernation. Under the leadership of former KGB commander President Vladimir Putin, Russia is reasserting its traditional hostility towards Israel.

On Tuesday, Russian military engineers landed in Beirut. Their arrival signaled the first time that Russian forces have openly deployed in the Middle East. In the past Soviet forces in Syria and Egypt operated under the official cover of "military advisers." Today those "advisers" are "engineers." The Russian forces, which will officially number some 550 troops, are tasked with rebuilding a number of bridges that the IDF destroyed during the recent war. They will operate outside the command of UNIFIL.

Mosnews news service reported on Wednesday that the engineers will be protected by commando platoons from Russia's 42nd motorized rifle division permanently deployed in Chechnya. According to the report, these commando platoons are part of the Vostok and Zapad Battalions, both of which are commanded by Muslim officers who report directly to the main intelligence department of the Russian Army's General Staff in Moscow. The Vostok Battalion is commanded by Maj. Sulim Yamadayev, who Mosnews refers to as a "former rebel commander."

With the deployment of former Chechen rebels as Russian military commandos in Lebanon, the report this week exposing Russia's intelligence support for Hizbullah during the recent war takes on disturbing strategic significance. According to Jane's Defense Weekly, the Russian listening post on the Syrian side of the Golan Heights provided Hizbullah with a continuous supply of intelligence throughout the conflict.

Much still remains to be reported about the impressive intelligence capabilities that Hizbullah demonstrated this summer. But from what has already been made public, we know that Hizbullah's high degree of competence in electronic intelligence caused significant damage to IDF operations. Now we learn that Moscow stood behind at least one layer of Hizbullah's intelligence prowess.

Moscow's assistance to Hizbullah was not limited to intelligence sharing. The majority of IDF casualties in the fighting were caused by Russian-made Kornet anti-tank missiles that made their way to Hizbullah fighters through Syria. Indeed, as we learn more about Russia's role, it appears that Russia's support for Hizbullah may well have been as significant as Syria's support for the terror organization. And now we have Chechens in Lebanon.

Russian backing of Hizbullah, like its support for Syria and Iran, has been matched by its extreme, Cold War-esque hostility towards Israel. On Tuesday, Channel 2 reported that for the past few months Putin has been obsessively demanding that the government transfer proprietary rights and control to the Russian government over the Russian Compound, which has served as a police station since the British Mandate, and other Russian historical buildings in central Jerusalem.

Putin's demand, which has no legal foundation or diplomatic precedent, exposes startling disrespect for Israeli sovereignty. According to Channel 2, Russian diplomats have been raising this obnoxious demand at the start of every meeting they have had with Israeli officials for the past several months. This most recently reported slap in the face joins a long list of diplomatic crises that Russia has fomented in the past few months.

Read the rest of her article.

Alexandra at All Things Beautiful has more with: The Russian Bear Awakes

A large shipment of Uranium 238 bound for the Iranian port of Bandar Abbas was intercepted by customs officials in Tanzania, on October 22, 2005. Iran has been trying to import uranium for its nuclear program for years in spite of it's denials that it is attempting to build a nuclear weapon.

The uranium was found hidden among barrels of coltan, a rare mineral used to make small electronic components, which was destined to Kazakhstan after being transported through Bander Abbas.

Iran's plot to mine uranium in Africa

IRAN is seeking to import large consignments of bomb-making uranium from the African mining area that produced the Hiroshima bomb, an investigation has revealed.

A United Nations report, dated July 18, said there was “no doubt” that a huge shipment of smuggled uranium 238, uncovered by customs officials in Tanzania, was transported from the Lubumbashi mines in the Congo.

Tanzanian customs officials told The Sunday Times it was destined for the Iranian port of Bandar Abbas, and was stopped on October 22 last year during a routine check.

The disclosure will heighten western fears about the extent of Iran’s presumed nuclear weapons programme and the strategic implications of Iran’s continuing support for Hezbollah during the war with Israel.

