At 60, NATO turning into NOT-O
Synopsis: NATO celebrated its 60th anniversary last week in Strasbourg, France. The military/defense group had clarity of purpose back in 1949: stop Soviet aggression/expansion. However, since the fall of the USSR in 1991, the group has lost a bit of focus of mission and today's NATO is nowhere near the cohesive tight military unit it once was. The Plaid Avenger highlights a variety of issues that the organization is currently NOT doing so well at, from its relationship with Russia to the current war in Afghanistan.
At 60, NATO Faces Challenges Both Old and New
Kremlin 'pushing Nato divisions'
NATO Struggles With Conflicting Views on Russia
Lukewarm Afghan commitment raises credibility issues for NATO
Keywords: NATO, Cold War, USSR, Soviet, Russia, US, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Afghanistan, Obama, Sarkozy, Merkel
-----Gargantuan Global Gathering: G-20
The G-20 met this week, in what the Plaid Avenger predicts will be looked back upon as a hugely historic event. This meeting is the first time a truly representative group of the biggest movers and shakers has gotten together to truly try and solve some global problems. Unlike the UN, this tight 20-entity group has the capacity to actually get stuff done without the bloated bureaucracy bogging it down. It represents big changes in the global outlook of how to solve global problems…perhaps for the first time in history. The G-20 is now the premier institutions for problem solving on the global scale. How exciting!
The G-20: saying farewell to the 'blue-eyed blond men'?
G-20 Meeting May Give Impetus to WTO Accord
Sarkozy: G20 Results "Beyond His Expectations"
Take heed from the G20's emerging focus
Keywords: G-20, G-7, G-8, global economy, global issues, UN
Medvedev’s Military Machinations
Synopsis:
Russia has been working hard for the last couple of months to flex its muscles in an effort to gain the maximum amount of leverage prior to the first meeting between Russian President Medvedev and US President Obama. Some of Russia's moves are obviously propaganda pieces, but many more realistic Ruskie ruses are establishing the tremendous advantage they posses in getting what the want from the US. The START treaty, revamping their military, reasserting themselves in central Asia and Georgia, and even sweetening ties with Iran are all Russian cards that they will play in order to curb the growth of NATO and the US missile defense shield, as well as pushing all foreign influence out of their historic periphery.
Keywords: Russia, USA, Medvedev, Obama, military, START, NATO, missile defense shield, Central Asia, Georgia, Abkhazia, South Ossetia, Iran, Kyrgyzstan
Russian President Welcomes Shift by U.S.
Russia and US poised to relaunch nuclear reduction treaty
Analysis: Russia to modernize army, nukes
Lavrov: Russia unhappy with NATO security role
Resetting Relations: Russia says Missile Shield Agreement with U.S. Possible
Russia to help defend Abkhazia, S. Ossetia borders
Russia Signaling Interest in Deal on Iran
Ukrainian Gas Problems Causing Constipation For the EU!
Ukrainian Gas Problems Causing Constipation For the EU! from Plaid Avenger on Vimeo.
Quicktime:
In the news:
Russia, EU sign deal to help end gas crisis
France, Germany urge deal in Russia, Ukraine gas row
Accord signed in Russia gas row
Synopsis: Russia has turned off natural gas supplies to Ulraine on Jan 1 since the two countries could not decide on a market price for this year. The Plaid Avenger gives you some background on what this gas issue is really all about, the ramifications to the EU, and even some possible future winners in this chilly siuation.
Other Plaid Avenger related stories:
Ukraine in NATO? Nope, no, nyet, never, nein, non!
Russia Holds All Aces: Game Over Georgia
Russia Holds All Aces: Game Over in Georgia (part 2)
Russia Holds All Aces: Game Over in Georgia (part 3)
Global Financial Crisis Exposes Chink in EU Armor
Global Financial Crisis Exposes Chink in EU Armor from KP on Vimeo.
