That makes much more sense. Thanks for the clarification.The period we are talking about was at the height of the Cold War. I have to go through the book again which I have at home but if I'm not mistaken it was a warning to the Soviet Union due to fears that it could intervene in any war between Israel and say, Syria. As to why Uzbekistan or the Caucasus region, these would be the only parts of the Soviet Union that could possibly be within range of the Jericho.
P.S. Swerve is right, I meant the Caucasus region and not Uzbekistan.