Russia
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 Russian tax officials raid Yukos offices news.ft.com 4/22/4 ["The raid increased fears that the government could bankrupt Yukos in order to confiscate the assets of Mikhail Khodorkovsky, the group's former chief executive and its main shareholder." - check out their capped-pyramid logo]
 Putin made Russia economic giant: claim washingtontimes.com 4/17/4 ["Today, the oil pipelines are more important than silo-based missile launchers. The rivalry of military arsenals has given way to a fierce economic competition on global markets. And Russia has claimed the role of a large and influential player"]
 Russia Revising Great Game Rule Book themoscowtimes.com 4/14/4 [" It seems to envision Russia as the pivot around which the global oil market revolves, the power broker that can tip the balance between OPEC and the United States. And it seems to call for the rapid international expansion of patriotic companies -- both state-owned and private, energy and nonenergy.  In this quest, Putin appears to have the backing of big business."  "exports will likely surge 14 percent this year to 266 million tons, but after that growth will be minimal, around 2 percent per year for several years to come.  Such a move would endear Russia to OPEC and the entire Arab world, analysts said."]
 Putin urges demilitarization of space cnn.com 4/14/4 ["reaffirmed his support for the demilitarization of space but added that Russia must be ready to counter others' moves to the contrary."]
 Russia condemns Israel for assassination threat to Arafat xinhuanet.com 4/3/4 ["the move was against international law and was unacceptable."]
 Russia opposes NATO air patrolling of Baltic republics deepikaglobal.com 3/30/4 ["saying it was ''incomprehensible''.  "He added that Russia would study this issue from a military perspective."]
 Russia Boasts Weapon to Battle Star Wars newsday.com 3/29/4 ["tests conducted during last month's military maneuvers would dramatically change the philosophy behind development of Russia's nuclear forces"]
 Putin says staff of key structures has to be “renovated” itar-tass.com 3/28/4 [hmmm]
Putin Resorting to Cold War Threats insightmag.com ["as land-based missiles arched their way a third of the way around the planet to the warhead target range in the Pacific, and as the bombers followed their dreaded Arctic route to fire cruise missiles over the top of the earth, the reality of the massive exercise was clear: The threat of Cold War nuclear extermination is as real as ever."  "Bezopastnost-2004, as the strategic command and staff exercise was called, was a mock nuclear attack on the United States"  "The Russian government is deploying the modern Topol-M even as the United States provides Moscow with resources to dismantle its obsolete and deteriorating nuclear missiles"]
In Putin, a return to the rule of the strongman roanoke.com ["Putin has muzzled national TV networks, reigned in parliament, empowered KGB cronies and thrown the richest oligarch in jail for clearly political reasons."]
Russian nuclear ship 'could explode' abc.net.au [disinformation?]
Russia to provide aid for Serbs itar-tass.com 3/20/4 ["Putin has described the Kosovo developments as ethnic purges."]
Russia Re-Elects Putin cbsnewyork.com 3/15/4 ["Putin went on to promise to ensure further economic growth, strengthen civil society and media freedom. "All the democratic achievements will be guaranteed," he said.  All Russian television stations are now back under state control, and Putin's former KGB colleagues sit in key government positions."]
Taking democracy out of Russia mercurynews.com ["Putin's inner circle shows its muscle"]
Russians Show Mixed Reactions to Cabinet Shake-Up voanews.com
Putin unveils streamlined cabinet news.ft.com ["while highlighting his own firm grip on decision-making."  "also gives the Kremlin greater leverage in driving through its policies."  "warned that the absence of checks and balances undermined its likely effectiveness."]
Russia-NATO joint military exercises to begin Today english.peopledaily.com.cn ["As a result of the experts' practical interaction a database for large-scope joint exercises scheduled for 2005 is to be set up."]
Russia: Military's state `beyond critical' miami.com [hmmm...]