It has also emerged that terror cells backed by Iran may be prepared to mount attacks against nuclear power plants in Britain. Intelligence circulating in Whitehall suggests that sleeper cells linked to Tehran have been conducting reconnaissance at some nuclear sites in preparation for a possible attack.

The parliamentary intelligence and security committee has reported that Iran represented one of the three biggest security threats to Britain. The UN security council has given Iran until the end of this month to halt its uranium enrichment activities. The UN has threatened sanctions if Tehran fails to do so.

A senior Tanzanian customs official said the illicit uranium shipment was found hidden in a consignment of coltan, a rare mineral used to make chips in mobile telephones. The shipment was destined for smelting in the former Soviet republic of Kazakhstan, delivered via Bandar Abbas, Iran’s biggest port.

“There were several containers due to be shipped and they were all routinely scanned with a Geiger counter,” the official said.

“This one was very radioactive. When we opened the container it was full of drums of coltan. Each drum contains about 50kg of ore. When the first and second rows were removed,the ones after that were found to be drums of uranium.”

In a nuclear reactor, uranium 238 can be used to breed plutonium used in nuclear weapons.

The customs officer, who spoke to The Sunday Times on condition he was not named, added: “The container was put in a secure part of the port and it was later taken away, by the Americans, I think, or at least with their help. We have all been told not to talk to anyone about this.”

The Tanzanian government left "no doubt" that this uranium was definitely transported from Lubumbashi by road through Zambia to the united republic of Tanzania.”

Is Iran really intent on building a Nuclear Weapon?
Here is a timeline of Iranian nuclear imports for the past five decades, by the Center for Nonproliferation Studies at the Monterey Institute of International Studies.

1987 - Iran receives a centrifuge design, starter kit for uranium enrichment program from Pakistan.

1988-1989 Iran receives large quantities of uranium concentrate from South Africa.

1989 - China supplies them with an unspecified number of calutrons, used in the uranium isotope separation process.

In 1991 Iran imports a 27kw research reactor and uranium enrichment equipment from China.

1991 - Iran imports from Kazakhstan at least two nuclear warheads.

In 1993 a claim is made by the British Broadcasting Cooperation that Iran imported Beryllium, a key component in nuclear weapons production, and 100 tons of Uranium from Kazakhstan.

In 1994 Iran imports Uranium hexafluoride, commonly known as UF6, from China.

In 1995 China installs a calutron system for enriching uranium at a nuclear research facility at Karaj, about 100 miles northwest of Tehran.

1998 - Russia increases the number of it's nuclear experts to Iran, for the Bushehr nuclear power plant to 1,100.

1999 - 38 Iranian nuclear specialists get trained at the Russian facility Atomtekhenergo.

In 2001 the National Council of Resistance of Iran claims Iran received Highly enriched uranium (HEU) from Pakistan.

2002 - According to Russian intelligence, Iranian scientists being trained at the NIKIET institute of Russia and acquiring knowledge that can be used for Iran's nuclear weapons program.

2003 - Iran was supplied with Uranium enrichment equipment, by the Western European company, Urenco.

In 2005 France supplied Iran with 300 units of Nickel 63 tritium targets, a dual use material that could be used to build a nuclear bomb.

Update: Iran plans to expand nuclear activities

Iran's top nuclear negotiator said Sunday that Iran will expand uranium enrichment, in defiance of a U.N. Security Council resolution giving the Islamic Republic until Aug. 31 to halt the activity or face the threat of political and economic sanctions.

Ali Larijani called the U.N. Security Council resolution issued last week illegal and said Iran won't respect the deadline. "We reject this resolution," he told reporters.

"We will expand nuclear activities where required. It includes all nuclear technology including the string of centrifuges," Larijani said, referring to the centrifuges Iran uses to enrich uranium.

