Latest Articles about Middle East

A New Chemical Arsenal for the Mujahideen?

According to a report in the pan-Arab daily al-Sharq al-Awsat a group called the Jaysh al-Ta'ifa al-Mansura (Army of the Victorious Community), which claims affiliation to al-Qaeda, issued a statement that it had launched an attack on September 13 against some targets in Baghdad with... MORE

Another Algerian Jihadists’ Call to Arms

Despite the high-profile June 4 attack on a Mauritanian military outpost (see Terrorism Focus, Volume II, Issue 11), evidence exists of increasing exasperation among the Algerian jihadis. The reaction to the al-Qaeda murder of two Algerian diplomats in Iraq on July 27 demonstrated how out... MORE

LACKING SUBSTANCE, MOSCOW PREFERS TO TALK TERRORISM

The huge gathering of world leaders under the UN flag last week was generally disappointing, but for Russian President Vladimir Putin it worked out just fine. Moscow is quite content with the unreformed format of the Security Council, where it has one of the five... MORE

MOTHERS OF BESLAN DECLARE WAR AGAINST FEDERAL PROSECUTOR’S OFFICE

While the first anniversary of the September 2004 Beslan hostage tragedy passed peacefully, the tension between residents of Beslan and the Russian authorities is increasing. Initially, it seemed the September 2 meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and representatives from the Mothers of Beslan Committee... MORE

RUSSIAN-ARMENIAN MILITARY EXERCISE ANACHRONISTIC

On September 10-13, Russia and Armenia conducted a tactical military exercise at the Marshal Bagramian training grounds, close to the Armenian-Turkish border. President Robert Kocharian and other Armenian officials attended the final, live-fire stage of the joint exercise. Each side committed a motor-rifle regiment, artillery,... MORE

OSCE VERIFICATION PROCEDURES PROVIDE AMPLE OPPORTUNITIES TO CHEAT

While the OSCE's new framework for the demilitarization of Transnistria is flawed in principle, the proposed verification and inspection system opens more loopholes, and again in Transnistria only, where much is hidden from view. By contrast, right-bank Moldova hardly has combat forces or arms factories,... MORE

RUSSIA-CHINESE BILATERAL PARTNERSHIP FIRMLY BASED ON MILITARY TIES

In the immediate aftermath of Russia's recent joint military exercise with China, the Kremlin lost little time to further boost the bilateral "strategic partnership." Notably, visiting Chinese Defense Minister Cao Gangchuan was received at the highest levels, indicating the growing importance of bilateral military ties.... MORE

PUTIN-SCHROEDER GAS DEAL TIMED TO GERMAN ELECTIONS

Ten days ahead of Germany's parliamentary elections, Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder and Russian President Vladimir Putin attended on September 8 in Berlin the signing of a framework agreement to construct a gas pipeline from Russia directly to Germany along the Baltic seabed. The line would bypass... MORE

RUSSO-GERMAN GAS PACT IN THE BALTICS

On September 8 in Berlin, top executives of Russia's Gazprom and Germany's BASF and E.ON companies signed the framework agreement on the North European Gas Pipeline (NEGP) project. President Vladimir Putin and Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder witnessed the ceremony, as they had the signing of the... MORE