China Confidential
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Assad Slapped Down by Medvedev
Foreign Confidential....
Good news. Cooler heads are clearly prevailing in Russia. Contrary to hysterical punditry in the United States, there won't be another cold war. The Russians are "not interested," as the following Ynet article confirms.
Hopefully, Washington will stop antagonizing and criticizing Russia, and will even join with Moscow and Chhina, as we have suggested, to win the war against radical Islam.The Syrian leader was stunned when the Russians slapped him in the face. Putin and Medvedev’s answer to his request was “not interested.” They have no interest in embarking on a new cold war. The slap was even worse because the Russians refused to sell advanced missiles to the Syrians, and added a few conditions: Firstly, they will be selling Syria defensive weapons only, rather than offensive ones. Secondly, they will not be selling Syria arms that would change the status quo of full Israeli supremacy over Syria. Thirdly, everything they sell will be paid for in cash, in advance.
The Russians know very well that Syria’s economy is unstable. They know that the Iranians help the Syrians with payments, but they also know that Iran itself is facing great difficulties. Assad swallowed the insult and returned to Damascus.
Why was there no chance for Assad’s “golden package” to begin with? Because Russia is not the Soviet Union. What Assad’s generals failed to grasp is that by invading Georgia Russia caused itself economic and political damage that would take years to repair. Russia is a capitalistic country that relies on its economy, and the economy responded with immense anxiety to the Georgia events.
Click here to continue reading.
POSTSCRIPT: Mindful of the disastrous decision to back the Muslims in the Balkans relative to the Kosovo situation and the US-led NATO bombing of Belgrade and dismemberment of Yugoslavia, US Jewish organizations are having second thoughts about joining overly zealous neo- and movement conservatives in recklessly instigating a new anti-Russian crusade.
MSNBC Insiders: Matthews Threatening Lawsuit
Dateline USA....
Sources at MSNBC say Chris Matthews has threatened to sue the network for damaging his career and reputation by pairing him with out-of-control co-anchor Keith Olbermann at the Democratic national Convention, and positioning them outside, where Matthews has been subjected to ridicule and protest, and forced to shout above street noise and cope with constantly blowing hair in his face.
Sources say Matthews, who lives and breathes politics, and has been preparing for the prime DNC assignment for many months, feels that he has been "sabotaged" by the producers and Olbermann.
Friday, 29 August 2008
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