Dinamo Minsk @ Sibir Novosibirsk
The new team from Belarus visits Siberia for the first time.

SKA St. Petersburg @ Salavat Yulayev Ufa
In the match of the day last year's RSL champions host Gazprom's powerhouse SKA coached by Barry Smith. And yes, Alexander Radulov is playing for Salavat.

He has not provided specific information as to the identity of this American however my sources tell me that it belonged to a nine year old girl who is suspected of belonging  to the 'counter revolutionary' ''organization known as the 'Girl Scouts'. An obvious CIA operative who's work poses a very grave and serious threat to the Russian Empire and it's "HUMBLE' and "PEACE LOVING' citizens. Russia is considering a full scale invasion of the Baltic and Surrounding Slavic Nations as a necessary step to remove similar subversive organizations from within the boundaries of their coveted sphere of influence.

Additional souces tell me that a plastic bow and arrow were also found by his merry men. The rubber suction cup tip was removed and is clear that an attempt was made to sharpen the end. This is more evidence that the Americans are training the Georgian people in the art of warfare and will not be tollerated.

Russian secret police have also uncovered evidence that a six year old Polish boy was seen carrying a "SHIELD" which was cleaverly disguised as a metal waste can cover. The defensive object was made in America. Russian officails are infuriated by this obvious threat to Russia's plan to expand it's empire and impose 'Russia GOOD WILL' on it's neighbors. A nuclear response may be neccessary.

A request has been made for Russian President Dmitry Medvedev to offer his interpretation of such shocking evidence. He was not available for comment because he was buisy licking Putin's shoes.

It is quite obvious to those of us in the FREE WORLD that Russia is not an 'EQUAL'. Most of Russia's hatred is directed at the United States of America. This hatred is the product of their insane jealousy for the respect and admiration that the U.S. has and continues to receive from the vast majority of the worlds population. Of course there are thos who have made it their goal to attempt to destroy America's immage and would spew forth a flood of unfounded criticizms and lies in order to satify their own twisted sense of justifications. But the fact remains that since the early days of the establishment of the United States of America, people have flocked to her shores by the millions. Many millions actually fled from Russian domination and oppression (Many more were worked until dealth or brutally murdered).This is a thorn in Russia's side. HOW DARE THEY!

Until such a time comes that MILLIONS of people willingly and wantingly desire to become part of Russia, Russia will never be an 'Equal'.

Russia's only true enemy is Russia.

It probably never has crossed the mind of Russians that in order to receive respect you must first 'EARN RESPECT' It is not a gift to be layed at your feet because you are powerful.

Russian 'EGO' prevents them from even understanding such truths.

TRUTH is not to be found in the Russian vocabulary.

 
U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney (L) meets Ukraine's Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko in Kiev September 5, 2008.REUTERS/Alexander Prokopenko (UKRAINE)

Cheney says in remarks Friday that Ukrainians should be able to live "without the threat of tyranny, economic blackmail and military invasion or intimidation." He says the United States has a "deep and abiding interest" in Ukraine's security.

Cheney spoke after meeting with President Viktor Yushchenko. Cheney's visit to Ukraine and two other ex-Soviet republics signaled that the United States will continue cultivating close ties in the region.

That's even after Russia showed it was willing to use military force against countries along its border.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.

KIEV, Ukraine (AP) — U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney met with top Ukrainian leaders Friday, calling their country's relationship with the United States "very important," as Washington sought to reassure its allies in former Soviet states following Russia's war with Georgia.

Sitting down with Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko, Cheney praised the changes he saw since he was last in Ukraine 20 years ago.

"There have been remarkable changes," he said. "My delegation and I are grateful for the hospitality. This is indeed a very important relationship between Kiev, Ukraine, and the United States."

Yushchenko, meanwhile, emphasized that he shared the United States' critical view of Russian military intervention in Georgia. Yushchenko has been among Russia's harshest critics in the aftermath of the five-day war last month.

"We value our strategic bilateral relationship highly," Yushchenko said. "On the majority of the issues, including Georgia, we have an understanding with the United States."

He added he believed the conflict over Georgia's two separatists regions could be resolved peacefully.

Earlier Friday, Cheney met with Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko. According to Tymoshenko's aides, the two leaders discussed regional security and stability, as well as efforts to diversify energy supplies.

Read the rest:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080905/ap_on_re_eu/
ukraine_us_cheney;_ylt=AjSXG45Qu.6ipEFQC2uAcS6s0NUE

The magic of coming of age is surely witnessed in the visual saturation of color, a mirror of the absolute self-absorbed nature of a youth culture exploring casual sexuality, drugs, wealth, and the lack of traditional oversite that would have restricted this sort of "me first" behavior fifteen years ago.

