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Russia will continue with Iranian missile contract
Published: 10 June, 2010, 14:06
Edited: 12 June, 2010, 03:32
Russia’s Federal Service for Military-Industrial Cooperation informed reporters on Thursday that Russia will continue work on the contract to supply the S300 anti-aircraft missile systems to Iran.
I miss the Soviet Union sometimes, the S-300 would have been delivered long ago
Russia's patience of late has been a real asset. This type of politics is always well executed by China, but it looks like Russia has learned the art --- or at least started to. In politics, like in life, doing a good thing prematurely often backfires. The issue of offensive vs. defensive weapons is better defined with this resolution, eliminating the attack on Russia for proceeding with it. Just as it was legitimizing Russian built Iranian nuclear power plant in previous resolution. Going along with sanctions will yield major benefits for Iran in the long run. Remember, Iran had previously made inroads in the Gulf states and the Arab world, but the elite of those countries conveniently reversed their positions and were talking of "Iran danger". When elites swithched, there was no reaction from the public, the famous "Arab street". The life went on, like nothing happened. The lesson there was: if other countries, especially Arab countries show such indifference, or act as spectators --- it was going to be impossible for Russia and China to defend the rights of NPT members to peacefull nuclear cycle. The non-aligned world has acquired the habit of being spectators, without any sacrifice to themselves. This has become unsustainable. Brazil and Turkey stepped to the plate, and will have to pay the price for being engaged in world affairs and trying to find solutions. Even now there is prescious little coming from Arab states, other then flourishing rethoric. Russia and China need to be there when it comes to picking up the Turkish-Brazilian deal and taking it few steps further. The new dynamic has been introduced now --- nuclear free Middle East means removing over 200 nuclear weapons from Israel, and Israel's joining NPT. The conflict over Gaza economic blockade by Israel is yet to be played out, and it will be interesting to see what --- if any --- real political capital will be brought to the table by Arab countries. Can't dither forever.
Russia would loose credibility by further delays in delivery, it will make Russia look either incapable or unreliable. The result is the same, it is a purely defensive system, only nations with aggressive plans would object such delivery. And the hope is that Russia is still independent and will not act like the Jewnated States.
Hay ... Iran be careful ... The anti -aircraft missle may miss some key parts to make it effective. Opppppps
# Bianca June 10, 2010, 22:54 You may be giving Russia too much credit - I do not think that the current outcome (s300 supply) was planned, it looks to me like Russia simply chose to use this opportunity to 'cash in' this particular chip now (why exactly we can only speculate at this time - especially as it comes soon after Israels escapade over the flotilla). As for Russia protecting the rights of NPT members, again I am not sure about this. The cynical side of me says that Russia are simply protecting the potential for $Billions worth of new nuclear power station contracts. Additionally, I would not expect to see much political noise / movement from any of the Arab states on any 'important' issue in the short term. The governments are, for the most part, very weak (both domestically and internationally). To illustrate the point, apparently the Egyptian leadership caved in and ended thier part in the seige of Gaza after just one telephone call (from Turkey) and the first signs of protest / unrest on the streets of Cairo - not the actions of a strong or confident leadership. I too believe that we will see considerable conflict (political not military) regarding Israel in the near future. It would appear that israel has used up all the reserves of good will it had with foreign governments and is poised to 'reap what it has sown' as far as political isolation and critisism on the world stage is concerned.
I would suggest that if Russia actually intend to supply this and other systems then they should get on with it and supply them. If Russia do not intend to supply theses systems then they should say so. The dithering, the delays, and the lack of clarity are not doing Russia any favours as far as as their image is concerned as a reliable international business partner.