[Maritimesea]

By Steve Gutterman Associated Press
RAMALLAH, West Bank -- Russian President Vladimir Putin promised Friday to provide the new Palestinian leaders with helicopters and other equipment and training to help maintain order after Israel's promised withdrawal from the Gaza Strip and parts of the West Bank this summer.

In the first visit to the Palestinian territories by a Kremlin leader, Putin also pledged to help the Palestinians rebuild their infrastructure with an eye toward a viable Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza. In a nod to Israel, Putin promised any assistance to the Palestinians would be coordinated with both sides, saying "we want this cooperation to be absolutely open."
The Palestinians and Moscow have a long history of political and cultural cooperation dating to the Cold War, when the Soviet Union backed Arab states and the Palestinians in their fight against the U.S.-backed Israelis. In recent years, however, Russian ties with Israel have warmed -- and Putin said Friday his visit had "turned over a new page" with Israel.

His three-day Mideast trip is seen as an attempt to bolster Russia's international standing and raise its profile in Mideast peacemaking. "We will provide the Palestinian leadership with technical help, supplies of equipment and training of personnel," Putin said after a two-hour meeting with Abbas, who greeted him warmly at the Palestinian headquarters, known as the muqata.

Israel has reacted coldly to a Russian proposal to give the Palestinians 50 armored vehicles, fearing they could fall into the hands of militants. But Putin said the Palestinians will need resources to bring order to their territories and heed Israeli and international calls to rein in militants. "If we expect chairman Abbas to fight terrorism effectively, he can't do it with slingshots and stones," Putin said.

AP-JERUSALEM:
Russian president Vladi-mir Putin faced down Israeli criticism on Thursday, saying that Russia's planned sale of anti-aircraft missiles to Syria and supply of nuclear components to Iran does not threaten Israel's security. He also pledged to tackle the growing problem of anti-Semitism in his country. Putin spoke on the second day of his historic visit to Israel - the first trip here by a Kremlin leader.

The trip was intended to cement Russia's rapprochement with the Jewish state and boost its profile in the international arena. Putin was greeted on Thursday morning by the pomp of an official welcoming ceremony, complete with a military honour guard and Jewish, Muslim and Christian religious leaders.

But the visit was shadowed by disagreements with Israel over Russia's aid to Syria and Iran, two of Israel's staunchest enemies. Russia has provided help for Iran's nuclear programme and has agreed to sell anti-aircraft missiles to Syria. Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon has said repeatedly the missiles pose a danger to Israel and wants Putin to halt the deal

What is russia up to? I think "have" countries have a moral obligation to help the "have not" nations in our global community, but Russia is making alot of noise about "helping", just those nations who's relationship vis a vis the U.S. and Israel are at this moment in time strained, to say the least. As a matter of fact Bush considers Iran and Syria to be part of his "Axis of Evil", and there has been quite a bit of speculation about whether the U.S. has those two nations in its' "crosshairs", so to speak.

Ahhh, it's been a long time since I've experienced the kind of fear that the possibilty of a russian-american conflict used to produce, I think I kind of miss it. This new fear of random violence by terrorism just doesn't compare. I want the old fear of global annihilation at a moments notice back .

[MSM Hobbes]

I'm afraid that Russia is still, to paraphrase & butcher a great man's words, a large dark unknown enigma wrapped in a riddle within a conundrum inside a mystery. Throw in some corruption [yes, worse and/or different versions thereof than here in the US], a proud people who evidently tend to prefer authoritative rule instead of democracy, a political power structure trying to find its way in the "new" world post-USSR, a shot or two of vodka, and whatcha expect to get?

[angelize56]

*BUMP* Answer the guy's question!

[MSM Hobbes]

I did. Silly.

[angelize56]

I know ....he mentioned this in the other thread so I thought I'd bump it because I felt bad it got so little response! All I can say is that in the end times Russia will not be our friend and will come after us!

[Wino]

IMHO, biggest mistake we ever made was allowing communist (USSR) Russia to fail.

[MSM Hobbes]

Wino... curious to know, why you state/believe that?

[angelize56]

He's stoned!

[Maritimesea]

Ha!! Thanks angelize lol, but I wasn't being serious in the other thread. Not evryones threads get going as much as others, I understand that. Again thanks for the motherly attention lol

[angelize56]

You're welcome! *Motherly Hug*

[lighthouse]

Here's a question. What d'you suppose the Russian government are going to do with the billions of dollars sequested from the Oligarchs when the previous owners were jailed? A lot of assets were/are acquired by the state during this process and will be used in the future to develop russian business along more 'statist' lines (not communist - because it works on a capitalistic basis). What this means is that proceeding generations of Russian leaders might well become more powerful than their communist predecessors because their sphere of influence won't be stunted by ideology.

Also what do you think the Russian underworld is going to do in the 21st century - as its personell (including former KGB officers and highly skilled former military people) will know everything our preventative agencies MI5/6 CIA/FBI MOSSAD etc do in their work? Combatting the Mafia,Triads,Yakusa, Medillin etc was comparatively easy until you're up against people who used to do your job before the USSR was disolved and large amounts of them were put out of legitamate work. I think we can (un)safely assume that they will effectively take control of global crime in the next few decades as their 20th century western/oriental counterparts are completely outclassed, outgunned, and out manouvred.

As legitamate business and crime are increasingly indistinguishable in this ever cynical and increasingly manipulative age what will happen when the above factors work concurrently?

Ladies and Gentlemen are we all becoming yesterdays men and women?