Those of you who are interested in political History will surely find this article useful and worth reading. Being a historian myself I learnt a lot from it.
Unluckily there are no links to the following parts so you'll have to change the numbers in the link.
http://eastwest-review.com/article/pawns-somebody-elsersquos-game-little-known-facts-galician-history-part-i
Friday, June 18, 2010
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Iranophobia in Israel. Interview with proofessor Haggai Ram
"Iranophobia in Israel started immediately hand-in-hand with the 1979 Islamic Revolution. Then, with time, it took different shapes. It was not a static phenomenon, but a historical phenomenon that reacted both to prophecies and events that took place outside the boundaries of the Jewish state. And at times it was a reaction to phenomena and circumstances that took place within the boundaries of the Jewish state<...>.
The tragic thing is that both Israel and the United States see eye to eye with respect to the threat that a nuclear Iran might pose to them. Just a few days ago we had the head if the Joint Chiefs of Staff visiting Israel, announcing unequivocally the United States would not permit Iran to obtain nuclear weapons and if that should happen the US will help Israel in its attempt to eliminate that eventuality. So the fact that both Israel and the United States see eye to eye on that is not a very welcoming idea."
See the whole interview on http://www.eastwest-review.com/article/iranophobia-interview-proofessor-haggai-ram
The tragic thing is that both Israel and the United States see eye to eye with respect to the threat that a nuclear Iran might pose to them. Just a few days ago we had the head if the Joint Chiefs of Staff visiting Israel, announcing unequivocally the United States would not permit Iran to obtain nuclear weapons and if that should happen the US will help Israel in its attempt to eliminate that eventuality. So the fact that both Israel and the United States see eye to eye on that is not a very welcoming idea."
See the whole interview on http://www.eastwest-review.com/article/iranophobia-interview-proofessor-haggai-ram
Lobby which plays with America
If you look through everyday titles of White House press-releases, it may seem that great reforming is on in the USA: initiatives follow one another, and acute problems are being attacked from unexpected directions. America’s advantage is that everything is spoken openly there. One can hardly notice in such a fuss that there are not so many positive changes in reality, and acute problems remain unsolved for decades. One of the most serious of then is unregulated and disorganized financial and banking sphere which has led world economy to crisis and doesn’t want to be changed.
You'll find the whole text here: http://www.eastwest-review.com/article/lobby-which-plays-america-part-1
You'll find the whole text here: http://www.eastwest-review.com/article/lobby-which-plays-america-part-1
Future of Karabakh conflict as viewed by Russian experts
Activization of negotiation process, regarding Karabakh settlement, contributed to the extension of Russian expert community attention both to problems of relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan and to peculiarities of international relations in South Caucasus.
Here is the article written by Dr. Niyazi Niyazov, an associate Professor of he School of International Relations, St. Petersburg State University. Majoring in Caucasian studies, Dr. Niyazov provides a thorough analysis of the situation in Karabakh from different angles.
http://www.eastwest-review.com/article/future-karabakh-conflict-viewed-russian-experts-part-1
Here is the article written by Dr. Niyazi Niyazov, an associate Professor of he School of International Relations, St. Petersburg State University. Majoring in Caucasian studies, Dr. Niyazov provides a thorough analysis of the situation in Karabakh from different angles.
http://www.eastwest-review.com/article/future-karabakh-conflict-viewed-russian-experts-part-1
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
EU: between Russia and the USA
Today Europe is facing a hard time trying to find a balance between Russia and the USA. It is clear that Europe has lost its top priority place on American foreign policy agenda and Russia can not replace the USA's image of a big reliable boss.
Russia, in its turn, has lost its illusions about the possibility of full integration in to the European structures and reoriented its interests eastward.
Besides, both actors are divided by energy issue which prevents Europe from seeing Russia as totally friendly and positive neighbor with no hidden jokers in his pockets.
The article I link here is a bit old but it didn't lose its relevance and importance.
http://www.eastwest-review.com/article/european-union-deciding-between-russia-and-usa-part-i?page=1
Russia, in its turn, has lost its illusions about the possibility of full integration in to the European structures and reoriented its interests eastward.
Besides, both actors are divided by energy issue which prevents Europe from seeing Russia as totally friendly and positive neighbor with no hidden jokers in his pockets.
The article I link here is a bit old but it didn't lose its relevance and importance.
http://www.eastwest-review.com/article/european-union-deciding-between-russia-and-usa-part-i?page=1
Taliban in Afghanistan: returning to power or path to nowhere?
Here is a rather good article on the history of Afghanistan war in 1978-2010. Helps to see how it all happened.
http://www.eastwest-review.com/article/taliban-afghanistan-returning-power-or-path-nowhere-part-1 and http://www.eastwest-review.com/article/taliban-afghanistan-returning-power-or-path-nowhere-part-2
http://www.eastwest-review.com/article/taliban-afghanistan-returning-power-or-path-nowhere-part-1 and http://www.eastwest-review.com/article/taliban-afghanistan-returning-power-or-path-nowhere-part-2
Israeli blockade of Gaza Strip
Resolutions of UN Security Council, e.g. Resolution 1860, point directly that “Gaza Strip constitutes an integral part of the territory occupied in 1967 and will be a part of the Palestinian state”.
Read the whole article on http://www.eastwest-review.com/article/israeli-blockade-gaza-strip-and-seizure-humanitarian-flotilla-israeli-military-forces
Thus, as one can see, Gaza Strip is not a subject of international law, so in this case Israel can’t apply the rules of naval blockade in a time of armed conflict between states. But Gaza Strip is not also a part of Israel. And even if it were, in case of a civil war naval blockade can’t go further than territorial waters. Thus, though Israel declared Gaza Strip some obscure enemy territory, many international and humanitarian organizations keep on regarding it as an occupied territory.
All these facts make the blockade of Gaza Strip and impediment for supplies of humanitarian cargo violating the international law, moreover concerning that the mentioned above Resolution 1860 of UN Security Council “calls for the unimpeded provision and distribution throughout Gaza of humanitarian assistance”. Israeli attack on Freedom Flotilla may be regarded thereby as an act of hostility towards the countries, which owned the vessels with humanitarian aid and passengers of which became victims of the conflict. In turn, the actions of crew members and passengers of Mavi Marmara can be regarded as a rightful attempt to resist the attackers of the ship on the high sea.
Particularly this, or similar position was supported by many famous diplomats and specialists in international and sea law in many countries of the world.Read the whole article on http://www.eastwest-review.com/article/israeli-blockade-gaza-strip-and-seizure-humanitarian-flotilla-israeli-military-forces
About the relations between the initiators of humanitarian convoy to Gaza and Chechen fighters
Immediately after the events in the Mediterranean Sea Israeli mass media published the information that Turkish fund İnsanın Yardım Vakfı (IHH, The Foundation for Human Rights and Freedoms and Humanitarian Relief), the main initiator of the convoy to Gaza, had also been supporting Chechen terrorists.
Salih Bilici, a fund representative, has told us that the organization has always taken part only in peaceful humanitarian actions and is to do so in the future. He confirmed the fact that the fund worked in Chechnya and delivered medication, food (mostly halal products for Muslim holidays), and clothes; however, he resolutely contested the possibility of financing or providing with supplies of any military operations in North Caucasus, as well as relations with such organizations as Ichkeria, the Caucasus Emirate, and others; he also denied the fact of sending of volunteers to any illegal armed forces. As for information which appeared in Israeli press, Salih Bilici has pointed out that Israel has been carrying out informational war, using any possible measures to soften consequences of its barbaric operation and to put Russia at odds with the Islamic world, Arab countries, and Turkey.
See the whole text which touches also the problem of Muslim's attitude to Chechnya problem, on http://www.eastwest-review.com/article/about-relations-between-initiators-humanitarian-convoy-gaza-and-chechen-fighters
Salih Bilici, a fund representative, has told us that the organization has always taken part only in peaceful humanitarian actions and is to do so in the future. He confirmed the fact that the fund worked in Chechnya and delivered medication, food (mostly halal products for Muslim holidays), and clothes; however, he resolutely contested the possibility of financing or providing with supplies of any military operations in North Caucasus, as well as relations with such organizations as Ichkeria, the Caucasus Emirate, and others; he also denied the fact of sending of volunteers to any illegal armed forces. As for information which appeared in Israeli press, Salih Bilici has pointed out that Israel has been carrying out informational war, using any possible measures to soften consequences of its barbaric operation and to put Russia at odds with the Islamic world, Arab countries, and Turkey.
See the whole text which touches also the problem of Muslim's attitude to Chechnya problem, on http://www.eastwest-review.com/article/about-relations-between-initiators-humanitarian-convoy-gaza-and-chechen-fighters
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Africa: clash of the American and Chinese geopolitical interests
Yemen is considered to be the cradle of the Arab world. In the north Yemen borders Saudi Arabia, narrow part of the western border falls on the Red Sea area, the southern border faces the Gulf of Aden while the Oman is in the east. Political system of Yemen allows the country to maneuver among the endless mosaic of tribes that are characterized by the different degree of the territorial independence. Tribal differences are also connected to the division of the country population onto Sunni — who make up the majority with the insignificant superiority in numbers — and the Shia who make up about 45% of population.In the recent year Shiaz have undergone numerous attacks from the governmental troops.
In November 2009 the conflict was first internationalized. Air Forces of Saudi Arabia bombed the Shiites’ positions at Jebel Duchan. Saudis were afraid of the Shiites’ strengthening — in Saudi Arabia itself they make up the oppressed minority.
The USA are playing their own political game in the region. They are interested mostly in one question: who will control Bab-el-Mandeb strait?
Bab-el-Mandeb strait between Yemen, Djibouti and Eritrea is a key to the “oil path” between Africa and the Middle East — it connects the Mediterranean Sea with the Indian Ocean. Every day 3.5 million barrels of oil “float” through it to the USA, Europe and Asia. Besides that, oil fields in the Masila and Shabwa basins are also located in Yemen, which neighbors the Saudi Arabia. Geopolitical significance of Yemen and Somali turn these countries into the sphere of the U.S. strategic interests.
Americans have outstripped China that has also stated the need to create a military base in the western part of the Indian Ocean. For now, only Iran is open for China in that region as long as the rest of the countries have already been pulled inside of the NATO orbit. Control over the Aden port in Yemen brings huge benefits to the Americans and opens the infinite possibilities for maneuver in front of them.
China, on its part, is trying to improve its influence in Sri Lanka and Burma in order to form the new transport paths in the Persian Gulf, Africa and Middle East area. Recently, British press media reported that the USA promised to delete Burma out of the “axis of evil”-countries list if it stops “playing on the Chinese side”.
Thus, it is unlikely that the political games in the regions will cease in the nearest future. On the contrary, American desire to control everything possible might lead to another outbreak of instability in this already instable part of the world.
http://www.eastwest-review.com/article/africa-clash-american-and-chinese-geopolitical-interests
In November 2009 the conflict was first internationalized. Air Forces of Saudi Arabia bombed the Shiites’ positions at Jebel Duchan. Saudis were afraid of the Shiites’ strengthening — in Saudi Arabia itself they make up the oppressed minority.
The USA are playing their own political game in the region. They are interested mostly in one question: who will control Bab-el-Mandeb strait?
Bab-el-Mandeb strait between Yemen, Djibouti and Eritrea is a key to the “oil path” between Africa and the Middle East — it connects the Mediterranean Sea with the Indian Ocean. Every day 3.5 million barrels of oil “float” through it to the USA, Europe and Asia. Besides that, oil fields in the Masila and Shabwa basins are also located in Yemen, which neighbors the Saudi Arabia. Geopolitical significance of Yemen and Somali turn these countries into the sphere of the U.S. strategic interests.
Americans have outstripped China that has also stated the need to create a military base in the western part of the Indian Ocean. For now, only Iran is open for China in that region as long as the rest of the countries have already been pulled inside of the NATO orbit. Control over the Aden port in Yemen brings huge benefits to the Americans and opens the infinite possibilities for maneuver in front of them.
China, on its part, is trying to improve its influence in Sri Lanka and Burma in order to form the new transport paths in the Persian Gulf, Africa and Middle East area. Recently, British press media reported that the USA promised to delete Burma out of the “axis of evil”-countries list if it stops “playing on the Chinese side”.
Thus, it is unlikely that the political games in the regions will cease in the nearest future. On the contrary, American desire to control everything possible might lead to another outbreak of instability in this already instable part of the world.
http://www.eastwest-review.com/article/africa-clash-american-and-chinese-geopolitical-interests
Afghanistan: an apple of discord or a field for co-operation?
Twenty years ago Soviet troops were withdrawn from Afghanistan, and eight year ago NATO forces were deployed there. The state has passed through two occupations against the background of the never-ending civil war, has become the main supplier of heroin to the global market, the symbol of international terrorism, famine and devastation. Soviet administration, planning the expedition, didn’t expect Pashtun guerillamen, equipped with old British rifles – the trophy of Anglo-Afghan wars – to occasion well-trained and armed troops of the USSR a lot of troubles. However in the 80s Afghanistan was foreordained to become the last range territory for the Cold war: with the help of the USA the opposition succeeded in outfighting the great neighbor and gaining independence.
Contemporary advocates of democratic Afghanistan don’t face such challenges. Today's guerillamen are equipped with self-made machine guns, which are made of locally available material in the north of Pakistan, with Russia preserving friendly neutrality. Ample resources are directed to the humanitarian aid, the conduction of free elections and maintenance of security. How come no positive shift has taken place in the past eight years? The famine has not been overcome, the war is still in progress, the drug production is increasing.
The greatest disillusionment of the NATO operation is caused by political and social situation in modern Afghanistan. It is still the poorest country in the world. The large part of the population shifts with less than one dollar a day while the international community spends millions on tackling this problem. Cultivation of opium poppy and production of heroin amount to more that 60 percent of GNP of modern Afghanistan.
