In a little over two centuries, America has grown from a regional power to a superpower, and to what is today called a hyperpower. But can America retain its position as the world’s dominant power, or has it already begun to decline?

Historians have debated the rise and fall of empires for centuries. To date, however, [...]

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At the heart of developing Caspian reserves are two major contenders, Russia and Western oil companies, most notably U.S. firms. Both have scored successes and minuses, but on balance, the year has seen a diminution of both Western and Russian influence, as the rising petro-states of Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan have moved to reassert control [...]

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Last month, Iran tested its new “Ashura” missile with an estimated range of 1,250 miles. That, according to American Enterprise Institute scholar Charlie Szrom, could give Tehran the ability to “reach U.S. bases in the Middle East and parts of Eastern Europe, including such U.S. allies as Romania, Georgia, or Ukraine.”
Even the most conservative intelligence [...]

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Axis Of Evil: If Iran has suspended its nuclear weapons program, what are the Russians shipping advanced air defense systems to protect? The National Intelligence Estimate didn’t predict the Cuban missile crisis, either.
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Another red flag should be raised by a statement Iranian Defense Minister Mostafa Mohammad Najar read on state radio last Wednesday. Though Moscow [...]

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Prior to the meeting speculation was rife among the Russian media that Putin intended to coerce Belarusian president Alyaksandr Lukashenka into forming a Union State that would effectively end Belarusian independence and provide Putin with a new political career as the head of the new entity, which theoretically could wield greater power than the Russian [...]

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Rising oil prices, a resurgent Russia and continued turbulence in the Middle East have intensified competition for control of the vast oil and gas reserves in the Caspian Sea. The competition, involving big business and power politics, pits Russia against the West. At stake, some experts say, is world domination of the energy market. VOA’s [...]

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Indications terror network sending cells to Jewish state using foreign passports.
The security officials said al-Qaida has come to the conclusion Palestinian terror groups operating in the Gaza Strip and West Bank have had great difficulty infiltrating Israel due to the country’s security barrier and antiterror measures and that Palestinians who do successfully infiltrate are not [...]

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Analyze This: Why Assad got a French kiss-off from Sarkozy
Jerusalem Post, Israel - 16 hours ago
… Israel’s Foreign Ministry has set about formulating a strategy for separating Syria from the “radical axis” (Iran and its Hizbullah and Hamas allies) as …
France to boycott Syria over Lebanon crisis AFP
France says suspending contacts with Syria Reuters South Africa
France ends [...]

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North Korea Breaks End-of-Year Nuclear Declaration Promise
Voice of America - 1 hour ago
By Kurt Achin The United States and Japan are expressing regret that North Korea is breaking a key promise aimed at ending its nuclear weapons programs. …
North Korea slams US ahead of nuclear deadline Reuters
North Korea Fails to Disclose Nuclear Data, US Says (Update2) [...]

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An anti-missile shield, or America’s ambition to establish one in Europe, has become the event of the year in security and strategic terms. The most discussed subject in Russia has been an adequate but asymmetrical response.
To counter several interceptor missiles and a radar station in Europe, Russia has repeatedly said it will build up its [...]

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