Aces High Bulletin Board
General Forums => The O' Club => Topic started by: muckmaw on April 14, 2003, 12:55:15 PM
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The Sunday Telegraph of London reported that it had obtained documents in Baghdad showing that Russia provided Iraq with assistance that included intelligence on private conversations between British Prime Minister Tony Blair (news - web sites) and other Western leaders.
The newspaper also said the secret documents showed that Moscow provided Saddam with "lists of assassins available for 'hits' in the West" and details of its arms deals with countries near Iraq.
Without mentioning the Telegraph, the Interfax news agency quoted chief SVR spokesman Boris Labusov saying that the agency does not comment on unsubstantiated reports in "boulevard publications" — a phrase used to express disrespect.
At the same time, Interfax quoted what it called an expert close to Russia's intelligence services, whose comments appeared aimed to cast doubt on the reports. The government sometimes uses anonymous statements to Russian news agencies to express an official position or make a point.
The unnamed source suggested there was nothing sinister about intelligence ties between Russia and other countries, saying the SVR established partnerships with foreign agencies over the past decade in part to exchange information on the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, drugs and terrorism.
The SVR has repeatedly announced that such information exchanges had strict limits and could not be aimed against third countries, Interfax quoted its source as saying.
The source also sought to cast doubt on The Sunday Telegraph's report that in one letter it found, an Iraqi intelligence official explains that a Russian colleague passed him the details of a private conversation between Blair and Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, apparently in February 2002 in Rome.
The expert said such meetings usually take place one-on-one and asked, "Which of the two interlocutors in this case is the agent?" according to Interfax.
Russia, which was Iraq's strongest supporter in the U.N. Security Council for years and had close ties with its government, opposes the war.
***How reliable is this source? I do not know the paper, but some have said it's nothing but a tabloid rag? True?
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classic
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So Americans; how about you get off France's and Germany's case and jump on the Russians instead?
France protecting economic ties and interests is one thing - all nations try to do that. Shroeder winnning election on non compliant message towards the US - he's a politician.
But the Russians have directly endangered coalition troops. This is worse than what Syria has done - much so.
What have Russia to offer you, except lots of natural resources, ugly fake blondes and a potentially huge market?
If this is proven true, in my opinion, the correct response would be an immediate freezing of Russian assets and the withholding of foreign aid until they explain themselves
Sure, they got nukes. But their system has degenerated to such a degree that they know that a good number of Americans will survive a nuclear war, whereas Russia would be International American Parkinglot (selflit).
What do you chaps who have friends or family who've been in harms way think should be done about this...*treason* almost....from the Russian side?
Wonder if Putin knew? I think so. I don't buy the 'if only Hitler knew...' that Germans told themselves when things went as they went...
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I think St. Santa is gay, and I think France should be berated and teased now and forever...regardless of their position on Iraq.
SOB
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You don't think SOB; you act.
So bend over :D