Just as interesting is the fact that Russia on Friday has teamed up with China in joint military exercises in a move to reclaim the former Soviet Union's status as a global military power.

A seven-year, $200-billion rearmament plan signed Putin earlier this year will purchase new generations of missiles, planes, and aircraft carriers to rebuild Russia's arsenal. This summer, Russian bombers have extended their patrol ranges far into the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, forcing US and NATO interceptors to scramble for the first time since the cold war's end.
The Afghani, Pakistani and Iranian alliances with the SCO got little coverage in the media in the Middle East as the focus is on Maliki's visit to neighboring countries especially Iran & Syria.

I think this is a really significant point, but it has barely been covered at all in this country. I saw a little feature on Deutsch Welle on Thursday about the situation, but Mosaic gave it more context in last week's Intelligence Report. I thought your report was very timely and significant. I have to say that I am rather shocked that this news has received so little coverage in this country. After all those years of the cold war, and all that flap about Syria being on the Axis of Evil, you would think their collaborating would be big news.

Have the Afghani, Pakistani and Iranian dalliances with the SCO got any coverage in the Middle East? It certainly puts a new spin on Karzai's recent assertions that Iran is a friend during his recent visit to the US. It would also seem that any plans Israel has for a war against Syria would look a lot different in this light. I am wondering if the speech Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah gave where he said that if Israel attacked he would have a big 'Surprise' for them might be related to the emergence of new alliances with the 'Second World' powers.

I could be wrong, but I think this is the best news we have heard in a long time. Having the other side create a presence in the Middle East ought to create a balance. I wouldn't want to see the balance tip entirely the other way, but detente would be a blessing at this point. I posted a pretty detailed bit in my blog about the factors that might shift the balance of power. I want to think there is finally a deterrent against a US attack on Iran or an Israeli attack on any of it's neighbors. The alternative could be a World War of massive proportions. What's creepy is that no one is talking about it.