Syria Says Ready To Consider Russian Air Defense Deal

Source: RIA Novosti

MOSCOW, August 20 (RIA Novosti) - Syria is ready to discuss deploying Iskander missile-defense systems on its territory, but it has not received any proposals from Russia, the country's president told a Russian business daily.

President Bashar Assad, who arrived in Russia on a two-day working on Wednesday, said in an interview with Kommersant before his trip: "Our position is that we are ready to cooperate with Russia in any project that can strengthen its security... I think Russia really has to think of the response it will make when it finds itself closed in a circle."

Israeli media reported on Monday that Russia was planning to place Iskander surface missiles in Syria and its Baltic exclave of Kaliningrad, in a response to a U.S. missile shield in Central Europe and U.S.-Israeli military aid to Georgia. (Image Gallery - Russian mobile surface-to-air missile systems)

When asked if Syria, a major importer of Russian arms, would agree to consider the Russian air defense offer, Assad said: "In principle, yes. We have not yet thought about it." He said the issue of installing Iskander missile-defense systems had been raised by Syria several years ago.

Speaking on the recent conflict between Georgia and Russia over Georgia's breakaway republic of South Ossetia, Assad said: "On this issue we fully support Russia. The war, which was unleashed by Georgia, is the culmination of attempts to encircle and isolate Russia."

Read more: http://en.rian.ru/world/20080820/116150559.html

JesusFUCK!

that the public wake up and see this and what it could mean for our future. It's like Reagan going into a third term if they are swooned by the POW image.

Russia invades another country and it's "Bush's" fault.
Syria wants to buy Russian missiles and it's "Bush's" fault.
Poland agrees to house DEFENSIVE missiles right after Russia invades another country and it's "Bush's" fault.
The Check Republic agrees to house a radar system and it's "Bush's" fault.

I don't understand the concept that missiles designed to protect your country from nuclear weapons is somehow evil. It seems pretty damn obvious to me that they are a good thing and the argument that it upsets the concept of MAD is absurd. The whole idea that MAD is good is both crazy and potentially suicidal.

The bottom line is that Russia is the bad guy in Georgia and Syria has been buying Russian weapons for decades. Both Poland and the Check Republic want to increase their ties with the US to protect themselves from Russian aggression. They fear Russia more then they fear the US. None of this has anything to do with Bush but everything to do with the fact that Russia has oppressed the Check Republic, Poland and Georgia in the living memory of the citizens of these countries.

Just because Putin made Bush look like the idiot he is does not excuse Russia from what they did and what they are threatening to do.

The Russian aircraft carrier “Admiral Kuznetsov” is ready to head from Murmansk towards the Mediterranean and the Syrian port of Tartus. The mission comes after Syrian President Bashar Assad said he is open for a Russian base in the area.

The “Admiral Kuznetsov”, part of the Northern Fleet and Russia’s only aircraft carrier, will head a Navy mission to the area. The mission will also include the missile cruiser “Moskva” and several submarines, Newsru.com reports.

President Assad in meetings in Moscow this week expressed support to Russia’s intervention in South Ossetia and Georgia. He also expressed interest in the establishment of Russian missile air defence facilities on his land.

Barents Observer: http://www.barentsobserver.com/russia-sends-aircraft-carrier-to-syria.4502333-16149.html

...Was originally called the 'Tbilisi'

Significant of something or other, I'm sure... :)

It is a second rate carrier and combat operations in a place like the Mediterranean Sea would be suicidal against the United States and NATO. The Mediterranean Sea is basically a NATO lake. I'm not even sure they could defend themselves against Israel.

This is nothing more then Sabra rattling. I wonder if it is planning on going to hang out off of Georgia. An added benefit would be to piss off Turkey by sailing through the, Turkish controlled, Dardanelles. Russia seems to be making a concerted effort to try and piss off all of their neighbors.

....become one of our allies in (the stupid) war on terror. We fucked up that one royally.

that we decided could never be our friends no matter what and no matter how much they might try. Russia and Syria are on that list. No amount of friendly overtures, gestures, or signs of good will were ever going to make a difference. For some, a world without enemies is the most terrifying of all scenarios.

They've been oppressing Lebanon for decades.

You know what I mean, Vern?

"You're either with us or against us"

What's the difference?

Check out the routes proposed between Israel and Turkey, and so forth.

MOSCOW: Russia's foreign minister says Moscow will consider an appeal by Syria's president to sell it new weapons.

Russia's arms trade with Syria has provoked tension with Israel and the United States. Past deals have included the sale of Russia's technologically advanced Strelets system.

Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov says Russia will consider Syria's request for new weapons, but did not say which weapons Syria seeks.

The ITAR-Tass news agency quotes Lavrov as saying Russia is prepared to sell Syria weapons that "have a defensive character and that do not in any way interfere with the strategic balance in the region."

more;
http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/08/21/europe/EU-Russia-Syria.php

by the neo cons, they all need to burn in hell.

Conflict: If Israel can arm and train Georgians, then Russia can arm Syria. Same difference.


Medvedev, Olmert discuss Caucasus conflict
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3585565,00.html