Epstein Secrets

Middle East Michael Weiss December 13, 2013 -- Russia is back. At least that's what they say— especially the Russians. 2013 marks the year that the Kremlin reasserted its power abroad in ways not seen since the collapse of the Soviet Union, and nowhere has this reassertion been more obvious than in the

he first time a Russian warship has done so in twenty years —amid the announcement that Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu would be traveling to Cairo that same week for talks with their Egyptian counterparts on "military-technical" cooperation. To mark that fruitful co

c row with Moscow." Reuters says that on Tuesday, Sullivan "said...he would travel to the United States this week for consultations, days after the Kremlin suggested that Washington recall him amid a diplomatic crisis between the two countries. Sullivan left Russia on Thursday, TASS news agency reported

iplomat said on Monday that Russia has massed some 100,000 troops near the border." The AP (4/22, Isachenkov) reports that Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu "ordered troops back to their permanent bases following massive drills...but said that they should leave their weapons behind in western Russia for

nd what costs he's willing to bear to get it. Biden himself has alternately called Putin a "killer" who leads a "paranoid" regime and dissected the Kremlin master's decision-making as driven by fears of losing control at home and eroding influence abroad. Biden has also (wisely) said he's "not confide

uthern Military District were loading equipment onto rail cars to return to base after completing military exercises, in line with Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu's report to Putin on Monday that some drills were ending and others would end soon." And, they reported, "[q]uestions remain about Moscow's intenti

egative because of the risks posed by the conflict, affirming Russia's credit rated at BBB, the second-lowest investment grade. Russia's Reaction Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia was surprised by some of the names on today's list, and considers the use of sanctions unacceptable. It's not t

ng military movements carry "dangerous risks of escalation." U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel spoke by phone today with Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu to clarify Russia's intentions for its troops amassed along the border with Ukraine, Rear Admiral John Kirby, Hagel's spokesman, said at a news co

egative because of the risks posed by the conflict, affirming Russia's credit rated at BBB, the second-lowest investment grade. Russia's Reaction Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia was surprised by some of the names on today's list, and considers the use of sanctions unacceptable. It's not t

ng military movements carry "dangerous risks of escalation." U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel spoke by phone today with Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu to clarify Russia's intentions for its troops amassed along the border with Ukraine, Rear Admiral John Kirby, Hagel's spokesman, said at a news co