The flip side of this youthful consumption is perhaps the sinister reality of human abuse, lost identity and the dislocation that is associated with the transition from youthful indulgance to mature appriciation.

Gerd's face to face perspective is that of a friend and participant in the experience. These images are not created from outside but alongside as Moscow experiments and binges. Seeing the story I feel the moments as though my friends and I are feeling the sounds the smells and the taiste of the night. The kind of euphoria you gush with before you've had too much and the desire and drinks go sour in your mouth.

This is a first-hand account of a city and a culture coming of age and exploring it's boundries and limits. These images make me feel like I'm sharing in a moment not reviewing the coverage of an event.

Please forgive the spelling and mistaken words, I'm writing from an iPhone driving to a shoot.

Regards, Michel

I also saw an old woman working out of a repair stall, possibly for shoes although I couldn't tell from where I was. That in itself is nothing unusual. What struck me that her stall was a (hopefully) disused port-a-potty. Of course with rents being what they are in this fair city, I'm sure she still has to pay the equivalent of $1500/mo for her "office".

Once I actually got to the metro station and inside the car to that undisclosed location where I was headed, I noticed a stray dog just casually exiting the train and walking into the station. It stopped for a moment, presumably to figure out where the exit or transfer point was. I hope it made it to wherever it was going, but I'm curious how much it had to pay for the privilege. Perhaps not being human gives one some sort of discount from the kindly babushkas sitting at the ticket counters.

All in all, a very strange but highly amusing morning.

Oh, if anyone can tell me what the function of OMOH is, I'd appreciate it.

Putin is in possession of "smoking gun" documents detailing the Israeli Mossad's foiled plot to assassinate Democratic presidential nominee Senator Barack Obama.

___________

Treason-Gate Continues on ALL Fronts

by Tom Heneghan
International Intelligence Expert

Wednesday September 3, 2008

United States of America -- It can now be reported that Vice President, i.e. resident, Dick Cheney, has traveled to Georgia, the Ukraine and Azerbaijan to BRIBE and offer direct cash payments to Russian Federation President Vladimir Putin.

Putin is in possession of "smoking gun" documents detailing the Israeli Mossad's foiled plot to assassinate Democratic presidential nominee Senator Barack Obama.

Obama recently received evidence detailing the full extent of the Bush-Clinton-Gary Best Inc.-Israeli Mossad "TRUE COLORS" assassination and black ops teams loose on American soil.

Note: The unelectable Obama recently received a massive cash BRIBE to go along with the election fix, which will result in a John McCain presidency.

Item: The bribery money derives from STOLEN Wanta-Reagan-Mitterrand Protocol funds.

Related:

Bush 41, Clinton 42, Bush 43 are Paid Out, then Renege

By Christopher Story

http://worldreports.org/news/165_bush_41_clinton_42_bush_43_are_paid_out_then_renege

Note: Republican presidential nominee John McCain is the noted Federal Reserve "Keating 5" bank dick who now uses his wife Cindy to hide STOLEN U.S. Treasury funds in offshore 1241 corporations.

Related:

AND IT GETS WORSE!

At this hour, at least 5 nuclear weapons are unaccounted for on American soil, and in all probability, are in the hands of the Bush-Clinton-Gary Best Inc.-Israeli Mossad "TRUE COLORS" operational teams.

There is still a strong chance that this gang of filth will trigger a FALSE FLAG terrorist attack(s) on American soil should there be a possibility that the election might actually become competitive.

Remember folks, it was homosexual in-the-closet Jon Meacham of Newsweek magazine, (202) 626-2000, along with British Intelligence, the Israeli Mossad and the U.S. NSA (National Security Agency), that scripted the Democratic primary of having two northern liberals, i.e. an unelectable African-American from Illinois, Barack Obama, run against an unelectable lesbian in-the-closet and polarizing loser Hillary Rodenhurst Clinton, from the ultra liberal state of New York, as to assure a Republican presidential victory.

Again, when it comes to Democratic presidential nominees over the last forty years, if you don't come from the South there is no chance you will ever go to the house, i.e. the White House.

P.S. In reference to last night's Republican national convention, the two major speakers were ratfink and Israeli Mossad asset Joseph Lieberman and homosexual in-the-closet and Bush-Clinton Crime Family puppet Fred Thompson.

Let us not forget that ratfink Lieberman, along with his Mossad fundraiser Mel Sembler, knew IN ADVANCE of the 2000 presidential election of the Baypoint School-Jeb Bush-Katherine Harris TREASONOUS criminal conspiracy to STEAL the 2000 election and keep over 30,000 legally registered Florida voters from exercising their Constitutional right to vote.

