Actually, the idea is not so strange,†says the article entitled “Come share our rusty, resented radar†by Reporter Thomas Goltz, author of "Azerbaijan Diary†in The International Herald Tribune, APA’s US bureau reports.
The reporter writes Azerbaijan is in many ways the most logical place to set up an early warning system, if Bush’s concerns are really about the future nuclear capabilities of Iran or terrorists in the larger Middle East.
“Indeed, it was in the former Soviet republic of Azerbaijan - outside the town of Gabala on the southern slopes of the eastern Caucasus Mountains - that the Soviet Union erected its own massive early-warning radar system.
Although antiquated now, Gabala continues to function as Russia’s eyes and ears on the Middle East, picking up spy signals, it is said, from as far away as Cairo, Oman and the Indian Ocean.
More to the point, the station is a bone of contention between Azerbaijan and Russia, as it represents the last piece of Russian military presence in Azerbaijan. Another source of friction over the station is the claim, often repeated by local media, that the radar emits radiation that causes everything from infertility to cancer.
It was less surprising that Putin offered Bush the use of Gabala, than that he invited the Americans to set up shop in Azerbaijan at all.
So, what is Putin’s gambit all about? One explanation is that he wants to put American radar where it would be looking out of Russia, rather than in.
Another is that in "ceding" the last piece of Russian military presence in Azerbaijan to the United States, Putin means to shift the onus of a foreign presence to the Americans, and then wait for resentment to well up among the population at large.
Another is that by bringing in the Americans into a joint military installation in Gabala, Russia will have gained a binding legal presence in Azerbaijan for the first time in almost 15 years - at least until the Americans leave (or are asked to leave, as in Uzbekistan).
Thomas Goltz, a visiting scholar on Caucasus affairs at the University of Montana’s Central and Southwest Asia Studies Program, is the author of "Azerbaijan Diary: A Rogue Reporter’s Adventures in an Oil-Rich, War-Torn, Post-Soviet Republic." ./APA/
Thomas Goltz: Azerbaijan is in many ways the most logical place to set up an early warning system, if Bush’s concerns are really about the future nuclear capabilities of Iran
21 June 2007 09:35 (UTC +04:00)
Follow us on Telegram
t.me/apanewsaz
Follow us on Instagram
Follow us on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter
Americas
Saudi crown prince, US national security adviser meet on Gaza, bilateral ties
07:38
19 May 2024
Seven dead after powerful storms slam Houston, Texas
07:32
18 May 2024
Pentagon to host virtual meeting of Ukraine Defense Contact Group on May 20
23:40
17 May 2024
Brazilian president will not attend peace summit on Ukraine
14:32
17 May 2024
NEWS FEED
National flag at Iranian embassy in Azerbaijan was lowered to half-mast
11:11
20 May 2024
Delegation of Latvian Parliament visit grave of National Leader of Azerbaijan and Alley of Martyrs -PHOTO
11:04
20 May 2024
Minister: Increase observed in transportation volume managed through Middle Corridor
10:53
20 May 2024
Azerbaijan's MFA and Foreign Minister conveyed their condolences to Iran
10:33
20 May 2024
Bodies of Iranian president and others killed in helicopter crash sent to Tabriz, the search is over-VIDEO
10:20
20 May 2024
Azerbaijani President conveyed his condolences to the Supreme Leader of Iran
10:07
20 May 2024
Mohammad Mokhber to exercise powers of president of Iran
09:48
20 May 2024
Natural gas prices surge at NYMEX
09:30
20 May 2024
Indonesia minister says Musk to consider offer to build EV battery plant in country
09:05
20 May 2024
Iranian media: Iran's President and his staff died in a helicopter crash
08:03
20 May 2024
Iran RCS: Remains of the helicopter found, but no signs of alive passengers
07:45
20 May 2024
Reuters: Helicopter of the President of Iran, Ibrahim Raisi, was completely burnt as a result of the accident -VIDEO
