Two years after the Maidan ‘revolution of dignity’ it is now clear that the Western-backed overthrow of Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych was not a revolution and that it was in vain—however one wishes to characterize it.
Paul Saunders: Where Is the Russia Investigation Going?
Can efforts to protect American democracy end up threatening it? In the ongoing investigations into Russia’s interference in the 2016 presidential election, the answer may well be yes…
Critical Missile Defense Decisions in NATO Europe Expected in 2016 (Defense News)
The year ahead will carve a more defined path for NATO countries looking to upgrade or replace air and missile defense systems. Here’s a look at the state of play in several countries that are close to making critical procurement decisions in a missile defense market projected to be worth more than $100 billion in the next 15 years…
Edward S. Herman: Fake News on Russia and Other Official Enemies
It has been amusing to watch the New York Timesand other mainstream media outlets express their dismay over the rise and spread of “fake news.”
Putin names United States among threats in new Russian security strategy (Reuters)
A new appraisal names the United States as one of the threats to Russia’s national security for the first time, a sign of how relations with the west have deteriorated in recent years.
The document, “About the Strategy of National Security of Russian Federation”, was signed by President Vladimir Putin on New Year’s Eve. It replaces a 2009 version, endorsed by then- President Dmitry Medvedev, the current prime minister, which mentioned neither the United States not NATO.
Leonid Bershidsky: Simpler Explanations Are Usually Correct. Even on Russia.
Recent revelations have simple, credible explanations that are overshadowed by conspiracy theories and hype.
Thank You to Our Readers, Best Wishes for a Happy, Healthy and Peaceful 2016!
Thanks to all our readers and subscribers for your support over the past year; the next edition of the ACEWA Newsletter will be out Monday, January 4.
Happy New Year to All!
Paul Robinson: The International Order
If Mrs May really thinks that Russia is undermining the international order in general and more specifically British democracy, then shouldn’t she be reconsidering Brexit?
Leaders of Ukraine, Russia, France and Germany back extension of Ukraine peace deal (Reuters)
Dec 30 The leaders of Russia, Ukraine, France and Germany have agreed to extend the Minsk peace accord on Ukraine into 2016, the Kremlin said in a statement on Wednesday, following a phone call between the four leaders.
Extension of the agreement was widely expected as a ceasefire has been broadly holding in eastern Ukraine since September, though sporadic clashes have continued between pro-Russian separatists and Ukrainian government forces and many of the agreement’s terms are far from being implemented.
Jordan Michael Smith: Is This Professor ‘Putin’s American Apologist’?
Ronald Suny says Stephen F. Cohen “tries to fight all windmills at once” but adds that he is “rather courageous” and “covers for more timid colleagues”….
Dagestan gunmen kill one at south Russia fortress (BBC)
Gunmen have shot and killed one person and wounded 11 others at the Derbent citadel in Dagestan, a Unesco World Heritage site in the North Caucasus.
A tourist group was attacked on Tuesday night outside the fortress in Derbent, one of Russia’s most ancient towns.
Stephen F. Cohen and John Batchelor: ‘Russiagate’ Zealots (Mainly Democrats) Have Become a Major Threat to US National Security
At an international summit in Vietnam last week, President Trump took necessary steps to reduce the perils of the new Cold War with Russia. Liberal Democrats call it “treasonous.”
In Russia Perhaps Democracy ≠ Liberalism (Paul Robinson)
Professor Paul Robinson examines an article by Dan Healy, the Director of St Antony’s Russian and Eurasian Studies Centre, entitled ‘Irreconcilable Foes? LGBT Russians and their government?’
According to Robinson it contains an interesting lesson about Russian democracy.
Pietro Shakarian: Russia’s Relations with the Kurds
Russia’s cooperation with the Kurds of Iraq and Syria in the fight against ISIL has been widely publicized by the Western media. However, less well-known is the fact that Russia’s relations with various Kurdish groups date back almost two centuries.
Russia releases footage of strikes on ISIS oil tankers (Al-Arabiya)
Russia has released dramatic images of what officials claim to be a successful strikes targeting ISIS’s oil-smuggling tankers in northern Syria, without being more specific on their location.
Part II of Max Blumenthal’s Special Report: McCarthyism Inc: Introducing the Counter-Terror ‘Experts’ Hyping Russian Threats and Undermining Our Civil Liberties
As the government’s crusade against Russian meddling widens, it appears increasingly like a pretext for online surveillance, ramped up securitization of social media and the suppression of dissent.
Russia accuses U.S. of protecting ISIS (Washington Times)
The Russian Defense Ministry is accusing the Pentagon of fighting the Islamic State in ‘word only’ after the U.S. military refused to share targeting and intelligence information with Vladimir Putin’s forces.
Pentagon spokeswoman Michelle Baldanza recently said the U.S. would not “cooperate with Russia on Syria until they change their strategy of supporting Assad and instead focus on ISIL.”
Katrina vanden Heuvel: Registering the Cable Channel RT a Foreign Agent Is a Threat to Press Freedom
Stigmatizing Russian broadcasting is the latest unnecessary escalation in the new Cold War.
Iran ships 25,000lb of low-enriched uranium to Russia as part of nuclear deal (Guardian)
A ship carrying 25,000lb (11,000kg) of low-enriched uranium left Iran for Russiaon Monday, marking one of the most vital steps yet in a high-stakes deal to deny Iran a nuclear weapon.
“I am pleased to report that we have seen important indications of significant progress towards Iran completing its key nuclear commitments under the deal,” Secretary of State John Kerry said.
Part I of Max Blumenthal’s Special Report: Meet Clint Watts, a Dubious Russia Meddling ‘Expert’ Lobbying the U.S. Government to ‘Quell Information Rebellions’
So who is Watts, and how did he emerge seemingly from nowhere to become the star congressional witness on Russian meddling? Dubious expertise, impressive salesmanship.