Prairie Pundit says Send Joe Wilson to Tanzania

Our friend and ally, Russia, continues to assist every rogue country in the world with Nuclear technology. This time it's their old friend and Soviet-era ally, North Korea they wish to support. While the rest of the world expresses deep concerns after North Korea test-fired seven missiles last week, Russia secretly offers them the technology to help hide and protect their Nuclear program from the rest of the world, like they did in Iran.

Russia secretly offered North Korea nuclear technology

Filed: 09/07/2006 - Russia is facing criticism after secretly offering to sell North Korea technology that could help the rogue state to protect its nuclear stockpiles and safeguard weapons secrets from international scrutiny.

Russian officials touted the equipment at an IT exhibition in Pyongyang a fortnight ago - just days before the Communist state caused international alarm by launching a salvo of short and long-range missiles into the Sea of Japan.

In what appear to have been unguarded comments, Aleksei Grigoriev, the deputy director of Russia's Federal Information Technologies Agency, told a reporter that North Korea planned to buy equipment for the safe storage and transportation of nuclear materials, developed by a Russian government-controlled defence company.

The company, Atlas, also received interest from the North Koreans in their security systems and encryption technology - which were kept from display at the exhibition for security reasons.

In remarks made to the Russian Itar-Tass news agency - hastily retracted after publication - Mr Grigoriev said that the main aim of the June 28 exhibition was "establishing contacts with the Korean side and discussing future co-operation". Last week Russia, along with China, opposed a draft UN Security Council resolution, proposed by Japan and backed by America, that would bar missile-related financial and technology transactions with North Korea because of the missile tests.

As tensions over the missile tests mounted, the US government yesterday deployed its USS Mustin, equipped with so-called Aegis missile-tracking technology that is geared towards tracking and shooting down enemy missiles, to Yokosuka, home port to the US Navy's 7th Fleet.

On Friday, George W Bush called for the issue of the missile tests to be put before the Security Council. He said he wanted to make clear to Kim Jong Il, the North Korean leader, "with more than one voice" that the rest of the world condemned Wednesday's launches.

Sources close to the proposed sale of the equipment - which would have civil and military uses - said that it was evidence of Russia's secret support for its Soviet-era ally, which was once a bulwark against Chinese influence in the Far East. It was reported that the North Korean military interest in the exhibition stemmed from the dual purpose of many of the products and technologies on display.

After the show, which led to plans for further meetings between the Russian and North Korean delegations, Mr Grigoriev said Pyongyang's primary interest in buying the equipment was to combat the "threat posed by international terrorism". However, the Russian embassy in Pyongyang immediately denied the report, claiming that it was "disinformation". Mr Grigoriev subsequently denied ever having spoken to the journalist concerned.

Disclosures of a possible deal are at odds with official Russian policy towards North Korea's nuclear programme. On June 22, North Korea's ambassador to Russia, Park Yi Joon, was summoned to the foreign ministry in Moscow and informed that -Russia "strongly objects to any actions that can negatively influence regional stability and worsen nuclear crisis on the Korean Peninsula".

There was also some anger domestically at Russia's opposition to the UN sanctions resolution. Although the Russian foreign ministry expressed anger that Moscow had not been notified of the launches, it went no further than issuing an anodyne statement expressing concern that the tests endangered Pacific Ocean shipping and "violated the commonly accepted world practice of giving a warning".

Western experts were not surprised that the two countries might be discussing sensitive military deals.

Nicholas Eberstadt, a North Korea expert at the American Enterprise Institute, a think tank in Washington, said that Russian policy towards North Korea had long been influenced by the desire to restore its Cold War-era influence.

"Russia often seems more ambitious to restore that influence than to play a positive role in international affairs," he said. "We've got no reason to doubt that Moscow is playing a double game with North Korea. It's not entirely surprising considering Vladimir Putin himself came up with the harebrained suggestion some years ago that Moscow, as a protector and provider for the North Korean regime, launch a North Korean satellite."

It appears the U.S. is the only country that Russia has no interest in helping.