That’s about the situation in modern Afghanistan, which is officially controlled by NATO. The country has changed a lot in the course of eight years but the question is if it has become less dangerous for the global community, for Europe and Russia? To what extent the presence of the USA is profitable for Afghanistan?
The USA succeeded in gaining predominance in Central Asia region with the complete approval of the global community. Nineteen new military bases, which are located in the territory of Iraq, Afghanistan and former Soviet republics – Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, were opened after 2001. It gives an opportunity to control from the East and from the West one of the main declared hostiles of the USA – Iran, as well as China, Pakistan and Russia.
American cynicism is not typical for the Europeans. If the promotion of democracy, tackling social problems and the war on terror are just propagandistic clichés for the USA administration, the European treat this terms seriously. They are ready to wage the war on international terror, threatening both the USA and the West European countries, on Islamism radicalization, which can have negative influence on spirit among immigrants, or at least they are ready to struggle for universal democratic ideals. After eight years of occupation there is clash of views of Europe and the USA on the possible policy in Afghanistan. This clash can lead to the split in the coalition.
Public polls in Russia and some European countries show the negative influence of anti-terrorist operation conducted by the USA on the global situation and the necessity of making new decisions on Afghanistan in co-operation with Europe and Russia. Can we expect it in the short-run? I doubt so as Afghanistan issue is again off the top priorities of today's political agendas due to never-ending economic troubles suffered by many countries due to Afghanistan and other useless expenses.
http://www.eastwest-review.com/article/afghanistan-apple-discord-or-field-co-operation
Long farewell, USSR
From the historical point of view, Soviet regime was a more appropriate structure then a preceding archaic and ignorant epoch. One can’t totally reject the Soviet period, at least because the government managed to teach to read and write the nation illiterate on the whole in a very short period of time. In the same time, one can’t worship it unconditionally, because it proved impossible to teach to understand what was read and written in such short time, with all implied consequences.
There is, truly, a problem of terrible legacy. The terrible thing about it lies in the human type left as a legacy, a type of an underdeveloped person of no principles, an incubatory conformist, incapable of demonstrating common consistency and integrity in social matters.
Today a total breakup with the Soviet past is suggested to us by the government - with smashing the monuments and banning Soviet symbols. Before smashing the monuments like a Barbarian one shouldn’t forget that there are leaders, and then, there are leaders. Lenin’s rule is the one thing, Stalin’s is another, and Chrushchev’s is completely different.Besides, political renovationists suggest nothing to replace the Soviet ideology which, in all its ugliness, was a very strong one.
There is no other post-Soviet country where the government would like the people to forget their Soviet past completely, and the reasons of that are quite obvious. And if it’s so, wouldn’t it be wiser not to spit in the well of the past, but to study it impartially and thoroughly making vital conclusions with consideration of all light and dark sides? Perhaps, that will help us to deal with the present and, finally, to start building the future.
http://www.eastwest-review.com/article/long-farewell
There is, truly, a problem of terrible legacy. The terrible thing about it lies in the human type left as a legacy, a type of an underdeveloped person of no principles, an incubatory conformist, incapable of demonstrating common consistency and integrity in social matters.
Today a total breakup with the Soviet past is suggested to us by the government - with smashing the monuments and banning Soviet symbols. Before smashing the monuments like a Barbarian one shouldn’t forget that there are leaders, and then, there are leaders. Lenin’s rule is the one thing, Stalin’s is another, and Chrushchev’s is completely different.Besides, political renovationists suggest nothing to replace the Soviet ideology which, in all its ugliness, was a very strong one.
There is no other post-Soviet country where the government would like the people to forget their Soviet past completely, and the reasons of that are quite obvious. And if it’s so, wouldn’t it be wiser not to spit in the well of the past, but to study it impartially and thoroughly making vital conclusions with consideration of all light and dark sides? Perhaps, that will help us to deal with the present and, finally, to start building the future.
http://www.eastwest-review.com/article/long-farewell
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Alexander Rahr: Russia is a part of Europe
Here you will find an interview with Alexander Rahr, a well-known political scientist, the son of Russian emigrant, who has been living in Germany. In 2000 he published a book "The German in the Kremlin" about Vladimir Putin. Today he answers several questions about his vision of Russia and Russia's role in the modern Europe.
http://www.eastwest-review.com/article/interview-famous-political-scientist-director-programs-russia-and-cis-german-society-foreign
http://www.eastwest-review.com/article/interview-famous-political-scientist-director-programs-russia-and-cis-german-society-foreign
Monday, June 7, 2010
Uranium exchange agreement and a project of new sanctions against Iran
In the middle of May in Teheran a new summit of G-15 took place, the organization including 19 developing countries of Asia, Africa, and Latin America. During the talks foreign affairs ministers and leaders of Iran, Brazil, and Turkey have achieved a very important agreement concerning Iranian nuclear program. A following exchange alternative has been discussed: Iran is to receive fuel for Teheran research reactor in return for a half of Iranian supplies of low-enriched uranium. Despite that the USA has proposed the UN Security Council a project of resolution imposing new sanctions against the Islamic republic.
According to the statement signed on May 17, 2010by the USA, France, Russia, and the IAEA Iran is to deliver 1200 kilos of low-enriched uranium to Turkey. This uranium is to be kept by Turkey; however, it is to remain the property of Iran and may be supervised both by representatives of Iran and IAEA. After the low-enriched uranium is delivered to Turkey, it is to be exchanged for 120 kilos of nuclear fuel necessary for Teheran research reactor within one year.
After the document was signed, Turkey, Russia and China claimed that there was no more need in imposing sanctions against Iran. The Western community, however, reacted different. The USA are still drafting a resolution aiming at “further efforts in order to bring pressure on Iran”.
If new sanctions are to be adopted and come into force, it would lead to further confrontation and failure of the compromise found by Brazil, Turkey, and Iran. Thus, a new coil of this vicious circle will begin, putting off an efficient solution of Iranian question to uncertain future.
It is clear that the USA are afraid that Turkey and Brazil will get too much political credit, having once shown themselves the succeessful negotiators. But isn't it the time to put ambitions aside in order to heal this long-itching wound?
http://www.eastwest-review.com/article/uranium-exchange-agreement-and-project-new-sanctions-against-iran
According to the statement signed on May 17, 2010by the USA, France, Russia, and the IAEA Iran is to deliver 1200 kilos of low-enriched uranium to Turkey. This uranium is to be kept by Turkey; however, it is to remain the property of Iran and may be supervised both by representatives of Iran and IAEA. After the low-enriched uranium is delivered to Turkey, it is to be exchanged for 120 kilos of nuclear fuel necessary for Teheran research reactor within one year.
After the document was signed, Turkey, Russia and China claimed that there was no more need in imposing sanctions against Iran. The Western community, however, reacted different. The USA are still drafting a resolution aiming at “further efforts in order to bring pressure on Iran”.
If new sanctions are to be adopted and come into force, it would lead to further confrontation and failure of the compromise found by Brazil, Turkey, and Iran. Thus, a new coil of this vicious circle will begin, putting off an efficient solution of Iranian question to uncertain future.
It is clear that the USA are afraid that Turkey and Brazil will get too much political credit, having once shown themselves the succeessful negotiators. But isn't it the time to put ambitions aside in order to heal this long-itching wound?
http://www.eastwest-review.com/article/uranium-exchange-agreement-and-project-new-sanctions-against-iran
Turkey: the nature of national modernization
Today's Turkey is one of the most dynamically developing economies in the world. The underdeveloped agrarian state turned into the member of G20, lying in the 15th place in the rating of the greatest global economies. In 2002-2009 the average GDP was 6-9 percent, the figure was doubled in five years. Now it is 880 billion dollars (the nearest competitors are South Korea, Mexico and Australia). Turkey expands its international influence, seeking to gain the role of informal leader of the Middle East and the Balkans. It may lead to the revival of the new Ottoman Empire. How did it happen that the poor state turned into politically, economically strong entity?
The elections of 2002 shocked both Turkey and the international community: the Islamists came to power! However, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, the new Turkish leader proved to be a clever man. Aspiration to full-fledged EU membership and reforming legislation to meet its standards represented one of the main directions of the political program. This step was very successful and the party still enjoys its dividends. Having quickly understood that the main danger is posed to his party from inside the country - mainly from traditionally secular military and civil officers who head the Constitutional Court and the Council for National Security- Erdoğan took care of their non-involvement in political life of his country. According to the incumbent Constitution of 1982 these bodies are completely entitled to dissolve any political force which could be accused of attempted violation of secular bases of the society. Amendment of legislation towards europeization would deprive the army from this right. Slogans of democratization and europeization provide strong support from abroad.
Many other home reforms found approvement of the EU leaders and bodies and clever foreign policy made Turkey one of the new leaders of emerging world order. I guess almost every country could find some useful example to take from this country's policy, but will any? I doubt as despite these achievement Turkey is still perceived by most Europeans as a second chop state.
http://www.eastwest-review.com/article/turkey-nature-national-modernization-essay-1
The Relations between Turkey and Russia: New Eurasian Alliance?
Russia and Turkey were “Historical enemies” for ages. There were 11 russo-turkish wars, centuries of competition and hostility. This policy resulted in enormous economical and demographic losses and formation of Independent Balkans – zone of instability, hostile to both empires. The last russo-turkish war destroyed Ottoman and Russian Empires. A short period of friendship in 20-30-es of the XX century was profitable for both Soviet Union and Turkey, but it finished with the beginning of the II World war.
Later on the relations were developing still rather poorly. For Russians, Turkey has remained, as before, the primordial contender on the Caucasus and Black sea, the carrier of a hostile culture and alien values, the instrument of American policy and NATO`s sentinel on the southern flank of the weakened Russian empire. For Turks, Russia, as in the old days, has been associated with threat – “the northern bear” – unpredictable, dangerous, and capricious.
At the beginning of the new century the situation changed quickly and dramatically. The russian and turkish business opened numerous projects and tens thousands of Russian tourists chose Turkey the best place to spend summer vacation.
The turning point is observed in political relations as well. The clear Eurasian policy of both states, the far-fetched threat of American intervention and common economic interests pulled Moscow and Ankara together, leveling regional contradictions between them. Turks and Russians relied on cooperation with each other and ousting the USA from the region. Putin’s and Erdogan`s policy makers came to the conclusion that both countries could not cardinally change the regional balance of forces, but together were able to resist American involvement. Vexing questions remain, but they are not causing as much concern as before and are currently viewed in the common context of geopolitical partnership. Ankara is still dissatisfied with the Russian military presence at Georgia and Armenia, and Moscow feels uncomfortable with Georgian-Turkish and Azeri-Turkish military cooperation.
History shows that hidden or neglected problems do not often disappear by themselves, they still have to be solved. Will this Moscow-Ankara based balance of power in the Central Asia last for long?
http://www.eastwest-review.com/article/relations-between-turkey-and-russia-new-eurasian-alliance
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Israel facing a new Intifada
After Israeli troops attacked the Peace Convoy in the morning of 31st of May it became obvious that it was the best moment for pressing upon Israel. During the recent years this country has been violating international law too openly: it uses British and Australian passports to carry out acts of terrorism in foreign countries, continues building of settlements in Palestinian territories, and now it has come to actual piracy. Information is to be spread extremely actively now; for example, photos of killed human rights activists or crates with cookies stained with blood. Formally, Israel is right: the blockade was launched long ago, the territories were occupied, and human rights activists were warned about possible responsibility.
A session of the Security Council is to be called for; sanctions, eliminating of the blockade, and launching of humanitarian missions are to be demanded. Pressing can be carried out using massive meetings in front of embassies, boycott of Israeli goods, and departing of Israeli diplomats.
In theory, it is high time for Russia to remember about its own concerns in the Middle East. Russian neutrality allows interfering the situation, condemning Israel, and proposing guarantees of peaceful reconciliation of the conflict. Together with Turkey, Russia is to call for a session of the UN Security Council and to bring this act of state-level terrorism to the highest level of international discussion. It would also allow to improve the authority of the UN, which the president Dmitry Medvedev is talking about so often.
In fact, Russia allows various foreign political powers to manipulate with Russian opinion concerning the current situation. Yevgeny Satanovsky, the president of the pro-Israel Middle East Institute, was the first to comment upon the event from the Russian side in his interview to official broadcasting station “Voice of Russia”. He named the attack righteous and called for an immediate occupation of the Gaza Strip by the Israeli forces. This means that, unlike Turkey, Russia does not have any strategy in the Middle East.
And if Russia stays aside fruitful actions are unlikely to be taken against Israel.
http://www.eastwest-review.com/article/israel-facing-new-intifada
A session of the Security Council is to be called for; sanctions, eliminating of the blockade, and launching of humanitarian missions are to be demanded. Pressing can be carried out using massive meetings in front of embassies, boycott of Israeli goods, and departing of Israeli diplomats.
In theory, it is high time for Russia to remember about its own concerns in the Middle East. Russian neutrality allows interfering the situation, condemning Israel, and proposing guarantees of peaceful reconciliation of the conflict. Together with Turkey, Russia is to call for a session of the UN Security Council and to bring this act of state-level terrorism to the highest level of international discussion. It would also allow to improve the authority of the UN, which the president Dmitry Medvedev is talking about so often.
In fact, Russia allows various foreign political powers to manipulate with Russian opinion concerning the current situation. Yevgeny Satanovsky, the president of the pro-Israel Middle East Institute, was the first to comment upon the event from the Russian side in his interview to official broadcasting station “Voice of Russia”. He named the attack righteous and called for an immediate occupation of the Gaza Strip by the Israeli forces. This means that, unlike Turkey, Russia does not have any strategy in the Middle East.
And if Russia stays aside fruitful actions are unlikely to be taken against Israel.
http://www.eastwest-review.com/article/israel-facing-new-intifada
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
Goebbels' project of the united Europe or the way SS invented the European Union
A couple of months ago a document was found in American military intelligence archives, which was lying there for 65 years and didn't arise any interest until the present day.
