Latest Articles about Europe
The 2006 Olympics: Assessing the Threat of Unconventional Attacks
Al-Qaeda’s repeated threats to punish Italy for its continued involvement in Iraq, coupled with the organization’s public pronouncements justifying chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) attacks against its adversaries, may culminate in an attack on Turin, site of the 2006 Winter Olympics. Al-Qaeda and its... MORE
QUESTION MARKS MULTIPLY AFTER RUSSIAN PLANE CRASH IN LITHUANIA
Moscow is stonewalling Lithuania's ongoing investigation into the September 15 crash of a Russian Air Force Su-27 fighter jet deep inside Lithuania (see EDM, September 20). Russian military and political authorities ignore or evade Lithuania's questions about Russian radar data on the plane's flight path,... MORE
UKRAINE’S PRIME MINISTER: QUIET MAN IN, FIERY LADY OUT
In the person of Yuriy Yekhanurov, who Ukraine's parliament approved as new prime minister on September 22, President Viktor Yushchenko has acquired a quiet professional who should run the economy while Yushchenko will tackle constitutional reform and next year's parliamentary race. Yekhanurov shares Yushchenko's vision... MORE
SIGNS DEAL WITH YANUKOVYCH TO GET PRIME MINISTER APPROVED
The Ukrainian parliament confirmed Yuriy Yekhanurov as prime minister on September 22 with 289 votes. His candidacy had been rejected by parliament two days earlier when only 223 members of the 450-seat legislature voted for him (see EDM, September 21). Without enough votes on his... MORE
MOSCOW UNDECIDED ON POLICY TOWARD CRISIS-STRICKEN UKRAINE
The gloating heard in the Kremlin over Kyiv's political troubles is giving way to concern and apprehension. While fully realizing the utmost importance of the current Ukrainian events, Russian strategists appear to be at a loss as to how exactly Moscow should act in order... MORE
TALKS ON YUKOS ASSETS IN LITHUANIA MOVE INTO HIGH GEAR
During his September 16 visit to Washington, Russian President Vladimir Putin held a three-way meeting with ConocoPhillips president James Mulva and Lukoil chairman Vagit Alekperov to discuss, inter alia, a possible partnership of these oil companies with Lithuania. ConocoPhillips and Lukoil are interested in acquiring... MORE
Italian Security and Potential Terrorist Targets
The terror alert level in Italy rose this summer, as a result of the terrorist attacks in London in July. Although Rome has been repeatedly threatened by al-Qaeda for years, and has been consistently spotlighted as a legitimate target, the London bombings have certainly had... MORE
Italy and Islamic Militancy: From Logistics Base to Potential Target
Islamic radicals have been present in Italy in large numbers since 1992, shortly after the defeat of the Red Army in Afghanistan. Like in other European countries, the influx of former mujahideen volunteers from the Arab world had a great impact. Geographically and politically, the... MORE
Is Italy Next In Line After London?
Italy has been on heightened alert since the London attacks in July, as information available to the intelligence community points to the country as one of the most probable targets for al-Qaeda’s next attack. On July 14, Niccolo Pollari, director of the Italian intelligence agency... MORE
YUSHCHENKO PRIME MINISTER NOMINEE REJECTED BY PARLIAMENT
On September 20 the Ukrainian parliament failed to approve Yuriy Yekhanurov as prime minister, seven days after President Viktor Yushchenko submitted his candidacy. Yushchenko disbanded the government headed by Yulia Tymoshenko on September 8 after a corruption crisis engineered by outgoing state secretary Oleksandr Zinchenko... MORE