It should come to surprise no one that Iran's revolutionary guard supplied al-Qaeda in Iraq with state of the art, Russian-made anti-aircraft weapons in addition to rifles, machine guns and high tech. IEDs.

Several reports today indicate that not only do they have these weapons but they have already been successful in using them with the shooting down of a British helicopter in central Basra, Iraq last week.

Telegraph.co.uk

The Army now believes that the Lynx helicopter shot down over central Basra at the weekend was most probably hit by a surface-to-air missile, obtained possibly from neighbouring Iran, after missile casings were discovered on the third floor of a nearby building, security sources in the city said yesterday.

The Army now believes that the Lynx helicopter shot down over central Basra at the weekend was most probably hit by a surface-to-air missile, obtained possibly from neighbouring Iran, after missile casings were discovered on the third floor of a nearby building, security sources in the city said yesterday.

The discovery, if confirmed, will be a worrying development for British operations in Iraq, which are increasingly reliant on helicopter "air bridges" to move men and equipment to reduce the risk of convoys being ambushed by roadside bombs.

The discarded missile parts were located when a search was conducted of the building as British troops swept the surrounding area.

A military observation post had also reported seeing an unusual level of activity in the building during the previous two days.

The missile is understood to have been identified as a Russian-made weapon that can be packed into a golf bag and quickly assembled and fired by one person with minimal training.

Iran Focus

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) had provided the insurgent group al-Qaeda in Iraq heavy weapons including anti-aircraft missiles, it emerged on Friday.

The Iraqi daily az-Zaman which is published in London and Baghdad quoted credible Iraqi sources as revealing that the IRGC had given al-Qaeda in Iraq, Strela-type SAM-7 surface-to-air missiles, modern explosives, and a large number of personnel arms including Kalashnikovs and BKC machineguns.

Al-Qaeda in Iraq is believed to be led by Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, who is on the United States’ wanted list.

It's been no secret that Russia has been supplying and helping Iran with it's inventory of WMD, but this shows how Russia is doing the same for the insurgents in Iraq, with the help of Iran.

More @: Iran supplied al-Qaeda in Iraq with AA weapons.

As the White House has become increasingly concerned about Russia's direction under Vladimir Putin, U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney said in a speech to Baltic and Black Sea leaders in Vilnius, the Lithuanian capital, "Actions by the Russian government have been counterproductive and could begin to affect relations with other countries."


In an uncharacteristically belligerent response, Russia's Putin said: Arms Race With U.S. Is Not Over

Vladimir Putin has pledged to build up Russia's military to rival "fortress" America, and insisted the Cold War arms race is far from over.

In an unexpectedly belligerent state of the nation address on Russian TV, the Russian president accused the US of putting its own interests before its democratic ideals, and compared the country to a voracious wolf.

"We are aware what is going on in the world," he said.

"Comrade wolf knows whom to eat, he eats without listening, and he's clearly not going to listen to anyone."

He added: "It is premature to speak of the end of the arms race. It is in reality rising to a new technological level."

Last month US senators visiting Moscow said Russia's slide towards authoritarianism and stance on the Iranian nuclear crisis may undermine the country's bid to join the World Trade Organisation.

In his speech, Mr Putin said the government would strengthen the nation's nuclear deterrent as well as conventional military forces without repeating the mistakes of the Cold War era, when a costly arms race against the US drained Soviet resources.

President Putin's strongly worded speech comes only days after Dick Cheney, the US vice-president, accused Moscow of rolling back democracy and threatening its neighbors by restricting gas and oil supplies.

Putin has been quitely playing the anti-American card, while pretending to be an ally, in an effort to gain back some of the world influence it once had. One of it's larger ambitions, has been supplying Iran and others with large amounts of WMD, in an obvious effort to threaten American interest around the world, thus appearing to strengthen it's own hand.

Russia's foreign minister Sergey Lavrov said on Saturday that Moscow expected to be respected as an equal partner in world affairs, after rejecting Vice President Dick Cheney's criticism of the Kremlin. He said Cheney was misinformed when he suggested Russia was using its energy reserves as "tools of intimidation or blackmail."

