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Syria-Lebanon-Iran
Russia opposes US push for sanctions
2008-01-02
Nothing now here but the intransigence is worth noting.
Russia says sanctions are not an efficient measure against any country pursuing an independent policy toward international regulations. Head of the Russian Federation Council International Affairs Committee Mikhail Margelov said any country pursuing an independent policy cannot be liked by all. He stated that Russia now has its own position on key international and internal problems.

"We have disagreements with the US on certain quite important issues," Margelov said in an interview with Interfax. He referred to the recent US intelligence report on Iran's nuclear project and added that accordingly Iran had phased out its nuclear weapons program back in 2003.

"However, even now, after the intelligence services made this report, the US hasn't changed its attitude toward Iran," Margelov said.

The Russian senator asserted that Russia would not agree with the US missile shield project in Europe. He added that as it turns out, Iran does not have missiles threatening Europe; however, Washington would not accept a compromise on the project.
That's because we know what the Iranians are working on, and we understand how long it takes to build something.
Posted by:Steve White

#3  So the Russian is quoting the NIE? Or just throwing their report into our faces?

You'll excuse me for being a little confused. After all, I don't work for the CIA. All I know is what I read from publicly available sources and that is confusing as hell when it comes to Iranian nuclear capabilities.

It's just that the conclusion I've come to is either the CIA is lying to us or else they are just as confused as I am.

I'm also getting the suspicion that the Russians know more about it than we do which is why they are so unconcerned and, if so, maybe they shared some of that information with the CIA.

Either that or they are bigger fools than the folks at the CIA.

Anyway, if a guy is holding a gun and threatening to shoot you do you hold endless debates on whether the gun is loaded, whether he really means to shoot or what his Russian friend will do if you shoot him first? No. You shoot him first. And then you terminate the employment of all the idiots at the CIA.
Posted by: Ebbang Uluque6305   2008-01-02 19:02  

#2  1. The news source is Iranian, though it's based out of France. I highly doubt they'd quote a Russian who favored sanctions.

2. As flawed and politically-skewed as it is, the NIE wasn't based solely on 'Russian intel', if indeed if any Russian intel was used at all. (It kinda helps if one at least reads the sumamries).

3. Margelov is citing the US' NIE, which is rather the opposite of your remark.
Posted by: Pappy   2008-01-02 16:00  

#1  Sounds like this guy thinks we should base our policy on Russian intel. Sounds like that's what the NIE thinks too. Screw them both.
Posted by: Ebbang Uluque6305   2008-01-02 12:31  

00:00