Item: Over 30,000 African-Americans were ILLEGALLY classified as convicted felons two weeks before the November 2000 election and therefore not allowed to cast their vote for then Vice President, now duly elected, non-inaugurated President Albert Gore Jr.

Related:

Florida's Disappeared Voters': Disfranchised by the GOP

By Gregory Palast

http://www.thenation.com/doc/20010205/palast

h

Ratfink and KHAZARIAN Jew Joe Lieberman remains a Bush-Clinton Crime Family stooge and takes his orders directly from his Mossad handler, former Israeli Prime Minister, mega ZIONIST Benjamin Netanyahu.

Before we close this briefing let's not forget homosexual in-the-closet Fred Thompson conspired with former Clinton alleged Independent Counsel Kenneth Starr, Washington Post Editor Bob Woodward and unelectable loser Hillary Rodenhurst Clinton to cover up the Bush-Clinton-Iran/Contra-AmeriChina Global Management Group Ltd criminal narcotic and arms trafficking laundry tied to Mena, Arkansas in the 1980s.

Closet homosexual Fred Thompson, along with Ken Starr and Bob Woodward, helped cover up the assassination of former Clinton White House Counsel turned FBI informant, Vince Foster.

Bush-Clinton Crime Family Syndicate

Bagman and Fixer ZIONIST Marc Rich

Then Senator Fred Thompson kept secret and hid from his investigating committee the fact that then Vice President Albert Gore Jr. tried to have Bush-Clinton bagman and fixer, Marc Rich, arrested in 1993.

It was the Bush-Clinton-Gary Best Inc.-Israeli Mossad "TRUE COLORS" gang that stopped Vice President Gore's efforts to arrest Rich.

Note: It was then Vice President Albert Gore Jr., Ambassador Leo Wanta, former FBI Director William Sessions, General Vernon Walters, the late French President Francois Mitterrand, and the late White House Counsel turned FBI informant, Vince Foster, that all tried to have Marc Rich arrested.

Homosexual in-the-closet Thompson actually kept secret from the Congressional committee, of which he was Chairman, the signed arrest warrant by Vice President Gore and the European Red Notice against Marc Rich.

Reference: Again, it was daddy Bush's little bitch, SERIAL RAPIST and AIDS positive Bill Clinton, that pardoned Marc Rich; and it was Marc Rich's attorney, convicted felon Scooter Libby, who was then pardoned by occupunk Bushfraud.

Guess who was the head of Scooter Libby's defense fund, that is right folks, homosexual in-the-closet Fred Thompson together with ratfink and KHAZARIAN Jew Joe Lieberman's major fundraiser, ZIONIST Mel Sembler.

HOW DARE YOU, YOU CONSPIRATORIAL TYRANTS AND

KINGS AND NOTABLE QUEENS!

Final note: Neither Thompson, Lieberman or tonight's speaker at the Republican convention, Rudy Giuliani, ever won a primary. They are all three gigantic losers.

Again folks, we do not need any election farce as this 2008 election has become.

Getty Images

We have already had an election that has not been adjudicated.

Eight years later Albert Gore Jr. of Tennessee, still remains the duly elected, non-inaugurated President of the United States of America.

. . .

"Al Qaeda is nothing more than an extension of the apparatus linked to U.S. intelligence that was allowed, by script, to remove itself as a rogue breakaway entity of the U.S. government; allowed to de-compartmentalize from oversight, and was run instead by Gary Best's rogue black ops specialists for scripted activity outside the U.S. government, with its funding being orchestrated through the Pakistani secret police—an entity of the U.S. government." Tom Heneghan, International Intelligence Expert

"The Bush-Clinton Crime Family Syndicate and ALL of their co-conspirators face unprecedented, monumental prosecutions for massive HIGH TREASON against the American People;

thus, before the 2008 election, they are plotting 'False Flag Attacks' in the U.S. with expectations of nullifying and eradicating individual and States rights and freedoms protected by the U.S. Constitution,

via martial law and subjugation of the American People,

in order to stay in control of the compromised U.S. Justice Department to continue sealing and hiding Federal Grand Jury (We the People) indictments from the American People and avoid convictions and public punishment with due prejudice." Tom Heneghan, International Intelligence Expert

http://bush-hitler.com/Graphics/Liberty.jpg

..http://www.ushistory.org/brandywine/images/sold06.gif

Lafayette remains at Brandywine and Albert Gore Jr. remains the REAL president of the United States.

Non-inaugurated, duly elected

President Albert Gore Jr.

