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Source: http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1218446197310&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull
Israel Fears Georgia War Could Hurt Iran Effort
[Jerusalem Post] Herb Keinon - Russia's war with Georgia and the infuriated reaction in the West could make it harder to enlist Russian help on the Iranian issue, according to Israeli diplomatic officials and academics. According to one diplomatic official, Russia is trying to reaffirm its status in the world. "They have an interest in showing that they are tough in South Ossetia, and that they are also not going to be pushed around by the West when it comes to Iran." The Russians might also conclude that they now needed Iranian support to maintain stability in the south of Russia, including in Chechnya, which borders Georgia, the official said. There was a direct correlation between Russia's policy toward Iran and its relationship with the U.S., said Brenda Shaffer, a lecturer on Central Asia and the Caucasus region at the University of Haifa. "If they feel the U.S. is cooperative, then they are cooperative on Iran," she said. "And if not, they feel they can hurt the U.S. on Iran."