US Reaches Out to Iranian Online While Appeals to China and the Euro Zone

US Opens ‘Virtual Embassy’ for Iran « VOA Breaking News http://bit.ly/tN0vuR

Australia expands sanctions against Iran | JTA - Jewish & Israel News http://bit.ly/tUxKvN

US seeks 'transparency' in growth of Chinese military power - The Times of India http://bit.ly/vC3TMH

Eritrea blames U.S. for expanded U.N. sanctions | Agricultural Commodities | Reuters http://bit.ly/tRrf5f

Hillary Clinton meets Syrian opposition members http://bit.ly/u6V7ow

CTV News | S&P warning puts screws to euro zone ahead of summit http://bit.ly/sMBeCv

Balance of Power Moves to Asia as US Makes New Alliances

U.S., India, Japan to meet after Obama's Asia pivot | Reuters http://reut.rs/sKdR7I

India, China, US snub EU's plan on binding treaty - Hindustan Times http://bit.ly/s4oXeR

Afghanistan to Need Financial Support Until 2024 - ABC News http://abcn.ws/w2aVLv

Six to Eight Months - The New Time Table to Strike Iran

Obama needs to come up with something new on the diplomatic table or the world may see another unilateral action from Israel. In am interview with Israeli Defense Minister, Ehud Barak, he sees Israel in a race against time to prevent the Iranians from transferring their nuke facilities underground thereby taking out the any ability from Israel or NATO to strike it.

“The difference between us and the Americans is this: We say that because the Iranians are busy moving their nuclear program to underground facilities, they can announce this (that they have a nuclear weapon) after it is no longer possible to attack it." He went on to warn that If Israel is pushed into a corner, “it will have to act.”

Based on Debka's report, Israel will only have a time frame of six to eight months before the option to strike is gone forever. 

"According to DEBKAfile’s military and intelligence sources, Israel gives Iran no more than six to eight months to complete this transfer, i.e., by June to August, 2012."

Source: Debka


Obama needs something creative on the diplomatic table now before Israel has no more resort but to go at it alone. Maybe something that has not been done before in all of history. In a sense one needs also to consider that after not finding WMDs in Iraq, the Americans are wary in making a strike on Iran. It is maybe waiting that Iran declares that it indeed has nuclear weapons so that it can publicly justify a war. But for Iran such non-declaration is their trump card so as not to be attacked and continue to build the weapon. Israel and the West maybe waiting for something which is not forthcoming at all. 

The clock is ticking and the sanctions are not working fast enough or at a level which is deterring Iran from continuing to develop nuclear weapons. 

Georgia's Plea for Help - Putin is Reviving the Soviet Union

Georgia is asking the western world to open its eyes and see what Russia's Prime Minister is really up to. After the 2008 Georgia-Russia War, Putin is now endorsing a Eurasian Union which will consist of the the former USSR territories which broke away after the collapse of the former.

"It is a demonstration of Putin’s real intentions. We have been telling our friends from the West – Putin said several years ago that he thought the dissolution of the Soviet Union was the biggest tragedy of the 20th century and he demonstrated through his policy that he is going to restore somehow this entity. And now they have come to the point where they are openly saying this."

Source: euractiv.com

Putin has obviously made no qualms that he wants the Soviet Union back. The West however is distracted with crucial issues which threatens its very survival. The threat from a nuclear Iran, terrorism and now the global economic slowdown. The West probably think that Russia may have such designs but it may deem it as a problem of the distant future and is not the main concern right now. Furthermore; it doesn't need a kind of Russia now which throws its full weight in supporting a nuclear Iran. The only problem with this train of thought is that will it wait until Russia is back to its former power and starts another round of Cold War hostilities.

Germany On Dangerous Road While Russia and US Stand Firm on Missile Issue

German bonds fall; world stocks, euro vulnerable - Reuters - http://bit.ly/uG0FR6

AFP: Three-quarters want German neo-Nazi party banned: poll http://bit.ly/vkLRMT

Water-pump failure in Illinois wasn’t cyberattack after all - The Washington Post http://wapo.st/uujrTP

Poll predicts Putin’s party will lose its two-thirds majority in Dec. 4 parliamentary vote - The Washington Post http://wapo.st/vQD4t5

King James Bibles going to all schools - FT.com http://on.ft.com/uYrbp3

Nine Ways to Know That the Gospel of Christ Is True - http://bit.ly/lrDHJ3

Russia woos Belarus with gas price cut, $10 bln loan | Reuters http://reut.rs/tzo4vM

