Russia Reform Monitor: No. 1754
For Russia, an Asian pivot of its own;
Tensions rise with Tajikistan
For Russia, an Asian pivot of its own;
Tensions rise with Tajikistan
The sudden death of North Korea's long-serving "Dear Leader," Kim Jong-il, has propelled the world's last remaining Stalinist state back into the international spotlight. In the process, it has refocused attention on one of the most stubborn strategic dilemmas facing the United States.
Is electromagnetic pulse a real threat to American security? On the heels of recent Republican primary debates, the danger to U.S. electronics and infrastructure posed by a high-altitude nuclear blast suddenly has emerged as a campaign issue. So has concerted opposition to it, with both liberal and conservative skeptics ridiculing the idea as an overblown, even fabricated, distraction. Yet there is ample evidence that the danger is both clear and present.
Russia, the international lender?;
Finally, WTO membership within reach
Strongarm tactics ahead of parliamentary polls;
An Arctic boondoggle?