US Military Intelligence report EW-Pa 128which was dubbed “Red House Report” by the British media, was prepared by a French agent. This is a detailed report about the secret meeting, which took place at the Maison Rouge Hotel (“Red House”) in Strasbourg on August 10, 1944. According to this document, Nazi high command invited the elite group of German industrialists in order to plan the postwar recovery of Germany, to prepare everything to bring the Nazis back to power and to create a “strong German empire” — in other word, the Fourth Reich.
Three-page closely typed report marked “Secret” was copied for British authorities and air-mailed to Cordell Hull, U. S. Secretary of State. This report contains a detailed description of methods, which Nazis together with German industrialists were willing to use in order to re-build the German economy, e.g. transferring money through Switzerland. Later on they were going to wait for the right moment and seize the power in Germany once again.
There were representatives of such companies as Volkswagen, Krupp and Messerschmitt among the gathered industrialists. Top officials of the fleet and the Armament ministry were also present at this meeting. With a remarkable foresight they decided that the Fourth Reich should be an economic empire, rather than the military one — but this time it wasn't supposed to be solely German.
The ideas brought to life at this meeting seem quite alike to those that formed the basis of the European integration at the end of 1940-s. History often gives us ridiculous lessons, doesn't it?
http://www.win.ru/en/school/2450.phtml
US Military Intelligence report EW-Pa 128which was dubbed “Red House Report” by the British media, was prepared by a French agent. This is a detailed report about the secret meeting, which took place at the Maison Rouge Hotel (“Red House”) in Strasbourg on August 10, 1944. According to this document, Nazi high command invited the elite group of German industrialists in order to plan the postwar recovery of Germany, to prepare everything to bring the Nazis back to power and to create a “strong German empire” — in other word, the Fourth Reich.
Three-page closely typed report marked “Secret” was copied for British authorities and air-mailed to Cordell Hull, U. S. Secretary of State. This report contains a detailed description of methods, which Nazis together with German industrialists were willing to use in order to re-build the German economy, e.g. transferring money through Switzerland. Later on they were going to wait for the right moment and seize the power in Germany once again.
There were representatives of such companies as Volkswagen, Krupp and Messerschmitt among the gathered industrialists. Top officials of the fleet and the Armament ministry were also present at this meeting. With a remarkable foresight they decided that the Fourth Reich should be an economic empire, rather than the military one — but this time it wasn't supposed to be solely German.
The ideas brought to life at this meeting seem quite alike to those that formed the basis of the European integration at the end of 1940-s. History often gives us ridiculous lessons, doesn't it?
http://www.win.ru/en/school/2450.phtml
FUTURE OF EUROPE: New security system or new “Berlin walls”?
What should the Europeans be afraid of today? Many still believe that the main threat is coming from Russia and try to install some powder kegs between itself and this potential enemy.
But much more real are threats coming from inside. In the first place — it's the unpredictable and inadequate behavior of the “new democracies” of Eastern Europe; their political climate is very favorable for the emergence of the ultra-nationalist regimes as if they were transferred by a time machine right from the 1930s—1940s. It is them who create the zone of conflicts around the Europe, which threatens the Old World with numerous troubles. The most outrageous example of them is Georgian troops invasion in Southern Ossetia in August of 2008. Only intervention of the Russian army saved the citizens of Ossetian city Tskhinvali from the genocide, which cannot be denied: Georgian tanks were firing directly to the residential houses, schools and hospitals. Recently Dmitry Medvedev made a public statement that if the effective international security institution, capable to stop the aggressor, existed in 2008, Georgia would have never taken the audacity to unleash the war against the people of South Ossetia.
There are yet other potential threats coming from inside - for example, economic crisis that can destroy European architecture so thoroughly built during the last decades.
It is therefore to unify all possible sources to improve the situation. And not the least of the actions needed is adooption of a common European security system.
http://www.win.ru/en/school/2891.phtml
But much more real are threats coming from inside. In the first place — it's the unpredictable and inadequate behavior of the “new democracies” of Eastern Europe; their political climate is very favorable for the emergence of the ultra-nationalist regimes as if they were transferred by a time machine right from the 1930s—1940s. It is them who create the zone of conflicts around the Europe, which threatens the Old World with numerous troubles. The most outrageous example of them is Georgian troops invasion in Southern Ossetia in August of 2008. Only intervention of the Russian army saved the citizens of Ossetian city Tskhinvali from the genocide, which cannot be denied: Georgian tanks were firing directly to the residential houses, schools and hospitals. Recently Dmitry Medvedev made a public statement that if the effective international security institution, capable to stop the aggressor, existed in 2008, Georgia would have never taken the audacity to unleash the war against the people of South Ossetia.
There are yet other potential threats coming from inside - for example, economic crisis that can destroy European architecture so thoroughly built during the last decades.
It is therefore to unify all possible sources to improve the situation. And not the least of the actions needed is adooption of a common European security system.
http://www.win.ru/en/school/2891.phtml
Monday, May 31, 2010
Southern Kuriles: "Islands" card game
Any time when the subject of the disputable for Russia and Japan Kurile Islands is mentioned — no matter while having a mug of beer in a smoked up pub or during the “roundtable” in the shining halls — there are always some know-it-all persons (be it politicians or the average men) who know for sure what to do with these islands. It's same as with a football: few people are actually playing, but millions are, allegedly, know everything about the matter.
There are several wide-spread myths about what Russians should do with the Islands, which are situated so far even from the citizens of the Russian Far East that they are perceived like something abstract and almost unachievable for most of Russian citizens.
The first myth: these islands are four rocks in the middle of the ocean, which no one actually need.
The second myth: Russians may bargain these islands for a while and then profitably sell them to Japan for a huge amount of money, which later can be used to enrich Russians.
The third myth: Russians have to give up the islands, because they are not actually their — they've just allegedly occupied them during the transient war against Japan in August 1945. Note that nobody's talking about the returning of the Southern Sakhalin, which was occupied at the similar time. Perhaps, because Japan doesn't demand it, does it?
Everything is mixed up in these myths: views of the average citizens, plans of politicians, dilettantism of the journalists and even some of the scientists. The idea of selling the islands for a big sum of money can be easily rejected. Nobody in Japan is going to actually buy the islands. They are not willing even to discuss this matter! It is so because the Japanese demand to “return” them their “Northern territories” as they call the Southern Kurile Islands.
Not so bad a solution is to turn the Kuriles into a ecotourist paradise . Probably it could help not only to stop the border quarrels, but also to improve ecological situation in the region.
http://www.win.ru/en/school/2910.phtml
There are several wide-spread myths about what Russians should do with the Islands, which are situated so far even from the citizens of the Russian Far East that they are perceived like something abstract and almost unachievable for most of Russian citizens.
The first myth: these islands are four rocks in the middle of the ocean, which no one actually need.
The second myth: Russians may bargain these islands for a while and then profitably sell them to Japan for a huge amount of money, which later can be used to enrich Russians.
The third myth: Russians have to give up the islands, because they are not actually their — they've just allegedly occupied them during the transient war against Japan in August 1945. Note that nobody's talking about the returning of the Southern Sakhalin, which was occupied at the similar time. Perhaps, because Japan doesn't demand it, does it?
Everything is mixed up in these myths: views of the average citizens, plans of politicians, dilettantism of the journalists and even some of the scientists. The idea of selling the islands for a big sum of money can be easily rejected. Nobody in Japan is going to actually buy the islands. They are not willing even to discuss this matter! It is so because the Japanese demand to “return” them their “Northern territories” as they call the Southern Kurile Islands.
Not so bad a solution is to turn the Kuriles into a ecotourist paradise . Probably it could help not only to stop the border quarrels, but also to improve ecological situation in the region.
http://www.win.ru/en/school/2910.phtml
Old wrinkles on the new face of American diplomacy
A curios case, having taken place at the meeting of the heads of foreign policy institutes, held on March, 6 2009, today is usually called symbolic. At that time the American delegation make a present for the Russian party, made in a form of red push-button, which reminded the audience about the “nuclear weapon” push-button and the Cold war confrontation. However, according to the author’s idea, the souvenir should have symbolized the beginning of the new age of US-Russian relations, for this it was planned to engrave the Russian equivalent to the word “reset” (“perezagruzka”). However there was a mistake in translation, and the Russian delegation was offered to “overload” the bilateral relations instead of “reloading” them. Against the background of the events, having taken place the last year, the linguistic error of the American administration seems to be prophetic – the relations of the two countries are really overloaded by the number of fundamental contradictions.
The questions on which the Russian and US politicians unsuccessfully try to reach compromise hardly could be called easily solved - they are too many and too complicated. Minor achievements on minor issues do not mean that overall "reloading" of US-Russia relations is gathering speed. Big unsolved problems like renewing European security system, Russia's accession to WTO, stagnant Russia-NATO dialogue are pulling our bilaterla relations to underworld.
http://www.eastwest-review.com/article/old-wrinkles-new-face-american-diplomacy
The questions on which the Russian and US politicians unsuccessfully try to reach compromise hardly could be called easily solved - they are too many and too complicated. Minor achievements on minor issues do not mean that overall "reloading" of US-Russia relations is gathering speed. Big unsolved problems like renewing European security system, Russia's accession to WTO, stagnant Russia-NATO dialogue are pulling our bilaterla relations to underworld.
http://www.eastwest-review.com/article/old-wrinkles-new-face-american-diplomacy
Rood quarrel
April of 2010 has been marked as an important milestone of German politics: for the first time a female German citizen of Turkish origin took the position of a minister. Although that was not a federal appointment – 38-year old Aygul Ozkan took the position of the minister for social issues and integration problems of Lower Saxony – the event immediately drew attention of German society. One of the reasons of such attention is a not very long but quite symptomatic political scandal Aygul Ozkan got involved into right after the appointment: she made a statement in which she demanded to remove roods from school classrooms. Both this appointment and the following scandal demonstrate quite peculiar tendencies of modern German politics, which are truly worth discussing.
Could this appointment be considered a similar milestone as Barack Obama's election to a sacred study in Capitolium? I doubt so: both German politicians and Mrs. Ozkan herself admit that her appointment should attract Turks' votes in coming Landtag elections.
http://www.eastwest-review.com/article/rood-quarrel
Could this appointment be considered a similar milestone as Barack Obama's election to a sacred study in Capitolium? I doubt so: both German politicians and Mrs. Ozkan herself admit that her appointment should attract Turks' votes in coming Landtag elections.
http://www.eastwest-review.com/article/rood-quarrel
Sunday, May 30, 2010
The world that changed after 1945
In his book book "Lend Lease: Weapon for Victory" E. Stettinius conceived the following grounds of the after-war world and the peaceful U. S policy in it: "When we were not the United Nations and everyone was by himself, all we had were the misfortunes and defeats. Having become the United Nations, we’ve intercepted the enemy’s initiative and now we are winning. It doesn’t matter, how many months of struggle are ahead — until we’re together the day is undoubtedly ours.
What will we be capable of since we reach this victory — that depends from whether we’d be able to conclude peace the same way we’ve fought against the aggression, remaining to be the United Nations. For the last 30 months, since 11th of March, 1941 we’ve received plenty of evidences that our unity can work the miracles. We’ve avoided the catastrophe, which could’ve postponed the liberation for centuries and we’ve gained a great opportunity to achieve the better future for the humanity. We’d only be able to use this opportunity if we stay united.
One might ask why the matter of the possibility of our future cooperation is being raised at all. If we won thanks to our unity, it would be a terrible mockery if we’d suffer a defeat during the peace time, having failed to keep our unity! Then all our losses, all the sacrifices made by those who lived and fought for the victory, would be really in vain.
But if we’ve learned how to fight back-to-back, we still might learn how to cooperate after the war. Of course we’ll face difficulties, contradictions and conflicts of interests. But there’s really nothing new or incredibly awful in it. Such matters can be solved to the mutual benefit. I think that those Americans who doubt that — and that is very odd in my opinion — do not have the faith in our ability to use our power wisely and for the common good in the international relations.
What are we to be afraid of? Rivalry with the Great Britain? We’ll hope that it would be a fair competition — competition in fight for prosperity of our own and all the other countries. After the victory in this war our country can hardly be afraid of any competition. We would have the tremendous material resources and the industrial power at our disposal as the country that didn’t suffer from the enemy attacks, country whose citizens can make business with people all over the world, country that know a lot about the life of other nations thanks to the millions of our compatriots living abroad. The English fear of competition can be understandable as they’ve suffered heavy economic and military losses. However, Englishmen are great businessmen as well and they would find the strength to restore their economy and we are interested in them to succeed at that. Great economic prospects are opening up before everyone who lives in a free and prospering world.
"Are we afraid of the communism in Russia? Why on earth do we have to be afraid of it? Do we have so little faith in our form of leadership and don’t we understand how much good did the free entrepreneurship, regulated for the sake of democracy, brought to our country? We have been working on our experiment for more than 150 years already — and we will keep walking our way, so the Soviets are free to work at their own experiment. We don’t have a single reason to be afraid of Russia. We’d just benefit from the friendship and the mutually profitable cooperation with it".
Are we afraid of the revival of China? Of course, not. China has been the most peaceful of all the great nations for the last 2000 years. New China can be considered to be the moral leader of the United Nations in the sense of understanding of what should we do for the sake of establishing the international cooperation.
After concluding the peace, Americans would have nothing to be afraid of, except, probably, the lack of faith in themselves and their own country. If we’re ready to continue our wartime cooperation even during the peace time, the rest of the world will be glad to cooperate with us for the sake of the common benefit.
All the United Nations have subscribed to the goals, proclaimed in the Atlantic Charter and the Declaration of the United Nations that can be briefly formulated as the freedom of speech, religious freedom, and freedom from poverty and fear. We cannot reach these goals at once — the path that leads to them is long and thorny, but they are still as much worthy and real as the goals of our Declaration of Independence. We cannot reach the strong and lasting peace without reaching them. History of humanity gives us the evidence that peace and prosperity are incompatible with the tyranny, poverty and fear".
