Russia Responds to Reset Policy
Writing in the Moscow Times, Konstantin Sonin argues that Barack Obama’s reset policy is winning over the trust of Russian citizens. At least it’s working for some people. It was no great surprise that Obama took that position. His choice of Michael McFaul as his top Russia adviser was a sign that there would be […]
Clinton’s Reassurance Tour and the Withering Reset
Writing in Asia Times Online, MK Bhadrakumar has a good article reviewing Sec. of State Hillary Clinton’s recent tour of the former Soviet neighborhood, and a number of stinging statements in response from Russia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs which may indicate a crumbling of the reset policy. I disagree with any premature dismissal for several […]
Widening Asymmetry or Increasing Convergence?
The Washington Post editorial on the spy ring today is a little too neat and tidy for my tastes: Why would the successor to the KGB invest so much money and effort “to infiltrate academic, policymaking and government-connected circles,” as The Post described the mission in its news story Wednesday, when people in those circles […]
Is Afghanistan Becoming Russia’s Mexico?
It is an imperfect analogy in many respects, such as population, immigration, development, and Islamic extremism just to name a few, but the growing problem the Russian Federation is facing from the ongoing war in Afghanistan and the massive growth in narcotics exports has some parallels to Mexico’s war on drugs. Growing consumption of heroin […]
Missiles and Loopholes
For the past couple of days, the conservative media has really sinking its teeth into the latest draft U.N. resolution on Iran sanctions, which apparently contains a loophole allowing for the sale of S-300 missiles by Moscow to Tehran. The Washington Times pointed out that in the draft section discussing which missiles to be banned, […]
Obama’s Russia Policy Becomes Fodder for Republicans
It really wasn’t a question of if, but when. Today the AFP has picked up on some speech notes that Rep. Eric Cantor is planning to deliver before the Heritage Institute in Washington, which may signal that the Republicans are going to zero in on the reset policy with Russia as a key foreign policy […]
Canada Underestimates Russia’s Arctic Intentions
Though my home country Canada often has the reputation as the world’s boy scout, seeking the approval of others for its moral conduct, there is also a sense of healthy chauvinism when it comes to defending basic independence, territory, and sovereignty. However the push to claim an enormous slice of the Arctic by the Russian government over […]
Rahmbo in the Duma, Why Russia Doesn’t Want a Treaty
Yes, I am easily entertained. From the New York Times on the “finalizing” of a new arms control deal between the U.S. and Russia. Mrs. Clinton said that she did not anticipate any trouble getting the agreement ratified by the Senate, noting that arms control agreements in the past have sailed through. And, in a […]
The Derailing of Hugo Chavez
I used to argue that Russia was one of the easiest places in the world to get thrown in prison over practically nothing – just ask Jamison Firestone or Yana Yakovleva – but Hugo Chavez appears to making Venezuela into a new contender for the title. Chavez’s latest prisoner is the opposition media owner Guillermo […]
NATO and “Strategic Reassurance” of Central Europe
Writing on RealClearWorld, A. Wess Mitchell and Robert Kron of the Center for European Policy Analysis argue that NATO giving Central Europe the cold shoulder will have far-reaching costs, and that measures of reassurance must be made. First, it fuels division in NATO and the EU, as the absence of a convincing security guarantee in […]
Russia News Blast
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RA’s Daily Russia News Blast – February 24, 2022
Today in Russia: Invasion. Will the world respond?
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RA’s Daily Russia News Blast – February 23, 2022
Today in Russia/CIS: Ukraine calls up reservists; Levada Center Director Volkov on public opinion in Russia; Erdogan says Turkey won’t accept Russian moves in Ukraine; EU and US latest sanctions; Russia-Ukraine crisis as viewed Uzbekistan; Israel walks a tightrope on its Ukraine position
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RA’s Daily Russia News Blast – February 22, 2022
but which borders?;’ History professor (and President) Putin delivers fiery speech; Lavrov re-writes the rules of international sovereignty; UK and EU roll out initial sanctions, and Washington plans big moves; Nord Stream 2 finally meets its end after a slow, painful death; Zelensky’s speech; White House: On second thought, that’s an invasion; How will China respond?; Russia to evacuate all diplomatic staff from Ukraine
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