Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has spoken with the Reuters news agency about Russia's domestic and international affairs. This is Medvedev's first interview with a Western media outlet since taking office in May.
The Russian president says poverty and corruption are the biggest internal threats to Russia's security. He said freedom, democracy and respect for private property are the foundations of the country's foreign policy, as a response to Russia's western detractors (read more).
Medvedev says Russia wants to see an agreement come out of this week's summit between Moscow and the European Union, although he admitted there were problems in the country's relationship with the EU. Medvedev believes that some EU governments are ready to improve the relationship, but other European nations are standing in the way. The president says Russia respects the fact that the discrepancy is an internal matter for the EU (Talks had been stalled since late 2006, when Warsaw objected to a Russian ban on meat imports from Poland).
Talking about his relationship with predecessor Vladimir Putin, Medvedev says a change in tone is to be expected but would not affect Russian policy.
Medvedev said, "Putin and I are good partners in dealing with the federal government's complex issues. We will work together for as long as is needed to achieve the goals which stand before us... within the framework of the law, of course."
Medvedev says he doesn't think Russia's economy is overheated, but he'll keep a close watch to make sure no problems develop. He says the real threat is international financial instability and global production problems. The Russian president says he'll do everything in his power to control inflation.
Friday, June 27, 2008
West declares Russia as 'the leading antidemocratic force'
A publication of Freedom House human rights organization , based in Washington, says that Russia has become 'the leading antidemocratic force' in the region.
"Over time, we have seen rising oil prices correlate clearly with sharply falling democracy performance, especially in Russia, Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan," the group's director of studies, Christopher Walker, said in an interview.
The report says that these three former Soviet republics are basing their development on energy resources, and the last decade was marked by "sharp and systematic erosion of accountability and transparency".
In Russia, by last year, it became clear that Vladimir Putin's era had ushered in a new elite that grabbed power, Freedom House said. Experimenting in "authoritarian capitalism," an "Iron Triangle" of state power, industry chiefs and security services is leading a decline in the electoral process and increased control over political opponents and news media, the report said.
Human rights activists believe that "the growing authoritarianism is also shaping foreign policy, producing "a more assertive and often belligerent posture by Russia toward its neighbors."
Earlier the same American human rights organization monitoring levels of freedom all around the world announced that the worst situation with human rights is in Tibet, which is now under control of China, and in Chechnya, which is now under the invasion by Moscow. At the same time the report by the Freedom House stressed that the situation in Chechnya is the "worst of the worst".
Freedom House also pointed out that "an indigenous Islamic population is engaged in a brutal guerrilla war for independence from Russia".
Tel Aviv to start bombing Iran after U.S. elections?
The war of nerves between Tehran and Washington is continuing. US faithful ally, the Zionist enclave in occupied Palestine -- Israel is threatening with attacks on Tehran's nuclear facilities. The more often Iran expresses the opinion that a threat of war is real, the more often and bold Tel Aviv gets.
The version that Israel will certainly attack Iran is supported by Western media, which are playing the part of the "informational special forces" in anti-Iranian alliance.
Daily Telegraph reported that John Bolton, the former American ambassador to the United Nations, has predicted that Israel could attack Iran after the November presidential election but before George W Bush's successor is sworn in.
The ex-diplomat claims that the US will not get involved in the military action against Iran."If you had asked me a year ago I would have said I thought it was a real possibility. I just don't think it's in the cards," Israeli Zionist Mignews quoted Bolton as saying.
Earlier this month Israel conducted a large-scale military training exercise, which in the opinion of Western commentators reminded of a rehearsal for bombing Iranian nuclear facilities.
According to the US administration, the purpose of the military exercise was long-range flight training, as well as demonstration how serious Israel is about Iran's nuclear program.
Zionist authorities demonstratively refused to give any comments on these exercises. But even one who is far from politics can see that Tel Aviv would very much like Iran to know about these exercises and feel the "breath of war".
Earlier on, Shaul Mofaz, a former Israeli Zionist regime's defense minister who is now a deputy prime minister, publicly stated that Tel Aviv "may attack Iran unless Iranian authorities curtail their nuclear program".He complained that international sanctions against Iran have proven ineffective."If Iran continues with its program for developing nuclear weapons, we will attack," Shaul Mofaz warned.
Meanwhile Iranian Ayatollah Mohammad Ali Taskhiri warned the US and its allies against attacking his country.He repeated the words of President Ahmadinejad that Iran is not as weak as Iraq.
Earlier, President of Iran has warned on several occasions that if Tel Aviv goes for a military scam, "Israel will be wiped off the map".
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Seasteading on Pykrete, and Other Novel Uses
I first learned about the material called Pykrete while reading the blog "Colonize Antarctica." Pykrete is a mixture of wood fibre and ice, a combination that is very hard, very tough, floats, and is very slow to melt. Structures built of Pykrete would be ideal in a polar environment, such as a polar city pictured above.2 Million Ton Pykrete Aircraft Carrier In WW2
More exotic uses of Pykrete would be to build a large ship, a floating island city, or floating arcology. Pykrete was made famous by Geoffrey Pike. Sir Winston Churchill was one of the earliest promoters of using Pykrete for building large ships in WWII. The hull for a giant Pykrete aircraft carrier would have been 40 feet thick or more, and almost impossible to penetrate with the torpedoes of the day. Even without refrigeration, such thick Pykrete walls would have taken years to melt in a temperate climate. The video below demonstrates the ballistic resistance of a 14% wood fibre Pykrete. A 50% fibre Pykrete would be much tougher, and slower to melt.
