Azerbaijan: U.S. Financing Radar Station Near Iranian Border Say Reports

[sabra]

http://www.adnki.com/index_2Level.php?cat=Security&loid=8.0.212306374&par=0

AZERBAIJAN: U.S. FINANCING RADAR STATION NEAR IRANIAN BORDER SAY REPORTS

Tehran, 26 Sept. (AKI) - The Iranian media has reported a decision by the United States to finance radar stations in the central Asian republic of Azerbaijan, that the government in Tehran says are part of a military strategy by Washington to encircle the Islamic Republic. One of the stations is reported to be 20 kilometres from the Iranian town of Astara, while another is situated in Khizi, 50 kilometres from the border with Russia.

The construction of the two stations is part of the Caspian Guard Initiative, an American project which aims to guarantee the security of the 3.6 billion dollar, 1,600 kilometre-long Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline that runs from Baku in Azerbaijan to the Turkish port city of Ceyhan.

According to the US embassy officials in the Azerbaijan capital Azera, the Caspian Guard Initiative will cost about 135 million US dollars.

The government in Tehran considers the project a cover for a larger project that will target the Iran militarily. It would also include other initiatives such as an air base that the Americans are constructing near Herat in Afghanistan, a naval base in Bahrain and various military structures in the south and north of Iraq.

[democracy eh]

1. the short cut to Tehran

is through Azerbaijan, therby not requiring a long arduous trek overland from Iraq or the Gulf.

[doublethink]

2. Yep ... I've been personally monitoring that little country ...

just north of Iran for a few months now. 'Azerbaijan' since Scott Ritter and Seymour Hersh mentioned it in their articles on any possible Bush military plan for Iran .... and what I have been seeing coming about up there is ominous. Anyone else looking into this Iran thing should keep an eye on this little country Azerbaijan. Rumsfields been up there a few times recently, Rice has had her meetings, NATO has had exercises with that little country's forces, the oil pipeline from Baku opened and has recently pumped oil to it's destination in the Black Sea (through Georgia) headed for the west. There was a rumor that U.S. Air forces might be placed in Azerbaijan when Uzbekistan told the U.S a couple of months ago to get out of that country, no confirmation yet on this though. Azerbaijan deny's this so far from what I can gather. We shall see. Peace.

on edit: to correct the pipeline route, not the Mediterranean, but the Black Sea.

[doublethink]

3. Seems Uzbekistan is letting the U.S. stay for now in that Country ....

with restrictions link http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=story_22-9-2005_pg4_25

[bananas]

4. "US has plans to invade Iran before Bush’s term ends"

In case anyone missed this yesterday:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=116&topic_id=11483&mesg_id=11483

[stillcool]

5. some cute links....

http://www.azer.com/aiweb/categories/magazine/41_folder/41_articles/41_chamberofcommerce.html

http://www.usacc.org/contents.php?cid=2