BTW - Russia and China have formed a military alliance. Iran an "associate".
Thursday, August 16, 2007; 2:56 PM
"BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan -- The leaders of Russia, China and Iran said Thursday that Central Asia should be left alone to manage its stability and security _ an apparent warning to the United States to avoid interfering in the strategic, resource-rich region.
"The veiled warning came at a meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and on the eve of major war games between Russia and China."
Arf