Section: The Huffington Post (USA)
Watching Russia March into Syrian Quicksand
Russia is building military bases in Syria and sharing intelligence with Iraq and Iran. U.S. officials are having conniptions about this, but why? The Russians apparently learned little from their miserable years in Afghanistan and now are heading for a debilitating exercise in futility that might distract them from their efforts to undermine...
Obama And Putin Share Icy Exchange During First Formal Meeting In Two Years
UNITED NATIONS (AP) — With a stony-faced handshake, U.S. President Barack Obama and Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday began their first formal meeting in more than two years, a discussion expected to lay bare their deep differences over the chaos in Syria.The meeting came hours after the leaders outlined their contrasting visions...
The Political and Security Evolution of the Conflict in Ukraine
Caught in a “no war, no peace” situation, Eastern Ukraine is slowly but relentlessly diving into a low-intensity conflict. From the onset of the crisis, barely two years ago, Ukraine has been at war with Russia over the territorial integrity of Crimea and separatist Donbas — two fronts Kiev has to deal with simultaneously....
An Explainer on Putin’s Game of Chess in Syria
I’m certainly no wizard at chess but I’ve played the game of strategy enough to appreciate a player that does possess such talents. Before the build up of Russian military hardware and troops in Syria last week, Putin’s approach to the Syrian Civil War had taken the form of a political counter-balance, checking Western attempts...
What Happened The Last Time Putin Spoke At The United Nations
Russian President Vladimir Putin is set to speak at the United Nations General Assembly on Monday, where he is returning to the stage after a decade hiatus. A tremendous amount has changed in the world since his address in 2005, but as a look back on that speech shows, much of Putin’s rhetoric remains the same.Back in 2005, Putin kept it...
Reality and Symbolism in Public Affairs
While the American media was enamored by the charismatic pope’s “historic” visit to the United States (I seem to remember popes have visited before), more important earthly developments occurred. The leaders of the next two most powerful countries in the world (after the United States) did or were scheduled to meet with...
Fighting the Information War
Information has always been part of conflict. Thucydides detailed the effects of messages dispatched during the Peloponnesian War, and “narrative” is frequently cited today as an important part of the war against the Islamic State. Of the nations that practice information warfare, the most persistent is Russia. In a recent article for...
Putin’s Syrian Gambit
Vladimir Putin and Bashar al-Assad The last several weeks has seen some extraordinary developments in Russia’s role in the Syrian Civil War. Russia has deployed 28 Suhkoi jet fighters, roughly two squadrons, in Syria. Originally believed to be SU-27s, NATO designation, “Flanker,” satellite reconnaissance now indicates they are a...
U.S. To Make New Diplomatic Push On Syria, Talk To Iran
WASHINGTON, Sept 25 (Reuters) – U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry will try to launch a new initiative for a political solution in Syria during meetings in New York in the next week, starting with talks with his Iranian counterpart on Saturday, U.S. and other Western officials said.After backing a United Nations peace process that has...
Pope’s Messages To UN And Congress Diverge Sharply In Tone
Pope Francis’ speech to the United Nations General Assembly on Friday may have addressed similar themes as his address to Congress on Thursday, but the tone could not have been more different, with the pontiff issuing a scathing indictment of the U.N.’s failure to fulfill its mission. The speech was also notable for the pope’s...
