The World Reporter: News Opinion and Analysis

NATO Summit - A Funeral and Rebirth Always Postponed

2012-05-19T01:40:00.000+05:30

Written by Gabriela Ionita

The annual meeting of NATO members is scheduled to take place on 20-21st May 2012 in Chicago, USA. An anniversary meeting, we could say, as this year's NATO Summit edition will be reaching number 25 (only the traditional meetings are officially counted, but not the exceptional ones). According to the Secretary General of NATO, Anders Fogh Rasmussen, this year's meeting is probably the biggest in NATO's history, as the Summit will be attended by state and government leaders from the 28 member states, but also other senior representatives from over 30 other countries worldwide. The only notable absence in this context seems to be the Russian President, Vladimir Putin.

This year's edition is of extreme importance also because it is the first time when it takes place outside the U.S. capital, moving to the hometown of President Obama - Chicago. Scheduled right after the G8 Summit at Camp David, the NATO Summit comes with a rather complicated agenda, especially due to economic instability in Europe and the many political changes in the last six months (most recent that of the presidential elections in France).

At the NATO Summit, there will be reports on the steps taken to underpin the decisions from the Lisbon Summit in November 2010 (where, as we remember, the key reform policies and the reaffirming of the Alliance transatlantic cooperation were outlined).

This year, the NATO Summit will focus on three main themes:

The Afghanistan file and the clear commitment of NATO to assist the Afghan authorities for transitional period until 2014 and post-transition (after 2014).
Implementing the Smart Defense concept in an attempt to demonstrate that NATO is able to meet the challenges of the 21st century. "Another objective of the Summit in Chicago is to show 'how to cope with today's economic challenges so that we are prepared for future security challenges" said Rasmussen. After more than six decades of existence, NATO can look back with pride, but to justify its existence it must clearly see future challenges, how it can anticipate and manage them with precision and speed.
The third objective of the meeting will be strengthening its network of strategic worldwide partnerships. Surely there is will be a public recognition of the efforts made by Macedonia in the mission in Afghanistan, even if the entry into NATO is still delayed, since the requirements agreed at the NATO Summit in Bucharest in 2008 are not yet met.

Regarding Ukraine's participation in the Summit in Chicago, even when EU leaders canceled their participation at the Yalta Summit, U.S. Ambassador in NATO, Ivo Daadler, said at a press conference that: "Ukraine is a valued member of the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan. And all members who contribute with troops, and therefore are members of the ISAF operation, are invited to Chicago. Therefore, Mr. Yanukovich could be present at Chicago. It is not our job to rule on the current political issues that are ongoing in Ukraine ".

Moreover, Israel's lack of the guests at the summit was also justified on this basis - Israel did not participate in the ISAF troops - and not because it has been pressured by Turkey in this respect. Of course, the discussion will revolve over topics like the economic crisis and its impact on defense budgets, the missile shield in Europe, the essence of the Arab Spring, the civil war situation in Libya and Syria, but also the plan to reduce tensions and maintain security of key areas such as the Strait of Hormuz.

Regarding the operations in Afghanistan, according to the U.S. Permanent Representative to NATO, Ambassador Ivo Daadler, through the bilateral agreement signed between U.S. and Afghanistan *, America agrees to give post-transition support even after 2014 and hopes to succeed in convincing the other 28 members of the Alliance to join in this common effort.

In the same registry we note the declaration of the Secretary of State, Hilary Clinton, who, at the end of a meeting on Afghanistan with Defense Secretary, Leon Panetta, concluded: "First, we agreed on the next phase of transition and on the fulfillment of the undertaken objectives by 2014. Second, we are ready to define how we see the relationship between NATO and Afghanistan after 2014. And thirdly, we are prepared to work together with the Afghan people to ensure that the Afghan security strategy will take force and will be fully implemented. NATO is an alliance united behind all these objectives, so we expect a very productive summit in Chicago. "

However, more then few voices (even among NATO members) consider the conflict management in Afghanistan is raising a big question mark over NATO's ability (and hence its leader - U.S.) to harness the resources of its members in a common purpose. In turn, American observers often criticize the European NATO allies for not respecting their commitments in Afghanistan, although many of these commitments have been made in such a way that they themselves constraint involvement of the agreed arrangements.

If NATO wants to survive as alliance, the efforts of its members must reflect the political and strategic consensus. The U.S., as de facto leader of the Alliance, should encourage rather than hinder this process. Lack of political will, lack of participation in allied operations justified by the lack of defense budgets - deserves criticism from American partner - yet they reflect a basic lack of common purpose and lack of unified objectives. American efforts to influence NATO's decision-making process has helped create the impression that the U.S. "take the decision, act and impose their own interests", and in making decisions the opinions of other members are purely advisory, which prompted questions related to the Alliance's purpose.

Andrew Dorman (Chatman House) rightly noted that in the meeting in Chicago "the 28 NATO members have many issues on which to come to an agreement on. First, NATO's involvement in wars, from Libya to Afghanistan or vice versa and in the potential war in Syria and Iran, led to different degrees of commitment from its members and differences of views on NATO's geopolitical strategies. Or formulating the question frankly: is this an alliance that focuses only on the European continent or one that focuses on broader security issues of its members and on potential global threats? How to define these threats? " Secondly, he said that "it remains in question how the NATO relationship with Russia will evolve in the context of the tensions caused by the location of the missile shield and the thorny issue associated with the expansion of NATO to include several former Soviet states ( Georgia, Ukraine) ".

The fervent critics of the atlantist trend deemed that the summit is going to the pillars of strength of the organization, after a visible failure in Iraq and Libya, an increasingly unstable situation of the disastrous failure of Syria, the inability of the international community to find a compromise solution for Iran's nuclear file, the general financial crisis, the U.S. election year (the fierce Republicans - Democrats dispute on foreign policy issues) and the military and economic strategy 'reorientation' of America from Europe to Asia-Pacific. Of course, we are already used to this, as in the last twenty years, at the threshold of any NATO Summit, a number of experts, journalists, opinion leaders not only discuss certain issues, but also predict NATO's funeral. Common also are the press briefings of the NATO officials in the summit and after, arguing that despite all adversities, the Alliance continues to survive (even if its promised reinvention is rather theoretical). The question is: how long?

This mosaic could not miss the usual protests, already announced by the initiators of the movement 'Ocuppy Wall Street' and numerous other anti-globalization and human rights organizations. So the organizers decided a plan of exceptional security measures, from which Chicago will become a city besieged by their own police forces rather than the protesters. There was even a discussion over the establishment of a restricted flights area over the city during the event (rated by the Department of Homeland Security / DHS as one that requires exceptional security measures).

Moreover, in the fever of preparations, the Mayor of Chicago, former presidential adviser, Rahm Emanuel, has proposed and adopted several measures to avoid possible protests, measures that will be taken by the authorities even after the summit. I will only mention here the installation of surveillance cameras in many places of the city, restricting certain public activities, registration of any sign or banner that is designed to be worn by more than one person, restricting parades and public marches, the right to coordinate intervention forces (other than those belonging to the Chicago Police Department). These ordinances have already attracted a number of protests by Amnesty International and Ocuppy Chicago, whose representatives consider that the event is used to abusively reduce human rights and freedoms.

* On May 1, 2012, President Barack Obama and President Karzai signed the Strategic Sustainable Partnership between the United States of America and Islamic Republic of Afghanistan.

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Cyprus, Where Three Powers Aimed for their Influence

2012-05-05T11:21:00.000+05:30

Cyprus

Cyprus is an island in the Mediterranean Sea, south of Turkey. After Sicily and Sardinia, it is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Cyprus was granted independence in 1960 from British Administration, but before it could stabilize, in 1974 Greek Cypriot nationalists attempted a coup with the aim of achieving union with Greece, enosis. It took place following the eleven years of inter-communal violence between Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots. The coup resulted into invasion of Turkey which held over 36% of the island which is now known as Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus and is recognized only by Turkey. Although the island is geographically in Asia, it is politically a European country and is a member of the European Union.

Following the disintegration of the island into two republics, Cyprus experienced somewhat similar kind of mass displacement of population as in the case of post Independence India and Pakistan. Republic of Cyprus is an advanced high income economy and has a very high Human Development Index. Cyprus receives high number of tourists and mostly tourists who come to celebrate their holidays to Cyprus also come here to work for short time.

North Cyprus on the other hand is dependent only on Turkey for trade and other activities, since it is not recognized by any other country in the world, resulting into comparatively poor economy and high unemployment rate.

Cyprus just after independence had come under severe politics and ethnic violence and conflicts influenced by Turkey, Greece and observed by Britain. The result of the conflict led to the division of Cyprus into two republics. The claims and the facts are too sensitive even now and the tension between the two Cyprus still exists.

History From the Greek Cypriots point of view

In June 1958, the British Prime Minister Harold Macmillan was going to propose a plan to resolve the Cyprus issue. In light of the new development the Turks rioted in Nicosia to promote the idea that Greek and Turk Cypriots could not live together and therefore any plan that did not include partition would not be viable, this is somewhat same to Muslim League's Two Nation Theory that demanded the partition of India into a Muslim state Pakistan and secular state India.

This violence was soon followed by bombing, killing of Greek Cypriots and looting of Greek Cypriot-owned stores and houses by Turk Cypriots. Greek and Turkish Cypriots started to flee to other villages and town where they found majority and safety. On 7 June 1958, a bomb exploded at the entrance of the Turkish Embassy in Cyprus. Which gave Turkish Cypriots a reason to attack Greek Cypriots places and properties.

On June 26, 1984 the Turkish Cypriot leader, Rauf Denktaş, admitted on British channel ITV that the bomb was placed by the Turks themselves in order to create tension [Source: Arif Hasan Tahsin. "He Anodos Tou _Denktas Sten Koryphe". January, 2001. ISBN 9963-7738-6-9]. On January 9, 1995 Rauf Denktaş repeated his claim to the famous Turkish newspaper Milliyet in Turkey. On 27 January 1958, riots by Turkish Cypriots forced the British soldiers to open fire against the Turkish crowd, and for the first time intervene against the atrocities.

During the conflict, Arif Tahsin, Turk Cypriot who had joined the colonial police, met Denktaş and asked: "For God sake give the order for the killings to stop". Denktaş replied: "These killings are useful, with these our voices will be heard" [Source: Arif Hasan Tahsin. "He Anodos Tou _Denktas Sten Koryphe". January, 2001. ISBN 9963-7738-6-9 page 51].

History From the Turk Cypriots point of view

In 1959, Britain, Turkey, Greece, and the Greek and Turkish Cypriot leaders, Makarios and Dr. Fazil Kucuk respectively signed the Zurich agreements. The new constitution was drawn heavily on the ethnic composition of the island. The President would be a Greek Cypriot and the Vice-President a Turkish Cypriot with an equal veto. The contribution to the public services such as Cabinet posts, parliamentary seats and civil service jobs would be set at a ratio of 70:30, and the Supreme Court would consist of an equal number of judges from both communities plus an independent judge who was not Greek, Turkish or British.

The Zurich accords were also consisted of a number of treaties. The Treaty of Guarantee stated that secession or union with any state was forbidden, and that Greece, Turkey and Britain would be given guarantor status to intervene should this be violated. The Treaty of Alliance allowed for two small Greek and Turkish military contingents to be stationed on the island whilst the Treaty of Establishment gave Britain sovereignty over two bases in Akrotiri and Dhekelia.

In 1963, President Makarios proposed unilateral changes to the constitution, via 13 amendments. Which was rejected by Turkey and the Turkish Cypriots as an attempt to settle constitutional disputes in favour of the Greek Cypriots and as a means of demoting Turkish status from co-founders of the state to one of minority status removing their constitutional safeguards in the process. Turkish Cypriots filed a lawsuit against the 13 amendments in the Supreme Constitutional Court of Cyprus (SCCC). President Makarios announced that he would not comply with whatever the decision of the SCCC would be, and defended his amendments as being necessary "to resolve constitutional deadlocks" as opposed to the stance of the SCCC.

On 25 April 1963, the SCCC decided that Makarios' 13 amendments were illegal. On 15 July, Makarios ignored the decision of the SCCC [Source: Republic of Cyprus, SCCC Official Website]. The president of SCCC resigned and the SCCC ceased to exist. Finally, On 30 November, Makarios legalized the 13 proposals.

In 1963, the Greek Cypriot wing of the government came up with the plan of Akritas which crafted a policy that would remove Turkish Cypriots from the government and ultimately lead to union with Greece. The plan stated that if the Turkish Cypriots objected then they should be "violently subjugated before foreign powers could intervene" [Source: US Library of Congress]. Intercommunal violence broke out immediately with a major Greek Cypriot paramilitary assault upon Turkish Cypriots in Nicosia and Larnaca, which saw some retaliation from Turk Cypriots side, but according to the historian of the Cyprus conflict, Keith Kyle "there is no doubt that the main victims of the numerous incidents that took place during the next few months were Turks." [Source: The Main Narrative, continued]. Seven hundred Turkish hostages, including women and children, were taken from the northern suburbs of Nicosia. The conflict did not end here, Nikos Sampson, a nationalist and future coup leader, led a group of Greek Cypriot irregulars into the mixed suburb of Omorphita and attacked the Turkish Cypriot population. By 1964, 193 Turkish Cypriots and 133 Greek Cypriots had been killed, with a further 209 Turks and 41 Greeks missing and presumed dead.

Turkish Cypriot members of the government had by now withdrawn, creating an essentially Greek Cypriot administration in control of all institutions of the state. Widespread looting of Turkish Cypriot villages prompted 20,000 refugees to retreat into armed enclaves, where they remained for the next 11 years, relying on food and medical supplies from Turkey to survive.

British Role in the Conflict

Greek Cypriots frustrated with the British rejection of demands for enosis (Union with Greece) initiated an armed underground campaign known as the National Organization of Cypriot Struggle, or EOKA. Led by the Greek commander George Grivas, EOKA systematically targeted British colonial authorities.

British played the policy of Divide and Rule which it had successfully played in India during its colonial rule over the subcontinent. Right after the EOKA campaign the British government successfully began to turn the Cyprus issue from a British colonial problem into a Greek-Turkish issue. British diplomatic policies were crafted with the aim of making Turkey active in Cyprus. With this British aimed at two objectives. On one hand the EOKA campaign would be silenced as quickly as possible, and on the other hand Turkish Cypriots would not side with Greek Cypriots against the British colonial claims over the island and the island would remain under the British [Source: Anthony Eden, 2005. Memoirs, Full Circle, Cassell, London 1960, p.400].

The Turkish Cypriot leadership at the time, visited Adnan Menderes to discuss the Cyprus issue. When asked how the Turkish Cypriots should respond to the Greek Cypriot claim of enosis (Union with Greece) Menderes replied: "You should go to the British foreign minister and request the status quo be prolonged, Cyprus to remain as a British colony.” Later when the Turkish Cypriots visited the British minister of foreign affairs and requested that Cyprus remain a colony, the Minister replied: "You should not be asking for colonialism at this day and age, you should be asking for Cyprus be returned to Turkey, its former owner" [Source: Arif Hasan Tahsin. "He Anodos Tou _Denktas Sten Koryphe". January, 2001. ISBN 9963-7738-6-9 page 38].