Medvedev takes aim at US missile shield, targeting also Israel's missile defenses http://debka.com/article/21509/

US Says It Will Not Change Missile Shield Plan After Russian Threat « VOA Breaking News http://bit.ly/s3swQ0

Pakistan Looks to China and Iran for Economic Partnerships

China Signals Growth Concern in Rural Credit Boost: Economy http://bit.ly/uF6k59

China, Pakistan boost anti-terror cooperation  | ajc.com http://bit.ly/tDX1P0

Daily Times - Don’t take gas from Iran, US ‘advises’ Pakistan http://bit.ly/uTrpJf

Egypt Military and Protesters Dig In for Tahrir Square Standoff - NYTimes.com http://nyti.ms/taLdkl

China: Can It Bring About A Global Power Shift?

In this very interesting table discussion between Stratfor CEO, George Friedman and Foreign Affairs expert, Robert Kaplan, China is seen as either a future US rival or just a present power whose abilities will just fizzle away when its economic abilities fizzle. A table and a map, a very interesting debate on what a growing superpower could be in the near future.

EU Tries to Salvage Ukraine

With Ukrainian politics unraveling, the EU tries to come to the rescue. The EU is now battling a region wide economic crisis but it still sees the Ukrainian issue as a very important one and worth its time and energy. See why from this Stratfor video.

CNN's National Security Debate - The Search for a Commander-in-Chief

CNN has been bashed in the past GOP debates of asking cute or senseless questions but this time the Republican constituency were in for a surprise. The National Security Debate yesterday was one of the most exciting, thought provoking and revealing discussion among presidential candidates in a long time. I don't think CNN even did this for the Democratic party. In this debate we come to know who has the goods of being commander in chief of the all powerful United States of America. Anybody can talk about the economy but very few have full grasp of national security.

In this debate we see that Bachman and Gingrich know their stuff when it comes to foreign policy. These two candidates gave the most realistic assessment of American foreign policy which is now lost in the Obama administration. Bachman scored well on the policy as regards to Pakistan while Gingrich defended the Patriot Act very well. Santorum gave a good account of the handle of the global view as well but I thought he was not very specific on certain strategies. Huntsman is in his element as but when it comes down to realism he pales in comparison to the Gingrich and Bachman.

The most dangerous person in the group is Ron Paul. We have seen this before in pre-World War II American isolationist policy. A policy which encouraged the likes of Hitler and Stalin on a rampage of terror . Paul's assessments are unrealistic and detrimental to the world which is facing the prospect of a nuclear Iran and isolated Israel.

In the end the most important question was put out there on what issue that has been less discussed which the American people should look out for. The answers were varied but one thing that was not said or ignored was the re-emergence of Russia. Russia is now consolidating the former territories of the Soviet Union and will be of paramount concern whether Obama stays in office or one of the Republican candidates gets the key to the White House.

US and Russia Brings Chess Match Back into the Middle East

Russian warships off Syria, US carriers near Iran http://debka.com/article/21504/

 

Russia to Lend Vietnam $9B for First Nuke Plant - Bloomberg http://bloom.bg/spd6lK

US, Russia, Britain back Israeli stance at Mideast meet on nuclear-free zone - The Washington Post http://wapo.st/rqEOfx

U.S. To Stop Sharing Data With Russia On U.S. Forces In Europe | Fox News http://fxn.ws/vQbXVn

Eurasian Union One Step Closer to Reality http://bit.ly/uAn1cJ

Iranian Plot Becoming Clearer While Putin Defends Tehran and Gets Support from Armenia on the Eurasian Dream

Interesting - Reflections on the Iranian Assassination Plot | STRATFOR http://bit.ly/qJrHns

U.S. Denies Iran Claims That Saudi Plot Defendant Belongs to Exile Group - NYTimes.com http://nyti.ms/oETKn3

Russia fears UN's Iran report to hurt nuclear diplomacy http://bit.ly/n1AG2I

Armenian PM Hails Putin’s Call For ‘Eurasian Union’ http://bit.ly/oEKKVG

Elections in Russia and Georgia Could Bring Drastic Changes

In this Stratfor video, the message is clear that the world should take notice of the possible profound changes in the upcoming elections in Russia and Georgia. The geopolitical stakes are high and the prospects of renewed conflict could not be too far behind.

