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ARMENIAN WEAPONS SALES UNDERMINE U.S.
ARASH HAKAKZADEH Sherman Oaks
Washington Times
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2010/dec/23/armenian-weapons-sales-undermine-us/
Dec 23 2010
Successive U.S. administrations since the 1979 Islamic revolution
have viewed Iran as a dire and existential threat to America and its
allies in the Persian Gulf, the broader Middle East and Eurasia. They
have thus sought to limit Iran's military capabilities ever since.
Curtailing arms supplies and military technology to Iran has formed
an important part of the U.S. agenda and foreign policy, particularly
in light of ongoing U.S. and NATO military operations in Afghanistan
and Iraq. To its credit, the United States has successfully persuaded
most of its allies not to sell arms to the Iranian military or its
security apparatus.
To thwart U.S. efforts, Iran has cultivated close relationships
with foreign suppliers that are not necessarily allied with the
United States. Iran remains reliant on foreign suppliers, such as
China, Russia and North Korea to develop its military might. Sadly,
it appears that another nation with whom the U.S. has ties, Armenia,
can now take its place in the aforementioned list of states supplying
the Iranian military with arms.
It is troubling to learn about the recent WikiLeaks disclosure of
more than 250,000 diplomatic cables, all apparently from the State
Department, which will no doubt have major impact on the United States'
national security. It is as troubling to learn of Armenia's transfer
of arms to Iran, which reportedly resulted in the death and injury of
American troops in Iraq. We now know where Armenia stands, what its
preferences are and where its loyalties lie. With a friend like this,
who needs enemies?
In December 2008, then-Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte
wrote a letter to Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan expressing his
concerns about Armenia's transfer of arms to Iran. In his letter, Mr.
Negroponte noted that by law, the transfer of weapons to Iran requires
the United States to consider whether there is a basis for sanctions
against Armenia. It is important to note that the bills of lading
associated with the arms transferred to Iran were signed by none
other than then-Defense Minister Serzh Sargysan.
The United States cannot have a trauma of this magnitude and somehow
overlook it. Let's hope Mr. Negroponte's message is followed up by
the Obama administration.
From: A. Papazian
ARASH HAKAKZADEH Sherman Oaks
Washington Times
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2010/dec/23/armenian-weapons-sales-undermine-us/
Dec 23 2010
Successive U.S. administrations since the 1979 Islamic revolution
have viewed Iran as a dire and existential threat to America and its
allies in the Persian Gulf, the broader Middle East and Eurasia. They
have thus sought to limit Iran's military capabilities ever since.
Curtailing arms supplies and military technology to Iran has formed
an important part of the U.S. agenda and foreign policy, particularly
in light of ongoing U.S. and NATO military operations in Afghanistan
and Iraq. To its credit, the United States has successfully persuaded
most of its allies not to sell arms to the Iranian military or its
security apparatus.
To thwart U.S. efforts, Iran has cultivated close relationships
with foreign suppliers that are not necessarily allied with the
United States. Iran remains reliant on foreign suppliers, such as
China, Russia and North Korea to develop its military might. Sadly,
it appears that another nation with whom the U.S. has ties, Armenia,
can now take its place in the aforementioned list of states supplying
the Iranian military with arms.
It is troubling to learn about the recent WikiLeaks disclosure of
more than 250,000 diplomatic cables, all apparently from the State
Department, which will no doubt have major impact on the United States'
national security. It is as troubling to learn of Armenia's transfer
of arms to Iran, which reportedly resulted in the death and injury of
American troops in Iraq. We now know where Armenia stands, what its
preferences are and where its loyalties lie. With a friend like this,
who needs enemies?
In December 2008, then-Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte
wrote a letter to Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan expressing his
concerns about Armenia's transfer of arms to Iran. In his letter, Mr.
Negroponte noted that by law, the transfer of weapons to Iran requires
the United States to consider whether there is a basis for sanctions
against Armenia. It is important to note that the bills of lading
associated with the arms transferred to Iran were signed by none
other than then-Defense Minister Serzh Sargysan.
The United States cannot have a trauma of this magnitude and somehow
overlook it. Let's hope Mr. Negroponte's message is followed up by
the Obama administration.
From: A. Papazian