February Jane's geopolitical roundup

By Rick Morris

Jane’s Information Group has some of the best intelligence in the world at its fingertips. On matters ranging from military to security to weaponry and beyond, the staff at Jane's provides top-notch information to its subscribers and probably runs rings around our frequently inept CIA much of the time.

The site includes free excerpts of its material in many different categories. From time to time here at The FDH Lounge Blog, we will link directly to their outstanding material on many subjects and allow those of you who are very much concerned with geopolitics and the world around us to keep up on important matters.

PUBLIC SAFETY

Advocates urge NATO funds to alleviate suffering of Afghan civilians

Senior Pakistani official addresses nuclear security concerns

JTIC Briefing: Barcelona’s ‘suicide bombers’

Brazil’s nuclear potential

SECURITY

Israel shudders after Gaza and Winograd

US strategies to contain Pakistani nukes

Gaza turmoil highlights new home truths

A Croatian minister, a minister and a boar

US seeks Caspian energy reserves

Kosovo’s resurgent armed groups

Lebanon bombers target US and UN

Dadullah sacking highlights Taliban rifts

LAW ENFORCEMENT

Thousands of UK officers ‘freed up’ in radical policing review

TRANSPORT

Australia buys infrared scanners to fight pandemics

West warms to Russian market

Islamic finance hits its stride

Executive Overview: Jane’s Underwater Security Systems and Technology

DEFENSE

Iran inaugurates space terminal and launches research rocket

Japanese military export ban stifling business, warns industry

French aircraft continue Chad missions

Details emerge of Pantsir-S1E hybrid air-defense system

People Power Party set to continue military modernization in Thailand, says analyst

Imagery reveals probable Russian S-400 site

Czechs conduct AMRAAM tests on Gripen

Getting in step: India country briefing

DARPA/university teams works on technology for micro aerial vehicles

Untold story: the KGB's frightening comeback

By Rick Morris

The Russian Bear has returned. In a supremely compelling cover story this week in The Economist, the comeback of the KGB in the form of its successor the FSB is illuminated in chilling detail. While we in the West have deluded ourselves over the past 15 years that the Cold War is dead and buried, it has slowly arisen again -- and with Russia playing footsie with China, Venezuela, Iran and a number of formidable anti-American players worldwide, we're staring down a new threat at a time when we can't afford to be diverted from pursuing the Global War on Terror. We certainly don't have a global alliance to deal with Russia and its axis similar to the anti-communist umbrella of the Cold War.

Although it is an excellent account of how Russia's turn away from the West has materialized, the Economist's story surprisingly does not contain any information about another key factor in this sad development: Nashi. This anti-American youth group has become a slavish tool of Russian President Putin as he re-institutes the domestic tyranny present throughout much of the country's history. Nashi is a frightening and powerful force in Russia, instilling hatred of the West. These articles are stark warnings of the successes they have enjoyed to date.

While I believe that Putin has plotted all along to take Russia down this path, I also see much that our government has done to play into his hands over the past decade. After we went into Afghanistan, our government had the bright idea to try to place military bases in former Soviet republics, ignoring the sense of paranoia it would stir up in Russia. The same can be said of our decision to expand NATO right up to Russia's doorstep -- that was a classic example of something in international affairs that was undeniably moral, but was anything but helpful to our national interest. In a presidential debate in 2000, George W. Bush pledged to instill a new humility in American global affairs. Had he followed though on his promise, Putin would not have had as easy a time in turning Russia into USSR 2K7.