The article I link here goes further and offers possible scenarios of USSR development after the victory in the Second World war.
http://www.win.ru/en/Mysteries-of-History/3331.phtml
What will we be capable of since we reach this victory — that depends from whether we’d be able to conclude peace the same way we’ve fought against the aggression, remaining to be the United Nations. For the last 30 months, since 11th of March, 1941 we’ve received plenty of evidences that our unity can work the miracles. We’ve avoided the catastrophe, which could’ve postponed the liberation for centuries and we’ve gained a great opportunity to achieve the better future for the humanity. We’d only be able to use this opportunity if we stay united.
One might ask why the matter of the possibility of our future cooperation is being raised at all. If we won thanks to our unity, it would be a terrible mockery if we’d suffer a defeat during the peace time, having failed to keep our unity! Then all our losses, all the sacrifices made by those who lived and fought for the victory, would be really in vain.
But if we’ve learned how to fight back-to-back, we still might learn how to cooperate after the war. Of course we’ll face difficulties, contradictions and conflicts of interests. But there’s really nothing new or incredibly awful in it. Such matters can be solved to the mutual benefit. I think that those Americans who doubt that — and that is very odd in my opinion — do not have the faith in our ability to use our power wisely and for the common good in the international relations.
What are we to be afraid of? Rivalry with the Great Britain? We’ll hope that it would be a fair competition — competition in fight for prosperity of our own and all the other countries. After the victory in this war our country can hardly be afraid of any competition. We would have the tremendous material resources and the industrial power at our disposal as the country that didn’t suffer from the enemy attacks, country whose citizens can make business with people all over the world, country that know a lot about the life of other nations thanks to the millions of our compatriots living abroad. The English fear of competition can be understandable as they’ve suffered heavy economic and military losses. However, Englishmen are great businessmen as well and they would find the strength to restore their economy and we are interested in them to succeed at that. Great economic prospects are opening up before everyone who lives in a free and prospering world.
"Are we afraid of the communism in Russia? Why on earth do we have to be afraid of it? Do we have so little faith in our form of leadership and don’t we understand how much good did the free entrepreneurship, regulated for the sake of democracy, brought to our country? We have been working on our experiment for more than 150 years already — and we will keep walking our way, so the Soviets are free to work at their own experiment. We don’t have a single reason to be afraid of Russia. We’d just benefit from the friendship and the mutually profitable cooperation with it".
Are we afraid of the revival of China? Of course, not. China has been the most peaceful of all the great nations for the last 2000 years. New China can be considered to be the moral leader of the United Nations in the sense of understanding of what should we do for the sake of establishing the international cooperation.
After concluding the peace, Americans would have nothing to be afraid of, except, probably, the lack of faith in themselves and their own country. If we’re ready to continue our wartime cooperation even during the peace time, the rest of the world will be glad to cooperate with us for the sake of the common benefit.
All the United Nations have subscribed to the goals, proclaimed in the Atlantic Charter and the Declaration of the United Nations that can be briefly formulated as the freedom of speech, religious freedom, and freedom from poverty and fear. We cannot reach these goals at once — the path that leads to them is long and thorny, but they are still as much worthy and real as the goals of our Declaration of Independence. We cannot reach the strong and lasting peace without reaching them. History of humanity gives us the evidence that peace and prosperity are incompatible with the tyranny, poverty and fear".
The article I link here goes further and offers possible scenarios of USSR development after the victory in the Second World war.
http://www.win.ru/en/Mysteries-of-History/3331.phtml
Ruined freedom
News about another Taliban act of terror in Afghanistan are now perceived by everyone as another informational routine — an average man cares about it just as much as about the monotonous military reports from Iraq. But January 2010 events in Kabul showed the whole world something very important and remarkable: it took place in the very center of the capital, where a lot of international and local security forces were concentrated. It seemed to be the most invulnerable place of all Afghanistan but Taliban dared to send its suicide bombers to organize series of explosions there and even more than that — fierce fights lasted few hours. Despite the fact that attackers were finally killed, there were only 20 of them, according to the "Al-Jazeera" channel information. So Talibs made it absolutely clear that they can rule the roost whenever they want, even in seemingly secure Kabul and even having little number of fighters.
"Indestructible freedom" operation started in October of 2001. Terror attacks of 9/11 became the casus belli for the first Afghanistan bombing initiated by the George Bush Jr. administration. During the first two years of this armed confrontation America has reached some success: it has dislodged Talibs out of the Afghan territory and has established such political powers configuration that was convenient for the USA. But in 2003 Taliban started to revive gradually and finally regain the lost positions. Guerrilla war and numerous acts of terror became the main methods of the movement led by Mullah Omar. All of this caused heavy casualties among the NATO troops and civil population.
Tremendous growth of the opiates production and an increased drug export to the neighboring countries — including Russia where the drugs were trafficked through the territory of the Central-Asian states — became one of the mournful outcomes of the unfinished war. American set — closing their eyes to the massive heroin production of the occupied country — has largely contributed to the quite tolerant attitude of the civil Afghans. When Taliban was at power they’ve managed to control the poppy fields, having profiteered on that, of course.
But now Taliban is raising its head higher and higher and the latest proof of that has been recently given in Kabul. Offensive took place on the day when 14 ministers of the new government were to take the oath. This has just emphasized the well-known fact once again — Taliban is not afraid of the puppet leadership of the country, headed by Hamid Karzai, whom only the laziest ones haven’t blamed for corruptness. Earlier, in autumn of 2009 terrorists have attacked the UN building, also situated in the center of Kabul. 6 members of the UN legation were killed. This act has made the foreigners living in Afghanistan — including those who were really helping out the international forces — to think about the reasonability of their presence over there and few hundreds of them have actually left the country.
So what was it all for? What did NATO troops and Afghan children die for? What did the international community paid billions of dollars for? It seems to be a vicious circle: the more victims this war devours, the more unstable the situation becomes...
http://www.win.ru/en/school/3364.phtml
"Indestructible freedom" operation started in October of 2001. Terror attacks of 9/11 became the casus belli for the first Afghanistan bombing initiated by the George Bush Jr. administration. During the first two years of this armed confrontation America has reached some success: it has dislodged Talibs out of the Afghan territory and has established such political powers configuration that was convenient for the USA. But in 2003 Taliban started to revive gradually and finally regain the lost positions. Guerrilla war and numerous acts of terror became the main methods of the movement led by Mullah Omar. All of this caused heavy casualties among the NATO troops and civil population.
Tremendous growth of the opiates production and an increased drug export to the neighboring countries — including Russia where the drugs were trafficked through the territory of the Central-Asian states — became one of the mournful outcomes of the unfinished war. American set — closing their eyes to the massive heroin production of the occupied country — has largely contributed to the quite tolerant attitude of the civil Afghans. When Taliban was at power they’ve managed to control the poppy fields, having profiteered on that, of course.
But now Taliban is raising its head higher and higher and the latest proof of that has been recently given in Kabul. Offensive took place on the day when 14 ministers of the new government were to take the oath. This has just emphasized the well-known fact once again — Taliban is not afraid of the puppet leadership of the country, headed by Hamid Karzai, whom only the laziest ones haven’t blamed for corruptness. Earlier, in autumn of 2009 terrorists have attacked the UN building, also situated in the center of Kabul. 6 members of the UN legation were killed. This act has made the foreigners living in Afghanistan — including those who were really helping out the international forces — to think about the reasonability of their presence over there and few hundreds of them have actually left the country.
So what was it all for? What did NATO troops and Afghan children die for? What did the international community paid billions of dollars for? It seems to be a vicious circle: the more victims this war devours, the more unstable the situation becomes...
http://www.win.ru/en/school/3364.phtml
Saturday, May 29, 2010
Hostis humani generis
Nowadays oil product transportation at the international level is mainly carried out by sea.
Thus, the sea trade routes are even more important today than several centuries ago when there were a unique mean to carry goods in far distances.
It is ridiculous, though, that a small African country could seriously influence the world oil traffic, causing economic and political problems to many great powers and hastening world financial crisis.
In autumn, 2008 Somalian pirates captured the Saudi tanker “Sirius Star”. As usual they wanted to get a considerable amount of money for freeing the ship. That time the Danish oil company “A.P.Moller-Maersk” had to send about 50 oil-carrying tankers around the Cape of Good Hope (according to experts evaluation, such a route change could increase the delivery term for more than 12 days and the price by 40%), the Norwegian company “Frontline” under the pressure exerted by goods owners had to refuse to use the Suez Canal to pass both its own and freighted ships. Transport companies throughout the world faced the problem of dramatic increase of the transported good insurance prices as well as decline in demand for rent of supertankers to transport goods in the water area of the Gulf of Aden. In light of the growing global financial crisis these complications in the field of sea shipping exacerbated the world economic slowdown.
Almost two years have passed and no oil tanker can feel itself safe in the near of Somalia coast. International institutions are too busy to solve "bigger "problems and do nothing to change the situation.
What do you think should be done there? Will military interference result in second Iraq?
http://www.eastwest-review.com/article/hostis-humani-generis-part-1
Thus, the sea trade routes are even more important today than several centuries ago when there were a unique mean to carry goods in far distances.
It is ridiculous, though, that a small African country could seriously influence the world oil traffic, causing economic and political problems to many great powers and hastening world financial crisis.
In autumn, 2008 Somalian pirates captured the Saudi tanker “Sirius Star”. As usual they wanted to get a considerable amount of money for freeing the ship. That time the Danish oil company “A.P.Moller-Maersk” had to send about 50 oil-carrying tankers around the Cape of Good Hope (according to experts evaluation, such a route change could increase the delivery term for more than 12 days and the price by 40%), the Norwegian company “Frontline” under the pressure exerted by goods owners had to refuse to use the Suez Canal to pass both its own and freighted ships. Transport companies throughout the world faced the problem of dramatic increase of the transported good insurance prices as well as decline in demand for rent of supertankers to transport goods in the water area of the Gulf of Aden. In light of the growing global financial crisis these complications in the field of sea shipping exacerbated the world economic slowdown.
Almost two years have passed and no oil tanker can feel itself safe in the near of Somalia coast. International institutions are too busy to solve "bigger "problems and do nothing to change the situation.
What do you think should be done there? Will military interference result in second Iraq?
http://www.eastwest-review.com/article/hostis-humani-generis-part-1
Friday, May 28, 2010
Vatican and the politics
Social protest against the canonization of Pope Pius XII gave rise to the violent discussion subjected not only to the very person of the saint-to-be but also the whole political activity of the Roman Catholic Church during the centuries of its existence. Not only representatives of the priesthood and professional theologists took part in the debates but also some conspicuous public and state figures, publicists did — long story short, the debate has turned into the widespread public discussion. The most surprising aspect of the story is not the fact that the Polish community is indignant with the future canonization of Pope Pius XII — who had a rather controversial reputation — and his becoming the one of Community of Catholic Saints. It’s almost for the first time when we’re hearing the voices that condemn the political role of the Catholic Church out loud.
For example, Wiesław Jaszczyński, well-known Polish public leader — in 1994-1998 he was the Deputy Health Minister in the government of Jerzy Buzek, today’s chairman of the European parliament — said the following: "No mixture in the world can ever be as dangerous to the humanity as the mix of religion and politics. Just the bloodiest wars and mass murders — including Holocaust — are born out of this mixture. History of the Roman Catholic Church is a striking example of that. During two thousand years of its existence and profound participation in the politics many terrible things happened: Crusades, murderous persecutions of Jews, inquisition, conquer, looting and the forceful conversion of the South America into the Catholicity. Whole sea of blood of innocent people has spilled just because of the fact that they were adherents of a different faith". One could hardly disagree with Jaszczyński - concerning the historical role of Vatican. In the newest history it changed - but only at first glance. Modern wars are still originate from religious issues roused by Vatican, despite all seeming attemps to promote ecumenism...
The article I link here is very long, but it is really worth reading and discussing.
http://www.win.ru/en/win/3504.phtml
For example, Wiesław Jaszczyński, well-known Polish public leader — in 1994-1998 he was the Deputy Health Minister in the government of Jerzy Buzek, today’s chairman of the European parliament — said the following: "No mixture in the world can ever be as dangerous to the humanity as the mix of religion and politics. Just the bloodiest wars and mass murders — including Holocaust — are born out of this mixture. History of the Roman Catholic Church is a striking example of that. During two thousand years of its existence and profound participation in the politics many terrible things happened: Crusades, murderous persecutions of Jews, inquisition, conquer, looting and the forceful conversion of the South America into the Catholicity. Whole sea of blood of innocent people has spilled just because of the fact that they were adherents of a different faith". One could hardly disagree with Jaszczyński - concerning the historical role of Vatican. In the newest history it changed - but only at first glance. Modern wars are still originate from religious issues roused by Vatican, despite all seeming attemps to promote ecumenism...
The article I link here is very long, but it is really worth reading and discussing.
http://www.win.ru/en/win/3504.phtml
MILLION REICHSMARKS FOR ROOSEVELT’S ASSASSINATION
In summer 2008 Toronto University employee PhD Ivan Kachanovsky published sensational information from the Franklin Roosevelt archives. According to it, in 1941-42 FBI agents, U. S. Presidential Intelligence Service and the U. S. Presidential Security Service were seeking for the OUN agents, sent to the USA by the Third Reich.
According to the data, obtained by American special services — including the information from their informants at the pro-fascist organizations of the Eastern Europe — press attaché of the German embassy in Argentina (certain Zinser) has organized a group of the Ukrainian terrorists who were charged with a mission to kill the U. S. President F. Roosevelt. One million Reichsmarks were promised for this order. Gregory Matseyko headed the group — in 1934 he murdered Bronislav Pieracky, Polish Minister of Foreign Affairs due to the Bandera’s order. Nicolay Lebed and Darya Gnatkovskaya — convicted by the Polish court for the same crime and later liberated from the Polish prison by the Germans — also were the members of the terrorist group.
