Syria Confirms Israel Destroyed Missiles With Nonconventional Warheads
Tel Aviv Maqor Rishon
12 Oct 07
Hagay Huberman
Yesterday, the Turkish Foreign Minister indirectly joined the ranks of "foreign sources" reporting on the Israel Air Force attack in Syria last month. A Turkish source, quoted on the Al-Haqiqah (The Truth) website, claimed that Syrian sources had told Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan during his visit to Damascus, that Israel had attacked a warehouse containing long-range SCUD-C missiles. According to the report, "the missiles were ready to be fitted with nonconventional warheads."
The website also quoted a senior source in the Syrian Ordnance Department confirming that the target of the attack had been a missile warehouse located near Halabiyah, about 45 kms north-west of Dayr al-Zawr. The source claimed that the warehouses were dug-in, in a mountainous area, not far from a well known archaeological site. The report, whose reliability has not been confirmed, noted that Israel used special bunker-buster missiles. Al-Haqiqah reported that the some 30-40 missiles stockpiled at the site were completely or partially destroyed.
Turkish sources reported that fuel tanks from one of the Israeli planes taking part in the raid were found near the Syrian-Turkish border.
Iran Is An Influential Power In Mideast: Egypt
Tehran Mehr News Agency
Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit has said Iran is an influential Islamic power in the region, the London-based Asharq Alawasat reported on its website on Monday.
We do not see Iran as a threat, the minister told the pan-Arab daily.
Egypt supports Irans right to peaceful nuclear technology and insists on the need to avoid any military action against the country, Aboul Gheit stated.
He also said Iran should take the advice of Egyptian friends who are seeking peace in the region.
The West is trying to create the belief that Irans nuclear program is intended for military purposes, but actually no evidence has been found to that effect, he observed.
He also said Egypt does not follow the policy of creating division between Shia and Sunni and it is necessary to avoid terms like Shia crescent and the like.
Reflection on Russia's Position in Iraq; Playing With Iran Trump Card
Tehran Hezbollah
Hassan Bananaj
Russia's real policy (as one of the great powers of the world) in regard to the Iraq war always has been one of the skeptical questions and intellectual worries of many political analysts. Some of the ambiguous aspects of this question become clear through investigation and careful study of Moscow's behavior and political games in the Middle East region. One of these games is Russia's role in the controversies between Tehran and Washington.
Last week, Iranian Foreign Minister Manuchehr Mottaki traveled to Moscow to take part in the meeting of Joint Economic Commission between the two countries. He also met with Russian Atomic Energy officials and talked about the completion of the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant. According to Mottaki, the Russians have promised him favorably about the continued construction of the power plant. It was following this visit that Mottaki announced that Russian President Vladimir Putin is supposed to come to Iran in mid-October. The date coincides exactly with the Conference of Caspian Sea Littoral States. It seems that Putin not only has accepted to attend the conference, but he also has promised to hold meetings with senior Iranian authorities.
Such a visit and meetings is not what Washington expected in its wildest dreams. America knows well that Russia and China will not join it in imposing more sanctions against Iran. Hence, Putin's visit to Iran, at a time when Bush has announced a timetable for pulling out US troops from Iraq, seems more than a rebuttal to Washington's call for further sanctions. Rather, it seems to be a step that aims at gaining some points from America at the present critical situation.
From Moscow's point of view, the Americans are facing a myriad of plights and predicaments in Iraq, and are experiencing a situation similar to that of Vietnam. During the Vietnam War, the more precarious the US situation became, the better the opportunities provided for the Russians [Soviets]. The difference between the two wars is that many Russian resources have been destroyed, and Russia has lost much of its previous status and influence, especially among the former Soviet block countries. Hence, at present, the immediate objective of Russia is to regain much of its previous prestige and power in the region through the present Iraq war. Now, Russia has realized that the window to previous opportunities for which it has been for years since the collapse of former Soviet Union has opened up for that country and it must make the most of it.
Kremlin's Requests
On the other hand, by sending other signals to Washington including obstructing the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant project, the Russians intend to show they can get along with White House policies, even though this cooperation will have a cost for Americans that has to be paid in advance. Some of this cost is for Washington to give up its victories of the past few years in the region traditionally under the influence of Russia. Hence, from Russia's point of view, Washington must undertake the following steps in order to show its goodwill.
First, it must end its support for Georgia. Considering the long-term hostility of Armenians to Turkey and their friendship with Russia, this measure will provide the grounds for a new era of Russian domination in the Caucasus.
Second, give up all their abetment and help for the NGOs in Ukraine and Belarus.
Third, put an end to the provoking of anti-Russian sentiment in the Baltic region, and restrain the role of NATO in that area.
Fourth, stop all efforts for granting independence to Kosovo within the framework of Serbia.
Fifth, prevent the expanded presence of foreign forces in the region.
Sixth, stop efforts to install antiballistic missiles in the region.
This list shows that Vladimir Putin in actual fact, and even if not officially, intends to reverse the consequences of former Soviet Union's disintegration. It does not seem that he is dreaming of the old domination of Russia in Central Europe or vying with America on a global scale, for the time being. Yet, he knows very well that; first, the condition of Russian Armed Forces has improved greatly compared to that of 2000; second, the continued occupation of Iraq by America is not a choice for America alone; and, third, once American forces have left the areas desired by Russia, no country in the region has the capability to resist the Russian Army. Russians are excellent chess players, as well and expert players in geopolitical questions. The game in chess and geopolitics is alike and follows the same pattern: when an opportunity offers a new opening, a good chess player takes advantage immediately, because the chance may not reappear for some time. Now the Russians have found this chance, and may well not be repeated for another two to three years.
What the Russians expect from Americans in the region has been put forward in different forms and ways to date, but the Russians never have had the means to pressure America to give in and surrender to their requests. However the Iraq war and the decisive role of that country's neighbors, including Iran and Syria, now can work as a means for the guarantee needed by Russia. Russia avoids facing America directly and eye to eye; to date, it has done nothing to escalate the crisis in Iraq and change it into another Vietnam for the Americans. Yet, this does not mean Russia is reluctant to act indirectly and use other trump cards, like supporting the policies of Iraq's neighboring states in this power rivalry. Putin's visit to Tehran can be seen as an outstanding sign of such a wish and policy. It is a visit that, doubtless, will entail new pledges of nuclear cooperation, and further confirmation of Russia's refusal to go along with future UN Security Council resolutions against Iran. These issues will be among the essential topics put forward by the Russians.
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