War News Updates

What Is Russian Prime Minister Putin Thinking?

Russia Prime Minister Vladimir Putin. © RIA Novosti. Alexey Nikolsky

Putin To Give Interview To CNN's Larry King -- RIA Novosti

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin is to give an interview to record-breaking U.S. talk show host Larry King on Tuesday.

"The interview will be recorded today and will be broadcast at 05:00 a.m. Moscow time [02:00 GMT] on December 2," Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.

He said the interview is to last about 40 minutes.

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More News On Russian Prime Minister Putin

Putin "Seeking to Restore Russia's Grandeur", Leaked Cables Claim -- CBS News
Russia May Import Overseas Grain If Shortage Arises, President Putin Says -- Bloomberg
Putin Suggests Russia Could Join Euro Zone, Make Euro World’s Reserve Currency -- Daily Reckoning
Vladimir Putin's EU energy package discovery -- RIA Novosti
US diplomats called Putin 'alpha male': Report -- Times of India
U.S. embassy dubbed Putin, Medvedev ‘Batman and Robin’ - Wikileaks -- RIA Novosti
U.S. Wary of Putin, Berlusconi Ties, Guardian Reports, Citing WikiLeaks -- Bloomberg
WikiLeaks 'to highlight Putin and Berlusconi's special relationship' -- The Telegraph
Mr. Putin has a vision for Eurasia and concern for Gazprom -- Sevim Geraibeyli, Examiner

Russia's President Medvedev Gives His Annual Speech To Parliament

Russia's President Dmitry Medvedev makes his annual state of the nation address at the Kremlin's St. George Hall in Moscow, November 30, 2010. Credit: Reuters/Dmitry Astakhov/RIA Novosti/Kremlin

Medvedev: Russia, NATO Must Reach Missile Deal -- NPR/AP

A new arms race will erupt if Russia can't agree with the West about a joint European missile defense program, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev warned Tuesday in his annual address.

A NATO summit this month proposed an alliance missile-shield plan and invited Russia to participate. Questions remain about possible joint command of such a system.

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More News On Russian President Medvedev's Annual Address To The Nation

Main points of Medvedev's state of the nation address -- RIA Novosti
Russia, West have 10 years for full accord on missile defense - Medvedev -- RIA Novosti
Russia's Medvedev warns of new arms race -- Reuters
Russia's Medvedev warns of arms race -- Sydney Morning Herald/AFP
Russia's Medvedev signals readiness to work with NATO, EU -- M&C
Medvedev Urges Social Support for Kids as 2012 Election Nears -- Bloomberg
Russia's youth takes center stage in Medvedev's address -- RIA Novosti
There should be no orphans in Russia - Medvedev -- RIA Novosti
Free land for Russians with three children -- Irish Times
Medvedev takes aim at Russia's "demographic crisis" -- RIA Novosti
Russia economic growth to reach 4%: Medvedev -- Xinhuanet
Instant View: Russian President Medvedev's address to the nation -- Reuters

Russian Positioning Of Short Range Nuclear Missiles Raises Concerns In Europe And Washington

Russian Missiles Fuel U.S. Worries -- Wall Street Journal

The U.S. believes Russia has moved short-range tactical nuclear warheads to facilities near North Atlantic Treaty Organization allies as recently as this spring, U.S. officials say, adding to questions in Congress about Russian compliance with long-standing pledges ahead of a possible vote on a new arms-control treaty.

U.S. officials say the movement of warheads to facilities bordering NATO allies appeared to run counter to pledges made by Moscow starting in 1991 to pull tactical nuclear weapons back from frontier posts and to reduce their numbers. The U.S. has long voiced concerns about Russia's lack of transparency when it comes to its arsenal of tactical nuclear weapons, believed to be many times the number possessed by the U.S.

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My Comment: When I read stories like this one, I can sympathize with those U.S. Senators who are uncomfortable with verifying the new START treaty. As to what is my take .... being Russian by nationality and familiar with the Moscow mindset, I can concur that we should be cautious .... after all .... the Russian Government is being cautious to the extreme.

Coming To Afghanistan: Radio-Controlled Smart Bullets Can Hit Targets Out Of The Reach Of Conventional Rifles

The XM25 Counter Defilade Target Engagement System has a range of roughly 2,300 feet - and is to be deployed in Afghanistan this month

No Hiding Place From New U.S. Army Rifles That Use Radio-Controlled Smart Bullets -- Daily Mail

* Weapon hailed as a game-changer that can fire up and over barriers and down into trenches
* Soldiers will start using them in Afghanistan later this month

The U.S. army is to begin using a futuristic rifle that fires radio-controlled 'smart' bullets in Afghanistan for the first time, it has emerged.

The XM25 rifle uses bullets that be programmed to explode when they have traveled a set distance, allowing enemies to be targeted no matter where they are hiding.

The rifle also has a range of 2,300 feet making it possible to hit target which are well out of the reach of conventional rifles.

The XM25 is being developed specially for the U.S. army and will be deployed with troops from later this month, it was revealed today.

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More News On The XM25

U.S. Army Unveils 'Revolutionary' XM25 Rifle in Afghanistan -- FOX News
New rifles shoot through walls -- New York Post
Wonderwall Gun Is A Taliban Buster -- The Sun
American Soldiers in Afghanistan Now Using The XM-25 Rifle… -- Weasel Zippers

Israel's Spy Agency Gets A New Chief

Photo: Tamir Pardo, left, with Major General (res.) Uzi Dayan. Photo by: Ch. 10

Mossad Veteran Appointed New Chief -- The Telegraph

A Mossad veteran has been appointed to head the spy agency when its current chief steps down next month.