British Government which was slightly inclined towards the favour of Turkey to preserve its colonial rule on the island did not recognize the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus and rejected the self declaration of independence.

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The Strait of Malacca: The Meeting Point of Giants

2012-05-04T12:56:00.000+05:30

Strait of Malacca

Written by Andreea Cristina Brinza, Geopolitics.ro

The Strait of Malacca is a gateway between Asia and the West and one of the most important world energy valves, hosting about 40% of world trade.

While the Silk Route was, in the past, the glue connecting land route between Asia and Europe, the Strait of Malacca and the South China Sea represent today the maritime communication route of East Asia with the energy markets of the states that form the so-called 'Energy Heartland'[1] of the world (the region between the Caspian Sea and the Persian Gulf).

Linking Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore, Malacca is the most important strait in the world, the place where 12 million barrels of oil flow daily, towards the most dynamic economies of the moment: China, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan.

Controlled by Americans under the pretext of stability in region, the Strait has become the convergence point of three major powers: USA, China and India.

If on world level China leads a policy antagonistic towards U.S., on a regional level the main rival of China is India. "For China, India is the Asian enemy par excellence," said Laurent Murawiec and he also explains why: "India is the demographic, geopolitical and political-intellectual counterpart of China" [2]. In other words, India is the mirror image of China, whose main strength is the "demographic pliers", that the Chinese fear it will break their economy in the future.

In the Malacca region, China is trying to restrict India from establishing itself as a hegemony in South Asia and to eliminate the U.S., or at least to change the power pole in its favor. The "String of pearls" which China is building on the coastline of the Indian Ocean - in Burmese, Cambodia, Thailand, Sri Lanka, is only a strategy to limit India's and U.S.'s access in South-East Asia, in general, and in the Strait of Malacca, in particular, by controlling the naval nodes in these countries.

A new Great Game is thus on the geopolitical map, fueled by the control over the Malacca Strait - a key objective of the political strategy of the three countries in the region. Full access to the strait allows control over sea routes connecting East Asia to Eurasia and Africa, dominating the economic and commercial life of Asia. If the U.S. is the world's only superpower and China is an aspiring super-economy, India is just a regional power.

China faces a real dilemma on Malacca Strait - the maritime route that mediates approximately 80% of Chinese imports and which turned into the state's energy jugular. As China's economy is growing, requiring ever more natural resources, having only one transportation route which is controlled by other states, is a real Achilles heel of China. This is why the Chinese strategy relies on getting control over Malacca Strait and on developing, in parallel, many new terrestrial energy routes, to reduce China's vulnerability to accessing scarce resources.

India is also having an important economical development, aspiring to the hegemonic rule of the Asian region, and the control of the Malacca Strait would only strengthen its status in the region and help it develop trade links with countries in East Asia. Considering India is a true software center and that the states from the South China sea are the leading IT manufacturers, a good connection with the East Asian region would only bring benefits.

In this battle for the supremacy in the South Asian region, U.S. goes on the principle that whoever controls the Strait of Malacca has control over the most important energy routes in the world and hence over the Chinese economy - an economy that, in recent years, has eclipsed increasingly U.S.'s. America's strategy in the region is to control the Strait and to keep under control China's economic development. But as the U.S. is not a regional power in the area, it has developed partnerships with countries in the near vicinity of the Strait, while also supporting India in the fight with China.

The meeting of the three giants in South Asia brings into question Alfred T. Mahan's theory, which states that the twenty-first century will be decided in the Indian Ocean, going on the idea that "who controls the Indian Ocean will control Asia" [4]. Even if the U.S. seems a secondary player in the battle for the Strait of Malacca, its help is important and can decisively change the balance of power in the region.

The control over the shortest route between the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean brings, as mentioned above, face to face two aspiring powers to the hegemony status in Asia: China and India, who adopt different strategies of containment or mutual annihilation. If China uses the politics of the "string of pearls", India has used the "iron curtain" or the so-called "iron chain", policies that are based on the same idea: controlling as many ports surrounding Malacca Strait, to enable the restriction of its opponent. This control can only be done by attracting surrounding countries as partners, but it is this exact attraction that lead to a real investment race on the shores of the Indian Ocean, between China and India.

The strategies of the two countries also follow the principle of "the neighbor of my enemy, my friend". This policy has its roots in the teachings of Sun Tzu of surrounding your enemy through its neighboring countries. This is Vietnam's case, who is revolving around India and Pakistan, who is China's ally.

While China is building its "string of pearls" by massive investments in the key ports on the Indian Ocean coastline: Gwadar (Pakistan), Hambantota (Sri Lanka), Sittwe (Mzanmar), Chittagong (Bangladesh), India is building its "iron chain" by the control it exercises over the Andaman Islands, Seychelles and Nicobar Archipelago. India's efforts to maintain control over the Indian Ocean are supported in the background by Japan, Australia and the U.S., which form together with India the so-called "Square" [5].

Malacca Strait is a real energy artery of Asia, as well as one of the hottest and most disputed naval points, which mediates the meeting point of three major forces: China, India and USA.

_________________________________________________________________________________
References:
1. Khanna Parag (2008) – Lumea a doua, Iaşi, Editura Polirom;

2. Apud Laurent Murawiec în Dobrescu Paul (2008) – Geopolitica , ed a IIa, Editura Comunicare.ro, Bucureşti, p.231;

3. Iskander Rehman - China’s String of Pearls and India’s Enduring Tactical Advantage, Institute for defence studies and analyses, iunie 2010;

4. Aman Ullah – India and China competing for Malacca Strait in Burma, SouthAsiaSpeaks, iunie 2009;

5. Ranjit B. Rai - China’s string of pearls vs India’s iron curtain in the indian ocean, it is a C3IC issue, Frontier India, octombrie 2010;

Translated in English from Romanian language, Original Article appeared on our Partner Website Geopolitics.ro

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BRICS Summit 2012: A long Journey to cover; Overview, Outcomes and Expectations

2012-03-31T17:50:00.000+05:30

BRICS Summit 2012 Logo

Leaders from Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa met on Thursday, Mar 29, 2012 in Delhi for the fourth annual Summit. Earlier known as BRIC before the addition of South Africa, BRICS is the group of emerging economies around the world, who are exploring new ways of collaboration, collective economic growth and developing common ground on foreign policy.

Sao Paulo, Brazil

All five economies maintain a great potential to become a superpower, but most of them are dependent on western economies. Any ups and down in the western markets leave their impact on these markets.

Moscow, Russia

The summit stressed on linking economies, as in trading in local currencies as well as linking stock exchanges of the member countries. The leaders also stressed on setting up of an international bank on par with Asian Development Bank, IMF and World Bank. It would fund various development projects in member countries and other emerging economies and may act as a relief provider for first time buyer mortgages in case of real financial crisis and disaster. The goal of the bank will also include lending, in the long term, if there comes a global financial crises such as the Eurozone crisis and issuing convertible debt, which could be bought by the central banks of all the member nations. Hence it will be acting as a vessel for risk-sharing.

Mumbai, India

Shanghai, China

The idea of setting up such bank was put forward by India, which received a good response from the member countries as well as from the countries who were observing the event carefully. Analyst John Mashaka called India's move "long overdue", and said that setting up a bank was a means of "pulling out of the western-dominated World Bank and the International Monetary Fund." Assistant professor at the Institute of African Studies (China) Yuhua Xiao noted that setting up the bank showed signs of growing self-assertiveness and inter-dependence among developing economies. Dr. Alexandra A Arkhangelskaya noted that creating such a bank would effectively "shift the weight of economic power", and could also be very beneficial to non-BRICS nations.

Johannesburg, South Africa

The nations also signed an agreement to extend credit facilities in their local currencies, a step to reduce the role of dollar between them. As of now, if Russia wants to trade with India, Russia will convert Rubles to Dollars send it to India, and then India will convert Dollars to Rupees. Completely removing the intermediate step of converting to and from dollar is not so easy, but if removed, the trade between the two countries will become independent of what the value of dollar is, which is highly unstable.

Also the nations will be launching a benchmark equity index derivatives that would allow investor of one member country to bet on the performance of stock exchanges of other member countries without currency risk.

Accounted 50% of global economic growth in last decade, BRICS accounts for 26% of global landmass, 42% of the global population and 40% of global GDP.

Below is the tabulation of the countries and their economy in therms of GDP (PPP). The data is taken from CIA World Factbook GDP PPP data update of 2011. PPP is one of the scale to measure difference between two economies. Using a PPP basis is arguably more useful when comparing generalized differences in total economic output between countries because PPP takes into account the relative costs and the inflation rates of the countries, rather than using just exchange rates, which may distort the real differences in income. The table shows BRICS as a single entity is more powerful than European Union. The data for GDP at purchasing power parity (PPP) has also been re based using the new International Comparison Program (ICP) price surveys and extrapolated to 2007. Final figures are estimates in billions of international dollars.

Rank	Country	GDP (PPP) $Billion	Year
—	BRICS	20,975	2011 est.
—	European Union	15,390	2011 est.
1	United States	15,040	2011 est.
2	China	11,300	2011 est.
3	India	4,463	2011 est.
4	Japan	4,389	2011 est.
5	Germany	3,085	2011 est.
6	Russia	2,373	2011 est.
7	Brazil	2,284	2011 est.
8	United Kingdom	2,250	2011 est.
9	France	2,214	2011 est.
10	Italy	1,826	2011 est.

Another method of measuring economy is GDP (nominal) based on official exchange rates. The list below includes mostly 2011 estimates from the CIA World Factbook. The table shows BRICS as the third largest economy after EU and US.

Rank	Country	GDP nominal $Billion	Year
—	European Union	17,720,000	2011 est.
1	United States	17,720,000	2011 est.
—	*BRICS*	13,766,000	2011 est.
2	China	6,988,000	2011 est.
3	Japan	5,866,000	2011 est.
4	Germany	3,739,000	2011 est.
5	France	2,919,000	2011 est.
6	Brazil	2,407,000	2011 est.
7	United Kingdom	2,370,000	2011 est.
8	Italy	2,135,000	2011 est.
9	Russia	1,995,000	2011 est.
10	India	1,954,000	2011 est.

The performance of the BRICS nations on the international platform has been brilliant, despite the fact all these countries come from different continents, having different government, political and economical structure. How far this concept of BRICS will sustain no body knows, but if it works then it will bring a great change in the current world, a change for good.

The countries have been working together to find some common ground and fortunately their thoughts match on the issues of West Asia, North Africa and Afghanistan. All five countries called for the international community to continue development projects in Afghanistan for 10 years after America led international forces will withdraw from the nation by the end of 2014.

BRICS nations together have strongly condemned the Western world’s politics on Iran to make other countries stick to the restrictions imposed by them on trade ties. China's Trade Minister Chen Deming said that the "rise [in the price] of crude oil has impacted all countries. The Iran issue has become an issue for all. We need to continue with normal relations with Iran, but, at the same time, we respect UN resolution. We hope that unilateral movement by one country will not affect other countries." The group warned against any military intervention in Syria by the West or by Israel in Iran. They added that a war with Iran would have "disastrous consequences."

Landmass of BRICS vs EU, Click to Enlarge

Out of five BRICS nations, three of them have remained or are super power. India before 14th century, Russia in the 20th century and China almost in 21st century. No matter these countries possess power and wealth, but they may not share good relations with each other. Brazil and South Africa being geographically isolated from these nations share good relations with all. The best example is China and India, both of them have faced each other in the war in 1965 and China is still occupying a large part of North India and claims some part of Indian territory in North East India. China was also about to open the front in Indo Pakistani war in 1971 but didn't do so, fearing Pro Indian Soviet Union might take action against them. Russia and China have also shared cold relations following the illegal migration of Chinese in Russia's far east and border dispute which was recently resolved.

Russia and India have been sharing good relations from the Soviet times. India also shares good relations with South Africa, one of the major reason being Mahatma Gandhi, whose work in South Africa promoted equality between blacks and whites. In South Africa, Mahatma Gandhi is equally respected as in India. Brazil has also been close to all the countries.

Leaving aside all these solid claims about BRICS, there are critics as well who discuss why BRICS might fail with some genuine facts. One of the reason is all these countries come from different continents, different social, economical and political systems and some of these countries do not share good relations as well as common ground.

One of the best example of this claim is that after the declaration of setting up of an International bank, these countries fear that China will be the most benefited country out of all and will enjoy the most.

However, just after the summit was over, India and China declared that they will keep their border issue aside for now and will take more steps to increase trade between the two neighbors. Indian government also expressed their interest in inviting Chinese investment in India's manufacturing sector. Both the countries have together declared this year as Indo Chinese year of friendship and cooperation.

After the summit, Brazil and India also took the opportunity of exploring their way of cooperation. The two countries signed six pacts in areas ranging from closer cooperation in science and biotechnology to cultural exchanges. Under a signature, Brazilian initiative Science Without Borders, the two sides inked a pact that envisages placement of Brazilian students and young researchers in India. It will be funded by Brazil.

US State Department spokesman Mark Toner said, "We reviewed the leaders' Delhi declaration and believe that their efforts to engage in global multilateral institutions productively can only strengthen the international system. United States welcomed the efforts by the so-called BRICS -- Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa -- to support the recovery of the global economy as well as "

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Anonymous Will Not be Shutting Down the Internet on Saturday

2012-03-30T23:02:00.000+05:30

It has been rumored that a hacking group which calls itself as Anonymous will attempt to shut down the internet globally, to raise awareness against the laws that prevent normal citizens to enjoy their right of freedom, speech and privacy.

The group had posted a message on PasteBin explaining why and how they will be shutting down the internet on Saturday. "To protest SOPA, Wallstreet, our irresponsible leaders and the beloved bankers who are starving the world for their own selfish needs out of sheer sadistic fun, On March 31, anonymous will shut the Internet down," said the group in their message on the website.

If such an attempt is successful, internet around the world will not be accessible causing losses in millions or billions of dollars to a rare possible extent of bankruptcy of some of the small businesses. This would be the time when most of the Business insurance companies would be most active or busy providing insurance covers, processing claims or simply luring more internet based enterprises to become their customers.

However, it is a confirmed rumor which has been spread through social networking, forum posts and emails. Any discussion on this news on mainstream media is unavailable and there is no solid proof of such claims which can verify this.

So far the article on this news can be seen on forums and websites which have user generated content like examiner.com. Russia's international English news channel's website 'Russia Today' had published an article on this a day ago, but is now unavailable on their website.

The website mashable.com has confirmed that such an attack on the internet is not in the mind of Anonymous hackers as it would be self defeating. Shutting down the internet will also block the forums, blogs, online petitions and other such public spaces where people raise their voice, which is not the intent of the group.

The Anonymous have also confirmed on their twitter account that this will not be happening at all.

