Roberto Abraham Scaruffi

Tuesday, 20 January 2009

Obama Enters the Great Game

Obama Enters the Great Game

Graphic for Geopolitical Intelligence Report

By George Friedman

As Israeli Soldiers Fight In Gaza, Israeli Politicians Battle Each Other For Power

Who 'Owns' Afghanistan?

Western officials increasingly are defining their long-term goals exclusively in terms of the central government's ability to exert control over territory rather the presence of a functioning democracy, the rule of law, or prosperity and stability. Should the experiment founder or become perverted despite the money and lives invested, the likelihood of its being restaged could recede irrevocably. More

Prominent Russian lawyer killed

A lawyer for the family of a Chechen woman murdered by a Russian army officer is shot dead in Moscow.

Al Qaeda Doesn't Exist

The Al Qaeda Doesn't Exist documentary from The Corbett Report, dealing with the founding and funding of what we know as Al Qaeda.

A Time to Break Silence

By Rev. Martin Luther King 
In his "Beyond Vietnam" speech delivered at New York's Riverside Church on April 4, 1967 -- a year to the day before he was murdered -- King called the United States "the greatest purveyor of violence in the world today." Time magazine called the speech "demagogic slander that sounded like a script for Radio Hanoi," and the Washington Post declared that King had "diminished his usefulness to his cause, his country, his people." 

SPIEGEL Interview with Syrian President Bashar Assad: 'Peace without Syria Is Unthinkable'

In an interview with SPIEGEL, Syrian President Bashar Assad discusses the war between Israelis and Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, the threat of an Iranian nuclear bomb and his expectations for incoming United States President Barack Obama.

Thailand to Investigate Rohingya Refugee Abuse Claims = Audio Clip Available

Human rights groups say more than 500 Rohingya boat people and Bangladeshi migrants landed in Thailand in December and were later forced back into the open seas

Arab World Facing Collapse

by Hillel Fendel

The Political Dance in Iraq's South

Despite Discontent and Fragmentation, Islamic Parties Dominate 
(By Anthony Shadid, The Washington Post)

Sunday, 18 January 2009

Threats put South Korea on edge

By CHOE SANG-HUN
South Korea placed more soldiers at frontier guard posts, a day after Pyongyang's military declared an "all-out confrontational posture" against the South and threatened a naval clash. 

The Duncan Doctrine

By Andy Kroll

Taliban claims they've formed shadow government

The Taliban are claiming they control 70 per cent of rural Afghanistan and have instituted a shadow government with their own police, courts and rule of law.

Russia, Ukraine Gas Agreement to Be Judged When Shipments Resume, EU Says

Russia, Ukraine Gas Agreement to Be Judged When Shipments Resume, EU Says

Israel Discovers Gas!

by Hillel Fendel

Israel zieht erste Truppen aus dem Gazastreifen ab

Israel zieht erste Truppen aus dem Gazastreifen ab

Russland und Ukraine melden Durchbruch im Gasstreit

Russland und Ukraine melden Durchbruch im Gasstreit

Hamas verkündet sofortige Waffenruhe

Hamas verkündet sofortige Waffenruhe

Des élections législatives surveillées de près par les observateurs

Des élections législatives surveillées de près par les observateurs

Les Salvadoriens sont appelés dimanche à élire leurs députés et leurs conseils municipaux, dans un scrutin qui n'aura jamais été aussi surveillé par des observateurs, nationaux ou étrangers, depuis la fin de la guerre civile, en 1992, dans ce petit pays d'Amérique centrale. 

Gaza: Waffenruhe dauerte nur wenige Stunden

Gaza: Waffenruhe dauerte nur wenige Stunden

Microsoft is accused by EU again

The European Commission accuses Microsoft of limiting competition with its Internet Explorer web browser.

Thais hold more migrants amid row

Thais hold more migrants amid row
The Thai military takes into custody another group of Burmese refugees, amid accusations they cast previous groups adrift at sea.

