Opinion
New eastern front
Roni Sofer
Published: 02.11.07, 07:33
Comment Comment
Print comment Print comment
Back to article
29 Talkbacks for this article
1. china knows what happens in N.Korea
mb ,   world   (11.02.07)
Livini must get out of the chair. China has its own interest in north korea and knows very well what happens there. Or if, china wants to know, they have the ways.China knows very well, about the race to get plutonioum bomb in syria and iran. They dont need the proof that they already knows. What we need is or resolve by israel the israel problem, or show the world the proof of North korea, china backed involvment in the question.
2. Stupid
Aharon   (11.02.07)
Russia and China won't be risking their necks for Iran. This is just stupid.
3. The Russian and Chinese know exactly what Iran is doing!
Stewart ,   USA   (11.02.07)
"They don't believe?" The Russians and Chinese love making money off Iran. Meanwhile, Russia would love to get the US to take care of Iran so they don't have to. The last thing they want is a nuclear Muslim Republic on their flank.
4. Will create
David ,   Richmond VA,   (11.02.07)
You had my complete agrement until the very end. The eastern front will not be created as a result of the iranian issue. The new eastern front created this issue. The question is when are all of the players going to realise this and be prepared.
5. No settlers no threat!
Left-wing realist   (11.02.07)
It's obvious to everyone on the left that all our toubles are only because of the persistent efforts of settlers to remain. We should quickly remove settlers to live in more acceptable parts of Israel. We should also move all Jews that live in any areas that annoy Arabs, like Sderot, parts of the Negev, and yes even much of the Galilee. We should be an example to the right wing that peace can and must be achieved through giving the Arabs everything they want.
6. Not a realistic conclusion.
Terry ,   Eilat, Israel   (11.02.07)
For their own reasons, Russia & China support Iran. The Russians & Chinese, whatever their faults, are not naive fools. They know as well as everyone else Iran's intentions. Russia & China will not start a new cold war because of Iran. They have far larger interests to protect. Certainly, they will protest any actions against Iran. They will portray themselves as against American dominance, etc. etc. - the usual anti-US rhetoric so popular these days. I'm sure nothing will make them happier than portraying the US as a warmonger. That being said, and as much as they will miss Iranian money, their protests will remain purely verbal & will not likely change any other policies. I'm sure Russia is enjoying America's discomfort in Iraq but they also supported Saddam & watched from the side-lines as America took him out. Exaggerating the reaction of Russia & China is just another rationalization for inaction. Those who oppose military action against Iran are marshalling their arguments as are those who support military action. And in a twist of irony, we who are undoubtably the first target of an Iranian bomb, ultimately have little influence on the outcome of the debate.
7. Same old story
Concerned Israeli   (11.02.07)
Jews have always been stuck in the middle. In ancient Israel, we were at the crossroads of civilization, between Europe, Africa and Mesopotamia. Then, when we were dispersed all over the world, we were spiritually divided between the Diaspora and our Jewish identity. WWI and WWII both saw Israel divided in the conflict, the Cold War almost reached a nuclear disaster because of tensions here, and now we are on the front line of the war on terror which includes a battle of superpowers and those aspiring to be. It's nothing new.
8. # 5 Even Jerusalem ?
Abel Shoni ,   France   (11.02.07)
You wrote : "We should be an example to the right wing that peace can and must be achieved through giving the Arabs everything they want." Why not give them all Israel ?
9. Sarcasm
Robert ,   New Jersey, USA   (11.02.07)
That's all #5's post is. Don't get too hot under the collar. Often the best way to highlight absurdity is to be absurd.
10. Gog and Mogog/Armageddon
Mark ,   USA   (11.02.07)
The final battle is approaching!
11. Give Tawain Nukes
David ,   California   (11.02.07)
And Japan for that matter.
12. Armageddon
PG ,   USA   (11.02.07)
......is coming.
13. #10---Mark. You Say With Glee.
ER   (11.02.07)
14. #11---Dovid---Better Still...
ER   (11.02.07)
Have Tawain remove her settlers and return half of island to China too.
15. #5. Good Idea
ER   (11.02.07)
A world without Jews would solve our most pressing problems. We could carry on without a conscience!
16. No Country Gives a Damn What Israel Wants
Lev Bronstein ,   Moscow, Russia   (11.02.07)
Except in the minds of some Israelis, Israel is not an important factor in the scope of world affairs other than the problems that their illegal occupations cause for the region. Russia has good relations with the US as well as China and Iran and is not looking for another cold war, but rather wants to see Israel end its many illegal occupations and for the US to restrain Israeli aggression which is a far bigger threat to world peace than Iran’s civilian nuclear program.
17. Was the Tsipi communicating in Chinese?
Condi Friedrice ,   Washington DC   (11.02.07)
hopefully it wasn't in English, a language she doesn't understand nor speak very well
18. the west "could" force the russians&chinese....
jack bauer ,   wake up   (11.03.07)
Duh, they already are partners in crime! Where do you think the Iranians got their missile and nuke technology from? Mexico? Ghana? Sweden? Give me a frigging break We all know it already comes from China and Russia
19. Wanna know a secret? the real truth in the struggle?
jack bauer   (11.03.07)
If the conflict between Israel and the arabs continue.....If the Iranian threat continues....the end result will be.... a continuing weapons/intel escalation. That means there are more development that the chinese can then steal or buy and by looking at their track record their desires seem clear. As for the putin angle.....continued problems give him and his buddies more power and profits from weapons sales....not to mention high prices in oil and metals!