See the whole text of the article, which is rather interesting to follow, on http://www.win.ru/en/win/3609.phtml
According to the data, obtained by American special services — including the information from their informants at the pro-fascist organizations of the Eastern Europe — press attaché of the German embassy in Argentina (certain Zinser) has organized a group of the Ukrainian terrorists who were charged with a mission to kill the U. S. President F. Roosevelt. One million Reichsmarks were promised for this order. Gregory Matseyko headed the group — in 1934 he murdered Bronislav Pieracky, Polish Minister of Foreign Affairs due to the Bandera’s order. Nicolay Lebed and Darya Gnatkovskaya — convicted by the Polish court for the same crime and later liberated from the Polish prison by the Germans — also were the members of the terrorist group.
See the whole text of the article, which is rather interesting to follow, on http://www.win.ru/en/win/3609.phtml
"Robin Hood" movie
Main theme of the "Robin Hood" movie is concentrated around the event of no small importance for the English history – signing of the Great Charter or Magna Carta by the King John. This document limited the king’s power over his vassals. In order to understand its significance we should know that the British Empire, state with the ancient democratic traditions, has no constitution at all. That’s why recent words of a certain Russian liberal functionary, stating that in England the elections take place according to the constitution, were met with a sincere good-natured laughter. Indeed, what does the man who invented the automobile might need the instruction for? Leave these manuals to those who are willing to use this car.
Group of documents, which – at a stretch – may be referred to the principal laws of Great Britain, originates from the very Magna Carta. It has nothing revolutionary in it, though. From the legal point of view, the much-talked-about "Yaroslav’s Justice" which was in use in Russia for a long time then, was more "advanced" document of its period. English Magna Carta, however, became the sacred myth and the "foundation stone of liberty", whatever that word may mean. "Robin Hood" directed by Ridley Scott is the first – may it be the probing one – attempt to work with that myth.
In his vision Magna Carta is a document, the text, first of all. It is not a half-verbal agreement, based on traditions and representing the result of the years-long negotiations and mutual give-and-takes by the nobility and king himself. This is rather a text, written without any participation of these persons – by a simple mason, father of Robin Hood and a leader of the common folk. All the barons and the king have to do is to sign this text and go home. History turns into the theory of conspiracy.
In fact, main hero of all Scott's films (so loved by the Western audience) is the contemporary of ours – who, in an unknown way, fetched himself in the other period of time and discovers the events that take place around him. He shows the typical reactions of the white Anglo-Saxon man from the 90s. His position is strictly democratic and anti-clerical. He doesn’t understand the matters of nobility and sanctity, having preferred to cast them away in disgust.
In the "Robin Hood"a historian finds plenty discrepancies, blots and unlikely moments. However, we can not rob it of its grandour and attraction - attraction which made me with my PhD in History to browse Internet and printed encyclopedia in search for a more or less truthful facts about Robin Hood.
http://www.win.ru/en/movies/4487.phtml
Group of documents, which – at a stretch – may be referred to the principal laws of Great Britain, originates from the very Magna Carta. It has nothing revolutionary in it, though. From the legal point of view, the much-talked-about "Yaroslav’s Justice" which was in use in Russia for a long time then, was more "advanced" document of its period. English Magna Carta, however, became the sacred myth and the "foundation stone of liberty", whatever that word may mean. "Robin Hood" directed by Ridley Scott is the first – may it be the probing one – attempt to work with that myth.
In his vision Magna Carta is a document, the text, first of all. It is not a half-verbal agreement, based on traditions and representing the result of the years-long negotiations and mutual give-and-takes by the nobility and king himself. This is rather a text, written without any participation of these persons – by a simple mason, father of Robin Hood and a leader of the common folk. All the barons and the king have to do is to sign this text and go home. History turns into the theory of conspiracy.
In fact, main hero of all Scott's films (so loved by the Western audience) is the contemporary of ours – who, in an unknown way, fetched himself in the other period of time and discovers the events that take place around him. He shows the typical reactions of the white Anglo-Saxon man from the 90s. His position is strictly democratic and anti-clerical. He doesn’t understand the matters of nobility and sanctity, having preferred to cast them away in disgust.
In the "Robin Hood"a historian finds plenty discrepancies, blots and unlikely moments. However, we can not rob it of its grandour and attraction - attraction which made me with my PhD in History to browse Internet and printed encyclopedia in search for a more or less truthful facts about Robin Hood.
http://www.win.ru/en/movies/4487.phtml
Pax Americana Multipolaris
Does the USA need a one-polar world? I don’t think so. It is hard to “be in charge of everything”. It is much easier and more advantageous to be “the first among the equal and a far from the centre”. Unlike vertical relations, horizontal ones do not suppress anybody and can not result in anybody’s fall. I believe that Obama’s shining smile is just the right thing: after statements made by George Bush Jr. concerning the issue of “who is in charge” it is important to remind the world about such notion as equality.
I do agree with the author of this article - it is always extremely hard to be superior as they are mostly afraid of, envied or hated. It looks more than a habit of achieving superiority that the USA inherited from the cold war era, isn't it?
http://www.eastwest-review.com/article/pax-americana-multipolaris
I do agree with the author of this article - it is always extremely hard to be superior as they are mostly afraid of, envied or hated. It looks more than a habit of achieving superiority that the USA inherited from the cold war era, isn't it?
http://www.eastwest-review.com/article/pax-americana-multipolaris
Somalia: Anarchy is Order
In comparison with other Eastern African countries Somalia has reached obvious success in many spheres for the last 20 years despite periods of chaos; and the most peculiar is the fact that it has been achieved without any governmental rule in the country.
Each period of chaos and violence in Somalia was caused by an attempt to create a centralized government from outside. The last such attempt took place when the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) was created in 2006 under the guidance of Ethiopia and the USA. Fight against TFG made the Islamic Courts Union (Al-Shabaab) stronger. Al-Shabaab managed to create an actual government and seize control of southern provinces and the former capital Mogadishu. In December of 2006 Ethiopian troops invaded Somalia, defeated Al-Shabaab and moved TFG to Mogadishu. TFG has actually no power and is not supported by any substantial part of population. Attacks against soldiers and officials loyal to TFG are happening eventually. It remains unclear, whether TFG manages to control the whole country.
Outbreaks of violence and military crimes took place in Somalia within ten years between the withdrawal of American troops and Ethiopian intervention. However, they can not be even compared to violence of the civil war and General Barre’s dictatorship.
Somalian customary law is based on traditions interpreted and followed by decentralized clan structure. Xeer appeared long before the colonial period and remained valid when Somalia was a colony. After Somalia became independent, the central government made attempts to replace Xeer with state law. However, people in rural regions and borderlands continued to follow the customary law. After the collapse of Somali state the majority returned to traditional law.
Xeer prohibits murder, assaults, burglary, robbery, theft, arson, blackmail, tortures, beating, causing severe injuries (including those due to negligence), rape, kidnapping, causing harm to property. Xeer is mainly focused not on punishments but on compensations for the damage caused. This is an outline of people who are famous as pirates of XXIst century.
http://www.eastwest-review.com/article/somalia-anarchy-order-part-i
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
WITHOUT ANY WORDS AND BLANK SHOTS
American company Blackwater was set up in 1996 and now is called ‘Xe Services’. For a long time it has lived in a shadow of the U. S. foreign policy. But during the last few years scandalous activity of this firm — that specialists regard to be small but capable private army — became well-known all over the world and its cases are tried in the numerous courts. Not long ago one of recent informational cause was given by Iraq officials, where Blackwater pretty much distinguished itself in due time. Government ordered 250 former and active company employees to leave the country in the course of week.
Why did Blackwater fall into such disfavour? Iraqi officials had to undertake these measures when the American judge didn’t press charges against company employees regarding assault at the peaceful Iraqis — including beatings and murders. The case is the much-talked-about shooting of 17 Baghdad residents. This incident provoked sharp rise of the anti-American sentiments in Iraq and forced the U. S. State Department to deny the company services.
http://www.win.ru/en/school/3597.phtml
Why did Blackwater fall into such disfavour? Iraqi officials had to undertake these measures when the American judge didn’t press charges against company employees regarding assault at the peaceful Iraqis — including beatings and murders. The case is the much-talked-about shooting of 17 Baghdad residents. This incident provoked sharp rise of the anti-American sentiments in Iraq and forced the U. S. State Department to deny the company services.
http://www.win.ru/en/school/3597.phtml
ALTERNATIVE HISTORY OF THE SECOND WORLD WAR
Alternative historical scenarios allow us to better understand the specific decisions that various politicians have made in the real history. Any head of state, while making a decision, approximate, in one way or another, the possible future in case of both fulfilling the appointed decision and its cancellation. Today’s reconstruction of the virtual past leads us to better understanding of the historical persons’ motivation and lets us estimate how justified their decisions had been. Long story short, alternative historical scenarios give the opportunity to estimate the lost prospects or, on the contrary, dangers for the state that were avoided (in our case we’re talking of the second variant). The question — whether the world would have turned to worse or to better — if at some given moment the course of history was different — is not vain at all. Its solution is vitally important for giving the appraisal estimates to the events of the past.
As far back as in September of 1938 Winston Churchill, then First Lord of Admiralty (naval minister) of Great Britain, put the question of mining the Norwegian coastal waters in order to bar Germany from exporting the iron ore via the Norwegian seaport Narwik to the agenda of Her Majesty’s Cabinet. In December of 1939 Churchill unambiguously supported the idea of preventive occupation of Norway. The USSR was fighting the war against Finland at the time and the plans of English presence in the North of Europe started to acquire the shape of the clearly anti-Soviet kind. In the same report dated the 16th of December, 1939 Churchill unequivocally pointed out the probability of starting the warfare against the Soviet Union: "Transfer of the iron ore from Luleo (Baltic Sea) has already stopped because of the ice and we can’t let the Soviet icebreakers to crush it in case if they try"...
http://www.win.ru/en/Mysteries-of-History/4113.phtml
As far back as in September of 1938 Winston Churchill, then First Lord of Admiralty (naval minister) of Great Britain, put the question of mining the Norwegian coastal waters in order to bar Germany from exporting the iron ore via the Norwegian seaport Narwik to the agenda of Her Majesty’s Cabinet. In December of 1939 Churchill unambiguously supported the idea of preventive occupation of Norway. The USSR was fighting the war against Finland at the time and the plans of English presence in the North of Europe started to acquire the shape of the clearly anti-Soviet kind. In the same report dated the 16th of December, 1939 Churchill unequivocally pointed out the probability of starting the warfare against the Soviet Union: "Transfer of the iron ore from Luleo (Baltic Sea) has already stopped because of the ice and we can’t let the Soviet icebreakers to crush it in case if they try"...
http://www.win.ru/en/Mysteries-of-History/4113.phtml
Nazi henchmen from Scandinavia dreamed of colonizing Russia and the Ukraine
Scandinavia was to play a special role in the worldview of the German national-socialistы. That was both a cradle of the "Nordic race" and the motherhood for the nations that were related to Germans. Even prior to that, in the beginning of the 20th century, pan-Germanists were laying great hopes for Scandinavia, considering it to be natural for the Northern Europe to be reunited under the auspice of Germany. During the Second World War real opportunity to check both "pan-Germanist" and "Nordic" theories appeared. Thus, to the utmost surprise of the Nazis, it turned out that the "related nations" — the "Vikings" — weren’t much enthusiastic about becoming a part of the Great German Reich.
With the beginning of the Second World War, Scandinavian countries strove to keep their neutrality just like they did during the First World War. Denmark and Norway have failed at that, though. These countries have suddenly fetched themselves under the intent attention of the warring parties, which were attempting to improve their strategic positions for their account. Germans have slightly outstripped Englishmen at that. At that point, Norway — that was initially protesting against the English disregard for its neutrality — had nothing else to do, rather than to beg England of help. But in 1940 British people were unable (or unwilling) to protect Norway, and Germany has consolidated its grip of the Northern Europe.
In Denmark and Norway the population wasn’t showing any specific willingness to participate in the military affairs of the German national-socialism. Yes, the occupational regime in these countries was rather gentle. It cannot by no means be compared with the Nazi regimes at the occupied territories not only of Poland and the USSR, but even with that of France and (by the end of the war) Italy. In a great many senses occupants were relying on the local powers very much. In Denmark most part of Danish administration, police and legal justice bodies was intact — the laws of the Danish Kingdom were still in use there. Similar situation emerged in Norway. It also formally remained to be autonomous; it had its own government, police and judicial bodies. At that, even before the invasion to Norway, Nazi had a strong "fifth column" — the "Nasjonal Samling Party" headed by Vidkun Quisling — in that country. In February of 1942 occupants have appointed Quisling to be the head of the puppet government of Norway. We should say that during the years of the Second World War the very word "quisling" became a common noun denoting the puppet collaborationist, willing to execute any German order. French "Vichy government members", Croatian Ustaša and Slovakian supporters of the pro-fascist regime were dubbed this way.
http://www.win.ru/en/Mysteries-of-History/4200.phtml
With the beginning of the Second World War, Scandinavian countries strove to keep their neutrality just like they did during the First World War. Denmark and Norway have failed at that, though. These countries have suddenly fetched themselves under the intent attention of the warring parties, which were attempting to improve their strategic positions for their account. Germans have slightly outstripped Englishmen at that. At that point, Norway — that was initially protesting against the English disregard for its neutrality — had nothing else to do, rather than to beg England of help. But in 1940 British people were unable (or unwilling) to protect Norway, and Germany has consolidated its grip of the Northern Europe.
