The New Cold War

(Newser) - Defying the objections of the United States, Russia has announced plans to sell military hardware to Iran and Venezuela. In the latest escalation of the diplomatic standoff between Russia and the West, the state arms exporter will sell anti-aircraft systems to the two countries, the Times of London reports. "Contacts between our countries are continuing and we do not see any reason to suspend them," said the director of the arms company. More »

(Newser) - US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice blasted Russia today as “increasingly authoritarian at home and aggressive abroad,” accusing Moscow of trying to overthrow the Georgian government during its recent invasion, the Guardian reports. The harshest US condemnation of Russia yet comes as Moscow refuses to allow European observers into South Ossetia, the Moscow-backed breakaway Georgian region. More »

(Newser) - Although the bloodshed has ended, Georgia and Russia are still fighting—over which nation was the aggressor in last month's conflict. The Georgian government, which insists that Russia invaded its territory, has released tapes of intercepted phone calls implying that a Russian regiment entered South Ossetia 24 hours before Georgia attacked. Top American officials have called the tapes "credible if not conclusive," says the New York Times . More »

(Newser) - Russia’s war with Georgia has dangerously exacerbated tensions in Ukrainian politics, with President Viktor Yushchenko slamming Russia’s actions while Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko has kept mum, the Los Angeles Times reports. Standing firm for Georgia, Yushchenko called the prime minister's lack of action “high treason and political corruption." Tymoshenko’s supporters say the outspoken president is aggravating political tensions and alienating Ukrainians with strong Russian ties. More »

(Newser) - Russia is withdrawing troops and vehicles from the Georgian port of Poti and other undisputed areas of the country in accordance with an EU-brokered ceasefire plan, the BBC reports. Trucks left Russian bases established in August, headed toward the breakaway Abkhazia region; troops are likely to remain there and in South Ossetia, another separatist area. More »

(Newser) - Escalating the diplomatic crisis with Venezuela, the US has frozen the assets of three members of Hugo Chavez's inner circle it accuses of having links with drug-running Colombian rebels, the Wall Street Journal r eports. The sanctions follow the expulsion by Venezuela and Bolivi