What is this #OperationGlobalBlackout nonsense? I thought we settled this back in February? It won't happen. Stop asking us about it! >.<
— Anonymous (@YourAnonNews) March 29, 2012

For the billionth time: #Anonymous will not shut down the Internet on 31 March.#OpGlobalBlackout is just another #OpFacebook failop. #yawn
— Anonymous (@YourAnonNews) March 30, 2012

Although it has been confirmed by the group itself, some really big Indian websites like The Times of India and CNN IBN have not got the update yet, as they have recently come up with their articles on this rumored news.

Even though this account is backing off "Operation Blackout," Anonymous prides itself on its leaderless structure -- so an operation may be carried out by a small handful of members in the group's name. However, even if Anonymous (or part of Anonymous) attempted such an attack, many cybersecurity experts doubt it would be successful says Alex Fitzpatrick on mashable.com.

Below is the message found posted on the website Pastebin.com:

"The greatest enemy of freedom is a happy slave."
To protest SOPA, Wallstreet, our irresponsible leaders and the beloved
bankers who are starving the world for their own selfish needs out of
sheer sadistic fun, On March 31, anonymous will shut the Internet down.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
In order to shut the Internet down, one thing is to be done. Down the
13 root DNS servers of the Internet. Those servers are as follow:
A 198.41.0.4
B 192.228.79.201
C 192.33.4.12
D 128.8.10.90
E 192.203.230.10
F 192.5.5.241
G 192.112.36.4
H 128.63.2.53
I 192.36.148.17
J 192.58.128.30
K 193.0.14.129
L 199.7.83.42
M 202.12.27.33
By cutting these off the Internet, nobody will be able to perform a
domain name look-up, thus, disabling the HTTP Internet, which is,
after all, the most widely used function of the Web. Anybody entering
"http://www.google.com" or ANY other url, will get an error page,
thus, they will think the Internet is down, which is, close enough.
Remember, this is a protest, we are not trying to 'kill' the Internet,
we are only temporarily shutting it down where it hurts the most.
While some ISPs uses DNS caching, most are configured to use a low
expire time for the cache, thus not being a valid failover solution
in the case the root servers are down. It is mostly used for speed,
not redundancy.
We have compiled a Reflective DNS Amplification DDoS tool to be used for
this attack. It is based on AntiSec's DHN, contains a few bugfix, a
different dns list/target support and is a bit stripped down for speed.
The principle is simple; a flaw that uses forged UDP packets is to be
used to trigger a rush of DNS queries all redirected and reflected to
those 13 IPs. The flaw is as follow; since the UDP protocol allows it,
we can change the source IP of the sender to our target, thus spoofing
the source of the DNS query.
The DNS server will then respond to that query by sending the answer to
the spoofed IP. Since the answer is always bigger than the query, the
DNS answers will then flood the target ip. It is called an amplified
because we can use small packets to generate large traffic. It is called
reflective because we will not send the queries to the root name servers,
instead, we will use a list of known vulnerable DNS servers which will
attack the root servers for us.
DDoS request ---> [Vulnerable DNS Server ] <---> Normal client requests
\
| ( Spoofed UDP requests
| will redirect the answers
| to the root name server )
|
[ 13 root servers ] * BAM
Since the attack will be using static IP addresses, it will not rely
on name server resolution, thus enabling us to keep the attack up even
while the Internet is down. The very fact that nobody will be able to
make new requests to use the Internet will slow down those who will try
to stop the attack. It may only lasts one hour, maybe more, maybe even
a few days. No matter what, it will be global. It will be known.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
download link in #opGlobalBlackout
The tool is named "ramp" and stands for Reflective Amplification. It is
located in the \ramp\ folder.
----------> Windows users
In order to run "ramp", you will need to download and install these two
applications;
WINPCAP DRIVER - www.winpcap.org/install/default.htm
TOR - www.torproject.org/dist/vidalia-bundles/
The Winpcap driver is a standard library and the TOR client is used as
a proxy client for using the TOR network.
It is also recommended to use a VPN, feel free to choose your own flavor of this.
To launch the tool, just execute "\ramp\launch.bat" and wait. The attack
will start by itself.
----------> Linux users
The "ramp" linux client is located under the \ramp\linux\ folder and
needs a working installation of python and scapy.
Read more: www.disclose.tv/forum/on-march-31-anonymous-will-shut-the-internet-down-t67878.html#ixzz1modrC1Jn
"He who sacrifices freedom for security deserves neither."
Benjamin Franklin
We know you won't listen. We know you won't change. We know it's because
you don't want to. We know it's because you like it how it is. You bullied
us into your delusion. We have seen you brutalize harmless old womans who were
protesting for peace. We do not forget because we know you will only use that
to start again. We know your true face. We know you will never stop. Neither
are we. We know.
We are Anonymous.
We are Legion.
We do not Forgive.
We do not Forget.
You know who you are, Expect us.

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"Russian Nuclear Energy Standards Should Go Global"

2012-03-29T21:55:00.000+05:30

Written by Dmitry Medvedev

The world’s attention is focused on Japan. As of this moment, over 25 thousand people have been declared dead or missing. My blog and the Russian internet in general are teeming with posts of support and condolences. Since the first days, Russia has been trying to help Japan, its neighbour and partner.

You know that our rescue workers took part in clearing the debris. They are now coming home. Russia has boosted fuel shipments to Japan. We are shipping humanitarian aid. The Russian people are also eager to help. They have gathered aid and suggested providing shelter for the victims. I think this is normal. It is human.

At the same time, we are carefully following the liquidation process near the Fukushima reactor. What happened there caused a wave of arguments on the development of nuclear power generation all over the world. Very different opinions have been voiced on whether nuclear power can be safe. We know about all the accidents and remember everything that happened including another tragedy that we will be remembering this year. I am referring to Chernobyl.

As of today, nuclear power is the safest way to generate energy available to us. It is safe provided we observe certain regulations during the projection, construction and management of the power plants. These rules, evidently, have to be the same for everyone. This is where we have to carefully revise currently existing laws, both domestic and international. I believe both can be improved.

We will probably need to introduce new regulations on the construction of nuclear power plants in seismically active regions. These regulations need to be introduced internationally. They should be especially strict for areas where earthquakes can reach high magnitudes and areas where there is a tsunami hazard. I should note that there is a regulation in Russia’s code of rules on nuclear energy that bans the construction of nuclear power plants in places where eight-point magnitude earthquakes might occur. We should probably make that a global rule since, as we all know, when such large-scale disasters occur they are always a threat to more than one country. Indeed, they might sometimes affect the entire planet.

I’d like to say a few words about another very important aspect of further development of atomic energy. It should be our priority to build new nuclear sources of energy rather than work on extending the lifespan of our existing reactors. The new stations we build must be as safe as possible. Russian nuclear experts that I’ve spoken to about this are prepared to accept responsibility for the stations we build in Russia and abroad.

A recent example that we discussed with our partners was the construction of a Nuclear power station in Turkey. This station, the Akkuyu station, will be built using a new control system that is designed to last for the station’s entire lifetime. A joint enterprise will be founded to build and run the station. This is a completely new approach that will help ensure the station is safe.

The рroject of another Russian рower рlant built in India – the рower station in Kudankulam – рrovides for so-called passive heat removal, which, even in the event of a loss of electricity, which is what happened in Japan, will allow for the cooling of the reactant material and prevent a catastrophe.

This is definitely a progressive approach, and we believe that protection should be boosted at all the other рower рlants, as well. For this reason, being an acknowledged leader in the area of reactor construction, Russia thinks that so-called “high-sрeed neutron reactors” are very promising. Such reactors have internal, natural security so to sрeak. In addition, they make it possible to radically reduce the stockрiling of wasted fuel, which may also cause рroblems, as you know. Such reactors don't require uranium enrichment on the whole, which consequently makes nuclear energy more available to the many countries striving for it.

The Fukushima disaster makes us think about broadening the authority of international organisations in charge of the safety of nuclear energy. More than that, this authority should be real, deрend on specific situations, and allow for solving the problems that international organisations are facing. In addition, the рrinciрles of information disclosure and total transрarency must be observed.

Russia already holds joint check-ups of рower stations on their reliability and seismic resistance, desрite the fact that Russia has the most strict regulations in рlace, as I have already mentioned.

Mass media, NGOs and other organisations also exercise рublic control. And the cities where atomic power plants are located should see the creation of рublic information centres.

Radiation levels must be measured automatically today and in the future, and the information should be рosted on sрecific web sites, meaning be available online, including the russianatom.ru website. It's a sрecial website devoted to this issue. I think that such a рractice should be officially recommended to the IAEA as the international organisation for all the nuclear рower station oрerators, so that all of them work under the same conditions.

And last but not least – of course it is necessary to raise рeoрle's trust in nuclear energy develoрment worldwide. It's a very promising direction to go in.

The author, Dmitry Medvedev is the current president of Russia stressing on better rules and regulation for nuclear safety. Republished following the legal disclaimer of Russia Today. Original Article appeared on Russia Today blog.

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Thorium: Answer to Iran's Nuclear Quest and World Peace

2012-03-27T23:27:00.003+05:30

Earlier it was Iraq, now it is Iran. For years there has been tensed environment created over the Middle East due to Iran's nuclear program, which western countries think is offensive. Iraq had to face some tough action by US led NATO forces for possessing WMDs (Weapons of Mass Destruction). The country was attacked, Saddam Hussein was hanged, but we didn't see weapons of mass destruction there.

What happened in Iraq, nobody wants to see in Iran, and thus countries in the East of Iran, i.e Pakistan, India, and China, and Russia from North have been trying to maintain relations with the country and support it at the time of need. These countries support Iran's nuclear program for peaceful purpose, although they will not accept if the nuclear program is offensive.

The western world is getting tougher on Iran and, with various sanctions imposed on the country, it has become difficult for the people to live a normal life. On February 14, the sanctions got even tougher and most of the nations denied or reduced import of Iranian oil. Around more than hundred oil tankers stopped visiting Iranian ports to load oil, resulting into the development of high pressure on this oil export dependent economy.

Not just economic sanctions, but various naval vessels belonging to US and other allied western countries have started patrolling in the Persian Gulf. Various journalist and reporters have also been invited on such warships to show how critical this issue has become and how near they have come along to a war.

In 2009, Iran lost the use of hundreds of centrifuges – a devices that spins on an axis like the hubs of a wagon wheel and use centripetal force to separate things, including the isotopes of uranium. In June 2010, it was discovered that the problem was due to the notorious Stuxnet computer worm, which was believed to have been planted by American and Israeli agencies and damaged the centrifuges by causing them to spin suddenly at wildly varying speeds.

A year later, an explosion at an Iranian military base reportedly damaged a facility where Iran was developing long-range missiles capable of delivering nuclear warheads. In the past two years, four Iranian nuclear scientists have been murdered – one in this January, 2012 on the streets of Tehran. Iran blames the sabotage and murders on Mossad, Israel’s intelligence agency, and the CIA.

After realizing that all this is happening because of Iran's nuclear program based on Uranium, Forecast analyst Gerald Celente has come up with an idea of converting Iran's Uranium based nuclear program into Thorium based.

Thorium is also a radioactive material, available in abundance around the world. The quality of Thorium, which can help Iran for its nuclear program, is that Thorium cannot be used for making weapons as it has no fissile isotope, thus any possibility of uncontrolled chain reaction is missing.

So, if Iran is seriously continuing its nuclear program for peaceful purpose, it should spend its fund and technology in developing thorium reactors and breeders.

Thorium (90th element in the periodic table) is nearly three times as abundant as Uranium in the earth’s crust, reflecting the fact that thorium has a longer half-life. In addition, thorium is generally present in higher concentrations (2-10%) by weight than uranium (0.1-1%) in their respective ores, making thorium retrieval much less expensive and less environmentally damaging per unit of energy extracted. [Read more: Thorium vs Uranium| Dauvergne.com]

Indian scientists, on the other hand, have already developed a thorium based nuclear reactor. India's Kakrapar-1 reactor is the world's first reactor which uses thorium rather than depleted uranium to achieve power flattening across the reactor core. India has world's largest reserves of Thorium which has not been properly utilised yet and, considering this, the country is developing a 300 MW prototype of a thorium-based Advanced Heavy Water Reactor (AHWR). The prototype is expected to be fully operational by 2013, after which five more reactors will be constructed. Considered to be a global leader in thorium-based fuel, India's new thorium reactor is a fast-breeder reactor and uses a plutonium core rather than an accelerator to produce neutrons. India currently envisages meeting 30% of its electricity demand through thorium-based reactors by 2050. [Read: India plans 'safer' nuclear plant powered by thorium | Guardian]

After becoming fully operational, if the research yields to successful results, it would be very beneficial for other countries who are looking towards pursuing nuclear technology for power generation for peaceful use. Meanwhile, China is also conducting various researches in this fields to develop its own Thorium based reactor and breeder.

Some benefits of thorium fuel when compared with uranium are summarized as follows:

Weapons-grade fissionable material (233U) is harder to retrieve safely and clandestinely from a thorium reactor;
Thorium produces 10 to 10,000 times less long-lived radioactive waste;
The fissionable thorium cycle uses 100% of the isotope as coming out of the ground, which does not require enrichment, whereas the fissile uranium cycle depends on only the 0.7% fissile U-235 of the natural uranium. The same cycle could also use the fissionable U-238 component of the natural uranium, and also contained in the depleted reactor fuel;
Thorium cannot sustain a nuclear chain reaction without priming so fission stops by default.

Though we have several benefits of using Thorium, the idea of using Thorium for nuclear power generation is neither new nor it is undisputed. Another article by the same Guardian explores the negative side of using Thorium [Read: Don't believe the spin on thorium being a greener nuclear option | Guardian]

With the help of India and China, with whom Iran maintains good relations, it can bring its ongoing nuclear research to a faster and peaceful track. If Iran's Thorium plan is a success, it would be a win win situation for both Iran and the western world.

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Iranian Oil Import: What US Sanction on India Could Mean for US

2012-03-25T04:42:00.000+05:30

Image Source: defence.pk

As Iran is moving ahead with its nuclear plans, US and allied countries are imposing economic sanctions on Iran, its only meaning being to cease all trading ties with Iran. If Iran is unable to sell its oil, it will get depreciated of funds to continue its ambitious nuclear program. Western countries were quick to follow this and US allies elsewhere reduced their Iranian oil import by few percentages. It is India and China who have not taken any steps at all against Iranian oil import.

US has been in talks with India and China and has warned India of facing strict repulsive action from US if it doesn't follow the global economic sanction against Iran. There have been no reports of US warning China to this level, as taking action against China can be harmful for US itself. On the other hand, taking action against India can also be harmful for US to some extent, but history records shows that in recent years US has been able to bring India to its side somehow, on various international issues.

Today, after some revolutions and changes to the economic system (liberalization, globalization), India is fourth largest economy in the world in terms of purchasing power parity. There was a time, in 1991, when India had to keep its gold on mortgage, as for countries and group of large economies choosing to go to IMF is like finding the right mortgage. India airlifted its entire gold reserve to IMF to raise $600 million. The Reserve Bank of India had airlifted 47 tons of gold to Bank of England and the rest 20 tons of gold to Union Bank of Switzerland as mortgage.

