Why replacing the Russian RD-180 engines is so difficult, and so senseless By Dimitri Elkin and Woodrow Clark The list of collateral damage from the geopolitical standoff between US-Russia continues to grow. The latest victim is the successful rocket engine joint venture that lifts most of the American commercial and military satellites into...

Mar14

Putin Announces Withdrawal From Syria

Monday, March 14 , 2016 - 23:05 (EET) Section: The American Interest (USA)

Once more, Russia’s Vladimir Putin has surprised almost all observers by announcing that as of tomorrow, he is withdrawing most of his forces from Syria. Russia Today has the official English-language writeup: “I consider the objectives that have been set for the Defense Ministry to be generally accomplished. That is why I order to start...

Mar14

Russia’s motives for getting involved in Syria in the first place

Monday, March 14 , 2016 - 22:50 (EET) Section: Business Insider (USA)

Thomson ReutersRussian President Vladimir Putin announced March 14 that Russia had sufficiently achieved its goals in Syria since beginning airstrikes in September, and that it will gradually withdraw the bulk of its forces from the country, starting March 15. According to Putin, the process could take as long as five months. However,...

Mar14

EU Ministers Agree To Stand Firm Against Russia

Monday, March 14 , 2016 - 21:36 (EET) Section: Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (USA)

EU foreign ministers have unanimously agreed on “five guiding principles” of the bloc’s policy toward Russia. …read more Source: Radio Free Europe / Radio...

Mar14

Ukrainian President Mulling Candidates for Prime Minister

Monday, March 14 , 2016 - 19:51 (EET) Section: NewsmaxWorld (USA)

Ukraine’s president is considering the country’s finance minister as a possible replacement for embattled Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk amid talks to end a drawn-out political crisis.President Petro Poroshenko’s spokesman, Svyatoslav Tsegolko, said Monday on Facebook… …read more Source:...

Mar14

The ‘Credibility’ Argument Isn’t Credible

Monday, March 14 , 2016 - 19:36 (EET) Section: The American Conservative (USA)

Stephen Sestanovich offers up a remarkably bad defense of the importance of “credibility”: A great power values credibility so opponents know not to challenge its interests. That’s why Susan Rice, his own national-security adviser, said the damage done by backtracking on the “red line” would be severe. Has it been? Obama says no, but surely...

Mar14

Russia Looks to Off-Load Lethal New Frigates to India

Monday, March 14 , 2016 - 19:21 (EET) Section: The National Interest (USA)

Dave Majumdar Security, “We’re holding talks on the possibility of selling these frigates to the Indian side.” Russia is hoping to sell three of its six planned Project 11356-class frigates to India. Moscow is hoping to rid itself of those ships because of their Ukrainian-built engines. The Russian Navy commissioned the first Project...

Mar14

Flattop Faceoff: China’s Pride vs. America’s Arrogance

Monday, March 14 , 2016 - 19:21 (EET) Section: The National Interest (USA)

Peter Navarro Security, Asia Is Beijing’s aircraft carrier something to be concerned about? In Defense Report, Stewart Webb writes, “Anonymous sources within the U.S. Navy’s senior command have revealed that the U.S. is not concerned over any immediate threat from the introduction of China’s latest aircraft carrier in the...