Geopolitician

Non-moralistic BS analysis of world power trends and strategic balances.

After The Referendum

This about Geopolitics, tagged , , , , was written by for on March 15, 2014 .13 Comments

If, as seems to be generally expected, tomorrow’s referendum in Crimea produces a substantial majority in favour of union with the Russian Federation, what will Moscow’s reaction be? I strongly expect that it will be…… Nothing. There are several reason why I think this. One is that Moscow is reluctant to break up states. I […]

What If?: Ukraine vs. Russia

This about Geopolitics, tagged , , , , was written by for on March 9, 2014 .No Comments

Reprinted from Facebook (2018/02/14): I’m almost certain it won’t happen, but it’s always fun to consider these what-if military scenarios. Namely, Ukraine vs. Russia. In terms of numbers, it will be about 100K vs 150K – Russia has more, of course – 300K in the ground forces – but can only devote a certain percentage of its […]

Crimea Info

This about Geopolitics, tagged , , , , , was written by for on March 1, 2014 .No Comments

Reprinted from Facebook (2018/02/15): It’s very uncharacteristic of the Kremlin to blatantly violate international law (they typically make sure to follow its letter). So what explains the increasingly unequivocal signs of Russian military involvement in Crimea? The fact of the matter is that Russia has a legal right to military transit across Crimea SO LONG AS it […]

Ukraine, the Nuland Leak, and the Amnesty Law

This about Geopolitics, tagged , , , was written by for on February 17, 2014 .7 Comments

A discussion on Crosstalk with Peter Lavelle in which I appeared discussing the Nuland leak. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kLHXpCRPo-k I found some of the comments made by Taras Kuzio frankly surreal but judging from what I read on Kyiv Post he is pretty mainstream in Ukrainian opposition terms. Two weeks earlier in an interview on RT I said […]

What is Ukraine’s Game Plan?

This about Geopolitics, tagged , , , was written by for on September 27, 2013 .106 Comments

Even a few months ago, it looked as if Ukraine had taken a significant step towards Eurasian integration by signing up as an observer to the Customs Union between Russia, Kazakhstan, and Belarus. However, in the past month, evidence is emerging that it was but a temporary ploy to appease Russia while in reality speeding […]

Translation: Ukraine and Its Monsters

This about Geopolitics, tagged , , , , was written by for on September 22, 2013 .No Comments

Regnum reports on statements made by Ukraine’s President, Victor Yanukovych, in which he visualizes Ukraine becoming a link between the East and the West as a result of an impending trade deal with the European Union. Yanukovych: Russia and the EU are giant monsters “and we feel it every day” Victor Yanukovych, the President of […]

Translation: Putin Victorious

This about Geopolitics, tagged , , , was written by for on September 17, 2013 .No Comments

Expert explains how the recent developments regarding Russia’s proposed resolution to the Syrian Civil War represent major victories for Vladimir Putin and his nation. Putin’s Five Victories The plan for the resolution of the Syrian crisis, proposed by Russia, is swiftly becoming more concrete. Already this past Friday, when Russian-American consultations in Geneva were still […]

Translation: The G20 and the Ghosts of Progress

This about Geopolitics, tagged , , , , was written by for on September 10, 2013 .No Comments

In this op-ed piece posted on Lenta, Anton Klyuchkin analyzes the effects of recent Kremlin decisions, admonishing their results for pushing the country away from the West.  Looking past the rhetoric, however, a better picture of the retaliatory nature of Russian-American relations comes into view, one in which both sides seem determined to antagonize the […]

Translation: The Corporation of Lies

This about Geopolitics, tagged , , , was written by for on September 6, 2013 .No Comments

In an impassioned editorial, Alexander Grishin unlocks the history of what he sees as repeated American lying as regards Syria and chemical weapons. Corporation of Lies: Washington, Pennsylvania Avenue Sometimes, from behind American politicians’ veil of lies the truth erupts – and it is even uglier. Over the past few days, the feeling that Washington […]

A Game of Homs

This about Geopolitics, tagged , , , was written by for on September 6, 2013 .4 Comments

What striking about Syria is how so many people insist on speaking about it in profoundly moralistic, Manichaean terms. This is complete nonsense, given that its civil war isn’t a showdown between democracy and dictatorship, but an ethnic and religious conflict. Here’s a more realistic guide: The Assad regime The rhetoric: He kills his own people! […]

Timeline of the Runup to an Illegal War

This about Geopolitics, tagged , , , was written by for on August 27, 2013 .1 Comment

Repost of Alexander Mercouris’ comments at Mark Chapman’s blog and The Russia Debate forum. The original compilation is posted at Mercouris’ blog. PS. Originally, this space hosted just one of Mercouris’ comments. Now that he has taken the trouble to gather up his output, the least I could do is update it and try to ensure […]

Translation: Assad Starts Winning in Syria

This about Geopolitics, tagged , , was written by for on July 31, 2013 .No Comments

As the Syrian Arab Army advances and discontent builds with jihadists, some anti-regime fighters begin thinking of taking advantage of an amnesty and going over to the other side, writes Alexander Romanov. Assad started to win not only on the battlefield, but in the battle for the minds Hundreds of Syrian rebels lay down their […]