Russia Gives Lebanon MiG's

Putin continues to test Obama’s mettle. In a move designed to aggravate the tense situation between Israel and Hezbollah dominated Lebanon, the Russians have given Beirut 10 MiG-29 fighter-bombers, plus the funds to fly them. Russia is also expected to sell SA-20 anti-aircraft missiles to Iran. The Israelis have dispatched an envoy to Moscow to try to persuade the Kremlin not to go ahead with the deal, which would allow Tehran to shoot down Israeli fighter jets that swooped into Iranian airspace. The Guardian reports that the moves signal the latest Russian efforts to regain its former cold war role as the Arab world's chief patron - and its main supplier of arms.