In Denmark and Norway the population wasn’t showing any specific willingness to participate in the military affairs of the German national-socialism. Yes, the occupational regime in these countries was rather gentle. It cannot by no means be compared with the Nazi regimes at the occupied territories not only of Poland and the USSR, but even with that of France and (by the end of the war) Italy. In a great many senses occupants were relying on the local powers very much. In Denmark most part of Danish administration, police and legal justice bodies was intact — the laws of the Danish Kingdom were still in use there. Similar situation emerged in Norway. It also formally remained to be autonomous; it had its own government, police and judicial bodies. At that, even before the invasion to Norway, Nazi had a strong "fifth column" — the "Nasjonal Samling Party" headed by Vidkun Quisling — in that country. In February of 1942 occupants have appointed Quisling to be the head of the puppet government of Norway. We should say that during the years of the Second World War the very word "quisling" became a common noun denoting the puppet collaborationist, willing to execute any German order. French "Vichy government members", Croatian Ustaša and Slovakian supporters of the pro-fascist regime were dubbed this way.
http://www.win.ru/en/Mysteries-of-History/4200.phtml
A STAIN ON A WHITE TAILCOAT
The Russians inherited their being in sympathy with the traditional English society, from books and movies of the Soviet times, despite the fact that Soviet pieces of art, inspired by Agatha Christie and Conan Doyle’s works, were rather far from the nowadays reality. The manifested antipode of the Soviet humanist ideals — "the British colonial imperialism" — took place in former Soviet schoolchildren’s minds without mixing up with sweet, although bourgeois Miss Marple and Sherlock Holmes. That made substantial difference with the Tsarist age, when the educated part of the Russian society, even when they expressed their respect towards these or those aspects of British national way of life or British temperament, were judging it by their minds, not hearts. The Anglophobia was widespread then, and even Russian political emigrants, who had found their asylum in Britain, followed suit.
A period of being enchanted by the British traditions, evoked by the wave of perestroika, USSR dissolution and troubles caused by it, is over today. And one of the most obvious proofs of London’s self-interested hypocrisy which easily outweighs the mythology of "good old reputable Britain" is a man named Boris Abramovich Berezovsky.
The name of Mr. Berezovsky is used to confront the "English influence" in some lands which are economically and geographically closer to Britain. On February 6th 2008, representatives of the law enforcement agencies of Switzerland, France and the Netherlands, speaking at a meeting at Eurojust, stated the "major violations" of the international agreements of the criminal proceedings by the British Home Office. They also expressed their determination to raise this question again at various European institutions in order to discuss the destructive position of the British party when it comes to fighting the transnational organized crime. Taking numerous criminal cases against Mr. Berezovsky, initiated by law enforcement agencies of Switzerland. Brazil, Lithuania etc into account, it’s no wonder that this gentleman is depicted by the European press as a typical example of the cosmopolitan moneymaker, who uses the British protection and thinks that "money doesn’t stink!" Some Canadian online paper even supposed that Mr. Berezovsky is concerned in Muslim radicals’ attempts to get "dirty bombs" which were supposed to be used against the Western countries.
Some time ago Britain was an secure place for serious politicians, political writers, philosophers seeking an opportunity to develop their ideas. A famous Russian democrat Gertzen moved there, and "Das Kapital" was written there by Marx. But, as far as we can see, there is something deeply rotten in the British kingdom, if the same status can be obtained now by "godfathers" (as Paul Klebnikov called them) like Boris Berezovsky.
http://www.win.ru/en/topic/3673.phtml
A period of being enchanted by the British traditions, evoked by the wave of perestroika, USSR dissolution and troubles caused by it, is over today. And one of the most obvious proofs of London’s self-interested hypocrisy which easily outweighs the mythology of "good old reputable Britain" is a man named Boris Abramovich Berezovsky.
The name of Mr. Berezovsky is used to confront the "English influence" in some lands which are economically and geographically closer to Britain. On February 6th 2008, representatives of the law enforcement agencies of Switzerland, France and the Netherlands, speaking at a meeting at Eurojust, stated the "major violations" of the international agreements of the criminal proceedings by the British Home Office. They also expressed their determination to raise this question again at various European institutions in order to discuss the destructive position of the British party when it comes to fighting the transnational organized crime. Taking numerous criminal cases against Mr. Berezovsky, initiated by law enforcement agencies of Switzerland. Brazil, Lithuania etc into account, it’s no wonder that this gentleman is depicted by the European press as a typical example of the cosmopolitan moneymaker, who uses the British protection and thinks that "money doesn’t stink!" Some Canadian online paper even supposed that Mr. Berezovsky is concerned in Muslim radicals’ attempts to get "dirty bombs" which were supposed to be used against the Western countries.
Some time ago Britain was an secure place for serious politicians, political writers, philosophers seeking an opportunity to develop their ideas. A famous Russian democrat Gertzen moved there, and "Das Kapital" was written there by Marx. But, as far as we can see, there is something deeply rotten in the British kingdom, if the same status can be obtained now by "godfathers" (as Paul Klebnikov called them) like Boris Berezovsky.
http://www.win.ru/en/topic/3673.phtml
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
WHAT’S THE POINT OF PRETENDING THAT EVERYONE AROUND YOU ARE IDIOTS?
After 18 years of the most active period of Georgian-Abkhazian and Georgian-Ossetian conflict, government of Georgia decided to pretend that it "changed its mind" and allegedly found the way to correct everything and "reintegrate these territories and people into the constitutional area of Georgia by peaceful means". Perhaps, if Georgia didn’t choose the path of war prior to that and if such policy was implemented at least 5 years ago, its effectiveness would be unquestionable. Now it’s impossible to find any sense of presenting such document.
Intricate way of Saakashvili’s thinking gave birth to the new original strategy called "Involvement via cooperation". According to the original idea that was stated in English, this strategy will result in the restoration of trust between Georgians, Abkhazians and Ossetes. At the same time official Tbilisi is not going to deny the concept of considering Abkhazia and South Ossetia to be the Georgian territory. Georgian authorities call Abkhazia and South Ossetia to be the "territories occupied by Russia" and are seemingly unwilling to change this term.
http://www.win.ru/en/topic/3656.phtml
Intricate way of Saakashvili’s thinking gave birth to the new original strategy called "Involvement via cooperation". According to the original idea that was stated in English, this strategy will result in the restoration of trust between Georgians, Abkhazians and Ossetes. At the same time official Tbilisi is not going to deny the concept of considering Abkhazia and South Ossetia to be the Georgian territory. Georgian authorities call Abkhazia and South Ossetia to be the "territories occupied by Russia" and are seemingly unwilling to change this term.
http://www.win.ru/en/topic/3656.phtml
"PERSISTENT AND SOMETIMES BELLICOSE": Fighters against the "Bronze Soldier" monument decided to rattle their sabers again
There is a large category of stateless people in Estonia (about 8% of population). As opposed to the permanent foreign residents, they can’t elect or be elected, although, they live in the country, work and pay taxes since their birth. The only indulgence is that the non-nationals with permanent residence permit have a right to elect (but not to be elected) during the local elections. As you might’ve guessed, there are few native Estonians among them.
The former are still feeling the "Russian threat". Given such background Lieutenant General Ants Laaneots — Estonian Chief of Defense — said that the European historical course has made Estonians even-tempered and wise. "We had to be flexible, persistent, stubborn and sometimes even bellicose living here by the Baltic Sea in order to remain as a nation" — he said. "Protection of independence grounds on people’s will to defend themselves — people who considered our territory to be their Motherland. The last subject includes not only military aspect, but our common willingness to protect our state, our people, our nearest and dearest and ourselves from any threats", — Laaneots said.
http://www.win.ru/en/topic/3926.phtml
The former are still feeling the "Russian threat". Given such background Lieutenant General Ants Laaneots — Estonian Chief of Defense — said that the European historical course has made Estonians even-tempered and wise. "We had to be flexible, persistent, stubborn and sometimes even bellicose living here by the Baltic Sea in order to remain as a nation" — he said. "Protection of independence grounds on people’s will to defend themselves — people who considered our territory to be their Motherland. The last subject includes not only military aspect, but our common willingness to protect our state, our people, our nearest and dearest and ourselves from any threats", — Laaneots said.
http://www.win.ru/en/topic/3926.phtml
Did the Red Army or Vlasov’s army liberate Prague from the Nazi?
In this article you will find more or less truthful description of early May 1945 days in Prague. I strongly recommend to read it and to post comments:
"Today there is a chance that the events of early May, 1945 would be cleaned of political bargaining. But it would happen not in the nearest future, large debates between two states historians have been heating for many years. However, there are less people both in Russia and the Czech Republic who question the decisive role of the Red Army in Prague liberation. Finally, May 1945 should be differed from the Socialist epoch in Czechoslovakia. They should not be mixed. These events are not equal even if somebody wants it so much."
http://www.eastwest-review.com/article/did-red-army-or-vlasovrsquos-army-liberate-prague-nazi
"Today there is a chance that the events of early May, 1945 would be cleaned of political bargaining. But it would happen not in the nearest future, large debates between two states historians have been heating for many years. However, there are less people both in Russia and the Czech Republic who question the decisive role of the Red Army in Prague liberation. Finally, May 1945 should be differed from the Socialist epoch in Czechoslovakia. They should not be mixed. These events are not equal even if somebody wants it so much."
http://www.eastwest-review.com/article/did-red-army-or-vlasovrsquos-army-liberate-prague-nazi
Russian Idea and Russia's place in the world
In the recent years Russia has become a partner in multilateral combinations of the international actors, who seek survival and development without losing their independence. It's a kind of realpolitik too, but filled with much more ethics and common sense. But still the independent strugglers for the common future in this diverse and (at the same time) globalized world lack the unification force, lack the powerful mediator. Probably, Russia could be such a force, for it is a country that unified all the major world cultures under one roof and every such culture feels at home; but to play such a part, Russia should become a new social economical reality, and it couldn't be done by the blood of any kind of revolution. We actually have just one option — something like the Soviet Union plus belief in God. And, of course, the realities, that are quite different now, must be taken into consideration.
We lacked such an example in the past in our domestic as well as foreign politics. In that case the number of supporters, ready to help us, risking their own lives, could have been greater, and their quantity could have made quality, a prerequisite for success. And the number of defectors (who always have their personal material egoism underneath their “sublime” ideas, if we look at them a bit closer, and who “were so kind” to bring us knowledge of some valuable Soviet intelligence agents of the past) could have been less.
http://www.win.ru/en/ideas/2867.phtml
We lacked such an example in the past in our domestic as well as foreign politics. In that case the number of supporters, ready to help us, risking their own lives, could have been greater, and their quantity could have made quality, a prerequisite for success. And the number of defectors (who always have their personal material egoism underneath their “sublime” ideas, if we look at them a bit closer, and who “were so kind” to bring us knowledge of some valuable Soviet intelligence agents of the past) could have been less.
http://www.win.ru/en/ideas/2867.phtml
Monday, May 24, 2010
Corruption as a Mother of Terror
Corruption is just a particular case of the money obsession that truly became some kind of an "anti-national idea" in Russia. Everyone has heard the furious Patriarch Kirill’s rebuff to the self-seeking cab drivers, who have jacked up the prices for their services and driven the people after the explosions in the metro demanding the crazy rates. However, the cynicism of some of Russian fellow compatriots seems to be boundless. The next day the swindlers started to send the text messages, offering to donate the money that allegedly were to be sent to the victims of the terrorist act. As the saying goes, it can’t become worse than that.
Russian nation was always famous for its ability to unite in the face of the danger in order to jointly protect its Motherland. The very moment for that has just come.
http://www.win.ru/en/ideas/4111.phtml
Russian nation was always famous for its ability to unite in the face of the danger in order to jointly protect its Motherland. The very moment for that has just come.
http://www.win.ru/en/ideas/4111.phtml
President Yanukovich and NATO
After all court procedures in the Supreme Administrative court, Viktor Yanukovich is now preparing for inauguration. The Party of Regions carries on complicated negotiations with different political powers about creating a new coalition and forming a “technical” government that will lead the Ukraine out of the crisis it had been drawn into by the Orange government. Timoshenko doesn’t intend to leave the prime-minister’s post and promises to fight the existing government “to the last ditch”. Nationalistic and quasi-nationalistic powers that lost the elections and are unable to oppose representatives of the regions in the field of economics start crusade against the Russian language. Yushchenko chooses for himself a governmental dacha, gives awards to his supporters and goes on his last tour across the country of exhibitions dedicated to the “fight of heroic Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists and Ukrainian Insurgent Army against the Soviet rule”. The West meanwhile discusses the after-election fate of the Ukraine.
“The Ukraine at least won’t insist on providing the prospects of membership either in EU, or in NATO. These questions of Yushchenko’s time stand no longer. Everybody understands that the issue of Ukraine’s joining NATO ceased to be an urgent one for now, and may be forever,” stated Arnaud Dubien, a prominent French political scientist and a leading researcher of IRIS.
Nevertheless, Arnaud Dubien doesn’t rule out the possibility of collaboration of Kiev with the West to be more efficient with Yanukovich at the helm, then it was during Yushchenko’s presidency, in case the situation in the Ukraine is not catastrophic. “We’ll be less talking about membership, prospects and dates and will deal more with boring but necessary issues, such as the adaptation of Ukrainian legislation and standard specifications to the European standards, and so on,” says the scientist. First of all, apart from the cooperation in energy sector, the West is interested in the relations between the Ukraine and NATO. As Arnaud Dubien says, the fact that the “golden age” of Ukrainian relationship with NATO has gone doesn’t impede the real army cooperation.
http://www.eastwest-review.com/article/president-yanukovich-and-nato
On the waves of historical memory
Innumerable are the times and the grounds, based on which post-Soviet nations are suggested today to repent of their sins and to clear themselves (though not only post-Soviet countries have their skeletons in the cupboards). But repentance is a personal issue with purely personal and by no way collective responsibility (and collective responsibility is a notion proposed and implemented by Hitler to Jews). Human beings must answer for their actions, no matter were they performed in or out of community. But if an unpleasant action was performed under the strict compulsion of the society, that should be regarded as extenuating circumstances. One can’t blame the whole nation for the crimes of its leaders; every representative of that nation would become a criminal and the whole nation – a gang of villains then. Though, those representatives of a nation who were involved in crimes are, perhaps, to be condemned. A collective repentance is sought be the representatives of a certain classes, so it might be reasonable to talk about class repentance. Say, a farmer in our country doesn’t have to repent of Stalin’s crimes, but the artistic intellectuals who reproach the today’s nation with these crimes probably should, as it were smart temporizers who supported Stalin’s regime ideologically, and not only Stalin’s and not only in our country. But there’re no volunteers from their kind to confess, and none of them intends to do their job with all responsibility, but creates a deliberately false ideological product again and again without being ashamed.
http://www.eastwest-review.com/article/waves-historical-memory
http://www.eastwest-review.com/article/waves-historical-memory
Case of Vassili Kononov: Strasbourg versus Nuremberg
12-year-long legal dispute of Vassili Kononov and the Latvian ethnocratic regime resembles Franz Kafka’s novel "The Trial1" with its absurd piling of the sentences, further inquiries, and appeals. By the way "The Trial", written in 1925, was also born by the European culture and in great many senses it became a prophecy of the coming fascism.
