The State Dept. and Strategic Planning 7. Russia has much to gain from a financially viable Iraq. Trade between the two countries might be in the neighborhood of 10 billion dollars annually. The basis could be oil for arms and the means to produce arms. Iraq has done this before in the 80's with the West.
Arms are big business.
Israeli operative, Ari Menashe, claimed that Israeli accumulated some 700 million dollars of cash for acting as a middle man in selling arms to Iraq's then foe, Iran. The overall profits from selling both belligerents had to be well into the billions. If the oil flowed again in Iraq, the arms would flow back into that country and the likely suppliers would Russia and China. My guess than is that this country will not permit the flow of either item, unless somehow a leader friendly to the West takes power in Iraq. Regarding Mr. Wilson's mention of transcripts, he takes issue with my points about Ambassador Glaspie, but offers as evidence transcripts of Dole.and others.