The walls could be built hundreds of feet thick, if necessary, and in any conceivable shape. The fibre content could vary from as little as 14% to as much as 50% or more, for greater toughness. It would be necessary to experiment with coating materials for maximum longevity a
More weapons
Iraqi soldiers stand guard over rows of rifles seized by Iraqi security forces during recent operations in the Shiite enclave of Sadr City, June 18, 2008.
At Israel's Parliament, a French Lesson in Leadership for Bush
Barely a month after President Bush chose the venue of Israel's Knesset to scold his domestic critics (or was he scolding the Israeli leadership, as this NYT editorial suggests) with accusations of appeasement, French President Nicholas Sarkozy found himself at the same podium yesterday, but with dramatically different results.
Sarko gave his American counterpart something of a French lesson not only in how to behave at a foreign parliament, but also in what constitutes both friendship to an ally and leadership on an issue.
The full Sarkozy speech is here (in French)--and contrasting it to Bush's May 15th effort is nothing short of embarrassing.
Sarkozy is credited by Israel and by the French Jewish community with having immeasurably improved French-Israeli bilateral relations. He is considered a friend and trusted ally and was feted during his Israel visit--no less than his Washington equivalent.
Sarkozy's speech was full of admiration for Israel's accomplishments and understanding for Israel's genuine security concerns--but it also contained the home truths that the Israeli's needed to hear. It contained precisely the ingredient--honest friendly advice or leadership--that was so absent in Bush's speech.
Bush did refer to some of what is needed for a peace deal during his visit last month--but that was in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt three days later, not in the Knesset.
Two Presidents, two speeches, one leader:
President Bush on the borders for a 2 state solution: ___________.President Sarkozy: "It is not possible to have peace without a negotiated border based on the 1967 lines with an exchange of territories."
President Bush on settlements: ___________.
President Sarkozy: "Peace cannot be achieved without a total and immediate cessation of the settlements."
President Bush on Jerusalem's future status: ___________.
President Sarkozy: "Peace cannot be achieved without the recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of two states and guaranteeing freedom of access to holy sites for all religions."
President Bush on the Palestinian refugee issue: ___________.
President Sarkozy: "Peace cannot be achieved without solving the problem of the Palestinian refugees, while respecting the identity and purpose of Israel."
President Bush on Israeli-Palestinian, Israeli-Syrian, or Israeli-Lebanese peace talks: _________.
President Sarkozy: "(France) is ready to organize on its soil all the talks that could lead to (peace), whether in Israeli-Palestinian negotiations, the Syrian-Israeli dialogue, or the talks that will have to resume, one day soon I hope, between Israel and Lebanon."
Both stated their commitment to Israel's existence and security, and expressed their staunch opposition to anti-Semitism. And both of course discussed the threat of Iran.
Just how appalling was the use of the phrase "the false comfort of appeasement", by America's leader to describe negotiations is given a new clarity when one considers that "appeasement" (read: diplomacy) has been outsourced by the Bushies to the French and other Europeans.
This is all the more stunning when one considers that President Sarkozy has also improved US-France relations, is close to Bush, and is hardly a 'gauchiste'. But then this was not really about ideology--Bush probably agrees with Sarkozy on the substance of 2 states--it was all about leadership.
Nelson Mandela , 90 , still on US terrorist list
The African National Congress (ANC) was designated as a terrorist organisation by South Africa's old apartheid regime. Since that time, things changed. Apartheid is not legal anymore, Nelson Mandela was released from prison, and the ANC became the government.
Other things have not changed: all ANC leaders, including Nelson Mandela, are still tagged as 'terrorists' in US security databases and need to get a special waiver to enter the US.
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has now asked for the "embarrassing" travel restrictions to be lifted. Good. I am happy the US administration is keeping up with the fast moving pace of world politics. The ANC has been South Africa's governing party since 14 years. (Full)
Soon, one embarrassment less. Some more challenges still to tackle, though. Like convincing US President Bush statements like "Mandela is dead" is not really OK. Not really.
It might have something to do with the fact that Mandela has never been short of criticism on US politics or the current US presidency. Remember that back in 2003, he commented: "If there is a country that has committed unspeakable atrocities in the world, it is the United States of America. They don't care."
Mandela was rather specific on Bush too: "What I am condemning is that one power, with a president who has no foresight, who cannot think properly, is now wanting to plunge the world into a holocaust (referring to the Iraq war)." (Full)
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Genuinely Clueless
Let me follow up on this McCain gaffe in which he got confused and claimed that al Qaeda was getting trained and equipped by Iran before doing mischief in Iraq, before being corrected by his senate colleague Joe Lieberman.
