The World: Bear Hugs and Kalashnikovs

"This conflict is a godsend for the Soviets," said a Western diplomat in Moscow about the Middle East's long no-war, no-peace situation. "If it didn't exist, they would have to invent it." Certainly Moscow has made diplomatic, political and military headway in the Middle East by encouraging unsettled conditions between Israel and the Arab countries. Ever since the U.S. rebuffed Egypt's President Nasser by refusing to sell him weapons in 1955 and, a year later, withdrawing financial aid to build the Aswan High Dam, mammoth development projects and sophisticated Soviet weapons have flowed...

Want the full story?

Subscribe Now

Subscribe
Subscribe

Learn more about the benefits of being a TIME subscriber

If you are already a subscriber sign up — registration is free!