In the conflict of words between US and Iran, from where does India come in?

America's main concern is that India and other nations should stop importing Iranian oil to put economic pressure on the government of Iran, forcing them to slow down their nuclear program's progress. Understanding India's hunger for energy as one of the fastest growing economies, America suggested India to buy oil from Saudi Arabia or Iraq. India turned the proposal down, saying India maintains its own relations with Iran and cannot terminate it. India has suddenly started treasuring its friendly relations with Iran so much that, to continue buying Iranian oil, India has started making payments in gold and Indian Rupees instead of US Dollars.

India's relation with Iran will face a blow if India stops importing Iranian oil. And this will, in return, negatively affect America's interest in Afghanistan. America, has so far lauded India's efforts in Afghanistan for development of infrastructure and basic civil facilities, which has reduced the burden of America who, by default, holds the responsibility to repair the damage done in war. India depends on Iran to execute its various humanitarian projects in Afghanistan, as India has a long history of conflicts with Pakistan. India is also connecting Iranian ports with Afghanistan and Central Asia upto Russia by rail and road for better trade in the region. India is also helping Iran in the development of the Chabahar port, which gives Indian goods heading for Central Asia and Afghanistan, preferential treatment and tariff reductions. Considering this, if relations with Iran is disturbed, India's efforts in helping Afghanistan will also be disturbed severely.

What action can America take on India?

At the most, US might stop the jobs being outsourced to India. This will affect India, as it is mainly dependent on US companies to do business with, however India holds the major global outsourcing market. India being the world leader in Software services and technology consultancy, European and domestic companies will soon start filling the gap for India.

If the jobs being 'bangalored' are stopped, the companies who were outsourcing them will face major difficulties. As these companies are getting their work done in India for the average salary of $600 per month, it is very less for Americans who are living there and they would not consider it an attractive offer. Another option for the American companies could be to search for alternative countries where they can do business like Philippines, Hungary, Romania and Malaysia. But these are either new to this market or have comparatively small IT workforce. It would be of no surprise if we find out that IT workforce in India is larger than the entire population of some of these countries.

While US government has indicated many times about cutting the jobs being outsourced to India and H1 B visas to Indians, major companies like Microsoft and IBM cautioned the government about negative consequences that may follow after such step [Read: A Slice Of Bangalore].

It is easier for America to impose sanctions on Iran and North Korea, who do not have many allies in the world and are dependent on oil export, specially Iran, for generating revenue. Any sanction imposed on India would harm India only at minuscule level because it is self sufficient in food and maintains strong strategic and economical ties with almost all the neutral countries in the world, including regions like Africa, Latin America, South America, South East Asia, Central Asia, China and Russia. In fact such sanctions would give India an opportunity to explore its ties furthermore with these countries and create an area of influence.

Although India's position might look strong and determined, it has a capricious foreign policy at the moment. India did not join any of the bloc (US or USSR) during the cold war era, but it got support from Soviet Union time to time for two reasons: first, as their interests matched in keeping Indian ocean clean from western military; second, as US became Pakistan's ally, it was natural for India to knock Kremlin's door. But after the collapse of the Soviet Union, India had to revise its foreign policies as America was the only super power then and any conflict or misunderstanding with America could lead to disaster. By 2001, after the September 11 attack on World Trade Centre, America's relations with India started to get better.

Today, India enjoys good relations with both Russia and America, though recently India has supported American cause many times at the international level, for example, voting against Iran two times in IAEA to save the Indo US nuclear deal. And this is why it is thought that India may again bow down and reduce its oil import from Iran. Moreover, India has already declared that if instead of US, UN imposes the sanction on Iran, then India will act.

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YouTube Terminated Russia Today's Account for a Short Period of Time

2012-03-18T11:46:00.000+05:30

A video by RT said something like this

One of the most popular Russian news channel outside Russia, Russia Today (RT) saw its YouTube account terminated early in the morning today.

RT was founded in 2005 by Russian government owned RIA Novosti. With heavy quality debates and interviews on the channel, RT has become second most viewed foreign news channel in United States after BBC (Read: Foreign News Channels Drawing U.S. Viewers)

When we tried to watch a video posted on their Facebook Page it said, "This video is no longer available because the YouTube account associated with this video has been terminated."

Russia Today enjoys popularity in Indian subcontinent and Arab world because of its different approach in news reporting. It has vibrant community of professional journalist who put across the news with a different aspect.

Many critics have blamed RT of being biased, state run by Russian authorities and propagating Russian propaganda against west and western media, though for the majority of the journalists who rely on news sources for their research work, RT has been proved as a valuable resource as it always gives a second view on the news events if the first view is given by western media. RT might or might not be biased but it gives us an opportunity to look at the news from a different angle, which is important if you are working on a neutral report. It is always good to cross check your facts with other news media. Else you might be unknowingly promoting someone's view which might not be correct.

RT has also been criticized for not reporting the Russian Georgian war neutrally and has been blamed for posting immature aggressive news content on American interests on their website.

"It's the right source to find out what is happening in Russia and the world. This is a chance for ordinary Americans to see for themselves how the Russian thinks about America and the world," says Steve Randall, senior analyst at Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting.

Recently, with the increase in aggression against western media and interests, and almost going to war with American news channel FOX news, RT has lost its neutral followers in the west.

The YouTube page of RT now says that "the account has been suspended due to multiple or severe violations of YouTube's policy against spam, scams and commercially deceptive content." Which further explains, Do not create misleading descriptions, tags, titles or thumbnails in order to increase views. It's not okay to post large amounts of untargeted, unwanted or repetitive content, including comments and private messages. We don't permit hate speech (speech which attacks or demeans a group based on race or ethnic origin, religion, disability, gender, age, veteran status, and sexual orientation/gender identity).

While the above reasons given by the YouTube are general reasons mentioned on their website, it is still unclear what may be the actual reason for this. Some analysts believe RT has been banned on YouTube to keep it away from harming their interests. As RT was very actively reporting the Occupy Wall Street movement and other such movements around the world and was openly criticizing western policy on Arab and Middle Eastern nations.

Update: RT on its official Facebook Page has given the following response at 07:30 AM (GMT):

"Hello everyone, RT's YouTube channel has been taken offline by the YT administration today. So far, this appears to be either a glitch or a mistake. We're in contact with YT and will post updates as soon as we know more. Meanwhile, you can still follow the news here, on Twitter (@RT_com) and our website (RT.com)."

Update: RT Youtube channel is back online:

Official response from RT at 9:57 AM (GMT): "Our channel is back online! Still waiting for comments and explanations from the YouTube administration, though. Thank you everyone for showing your support!"

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Japan Quake and Tsunami Disaster; Marks One Year, Quick Recovery

2012-03-11T10:21:00.000+05:30

Flowers kept by Japanese to offer prayers

OnlineSchools.org presents Japan One Year Later
It is the end of Japan's most difficult year. Last year on the same day of 11th March, Japan experienced one of the strongest Earthquakes in its history, along with one of the most devastating tsunami which destroyed towns and villages and sea life. Life had almost stopped in Japan when another disaster took place, nuclear radiation leak, world's worst nuclear disaster in quarter century.

Even after the massive cleanup of cities, many towns are still undergoing reconstruction plans. The plan is to shift the residential areas to higher town to protect the citizens from any of this kinds of natural calamity.

To mark one year of disaster, in the morning that the tsunami hit northeastern coastal town of Rikuzentakata, some people from across Japan gathered to pray in front of mere one pine tree in barrenness, a symbol of survival. They visited the places where their houses were and where their friends once lived, and placed flowers and small gifts for them and offered prayers for them.

Many Japanese people will spend their Sunday mourning the tragedy and some will join street rallies to bring some required changes in their country following a year of turmoil and soul searching. They will be demonstrating Anti nuclear slogans in planned rallies in major cities, including Tokyo. A human chain will surround the parliament building. Organizers have also gathered up signing petitions, asking the government to stop the resumption of Fukushima nuclear reactors which were stopped after the meltdown.

The government said that the damaged Fukushima Daichi nuclear plant, where three reactor cores melted down after the earthquake and tsunami had failed their vital cooling systems, is stable and that radiation coming from the plant has reduced significantly. Though the plant's chief acknowledged journalists visiting the complex recently that it remains in a fragile state, and makeshift equipment some mended with tape could be seen keeping crucial systems running. [Read: Japan marks one year since quake and tsunami disaster]

Japan is a modern and capable country which has effectively managed the disaster recovery. Still, the impact of the disaster can be felt acutely throughout the island nation even after one year. In Tohoku, nearly 350,000 people are still displaced from their homes, many living in cramped temporary housing, without jobs and hope.

The Wall Street Journal reports that Tokyo is spending Y20.9 trillion ($258 billion)—about the size of the annual gross domestic product of Portugal—to rebuild the northeast. The spending further bloats Japan's government debts (already the worst in the world) fueling concerns about their sustainability. [Read: One Year After Disaster, Japan Reflects, Clamors]

Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO), which is one of the country’s largest firms, is on the brink of sweeping reform struggling to repay the debt from the decommissioning of nuclear reactors. Panel at Stanford University says, Its deregulation and creation of a new regulatory framework for Japan’s electricity markets can potentially stimulate innovation, economic growth, and entrepreneurship. Investment into smart-grids and rebuilding of the Tohoku region provides opportunities as well as risks. [Read: One Year After Japan's 3/11 Disaster: Reforming Japan's Energy Sector, Governance, and Economy]

Presently, including the Fukushima nuclear reactors, 52 of Japan's 54 nuclear reactors are stopped since last year for inspection and testing and any repair work which might be required. Japan is highly dependent on other countries for oil and other minerals, thus nuclear power is one of the major source of energy for the island.

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Pro Gaddafi's Forces Captured Bani Walid, 5 NTC Troops Killed, 30 Injured

2012-01-23T23:12:00.000+05:30

In a new development from North Africa, Pro Gaddafi's fighters re-emerged to take small revenge.

Pro Gaddafi Fighters loyal to late Libyan leader clashed with revolutionary forces in the former-regime stronghold of Bani Walid on Monday, after the arrest of one of the Gaddaffi Loyalist. With this, they have successfully gained the control over the city. According to few analysts the country is heading towards another civil war. The head of Libya’s National Transitional Council, Mustafa Abdel Jalil, has said the country will find itself in civil war if NTC resigns.

The clashes reportedly came after mass protests in the city of Benghazi happened on the weekend, as well as subsequent resignation of NTC (National Transitional Council) deputy chief, Abdel Hafiz Ghoga, resulting into the death of at least five NTC troops and injury of 30 others.

Sabah al-Mukhtar, President of the Arab Lawyers Association, explained to Russia Today why another civil war is possible in the country.

“Reason number one is that the arms are still in the hands of the various militias in various areas," in addition to competing tribes in those areas, explained.

“At the same time, the political views of the people are in conflict. You have a situation when people want Islam to be a part of the constitution, while you have others, that are liberals, who do not.”

“So you have the conflict on policies as well as the availability of arms,” he concluded.

Sabah al-Mukhtar also says there are dramatic divergences in what the NTC says and what it actually does.

“Many of them are actually from the old regime – including the leader who was a Minister of Justice under Gaddafi – and there are many other people like his deputy, like many others, who were men of Gaddafi and at the same time now they say, 'we will not allow those who benefited from Gaddafi`s regime to stand for elections.'"

The lawyer pointed out that the head of NTC himself served as a Minister of Justice under Gaddafi and turned blind eye to many injustices in the country, as told by RT.

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Democracy, Capitalism Loosening in Former Soviet Union, Union is Being Missed

2011-12-18T17:33:00.001+05:30

All stats from pewglobal.org and images from englishrussia.com

Intellectuals of the early decades now tell the present days younger generation how another super power used to exist in this world parallel and side by side to the present day super power. A power that kept the imperialists in their limits. A multipolar world then was much better than now, where nobody is there to prevent the western superpowers from opening newer fronts.

If the socialist economy fell down in 1991, the capitalist economy is now falling down due to recession. On the one hand democratic countries like US, Russia, Greece and India are seeing various revolts and movements showcasing anger among the public for their government. On the other hand non democratic countries like Arab World and north Africa saw similar revolutions. Then which one is better? Non democratic like China, or Democratic like India?

Without putting us in this long and old debate, we analyse the situation in the three countries of former Soviet Union after 20 years: Lithuania, Ukraine and Russia, which adopted the democratic government.

A study by the Pew Research Center shows the result that after two decades of the collapse of USSR, the people in Russia, Ukraine and Lithuania are unhappy with the direction in which their country is going. Energy, Enthusiasm which was on top of of everyone after the collapse for the democracy and rights has now waned considerably in last two decades. While many believe that the changes which their country underwent all these years have done nothing good but given a negative impact to public morality, economy and law and order and standard of living.

Democracy and Capitalism

Source: pewglobal.org

Russia, in the name of democracy has hardly enjoyed any benefits, as a stronger opposition lacks in the country which can give tough competition to powerful Putin. Ukraine has seen bad politics, interference by western diplomacy and colour revolution, whereas Lithuania, unlike Russia and Ukraine believe that changes in past 20 years have done good for them. 49% of the people are satisfied with the changes while 30% says no.

Despite the belief that capitalist economy is better than socialist only 42% of the Russians now approve a change to market economy, just before the collapse of Soviet Union in 1991 the count was 54%. The change of 11% fall. In Lithuania 76% used to approve in 1991 whereas now only 45%, In Ukraine this has slipped to 34% from 54%.

Who is benefited?

Source: pewglobal.org

There is a general feeling among these countries that the only benefit during these two decades were enjoyed by politicians and business elites, whereas common people were left behind, unlike Soviet Union where everybody was considered equal. The only thing which people like about democracy in their country is the improved judiciary and free media.

The transparency in the coverage of Moscow protests by Russian media is indeed a colour of democracy. Public is able to protest freely against their own government is democracy unlike Arab world where military was ordered to attack their own civilians. The public might be protesting against Putin as they don't want him or his party yet again for another 4 or 8 years, but still if we look at the stats in 1991 just before the former Soviet Union was officially dissolved, there was a general optimism among the public for a change towards a multiparty system.

Change to a Multiparty System can Solve the problems?

Almost 61% of Russians then believed a change to multiparty system will be good for their society, now that belief has shrunk to 50%. Similarly, in Lithuania the count was 75% back in 1991, now only 52%. In Ukraine the optimism has slipped from 72% to 35%, but it is true that in all the three surveyed countries, the youth, the well educated class and the urban population only supports the change to multiparty system.

