March 5, 2004 :: New York Times :: News
As often emphasized here, the greatest sources of ballistic missile proliferation are ultimately Russia and China, however much rogue state proxies may sometimes be involved. A story in today’s New York Times confirms this unappreciated fact, outlining how Russian ballistic missile technology aided Saddam Hussein’s missile programs until not too long before last year’s war.
The assistance of Russian engineers to Iraq’s missile programs constituted a violation of the United Nations sanctions. Like Russia’s assistance of Iran reported here yesterday, such aid also constitutes a reminder that Russia’s interests in proliferation are quite different than those of the United States. Russia’s contempt for parchment barriers such as UN resolutions or the Non-Proliferation Treaty would appear to be similar to that they had for the ABM Treaty, which they clearly violated.
It is worth nothing that whatever the status of Iraq’s formerly documented WMD programs, their work on ballistic missiles until just before the war began is undisputed.
(Article)» Mar. 4, 2004: Russia Providing Equipment for Iranian Missiles
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