Let's start by stipulating that if Barack Obama had had this slip up it would be everywhere on the news for the next week. Pretty much the same if it had been Hillary Clinton.
But this is really just the tip of the iceberg with McCain. In almost every discussion of foreign policy, not just today but in previous years, what stands out is McCain's inability to see beyond the immediate issues of military tactics to any firm grasp of strategy or America's real vital interests. His free willingness to commit to a decades long occupation of Iraq is an example, his push for ground troops to be introduced during the Kosovo War is another. His refusal, almost inability, to grapple with the political failure of the surge is the most telling one if people will sift through its deeper implications.
It is very difficult to draw practical lessons from history. But one of the closest things to a law is that military power is almost always built on economic might. Indeed, countries with sound finances have routinely been able to punch over their weight -- great Britain and the Netherlands during different periods are key examples. So fiscal soundness even over the medium term is much more important than any particular weapon system or basing right.
Then you step back and see the huge number of dollars we're pouring into Iraq, the vast mountains of capital being piled up in China, the oil-fueled resurgence of Russia, the weakness of the dollar (not only in exchange rate but in its future as a reserve currency), the rising tide of anti-Americanism around the world. I don't think I've ever heard anything from John McCain that suggests he's given serious consideration to any of these issues, except as possible near term military challenges -- i.e., is China building a blue water navy to challenge the US, Russian weapons systems, etc.
Hillary Clinton has stipulated to McCain's qualifications as Commander-in-Chief; and Obama, implicitly, does the same. But his record actually shows he's one of the most dangerous people we could have in the Oval Office in coming years -- not just because he's a hothead in using the military, but more because he seems genuinely clueless about the real challenges and dangers the country is facing. He's too busy living in the fantasy world where our future as a great power and our very safety are all bound up in Iraq.
Supporting The Troops
Not really the best way to do it.
Earlier this morning, Rep. Henry Waxman (D-Calif.) sent Defense Secretary Robert Gates a letter requesting documents about the military’s management of contracts for maintenance of electrical systems in U.S. military facilities in Iraq.
The reason: Because he found out that 12 Army and Marine servicemen have died as a result of electrocution since 2003.
The latest casualty: Staff Sergeant Ryan D. Maseth (pictured), a Special Forces soldier from Pennsylvania, who was electrocuted while taking a shower in his living quarters in Radwaniyeh Palace Complex in Baghdad on January 2.
Silvio Berlusconi's 'iron fist' laws approved
All across Europe attitudes are stiffening toward immigration, nowhere more so than in Italy.
Soldiers could be sent into Italy's cities, illegal immigrants will be imprisoned for four years and all non-serious court cases will be frozen for a year under new measures approved by Italy's senate.
The senate voted 166 to 123 to approve a wide-ranging package of measures which will allow Silvio Berlusconi to govern Italy with an iron fist.
Mr Berlusconi, 71, will now be able to use as many as 3,000 soldiers for up to six months in order to fight crime. Previously, the use of the army had to be agreed by the parliament beforehand. The first destination for the troops is likely to be Naples, where Mr Berlusconi faces violent opposition to his plans for dealing with the city's rubbish crisis.
The perma-tanned billionaire will also no longer have to worry about his ongoing court case for allegedly corrupting David Mills, the husband of Tessa Jowell, the Olympic minister. Mr Berlusconi is accused of giving Mr Mills £350,000 in order to stand favourable witness in a separate trial. Both men deny wrong-doing.
The trial could be suspended under a measure designed to free up Italy's judiciary to concentrate on murder and Mafia cases. More than 100,000 "non-serious" trials, including trials for fraud, manslaughter, theft and kidnapping, will shut down for a year to give the courts a chance to catch up on their backlog.
The National Association of Magistrates said the move would cause "unprecedented chaos" and offered Mr Berlusconi the chance to cut a deal: personal immunity from prosecution if he would let the trials continue.
Mr Berlusconi said he was "outraged" by suggestions that he would pass a law in order to have his own trial suspended. He vowed that the Mills case would continue, despite the new decree.
Another controversial measure in the package will see illegal immigrants imprisoned for up to four years. Landlords who rent homes to illegal immigrants will have their properties seized. Mr Berlusconi has pinned much of the blame for Italy's crime problem on immigrants nad has vowed to "wash the piazzas clean of uncertainty". Immigrants who claim to have family in Italy will be given DNA tests.
Quite surprising for someone who said "Personally, I don't think you can prosecute someone for their illegal presence in our country" , quoted by Euronews some days before.
Anna Finocchiaro, a spokesman for the opposition Democratic Party, said there had been no consultation by the government over the new measures. "We have to have a dialogue over our shared principles and rules," she said.
"We will vote no. The text has two mistaken measures, which are dangerous and against the Constitution. First there is the criminalisation of immigration, and the second is the suspension of trials".
However, Mr Berlusconi's enormous majority in the Senate easily overwhelmed the opposition. The measure will now be ratified by the Lower House of parliament. No date has been set, but the parliament has 30 days in which to carry out a vote.
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