Russia starts to airlift military engineering unit to Lebanon
The troops will rebuild bridges destroyed during the war, will not take part in peacekeeping operations.
By The Associated PressRussia on Tuesday began airlifting equipment and troops from a military engineering unit to Lebanon to aid the war-battered country's reconstruction.
Russian state news agency RIA-Novosti quoted Russian air force commander Vladimir Mikhailov as saying that the first flight carrying 17 soldiers and 80 tons of equipment left Tuesday morning and a second plane was scheduled to leave with 130 troops aboard.
Over a three-day period, Russia will send about 300 soldiers and 130 tons of equipment in total, he said.
The troops, which will rebuild bridges in Lebanon destroyed during the 34-day war, will not take part in peacekeeping operations.
Russia has not contributed troops to the 5,000-strong United Nations peacekeeping contingent in south Lebanon.
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Near East is part of ?globalization? in e v e r y respect. The sudden open USSR intervention in/form technical / rebuilding assistance in Lebanon which was/is considered a focal point in the Iranian push to become an areal decisive factor, can be seen only as a pre-emptive action against Chinese growing influence in the area. The Chinese presence in Lebanon became obvious through an Israel air attack on a UNIFIL outpost. Here between the killed UN personnel, Chinese bodies were recovered. In the Far East the policy by all concern still trying for a balancing act between China and USSR, versus USA/Japan and beginning Indian as main contenders- the Near East is and was always a bridge /jumping board from Asia to Europe and Africa in addition to the Mediterranean influential area for centuries. Here we seem to be confronted with "long term policy" based upon possible worldwide changes ?. Separate USSR and Iranian intelligence action for Lebanon are in line...
Dear friend There is nothing to worry about. Russia will never be a true ally of Arabs / or islam/. You will see, how soon will the Russians stab his arab allies in back. I know russian people well.
Seems like Russia is playing the same old game again with the US and Israel.
"Israel continues its dovish ways." when Chinese engineers were to help in the reconstruction of Lebanon's bridges, Israel issued a very public announcement that it would murder any Chinese enginners doing the work. so, Chaim, you get a few Shekels out of the "dovish" IDF bank raid on Gaza - or you get your handouts from elsewhere ?
So finally Putin has accepted his role as president of the only other power that can keep this world in a balanced check, and is aiding the sides that Washington/Tel Aviv IS attacking (singular, not plural). Very chic. Very Zen. Good, slow approach from the ashes of about 15 years of impotence and back into the field. If only Zidane would receive a similar epiphany. At least now we can be sure that the Kremlin has very up-to-date maps of Lebanon, for whatever inscrutable ends (intelligence is useful and can bring in huge sums from clients). Goody. One finger in Tehran, and now one in Beirut. What other key nations does the Kremlin need to dip into to balance measures out with Washington/Tel Aviv?
The noose tightens as Israel continues its dovish ways.
As haaretz report states in Last update - 10:47 03/10/2006 Syria, Iran intelligence services aided Hezbollah during war Quote "During the fighting in Lebanon Hezbollah received direct intelligence support from Syria, using data collected by listening posts jointly manned by Russian and Syrian crews." Russian Vodka is doing more than just the same with Iran nukes ect... Iran and Russia with states surrounding the Caspian Sea , north of Iran have recently conducted joint military exercise , cementing military relation in preps against any wacking on iran nukes ect..