07:20
20 May 2024
Wreckage of helicopter carrying Iran’s president located as rescue efforts continue
06:26
20 May 2024
Türkiye’s Akinci UAV identifies source of heat suspected to be crash site of Iranian president’s helicopter-VIDEO
05:46
20 May 2024
DPRK forced to take measures to increase nuclear deterrence after US test — statement
04:27
20 May 2024
Rasisi’s helicopter passenger twice called to say he was feeling bad — senior diplomat
02:10
20 May 2024
MES: Azerbaijan is ready to send 40 rescuers to search-rescue operation in Iran
01:33
20 May 2024
Saudi king diagnosed with lung inflammation
00:40
20 May 2024
Location of Iranian president's crashed helicopter discovered
23:30
19 May 2024
Türkiye sending night vision search helicopter, 32 rescuers, 6 vehicles to help Iran find president's crashed copter
23:18
19 May 2024
Fenerbahçe wins derby against Galatasaray
23:00
19 May 2024
Presidents of Azerbaijan and Iran met in the presence of delegations-PHOTO-UPDATED-1
22:30
19 May 2024
Iran asks EU for help in finding missing president
21:45
19 May 2024
Türkiye monitoring developments in Iranian president's helicopter crash
21:40
19 May 2024
President of Iran: "We were one of the first countries to explicitly state that Karabakh is the territory of Azerbaijan"
21:30
19 May 2024
Seyyed Ebrahim Raisi: "The most important issue for us is the interests of our countries"
21:27
19 May 2024
Manchester City win record fourth-successive Premier League title
21:15
19 May 2024
President Ilham Aliyev, President Ebrahim Raisi attended commissioning ceremony of Khudafarin hydroelectric complex, opening ceremony of Giz Galasi hydroelectric complex-PHOTO-UPDATED-1
20:50
19 May 2024
Search operation underway to find Iranian President's helicopter-VIDEO-UPDATED-1
20:15
19 May 2024
Azerbaijan, as friendly and brotherly nation, is ready to provide all necessary support to Iran, says MFA
20:08
19 May 2024
Azerbaijan ready to provide assistance regarding helicopter incident involving President of Iran - President Ilham Aliyev
19:53
19 May 2024
Lives of Raisi, Iranian FM at risk after helicopter crash - Reuters
19:39
19 May 2024
Several injured as passenger buses collide in Baku-PHOTO
17:04
19 May 2024
Chairman of the Latvian Parliament visited Azerbaijan's Shusha
16:12
19 May 2024
New page opens in Iranian-Azerbaijani relations - ambassador
16:11
19 May 2024
Seyyed Ebrahim Raisi: Iran's relationship with Azerbaijan is more than a relationship with a neighbor
15:02
19 May 2024
President Ilham Aliyev: Iran-Azerbaijan unity and friendship is unshakable
14:49
19 May 2024
President of Azerbaijan: I do hope that Armenia contributes to regional cooperation, not damage it, by conducting the right policy
14:48
19 May 2024
President of Azerbaijan: I do hope that Armenia contributes to regional cooperation, not damage it, by conducting the right policy
14:31
19 May 2024
President: The interference of non-regional countries in our affairs is unacceptable
14:30
19 May 2024
President Ilham Aliyev: We welcome Iran's support regarding peace agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia
14:18
19 May 2024
President: Creation of “green energy” sources in Karabakh, East Zangezur, and Nakhchivan will benefit the entire region
14:10
19 May 2024
President of Azerbaijan: We have major plans in the field of energy
14:08
19 May 2024
President Ilham Aliyev: Iranian-Azerbaijani friendship and brotherhood are an important factor for the stability of the region
14:03
19 May 2024
Interstate relations between Iran and Azerbaijan reached the highest
13:54
19 May 2024
President Ilham Aliyev: The opening of the "Giz Galasi" hydroelectric complex and the commissioning of the “Khudafarin” hydroelectric complex are historic events
13:51
19 May 2024
Speaker of Latvian Parliament arrives in Fuzuli-PHOTO
13:42
19 May 2024
President of Iran: This is a very successful meeting for the two nations"
13:27
19 May 2024
Houthis attack tanker in Red Sea
10:24
19 May 2024
House explosion in Türkiye injures seven
09:41
19 May 2024