AP by Charlie Neibergall

TOM HENEGHAN'S EXPLOSIVE INTELLIGENCE BRIEFINGS

International Intelligence Expert, Tom Heneghan, has hundreds of highly credible sources inside American and European Intelligence Agencies and INTERPOL -- reporting what is REALLY going on behind the scenes of the controlled mainstream media cover up propaganda of on-going massive deceptions and illusions.

GOD BLESS AND SAVE AMERICA,

LAND THAT WE LOVE

EVER VIGILANT 24/7

ONE NATION UNDER GOD

Homosexual gays and lesbians who are "IN-THE-CLOSET" are a MAJOR THREAT TO NATIONAL SECURITY being vulnerable to blackmail and extortion by self-serving, hostile entities against the safety, security, sovereignty and best interests of the American People.

Patriotic, God-loving, peaceful Jewish People are NOT the same as the war mongering ZIONIST KHAZARIAN Jews.

NOTICE: Occasionally the Bush-Clinton Crime Family Syndicate controlled NSA and FBI Division 5 and/or Israeli Mossad, invade this intelligence blog changing or removing images, pictures and phraseology and even disconnect the link from the internet for the purpose of trying to keep you, the American People, ill-informed.

Make special note of the pics and images they remove off these intelligence briefings and/or are scrubbing off the internet.

http://blog.myspace.com/tom_heneghan_intel

El presidente George W. Bush se prepara para castigar al gobierno de Rusia por invadir Georgia mediante la cancelación de un acuerdo _muy celebrado en su momento_ de cooperación nuclear con fines civiles entre Washington y Moscú.

Al estar las relaciones entre los dos países en un nivel casi similar al de la Guerra Fría por la decisión de Rusia de invadir a su vecina Georgia el mes pasado, ya se desarrollan planes en la Casa Blanca en torno a una medida mayoritariamente simbólica del gobierno de Bush, de acuerdo con funcionarios gubernamentales de alto nivel que solicitaron permanecer anónimos debido a que la decisión aún no es definitiva.

La acción deberá ocurrir rápidamente, quizás en unos cuantos días, y las autoridades no vieron la necesidad de esperar hasta que el vicepresidente Dick Cheney regrese el miércoles próximo de un viaje al exterior que incluye escalas en tres repúblicas ex soviéticas.

La cancelación el acuerdo del Capitoli tendría en realidad muy poco impacto real, pues el convenio casi seguramente no sería aprobado por el Congreso durante la presidencia de Bush.

Sin embargo, el tomar la decisión en forma pública de retirarse del acuerdo sería un acto encaminado a enviarle un mensaje a Rusia y al resto del mundo en el sentido de que las acciones realizadas por soldados rusos en Georgia el mes pasado eran inaceptables y no se quedarían sin respuesta.

Para ello, Bush necesitaría enviar una declaración al Congreso en el que exprese que el acuerdo "ya no es de interés para la seguridad nacional" de Estados Unidos.

El próximo presidente estadounidense podría cambiar de parecer y enviar el acuerdo de vuelta al Congreso.

El acuerdo, suscrito en mayo por los dos países, había sido presentado por el gobierno estadounidense como un avance sin precedente.

Se le considera crucial para mejorar las relaciones con Rusia, pero algunos legisladores expresaron su desconfianza en Moscú, aún antes de la invasión de Rusia a Georgia.

By STEVE GUTTERMAN, Associated Press Writer

TBILISI, Georgia - Demonstrating Washington's commitment to beleaguered Georgia, U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney flew in Thursday and condemned Russia for what he called an "illegitimate, unilateral attempt" to redraw Georgia's borders by force.

 
Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili, right, and US Vice President Dick Cheney seen during their news conference on in Tbilisi, Georgia, Thursday, Sept. 4, 2008. U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney condemned Russia on Thursday for what he called an 'illegitimate, unilateral attempt' to change Georgia's borders by force. Speaking during a closely watched trip to this U.S.-allied South Caucasus nation, Cheney also assured Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili that the United States was 'fully committed' to his country's efforts to join NATO.(AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)

Speaking during a closely watched trip to this U.S.-allied South Caucasus nation, Cheney also assured Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili that the United States was "fully committed" to his country's efforts to join NATO.

"Georgia will be in our alliance," Cheney said.

One of the U.S. administration's most hawkish figures and a longtime critic of Russia, Cheney was visiting three ex-Soviet republics that are nervous about Moscow's intentions — Georgia, Azerbaijan and Ukraine.

His trip signaled to Moscow that the United States will continue to cultivate close ties with Georgia and its neighbors even after Russia showed it was not afraid to use its military against countries along its border.

