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Vladimir the Impaler and his poodle, Medvedev, have communicated to sources in Israel (see Debkafile) in no uncertain terms just how seriously they regard Israel's behavior in the Caucuses and their threats against Iran.
Russia and Syria inked their deal on September 12, 2008 in Moscow. Syria invaded northern Lebanon and took positions outside of Tripoli. Ten Russian warships showed up in Tartus on September 18 (yesterday). The intent on Russia's part appears to be to dredge the harbor and to explore the use of an additional port at Latakia for even larger warships. Syria's intentions are obvious--they want Lebanon's porous defenses tightened up in advance of any threat against Iran posed by Israel and the United States.
The Russian warships are in place to deter Israel, and Dick Cheney, from attacking anyone in the Middle East both now and in the future.
The idiocy of Israeli and American saber-rattling is that, sooner or later, someone is going to call us out, bluff or otherwise. Short term the rattlers appear strong and every bit the neighborhood bully, and this plays well for domestic politicians looking for corporate support in an election year. But internationally real leaders often take their responsibilities to their country and its people more seriously than the oligarchs and tin-horn dictators who have clearly been over bred here in the United States.
Putin and Russia realize that there is no guarantee that elections in the US will produce an actual democratically-elected leader with an actual ability to lead. In the meantime, the Russians can clearly take advantage of the instability in the Middle East to extend their footprint to the eastern Mediterranean, and the western border of Iraq. With Russia's backing, the Syrian armored divisions sitting on Lebanon's border will be able to roll right into Tripoli and secure all of Hezbollah's supply routes.
Folks, the bankers and the mad dogs in charge of the Federal Reserve System have decided we need another world war to fix all the red ink that has appeared on everyone's balance sheets of late.
Strike a match in the Middle East at your own risk.
