By Randy A. Sprinkle

“The United States will make no concessions to terrorist demands and strike no deals with them. We make no distinction between terrorists and those who knowingly harbor or provide aid to them.” - George W. Bush

This statement made after the September 11th attacks resonated with America. It was clear and concise and readily understandable. There were not many at that time however who realized the great complexity of this statement in terms of application - it seemed a very simple yet effective strategy. First, there were the terrorists. Second, there were “those who knowingly harbor” them. Thirdly, (and this is where it became complicated) there were those who “provide aid to them.”

We already knew who the terrorist organizations and who their states were. However, as we tracked terrorist cells and uncovered more information on their financial transactions and supply chains, it became evident that they were sustained not only by a few rouge nations, but by great nations and organizations who were providing arms, materials, and financial support that would either go directly or indirectly to terrorist organizations. Even more, terrorist states have found diplomatic support at the international level, and many of their providers are involved in the decision making process as to how they will be dealt with.

In the al Qaeda strongholds of Afghanistan we found large caches of Chinese weaponry. In Iraq we have uncovered many connections which existed between Saddam and Russia in violation of international agreements. So involved and substantial are they, that complete disclosure could start another Cold War.

Even so, today Russia continues to support and arm terrorist states.

According to John Batchelor in July, 28th edition of the New York Sun:

Iran will not turn off the flow. And the rearming of Lebanon through Syria also includes the very latest, best Russian and Chinese origin equipment, including the SA-18 shoulder-fired anti-aircraft missile, Sagger and Kornet antitank missiles, at least one battery of Silkworm anti-ship missiles, and multiple combinations of Zelzal-2 missiles and Fajr-3,5 rockets that can easily reach Tel Aviv and, with smaller warheads, much farther, to Jerusalem. A decision to strike Jerusalem has not been announced. Nonetheless, high-explosive warheads are poised to strike civilian populations: at least one Scud-type missile has already been found underwater in Haifa harbor”

Fire is a very dangerous but useful tool. Both Russia and China have been burned by terrorism. It would appear however, judging by their actions, that a decision has been made to support rouge nations and confront the West by proxy to achieve their goals. Not only are they providing rouge nations logistically with all that they need, they continue to intervene on their behalf at the United Nations to either obstruct or dilute any actions against them.

In the Far East, mainly China works through North Korea, while both China and Russia are heavily involved with Arab states in the Middle East. Turning westward Russian President Putin and Venezuela’s Hugo Chavez have now embraced and formed a multi-billion dollar pact that will arm Venezuela and provide “military and technical cooperation.” Outside the Kremlin, Chavez made some of the following comments:

“The biggest threat that exists in the world is the empire of the United States,” he said at the unveiling of a bust of Bolivar, a Venezuelan national liberation hero, at Moscow’s Library of Foreign Literature.

He also called the United States “a mindless, blind and stupid giant that does not understand the world, does not understand human rights, does not understand anything in humanism, culture and consciousness.”

Ivan Safranchuk, head of the Moscow bureau of the Center for Defense Information, a U.S. think tank, said such outbursts by Chavez fitted well with growing anti-American sentiments among Kremlin officials.

“Venezuela will serve Russia well by slamming the United States in the United Nations Security Council, using words Moscow will like but would not want to utter itself,” Safranchuk said. - The Moscow Times

It is clear - Russia will be using Venezuela by proxy. The Russians have produced a number of brilliant chess players and they seemed to have learned from the Cold War that they cannot win confronting America directly. By forcing America to focus not on one adversary, but many throughout the world, they can weaken their opponent in a number of ways. No longer are US resources concentrated on one type of threat from only a few sources. No longer is funding for defense and security focused. We have become spread out in many ways.

Another interesting side note on the Hugo Chavez trip to Moscow is where he went when he departed. He chose to spend his birthday in Iran where its President Ahmadinejad will present him with a medal and some oil investment deals.

If we put all these things together in context we have a very ominous picture.

More on Russia, China, Iran, North Korea, and Venezuela (an Axis of Evil):

• Axis of Evil: Not Just Talk
• Iran’s “Allies” to the Rescue
• Olmert Getting Some Sense? Nonsense from Russia
• Measuring Loyalties to the Russian Empire (the Good Old Days)
• Japan vs. China [and Russia, Iran, N. Korea]
• El Jefe II (Chavez) Stikes Against Free Press

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Related: United States, Dictator Watch, China, Terrorist Groups, Latin America, North Korea, Russia

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