Press: Pick Lets Putin Tighten His Grip themoscowtimes.com 3/2/4 ["intended to strengthen his already nearly absolute power, newspapers said Tuesday.  'The president's message is quite clear -- he is assuming even more powers and is going to decide things by himself'"  "All this means Russia no longer needs a government. The president will guide the Cabinet personally"]
Russia exported $5.6 billion arms last year dailytimes.com.pk 3/1/4 ["Exports were up 15 percent from the previous year’s foreign sales... main markets were China and India"]
US concerned by Putin's power push theage.com.au 3/1/4 ["worrying developments... as a "strong presidency" without a counter-balance; a Duma, or parliament, with little influence; a justice system that many thought was losing its independence, and a media increasingly under state control."]
Putin: Military Must Fix Flaws Exposed In Exercises rferl.org 3/1/4 ["new exercises, possibly on a smaller scale, should be planned so that he can make sure all problems have been solved." - sure]
Putin Lashes Out at Military Shortcomings newsday.com 3/1/4 ["he would like to personally see proof that the flaws have been fixed -- an apparent indication that he wants to watch repeat missile launches."]
Russia Tests New Wonder Weapon wired.com 2/25/4 ["capable of penetrating any prospective missile shield" - chances are it is already perfected, if they are willing to even discuss it]
Russian President Fires Entire Government customwire.ap.org 2/24/04 ["dismissed his prime minister and all other Cabinet ministers Tuesday, saying he reshuffled the government in preparation for next month's presidential vote."  "...veterans of the KGB - have increasingly consolidated power in the Kremlin"]
Putin: Russia has no aggressive goals, imperial ambitions itar-tass.com 2/22/4
Russia Says New Missile Will Beat Any U.S. Defenses reuters.com 2/20/4
Russia Tests Anti-Missile Defense Device newsday.com 2/19/4 ["gave few details about the device tested Wednesday, but said it was a hypersonic vehicle -- one that moves at more than five times the speed of sound -- that could maneuver in orbit."]
Russian navy fails again in test-firing ballistic missile hinduonnet.com 2/18/4 [DISTRACTION! - The two that failed were not the new SS-19 (which worked fine), but older ones (16 RSM-54).  Is this a distraction to make people think Russian technology is not that great?  "Russia also launched its deadly SS-19 (Stiletto) inter-continental ballistic missile and Topol-M (Cycle) missile"  (see our at-length discussion on the mainpage)]
Putin's missile show blows up in his face smh.com.au 2/18/4 [I think not!  Putin: "He has also pledged to preside over a return to the days when Russia was a global power. Last week he said the collapse of the Soviet Union had been a "national tragedy of enormous scale'"]
Russia Plans New Generation of Weapons abcnews.go.com 2/18/4 ["capable of hitting targets continents away at hypersonic speed, with high precision and the ability of broad maneuver both in terms of altitude and direction of their flight"  "'Modern Russia has no imperial ambitions or hegemonist strivings,' he said"]
Putin Watches As Missile Launch Fails abcnews.go.com 2/17/4 ["The Russian military has dismissed media reports that the exercises closely resemble Soviet-era simulations of an all-out nuclear war with the United States... At the same time, the military said the exercises reflect Moscow's concerns about U.S. plans to develop new types of nuclear weapons"]
NATO and Russia to start "nuclear war" simultaneously pravda.ru 2/14/04 ["Russian Armed Forces began staff training of strategic nuclear weaponry"  "in 2004 and 2005 Russia will conduct a joined training program with NATO in the sphere of anti-missile defense"]
Defying U.S., Russia set to give Iran nuclear fuel seattletimes.nwsource.com 2/14/04 ["Twice in the past month Russia has dealt a blow to the Bush administration's efforts to limit the spread of nuclear fuels and curtail trafficking in weapons of mass destruction."]
Russian candidate 'was kidnapped' bbc.co.uk ["After what happened in Kiev, I am convinced that this election is a game without rules and it can end for me without ever beginning"]
Russia to launch nuclear deterrence exercise: Putin xinhuanet.com 2/12/4 ["most notable over the past few years in Russia was that the country has attained financial independence and stabilization of the national currency."]
