Filling the espionage ranks with legions of the non-belonging comes with its share of risk. The process is counter-intuitive, putting stock in skill and aptitude above the potential compromise of loyalty and divergence. Eventually, such a recruit might find a set of closely guarded principles. The son of a Sephardic […]
Unknown WWII
Germany’s Undiplomatic Threat To Russia Triggered Harsh Rebukes From Moscow
The German Defense Minister’s undiplomatic threat that her country must negotiate “from a position of strength” with Russia, especially regarding military issues, triggered some harsh rebukes from Moscow which aimed to remind her of how unacceptable it is for Berlin to speak in such a way to the Eurasian Great […]
How Yugoslavia Was Wiped Out From The Map (III)
Part I, Part II Kosovo Albanians On April 6th, 1941, the German troops invaded both Yugoslavia and Greece. All of Kosovo became occupied by the Italian, German, and Bulgarian troops during a week. On April 17th, the Royal Yugoslav Army signed an armistice with Germany (but not capitulation! It means […]
How Yugoslavia Was Wiped Out From The Map (I)
It passed exactly 30 years since the first post-WWII “democratic and multiparty” elections in all six Yugoslav republics in 1990. Next year, however, not only that this country did not exist anymore but the Yugoslavs have been faced with a civil war as a result of the post-Cold War “democratization […]
The Sino-Russian Alliance Comes Of Age (II)
“I look for the land of the Poles that is lost to the Germans, for the moment at least. Nowadays the Germans have started searching for Poland with credits, Leicas, and compasses, with radar, divining rods, delegations, and moth-eaten provincial students’ associations in costume. Some carry Chopin in their hearts, […]
The Sino-Russian Alliance Comes Of Age (I)
The joint statements between two countries are usually riveted on a particular event but in extraordinary circumstances involving great powers, it could assume an epochal character and can be viewed as diplomatic communication that reflects what the Germans call the zeitgeist — the defining spirit or mood of a particular […]
Catholics Against Nukes: Archbishop Wester’s Hiroshima Vigil
In what is a turn-up for the books, a senior voice of the Catholic Church made something of an impression this month that did not incite scandal, hot rage, or the commencement of an investigation. It did, however, agitate a few editors. Archbishop John C. Wester of San Fe, in […]
Opponents Of The Nuclear Weapons Ban Treaty
It would seem a logical step, at least from an existential perspective: to ban something so utterly horrendous to life; to forbid its use in any circumstances, whatever rationale employed to justify its use. But the nuclear weapon has its admirers. There are those who continue to worship its sovereign […]
The Real Face Of The European Union (II)
Part I How Great Britain fell for a confidence trick Two decades earlier, in the 1960s, when Great Britain twice sought entry into then the EEC/EC, the historian Sir Arthur Bryant had issued an unheeded warning: “Once in the common market, we shall be a minority in an organization in […]
A Short History Of Czechoslovakia (II)
Part I WWII (1939−1945) The decision of Slovaks during WWII to accept A. Hitler’s protectorate over quasi-independent Slovak state created one of the mutual grievances that existed between the Czechs and the Slovaks in the post-war decades. Due to fear of what the Third Reich would do to Slovakia if […]
A Short History Of Czechoslovakia (I)
The origins of Czechoslovakia (1918−1920) Czechoslovakia gained its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire in 1918. Even though the Austrian-Hungarian Empire was one political entity, the Austrian part and the Hungarian part existed under a Dual Monarchy. Each half of the empire had a large amount of control over their area […]
The Soviet Union Defeated Germany In World War II – Not The Western Forces
President Donald Trump claimed last week that the US and Britain had won World War II. This was a shameless lie and distortion of the facts. Many Americans and Canadians like to believe their nations won the war in Europe and give insufficient recognition to the decisive Soviet role. Most […]
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