The New Cold War

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June 2009
- Russian Veto Forces UN Out of Abkhazia
  
  Deutsche Welle (Germany) | Jun 16, 09 5:53 AM CDT
  
  (Newser) - Russia today vetoed a UN Security Council resolution to keep troops and observers in Abkhazia, one of the two breakaway Georgian regions in last year's war. Western nations say that Abkhazia remains part of Georgia, but Russia has recognized its independence. The veto means that the UN will have to end its mission in Abkhazia, which began in 1993 and expired today. More »
May 2009
- Missile Shield Useless Against Iran's Arsenal: Study
  
  Washington Post | May 19, 09 9:20 AM CDT
  
  (Newser) - The US missile shield planned for eastern Europe wouldn’t protect the continent from threats posed by Iranian missiles, a team of American and Russian scientists found. Further, the Washington Post notes, it will be more than 5 years before Iran can build nuclear warheads and missiles to launch them, says the report, presented to top US and Russian officials. More »
- West 'Wasted 20 Years' After Berlin Wall Fell: Gorbachev
  
  Reuters | May 13, 09 3:24 PM CDT
  
  (Newser) - Europe has squandered two decades of potential cooperation since the Berlin Wall fell, Mikhail Gorbachev says. At a Moscow event sponsored by his foundation, the former Soviet leader criticized Western leaders who viewed the 1989 event as their victory over Eastern Europe, rather than an opportunity for common good, Reuters reports. More »
- Georgia Ends Coup, Russia Cries Foul
  
  Times (UK) | May 6, 09 5:30 AM CDT
  
  (Newser) - The Georgian government claims to have crushed an army mutiny at a base near the capital Tbilisi, but it backed away from earlier claims that Russia was backing a coup aimed at ousting or assassinating President Mikheil Saakashvili. The plot organizer has been arrested and several others remain at large. But after a day of hurling accusations, writes the Times of London, Georgia is getting hit with criticism from all sides. More »
- Georgia Sees Russian Hand in Mutiny, Coup Attempt
  
  Guardian (UK) | May 5, 09 6:33 AM CDT
  
  (Newser) - A revolt has broken out at an army base near the Georgian capital of Tbilisi, which the government is calling a Russian-backed military coup, the Guardian reports. The Georgian defense minister says the soldiers were being confined in their barracks, and at least one person has been arrested. The Georgians say that the plot was timed to disrupt NATO military exercises in Georgia, which begin tomorrow. More »
April 2009
- Moldovan 'Twitter Revolution' Organizer Goes Into Hiding
  
  Guardian (UK) | Apr 15, 09 5:51 AM CDT
  
  (Newser) - The journalist who used Twitter to organize last week's mass protests in Moldova has gone into hiding for fear of arrest. Journalist Natalia Morar, 25, told the Guardian she is avoiding telephones and the Internet in case the same tools she used to rally supporters are used against her by the ruling Communist Party, whose election victory ignited widespread dissent. More »
- 'Fatuous' Obama Does US No Favors: Krauthammer
  
  Washington Post | Apr 10, 09 10:28 AM CDT
  
  (Newser) - President Obama is out in the world, "acting the philosopher-king who hovers above the fray" and badmouthing past American actions, and to what end? Charles Krauthammer, writing in the New York Times, doesn't see any satisfactory answers. "I'm not against gift-giving in international relations," he writes. "But it would be nice to see some reciprocity." More »
- Russia Sees Red Over Moldova's Twitter Revolution
  
  Independent (UK) | Apr 9, 09 4:15 AM CDT
  
  (Newser) - The escalating crisis in Moldova is threatening to sour Russia's relations with the West once again, reports the Independent . Russia is siding with the Moldovan government in its accusations that the anti-Communist protests—organized by pro-EU youth mobilizing with the help of Twitter updates—are part of a coup attempt backed by EU member and Moldova neighbor Romania. More »
- Obama Pitches Nuke Drawdown, Slams Korean Launch
  
  New York Times | Apr 5, 09 10:31 AM CDT
  
  (Newser) - President Obama laid out his vision for a worldwide nuclear drawdown before a vast audience in Prague today, the New York Times reports, taking the opportunity to lambaste North Korea's rocket test yesterday and urge the UN Security Council to punish Pyongyang. “This provocation underscores the need for action, not just this afternoon at the Security Council but in our determination to prevent the spread of these weapons,” Obama said. “Violations must be punished." More »
March 2009
- Russia to Build 6 New Nuclear Submarines
  
  CNN | Mar 28, 09 7:15 AM CDT
  
  (Newser) - Russia is building at least six new nuclear submarines equipped with long-distance cruise missiles, according to state-connected news agency Itar-Tass. One is expected to be on line by 2011, the rest by 2017. A Russian defense ministry source say the missiles, capable of carrying low-capacity nuclear warheads, "would be designed for strikes on aircraft carriers of the enemy" as well as land targets. More »
- Litvinenko Murder Suspect Halts Mayor Bid
  