20. #16 RUSSIAN YOU KNOW NO HISTORY
Petra ,   usa   (11.03.07)
COMMUNISM KNOWS NO HISTORY BUT ITS OWN AND THAT ENDED YEARS AGO. SOMEONE SAID IT BETTER THAN I, 'COMMUNISM A 70 YEAR OLD ROAD TO NOWHERE.' RUSSIA IS POVERTY STRICKEN AND HAS ISLAMIC PROBLEMS MORE THAN US. PROTECT YOUR OWN AND THE ALLIES FOR ISRAEL SHALL PREVAIL.. STAY IGNORANT. RUSSIA ALWAYS GETS IN THE MIDDLE OF AN ARGUMENT, ONLY FOR HER OWN ADVANTAGE. OIL IS HER god.
21. To Terry: Right On, But
Dave Levy ,   Burbank. CAUSA   (11.03.07)
To Terry: I agree that Israel seems to be always at the focal point of these geo--political problems. The Iranians and others are adroitly maneuvering Israel (and US Jews), to the middle., just as the Arab world still thinks Mossad instigated 911. The Jews are always responsible according to Hitler, and now Ahmad. Israel is seen as the reason for worldwide terrorism. It's convenient Jews again scapegoated. Judas again. China and Russia do in fact have their own reasons...just as we (US) have, for our relations with Iran. Russia is tired of being humilated and China is becoming a rival to US. Yet we trade with both..and have good relations. Iran is benefitting from Iraq and Afghanistan and the instability in Pakistan. Bush is criticized locally for statements about WW3..and he is credited with the increase in oil. (How absurd). Yet responisible people think that way. Yet Iran has refused enriched uranium from both Russia and Saudi Arabia to quiet the tension. Why? It's obvious. The bottom line: neither China nor Russia want a conflict over Iran-Israel. But things are getting out of hand.
22. To Concerned Israeli: Right On
Dave Levy ,   Burbank CAUSA   (11.03.07)
This is the bottom line: had we Jews not been persecuted, we would today number 50 to 100 million. We Jews lost more people totally during WW2, than German and Japanese battle deaths. And they started the war to "Create a new world order", sans Jews. Now, 911 is blamed on Mossad. Terrorism worldwide is caused by Israel and the "Jewish lobby" (ie, the neo-cons). Iranian officials say the neo-cons pushed Bush into invading Iraq..even though the UNSC passed 16 resolutions. Is there an anwer? I don't know..people will say what they want. BUT, Israel must be a garrison state in the near and maybe distant future., with it's (hopefully) 400 nukes..(I would want much more). It's about the Bar Lev line..if strong, then Israel will survive. If weak...remember 1973. When we Diaspora Jews understand the above, it will be a move in the right direction for all of US. Hitler succeeded caus Jews were weak and w/o a country. Well, now we have a country.
23. To Concerned Israel: Israel Must Be Fortified To Survive
Dave Levy ,   Burbank. CAUSA   (11.03.07)
I would not want to give Taiwan nukes....that would infuriate China. Israel needs more (not less) nukes itself. Israel must have a 2nd and 3rd strike capability...but 1 strike against it would suffice to end the Jewish experiement (do you hear that Fareed Zakaria?). It's really MAD, that applies to Israel's status in the world. Hitler succeeded caus no cared about weak and hapless Jews, Einstein and Fermi and Oppenheimer notwithstanding. They won the war for the Allies. allowing for Japan to be defeated, and stalling Germany's arms development. Soooo, we Jews got back at the NAZIs and fascists...but too late for our own survival. Israel is as strong and viable as it's Bar Lev line...which failed in 73 thanks to complacency and a pompous electorate. Nothing stays static in life and war.
24. I buy Israeli goods.
Damir ,   Russia   (11.03.07)
I have just bought a pack of radishes. Hope they're good. I point yet another source of information on Iran which is available to Russian external Intelligence: Iranian students who studied in Russia. I wonder how many of them write a note or two regularly to an inconspicious mail address? Should I remind anyone about Putin's background?
25. Up until june 41, Stalin had no problem trading with Hitler
AK   (11.03.07)
why would anybody doubt that today's Russia and China are any diferent where Iran is concerned. Of cause, the last time tens of millions of Russians paid with their lives for Stalin's folly, and it is not going to end any different this time around.
26. Left-wing realist, you're no realist.
AK   (11.03.07)
You are a joker who forgot his sarc marks at the end.
27. Terry, I hope you're right.
AK   (11.03.07)
But after the Iraq debacle, I fear, your theory will not be tested; everybody will just wait until it is too late.
28. #16, Neither was Czechoslovakia
AK   (11.03.07)
Yet, it was the betrayal of Czechoslovakia that made WW2 inevitable. Nobody wanted to risk a war for Czechoslovakia,so everybody pretended that abandoning a tiny country with a first-rate armaments industry was insignificant. As it happens, Israel is also a tiny, insignificant country with a powerful armament industry. Can anybody honestly state that the world would be safer if Israel's armament industry were to fall into the hands of those whose final aim is world domination? Russians sold to Hitler's Germany anything they wanted in 39, 40 and half of 41 and then were surprised when attacked. Learn your history so you don't make the same mistake twice.
29. IRAN NUCLEAR AMBITIONS
Waleed ,   Kuwait   (11.04.07)
In Kuwait, we totally agree that iran is heading to create the atomic bomb since iran shows an aggressive attitude towards the process of nuclear bomb production. We can ask ourselves why would iran want to finish from nuclear plants establishment? are they in need to nuclear produced electricity? do they have a superior infra-structure which requires a massive load of electricity? this is all bullshit. Iran wants the atomic bomb so bad. Their intension is to terrify arab gulf countries + state of israel.
Back to article