Grand Chamber of the European Court for Human Rights cancelled the original verdict, returned in Strasbourg 2 years ago due to the claim of Vassili Kononov, Great Patriotic War veteran, that he put up against the Latvian authorities. Talks that the common sense finally prevailed in Europe, turned out to be pre-mature: this time 14 judges voted in favor of Latvia and just 3 of them — in favor of partisan and resistance member.
In 2008 the Court obliged Latvia to pay Kononov €30.000 as compensation and recognize the incompetence of the criminal prosecution against him. This inspired the state authorities to demand the Strasbourg Court to revise this decision. Vassili Kononov says that he is willing to fight until the end, the way he did in the 40s. He is 87 now so his time and strength for another war — against the unrighteous court this time — are running thin. This war however is on since 1998 — that’s when the veteran was arrested. He, by the way, sacrificed his youth for the liberation of his motherland (Vassili Kononov is a native citizen of Latvia).
Hopes of Kononov’s lawyers are grounded on the circumstance that Strasbourg doesn’t have all the materials of the case. Thus, the Court didn’t take the complete information into the consideration, which may become the reason to review the case, despite the fact, that, according to the law, the Grand Chamber is making its final decision now. We can’t rule out the possibility that the lawyers will manage to catch this straw. But still it’s hard to believe in their success, as long as it is clear that now everything depends on the political conjuncture.
http://www.win.ru/en/topic/4445.phtml
Grand Chamber of the European Court for Human Rights cancelled the original verdict, returned in Strasbourg 2 years ago due to the claim of Vassili Kononov, Great Patriotic War veteran, that he put up against the Latvian authorities. Talks that the common sense finally prevailed in Europe, turned out to be pre-mature: this time 14 judges voted in favor of Latvia and just 3 of them — in favor of partisan and resistance member.
In 2008 the Court obliged Latvia to pay Kononov €30.000 as compensation and recognize the incompetence of the criminal prosecution against him. This inspired the state authorities to demand the Strasbourg Court to revise this decision. Vassili Kononov says that he is willing to fight until the end, the way he did in the 40s. He is 87 now so his time and strength for another war — against the unrighteous court this time — are running thin. This war however is on since 1998 — that’s when the veteran was arrested. He, by the way, sacrificed his youth for the liberation of his motherland (Vassili Kononov is a native citizen of Latvia).
Hopes of Kononov’s lawyers are grounded on the circumstance that Strasbourg doesn’t have all the materials of the case. Thus, the Court didn’t take the complete information into the consideration, which may become the reason to review the case, despite the fact, that, according to the law, the Grand Chamber is making its final decision now. We can’t rule out the possibility that the lawyers will manage to catch this straw. But still it’s hard to believe in their success, as long as it is clear that now everything depends on the political conjuncture.
http://www.win.ru/en/topic/4445.phtml
Euro-Union pot calling the kettle back
In the EU countries depicting Russia as a huge hotbed of xenophobia, national hatred and intolerance happened to be a sign of good form. Tendentious coverage of the European media led to the fact that every single national-grounded conflict in Moscow or St. Petersburg is becoming an occasion for the articles and broadcastings. At the same time Europeans prefer not to speak aloud about their own interethnic issues that have long ago become chronic and systematic. Meanwhile, ultra-right, radically nationalistic parties in Europe are not the marginal phenomena anymore, but rather the integral parts of the political systems of their respective countries.
http://www.win.ru/en/school/4436.phtml
http://www.win.ru/en/school/4436.phtml
"Fathers' graves" of the Polish politics
Jerzy Giedroyć’s1 statement about two graves — of Piłsudski and Dmowski — that rule over the Poland became truism long time ago. Fierce political fight for the President’s post that unfolded after the brief mourning reconciliation, creates the preconditions for appearance of the third "ruling grave" — the one of Lech Kaczyński.
For the whole article go to http://www.win.ru/en/school/4422.phtml
Thousands of commemoration lights at the graves of Russian soldiers in Poland
Hundreds of thousands of Soviet soldiers — who died for the sake of liberation of Poland from the fascists in 1944-45 — are buried at the military cemeteries in Poland. The largest cemetery, where more than 32 thousand of the soldiers-liberators have found their final peace, is situated in Braniewo, close to the border with the Kaliningrad oblast. There are nearly 22 thousands in Warsaw, at the Żwirko and Wigura Street, 11 thousand — in Bielsko-Biała, 8 thousand — in Wrocław. Polish government is regularly allotting several million zloty for the maintenance of these Second World War memorials, but you may only find there fresh flowers or lit up candles once in a blue moon. After the collapse of the socialistic bloc quite new approach to the estimate of the Soviet Army role in the liberation of the country started to prevail. Our soldiers were treated as the occupants, who brought socialism on their bayonets. Role of the USSR as the liberator from the Hitler’s fascism moved to the background without being noticed.
The 65th anniversary of the great victory became the turning point in the attitude of common Poles towards Russia and the role of the Soviet soldiers in the Polish liberation.
http://www.win.ru/en/school/4421.phtml
The 65th anniversary of the great victory became the turning point in the attitude of common Poles towards Russia and the role of the Soviet soldiers in the Polish liberation.
http://www.win.ru/en/school/4421.phtml
It is cheap, fast and efficient
When you hear that Twitter or mobile phones are essential for democracy and that they give a chance to Iranian or Burmese or Cuban or Zimbabwean "tyranny fighters", give yourself a moment and think about the persons using such a chance and the ways they use it. By the way, some examples of that can be found at not so distant places: the scenario described was frequently used at the post-Soviet space, and last time it was Chisinau, 2009.
http://www.win.ru/en/school/4375.phtml
http://www.win.ru/en/school/4375.phtml
Prime Minister of Estonia became "Kaitseliit" fighter
Scandalous and provocative Andrus Ansip’ demarche — who enlisted for an organization with a rich collaborationist history revived in the 90s — doesn’t inspire any hope that fascist henchmen glorification in Baltics is a transient phenomenon. It looks more like a lingering illness, which is to be treated for quite a long time. Once, Western Europe has recognized Republic of Estonia to be the EU member with outstretched arms. And if Western Europe doesn’t help to cure this disease, it can develop into the chronic form.
http://www.win.ru/en/topic/4322.phtml
http://www.win.ru/en/topic/4322.phtml
Why did the West lose the Second World War?
A lot of Russians believe that we’re living in the age of the Western triumph. West surrounds us everywhere. It reigns over the popular car models and at the labels of trendy clothes; it is in the photographs of pop-idols and political brands. In both literal and figurative senses, we’re dancing to the Western music. Who might doubt the triumph of the prevailed civilization?
This, however, is a provincial view from Himki or Odoevo1. This is a view of people who lived through crush of the "iron curtain" and literally lost their steps due to an avalanche of the forbidden goods that rushed from over the burst-through dam. Being in a panic we are even ready to claim the banal market relations to be the "Western achievement" though the market existed as far back as in the times of ancient Sumerians or Siam, thousands of years before the Wall Street.
At the very same time American ideologist Patrick Buchanan is writing a book named "Death of the West". Startling name was given not for the sake of an ad sensation. There’s a sincere anxiety of an American patriot not only for his country but for the whole Euro-Atlantic civilization in every single line.
http://www.win.ru/en/ideas/4294.phtml
This, however, is a provincial view from Himki or Odoevo1. This is a view of people who lived through crush of the "iron curtain" and literally lost their steps due to an avalanche of the forbidden goods that rushed from over the burst-through dam. Being in a panic we are even ready to claim the banal market relations to be the "Western achievement" though the market existed as far back as in the times of ancient Sumerians or Siam, thousands of years before the Wall Street.
At the very same time American ideologist Patrick Buchanan is writing a book named "Death of the West". Startling name was given not for the sake of an ad sensation. There’s a sincere anxiety of an American patriot not only for his country but for the whole Euro-Atlantic civilization in every single line.
http://www.win.ru/en/ideas/4294.phtml
WHAT WAS THE MISTAKE LVOV GUY?
Protest actions against the appointment of Dmitro Tabachnyk as an Education and Science Minister have spread all over the west of the Ukraine. In Lvov, Ternopil and Ivano-Frankivsk people dub him to be "anti-Ukrainian" politician who has set the goal of ousting the state language of the country out of the educational sphere. Though, according to the opinion of the observers, true scopes of the campaign against Dmitro Tabachnyk are significantly exaggerated by its ringleaders. The latter are trying to pass the situation for a rebellion of entire student community. In the meantime, the so-called "anti-tobacco campaign" that is attempted to be depicted as the tide of the active student protests is not so massive and nationwide as the "westernees" claim it to be. And it was caused not by the professional activity of the Minister who has been holding the post for a mere month, but rather some old scores. Because you know, Dmitro Tabachnyk is a consistent adherent of harmonization with Russia and is also a fierce enemy of "making a hero" out of Stepan Bander and the OUN-UPA.
http://www.win.ru/en/topic/4261.phtml
http://www.win.ru/en/topic/4261.phtml
Czech Republic is Eurosceptic?
In January 2010 at the Bank Forum for European bankers of Central and Eastern European states the Czech president Vaclav Claus claimed that they “needn’t hurry to enter the Euro zone”. It was accepted without astonishment. The European mass media interpreted the news as a demonstration of Czech leader’s obstinate nature. It is proved by the fact that recently he has made Europe dependant on his signature in the Treaty of Lisbon, the abolition of which could mean the delay of the continent unification for the uncertain period of time.
The information, delivered by the Klaus’s deputy administrator about intentions of the Czech Republic to return its sovereignty, and for this to leave the EU, added to nervousness.
Mikhail Mizin is his article "The Czech Republic as Eurosceptic" argues that this policy was explained by many in Europe by the desire of the “small” Czech Republic, having recently become the participant of the progressive Western society, to declare itself. Reporters speculated on the peculiarities of the national character. However when the dust settled and the time for well-considered and measured situation analysis came, the question why the ideological encourager of economic reforms of the 90s in the Czech Republic, seeking to enter the EU, Klaus is developing a reputation of a true “Eurosceptic” and is trying not to let his country participate in European mainstream policy.
http://eastwest-review.com/article/czech-republic-eurosceptic-part-i
The information, delivered by the Klaus’s deputy administrator about intentions of the Czech Republic to return its sovereignty, and for this to leave the EU, added to nervousness.
Mikhail Mizin is his article "The Czech Republic as Eurosceptic" argues that this policy was explained by many in Europe by the desire of the “small” Czech Republic, having recently become the participant of the progressive Western society, to declare itself. Reporters speculated on the peculiarities of the national character. However when the dust settled and the time for well-considered and measured situation analysis came, the question why the ideological encourager of economic reforms of the 90s in the Czech Republic, seeking to enter the EU, Klaus is developing a reputation of a true “Eurosceptic” and is trying not to let his country participate in European mainstream policy.
http://eastwest-review.com/article/czech-republic-eurosceptic-part-i
Sunday, May 23, 2010
Yanukovich and the mines of the language issue
During 5 years of Yushchenko being president sociologists used to inform the language issue wasn’t the priority for Ukrainian citizens. But the first week of Viktor Yanukovich in office has proved it wrong – the language issue stays as one of the most painful problems of the country’s social being. On 5th of March, during his first visit to Moscow, Viktor Yanukovich promised he wouldn’t postpone the adoption of statutes aimed to protect the rights of Russian-speaking population in Ukraine. “We’ll adopt all the necessary laws. I promise to the Ukrainian people to implement this program decision. The issue will be settled in the nearest future”, Yanukovich stated at the press-conference in Kremlin answering the question about solving the problem of protection of Russian language in Ukraine.
http://www.eastwest-review.com/article/yanukovich-and-mines-language-issue
http://www.eastwest-review.com/article/yanukovich-and-mines-language-issue
“Mistral” – the wind of change
In the opinion of a number of experts, the development of relations between the Russian Federation and France are essential right now, when the US administration, being the most influential institute of global politics, doesn’t pay attention to any of them. This point of view is shared by a French political scientist Fabio Liberti, who claimed in one of his interviews that “this is the omission which Sarkozi wants to use to construct special Franco-Russian relations. These relations may turn into more expand cooperation between Europe and Russia in the sphere of economy and security”. The signing of the agreement between “Gazprom” and “Gaz de France Suez” on the acquisition of 9 percent of “North Flow” shares in return for provision by Russian gas company of additional 1.5 billion cubic metres annually (starting in 2015) turned to be the next achievement. Then Medvedev negotiated that Russia would by 2 war-ships from France and construct two ships in the national ship-yards under corresponding license. The cooperation of the two countries in rocket and space sphere has already become typical: Paris is going to spend nearly 1 billion dollars on purchasing 14 launch systems “Soyuz”.
http://www.eastwest-review.com/article/ldquomistralrdquo-ndash-wind-change
http://www.eastwest-review.com/article/ldquomistralrdquo-ndash-wind-change
US ABM system in Europe: what comes next?
