To the West, he’s an outlaw; in Russia, a hero

Posted by Matt in February 2nd, 2008 | no comment

Published in Russia

The prime suspect in the death of a former Russian spy is a lawmaker and celebrated figure these days in Moscow.
Andrei Lugovoy, the prime suspect in the 2006 radioactive poisoning death of a former Russian spy in London, is a celebrated figure these days in the Russian capital. Not only has Moscow brushed aside extradition [...]

US Demands More German Troops at Taliban Front

Posted by Matt in February 2nd, 2008 | no comment

Published in Asia, Europe, Military, Afghanistan, Germany, Taliban

US Secretary of Defense Robert Gates has sent a letter to his German counterpart demanding more German engagement in Afghanistan. Berlin has long resisted such demands, but the pressure to fight is mounting. By Susanne Koelbl and Alexander Szandar more…

Germany Says ‘No’: Berlin Rejects Washington Call for Troops on Taliban Front
SPIEGEL 360: Our Complete Afghanistan [...]

Israelis told to prepare ‘rocket rooms’ for war

Posted by Matt in February 2nd, 2008 | no comment

Published in Israel, War

Retired senior officers told Israelis on Saturday to prepare “rocket rooms” as protection against a rain of missiles expected to be fired at the Jewish state in any future conflict.
Speaking on radio as part of a military propaganda offensive, retired general Udi Shani said: “The next war will see a massive use of ballistic weapons [...]

Army Probe: Israel Bungled Lebanon War

Posted by Matt in February 2nd, 2008 | no comment

Published in Israel, Middle East, War

An internal military investigation has concluded that Israel’s 2006 war against Hezbollah guerrillas in Lebanon failed because top commanders didn’t communicate properly and were slow to prepare a ground offensive, the retired general who conducted the probe said Saturday.
The reserve general, Udi Shani, also said that the army chief at the time, Lt. Gen. Dan [...]

Russia’s birth, mortality rates to equal by 2011 – ministry

Posted by Matt in February 2nd, 2008 | no comment

Published in Demographics, Russia

Russia’s health ministry predicted on Wednesday that the birth rate in Russia would equal the mortality rate by 2011.
“By 2011 the mortality rate should be equal to the birth rate,” Social Development and Health Minister Tatyana Golikova said.
In the first eleven months of 2007 the mortality rate in Russia was 14.7 deaths per 1,000 live [...]

Poland agrees to house U.S. missile inceptors

Posted by Matt in February 2nd, 2008 | no comment

Published in Europe, Missiles, U.S., Missile_Defense, Poland

Poland’s government has agreed in principle to allow the Pentagon to set up a U.S. missile interceptor site on Polish territory to counter Iranian missiles, Warsaw’s foreign minister said yesterday.
Polish Foreign Minister Radek Sikorski announced reaching the outlines of a basing agreement after meetings with Bush administration officials here. Mr. Sikorski said the deal, which [...]

Nassau ESG to deploy â€” without Marines

Posted by chunga1 in February 2nd, 2008 | no comment

Published in Military, U.S.

NORFOLK, Va. â€” The Nassau Expeditionary Strike Group â€” a flotilla of amphibs, warships and a submarine â€” has spent months preparing to take the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit on deployment.
But the Marines are hitching a ride from someone else.
With new orders from the Pentagon to reinforce units in Afghanistan, the 24th MEU loaded more [...]

Whither should we turn – America or Europe?

Posted by Matt in February 2nd, 2008 | no comment

Published in Europe, U.S., E.U.

In a speech today, Liam Fox spelt-out what the Lisbon Treaty means for defence alliances. As he sees it, the treaty would cause greater integration of European security forces, to the detriment of NATO: “The Lisbon Treaty should be viewed as a warning to the British public and Atlanticists across Europe.
On a recent trip [...]

EU :The empire strikes back

Posted by farouk in February 2nd, 2008 | 4 comments

Published in Europe, E.U.

The EU is easily the most popular and successful empire in history, for it does not dominate, it disciplines. The incentives of Europeanisation – subsidies from Brussels, unfettered mobility, and the adoption of the euro currency – are too great not to want. Brussels today rivals Washington with its swarms of lobbyists, including dozens of [...]