Tamir Pardo, who is currently deputy Mossad chief, has been appointed by Benajmin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister.

Meir Dagan, the current head of the espionage agency, retires in December after eight years on the job.

"Prime Minister Netanyahu noted that Pardo has rich experience of dozens of years in the Mossad and he is sure that he is the right man to lead the organisation in the next few years given the complicated challenges that face the state of Israel," a statement from Mr Netanyahu's office said.

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More News On A New Chief For Mossad

Netanyahu appoints Mossad veteran to head spy agency -- AFP
Netanyahu Nominates Veteran Spy to Head Mossad Agency -- Bloomberg
Israel names new Mossad chief -- Miami Herald/McClatchy News
Tamir Pardo named new Mossad chief -- Ynet News
Who is new Mossad chief Tamir Pardo -- Haaretz

No Good Choices In Solving Europe's Financial Crisis -- A Commentary

It was the worst single day in Mediterranean markets since the launch of monetary union. Photo from The Telegraph

Germany Faces Its Awful Choice As Spain Wobbles -- Ambrose Evans-Pritchard, The Telegraph

Desperate moments call for desperate measures. In June 1940, the British War Cabinet led by Winston Churchill offered a total national merger to a shattered France.

“France and Great Britain shall no longer be two nations, but one Franco-British union,” read the declaration.

“The constitution of the Union will provide for joint organs of defence, foreign, financial and economic policies. Every citizen of France will enjoy immediately citizenship of Great Britain, every British subject will become a citizen of France.”

The text was drafted by Jean Monnet, the father of the European Project. If alive today, he would be pounding on the door of the Kanzleramt, exhorting Angela Merkel to offer a total fiscal union to all members of the eurozone before everything falls apart, and to be enshrined in EU treaty law forever.

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More News On Europe's Financial Crisis

Germany watches with concern as euro falls despite Ireland bailout -- L.A. Times
Gold Gains on Speculation European Debt Crisis May Spread Beyond Ireland -- Bloomberg
EU Faces More Bailouts as Euro Contagion Spreads to Portugal: Euro Credit -- Bloomberg
Contagion strikes Italy as Ireland bail-out fails to calm markets -- The Telegraph
EU Bailout Plans Fail to Bring Calm -- Wall Street Journal
Relief at Ireland bail-out proves short lived -- Financial Times
Euro crisis gets even messier -- The Guardian
Irish backlash hits Spain, EU warns of blow to growth -- AFP
Berlin Reconciles Itself to Bailouts -- Wall Street Journal
Europe’s Crisis of Liquidity -- New York Times
Ireland: From rags to riches to rags -- Forbes

My Comment: The world's news media was focused on Wikileaks today .... but Europe's financial crisis is the bigger story and one that will impact each and everyone of us long after the hoopla over the Wikileaks story is over.

Mossad Views Iran As Israel's 'Number One Priority'

Mossad Keeps Iran As Israel's 'Number One Priority' -- The Independent

The Israeli intelligence service, Mossad, has a long history of using targeted killings to attack the enemies of the Jewish state. For example in the 1970s and 1980s the Mossad tracked down and killed many Palestinian terrorists like Ali Hassan Salamah involved in the planning of attacks like the Munich Olympics massacre and other terror operations. In some cases the Israeli army's elite commando units would do the killing, in others the Mossad would employ car bombs or assassins. In 1998 a botched attempt was made to kill a senior Hamas official in Amman, Jordan, for which Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu was forced to apologize to King Hussein.

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My Comment: Iran .... without it's nuclear program .... would be treated by Israel as a potent enemy that can cause harm but is not a threat to the existence of Israel. Throw in a nuclear bomb program .... all bets are off, and Iran then becomes a far more dangerous and formidible foe.

North Korea's Details Its Expanded Nuclear Program

North Korean leader Kim Jong-il (L) walks in front of his youngest son Kim Jong-un (R) as they watch a parade to commemorate the 65th anniversary of the founding of the Workers' Party of Korea in Pyongyang October 10, 2010. REUTERS/Kyodo

North Korea Claims "Thousands" Of Nuclear Centrifuges -- BBC

North Korea says it has thousands of centrifuges operating at a previously undetected uranium enrichment facility it revealed earlier this month.

The North Koreans say the plant is for civil nuclear power. It's not clear whether the centrifuges could be used to produce material for weapons.

A US scientist has seen the facility, but could not confirm it was working.

The claim comes as tensions remain high, after the North shelled a South Korean island a week ago.

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More News On North Korea's Nuclear Program

North Korea details expanded nuclear programme -- Reuters
N Korea has 'thousands of centrifuges' -- Sydney Morning Herald/AFP
North Korea says its uranium enrichment is progressing -- Jerusalem Post
N.Korea says its uranium enrichment is progressing -- The Hindu/AP
FACTBOX-North Korea spells out uranium enrichment programme -- Reuters

My Comment: North Korea is not even hiding their nuclear program .... in fact .... they are boasting about it.

Belgian F-16 Display. Biggin Hill Airshow 2010. (Video)

Wikileaks -- News Roundup For November 29-30, 2010

Julian Assange Says Document Dump Targets 'Lying, Corrupt and Murderous Leadership' -- ABC News

Wikileaks Chief Promises to Reveal Many More Government Secrets.

The chief Wikileaker who the U.S. promised today to prosecute said his Internet site was just beginning to unload its diplomatic secrets and said the documents will skewer "lying, corrupt and murderous leadership from Bahrain to Brazil."

Julian Assange, the Australian who heads the secret-sharing Web site, told ABC News today he believes his safety and freedom are in danger. He responded to questions by email from a clandestine hideout.

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More News On Wikileaks