.....but back up a second we're not talking about nuclear programmes or missile shields thats all just fluff.... what we're talking about is international relations and the consequences of ones descisions! Russia has a relationship with Iran the US does not - who has the most "influence" in that region?............Russia or the US?
The US has a problem in that their position is purely based on an armed hold on Iraq with more to lose than any other nation in that region, but as you pointed out Saudi Arabia is also a major benefactor of a dominant US in the Middle East! As we've discussed Obama is looking for an exit strategy but it has to be on terms that would be acceptable to the coalition, Iraq and especially to Saudi Arabia - a destabilised Iraq controlled by a dominant Iran would leave the Saudi Royal family extremely concerned! The US has to maintain stability in that region if they wish to maintain the perception that they are in control of the region thus keeping the Saudis happy!
Consider this for a second..... If the Saudi Royal family percieve a weakness in the US position then they may look to others in order to secure their borders and promote their interests with the Iranians. Due to political and economic interests and diplomatic influence the Saudis may hedge their bets and strengthen their ties with the Russians or indeed the Chinese! Thus my argument about unintended consequences.
as the US and the UK has been doing in the Middle East and all over the world for decades...if you make weapons you sell weapons...no big deal.
....Russia doesn't hate the US!! they don't trust the US which is quite different.... have you forgotten your Cold War?...its all part of the game!
...huh?? you already have one? its called NORAD......as for other European countries well.....we have all sorts of wonderful shoot bang stuff that can be deployed as well as being part of NATO. BUT, if they did require assistance from the US then enter the much renown Raytheon Patriot system which as you capably demonstrated in Israel can be loaded, deployed and on-line in any part of the world inside of a few days or so....that's the missile shield that we're talking about here!
Anyway missiles schmissiles we're discussing Israel. The biggest ally you have in the Middle East is Israel and the main belligerents are Syria and Iran and their proxies in Palestine all of whom you are effectively isolated from. Russia on the other hand has relations with these countries and has influence in some capacity or another within these Governments. Thus, the continuation of this odd stance in Central Europe is odd especially since your portfolio of interests in the Middle East which are arguably more important in the short term (OIL) are in jepardy from not only local interests of Iran but also from Russia and China (OIL)! Perhaps the point has been reached where international relations should start to be less militaristic and more based on diplomacy and an inclusive dialogue which takes me back to where I started.....
"Your involvement around the world is welcomed and thus not at issue. What is at issue is the how US interacts with the rest of the world and the consequences of those interactions."
