Georgia's Independence - Why We Should Care
Tuesday, September 9, 2008, 09:13 PM - Europe
These are troubled times we live in. The independent free nation of Georgia has been violated by a larger, stronger nation that is run by a man with dreams of empire. Mr. Vladimir Putin, an ex-KGB officer, has instigated a national push to rebuild the power and glory of the old Soviet Union. The idea is to take advantage of the weaker states around Russia first. Then, if the tide of world opinion doesn't sweep the Russians back, they will advance upon other hapless victims in their quest, once again, for world superpower status.
The Russians took their first baby steps with the attacks on the Chechnians under the guise of retaliation against the "rebels". Although some response was necessary, in my view, the response was way too harsh for the alleged crimes against Russia. I beleive that this was a test to see the response of world opinion. Once it was clear that there would be no great outcry, the Russians decided to plan and proceed with their next step. Georgia was the obvious choice and the ultimate test to determine if their plans of domination would be halted or even slowed by the free world. So far, it appears as if there is no great opposition to their plans.If the russians get away with abusing a free country like Georgia, there is no stopping them when they move to the next logical choice. That would be the Ukraine. - See Georgia's Independence - Why We Should Care for the complete report.
add comment Turnout is robust as Serbs vote in parliamentary elections
Sunday, May 11, 2008, 01:53 PM - Europe
Serbs went to the polls Sunday in closely contested parliamentary elections considered a referendum on whether Serbia turns toward Europe or reverts to the nationalism and isolation of the Milosevic years.
Polls conducted before the vote showed the far-right Radical Party, led by Tomislav Nikolic, a former overseer of cemeteries known as the "Undertaker," with a slight lead over the pro-Western party of President Boris Tadic, which backs Serbia's entry into the European Union. Neither of the two main parties is likely to win outright, making outgoing Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica and his nationalist party the probable kingmaker. About 6.7 million people are registered to vote, including Kosovo's ethnic Serbs.
By 7 p.m., about 54.2 percent of eligible voters had voted. Commentators said the turnout was robust considering many Serbs - already disillusioned by the country's politics - had stayed home to watch television coverage of the tennis star Novak Djokovic playing in Rome.
Both the Radicals and Kostunica's party have run on similar campaigns, arguing that Serbia should punish the West for supporting an independent Kosovo by turning east to Russia instead. The Radical Party ruled in coalition with Slobodan Milosevic in the 1990s and backed his wars. Its founder, Vojislav Seselj, is currently on trial in The Hague, charged with war crimes.
The process of forming a coalition could drag on for weeks, if not months, and analysts said it remained to be seen whether Kostunica, a bookish constitutional lawyer who helped overthrow Milosevic but has since adopted his nationalist language, was willing to enter a government with the Radicals, his former foes. - See Turnout is robust as Serbs vote in parliamentary elections for the full report.
Al-Qaeda Recruitment Efforts Intensify in Europe
Wednesday, April 30, 2008, 02:08 PM - Europe
Al-Qaeda increased its propaganda efforts last year, especially among youth and disgruntled Muslim populations in Europe, in a recruitment push that the U.S. must do more to stop, the State Department said today.
The leaders of al-Qaeda and its affiliates seek to attract people familiar with Western cultures who are able to travel freely, the department said in a report.
``Countering such efforts demands that we treat immigrant and youth populations not as a source of threat to be defended against, but as a target of enemy subversion to be protected and supported,'' the State Department said.
The report said al-Qaeda and its associated networks remained the greatest threat to the U.S. and its allies in 2007. Their propaganda program, which includes extensive use of the Internet, is aimed at enhancing ``the perception of a powerful worldwide movement,'' the U.S. said in the report.
``The international community has yet to muster a coordinated and effectively resourced program to counter extremist propaganda,'' the State Department said.
The assessment was part of the department's ``Country Reports on Terrorism,'' an annual compilation of data on terrorism worldwide required by Congress.
The department said the ``private sector'' could play a role as important as government efforts in trying to hinder recruitment. - See Al-Qaeda Recruitment Efforts Intensify in Europe for the full report.
Berlusconi wins 3rd term as Italy's PM
Monday, April 14, 2008, 02:39 PM - Europe
Conservative billionaire Silvio Berlusconi won a third term as Italy's prime minister on Monday with an unexpectedly strong mandate for reform, but warned of tough times ahead for a country facing deep economic problems.
Centre-left rival Walter Veltroni conceded defeat when early results from a two-day election showed the 71-year-old media magnate Berlusconi would control both houses of parliament.
This should enable him to push reforms through parliament, unlike his predecessor, but many Italians are disillusioned with politics and doubt any government can quickly cure the ills of the European's Union's fourth-largest economy.
"The months and years ahead will be difficult," Berlusconi told state television in a live phone call.
But referring to two issues that symbolize Italy's political and economic stagnation, he vowed: "We'll strive to resolve immediately the garbage crisis and Alitalia's problems."
Unions are blocking Air France-KLM's bid for the loss-making Italian airline and garbage piled up this year in the streets of Naples before being cleared for the election. - See Berlusconi wins 3rd term as Italy's PM for the complete report.
Queen Elizabeth's husband hospitalized with infection
Friday, April 4, 2008, 02:24 PM - Europe
Queen Elizabeth's 86-year-old husband Prince Philip has been taken to hospital with a chest infection, Buckingham Palace said on Friday.
The blunt-talking prince, who the palace said was working from his hospital bed, has been an energetic figure in the House of Windsor for more than six decades.
He was admitted to hospital on Thursday afternoon after suffering from a heavy cold. He was able to walk into the building and has been working on correspondence and making phone calls from his hospital bed, the palace said.
A palace spokeswoman said: "The Duke of Edinburgh has been admitted to King Edward VII Hospital (in central London) for assessment and treatment for a chest infection."
The spokeswoman said it was not clear how long he would stay in hospital or whether any members of the royal family will be visiting him. All his official engagements have been cancelled for the weekend. - See Queen Elizabeth's husband hospitalized with infection for the full report.
Putin Says NATO Expansion Is Direct Threat to Russia
Friday, April 4, 2008, 02:02 PM - Europe
President Vladimir Putin called the further expansion of NATO toward Russia's frontiers a ``direct threat,'' one day after the alliance took a step toward embracing two former Soviet republics, Ukraine and Georgia.
``The appearance of a powerful military bloc on our borders will be taken by Russia as a direct threat to the security of our country,'' Putin told reporters after meeting the 26 leaders of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization in Bucharest today.
Pressed by President George W. Bush, NATO vowed at the summit to take in Ukraine and Georgia some day, while leaving the timetable open and arguing that Russia would benefit from having stable, western-backed democracies as neighbors.
Plans for further expansion are leading to a new strategic confrontation between Russia and the West -- one that Putin is determined to win after Russia failed to prevent former Soviet satellites from joining NATO after the end of the Cold War.
Putin challenged NATO's argument that the spread of western institutions embeds democracy and respect for human rights. Russians in Latvia, a NATO member since 2004, continue to be denied citizenship and are barred from certain jobs, he said.
``The entry of that country into NATO has not changed a thing for those hundreds of thousands of people,'' Putin said. ``NATO is not a democratizer,'' he said, calling it ``overblown'' to make that claim. - See Putin Says NATO Expansion Is Direct Threat to Russia for the full report.
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