  Reuters | Mar 24, 09 12:16 PM CDT
  
  (Newser) - The UK's top suspect in the killing of Alexander Litvinenko has quit the mayoral race in the Russian city set to hold the 2014 Winter Olympics, Reuters reports. “The leadership of the party took a final decision that my candidacy would not be put forward,” Andrei Lugovoy said, adding that he would stick to Russia's parliament. Lugovoy didn’t have enough support in the race, his party said. More »
- Litvinenko Murder Suspect to Run for Mayor of Olympic City
  
  Los Angeles Times | Mar 23, 09 8:12 AM CDT
  
  (Newser) - Russia fought hard to win the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, reports the Los Angeles Times , and now a second battle is heating up: the race for mayor of the Black Sea resort town, which is beginning billions' worth of construction. Among the contenders are a media magnate with a KGB past, a deputy PM who's been blacklisted, and—most surprisingly of all—Andrei Lugovoy, the man internationally wanted for the 2006 polonium murder of Alexander Litvinenko. More »
- Medvedev: NATO Threat Means Russia Will Rearm
  
  Reuters | Mar 17, 09 1:00 PM CDT
  
  (Newser) - Russia will rearm its military and boost its nuclear capabilities in response to NATO's growth, President Dmitry Medvedev told Russian military heads today. “Attempts to expand the military infrastructure of NATO near the borders of our country are continuing,” Medvedev said. That, alongside international terrorism and local concerns, “requires a modernization of our armed forces,” he noted, saying “strategic nuclear forces” were a priority. More »
- Russia May Land Bombers in Cuba, Venezuela
  
  Bloomberg | Mar 14, 09 12:44 PM CDT
  
  (Newser) - Russian bombers may find a home in Latin America, Bloomberg reports. Venezuela and Cuba have offered to let Moscow use their airfields, and a top military official seems to like the idea. “If the heads of the two countries show the will, the political will, then we are prepared to fly there,” said Major Gen. Anatoly Zhikharev. The Kremlin says it's all just speculation at this point. More »
- US Will Collapse by 2010: Russian
  
  Associated Press | Mar 4, 09 11:24 AM CST
  
  (Newser) - The “collapse of the American dream” is complete, says a Russian scholar, and President Obama will declare martial law and the US will splinter into six regions by the end of 2010, the AP reports. Igor Panarin, the dean of Russia's Foreign Ministry school, cited school shootings, the prison population, and the number of gay men as indicators of the US’ social breakdown at yesterday's lecture. More »
- Medvedev Shoots Down Missile Deal
  
  Financial Times (UK) | Mar 3, 09 10:49 AM CST
  
  (Newser) - Dmitry Medvedev won’t engage in “some sort of trade or exchange” with Barack Obama in order to halt the contentious anti-ballistic missile system the US wants to put in Eastern Europe, the Financial Times reports. Medvedev today confirmed that Obama had sent him a secret letter with some “suggestions,” but said horse-trading was “not productive.” But he added that the note was “evidence of one thing at least: that they are willing to discuss the problem.” More »
- Obama Offers Russians Deal on Missile Shield
  
  New York Times | Mar 3, 09 1:39 AM CST
  
  (Newser) - President Obama has offered to cancel a new missile defense system in Eastern Europe if Russia will help stop Iran from developing long-range weapons, administration officials tell the New York Times . The agreement, outlined in a secret letter delivered to Moscow last month, would remove a major source of Russian-American friction. Russian leaders have signaled they are prepared to consider the proposal. More »
February 2009
- Before Obama Visited Canada, Russian Bomber Did
  
  National Post (Canada) | Feb 27, 09 2:42 PM CST
  
  (Newser) - On the day before President Obama’s recent visit to Canada, that nation’s warplanes turned back a Russian bomber, the National Post reports. The plane did not enter Canadian airspace, but the incident still alarmed officials, who have striven to enforce sovereignty. “When we see a Russian bear approaching Canadian air space, we meet them with an F-18,” said Defense Minister Peter MacKay. More »
- Kyrgyzstan Issues Eviction Notice to US
  
  Associated Press | Feb 20, 09 7:32 AM CST
  
  (Newser) - Kyrgyzstan has issued an eviction notice giving US forces six months to depart an air base key to the transit of troops and supplies to the war in Afghanistan, the AP reports. But in spite of its rocky relationship with the US, nearby Uzbekistan has offered an alternative route for the transport of non-lethal cargo, a military official said. Attacks on US supply routes coupled with the closing of the Kyrgyz base have made the search for alternate paths more pressing. More »
- Obama a Spineless Leader Thus Far: Krauthammer
  
  Washington Post | Feb 20, 09 7:01 AM CST
  
  (Newser) - Barack Obama has faced a spate of little challenges thus far from Russia, Iran, and Pakistan—and flunked them all, writes Charles Krauthammer. While Putin compounds his military strength and Ahmadinejad insults America, the new president has exhibited "utter passivity" on the world stage. In just one month, says the Washington Post columnist, the US has become "a grinning Goliath staggering about sporting a 'kick me' sign on his back." More »