The strategic roots of the U.S. ‘defeat’ of Sept. 10, 2013

The strategic roots of the U.S. ‘defeat’ of Sept. 10, 2013

Special to WorldTribune.com Gregory R. Copley, GIS/Defense & Foreign Affairs There should be no ambiguity: the U.S. and the West suffered a transformative strategic reversal on Sept. 10, 2013, and Russia and Iran each separately made substantial strategic gains and consolidation as a consequence. But the pivotal decision of Sept. 10 by President Barack Obama […]

Russia, Israel confirm CW attack in Syria; U.S. won’t corroborate

Russia, Israel confirm CW attack in Syria; U.S. won’t corroborate

Special to WorldTribune.com NICOSIA — Syria was said to have undergone its first chemical weapons attack. The regime of President Bashar Assad and Sunni rebels both said that a CW attack took place on March 19 near the northern Syrian city of Aleppo. The regime and the rebels blamed each other for the strike. “Everyone […]

After 12 years of de facto dictatorship, a sense of foreboding in Moscow

After 12 years of de facto dictatorship, a sense of foreboding in Moscow

On the surface, Moscow has never looked more prosperous. High-end restaurants are full. Cyclists, strollers, and rollerbladers crowd Gorky Park. Newly built skyscrapers give the city a modern skyline, and streets are clogged with late-model Western cars. But there is a growing sense of unease. …   After years when opposition demonstrations typically attracted no […]

Staying power: By not leaving Afghanistan, U.S. frustrates China, Russia, Pakistan but not India

Staying power: By not leaving Afghanistan, U.S. frustrates China, Russia, Pakistan but not India

Special to WorldTribune.com By Brian M Downing, FreePressers.com President Obama whisked into Afghanistan unannounced, inked a somewhat nebulous yet significant agreement with Afghan president Hamid Karzai, then quickly returned home. It was an impressive diplomatic coup that guarantees an appreciable U.S. presence in the country over many years, for better or worse. Many regional powers […]

Iran says Russia, China were eager to inspect captured U.S. drone

Iran says Russia, China were eager to inspect captured U.S. drone

Special to WorldTribune.com NICOSIA — Iran has been asked for data of an advanced U.S. unmanned aerial vehicle captured in 2011. Officials said the Iranian Defense Ministry has been approached by at least two U.S. adversaries for inspection of the RQ-170 Sentinel. The officials said China and Russia were requesting data from the advanced unmanned […]

Russia’s LukOil gets Iraq contract on world’s largest undeveloped oil field

Special to WorldTribune.com MOSCOW — Russia has signed major contracts in Iraq. Russia’s LukOil Mid-East has signed contracts for Iraq’s giant West Qurna-2 project, meant to begin production by 2014. Executives said LukOil intended to produce 500,000 barrels of oil in the initial stage over the next year. Lukoil Overseas Holding president Andrey Kuzyaev said […]

Russian SS-26 missile in Syria seen shifting Mideast balance of power

Russian SS-26 missile in Syria seen shifting Mideast balance of power

Special to WorldTribune.com Geostrategy-Direct TEL AVIV — Israel regards a new Russian missile exported to Syria as a weapon that could change the balance of power between the Jewish state and its Arab neighbors. A report by Haim Rosenberg, a former Israeli defense official, said the Iskander-E rocket, known in the West as SS-26, would […]

U.S. intel: Syrian regime could survive 2012 thanks to backing from China, Russia, Iran

U.S. intel: Syrian regime could survive 2012 thanks to backing from China, Russia, Iran

Special to WorldTribune.com WASHINGTON — The U.S. intelligence community has assessed that a fragmented opposition and powerful foreign support could sustain the regime of Syrian President Bashar Assad throughout 2012. Officials said the assessment took into account the strong military, intelligence and financial support the Damascus regime has received from China, Iran and Russia. The […]

In pursuit, globally, of the elusive soft-landing

In pursuit, globally, of the elusive soft-landing

Sol W. Sanders The new year’s worldwide economic downturn has an interlocking effect: every national economy is searching to accommodate itself politically as well as economically to what looks to be an extended period of low growth. After longer or shorter periods of historically unrivaled prosperity, they are feeling for a “bottom” — a level […]

GOP presidential foreign policy debate ducked the questions that mattered most

GOP presidential foreign policy debate ducked the questions that mattered most

Lev Navrozov On Nov. 22, I watched a televised Republican presidential primary debate on U.S. national security and foreign policy. Symbolically, it took place at the historic Constitution Hall in Washington, D.C., and was hosted by CNN, in partnership with The Heritage Foundation and American Enterprise Institute, and moderated by Wolf Blitzer. It has been […]