In June of this year, German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier shocked the political and media establishment in Germany and other NATO countries when he criticized NATO military exercises in Eastern Europe, saying: “What we should not do now, however, is further inflame the situation with loud sabre-rattling and war cries. Anyone who believes that symbolicContinue reading “Germany’s Social Democrats to Challenge Merkel with ‘Pro-Russian’ Ostpolitik 2.0”
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Porkins Great Game: Episode #16 – Moderate Rebels & Heroin Warlords
After a long hiatus, Pearse Redmond and I are finally back with a new episode of Porkins Great Game. We start off by looking at the recent parliamentary elections in Georgia and the latest Saakashvili scandal. Our second segment focuses on Afghanistan. We talk about Gulbuddin Hekmatyar's return, the Qatar talks and the growing riftContinue reading “Porkins Great Game: Episode #16 – Moderate Rebels & Heroin Warlords”
The New Great Game Round-Up: October 31, 2016
The Great Game Round-Up brings you the latest newsworthy developments regarding Central Asia and the Caucasus region. We document the struggle for influence, power, hegemony and profits between a U.S.-dominated NATO, its GCC proxies, Russia, China and other regional players. China's Growing Security Role in Central Asia China appears to be taking a more proactiveContinue reading “The New Great Game Round-Up: October 31, 2016”
Washington War Party Urges Obama to Go to War against Assad & the Russians
On October 21, The Washington Post published a noteworthy op-ed titled “Bring Syria’s Assad and his backers to account now,” written by retired U.S. Marine General John Allen and self-proclaimed Syria expert Charles Lister. Allen is a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution and serves on the board of advisors of The Washington Institute forContinue reading “Washington War Party Urges Obama to Go to War against Assad & the Russians”
The New Great Game Round-Up: October 18, 2016
The Great Game Round-Up brings you the latest newsworthy developments regarding Central Asia and the Caucasus region. We document the struggle for influence, power, hegemony and profits between a U.S.-dominated NATO, its GCC proxies, Russia, China and other regional players. Georgia Elections: Russia Wins, Saakashvili Loses The run-up to the parliamentary elections in Georgia underlinedContinue reading “The New Great Game Round-Up: October 18, 2016”
The Jaber al-Bakr Story: How a White Helmets Volunteer Almost Blew Up Berlin Airport
The two-day manhunt, spectacular arrest and shocking death of a Syrian terrorism suspect in Germany have attracted a lot of attention and raised a lot of questions. On October 8, German police raided an apartment in the eastern city of Chemnitz after being tipped off by Germany’s domestic intelligence agency. They found 1.5 kilograms ofContinue reading “The Jaber al-Bakr Story: How a White Helmets Volunteer Almost Blew Up Berlin Airport”
Syria ‘Cease-Fire’ Brings U.S. & Russia Closer to War
On October 3, the United States announced that it is suspending talks with Russia over the conflict in Syria, accusing Moscow of not living up to its commitments under the September 9 cease-fire agreement as well as its obligations under international humanitarian law and United Nations Security Council Resolution 2254.[1] When the U.S. State DepartmentContinue reading “Syria ‘Cease-Fire’ Brings U.S. & Russia Closer to War”
The New Great Game Round-Up: October 3, 2016
The Great Game Round-Up brings you the latest newsworthy developments regarding Central Asia and the Caucasus region. We document the struggle for influence, power, hegemony and profits between a U.S.-dominated NATO, its GCC proxies, Russia, China and other regional players. Afghanistan Rehabilitates the 'Butcher of Kabul' After months of talks and several setbacks, the AfghanContinue reading “The New Great Game Round-Up: October 3, 2016”
Porkins Great Game: Episode #15 – Turkey Coup Special
On this special episode of Porkins Great Game, Pearse Redmond and I talk about the recent coup attempt in Turkey. We lay out the timeline of events on July 15 and explain why the coup failed before offering our take on the various theories floating around about what really happened that night. Pearse and IContinue reading “Porkins Great Game: Episode #15 – Turkey Coup Special”
Porkins Great Game: Episode #14 – Is Kazakhstan in Trouble?
On this episode of Porkins Great Game, Pearse Redmond and I finally get to talk about a Central Asian country that we have been meaning to talk about for quite a while: Kazakhstan. We take a look at the recent clashes in Aktobe and explain why the Kazakh government prefers to look abroad for theContinue reading “Porkins Great Game: Episode #14 – Is Kazakhstan in Trouble?”
The Venezuela News, The Venezuela Latest 