A political farce in Russia iht.com 2/11/4 ["One of a handful of politicians who have joined in an utterly hopeless challenge to President Vladimir Putin"]
Experts Warn of Accidental U.S., Russian Missile Launches nti.org 2/3/4 ["'Scratch Russia from the list of enemies, as it should be, and all justification for maintaining a large U.S. nuclear arsenal evaporates,' Blair said." - funny, I don't remember Russia having the same sentiments toward us.]
Russia progresses in accession to WTO – Gref itar-tass.com 1/31/4
Russia planning maneuvers of its nuclear forces next month sfgate.com 1/31/4 ["preparing their largest maneuvers in two decades, an exercise involving the test-firing of missiles and flights by dozens of bombers in a massive simulation of an all-out nuclear war."  "planned maneuvers would involve several launches of intercontinental ballistic missiles"]
Powell tells Russians that U.S. military is no threat indystar.com 1/28/04
Powell Troubled by Russia Democracy, Foreign Policy news.myway.com 1/26/04 ["underscored widespread concerns the Kremlin is turning increasingly autocratic..."  "he said Russian politics were not sufficiently subject to the rule of law..."]
Russia Deploys Fresh Batch of Missiles ap.org 12/22/03 ["describing them as a '21st-century weapon' unrivaled in the world."  "six Topol-Ms were deployed Sunday."]
Russia Steps up Weapons Sales to China crosswalk.com 12/19/03 ["$2 billion worth of Russian military hardware and technologies"]
US resorts to excessive use of force, says Russia dawn.com 11/19/3 ["We considered and still consider the war in Iraq a mistake. The latest events confirmed our view,"]
Israel: Geneva Agreement To Be Mailed To Every Home israelnationalnews.com 11/14/3
A new way to handle nuclear buildup csmonitor.com 11/9/3 [Russia and US]
Putin reaffirms Russia's right to preemptive strikes news.yahoo.com 11//5/3 ["...Russia can resort to preemptive military strikes because the policy is also practiced by the United States."  "...SS-19 intercontinental ballistic missiles that had never previously deployed -- and were thus not part of disarmament negotiations..."   "...perfect weapon for breaking through a potential missile defense shield"]
No Russian troops to Iraq: Putin hindustantimes.com 11/5/3 ["...latest United Nations resolution had fallen short of creating conditions for Moscow's involvement"]
Russia May Soon Join NATO pravda.ru 11/3/3
Russia to Build New Ballistic Missile ["...would be able to overcome planned missile defense systems"] ajc.com 10/23/3
Russia Has Lost its Army pravda.ru 10/23/3
Russia to increase oil export to China: Putin peopledaily.com.cn 10/20/3
Torture now routine for Putin's police observer.guardian.co.uk 10/20/3
Military drill for Russian pupils guardian.co.uk 10/14/3 [Putin: admits "he puts the strength of the state above even democracy"]
Russia bares its military teeth bbc.co.uk 10/5/3 [pre-emptive strikes justified...  "unrivalled" nuclear missles]
New Foreign Policy Year For Russia And The World pravda.ru 9/13/3 ["..to choose a model of world order.."]
Russia test intercontinental missile iribnews.com 9/3/3
Putin Supports UN Force in Iraq  themoscowtimes.com 9/1/3
Russia to Deliver Attack Against the USA: A Training One pravda.ru 8/26/3 [how come we don't do this?]
North Korea threat has Russia rearming worldnetdaily.com 8/10/3 [good details on Russia's [Gog] military upgrading, esp. navy]
Russia, Iran get ready to intensify work of North-South transport corridor newsfromrussia.com 8/7/3
Vladimir Putin Approves Pacific Ocean Manoeuvres Scheduled for August iraqwar.ru 7/10/3
Russian, French nuke subs joint exercise expatica.com 7/10/3 [Russia & NATO-country joint excercise!]
Russian nuclear subs never stopped patrolling world ocean itar-tass.ru 7/17/3