Associated Press

Sergey Lavrov said Cheney's remarks were unfounded, and suggested the U.S. vice president was misinformed, after Cheney said earlier this week the Kremlin was backtracking on democracy and using energy to blackmail former Soviet states.

"I thought that a person who holds such a state job has the entire amount of objective information, but apparently his aides or advisers had let him down," Lavrov said, according to the statement posted on the Foreign Ministry's Web site.

It was the most direct response to Cheney's remarks from the Kremlin, indicating the Kremlin's annoyance and concern about deepening mistrust between Russia and the U.S.

Russian media and analysts have described Cheney's remarks — made during a summit of ex-Soviet republics in Vilnius, Lithuania — as the start of a new Cold War and a reprise of former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill's 1946 "Iron Curtain" speech, in which he condemned Soviet expansionism in Eastern Europe.

Cheney had criticized the Kremlin for curbing religious and political rights, prompting Lavrov to defend Moscow's actions as an effort to consolidate the nation after years of economic and political chaos following the 1991 Soviet collapse.

"We have heard comments like this from the mouths of a politicians of a lower rank, but the vice president of the United States probably should have information that in the last 40 years our country has not once — neither the Soviet Union nor Russia — violated a single contract for the supply of oil and gas abroad," Lavrov said.

On Saturday Lavrov brushed off accusations by Cheney that Moscow was backsliding on democracy, and questioned how well informed he was. Stating he believed Cheney "may have been let down by his advisers".

UPDATE: (05-07-2006) Cheney takes Russia to task over democracy again.

The Russians have began delivering advanced S-300SP SAMs (Surface to Air Missiles) to Belarus on Friday. Belarusian Defense Minister Leonid Maltsev denies these SAM's are destined for Iran however Jane’s Intelligence Digest reported earlier this month that they had information about this covert transfer of missiles to Iran.

The Associated Press: Russia Delivers Missiles to Belarus

MINSK, Belarus -- Russia began delivering advanced anti-aircraft missiles to Belarus on Friday, the Belarusian defense minister said.

Russia and Belarus signed an agreement last year on the delivery of the latest and most advanced version of Russia's S-300SP surface-to-air missile system, capable of shooting down targets some 90 miles away.

Belarusian Defense Minister Leonid Maltsev denied a report in the British defense journal Jane's Intelligence Digest that Belarus agreed to transfer the S-300SP missiles to Iran to defend against any possible U.S. or Israeli air strikes designed to derail what many in the West allege are its efforts to develop nuclear weapons.

Russia has already agreed to supply sophisticated Tor-M1 air defense missile systems to Iran.

"I have no intention of commenting on this nonsense," Maltsev said. "Under the contract for the delivery of the S-300s from Russia, Belarus does not have the right to transfer these systems anywhere else."

Iranian Commerce Minister Masud Mir-Kazemi, who headed a trade delegation that traveled to Minsk, also denied that Tehran wanted to acquire the Russian S-300 missiles.

Jane’s Intelligence Digest: Belarus: Lukashenka courts Tehran

Jane’s Intelligence Digest probes the covert links between Minsk and Tehran.

A recent JID probe has indicated that Belarus may be preparing to export sensitive Russian military technology to Iran. Since early 2005, Minsk has been negotiating with Moscow for the purchase of the latest and most advanced version of the S-300SP surface-to-air missile system. According to well-informed sources, a contract for an unspecified number of S-300SP missiles was signed between Minsk and the Kremlin during the summer of 2005, with delivery scheduled to take place either later that year or else in early 2006.

Our investigations suggest that the real reason for Belarus' deal with the Kremlin may lie several thousand kilometres to the southwest. In January a high-level military and political delegation from Tehran paid a low-key visit to Minsk.