"America will do its duty to work with the governments of Georgia and our other friends and allies to protect our common interests and to uphold our values," Cheney said in a joint appearance with Saakashvili.

"Russia's actions have cast grave doubts on Russia's intentions and on its reliability as an international partner," Cheney added.

Read the rest:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080904/ap_on_re_eu/
georgia_us;_ylt=Aq41pHZPmCkncGLeYldsDlis0NUE

______

Video - 03/09/08

US tries to create an 'iron curtain' around Russia

F William Engdahl: US in decline as Russia asserts its rising power

The US provoked Russia to respond militarily and the US as the dominant power is beginning to stumble and "to look desperately for ways to hold on to that power.

President Dimitri Medvedev criticized the European Union for having a biased approach in regards to the Georgian conflict. Medvedev however stated that the EU acted in a rational manner by not implementing sanctions against the Russian Federation. F William Engdahl believes the EU response mirrors its dependence on Russian oil and gas. Engdahl goes on to further state that the US provoked Russia to respond militarily and the US as the dominant power is beginning to stumble and "to look desperately for ways to hold on to that power."
Bio

F William Engdahl is an economist and author and the writer of the best selling book "A Century of War: Anglo-American Oil Politics and the New World Order." Mr Engdhahl has written on issues of energy, politics and economics for more than 30 years, beginning with the first oil shock in the early 1970s. Mr. Engdahl contributes regularly to a number of publications including Asia Times Online, Asia, Inc, Japan's Nihon Keizai Shimbun, Foresight magazine; Freitag and ZeitFragen newspapers in Germany and Switzerland respectively. He is based in Germany.

Source: http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article20682.htm

_______________

Russia boosts Topol ICBM to beat U.S. defenses
By MARTIN SIEFF
UPI Senior News Analyst
Published: Sept. 3, 2008 at 12:53 PM
WASHINGTON, Sept. 3 (UPI) -- Russia announced another successful test launch of its RS-12M Topol intercontinental ballistic missile last week.

The road-mobile Topol ICBM was test-fired from Russia's most modern Plesetsk space center Thursday and covered a distance of 3,700 miles to strike its preplanned target on the Kamchatka Peninsula facing the North Pacific Ocean, RIA Novosti reported Thursday.

The ICBM -- NATO designation SS-25 Sickle -- was prepared for firing by a combined task force drawn from Russia's Strategic Missile Forces and its Space Forces, the report said.

The exercise was carried out not only to evaluate the ICBM's flight characteristics and extreme accuracy but also to explore the capabilities of a new warhead that had been installed on it to penetrate modern anti-ballistic missile defenses, RIA Novosti said.

"An experimental warhead hit a target at a testing range on the Kamchatka Peninsula with high precision, demonstrating its capability to deliver pinpoint strikes on well-defended targets," Col. Alexander Vovk stated, according to the report.

"The performance data gathered during the test launch will be used to increase the effectiveness of future Russian mobile ballistic missile units," Vovk said.

RIA Novosti also quoted Vovk as saying that the Topol, whose service life last year was stated to be 21 years, was still the mainstay of Russia's mobile strategic missile forces.

RIA Novosti said the Russian missile forces currently were engaged in a program to upgrade the offensive penetration capabilities of their ICBMs in reaction to the Bush administration's drive to deploy Ground-Based Mid-course Interceptors in Poland. The U.S. government wants to deploy those missiles to guard against any future Iranian ICBM threat to the United States or Western Europe, but Russia maintains the real purpose of the deployment is to neutralize any survivable second-strike capability by its own domestically deployed ICBM force.

The report quoted Vovk as saying the most cost-effective and rapidly practical way to allow Topol ICBMs to escape U.S. missile defense systems was to apply asymmetrical capabilities to them.

"These measures include enhanced 'stealth' capability, a variability of flight trajectory and the use of warheads capable of penetrating any missile shield," he stated.

RIA Novosti said the RS-12M Topol could reach a maximum range of 6,125 miles with a payload of one 550-kiloton nuclear warhead. It said last Thursday's Topol test firing was the first in nearly nine months. The last such exercise occurred on Dec. 8, 2007.

Source: http://www.upi.com/Security_Industry/2008/09/03/Russia_boosts_Topol_ICBM_to_beat_US_defenses/UPI-27361220460797/

____________

A Major War: Not Just Rumors

By Srdja Trifkovic

Global Research, September 3, 2008
chroniclesmagazine.org

The crisis in relations between the United States and Russia over Georgia heralds a particularly dangerous period in world affairs: the era of asymmetrical multipolarity. A major war between two or more major powers is more likely in this configuration than in any other model of global balance known to history. The most stable system is bipolarity based on the doctrine of Mutual Assured Destruction (MAD), which was prevalent from the 1950s until the end of the Cold War. The awareness of both superpowers that they would inflict severe and unavoidable reciprocal damage on each other or their allies in a nuclear war was coupled with the acceptance that each had a sphere of dominance or vital interest that should not be infringed upon.