Russians Still Disagree with US Over Nukes as Putin Tightens Grip on Local Political Landscape

NTI: U.S.-Russia Missile Defense Negotiations Remain at Impasse, Kremlin Says http://bit.ly/o4SYe5

  

Serbs, NATO Peacekeepers Wounded in Kosovo Border Fight « VOA Breaking News http://bit.ly/n4bB0d

Russia Hunts Down Chechen Terrorists Abroad - SPIEGEL ONLINE - http://bit.ly/nCONU4

Putin ally becomes speaker of Russian parliament’s upper house - The Washington Post http://wapo.st/odcGIC

 

Poland's Shale Gas dilemma for Europe - The Independent http://ind.pn/nd7S2l

Understanding the Implications of the Resignation of Russia's Finance Minister

There is more to the resignation of Russian Finance Minister Alexei Kudrin than meets the eye and Stratfor captures it in this report. The Putin comeback is making things edgy in Russia for everyone involved.

The Czech Republic's Important Statement and Russian Security

The following video shows how recent statements from the Czech Republic could fuel Russia's diplomatic push against US presence in Central European countries like Poland. The video analysis is also important since it shows us that Russia;s concerns also gets much support from another major power like China.

Russia Hits Central Asia with Gas Cuts As US Wants Military Presence in Poland While China Partners with Kyrgyz & Tajiks

BBCWorld VIDEO: Russia showcases military might http://bbc.in/jWaajE

U.S. May Place Fighter Jets in Poland - WSJ http://on.wsj.com/iXbrUB

Chinese, Kyrgyz, Tajiks hold anti-terror drill http://bit.ly/lAAO80

Europe's Nabucco Pipeline Delayed Again - NYTimes.com http://nyti.ms/jL47ZR

Putin Forming Pre-Vote ‘Front’ | News http://bit.ly/k9IDxa

       

Central Asian sowing season may take hit from Russian gas cuts http://bit.ly/l5wMmT

Central Asia should boost grain production, FAO says - Hurriyet Daily http://bit.ly/kuBHkE

Central Asia feels gas pinch as Russia cuts supply - Forbes.com http://onforb.es/lJbCgh

Paths to Geopolitical Changes in the Baltics

Stratfor's new video analyzes the possible changes that will occur in the geopolitical landscape of the Baltics as Poland lessens its dependence on Russia for gas. Intentions for a Swedish and Polish military cooperation could also be in the offing this year.

Putin's Building of New USSR Gathers Steam

Russia tells Ukraine: join post-Soviet trade bloc http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSLDE6BF12M20101216

Steel Guru : Russian and Slovenia premiers hail South Stream deal progress - 181017 - 2010-12-16 http://bit.ly/fp5yzM

Putin: Russian secret services don't kill traitors http://t.co/O9CLuJi via @washingtonpost

Russia's Putin warns of police crackdowns on agitators in annual telethon - CSMonitor.com http://bit.ly/gol9ms

Putin to North Korea - Suspend Nuclear Activities http://www.koreaherald.com/national/Detail.jsp?newsMLId=20101216000969

Russia's Disturbing Geopolitical Moves

RLSRUSSIANNEWS Russian navy jets disrupted US-Japanese military exercise - Telegraph.co.uk http://goo.gl/fb/FFTa1

   

BBC News - Russia 'blocking UN Ivory Coast statement' http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-11945363

Kremlin suggests WikiLeaks founder for Nobel Prize | Russia | RIA Novosti http://bit.ly/fn95iU

Turkey to help Russia prepare for World Cup http://t.co/qRQIUtN

Russia and Belgium: partnership for modernization http://english.ruvr.ru/2010/12/08/36460274.html

 

Putin, Fillon to talk energy, hi-tech cooperation in Moscow http://en.rian.ru/world/20101208/161690837.html

 

Investors Wake Up to Russia's Recovery http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703493504576007290287195536.html

Russia Makes the World Cup a Geopolitical Battlefield Plus Related News

FIFA Hands Russia 2018 World Cup | News | The Moscow Times /news/article/fifa-hands-russia-2018-world-cup/425565.html

Hosting the 2018 World Cup will strengthen Vladimir Putin even more – Telegraph Blogs http://t.co/glAVFsQ
    
Russia supports dialogues with DPRK, Iran: Putin http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/world/2010-12/02/c_13632470.htm

In deal with U.S., Belarus to give up its enriched uranium stockpile - St. Petersburg Times http://bit.ly/g5y3p3