Saturday, 17 January 2009

A Night With The Israeli Army: In A Camp On The Gaza Border, Trying To Understand Why Israel's Youth Are Willing To Fight

by Yossi Klein Halevi
I'm not supposed to be here. This vast training base near the Gaza border where thousands of reservists are preparing for battle is off-limits to the ...

The World from Berlin: 'Hamas' Strength Is Not Broken'

The World from Berlin: 'Hamas' Strength Is Not Broken' Israel says its offensive in Gaza could be "in the final act," as it sends top envoys to Cairo and Washington. But German newspapers on Friday look at the prospect for a cease-fire wonder if Hamas won't come out of the violence with a stronger image on the Arab street. http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,601649,00.html

Israel and Hamas: Psychological Tricks to Demoralize the Enemy

Hijacking the airwaves, spreading false news and sowing doubt: Israel and Hamas are pulling out all the stops when it comes to psychological warfare. Lies and deceit are the weapons of choice in the effort to destroy enemy morale.

Somali executed for 'apostasy'

Islamists execute a Somali politician who they accused of betraying his religion by working with non-Muslim Ethiopian forces.

6 Wounded in Missile Attack

by Maayana Miskin

Mexico est rationnée en eau

Mexico est rationnée en eau

«Dans la moitié ouest de la capitale et dans trois banlieues populaires, il n'y aura pas de distribution d'eau les trois derniers jours du mois et ce pendant cinq mois : les sept barrages sont au plus bas alors qu'ils devraient être pleins à cette époque de l'année.»

Friday, 16 January 2009

Lost Book Club: 'On Writing'

A Monthly Dissection of the Books That Matter to 'Lost'-ophiles 
(Jen Chaney and Liz Kelly, washingtonpost.com)

David Irving: 'Hitler appointed me his biographer'

David Irving: 'Hitler appointed me his biographer'

Saudis deport Chinese labourers

Twenty-three Chinese construction workers are deported by Saudi Arabia after protesting that their pay was too low.

Thais 'leave boat people to die'

Illegal migrants from Bangladesh and Burma say Thai soldiers tied their hands and forced them back to sea on boats without engines.

Islamists take bases in Mogadishu

Somali Islamist insurgents take over Ethiopian bases as the last of Addis Ababa's troops leave the capital.

Future Shock at the Army Science Conference

By Nick Turse

Hamas Uses Children in Combat

by Hana Levi Julian

Thursday, 15 January 2009

Gas Crisis in Europe Continues

By DAVID JOLLY 
The natural gas crisis in Europe continued as the standoff between Russia and Ukraine left millions of homes without heating fuel for another day. 

Is Russian Orthodoxy At Risk Of Becoming A State Religion?

by Leon Aron
Goditsya--molitsya, a ne goditsya--gorshki pokryvat. "If it fits, then we'll pray to it. If it doesn't, then we'll cover pots with it." Vissarion Belinsky...

Moshe Maimon

Moshe Maimon

Mané Katz

Mané Katz

Mané Katz

Mané Katz

Mané Katz

Mantegna Andrea

Mantegna Andrea

Mantegna Andrea

Mantegna Andrea

Mantegna Andrea

Mantegna Andrea

Mantegna Andrea

Andrea Mantegna

Andrea Mantegna

Andrea Mantegna

TNRtv: How Obama Can Satisfy Both The Liberal And Conservative Critics Of His Stimulus Plan

by Noam Scheiber
TNR senior editor Noam Scheiber proposes a way for Obama to satisfy both liberal and conservative critics of his stimulus plan.

Amid All The Light Of The Renaissance, One Painter Made Beauty Out Of Darkness

by Keith Christiansen
During the last two years I have had the good fortune of visiting no fewer than four exhibitions devoted to the work of the great fifteenth-century painter...

Mitigating Mumbai

Mitigating Mumbai

'A Dangerous Luxury': The International Criminal Court's Dream of Global

The International Criminal Court in The Hague is supposed to bring war criminals to justice, but it has yet to deliver a single verdict. Can international law bring peace to war-torn regions -- or does it actually hinder the peace process?