The threat of American ABM system initiative for military security of the Russian federation is apparent and is put under the question only by the participants of its implementation. The point of view of Russia concerning the issue was expressed by the chief of General Staff of military forces of the Russian Federation Nikolaj Makarov, who, in particular, claimed that “in an extreme case, if Iran places its warhead against a certain state, we now where this warhead will go – it is not Poland or the Czech republic, that’s why the deployment of the facilities in these states make us concerned”. “Regarding imaginary threat from North Korea and Iran, this facility is not capable to reach these countries. We are really concerned that this system is against Russia” – added the chief of General Staff. The concern of Russia is caused also by the involvement of the Baltic states in the process. Such a scenario of the further course of events is not rejected, particularly, by the Russian military expert Vladislav Shurygin: “The USA reconfigures its ABM , turning away from land-based objects. It is easy to destroy them by cruising missiles at the very beginning of military operation. Only land-based tracking stations will be deployed in Romania. Washington places its stake on naval ABM, which can be easily moved from one region to another and in elaboration of which the USA advanced greatly. If the intend to deploy similar elements in the Baltic region or somewhere in the north is the determining factor.
http://www.eastwest-review.com/article/us-abm-system-europe-what-comes-next
http://www.eastwest-review.com/article/us-abm-system-europe-what-comes-next
Is Italy about to ruin the EU economics?
Italy — one of the key countries of the European Union — is at the verge of bankruptcy. Data of the Italian Statistics Institute (Istat) points out to that. According to its information, in the crisis year of 2009 the country has stepped over the red line distinguishing it from the bankruptcy. So during 2009 deficit of the Italian state budget made up 5.3 percents, having beaten the last year results two-fold. This is the worst result during all the surveillance period (since 1971). Meanwhile, the state debt of the country has reached the record mark during the indicated period, having made up 1.761 trillion euro or 115.8 percents of GDP...
http://www.eastwest-review.com/article/italy-about-ruin-eu-economics
http://www.eastwest-review.com/article/italy-about-ruin-eu-economics
Canada-Russia: between thaws and frosts
Fights for the northern latitude became the basis of Canadian foreign policy in the recent years. During the Olympic Games Harper certainly will repeatedly take this theme up in the process of negotiations with the world leaders, who decided to visit the sports holiday. And at the same time he wants to remind once again that Canada plays an important role on the international stage. As opposed to the “Arctic hysteria”, the latter fact is difficult to contest. That’s quite another story that Canadian authorities would spoil long-standing peace-making public image of the country by its warlike anti-Russian statements.
However, “harpers” and “mackays” go to and fro, while Canada remains. It will always be an interesting country with its national foreign policy. The country that is, simultaneously, political rival and political partner of Russia in the Northern hemisphere. Canada is not only our everlasting hockey adversary — this game can not only separate but also bring countries together. This is what the super series of 70s have proved.
http://www.eastwest-review.com/article/canada-ndash-russia-between-thaws-and-frosts
Merkel and Westerwelle: 100 days together
In the beginning of February there was 100-day anniversary of a new “black-and-yellow” German government. There is a tradition in Germany, as well as in many other European countries, to strike the first balance after one hundred days. For Merkel-Westerwelle tandem this balance turned out to be more than controversial…
Making summary of ruling coalition’s activity, we may positively say that it failed to achieve any substantially good results. Its popularity falls: according to surveys, currently “the black-and-yellow” could get far less than a half of votes. Is it a good chance for opposition?
Representatives of social democrats – the largest oppositional party – are quite optimistic. “We shall force the government to play our rules” – stated Hans-Peter Bartels, member of Bundestag. As an example he mentioned Merkel’s decision to buy from a private individual the data about FRG citizens who use “grey schemes” to avoid taxes using Swiss banks, actively supported by his party. However, this optimism is not capable of compensating the fact that Social Democratic Party of Germany suffered a total defeat during the autumn elections. Social democrats have actually only one chance to come to power in the nearest future – to make alliance with the two other oppositional parties represented in the parliament.
http://www.eastwest-review.com/article/merkel-and-westerwelle-100-days-together
Making summary of ruling coalition’s activity, we may positively say that it failed to achieve any substantially good results. Its popularity falls: according to surveys, currently “the black-and-yellow” could get far less than a half of votes. Is it a good chance for opposition?
Representatives of social democrats – the largest oppositional party – are quite optimistic. “We shall force the government to play our rules” – stated Hans-Peter Bartels, member of Bundestag. As an example he mentioned Merkel’s decision to buy from a private individual the data about FRG citizens who use “grey schemes” to avoid taxes using Swiss banks, actively supported by his party. However, this optimism is not capable of compensating the fact that Social Democratic Party of Germany suffered a total defeat during the autumn elections. Social democrats have actually only one chance to come to power in the nearest future – to make alliance with the two other oppositional parties represented in the parliament.
http://www.eastwest-review.com/article/merkel-and-westerwelle-100-days-together
“Afghan syndrome” of Bundeswehr
September 11, 2001 was a turning point in many senses. New-York events influenced German society in a serious way, and on the wave of sympathizing with victims of terrorists German authorities managed to send Bundeswehr troops to Afghanistan. Federative Republic from the very beginning supported the USA in carrying out “Enduring Freedom” operation which started on October 7, 2001. This mission had its own particularities: in the every beginning German troops acted not on the base of UN or NATO mandate but on the base of bilateral agreement with the USA. Later they entered international ISAF contingent, the task of which was to stabilize the situation in the country and support newly created government.
Germans were given a separate region in relatively quiet north of the country. So Bundeswehr losses appeared to be not very large: today they amount to 33 soldiers and 3 policemen (comparing with 751 men lost by the USA and 188 – by Great Britain). German government worried that more serious losses might cause indignation in German society and kept German soldiers as farther from flashpoints as possible. However, it turned out that German citizens counted not only losses of German army.
On September 4, 2009 on of Bundeswehr officers requested an aircraft attack on the city of Kunduz. It is still unclear, what was the goal of this bombing: first were mentioned two petrol tank trucks hijacked by Taliban, then was mentioned a ban of armed terrorists… More or less clear is number of killed Afghans: about 150, including at least 50 non-combatants.
But this fact was not well-known from the very beginning. On elections’ eve Defense Ministry – and probably some other bodies – preferred to conceal awkward information. Society was deliberately misinformed. And when in the end of autumn the truth began to gradually become clear, a real storm arose...
http://www.eastwest-review.com/article/ldquoafghan-syndromerdquo-bundeswehr
Germans were given a separate region in relatively quiet north of the country. So Bundeswehr losses appeared to be not very large: today they amount to 33 soldiers and 3 policemen (comparing with 751 men lost by the USA and 188 – by Great Britain). German government worried that more serious losses might cause indignation in German society and kept German soldiers as farther from flashpoints as possible. However, it turned out that German citizens counted not only losses of German army.
On September 4, 2009 on of Bundeswehr officers requested an aircraft attack on the city of Kunduz. It is still unclear, what was the goal of this bombing: first were mentioned two petrol tank trucks hijacked by Taliban, then was mentioned a ban of armed terrorists… More or less clear is number of killed Afghans: about 150, including at least 50 non-combatants.
But this fact was not well-known from the very beginning. On elections’ eve Defense Ministry – and probably some other bodies – preferred to conceal awkward information. Society was deliberately misinformed. And when in the end of autumn the truth began to gradually become clear, a real storm arose...
http://www.eastwest-review.com/article/ldquoafghan-syndromerdquo-bundeswehr
Is cyber war already on?
It is funny that the Russian word “csar” is frequently used in American political lexis. During the last two decades the necessity appeared to appoint a person who would control sophisticated bureaucratic structures in the US administration and report directly to the president. There are csars for emigration, finance, ecology, etc. Richard Clarke was such a “csar” for counterterrorist activity during the presidency of George H. W. Bush, Clinton, and in the first administration of George Bush Jr. He worked for many years in governmental departments, headed counterterrorist activity in the United States National Security Council. In the top of his career Clarke was a member of the president’s cabinet.
Clarke believes that the USA is quite vulnerable facing the threat of the Internet war. He suggests drastic changing of Internet providers system, so that the government could take control in order to protect the country in case of a serious cyber attack. Among his other duties, Clarke was the special advisor to the president on cyber security in 2001, which adds more weight to his predictions. Clarke is sure that the level of the current concealed cyber war is dangerous indeed, that it can turn into a full scale military conflict any time. When asked about his prognosis of the outcome of the war after one of his lectures, he answered that “America may lose the first cyber war”.
http://www.eastwest-review.com/article/cyber-war-already-part-1
Clarke believes that the USA is quite vulnerable facing the threat of the Internet war. He suggests drastic changing of Internet providers system, so that the government could take control in order to protect the country in case of a serious cyber attack. Among his other duties, Clarke was the special advisor to the president on cyber security in 2001, which adds more weight to his predictions. Clarke is sure that the level of the current concealed cyber war is dangerous indeed, that it can turn into a full scale military conflict any time. When asked about his prognosis of the outcome of the war after one of his lectures, he answered that “America may lose the first cyber war”.
http://www.eastwest-review.com/article/cyber-war-already-part-1
The Relations Triangle: Islam, Russian Orthodox Church and the State in Russia
Collapse of the USSR was marked by a rapid growth of interest among the population in conventional and non-conventional forms of religion, where some sought a new ideology, some an alternative to the annoying communism, while others sought resources for career advancement.
Orthodox Christianity is becoming a sort of main religion of Russia. Notwithstanding the secular Constitution, the leaders of the state attend churches, Orthodox hierarchs voice their expert opinions on a range of political, economic, and cultural issues on governmental TV.
Totally different relations have been evolved between the state and Islam. Russian political analyst Dr. Alexander Sotnichenko points out that for many regions of the Russian Federation Islam started to be a symbol of separatism and secession from Moscow...
http://www.eastwest-review.com/article/relations-triangle-islam-russian-orthodox-church-and-state-post-communist-russia
Orthodox Christianity is becoming a sort of main religion of Russia. Notwithstanding the secular Constitution, the leaders of the state attend churches, Orthodox hierarchs voice their expert opinions on a range of political, economic, and cultural issues on governmental TV.
Totally different relations have been evolved between the state and Islam. Russian political analyst Dr. Alexander Sotnichenko points out that for many regions of the Russian Federation Islam started to be a symbol of separatism and secession from Moscow...
http://www.eastwest-review.com/article/relations-triangle-islam-russian-orthodox-church-and-state-post-communist-russia
Sanctions against Iran: did the USA manage to bring over Russia and China?
During the last several months Russia has truly made a step towards the West in the issue of Iranian nuclear problem, having admitted a possibility of introducing of new sanctions against the Islamic Republic. However, Russia did not agree to everything the USA proposed in order to “reload” or conclude a new Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty. The statements made by Medvedev and Obama after their last negotiations showed that opinions of the parties still differ seriously.
Yuriy Lamin notes that the present situation does not look very advantageous for the USA as China has finally decided to take part in the negotiations. It makes consensus on sanctions almost impossible.
http://www.eastwest-review.com/article/sanctions-against-iran-did-usa-manage-bring-over-russia-and-china
Yuriy Lamin notes that the present situation does not look very advantageous for the USA as China has finally decided to take part in the negotiations. It makes consensus on sanctions almost impossible.
http://www.eastwest-review.com/article/sanctions-against-iran-did-usa-manage-bring-over-russia-and-china
New prospects of Russian-Vietnamese cooperation
The next year is to become a momentous event for cooperation between the Russian Federation and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. The republic will celebrate the 65th anniversary of independence, the 35th anniversary of the country’s union (the two events the USSR was directly involved), as well as the 60th anniversary of Vietnam independence recognition by the USSR and establishing of diplomatic intercourse between the two countries. According to the data of the Vietnamese government, within 60 years specialists form the USSR and Russia have actually created basic industry branches, built about 250 industrial objects; in higher education institutes of Moscow and other Soviet cities more than 52 thousand of the Vietnamese citizens obtained qualification. Now they form political, scientific, cultural, and economic elite of the country. After the collapse of the Soviet Union there was a slight stagnation in cooperation between the two countries. However, it was in this period (1994) that an Agreement concerning the basic principles of relations between Vietnam and Russia was developed and signed. Later, alongside with a later adopted Declaration of strategic partnership between the two countries, it became a solid foundation for further development of bilateral relations...
http://www.eastwest-review.com/article/new-prospects-russian-vietnamese-cooperation
http://www.eastwest-review.com/article/new-prospects-russian-vietnamese-cooperation
A big game around the pipeline Iran-Pakistan-India
Iran possesses large deposits of natural gas, for today confirmed deposits amount to more than 30 trillion cubic meters – the country holds the second place in the world, following the Russian Federation. For recent years production and consumption of natural gas were growing rapidly in Iran, but this country has very limited export capacity. Most of nearest neighbors of Iran, such as Arabic countries of Persian Gulf, Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan, have their own substantial supplies of hydrocarbon resources. Iran makes attempts to develop the export of liquefied gas, but for that foreign investments and technologies are needed. But due to USA pressing many large western companies have to refuse to cooperate with Iran or suspend cooperation. As a result, two still “free” ways of transporting gas with the help of pipelines are very important for Iran: to Turkey and through it probably to Europe; and to Pakistan, and through it to India or China. Iran already exports gas to Turkey through existing pipeline, but a new pipeline is needed to expand export to Turkey and Europe. However, in this case a new pipeline is to be built in the most mountainous regions of both Iran and Turkey, because the main deposits of gas are situated in the southern part of the country. Therefore, it is suggested that a pipeline through Pakistan may be more advantageous for Iran, taking into consideration the possibility of entering Indian and Chinese markets, which can provide export of Iranian gas for many decades to come. It is planned to take gas for this pipeline from the world’s largest shelf deposit “South Pars” in Persian Gulf; this deposits amounts to 14.2 trillion cubic meters, and production volume, according to some data, can amount up to 150 billion cubic meters of gas per year.
To read more go to http://www.eastwest-review.com/article/big-game-around-pipeline-iran-pakistan-india
To read more go to http://www.eastwest-review.com/article/big-game-around-pipeline-iran-pakistan-india
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