Europe

By Anna Shamanska | ( RFE/RL) | – – Support among Russians for military intervention in Syria has more than doubled, to 31 percent in early October from 14 percent in September, according to independent pollster Levada Center. The increase comes with coverage of air strikes filling Russian state airwaves, press, and the Internet, and […]

Iraq

The Mideast’s New Cold War: Why Russia won’t Defeat Iraq’s Extremists

contributors

By Mustafa Habib | Baghdad | (Niqash.org) | – – Since the announcement of a new military alliance including Russia, locals have been trading arguments. Could Iraq become the stage for a new “Cold War”? And how effective can this coalition really be? For many Iraqis, the news that came last week of an alliance […]

Russia

Putin’s Syria Strikes Irk some among Russia’s 16 mn. Muslims, Raise Risks

contributors

By Tom Balmforth | RFE/ RL MOSCOW — With its soaring minarets and golden dome, the huge new mosque that President Vladimir Putin opened in Moscow late last month was welcomed by Muslims as a sign of their greater acceptance in mostly Christian Russia. Days later, some worshippers voiced dismay over the Kremlin’s campaign of […]

Featured

In final Failure for Bush/Cheney, many in Iraq seek Russian Alliance

Juan Cole

By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | – – The Iraqi government in Baghdad, threatened by Daesh (ISIS, ISIL) and frustrated by the Obama administration’s foot-dragging in taking it on, seems increasingly tempted by a Russia alliance. Leaders of the Iraqi Shiite militias visited Moscow this week to seek Russian airstrikes against Daesh, according to […]

Featured

What is Russia’s Strategy in Syria & Why does Egypt Approve?

Juan Cole

By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | – – Russian MiGs for the first time on Wednesday gave close air support to the Syrian Arab Army as it attacked rebels north of Homs. The Russians also continued their airstrikes against rebel-held Idlib Province. And, the Russians for the first time launched cruise missiles from warships […]

Afghanistan

If Russia is Region’s new Gun for Hire, Afghanistan Warlord wants to Bring it In

Juan Cole

By Frud Bezhan | (RFE/ RL) | – – With the Taliban threatening to overrun large parts of Afghanistan, First Vice President Abdul Rashid Dostum is seeking help from an old ally — Russia. h/t Wikipedia A graduate of the Soviet Military Academy and a general in the Soviet-backed Afghan army, Dostum is hoping his […]

Corporate Surveillance

Citing NSA Spying, Euro Court of Justice Forbids Auto-Sharing of Personal Info

contributors

Danny O’Brien | (Electronic Frontier Foundation) | – – The spread of knowledge about the NSA’s surveillance programs has shaken the trust of customers in U.S. Internet companies like Facebook, Google, and Apple: especially non-U.S. customers who have discovered how weak the legal protections over their data is under U.S. law. It should come as […]

Russia

Syria: Russians volunteering to fight ISIL alongside Leftist Kurds

contributors

By Tom Balmforth and Dmitry Volchek | ( RFE/RL) Bondo Dorovskikh traveled to eastern Ukraine last year to join separatists in their war against Kyiv. He soon quit the rebels in disillusionment because they turned out to be more like a “criminal gang” — not what Russian TV promised. He mulled switching sides, but was […]

Featured

Facing ISIL Propaganda, Russia Denies its Syria Campaign is a “Holy War”

Juan Cole

By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | – – Remember when George W. Bush lapsed and called his Iraq War a “crusade?” He had to back off that religious rhetoric really quickly because he needed Muslim allies. Now the Russian Orthodox Church has made a similar error. Archpriest Vsevolod Chaplin said that his church supports […]