Epstein Secrets

rdless of the human cost. The atrocities at Houla merely raised the temperature of that dispute. In the days after the massacre, Russia's President Vladimir Putin made it clear to European counterparts that his opposition to foreign military intervention in Syria was as strong as ever. This has put Russia on

tary for an alliance with Russia to stand up to the U.S. pressure. China's political leadership, for the time being, remains skeptical, and so does Putin. But in Moscow, too, there's a pro-China EFTA00702013 lobby, and Western intervention in Syria could provide the catalyst for a strategic rebalan

mes against humanity, indeed near-genocide, that Vladimir Putin ordered in Chechnya at the turn of the cen

o allow intervention in Syria? Assad would still be one of Moscow's principal allies in the Middle East. Russia would still have port facilities at Tartus. It would still want to protect the principle that a government can suppress popular demonstrations by any means it chooses, including the kinds of

doff between Moscow and the West was in the Middle East— specifically in Syria, where President Bashar al-Assad, with support from Russian President Vladimir Putin, is embroiled in a brutal four-year civil war. But while Washington's policymakers are focusing on Putin's actions in Eastern Europe, events in th

h support from Russian President Vladimir Putin, is embroiled in a brutal four-year civil war. But while Washington's policymakers are focusing on Putin's actions in Eastern Europe, events in the eastern Mediterranean continue to unfold with their own momentum—and it's highly unlikely that the Kreml

ar al-Assad, with support from Russian President Vladimir Putin, is embroiled in a brutal four-year civil

ent Mediterranean naval task force, part of Putin's project of reinvigorating the Russian military and projecting power globally. Without access to Tartus, Russian ships and submarines would have nowhere in the eastern Mediterranean to refuel. Russia also has a deep fear of Islamic—and specifically Su

for it, Bashar al-Assad. The Syrian civil war— particularly the White House's inept and improvisational response to it—has accidentally transformed Putin into a major power- broker for the post-Arab Spring Middle East. (This is no small feat considering that Sunni Muslim antipathy toward Russia is at

ing in Cairo as a direct result of EFTA00706389 its government's support for the still-popular military regime: "The positive stance of President Vladimir Putin towards the June revolution was behind the rise in his popularity." Portraits of Putin today hang alongside those of Sisi in Cairo. The Russian-Eg

litary regime: "The positive stance of President Vladimir Putin towards the June revolution was behind the

ng Russian naval ships, likely as an improved backup in the event that the Syrian regime does collapse and Moscow loses its only warm-water port at Tartus. "Tartus is vulnerable and not good enough and the Egyptian ports are perfect for the Russian navy," an unnamed Israeli defense official told the S

ps, deploy the fact-checkers. Anicic 3. The Wall Street Journal EFTA00660532 Russia's Stake in Syria and Iran Mclik Kavlan 18, 2012 -- Now that Vladimir Putin has allowed the Russian electorate to rubber-stamp him back into power, he can return with redoubled purpose to his consistently regressive interfe

surprised at his obdurate defense of the regimes in Tehran and Damascus speaks volumes. Dictators support dictators, don't they? At this point Mr. Putin apparently doesn't mind much that anyone should include him in that category. After all, if Putinism could be defined by any single principle, if i

Syria and Iran Mclik Kavlan 18, 2012 -- Now that Vladimir Putin has allowed the Russian electorate to rubb

Iron-hard strategic calculations underpin his support for the Syria-Iran axis. Russia is rebuilding its Soviet-era naval base in the Syrian port of Tartus, which allows Moscow to reassert a plausible Mediterranean threat to NATO. Syria also provides Iran with a front line against Israel via Hezbollah

recent wave of protests and uprisings against autocrats is seeing stuff you never imagined see — like, in Moscow last week, when some opponents of Vladimir Putin's decision to become president again, for possibly 12 more years, hung a huge yellow banner on a rooftop facing the Kremlin with Putin's face covered

of Vladimir Putin's decision to become president again, for possibly 12 more years, hung a huge yellow banner on a rooftop facing the Kremlin with Putin's face covered by a big X, next to the words "Putin Go Away" in Russian. The sheer brazenness of such protests and the anger at Prime Minister Put

ike, in Moscow last week, when some opponents of Vladimir Putin's decision to become president again, for

tal areas around the city of Lattakia -- where, incidentally, the last remaining Russian military base outside the former Soviet Union, the port of Tartus, happens to be located - - are their strongholds. Indeed, during the French Mandate period, there was a separate Alawite state based on these territ