With Brest-Litovsk and the Barbarossa in mind, Stalin "intended to turn the countries conquered by Soviet armies into buffer zones to protect Russia" (Kissinger). The Western equivalent, also essentially defensive, was defined by the Truman Doctrine (1947) Proxy wars were fought in the grey zone all over the Third World, most notably in the Middle East, but they were kept localized even when a superpower was directly involved (Vietnam, Afghanistan). This model was the product of unique circumstances without an adequate historical precedent, however, which are unlikely to be repeated in the foreseeable future.

The most stable model of international relations that is both historically recurrent and structurally repeatable in the future is the balance of power system in which no single great power is either physically able or politically willing to seek hegemony. This model was prevalent from the Peace of Westphalia (1648) until Napoleon, from Waterloo until around 1900, and from Versailles until 1933. It demands a relative equilibrium between the key powers (usually five to seven) that hold each other in check and function within a recognized set of rules that has come to be known as "international law." Wars between great powers do occur, but they are limited in scope and intensity because the warring parties tacitly accept the fundamental legitimacy and continued existence of their opponent(s).

If one of the powers becomes markedly stronger than others and if its decision-making elite internalizes an ideology that demands or at least justifies hegemony, the inherently unstable system of asymmetrical multipolarity will develop. In all three known instances—Napoleonic France after 1799, the Kaiserreich from around 1900, and the Third Reich after 1933—the challenge could not be resolved without a major war.

The government of the United States is now acting in a manner structurally reminiscent of those three powers. Having proclaimed itself the leader of an imaginary "international community," it goes further than any previous would-be hegemon in treating the entire world as the American sphere of interest. As I pointed out two weeks ago, the formal codification came in the National Security Strategy of September 2002, which presented the specter of open-ended political, military, and economic domination of the world by the United States acting unilaterally against "rogue states" and "potentially hostile powers" and in pursuit of an end to "destructive national rivalries." To that end, the administration pledged "to keep military strength beyond challenge, thereby making the destabilizing arms races of other eras pointless, and limiting rivalries to trade and other pursuits of peace."

Any attempt by a single power to keep its military strength beyond challenge is inherently destabilizing, and results—sooner or later—in the emergence of an effective counter-coalition. Napoleon finally faced one at the Völkerschlacht at Leipzig in 1813. "There is no balance of power in Europe but me and my twenty-four army corps," the Kaiser famously boasted in 1901. Within years he was also building a high seas fleet. By 1907, Wilhelmine Germany engendered a counter-coalition that prompted even traditional rivals like Britain and Russia to join forces (the latter to be replaced by the United States in 1917). And as for the most recent Griff nach der Weltmacht, by the second week of December 1941 Germany was irrevocably doomed to another defeat.

An early yet certain symptom of destabilizing asymmetry in action is the would-be hegemon's tendency to claim an ever-widening sphere of influence or interference at the expense of his rivals. In the run-up to 1914 this was heralded by the Kruger Telegram (1896) and exemplified by the German bid to build the railway from Berlin to Baghdad (1903) and by the First Moroccan Crisis (1905). Neither Napoleon nor Hitler knew any «natural» limits, but their ambition was essentially confined to Europe. With the United States today the novelty is that this ambition is extended—literally—to the whole world. Not only the Western Hemisphere, not just the «Old Europe,» Japan, or Israel, but also Taiwan, Korea, and such unlikely places as Georgia, Estonia, Kosovo, or Bosnia, are considered vitally important. The globe itself is now effectively claimed as America's sphere of influence, Russia's Caucasian, European and Central Asian back yards most emphatically included.

Four weeks ago the game itself became alarmingly asymmetrical. For America it is still ideological, but for Russia it has become existential. Russia is now acting as a conservative, pre-1914 European power in seeking to protect its "near abroad." America is acting like a global revolutionary power, whose "near abroad" is literally everywhere.

It is therefore futile for Russia to try to "manage" the crisis in a pre-1914 manner and hope for some elusive softening on the other side, because the calculus in Washington is not rational. The counter-strategy of unpredictability, exemplified by Medvedev's recognition of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, is an eminently rational response, however. It may yet force the remnant of sanity inside the Beltway to try and exercise some adult supervision over the bipartisan "foreign policy community" of smokers in the arsenal.

