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RUSSIA
Strategic significance:
Veto power at the UN Security Council
In the 1991 Gulf War they:
Sought to broker a diplomatic solution, remained neutral
Now they:
Want a diplomatic solution, and have used their power at the UN to restrain the U.S.
Their interest in Iraq:
Some $8 billion in uncollected debt and massive contracts to develop Iraqi oilfields
Domestic concerns:
Moscow learned to live with U.S. world domination, and Chechnya is a more immediate concern
Price for backing the U.S.:
Guarantees that they'll collect on their debts and maintain their oil contracts. Moscow also wants a green light to attack Chechen strongholds in NATO-friendly Georgia
A Russian viewpoint: http://english.pravda.ru/
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