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Syria’s Game of Thrones: Obama backs Al Qaida and the Chechen terrorists

"It’s worth noting that, as America backs the Saudis, and they back Al Qaida and the Chechen terrorists, through its relationship with the House of Saud, America is actually helping to fund terrorism against both Russia and itself. The moral implications are far greater than any inaction in Syria. Involvement in Syria will support Saudi Arabia more than it does anyone else in the region, or indeed the world. The Russians have every right to be skeptical of the Saudis, just as the US has every right to be skeptical of Iran." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingSyria’s Game of Thrones: Obama backs Al Qaida and the Chechen terrorists

Russia Issues International Travel Advisory to Its Hackers

"The Russian government has some advice for its cyber criminal class, and any other citizens who might be wanted by U.S. law enforcement: Don’t leave home. Yesterday, Russia’s Foreign Ministry issued a public notice advising 'citizens to refrain from traveling abroad, especially to countries that have signed agreements with the U.S. on mutual extradition, if there is reasonable suspicion that U.S. law enforcement agencies' have a case pending against them. 'Practice shows that the trials of those who were actually kidnapped and taken to the United States are biased, based on shaky evidence' and are slanted against the Russians, the notice warns." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingRussia Issues International Travel Advisory to Its Hackers

Soviet soldier who disappeared 30 years ago in Afghanistan located

"A Soviet soldier who disappeared more than 30 years ago on the battlefield in Afghanistan has been found alive and well and living under the name of Sheikh Abdullah in the western Afghan city of Herat. According to officials, local residents rescued Khakimov from the battlefield and treated his wounds with herbs. The Soviet soldier remained with the man who helped him, and acquired medical skills. Khakimov – an ethnic Uzbek, originally from Samarkand – married a local Afghan woman and settled in the Shindand district. His wife later died. The couple had no children. Some 264 Soviet soldiers who fought in the 1979-1989 war in Afghanistan are still missing." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingSoviet soldier who disappeared 30 years ago in Afghanistan located

Egypt invites Russia to mine uranium, build nuclear power plants

[April 2013] "Russia’s and Egypt’s presidents compared notes on economic and international cooperation on Friday. Mohamed Morsi is on an official visit to Moscow as Egyptian society seethes, with almost 50 people injured in the latest violent clashes. 'Russian Energy Minister Aleksandr Novak announced that Egypt proposed sending a delegation to Cairo 'to resume cooperation in peaceful nuclear projects' to jointly construct new nuclear power plants. Cairo plans to build 4 GWt of nuclear power facilities by 2025, Novak said. Cairo has also invited Moscow to step in joint developing of uranium mines in Egypt, he said." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingEgypt invites Russia to mine uranium, build nuclear power plants

Egypt Crumbling: “The Most Important Event so Far of the 21st Century”

"The Saudi-Russia-China alliance is designed to break the Egypt-U.S. relationship. The new alliance reflects how U.S. influence is waning in the Middle East. After many decades of driving events in the Middle East — and spending incalculable national treasure — the U.S. is about to lose big. New alliances in Egypt reflect Saudi-Russian-Chinese efforts to help keep hard-line Islam under control. The Saudis fear Brotherhood-style religious fervor. Russia wants to control the spread of hard-line Islam in its southern regions — Chechnya comes to mind — while China has issues with hard-line Islam in its western regions. And the U.S.? There’s no sense of consistency coming from Washington." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingEgypt Crumbling: “The Most Important Event so Far of the 21st Century”

Washington frets over Saudi ties

"Saudi Arabia did not just pledge a combined US$12 billion in financial assistance, but it has also promised to make up for any Western aid that may be withheld as a result of the coup and the ongoing crackdown in which about 1,000 protesters are believed to have been killed to date. Perhaps even more worrisome to some experts in Washington has been the exceptionally tough language directed against Washington's own condemnation of the coup by top Saudi officials, including King Abdullah, who declared last week that '[t]he kingdom stands ... against all those who try to interfere with its domestic affairs' and charged that criticism of the army crackdown amounted to helping the 'terrorists'." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingWashington frets over Saudi ties

Gorbachev warns of Syrian intervention risks

"Former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev said in Geneva on Monday that US President Barack Obama was right to seek backing from Congress for military action in Syria, but he warned that intervening raised dire risks. 'If he's not decisive enough in shooting and bombing, I think it's a good kind of indecisiveness,' Gorbachev told a conference of Green Cross International, a peace and environmental organisation he founded in 1993, two years after his Kremlin ouster. 'If, however, they decide to shoot without regard for the opinion of the people everywhere, including the United States, then I think the consequences could be very bad,' he warned." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingGorbachev warns of Syrian intervention risks

Russia: Washington’s threats to attack Syria unacceptable

"Washington’s threat to use military force against Syria unilaterally is unacceptable, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Alexander Lukashevich said in a statement. He urged the US to wait the results of the UN chemical weapons investigation. Given the lack of evidence, any unilateral military action bypassing the UN Security Council – 'no matter how limited it is'– would be a direct violation of international law and would undermine the prospects for a political and diplomatic solution to the conflict in Syria and will lead to a new round of confrontation and victims, Lukashevich concluded." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingRussia: Washington’s threats to attack Syria unacceptable

Turkey becomes partner of China, Russia-led Shanghai Cooperation Organisation

[April 2013] "China, Russia and four Central Asian nations - Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan - formed the SCO in 2001 as a regional security bloc to fight threats posed by radical Islam and drug trafficking from neighboring Afghanistan. Ankara began talks on joining the EU in 2005 but has only completed one of the 35 policy areas, or 'chapters', every candidate must conclude to be allowed entry due to disagreements largely over the divided island of Cyprus. While China vies with Russia and the West for access to Central Asia's vast natural resources, some analysts view the SCO as a potential counter-balance to NATO." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingTurkey becomes partner of China, Russia-led Shanghai Cooperation Organisation

France backs action on Syria as U.S. seeks coalition

"French President Francois Hollande gave a boost Friday to US hopes of forging an international coalition for possible strikes against Syria after British lawmakers rejected any involvement in military action. The White House had signalled Thursday that President Barack Obama, guided by the 'best interests' of the United States, was ready to go it alone on Syria after deadly chemical weapons attacks last week. But Russia, the Syrian regime’s most powerful ally, warned any military strikes would 'deal a serious blow to the entire system of world order'. While Germany and Canada ruled out joining any military strikes, Hollande said the British vote would not affect his government’s stance." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingFrance backs action on Syria as U.S. seeks coalition