According to well-informed JID sources, the main reason for the visit was to make arrangements for the future transfer of the S-300SP SAMs from Belarus in order to help the embattled Iranian regime bolster its defences against possible US or Israeli air strikes designed to de-rail its efforts to develop nuclear weapons.

While the Kremlin remains a major supplier of nuclear technology for Iran's nuclear programme, President Vladimir Putin would face serious problems if he had to explain to the rest of the world how the Islamic Republic had acquired the most recent generation of S-300PSs. For this reason, Belarus and its increasingly isolated regime could provide an alternative supply route and one that would offer Moscow the cover of 'plausible deniability' once the missile transfer has been effected.

Russia has so far not shown to be much of an Ally to the U.S. when it comes to arming Iran with sophisticated weapons.

This sound exactly like something Putin would do to continue supplying arms and weapons to the enemies of America.

Russia continues it's support in the defense of Iran and it's Nuclear program.

Russian top general says: Russia will deliver air defense systems to Iran

The chief of the General Staff said Wednesday that Russia would honor its commitments on supplying military equipment to Iran.

"We discussed supplies of military equipment to Iran, including the Tor M1, in the framework of bilateral cooperation, but it does not fall into the category of strategic weapons," Army General Yury Baluyevsky said after talks in Moscow with NATO Supreme Allied Commander in Europe General James Jones.

"And I can assure you it will be delivered under the control of the relevant organizations," he said.

At the end of 2005, Russia concluded a $700-million contract on the delivery of 29 Tor M1 air defense systems to Iran.

ТОР-М1The Tor-M1 is a fifth-generation integrated mobile air defense system designed for operation at medium, low and very low altitudes against fixed/rotary wing aircraft, UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicle), guided missiles and other high-precision weapons.

Despite strong criticism from the United States, Russia has maintained that the systems could be used only to protect Iran's air space.

Russia says only UN can tell it to stop Iran nuclear cooperation

Only the UN Security Council has the right to demand that Russia suspend nuclear cooperation with Iran, a Foreign Ministry spokesman said Thursday.

"Only the UN Security Council is authorized to make binding decisions on suspending cooperation with a state in any sphere," Mikhail Kamynin said.

"The Security Council has made no decisions on suspending nuclear cooperation with Iran," he said.

Kamynin's comments came after statements Wednesday by U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Nicholas Burns that all countries should stop nuclear cooperation with Tehran. He singled out the nuclear plant in Bushehr, being built with Russian help.

Kamynin said that the construction of the Bushehr plant was being carried out in compliance with all international agreements and under total control of the IAEA, the UN's nuclear watchdog.

"This NPP has nothing to do with Iran's uranium enrichment activities," Kamynin said, adding that the reactor could not be used for military purposes.

I think it's time we take a long serious look at our relationship with Russia. They continue to support everything that is against U.S. interest in the world.

Our friends and allies Saudi Arabia and Russia, among others jump to the front of the line to dish out millions of dollars in support of the terrorist group Hamas. After this weeks suicide bombing in Tel Aviv, where 9 Israelis were murdered, the money started flowing in at an alarming rate. Hamas and friends are all smiles as the money for weapons continues to roll in.

Saudi Arabia announced Tuesday that they would transfer $92 million in aid to the Palestinian Authority. Their declaration of support for the PA comes after Russia said it would transfer $10 million, Iran $50 million, and Qatar an additional $50 million for a total of over $200 million.

After meeting with Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal, PA Foreign Minister Mahmoud Zahar said that the Saudis had agreed to give $92 million in aid to the Palestinians. He added that at the meeting the two had also discussed the collapsing Palestinian economy and ways of ending the new Hamas-led government's current international isolation, Israel Radio reported.

Earlier Tuesday, mainline Russian newspaper Izbastya reported that a meeting between a Russian foreign ministry official and PA Finance Minister Omar Abad al-Razek led to an agreement regarding the transfer of funds to the PA's coffers, according to Army Radio. The Russian foreign ministry has avoided commenting to news agencies on the matter.