aceful protest movement into a virtual civil war. But he still has a few friends in low places. The Iranians aren't giving up on him, and in Moscow Vladimir Putin won't abandon the son of the Soviet Union's favorite Arab tyrant, Hafez Assad. Far from it. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov last week reject

blatant interference in its internal affairs." The Kremlin's support makes it harder to ease Mr. Assad out peacefully in Damascus. But perhaps Mr. Putin's loyalty can be explained by the fact that he faces his own growing opposition. His ruling party cheated in December's parliamentary elections and

e Iranians aren't giving up on him, and in Moscow Vladimir Putin won't abandon the son of the Soviet Union'

has signed a $550 million contract to sell Syria 36 combat jets. Two weeks ago, the aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov called at the Syrian port of Tartus and, according to reports, dropped off a few tons of ammunitions. The Russians have a stronger stomach for the Syrian's brutality than does the Ar

ress any manifestation of public unrest and autonomous political action. Dissidents and journalists have been jailed, beaten, and sometimes killed. Vladimir Putin has even revived Leonid Brezhnev's notorious practice of putting dissidents into psychiatric institutions. According to journalist Andrei Soldatov,

eficit if oil prices fall below $120/bbl. Consequently this windfall relieves pressure on the budget. But more importantly, for all those who, like Putin, cling to the idea of an energy powerhouse, but an essentially unreformed economy (and political system), this windfall obviates any demand to unde

have been jailed, beaten, and sometimes killed. Vladimir Putin has even revived Leonid Brezhnev's notorio

rivate "slush funds." Beyond that, Libya has also reportedly offered Russia a naval base in Benghazi while Syria has offered Moscow a naval base at Tartus. These events suggest that in return for arms sales host states are being pressured to give Moscow access to foreign bases. We have also seen this

ploy the troops, deploy the fact-checkers. Article 3. The Wall Street Journal Russia's Stake in Syria and Iran Melik Kaylan 18, 2012 -- Now that Vladimir Putin has allowed the Russian electorate to rubber-stamp him back into power, he can return with redoubled purpose to his consistently regressive interf

surprised at his obdurate defense of the regimes in Tehran and Damascus speaks volumes. Dictators support dictators, don't they? At this point Mr. Putin apparently doesn't mind much that anyone should include him in that category. After all, if Putinism could be defined by any single principle, if i

yria and Iran Melik Kaylan 18, 2012 -- Now that Vladimir Putin has allowed the Russian electorate to rubb

840328 strategic calculations underpin his support for the Syria-Iran axis. Russia is rebuilding its Soviet-era naval base in the Syrian port of Tartus, which allows Moscow to reassert a plausible Mediterranean threat to NATO. Syria also provides Iran with a front line against Israel via Hezbollah

t wave of protests and uprisings against autocrats is seeing stuff you never imagined you'd see — like, in Moscow last week, when some opponents of Vladimir Putin's decision to become president again, for possibly 12 more years, hung a huge yellow banner on a rooftop facing the Kremlin with Putin's face covere

of Vladimir Putin's decision to become president again, for possibly 12 more years, hung a huge yellow banner on a rooftop facing the Kremlin with Putin's face covered by a big X, next to the words "Putin Go Away" in Russian. The sheer brazenness of such protests and the anger at Prime Minister Put

ike, in Moscow last week, when some opponents of Vladimir Putin's decision to become president again, for

al areas around the city of Lattakia -- where, incidentally, the last remaining Russian military base outside the former Soviet Union, the port of Tartus, happens to be located -- are their strongholds. Indeed, during the French Mandate period, there was a separate Alawite state based on these territ

ject: April 20 update Date: Sun, 20 Apr 2014 17:18:09 +0000 20 April, 2014 Article'. The Boston Globe Obama focuses updated Cold War approach on Putin Peter Baker Article 2. National Post Vladimir Putin's Middle Eastern harvest Conrad Black Article 3. Ny r America's Last Task in Kabul Vali R

7:18:09 +0000 20 April, 2014 Article'. The Boston Globe Obama focuses updated Cold War approach on Putin Peter Baker Article 2. National Post Vladimir Putin's Middle Eastern harvest Conrad Black Article 3. Ny r America's Last Task in Kabul Vali R. Nasr Article 4. Asharq Al-Awsat Palestinian "Pessopti

on Putin Peter Baker Article 2. National Post Vladimir Putin's Middle Eastern harvest Conrad Black Art

ntrymen. Russia ignores European and American disapproval and does what's necessary to maintain its Mediterranean naval base at the Syrian port of Tartus, and pretends to continue as a rival to the power of the United States Sixth Fleet in the Mediterranean. The conduct of the United States has been