Because he can

The obvious prime suspect in the recent execution style slaying of Russian opposition leader Boris Nemtsov, has announced to the world that he personally is spearheading the investigation. Vladimir Putin has declared this a political killing, suggesting a CIA plot, Ukrainian complicity to cause division within Russia, an Islamic jihad as retribution for Nemtsov's support for Charlie Hebdo and other nefarious concocted motives. Additionally, the investigation has introduced a personally  motivated scenario involving a young Ukrainian model as Nemtsov's concubine and a pregnancy about to be aborted.

Putin is wearing “The Emperor’s New Clothes”

 About 175 years ago, Hans Christian Anderson wrote a children’s fairytale, - The Emperor’s New Clothes - about a narcissistic monarch who was deceived by his tailors into believing that his non-existent new garb which they pretended to weave was real but would be invisible only to those who were hopelessly stupid or incompetent.  The gullible emperor paraded in his imaginary non-attire before his subjects. Fearing that saying the truth to the vain sovereign would jeopardize their position in his imperial court, none of his ministers or citizens of his kingdom dared to state the self-evident – that the emperor had no clothes.  

Policy Failures of Reconstructing Police in Iraq

Policy Failures of Reconstructing Police in Iraq

One of the key tasks of the rebuilding the state in Iraq after invasion was to provide the security on the ground and restore piece. After the dissolution of Saddam regime Iraq was practically in anarchy. As the army was dissolved and former policemen were also not performing their jobs any more and population was armed, crime on the streets started growing rapidly, as well as terrorist attacks were creating additional insecurities.

Security in East Asia. Is China a new hegemon?

Security in East Asia. Is China a new hegemon?

Introduction

East Asia is one of the most rapidly developing regions of the world. One fifth of the world population lives here. Growing economies of China, South Korea, Taiwan, Philippines make important impact into the world trade flows. Region is not homogeneous. China is the biggest country, economic and military potential of which is becoming more and more significant. Another important player is Japan. For several post II World War decades it was the most developed country in the region, but due to the post war set up it did not pursue its military policy. As the result of the World War II the US presence in the regional security set up was dominant. The US has a military alliance with Japan, bilateral security agreements with major countries of the region, as well as significant military deployments in Asia and Pacific. The security in the region in the second part of the 20th century to the large extent was defined by the US interests, but recently with the rise of China, the balance of powers seems to start shifting.

Записки Ханаса: Open Statement to the International Democratic Community

Записки Ханаса: Open Statement to the International Democratic Com...: In the middle of the night, from 10 to 11 December 2013, the troops of the Ukrainian special forces started another brutal attack on the p...