Source: http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=10053

BY NANCY R. CUDIS, Sun.Star Staff Reporter

KOREANS still topped the list of foreign tourist arrivals in Central Visayas for the first six months but fewer of them have visited the region during the period than last year, Department of Tourism (DOT) records show.

In January to June last year, more than 120,000 Koreans have been recorded to visit Central Visayas. However, the number of Korean visitors only totaled 109,842 or 8.71 percent lower during the same period this year.

DOT Undersecretary Phineas Alburo assured that the decrease is not alarming because by “looking at the bigger picture, Koreans still ranked as the number one foreign visitors in the country.”

“Koreans are adventurous. They want to discover other places. They only went out of Cebu and Central Visayas to try out other areas but they did not go out of the country,” he said in a phone interview.

He added that most of these foreigners are “repeat” visitors who are happy and satisfied with Central Visayas’ tourism and support services.

In the region, the bulk of the number or more than 103,000 of the Korean tourists chose to stay in Cebu while 4,603 Korean tourists stayed in Bohol.

They were part of the 393,848 foreign travelers who went to Cebu, Bohol, Oriental Negros and Siquijor from January to June this year. The figure is 12.22 percent higher than the 350,973 visitors in the same period last year.

With the increase in the number of domestic travelers to 673,010, the grand total of visitors in the region reached 1,066,858 or a 10.75 percent increase from 963,286 in the same period last year.

But DOT records also show that arrivals from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) region decreased by 6.86 percent from January to June this year, with only 9,005 visitors compared to the 9,562 tourists last year.

Moscow trip

Alburo said these people are mostly business travelers who spend most of their time in Metro Manila.

“What Central Visayas is primarily targeting are the leisure travelers who love to stay in our beaches, among others,” he said.

The DOT is trying to attract potential tourists from Russia and India to come to the country. Three weeks from now, the tourism agency will set up a large booth in Moscow to promote the Philippines.

Recent data shows that arrivals from various countries in Europe have increased by 23.04 percent or 57,324 visitors from January to June this year compared to the 46,591 visitors in the same period last year.

Alburo said they are expecting an increase in visitor arrivals from November to March when there are many holidays and activities that the tourists can participate in.

In remarks made after meeting the president of Azerbaijan, Cheney said the U.S. had an abiding interest in the region's stability.

During the trip, which also takes in Ukraine and Georgia, the conflict between Georgia and Russia, and Moscow's subsequent recognition of two breakaway Georgian provinces as independent will be high on the agenda.

Cheney said Wednesday: "One of the basic foundations of security and peace is respect for national borders -- a principle that is endangered today.

"Although we decided on this visit months ago, we met this evening in the shadow of the recent Russian invasion of Georgia -- an act that has been clearly condemned by the international community.

"President Bush has sent me here with a clear and simple message to the people of Azerbaijan and the entire region: The United States has deep and abiding interests in your well being and security."

Cheney's trip began as U.S. government sources confirmed the Bush administration plans for a $1 billion aid package for Georgia.

Azerbaijan, which borders Georgia and Iran and sits along the Caspian Sea, is an oil and gas-rich nation and a key U.S. ally in the region.

Read the rest:
http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/europe/09/03/cheney.
azerbaijan.tour/index.html?section=cnn_latest

By MISHA DZHINDZHIKHASHVILI, Associated Press Writer 

TBILISI, Georgia - A U.S. Navy ship loaded with humanitarian aid steamed through the Dardanelles on its way to Georgia on Wednesday, as the Bush administration prepared to roll out a $1 billion economic aid package for the ex-Soviet republic.

The multiyear proposal calls for spending about half of the total in the administration's remaining five months in office and recommending that the incoming president and his team continue funding the project when they take over in January, a senior official said.

The White House and State Department intend on Wednesday afternoon to jointly announce the aid package, which follows a fact-finding and assessment mission to Georgia by Reuben Jeffrey, a senior U.S. diplomat who returned from the country last week, the official told the AP.

Jeffrey has recommended that assistance be sped to Georgia to help it rebuild its economy and infrastructure that was destroyed by Russian tanks, troops and airstrikes, according to the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity ahead of the announcement.

Vice President Dick Cheney is due to arrive in Georgia on Thursday from Azerbaijan as part of a swing through three former Soviet republics to emphasize U.S. interest and support.

The Russian consul in Georgia, meanwhile, said Russia closed its embassy there and halted consular operations after Georgia severed diplomatic ties following last month's war.

The diplomatic suspension means no new applications for Russian entry visas will be accepted, a blow to Georgians who have relatives in Russia or other ties there. Hundreds of thousands of ethnic Georgians live in Russia, many with Russian citizenship.