Source: pewglobal.org

Vladimir Putin has all the qualities of a strong leader, who has transformed the broken Russia into a powerful economy within past 12 years. He has brought back the respect to Russia which was lost after the break up of Soviet Union. Russia now is now leading in race to become a military as well as economy super power. Unlike strong leader of Arab world, Vladimir Putin is far more democratic also. Despite the protest against him, only 32% of Russian feel that they need a democratic form of government compared to 51% in 1991. When asked whether they should rely on democratic leader or strong ruler to solve their national problems only 3 in 10 Russians and Ukrainians chose democracy, whereas in Lithuania 52% prefer democratic leader now compared to 79% back in 1991.

When asked whether people are happy with the current state of democracy in the country, a large number of the people in all these three countries showed dissatisfaction with the present state of democracy and how it is working in their country when compared to the results in 1991. Moreover, in Lithuania and Ukraine this belief has only changed only in past two years. According to the survey by Pew Global in 2009, 60% of Lithuanians said they were dissatisfied now this feeling has spread to 72%. In Ukraine the same unhappiness has risen from 70% to 81%.

Just when the world lost confidence in socialist economy after the collapse of Soviet Union, these three countries lost the confidence in capitalist economy after the recession. 76% of Lithuanians were optimistic about switching to a market economy in 1991, now only 45% feel the same way. Among Ukrainians, optimism fell from 52% in 1991 to 34% after 20 years. Although, 42% of Russians currently endorse the free market approach, a 12-percentage-point drop since 1991, eight points of which occurred in just the last two years during recession.

Slipping confidence in the capitalism is due to the reason that the people don't feel that their country is doing good in economy. In all the countries those who have not seen the life in Soviet Union or were too young when the giant collapsed are only the people who support capitalism and democracy.

Russians Missing the Soviet Union

Source: pewglobal.org

There is a feeling among majority of Russians that Soviet Union was a great place to live. According to the survey by pewglobal more than half of the
Russians believe that it is a great misfortune that Soviet Union now no longer exists. While only 36% disagree to this belief.

US and Russia who is better?

When asked about the influence of these countries whether positive or negative on Ukraine, Russia and Lithuania. The results were not very shocking. Majority of the people support Russia and Russian cause and its foreign policy rather than going the western way. While US enjoys positive influence on Lithuania with 73% of Lithuanians considering US as favourable and 20% considering it as unfavourable, Russia enjoys positive influence in Ukraine with 84% Ukrainians considering Russia as favourable and only 11% considering it as unfavourable

Views of European Union and NATO

Source: pewglobal.org

All the three countries surveyed considers EU important for economy and development and hence EU enjoys positive views, whereas NATO is considered as America's military expansion towards these countries rather than a security network. Lithuania being involved in EU and being a member of NATO gives plus points to both the organization.

While 49% of Lithuanians think joining EU is a good thing, 31% doesn't find any change, whereas 8% feel it is not a good thing. Lithuania being a member of NATO also backs the idea of Ukraine joining the security group. Whereas 72% in Russia and 51% in Ukraine oppose Ukraine joining NATO.

Source: pewglobal.org

It is true since the day the Soviet Union fell down, democracy ended in the world. After the collapse of Soviet Union we have seen more wars on small countries than ever before. But it is true as well that the world was on the brink of a real big war which could have turned into a nuclear war when both the super powers existed side by side.

The time when US is understanding that soon its supremacy could be taken over by Asian giants, US is welcoming warmer ties with as many countries possible. At this time rise of Russia, which is more open and transparent than before along with China, Europe and possibly India and Japan will lead us towards a multipolar world. Which would be more complex but peaceful.

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Russia, America and Canada after the Control of the Arctic Sea

2011-12-14T19:32:00.023+05:30

Arctic Shore line, Image by savillent

Posted by Ana Maria Ghimis, Geopolitics.ro

The energetic map of the world is far from being complete and the Arctic is playing a fundamental role in marking it. However disputes present here are far from being over, especially when the strategic interests of five powers collide and create a feeling of insecurity felt worldwide. Arctic has the ability to change the international status-quo ,that is why states to engage in a race that will, in the end, be zero-sum. / lead nowhere

The bipolar distribution of power during the Cold War led to do the emergence and persistence of a well-defined international order, which was recognized and accepted by most states. The defining element for keeping order was military power, but after the end of the war, the dismantling of USSR and the birth of emerging powers, the international system started across a transitional period in which the concept of security could not be defined as referring exclusively military capabilities held by a state. Adjustment was necessary. The reason is obvious, the nature of the current security threats has changed so that states cannot react using the same traditional means used in the past. As proposed by Barry Buzan, we could talk about different types of security: political, military, economic, societal, environmental.

Developing and maintaining a high level of economic performance has become a primary need for states, but to achieve this performance (at least in the industry) states need energetic resources. They have a limited nature so the whole bilateral or multilateral relationship is a game of zero-sum, where there can be only one winner and ones winning is others' loss. Energy resources are becoming increasingly more important specially coupled with the growing energy dependency of the most developed countries in the world. Until recently the map of energy-producing states was clearly defined (Middle East, Eurasia etc), but the emergence of an area that is expected to accommodate 30% of the natural gas resources and 13% of the petrol ones, has the potential to permanently change the geopolitical energy map of the world.

Although internationally there is a preference for currents such as functionalism, constructivism, idealism, precisely because they promote cooperation between states in one way or another, when international law fails to give a verdict, we are witnessing what realists would call 'a race for power'. If until now the center of interest has been mainly on some areas within the continents, today we are seeing a change of interest towards the geographical periphery. Arctic has become a hot spot in which the interests of five national powers (USA, Russia, Canada, Norway and Denmark via Greenland) directly collide.

Global warming has led to the withdrawal of ice, allowing the exploitation of the resources that are under Arctic's waters using the current available technologies. At first sight this should be an aspect that would strengthen global energy security, because more resources mean more producing states and more producing states generate a multi-polar energy system, thus an increased global stability. Yet the occurrence of these resources has led to an unstable system in which the directly involved states are engaged into a race for power under the auspices of a zero-sum game. The reason is the international character of the Arctic. Being a frozen desert, which until recently had no available exploitation perspectives, the Extreme North was considered everyone's and yet no one's land, on which there were no legal demands from any state. However, as we mentioned before, global warming and the technological progress led to a change of perspective, so that Russia, USA, Canada, Norway and Denmark are trying to prove through scientific research that the Arctic territory is actually an extension of their continental shelf. This is the only way these countries could exercise sovereignty over the existing oil and gas resources.

This argument is amplified by the fact that the international law is rather vague in this situation. The only available source is the Sea Law, which was adopted in 1982 and took effect in 1994. Following its provisions, 'a state can claim exclusive economic rights over a distance of maximum 200 miles'. Of course there are exceptions, in which a state can ask for sovereign rights over a territory larger than 200 miles. But this is possible only 'if a state can prove its continental shelf extends beyond the 200 mile economic zone, then it can claim similar rights over a larger area'. Instead of resolving current disputes, these provisions have intensified the race for the Arctic, both in elaborating more maps proving the extension of the continental shelf and also in developing unilateral destabilizing actions.

We can say that the country that kicked-start this race is the Russian Federation, which has used submarines to plant in August 2007 two national flags in the Arctic waters, thus making their claims known. This action had no legal support, that is why it drew much criticism from other states, Canada being the most vehement through the statements of its Foreign Minister: 'We are not in the XVth century. You can not go through the world and just plant your country's flag and say - We claim this territory'. Russia's action wasn't meant to have a legal effect so such reactions were expected. Russia's objective was achieved: it demonstrated that it can act unilateral in a system that wants to be interdependent. From then until now, disputes have increased in intensity and even in number. Although we call it the race for the Arctic, this is rather a generic name, no state actually claiming the whole Arctic, this being impossible. The territories on which states claim sovereign rights aren't the same for all five states, rather they are divided into groups of dispute. We can identify disputes between: USA and Canada on the waters near Alaska's border and the status of the Northern Passage; Canada and Russia on the underwater mountain, Lomonosov Ridge; Russia and Norway on Barents Sea; Denmark and Canada on Hans Island. Also Russia has not ratified the treaty on the delimitation of its border with the U.S. near the coast of Alaska.

So Arctic has become in recent years a clash of strategic interests space of five states, of which three can be considered as major powers. The battle for gas and oil has just started and prospects for settlement are still unclear, mainly due to the failure of UN in finding a solution.

Translated in English from Romanian language, Original Article appeared on our Partner website.

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American-Western State and Media's Influence on Anti-Putin Moscow Protests

2011-12-11T13:54:00.001+05:30

RT photo / Vitaliy Matveev

Translate in Russian/Читайте в русском

Background and Recent Developments on Moscow Protest (История вопроса и последние события на протест Москвы

While Russia prepares itself for a change in government with new elections, many people believe with the same party and same duo (Vladimir Putin and Dmitri Medvedev) there is actually no change at all.

Russia is seeing one of the biggest protest in recent Russian history in Moscow. The protest began after the results of Russia's parliamentary results on December 4 which saw Putin's United Russia win a majority.

Initially estimates of the demonstrators numbers ranged from 5,000 to 10,000 as reported by Associate Press, interior ministry reports that the number of protesters could have exceeded to 25,000 while opposition parties claims the number is well around 40,000 during the rally held on December 10 at Bolotnaya Square in central Moscow. Entry to the Red square was restricted while other squares near Kremlin were blocked by the local Moscow Police.

Police trucks, interior ministry troops, paramilitary forces was a common sight on the streets of Moscow to control any aggressive outbreak among the protesters. Carrying white ribbons, balloons and flowers protesters raised slogans against Putin, "Russia without Putin" and "Putin Go Away".

Putin has done various things to bring Russia out of the turmoil after the breakdown of Soviet Union. Russia's economy was in mess and a weaker Russia could have further become a victim of aggressive diplomacy by west. Today Russia once again stands on the internarional platform as a super power and is compared to US and China. Russia is taken together by the eyes of the world leaders as fastest growing economies along with India, China and Brazil.

Putin has done a lot for Russia, but there is a lot which people had expected out of him. Experts and aware Russian people believes that the power is too centralized in the country and that around 80% of President Dmitri Medvedev's rule of laws are ignored or are partially implemented by the regions; finally, very few people trust the power structure he has established in the country.

In a meeting with Valdai club where all these allegations were raised, Putin said, ""I tell you, I agree. I don't object to anything you have said." Vladimir Putin is keen on bringing clear democracy in the country.

He explained further that when he became the president of Russia almost 11 years ago, the state of the country was not good and the country seemed to be going in a wrong path. After the breakup of USSR and the political turmoil in the next term brought the nation into so much chaos that it was leading to a civil war. He had to go for a system of "manual control" over the regions, abolishing elections and choosing governors was done carefully to bring the situation back on the track. Now when he believes that the situation and economy is back on track, he is willing to decentralize the power. As he said speaking to a meeting of the Valdai Club, "it is time to devolve certain powers and taxation back to the regions." (Read More: Putin to Decentralize Power in Russia; Admits Unpopularity).

American State Interference and Possible Influence on Moscow Protests (Американского вмешательства государства и возможное влияние на протесты Москвы)

At the time when Russia is tackling this internal problem, American media and leader didn't miss the opportunity to comment on this in their own flavour and style. Recently, Hilary Clinton has dubbed these elections as fake and called for "full investigation of all credible reports of electoral fraud and manipulation" she concluded that “The Russian people, like people everywhere, deserve the right to have their voices heard and their votes counted.”

Putin in a response said that Hilary's this comment has given a signal to his opponents and they have began their active work with the support of US State Department.

"We need to think about strengthening the law and holding more responsible those who carry out the task of a foreign government to influence our internal political process," he said accusing US state department of spending hundreds of millions of dollars in Russia to stage a protest.

Addressing supporters in a television meeting, Putin said, "We are the largest nuclear power, and our partners have certain concerns and shake us so that we don't forget who is the master of this planet, so that we remain obedient and feel that they have leverage to influence us within our own country."

He further added "especially unacceptable is the infusion of foreign money into the electoral process."

Many among the protesters and in US believe that Putin's response to Hilary Clinton's comment is rubbish as he has no proof to prove this. The Washington Post said, "The Putin regime has been trying to play on anti-American sentiment since before the election; now it is doubling down." There major feeling is that Putin is raising anti America sentiments to raise the supporters as well as public confidence in him.

When Hilary Clinton was asked to respond to Mr. Putin’s remarks, she said that “we value our relationship with Russia” but also “have a strong commitment to democracy and human rights. It’s part of who we are. It’s our values. And we expressed concerns that we thought were well-founded about the elections.”

Back in Russia, State Duma Foreign Affairs Committee head Konstantin Kosachev believes that America has got a right opportunity at the right time to play a political game against Russia, citing that he was “very much surprised” by Hillary Clinton’s recent remarks. “They were very much out of the framework drafted in a preliminary conclusion by the parliamentary assemblies of the OSCE (Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe) and the Council of Europe, issued the day after the elections." he said adding that her comments were “not free of the United States' political interests,” as the US and Russia are rivals on many important issues.

“It is quite obvious that if and when you can create addition problems for your interlocutor," Kosachev told RT, "then it may be easier to reach your own goals. So, for me the statement by Hillary Clinton, some other statements by the EU, and by NATO and other high representatives in the West are just a part of the game.”

According to the Duma official as quoted by Russia's English language News Channel RT (Russia Today), this is not about democracy in Russia, nor is it about elections – the most important thing, he says, is “making Russia a little bit weaker in order to make yourself a little bit stronger – and this is absolutely unacceptable.”

American Media's Interference and Influence on Moscow Protest (Американская Медиа вмешательства и влияния на протест Москвы)

US mainstream media has also not spared this opportunity of cracking down at Russia spilling the anger of cold war era. Fox News which is always at war with Russian media made its own story and showed fake pictures of protests in Russia to defame Russians, Russia, and its policies and governance.

The Washington post wrote in a tone that it is US administration's responsibility to "open the eyes of the Russian citizens" and should stand by them during this tough time and teach Putin to go "American way, "The Obama administration should go on pushing him [Putin] to choose the path of democratization, however unlikely that is; more important, it should keep telling the majority of Russians who just voted against the regime that the United States is on their side."

On the other hand, RT, Russia's English language news channel came up with an exclusive article on their website to uncover the lies being shown by the FOX news to the US public and Russians in US.

Fox in their news report showed pictures of protests going on in other countries as the pictures and videos of protests in Moscow. When questioned by Russian media, Fox told that it is no doubt Moscow, But Muscovite (Moscow citizens) at TWR and Russia Today believes this can not be Moscow and one glance is enough to say that.

Still shot from FOX news video coverage of "Russian" protests, Katerina Azarova, RT (click to enlarge)

Reasons why this picture is not from Moscow:

Phone box/Telephone Booth: In Moscow they are grayish-blue, and are few and between. The author at RT Katerina Azarova, said that in fact, she can’t even remember the last time she saw a public phone box, as now they are very rare in Moscow.
Protesters Dress: The young couple pressed against the building? They’re dressed in jeans and long-sleeved tees, in Russia that too in December, it is not possible. People in Moscow wear thermals, ski jackets, hats and gloves in winters.
Sign Boards: And this one is the strongest evidence, if you zoom at the image properly you will see a Greek National Bank signboard that too in Greek, in Russia Greek is not understood.