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Democracy appears to be working well for the Palestinians so far.

As the Iranians continue to show off their latest and greatest weapons, Russia's president and supposed ally of the U.S., Vladimir Putin is likely squirming with nervousness as missing pieces of the international terrorism puzzle are slowly being put in place. As one piece after another of this puzzle is put together by the U.S. and others, the Russians appear to be in the forefront of supplying terrorist labeled countries like Iran, with nuclear and advanced conventional, high tech weapons.

As stated in "The Bitter Truth" by All Things Beautiful

Putin is increasingly likely to find himself with egg on his face when Iranian rockets and possibly nuclear strikes destroy its enemies, Israel being the first in line. It won't take long until the World will ask where the lunatic Mullahs got the weapons from and why so much earlier than expected.

Ever since Thug-In-Chief Ahmadinejad revealed his apocalyptic visions, Putin has been watching helplessly how the West is catching up with his past shady dealings with Iran, all well hidden under the table. And as we learn from the absolute must read "The Origins of Terror" by the brilliant John Radzilowski, Iran is literally just the tip of the iceberg in Russia's and the former Soviet Union's longstanding and systematic support and training of virtually all of today's terrorist organizations.

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On this note one could wonder about the new relationship with Russia and Hamas. Is this an opportunity for Putin to win over these terrorist in order to sell them weapons and technology to use against Israel and the U.S.? Or do they genuinely care about the situation in the middle-east?

The former Soviet president, in the United States last week promoting his book on the history of his government's reforms, implies U.S. acting like drunk superpower.

Former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev, who triggered the demise of the
Soviet Union's Communist empire, said in an interview that the United States was "intoxicated" by its power and should not impose its will on others.

"This talk of pre-emptive strikes, of ignoring the UN Security Council and international legal obligations -- all this is leading toward a dark night," Gorbachev told Time magazine.

"But America needs to get over that. It has responsibilities as well as power. I say this as a good friend of America," said Gorbachev Sunday, who considered his US contemporary, president Ronald Reagan, a friend as well, and attended his funeral.

With the new revelations about Russian assistance to Iraq in ridding itself of their WMD and their help with troop movements and plans during the U.S. lead invasion in 2003, one only has to wonder how much they are helping Iran with it's weapons capabilities.

It's no secret that for the past several years Russia has been upgrading Iran's conventional weapons capabilities along with selling them long range missile technology.

9-26-2005 - Russia in a Hurry to Sell Weapons to Iran

12-7-2005 - Russia Insists on Right to Sell Weapons to Iran

12-16-2005 - Iran May Buy Russian Surface-to-Air Missile Complex

2-9-2006 - Russian Military Aids Iran Arms Program

Russian President Vladimir Putin appears to be on this personal power trip, hell bent in getting Russia back to it's superpower status. With the recent strong arming of Belarus and Ukraine it is obvious that he is trying to get Moscow back to world dominance.

Should the world be worried about the re-emerging Russian superpower?

Our friends in Russia helped Saddam Hussein prepare for the impending invasion of Iraq by America in 2003. The Moscow News agency Mosnews.com reports on this today.

According to documents from Saddam Hussein’s Iraqi leadership released by the U.S. government, the Russian ambassador disclosed the U.S. war plan to Iraq. Two documents dated March 2003, on the eve of the U.S.-led invasion, and summarized by the ABC News Investigative Unit, described details of the U.S. military plan. The document includes the exact numbers of tanks, armored vehicles, different types of aircraft, missiles, helicopters, aircraft carriers, and other forces and also their exact locations. The ambassador also described the positions of two Special Forces units.

Teterenko told the Iraqis that the United States was planning to deploy its force into Iraq from Basra in the South and up the Euphrates, and would avoid entering major cities on the way to Baghdad, which is, in fact what happened. The documents also state “Americans are also planning on taking control of the oil fields in Kirkuk.”

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Gateway Pundit has more on this story.