"A break-off of diplomatic ties is an action that has a price," Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Andrei Nesterenko said in Moscow. He said the ministry is considering other measures.

The diplomatic break follows a five-day war and Moscow's recognition of two separatist Georgia regions, South Ossetia and Abkhazia, as independent nations. The conflict has brought tensions between Moscow and the West to their highest level since the end of the Soviet Union.

"Now I cannot get to Russia to see my wife," Vakhtang Tsereteli, a Georgian whose wife is a Russian citizen and lives in Moscow, said outside the consulate Wednesday. "I don't know what to do."

The United States has already sent two military ships bearing aid to Georgia, and the USS Mount Whitney steamed through the Dardanelles early Wednesday and was expected to pass through the Bosporus later in the day. The two Turkish-controlled straits link the Mediterranean to the Black Sea.

One of the other U.S. ships, the USS McFaul, sailed back through the straits toward the Mediterranean late Monday.

Read the rest:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080903/ap_on_re_eu/georgia_
russia;_ylt=Ah6RVRDoLPioWdePQSSY426s0NUE

There's a real buzz from the international team about the new world-class Karen Millen flagship store which opened in Moscow a few days ago.

The Petrovka store is the 10th KM store in Russia, and wow, just look at it! 280 square metres set over two floors of a listed building on the Russian Bond Street.

I’ve always wanted to visit Moscow, with its reputation as a glamorous party town. Not to mention the shopping opportunities. And of courses I’ll be needing plenty of fabulous party dresses to help get me in to the top clubs and bars, so where better to stock up than in the new Petrovka store?

I’ve heard whisper of a no-expenses-spared launch party in November – wonder how I can get myself on the guest list!

Find out more about where to shop, eat and sleep in Moscow at http://www.karenmillen.com/fcp/content/moscow/cityguide

If you’re lucky enough to be in Moscow, visit the new store at Kuznetskiy most street, 7 and let me know what you think.

Lavrov, left, said Russia did not discriminate against Turkey in trade relations [AFP]

Russia has praised the European Union for taking a "responsible approach" to its conflict with Georgia by declining to impose sanctions on Moscow.

But Dmitry Medvedev, the Russian president, said the EU had failed to understand Moscow's reasons for moving into Georgia and recognising the separitist regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia.

"In my view, the outcome is double-edged," Medvedev said at his summer residence on the Black Sea.

"This is sad, but not fatal because things change in this world. Another situation, in my opinion, is more positive.

"Despite certain divisions among the EU states on the issue, a reasonable, realistic point of view prevailed because some of the states were calling for some mythical sanctions."

He later said that he does not consider Mikhail Saakashvili to be Georgia's president, in an interview with a Russian television channel.

"For us, the present Georgian regime has collapsed. President Saakashvili no longer exists in our eyes. He is a political corpse," Medvedev said.

EU leaders met in Brussels on Monday to discuss Russia and Georgia and threatened to postpone talks with Moscow on a new partnership pact if it did not withdraw its troops to pre-conflict positions in Georgia by mid-September.

The leaders were unable to reach a consensus on the sanctions that some members, including Britain and the Baltic states, had been pushing for, highlighting the bloc's divisions over how best to deal with its largest energy supplier.

Cheney visit

Ahead of a visit by Dick Cheney, the US vice president, to US allies in the region, a Kremlin aide said he expected Washington would also opt against imposing sanctions.

Cheney, due to leave on Tuesday for Azerbaijan, Georgia and Ukraine, has been an outspoken critic of Russia, saying last month its push into Georgia could "not go unanswered".

Sergei Prikhodko, chief foreign policy advisor to Medvedev, told reporters:"We hope that a positive agenda in relations with the United States will prevail."

Cheney has been an outspoken critic of Russia since the war broke out [EPA]

The statements contained none of the strident remarks made by Kremlin officials in the run-up to the EU summit.

It also appeared designed to signal Moscow's readiness to take a conciliatory stance with western countries if they also avoid confrontation.

Russia sent its forces against its southern neighbour in a brief war last month after Georgia tried to recapture by force its pro-Moscow, separatist region of South Ossetia.

It has drawn Western condemnation by pushing beyond the disputed area, bombing and deploying troops deep inside Georgia proper and recognising the independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia.

Russia said it was forced to intervene to prevent what it has called a genocide of the separatist regions by Tbilisi, and says it is honouring a French-brokered ceasefire deal.

The former Soviet republic of Georgia is strategically important to the West because it hosts oil and gas pipelines that bypass Russia.

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