Close-up of the Greek National Bank sign/still shot from video, Katerina Azarova, RT

The author in her final comments wrote, "FOX, it appears, isn’t satisfied with the "Real" Russian rallies. They wanted a "Bang!" But there were no bangs, so I figure they thought “hey, it’s police running after people and fires and chaos – who on earth will be able to tell the difference?” So they took videos from Athens, put a ‘’Russia” comment on screen – and voila, stick a fork in ‘em, they’re done." She further added, "I don’t harbor any hopes that the FOX people will see this and suddenly change their “errant ways”. But for the viewers – there are no palm trees in the streets of Moscow, the Prime Minister is spelled ‘PuTin’, not ‘PuTTin’ and the plural for ‘protester’ is ‘protesterS’. For future references."

Watch Russia Today's television report of the above news

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US, NATO Attack on Pakistan Affected South Asia's Geopolitics Over a Week

2011-11-30T20:32:00.001+05:30

All Credits to AFP/Getty Images

26th November will now no longer be linked with the Mumbai Attacks by the Pakistani terrorists alone. Early in the morning on 26th November 2011, NATO helicopters opened fire on a Pakistani military post on the Afghan border. Pakistan has termed it as an aggression and has denied it was only an accident.

Two NATO helicopters with fighter jets entered Pakistani airspace up to 2.5 KM (1.6 miles) where they opened fire at two military border patrol check posts killing 28 soldiers and wounding 13 another.

US-Afghan Version and Claims

According to US and Afghan officials, militants belonging to Afghan Taliban attacked the Afghan side with firing which made the Afghanistan call for NATO support. Later the government said that the firing came form the Pakistani military base and not from any Talibani militant. The Afghan government called the NATO attack on Pakistani troop as a defensive action (Source: The Wall Street Journal). Military officials of Afghanistan also said that many times terrorists have used empty Pakistani military posts to stage attacks, thus NATO forces might have misjudged this time.

Pakistani Version and Claims

According to Pakistan, the region was much before cleared by Pakistani forces and there were no militant activities for months. Though there is some ambiguity in the border between Afghanistan and Pakistan, but that particular post was properly marked and was known to ISAF (International Security Assistance Force) as active Pakistani post.

Major General Athar Abbas, spokesperson of Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR), said that the attack continued for two hours even after the personnel had informed the command which had in turn informed ISAF. Pakistan to prove their point has also come with a solid evidence in the form of video to show that the raid done by the NATO was not an accident.

Foreign Minister, Hina Rabbani said today on 30th Nov, 2011 that the attack on the check posts was not an accident and only an apology was not enough. She further added, "Pakistan cannot see its soldiers being killed by allied forces anymore. There is an established mechanism between Pakistan and allied forces working in Afghanistan regarding movement on the border but Nato authorities didn't inform us about their activity before the incident.". She added that Pakistan's role in Afghan peace efforts had been accepted by all but not appreciated, highlighting that it was not the first time when NATO crossed the limit.

Major General Ishfaq Nadeem shared the video with several defence analysts and journalist saying "Four border communication centres had been setup to coordinate operations against militants but Nato and Isaf ( International Security Assistance Force) violated all standard operating procedures (SOPs) on that night."

In the meantime Pakistani military also said that the NATO forces returned second time to attack the post again.

Outcomes and Results

In a strong reply Pakistan has blocked supply to NATO troops. About 40% of non lethal supply to NATO troops pass through Pakistan. The spokesman for the government of Balochistan, Kamran Asad, said the provincial government had banned the entry of NATO supplies.

The very same day Pakistan had ordered NATO to vacate the Shamsi airbase, from where US launches drone attacks in Pakistan and Afghanistan, giving an ultimatum of 15 days.

Pakistani government said the time has come to review its relation with US and to sort out whether US is really an ally or not.

In a protest Pakistan has decided to boycott a vital international conference on the future of Afghanistan next week to be held in Bonn, Germany.

In several public and private gathering across the nation, people raised slogans against US and burned US flags.

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Neutral Analysis: Occupy Wall Street Movement and Its Impact

2011-11-26T11:49:00.003+05:30

Zucotti Park, cleared and cleaned on November 15, 2011

Occupy Wall Street is an ongoing protest against social and economic inequality, high inequality, greed and corruption in US initiated by the Canadian Activist group Adbusters. The protesters believe that most of the wealth is controlled by only 1% of the population. The slogan "We are the 99%" was raised referring to the growing difference in wealth.

The movement has faced several police crackdown across the United States and fuelled several similar protests in other western nations as well. Where this protest is taking us is still uncertain, but it's true that this movement has become a hot topic for debate around the world.

The protesters claim that increasing unemployment, spending cuts, and income stagnation has made the so called 99% of the American population suffer. They blame the Wall Street for the global recession. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, in 2010, real median household income has declined 6.4 percent since 2007. Meanwhile, the income of the top 1 percent continues to rise according to analyses of cfr.org.

The major factor driving the Occupy Wall Street movement is unemployment among the youth of the nation. The very same young population equips themselves with all social media tools to keep the movement alive while it grows.

Loosening Grip

While the Occupy Wall Street movement grows, it is still unable to gather the support of most of the Americans. The polls conducted in October and November shows a decreasing support of the public for the protest. According to a poll done by Quinnipiac University on November 3 only 30% of the American voters had favourable views on the ongoing protest, while 39% were against and rest were unsure. Another survey by the TIME magazine on October 13 showed that 54% of the Americans supported the idea of the movement, while 23% had negative impression.

Most of the Americans believe that 99% term being used as a slogan might not be correct. Dave Gilson at Mother Jones explains how this term "We are the 99%" has come up in the protest with the help of statistics and graphs as he tries to expose who are the 1% in his article.

Percent of Total Assets owned, by wealth
in 2007, By Dave Gilson

Average Income including capital gains, 2008
US Dollars, By Dave Gilson

According to E. D Kain at forbes.com, the slogan "We are the 99%" is little exaggerated, his analysis shows that we could be 75% or atmost 80%, but not 99% or even 90%.

The Goal

The public is unclear about which path the protest has taken. According to most of the people in America, the protest is losing focus and lacks a unified aim, while some journalists feel the protest has a strong message but the way to put it forward has been wrong till now.

Adbusters co-founder Kalle Lasn says while it is difficult to talk about the protest and the path which it has taken, he believes that the goal of the protests is economic justice, specifically, a "transaction tax" on international financial speculation, the reinstatement of the Glass-Stegall Act and the revocation of corporate personhood. Another group has written an unofficial document, "The 99 Percent Declaration”, that calls for a national general assembly of representatives from all 435 congressional districts to gather on July 4, 2012, to assemble a list of grievances and solutions.

Views of the American Government and Leaders

President Obama during a news conference, on October 6: "I think it expresses the frustrations the American people feel, that we had the biggest financial crisis since the Great Depression, huge collateral damage all throughout the country ... and yet you're still seeing some of the same folks who acted irresponsibly trying to fight efforts to crack down on the abusive practices that got us into this in the first place."

Ron Paul, U.S. Congressman and 2012 Republican presidential candidate: "If they were demonstrating peacefully, and making a point, and arguing our case, and drawing attention to the Fed—I would say, 'good!'"

Herman Cain, 2012 Republican presidential candidate, calling the protest as anti capitalist: "Don't blame Wall Street, don't blame the big banks, if you don't have a job and you're not rich, blame yourself!"

Ben Bernanke, Federal Reserve Chairman: "People are quite unhappy with the state of the economy and what’s happening. They blame, with some justification, the problems in the financial sector for getting us into this mess, and they’re dissatisfied with the policy response here in Washington. And at some level, I can’t blame them. Certainly, 9 percent unemployment and very slow growth is not a good situation."

John Paulson, billionare and founder of Paulson & Co.: "The top 1% of New Yorkers pay over 40% of all income taxes, providing huge benefits to everyone in our city and state. The protesters are vilifying our most successful businesses"

Vikram Pandit, head of Citigroup: "Protesters' sentiments completely understandable, Wall Street had broken the trust of its clients."

Manmohan Singh, Economist and Prime Minister of India: "There are reasons why people are protesting. People are protesting in Wall Street, in Europe about the fat salaries that the bankers are getting when people are being asked to tighten their belts. There is problem of growing unemployment in the United States. There is also worry in Europe. So there are problems which the system must have credible answers to take them on board."

Mikhail Gorbachev, President of former Soviet Union: "The protest is justified, Americans should put their own house in order before attempting to do such with other countries."

A similar protest took place in India in the month of August against the government over corruption. The protest was extremely peaceful where the public marched the roads with candle lights and also sat on hunger strike without damaging any property or harming anyone. The movement was successful to gather support of a large number of Indian public, nearly 75% claimed by an unknown source.

Though India might not have much to say on economic issues of America, but the land of Gandhi has a lot to teach the violent protesters in New York.

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~ Feliz Dia de Accion de Gracias ~ Happy Thanksgiving ~

2011-11-25T13:10:00.002+05:30

Posted by Jules, Please visit the Author's blog to support the cause

TWR is supporting the efforts of Julli Sterling for helping people in need from Nicaragua, Guatemala and most Central America to be able to receive proper education, and basic needs. You can help too by visiting Julianna Sterling's blog. Below is the article written by her:

As midnight struck in the US, and Thanksgiving Day fell upon us, I sat in front of my computer mulling over the, ‘to do’ list for Thanksgiving Dinner, and was overcome with gratitude for the many blessings that have filled my life. I have a lot to be thankful for this year; the truth is I feel I am incredibly blessed.

This year I had the amazing opportunity to spend several weeks in Guatemala with a new-old friend; Jewels. A friend who became a treasured gem in my world; together we were granted the fortune of volunteering building houses, picking coffee, and studying Spanish. We met countless wonderful people working for a number of organizations that do some pretty amazing things and we met some of the most beautiful people living in some of the most impoverished of conditions. I am blessed to have her in my life.

I think it was there where my journey of recognizing my blessings began.

Boarding the plane to return to my life in America, I realized I had become very complacent in my life and really hadn’t taken a good long hard look at all of the blessings I have. Somewhere on the drive back in the middle of a blizzard that night I stopped and said, “Thank you God.”

I couldn’t get the words out fast enough and the tears fell like rain from my eyes. I had been in a place where people had nothing and complained about even less. I had been in a place where choices were few, rights were fewer, and freedoms were even less than that. A place where jobs, education, nutrition, healthcare, home owning, vehicle owning, personal protection, clean water, the gamete are virtually nonexistent yet, every man, woman and child I met greeted each day with a renewed sense of joy, happiness and zest for life.

The day prior I had been on top of a volcano which had recently erupted and decimated an entire village its venomous lava had spread a now thick layer of black ash and soot from peak to valley. Blanketing a once vibrant green tropical mountain top with nothing but darkness, yet everyone living there was filled with the brightest smiles, peace, happiness and love. Though my body was racked with pain from the hike and the twenty hours of planes, trains and automobiles, I cried not because I hurt but, because everywhere I looked I had a blessing.

I had friends to pick me up at the airport, a warm coat and winter boots, a hot meal on the table when I got home that night. A roof over my head, running water (hot at that), electricity, my own home, my own car…my family that couldn’t wait to see me and a puppy that was so excited she peed all over the floor when I walked through the door. I have my health and my job –my goodness I have A LOT. In fact I realized I have so much to be thankful for that I spent the entire summer thinking of ways to give back and spread some of these blessings….a blessing is only a true blessing when it’s shared.

I worked all spring and all summer and not just at my job.

I proudly graduated my daughter and host daughter. I am very, very proud of the accomplishments of both Jami and Roja and am truly blessed to have such fine women as my family. My daughter Jami, is the first member of my family to graduate with a college degree and the very first to ever attend grad school…For all the naysayers that said a teen mother and high school dropout could never be more than a welfare whore…Here’s my little blessing!

When a brush with a dangerous man in our community resulted in my having been put in harms way my son was the first person I told. Not a word was spoken when a loaded twelve gage was placed at the head of my bed and no arguments were had over the fact he was sleeping in my room that night. We didn’t talk about when the bastard got out of prison, we talked about how “no one eff’s with my mom.” Every mom should know her son has her back like that. I am blessed to have a protective and devoted fine young man as a son.

My family has always been loving and supportive. My sister has always been more like a bestest friend; listening, sharing, commiserating, encouraging and just always being ‘there.’ We can talk about anything and everything and it is the judge free zone. She always gets where I am coming from even when I don’t. My brother in law is more like a brother and my niece and nephew have always made me feel like I was on a pedestal, what I don’t think they realize is, it is I, who put them on the pedestal. I am so proud of my sister and her returning to college, my brother in laws continued efforts as a small business owner to not give in to the corporate muscle flexing and my head to toe pride in everything that Alex and Dimitri do; school, dance, crew, and being beautiful proactive, productive, members of their community. I am blessed to have such a beautiful loving sister and family.

As I started planning my trip to Nicaragua, people, complete strangers and lifelong friends would come up to me and ask what they could do to help make my dream come true. They wanted to help, make a contribution or tell me what a good person they thought I was. I am truly blessed to have such wonderfully supportive loving friends, both old and new. No such friends stood out anymore than my two biggest and best; MOM & DAD. It seems no matter what I do; good or bad, success or failure they are always by my side with their love and support. They have always been there and will always be there. Fact is the learning to give back and count my blessing was instilled in me by them. I am forever blessed to have them as parents.

I have a beautiful and amazing host family filled with brilliant young men and women from every corner of the world and their friendships over the years has meant more to me than words can say. I always believed and told them that I involved myself in the host family program as a way to give back…my belief is that if my son and daughter were to visit them in their country they would treat them the same way they have been treated by me, and that someday all of my children will find a way to give back. They have always gone out of their way to make me feel like I am the most special person ever, cooking for me, taking me to dinner, including me in their college lives, sharing some of their most inner thoughts, laughter and tears, appreciating and respecting our political, religious and cultural differences. This fall was one of those times; I was invited to a bbq and unsuspecting me attended. There I discovered my host children had gathered together along with many of our mutual friends to celebrate my birthday. It came at a time when my own daughter had just left to live on other side of the US and the same day my parents were to depart for Florida. I felt so blessed to have such thoughtful loving friends surround me, actually they are more than just friends, they are my FAMILY.

I took an inventory of my excess living and put the brakes on. I stopped buying because I felt like it and started buying because I needed to. I am blessed to live in a community that is full of talented people, which I can purchase locally grown and locally produced items. I continued to empty my closet of selfish living and pass it on to women in the US who need clothing and donate the proceeds to women abroad in need. I have had an overly blessed closet…

I became thankful for the forty one years I have had on this earth and the healthy life I have been granted to live and decided it was time to be a little nicer to my body and begin taking better care of it by eating, healthier and treating with a little more love. Yes I went veggie on you; I am blessed to be in good health and want to stay that way.