Leader: Israeli defense deals in Turkey not at risk

Analyst Yoav Burgan says past crises have not shaken Israel's defense cooperation.

Anti-Aircraft Gun in Gaza Mosque

by Gil Ronen

Rockets Hit near Kiryat Shmona

by Tzvi Ben Gedalyahu

Wieder treffen Raketen aus dem Libanon Israel

Wieder treffen Raketen aus dem Libanon Israel

Cesare Battisti, réfugié politique au Brésil

Cesare Battisti, réfugié politique au Brésil

L'ancien activiste italien d'extrême gauche, Cesare Battisti a obtenu le statut de réfugié politique au Brésil. Cette décision a été prise par la justice brésilienne « en raison d'une crainte fondée de persécution » dans son pays d'origine où il a été condamné pour quatre assassinats.

China supera a Alemania como tercera economía del mundo

China supera a Alemania como tercera economía del mundo

Calderón Offers Advice to Obama

Mexican President Felipe Calderón said yesterday that President-elect Barack Obama should take steps to stem a "worrisome" rise in anti-U.S. sentiment in Latin America. 
(By Manuel Roig-Franzia, The Washington Post)

How to Resolve the Credit Crisis: Credit Where Credit is Due

Cesare Battisti pourrait éviter l'extradition

Israel’s Goals in Gaza?

By THOMAS L. FRIEDMAN
The focus for Israel and Barack Obama’s team should be on creating a clear choice for Hamas for the world to see: Are you about destroying Israel or building Gaza?

Ethiopians Withdraw From Key Bases

By MOHAMED IBRAHIM and JEFFREY GETTLEMAN 
Ethiopian troops pulled out from key bases in Mogadishu on Tuesday, leaving a power vacuum that was quickly filled by Islamist fighters who seized their positions. 

Israel Says Hamas Is Damaged, Not Destroyed

By STEVEN ERLANGER and MICHAEL SLACKMAN 
As Israel tightened the circle around Gaza, officials said Hamas’s forces were substantially intact.  

Weiter heftige Kämpfe in Gaza

Weiter heftige Kämpfe in Gaza

Polanski 'has no US return plan'

Roman Polanski has "no plans ever to return" to the US despite his campaign to dismiss a 1977 sex charge, his lawyer says.

China's economy leapfrogs Germany

The Chinese economy grew more than first thought in 2007, overtaking Germany's to become the world's third largest economy.

Wednesday, 14 January 2009

"Los políticos suelen aferrarse al poder como psicópatas"

Para los que tienen esas características, las personas son sólo cosas, afirma el psiquiatra 

Thai troops 'torturing in south'

Thai troops are engaged in "systematic" torture as they combat an insurgency in the south, Amnesty says.

China's exports in record decline

China's exports see their biggest decline in a decade, December figures show, as factory closures and staff layoffs accelerate.

The Russian Gas Trap

The Russian Gas Trap

January 13, 2009

Graphic for Geopolitical Intelligence Report

By Peter Zeihan

The Apology

The Apology

By Tom Engelhardt

Freedom In Decline Across Former Soviet Union

The latest "Freedom in The World" report by the U.S.-based rights watchdog Freedom House indicates that authoritarian regimes across a broad geographical range are stepping up their suppression of freedom. The report's authors point out that the former Soviet Union is the only region in the world to see a steady decline in freedom since 2001. More

'Iranians Are Pro-Israel' - Pt I

by Nissan Ratzlav-Katz

The Target is Iran: Israel's Latest Gamble May Backfire

An Introduction to the American Age

An Introduction to the American Age

Anti-Zionism and the Abuse of Academic Freedom:

Tammi Rossman-Benjamin 

China blocks Amnesty site - again

Chinese authorities have once again blocked access to human rights group Amnesty International's website.

Obama’s Plan to Close Prison at Guantánamo May Take Year

By WILLIAM GLABERSON and HELENE COOPER
Barack Obama was said to be set to issue an executive order on his first full day in office directing the closing, which experts said would require an extensive effort.