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03/24/2003 Entry: "Payback Time?"

Payback Time?

After hearing of the Russians' sale of night vision goggles to the Iraqis and the US Guvmint's formal protest of same, I can't help but think back to the Russia-Afghanistan war and the "secret" aid the CIA provided to the local Afghan forces in the form of weapons (missiles, etc.) and advisors (e.g. Rambo's boss). This sort of technology sale ought to be expected since the CIA has upgraded anti-commie rebel forces for decades. It might even fall into the classification of 'blowback', or the usual unintended consequences of CIA activities.

That France and Germany have been selling western expertise and hardware to Iraq also doesn't surprise me. The NATO alliance is far more fragile now; with the vanished Soviet threat, NATO really is of no more use to the French and Germans. I see the collapse of the NATO alliance if they have no more reason to remain. They got what they wanted, and they're done with us now.

Anyway, the "They Wouldn't Dare" attitude of US media and policymakers that I've seen in the past is rapidly deteriorating. It's being replaced with, "Oh shit, what can we do about it now? I know, we'll send someone over to formally protest!"

It may be time to look at all the technology the Chinese have been buying/stealing. Who knows how much of it will end up in North Korean hands? If it's convenient for the Chinese to use North Korea in this way, I expect we may be "surprised" again.

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