I planted a garden and shared it with my neighbors grandchildren it is always better to share an experience with a child they are after all the seedlings of tomorrows future…I am very blessed to have these vivacious giggling little girls as my neighbors, they are little blessings in my life and a constant reminder of my blessed childhood days on Central Ave. I started thinking in a more earth conscious way, being thankful for the environment and the planet we live on. I have made a conscious effort to leave less of a carbon foot print…I am blessed to have clean air, clean water, green grass, blue skies (well that’s up for debate) and beautiful trees and flowers all around me.

As it came time to go to Nicaragua and bring my donations with me a renewed sense of gratitude and feeling of being the one blessed enough to do this filled my soul, I had spent a large part of the summer feeling this trip was never going to happen and it did! Every hurdle I climbed every road block I stumbled over, washed away and returned to me with strength and courage. I have been blessed to have visited some of the poorest corners of the western hemisphere; visiting some of the most beautiful sites and meeting some of the most beautiful people… dining at their tables, walking their streets, working in their schools, being embraced into their way of life, culture, and language..my home away from home… I went with the intentions of bringing gifts little blessings and instead came home having been blessed. The whole trip was one giant blessing.

Two nights ago my computer chimed with an incoming message from my first host student, who is now married and in grad school, excitedly I replied back, we chatted for hours, we have always been that way…As the conversation closed she told me she often thinks back over her four years in my city and how I and my family fill her fond memories. She said we made her, a young girl from Senegal Africa, feel like a member of the family and knows no matter where she goes in the world she will always have a ‘home’ in Waterville, Maine. What she may never realize is that all of this started with her. I am blessed to have had her come into my life, she impacted my world, without her friendship a lot of the things I have gone on to do, may never have been done.

Thanksgiving may be different in its numbers around the table this year as my parents are in Florida, my sister and her family in Massachusetts, my daughter in California, my oldest two host daughters now in New York and New Hampshire and, my younger three host children are traveling about America…As Martin, TJ, Lucy and I sit down to partake in the traditional feast it doesn’t change the countless number of blessings felt in my heart.

With a full belly and even more full heart I am very grateful and blessed for my beautiful, loving, amazing, family, friends, both old and new friends, here and abroad, friends I have shared a lot with and friends I have yet to make, I am blessed to have you all…

Jules is a passionate writer and a social activist who is involved in various social activities in Guatemala and Nicaragua. You can visit her blog and contribute here As told by Jules. Please visit the Author's blog to support the cause.
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Will a Conflict Between Israel and Iran Drag the World into War?

2011-11-22T17:38:00.001+05:30

UK Protesters against bombing Gaza

It is no secret that tension is building in the middle-east over Iran’s ambition for nuclear weapons. Israel has repeatedly voiced its concerns about the risks of Iran having nuclear capability, and the past thirty years of cold war between the two nations is undoubtedly coming to a head.

On the 18th of November the UN’s nuclear watchdog passed a resolution that expressed serious and rising concern over the nuclear programme being carried out by Iran. Subsequently, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has requested that Tehran provides answers to the many questions that surround its nuclear capabilities. At the moment the UN Security Council has not become involved, but it now seems that it’s just a matter of time.

Iran remains as stubborn as ever, and the country’s ambassador to the IAEA has spoken out about how the recent resolution would do nothing but strengthen the resolve held by Iran to develop its own nuclear weapons.

Has a covert action against Iran already begun?

While politicians and international groups have spoken out against Iran and their nuclear program, there seems to be real attacks going on right now that could well be a prelude to actual armed conflict. On the 14th of November the BBC reported that Iran had managed to control a cyber-attack that they think originated in the United States, but cannot prove. The ‘Duqu’ virus had references to a US television show in its coding. Iranian officials have said that the infection is now under control, but this is the third attack within the last year.

There are also other reports that suggest Iran could already be under covert attack. A recent explosion at the Bid Ganeh base, where munitions have stockpiled, has raised suspicions that Special Forces are carrying out operations against Iran. 17 soldier’s form the Revolutionary Guard Corps were killed in the explosion, which was described as an ‘accident’ by officials in Iran. But people that are studying events in the region are sceptical. Over the last two years three Iranian nuclear scientists have been assassinated, and less than a year ago a computer virus called Stuxnet somehow made it into Iran’s nuclear enrichment centrifuges, causing the entire programme to be set back by months.

Politicians indicate military action has not been ruled out

International pressure is certainly mounting on Iran. On the 13th of November the former US secretary of State Condoleeza Rice was reported to have said that in regard to Iran, “I’m really a believer that regime change is going to be our only choice here.” She also added that the, “American president should never take force off the table.”

In response to the recent explosion at the Bid Ganeh base, the Israeli Defence minister Ehud Barak said, “I don’t know the extent of the explosion but, it would be desirable if they multiplied.”

The United States Defence Secretary Leon Panetta has said that he would warn his Israeli counterpart against any type of military attack that targeted Iran’s nuclear program. Panetta believes that the consequences of a strike against Iran could be catastrophic, and instead diplomacy should be used, along with imposing sanctions against Iran’s Central Bank.

Why a military strike has not happened yet

A key issue over whether Iran should be attacked is concerns over oil. Iran’s large reserves of oil and the international dependency on its supply mean that an attack could cause a rise in the price of oil around the world. This increase in value could end up befitting Iran, as they will be making more profit on the oil they sell. For this reason sanctions against the country keep on being delayed, and other ways to pressure Iran are being searched for.

Another reason why governments are holding back from military action against Iran is the risk of creating an escalating conflict, which could drag in neighbouring countries, and the opposition of public opinion. After the invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan, it is evident that the policy of ‘regime change’ is flawed, and the public don’t want another war.

The stage for a war against Israel and Iran has been set for some time now, and no doubt allies will flock to both sides in support. While Israel may have the United States on its side, the forces that oppose the American superpower should not be underestimated. But it should be recognised that the reluctance to take decisive action against Iran must signify that doing so will have serious implications for nations around the world.

--
Izzy Woods is a freelance writer living in London. She spends most of her time researching the best current accounts for consumer publications, but is deeply fascinated by Middle Eastern geopolitics.

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What is War? and Why Do We Fight?

2011-11-13T09:52:00.001+05:30

Churchill Waving to the crowd

What is War?

War is not that new concept. It has been there since the birth of civilization. War is not a human phenomena, but in forest animals also fight or kill to survive, and when these animals form a group and attack another group of animals to chase them away or to eat them, it is called as War.

Human specie fought war basically to protect their land, food and gain more land, now resources, imperialism, and dictation is one of the major reason for war. War now is more politically motivated and sometime even public forces the government to go for war. Just because it creates a great adrenaline rush and makes us feel proud and passionate watching our army winning and killing others.

A war now is more like an order rather than individual or community aggression. The soldier who kills other soldier in the war doesn't have any personal hatred against him, but still he kills because both are ordered to kill each other, if one wouldn't kill other one will kill. The man who dropped Atomic bomb on Hiroshima was not his idea, he also might not be interested in doing this. Infact, he would have been tensed thinking whether he would be able to return safe or not, because the atom bomb had to explode in the air itself.

A war has taken a more dangerous shape now, earlier battle used to be fought in battlefields which only involved army of the two sides. General public used to be safe in the city. But now the aggression and invasion takes place directly by attacking public and destabilizing the economy, whether it is by conventional warheads, nuclear, bio or chemical weapons.

Cold War V/S Direct Conflict

With advancement in weapons and methods of mass destruction, governments are now more concerned to avoid any physical wars. Various departments and ministers have this job only to protect the country from any aggression or getting into any conflict. Such a situation has given rise to a new term called Cold War.

Now, what is Cold War? Cold war is in another words is also called as war of words, where two or more country never indulge in direct conflict but work aggressively to destabilize others either by pushing fake currency in their economy, brain washing the public of other country, fighting proxy wars, and sending terrorists and spies.

A Cold War in a sense is more dangerous than a physical war. A physical war may get over within few days or months, but Cold war can continue for decades which has a long term effect on the public, a kind of torture which places fear, and terror in the common public minds as countries in cold war are always on the brink of a real war which can trigger anytime.

Modern Assets of War

Terrorism, "What is terrorism?" will always remain a question. who promotes them? Sometimes it is a group of people, sometimes it is an ideology, Alqaeda is a group of people, where as Taliban is an ideology. Terrorism is a weapons used by many armies or countries as a strategic asset. Countries who know they can never win in a direct conflict with their enemy, they send some trained militia secretly into another country whose aim is to raise their citizen against their government or may be execute some small attack on public, military or vital economic systems. Countries pushing terrorists in enemy country might also not know that why they are waging this war. And in worst cases terrorists might become more autonomous and can execute actions without the knowledge of the government or may raise themselves against their own government.

Today not just weapons or bigger army is required to win a war, but also a strong information network. This is where spy agencies come into the picture. Their main motive is to gather information about the formation, presence and movement of the enemy troops and passing on the information to the friendly army. A robust intelligence network also keeps an eye on the technical and political development within the enemy nation. It is done to either keep an eye on others progress or to steal their technology to build a counter of it.

How Can We Prevent War?

It is an easy question with an easy answer, but implementing it is not so easy. We have to understand why we fight war? To prevent, the first thing which needs to be done is to drop the greediness. Learn to live happily in what we have already.

Get involved in economic partnership with other countries which will be of benefit for both, thus you will never risk a war, like what India and China did.

Encourage sports in the countries who might go for war. This ensures more people to people contact and is a great platform to learn about each other. Also, winning and losing in sports somehow gives an equal feeling like winning or loosing a war. Thus a war can be protected by playing sports which will have no harm and people who force their government to go for war will get that satisfaction.

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War News - Iran; A Victim of Western Imperialism or A Real Culprit?

2011-11-12T10:47:00.002+05:30

Everyone seems to be tensed up in the political world today. No pizza for the correct guess! Yeah, the West-Iran confrontation. We all know the world hardly got over Afghanistan , Iraq, and woah now Iran? It's not just the Americans that are affected in this situation, also not only the Israelis. The whole world is caught up on to the turmoil and we, the people, have to go through it. Wish we could have changed the channel and left it? That's not going to work. The accusations and confrontations, the sanctions etc. are going to take their toll and what are we going to be left with? A deadly war! Now how grand its going to be is a wild guess.

The Background Story

The story begins with the American accusation on the Iranian regime for their alleged clandestine "weapon" class nuclear device development. Iran is being accused of developing a military nuclear program which can lead to a creation of new nuclear power. Now, when the accusers and the accused come in to the discussion, there have to be sides and corners. The good ole allegations of American "imperialism" and the statement of Iran being an Islamic "radical" entity. OK, now we are not concerned about who is who. What concerns us is how it will fall on us. Continuing, the United States went to the United Nations and it went on to the watchdog "IAEA". The International Atomic Energy Agency took a while to produce the report on Iran's nuclear power status, that gave a good window for the conflict to escalate up.

The momentum started gathering up, when the state of Israel started its rehearsal for surgical strikes on the the Iranian nuclear power plants. Hope we all remember Israel's "Osirak strike"? For those who have forgotten about it , it was a first ever missile attack in history on a nuclear plant by the Israeli air force in June 1981. The target then was the Iraq's Osirak nuclear reactor built with the help of France, and the Israeli air force did live up to their name.

The Story Now

So, with these latest rehearsals going on, what was coming in to the picture was that this was going to be "Osirak take 2". Now along with Israel , The United Kingdom Royal Navy started its preparation for its journey in to the gulf for probable engagements that will be taking place. And the cherry on the cake was placed by the Israeli and Western government's announcement that they are thinking about a military strike on Iran. This has really tensed up the whole situation.

The whole world thought that the game was set. Then another series of events changed the whole scenario. The Russians came up for the support of lonely Iran. They decided to provide the Iranian's with S-300 missiles. These missiles beyond doubt had proven their capacity in the actions that had taken place. The Arab countries pledged their solidarity to the Iranian government . The motive behind some of the countries to pledge solidarity was much of a religious brotherhood bond rather than a politically motivated one. And still there were other countries who thought that after Iraq and Iran, the west may come after them. The S-300 missiles and the growing coalitition of the Arab countries were enough to put the Americans and the Israelis on a hold.

The western governments retaliated with the "allegations" that the Iranians had the help of senior Russian weapons specialist. Another intriguing evidence was that the Iranians had the facility (a double Decker sized container) which enabled them to test the reaction of the device.

IAEA's Late Entry

Then comes in between the IAEA report . It gave a partial nod to the allegations from the Americans that the Iranian regime possessed the capability to develop a device capable of mass destruction, that is their nuclear power plants were not only civilian. IAEA's report also contained the fact that Iranians possesed simulation capability and had "mechanisms" to develop nuclear weapons that cud very well fit on to the their ballistic missile heads. And now the Russians decided that they should better stay away and blocked the sale of the S-300's to the Iranians. This has put the Iranians in jeopardy.

The stage is already set. All it needs is a small flare that would trigger the whole process. Another important factor bothering America is the CIA reports during the time of Soviet Union's breakup, the loose nuclear devices from the Soviet Union stockpile which had gone missing. The weapon dealers had delivered two devices to Iran. Now how much of it is a fact is known to none of us. We can only assume it.

Iraq was different, Iran is a strong military regime and a possible nuclear power. Even though the head of the Iranian regime have been putting up a hardliner attitude, it will be difficult for them to fight a conventional war at this point. Consider all the economic sanctions that will be leveled against Iran. It won't be easy to fight war more than a few days. Combat Aircrafts in Iran's inventory are pretty much outdated. Lets not forget that the American military presence in the Iraqi region, which will be creating a buffer zone between the Iran and Israel. So a probable land invasion by Iran will be out of question.

Iran though has a stable ballistic missile capabilities. So the worst case scenario can be a global thirld world war or a shower of scud missiles on Israel, but the way things are looking up, Israelis are holding up to that, the brand new "IRON DOME" system. But that is not foolproof too. Not to mention the fact that Iran is only one place behind Israel in military strength according to globalfirepower.com .

What we are looking at is a major weapons race in the middle east, sharp rise in the crude oil prices, terrorist attacks that won't be confined to America or Israel. So what is it that we the people are going to face globally? Imperialism? Terrorism ? Surgical Strikes? Or the probability of Third World War? Well that's only worst case scnario and much far from today.

Mithun Krishna is a passionate writer whose area of interest lies in foreign policy and international diplomacy. He can be reached at krishna.mithun@gmail.com

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Huge Asteroid to Pass Between Earth and the Moon

2011-11-08T22:12:00.001+05:30

A huge asteroid named 2005 YU55, apparently of the size of an aircraft carrier is going to make a close approach to earth on 8th November, 2011.

On November 7, its distance from the earth is reported to be 1.38 million kilometres (860,000 miles) from earth. On November 8th, It will come within about 324,600 KM (201,700 miles) of planet earth at 6:28 PM (EST) or 3:58 AM (IST). That means a 400 metres (1300 feet) wide asteroid will come closer than moon, which orbits at 384,499 KM (238,864 miles)

Any heavenly body hasn't come this close to the Earth since 1976 and won't come again until 2028.

