Deputy Prime Minister Sergei Ivanov's audience was composed of defense ministers, military officials and scholars. From various news sources I have tried to cobble together enough of his words to reach a semblance of coherency. In the Q & A Ivanov addressed Russian interests which pertained to the export of heroin:
The most popular is the northern route.The Soviet occupation of Afghanistan, which lasted from from 1979-1989, cost over 13,000 Soviet lives and contributed to the breakup of the Soviet Union.It's rather easy to cross the Afghan-Tajik border. As soon as you cross the Afghan-Tajik border, it's easy to move it to Moscow, to London, to Paris, to Berlin, to elsewhere.... A lot should be done in just starting very primitive social-economic life in Afghanistan. If we don’t do that, any military presence would be in vain.... the duty rests those who took responsibility for ensuring peace and stability in Afghanistan..... By the way, next year I think the ISAF will break the Soviet record of the duration of stay in Afghanistan...
I can't give advice, particularly publicly .... I have to confess... meeting American defense secretaries, central intelligence chiefs, state department chiefs, we discussed it ...If we are asked, we answer, but it's difficult to comment publicly, really difficult. We are already helping a lot in ISAF operations in Afghanistan, providing logistic support, transport support, intelligence support -- whatever.
Except one thing: Never again a Russian soldier would enter Afghanistan. I think you understand why. It's like asking the United States whether they will send troops to Vietnam.
It's something like that. It's totally impossible.
It's Biblical:
ReplyDelete"Let those who have ears to hear, hear."
I think maybe Ivanov is just trying to get ISAF to play Russian Roulette just a little while longer?
ReplyDeleteThis is the currency of the territory. Right? It's always been so.
ReplyDeleteWe lost 10 more NATO soldiers today and a couple civilians training Afghans. It is our longest war and unless we get the hell out of there we will beat Russia and be there until they kick us out and we join the graveyard of Nations.
ReplyDeleteThe occupations are in the interests of Russia and China. They drain our resources and the end result will be nothing has changed. We just had our ability to compete economically with Russia and China, the world for that matter comprimised because we are either too proud or stupid to leave.
ReplyDeleteWhenever we attack, they retreat. When we pound them with missiles and heavy artillery, they retreat even deeper. But when we stopped pounding, they pushed to the airport for propaganda purposes. We are winning, god is great!
ReplyDeleteBy the way, next year I think the ISAF will break the Soviet record of the duration of stay in Afghanistan...
ReplyDeleteCool!!!! Nice to know the good old USA will beat the Russkies in another record.
Beach, Sarcasm duly noted. Yours, too, Muhammed Saeed al-Sahaf
ReplyDelete@Truth101
ReplyDelete"The occupations are in the interests of Russia and China. They drain our resources and the end result will be nothing has changed."
...Fuck yeah. That's the truth all right.
-SJ
I'm 47 but I still like a pat on the back now and then. Thanks SJ.
ReplyDeleteIran and North Korea are probably enjoying/benefitting from the drama, too.....Those countries, the ones with the supposedly crazy leaders.
ReplyDelete