Oriental Review

Who Bin Laden’s Skull Is Grinning At?

A decade since the terrorist attack that shook the US on September 11, 2001, we are at the point where it is appropriate to revisit the lessons the world learned from the drama and to reassess its global impact. Instead of ending with some kind of a result that could be offered as its justification, [...]

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Who Needs A Crisis in Kosovo?

A new round of tensions in Kosovo recently grew out of a “trade war” at the border of the breakaway province. Formally, the conflict can be traced back to Pristina’s July 20 decision to ban imports from Serbia, a step supposed to mirror the position taken by Belgrade which does not recognize Kosovo’s customs stamps [...]

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Norway’s Bloodbath Reflects Mental Balkanization

The avalanche of comments in the wake of the twin terrorist attack in Europe’s exemplary Norway range from expressions of belief that the terrorist at the epicenter of the disaster must be insane and the possibility of recurrences of the situation can be safely discounted to claims that the plot is attributable to a powerful [...]

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Who Decides On Nation-States?

The national aspirations of peoples are governed by rank public relations schemes On July 9, the Republic of South Sudan became the newest internationally-recognized nation-state. As the result of a civil war truce and peace deal worked out five years previously, South Sudan and its former master, the Republic of Sudan, independent since 1956, mutually [...]

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US in Afghanistan: Leaving To Stay

One of the most high-profile events in the international politics in June was the announcement by the US president Barack Obama on the withdrawal of the US troops from Afghanistan. Meeting his election pledges, Obama initiated the conclusion of the military operation by the United States and their allies on Afghan territory that had lasted [...]

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The Afghan Drug Threat As It Is

Alexander BARENTSEV (Russia) On 9-10 June Moscow hosted the forum ‘Afghan Drug Production-a Challenge to the International Community’. The event brought together participants from over 40 countries, including delegates from the UN, SCO, CSTO, NATO. Among the high-ranking participants there were Mr. Antonio Costa, Executive Director of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC); [...]

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Balkans in the Nets of the New World Order (II)

Pyotr ISKENDEROV (Russia) Part 1 The focal point of the US, EU, and NATO politics is steadily drifting east. The agendas of the architects of the new world order for the May 28 – June 2 NATO Parliamentary Assembly session and the Bilderberg Club conference opening on June 4 are topped by the themes of [...]

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Balkans in the Nets of the New World Order (I)

Pyotr ISKENDEROV (Russia) Facing an unprecedented economic crisis, the EU is hurriedly offloading the Balkan part of its agenda. The year’s major Balkan event – the EU-Balkan summit – will take place in Sarajevo on June 2. The previous summit, which convened in Brdo (Slovenia) on May 20, was plagued with scandals and, when all [...]

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