The huge asteroid will pass the planet earth without touching either earth or the moon. Scientist believe that for at least the next 100 years this asteroid may not pose any danger to the Earth and moon duo, as 2005 YU55 will continue to pass by this planet frequently completing one orbit around the sun every 15 months.

Such a close proximity of this asteroid is exciting the scientists every where around the world. A number of instruments have been trained to watch and take a closer picture of this object before it dives back into the deep space.

The 230-foot (70-m) Goldstone antenna at California has been tracking 2005 YU55 since Nov. 4 until Nov. 10. Scientists will be following the asteroid with the even larger Arecibo Planetary Radar Facility in Puerto Rico tomorrow.

People like us can also watch the object passing between the earth and moon under the clear dark sky. How much it can be seen with naked eyes is not known. Scientists recommend the use of a decent telescope with an aperture of 15 centimetres (6 inches) or better.

To be informed about the coordinates or direction of the asteroid Solar System Dynamics website run by NASA's jet propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California can be used. This is to make sure you don't end up looking in the wrong direction while the asteroid pass behind your back.

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American Stealth Fighter F-22 Vs Russian-Indian Fifth Gen PAK FA; Comparison with Latest Figures

2011-11-06T14:10:00.000+05:30

PAK FA T-50

Russia and India dominated the sky for almost a decade with Sukhoi 30 MKI (Modernizirovannyi Kommercheskiy Indiski / Modernized Commercial India), but the dominance was soon taken over by a new 5th generation aircraft from America. The plane can penetrate the enemy skies without being detected. This new stealth feature in the plane makes it a dominating aircraft.

To regain the air supremacy, Russia is soon going to induct its own 5th generation stealth aircraft PAK FA (Read: Russia to rule the sky once again). The development had begun long ago, in the late 1980s, when the Soviet Union outlined a need for a next-generation aircraft to replace its MiG-29 and Su-27 in front line service. PAK FA would be a single seater combat aircraft, whereas with the help of India, Russia will be making a twin seater variant too, which will use Indian origin weapons and avionics. HAL (Hindustan Aeronautics Limited) chairman told on 16th September, 2008 that the contribution of India will be mostly in composites, cockpits, avionics and arming the fighter.

On Friday 29th Jan, 2010, PAK FA performed its first test flight successfully (Read: Indo-Russian stealth fighter performed its first flight)

American F-22 is already serving the US Airforce, while Russian plane is still to be inducted. Now that both the planes are out of the paper into the real existence, we got many requests to do a comparative research and analysis on the specification and performance of these two planes.

F-22 with drop tanks in transit to Kadena Air Base,
Japan from Langley Air Force Base, Virginia

In 1981, the U.S. Air Force developed a requirement for an Advanced Tactical Fighter (ATF), as a new air superiority fighter, to replace the F-15 Eagle and F-16 Fighting Falcon. This was influenced by the emerging worldwide threats, including development and proliferation of Soviet Su-27 "Flanker"- and MiG-29 "Fulcrum-class fighter aircraft.

While US itself is having problems in keeping and maintaining F-22 in the airforce that they had to stop further orders, it is not clear to what extent Russia and India will be able to carry this costly fighter.

US has ruled out any selling plans for F-22, instead it will consider selling only F-35 to friendly nations. PAK FA and FGFA (Indo Russian Fifth Gen Figther Aircraft) will be only used by India and Russia, though recently South Korea has shown interest in purchasing this aircraft from Russia.

Stealth technology is acquired by incorporating a combination of features to reduce visibility in the infrared, visual, audio and radio frequency spectrum. It is accomplished by using a different concept design than the conventional design which, though arises some limitations to it, gives it an advantage of intruding a hostile region without the knowledge of the enemy.

Russian approach towards stealth is slightly different; the plan is to make the aircraft invisible to radar by using a sort of plasma torch on the nose of the plane, and this torch creates ionized cloud around the plane which will absorb radar waves. (Read more: Russia to rule the sky once again).

The unit cost of Russian Aircraft is slightly more than the F-22, but Russians planes are considered to be more agile and better aerodynamically designed.

According to the interview of the Sukhoi officers, the new radar used in the PAK FA will reduce the pilot load and will use dedicated data links to share information between aircrafts.

On the other hand, the high cost of the F-22 aircraft, a lack of clear air-to-air combat missions because of delays in the Russian and Chinese fifth-generation fighter programs, a US ban on Raptor exports, and the ongoing development of the planned cheaper and more versatile F-35 resulted in calls to end F-22 production. In April 2009 the US Department of Defense proposed to cease placing new orders, subject to Congressional approval, for a final procurement tally of 187 Raptors. The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010 lacked funding for further F-22 production. US is now giving more stress on completing the development and production of much cheaper and better F-35.

There has been reportedly 3 accidents of F-22, latest one was On 16 November 2010, where an F-22, based at Elmendorf, Alaska, lost contact with Air Traffic Control. The accident has been attributed to a malfunction in the bleed air system that shut down the aircraft's Environmental Control System (ECS) and On-Board Oxygen Generating System (OBOGS).

On 11 January, 2011 Chinese had tested their own J-10 stealth fighter, leading to the speculation of the reactivation of F-22 production. As we have come so far, and US has had not so good hands on experience of having a stealth fighter in the force, it wouldn't be fair to compare F-22 with PAK FA. The next comparison should be between F-35, PAK FA/HAL FGFA and Chinese J-10.

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Crew Completes 520 Days Mission to Mock Journey to Mars

2011-11-05T10:54:00.000+05:30

Oleg Voloshin / AP/IBMP
The six members of the Mars500 simulation
crew face the cameras outside the hatch
of their windowless isolation module.
Alexander Smoleyevesky is at the top of the ladder
, and the others are (from left)
Alexey Sitov, Diego Urbina,
Sukhrob Kamolov, Romain Charles
and Yue Wang.

In a longest ever space simulation, an international crew of researchers on Friday came out of the set after a long 520 days simulation of a flight to Mars in Moscow.

"The crew has completed the experiment," team leader Alexey Sitev reported to Russian space officials. "The mission is accomplished, the crew is in good health and is ready for new missions."

Among the international crew, three were Russians, one from France, one Italian-Colombian and one was fro China. The simulation was to study the confinement, stress and fatigue while travelling from one planet to another.

Psychologists who were studying the test from outside said long confinement has put the team member under stress as they grew increasingly tired of each other's company. Saying that real flight would be more interesting as they will get a complete different experience on board.

The crew showed signs of fatigue but no signs of stress as they walked to microphones to speak before cameras. "We hope that we can help in designing the future missions to Mars," Frenchman Romain Charles said with a smile.

When asked by the reporters, that what advice would give real Marsonauts to survive the monotony? "Always stay busy," Charles said, and "don't forget your e-book reader!"

His Italian-Colombian crew mate Diego Urbina was proud to achieve the longest-ever imitation of space flight, so that "humankind can one day greet a new dawn on the surface of distant but reachable planet."

During the whole mission which cost $15 million, the crew could communicate to their organizers and family members only via Internet. The Internet was purposely made slow and delayed occasionally to imitate the effects of space travel. They had canned food similar to what is offered on International Space Station.

Organizers of the experiment at Moscow's Institute for Biomedical Problems said, that the crew will undergo a series of medical checkup to ensure the noise and life of the city doesn't affect them which was not present in their metal walled habitat.

"Time seems to have flown by since we closed the hatch last year. But how time really felt to the crew we'll soon know. Probably we'll have a very big difference of opinion," said the head of the institute, Igor Ushakov.

A real flight to Mars seems decades far away, as it involves huge cost and technological challenges, specially the task of creating a lightweight compact shield to protect the crew from the space radiations, NASA is aiming to land their mission on a nearby asteroid in 2025 and then on Mars in 2030. Whereas Russian space agency said that with the help of this experiment, they can pave way for a real Mars expedition until the mid-2030s and that too with close international cooperation.

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Israel Prepares to Attack Nuclear Iran; Iran Ready

2011-11-05T10:07:00.001+05:30

Image by AP, Israeli airstrike in Beirut.

Calling nuclear Iran a threat to Israel, America and the rest of the world, Israel is politically and militarily preparing for a war against Iran to destroy their nuclear infrastructure. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Israel Minister of Defense Ehud Barak are seeking to get approval from the majority of the Israeli cabinet on launching a big military operation against Iran. The cabinet will take decisions once the IAEA report on Iran is issued on November 8.

Israel always tried to explain the world that Iran is trying to develop a nuclear bomb which is directly aimed at Israel's land. Iran and Israel have been in conflict for past few years.

In the meanwhile Israel has successfully tested a missile on Wednesday capable of carrying nuclear warheads to Iran. In late October, Israeli Ambassadors around the world were instructed to inform major politicians Israel is preparing to wage a war on Iran, and that the window of opportunity for imposing effective sanctions on Iran is closing, as part of a renewed diplomatic offensive aimed at using new sanctions to stop Tehran from developing a nuclear bomb as quoted by Haaretz.

In response to Israel's new plan, Iran says that their nation is united and is ready for war.

“We have been hearing threats from Israel for eight years. Our nation is a united nation…such threats are not new to us,” Salehi told Turkey’s Hürriyet Daily. "We are very sure of ourselves. We can defend our country," Salehi claimed.

Earlier, Iran's chief of staff had said that Israel would be punished severely if it ever tries to attack Iran on Iran's soil. "We would make them regret such a mistake and would severely punish them," Gen. Hassan Firouzabadi told the ISNA news agency on Wednesday. "In case of an attack by the Zionist regime, the United States would also be hit," he added, without elaborating.

US is already worried with the development of nuclear program in Iran and is in favour of attacking. Though it worries any action by Israel will disturb the whole region which could be suffering for the whole world.

Britain, on the other hand, will be sending the Royal Navy ships near Iran to assist any American assault on Iran. According to a report by Guardian, Britain is in concerned over Iran's nuclear program and will soon deploy the Royal Navy ships. The paper cited senior officials saying that Iran has gained the technical capability back after a cyber attack on Iran's systems. According to the New York Times report, the worm was jointly developed by US and Israel to damage Iran's nuclear efforts.

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Top 10 Superpowers of the World

2011-11-05T01:15:00.000+05:30

BRIC Leaders

According to Alice Lyman Miller, Professor of National Security Affairs at the Naval Postgraduate School, the definition of a superpower is "a country which has the capacity to project dominating power and influence anywhere in the world, and sometimes, in more than one region of the globe at a time, and so may plausibly attain the status of global hegemony". A superpower is not only militarily strong but also has a strong economy as well as is self sufficient and politically stable.

Here, we have tried to collect data of various specs which dominates a countries position in Super Power index

#10. Turkey

A strong Asian nation, which is now considered to be in Europe, is a new candidate for joining European Union. Turkey is the major Muslim country which has successfully integrated religious tradition with the modern world's style to progress in the race. It is the voice of Muslim world and maintains the most powerful conventional military in the middle east. The 10th position is shared by Canada, Italy and South Korea.

#9. Brazil

One of the largest coffee exporter and 5th largest country in the world (area wise), Brazil is believed to be a potential super power of the future. Brazil along with India, China, and Russia forms the BRIC nations. BRIC itself is the group of countries who are emerging as a super power. Situated in the continent of South America, Brazil maintains good relations with almost every country in the continent. Brazil's timezone matches with US and hence Brazil gets advantage in doing oversea business with American clients.

#8. United Kingdom

There was a day when the Sun never used to set in the British Territory. Today, after the decolonization of most of the world, UK occupies a small place in the world. Extreme High quality Universities and Research labs makes the UK a place where quality human resources are generated. A nuclear power and a permanent member of UNSC, UK is considered to be one of the most advanced county in West Europe. Most of UK's policies and decisions are similar to the US. UK and US share almost similar interests in every field.

#7. India

Largest Democracy and thousand years old history, India has a strong cultural influence throughout the world. While Indian music and Indian movies are very popular in the third world, Indian tradition and spirituality attracts many youths as well as elderly from the western world. India is almost self sufficient in food and feeds other nations as well, being the top exporter of major cereals. India maintains a strong position in the subcontinent and its comments, policies and diplomacy are studied very carefully by the current superpowers. Economically, India is one of the fastest growing countries, with new and new infrastructure coming up in the country daily. Indian firms have been successful in attracting jobs from other countries, specially US, American companies themselves preferring Indians over American due to its highly skilled resources. Militarily, India maintains one of the top 5 Army, Navy and Air force of the world. Though is not a signatory of NPT, it is considered and recognized by the world as the only trusted nuclear power outside NPT. The only area where India lacks is the poor rate of literacy and poverty and a high population, which is growing day by day, causing stress and burden on the current cities which are unable to handle the crowd.

#6. Japan

Attacked by Americans with nuclear bombs in 1945, who would have thought that Japan will become the country whose electronics gadgets will be found in every American households in 2011? Japan is militarily weaker and is very much relied on imports for food and fuel. Time to time, it is hit by natural calamities creating disturbance in the region. Japanese electronics and Advanced vehicles are top in the market competition.

#5. Germany

After the WWII, Germany was broken into two pieces and was exploited by the Western nations and Soviet Union. Still Germany, after the unification in 1990, managed to come back as a regional power. With a powerful economy and its export competitiveness, has made its dominant influence in the Eurozone. World class universities and research facilities are the home of various interesting researches in the world.

#4. France

Potential Superpowers

A great economy in the west, France maintains a powerful military and Airforce. A respectable nuclear power and a permanent member of UNSC, it is influential globally and in the EU. Its language is one of the most popular among the foreign language course around the world. It also has favorable demographic indicators in ageing Europe; compared to other European countries, young generation in France is more in the total population.

#3. Russia

An Erstwhile Superpower in the form of Soviet Union, Russia still maintains that power and respect in the world. According to many, Russia is the only country in front of which America's big brother attitude doesn't work. Despite of having a great advanced military, strong policies and a stable economy, Russia's influence as well as its interest on the world events is declining, which is one of the factors of its fall from number 2 position to number 3. Rich in natural resources, Russia is self sustained in fuel and mineral and has the ability to influence other countries for fuel export. Due to Recession and Chinese military catch up, Russia was overtaken by China in 2008, though it still deserves the title of the Third Superpower.

#2. China

China has created a worldwide unbeatable manufacturing and export empire. Its product can be found in every household. With one of the largest Military in the world and economy growing at the fastest pace, China deserves the 2nd position in the Superpower index. It is a nuclear power as well as a permanent member of the UNSC. China is active on various economic as well as regional forums to extend trade ties and search for new opportunities. China is quick in grabbing the deals and projects in Africa, which has lot of scope for development and has abundant natural resources.

#1. USA

USA is still the true superpower since the cold war time. US maintains worlds strongest as well as most advance conventional military. It is the largest exporter of sophisticated weapons and the largest economy in the world. Other economies of the world are so dependent on US that if anything wrong happens in the US markets, it affects the whole world. US currency dominates the trade world. Their movies and media has great influence in the world. US, also known as the land of opportunity, has been rated as the best place to work or study.

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