Reuters is running with a story today (That Drudge is featuring) that says the Kremlin says Israel promised not to strike Iran. There's a few things odd about this story.
A. It quotes Russian President Dmitry Medvedev as stating that Israeli President Shimon Peres told him in August that Israel would not attack Iran. But the position of President in Israel is largely an honorary position. The real power is with the Prime Minister. Peres' comment is not too different than a comment in the United Sates, today, from Jimmy Carter or George Bush--it's more of an opinion,that doesn't carry weight.
B. The interview is running today, when the interview was done on Tuesday. Since Tuesday key facts have changed, such as, as Reuters reports: CNN interviewed Medvedev before the announcement that the White House on Thursday canceled plans to site elements of a missile shield in Poland and the Czech Republic.
C. The story makes reference to a meeting in August between between Medvedev and Peres. Yet, it does not reference the now public information that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met clandestinely with the Kremlin Monday. Clandestinely!
This sounds to me like a Russian attempt to calm Iranian fears that the Kremlin has sold it down the river. Which it appears is exactly what has been done. Time will tell.
Preemptive plausible deniability? Such a surprise on the international economic chessboard.
ReplyDeleteGreedy powerheads with a propensity toward violence remain in charge.