While the US- Iranian nuclear weapons program continues to its boiling point this summer, there is another brew on high simmer between the US and Russia. Keep in mind, Russia and China both have opposed the Iranian sanctions and continue fairly close relations to it for economical interests.

Before, Russia has hinted of some sort of action if the NATO-US missile shield aimed at intercepting Iranian missiles directed at Europe, now it is strong threat. In fact, Russia has vowed to conduct an pre-emptive strike in Eastern Europe if the US continues building the missile shield.

According to the Russians, the US talks about this shield are at a dead end. Russia simply does not trust what the US is telling them that the shield is NOT directed at them, only Iran. Russia thinks it will undermine their nuclear abilities. What Russia wants is to be included in the missile shields operations, something NATO\US totally reject. Both sides have a healthy does of high level distrust, just like in the Cold War period. The Russians even admit that having decades of distrust is a legacy left from the Cold War and is not easily removed, even for the Americans.

It is one of those arguments that is "he-said, she said". By the US not including the Russians in even limited operations or planning for the shield sends a negative message. Russia has been included in other military related issues before. It is probably because of the technology and distrust. Russia, now states, okay, we will take it out when it is operational. Now what? Both countries are now eye to eye. Does the US call the Russian bluff? What if it is not a bluff, then what? What does the US do? Escalate and confront?

Meanwhile, Iran gets into the act. Does something equally bad in the Persian Gulf as July approaches,like disrupting or closing the Hormuz Straits, causing massive jumps in fuel. That, greatly impacts the American anemic economic recovery sending it into failure. It wouldn't take much. What if Iran tosses a missile or two toward the shield as Russia makes good on its promise?

Adding to the mess, is Israel, which has just received it 4th nuclear submarine from Germany for a half billion dollars (German has subsidized it) due to arrive next year. Ironically, because of history, Germany is Israel's strongest ally in Europe. There is little question that Israel has armed its three nuclear submarines of the Dolphin class.

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