Mexico’s Drug War

Great video by the Council on Foreign Relations:

Alejandro Hope, a former Mexican intelligence officer stated in this video that the violence “has changed the national conversation in Mexico, and it has changed the way Mexicans think of their country.”

CFR. “Mexico’s Drug War.” Youtube. February 11, 2014. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DfRAVONRyZ4

Delayed invasion/May Gambit – Thoughts from Kyiv on 22 March 2014

Critical infrastructure in Eastern Ukraine.

Euromaidan PR

Mychailo Wynnyckyj PhD, March 23, 2014 

Is an invasion of eastern Ukraine by Russian troops imminent? This seems to be the question on everyone’s mind tonight. Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper alluded to such a possibility during his press conference with Ukrainian PM Yatseniuk in Kyiv today. Yesterday, the US Embassy in Kyiv issued an updated travel warning: “The Department of State warns U.S. citizens to defer all non-essential travel to Ukraine and to defer all travel to the Crimean Peninsula and eastern regions of Kharkiv, Donetsk and Lugansk due to the presence of Russian military forces in the Crimean Peninsula, and in Russia near the Ukrainian border.”

 

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‘Very Sizable’ Russian Force on Ukrainian Border, NATO Chief Warns

“Russian forces are positioned to make a run into the Moldovan region of Transdniestria.”

Donetsk Oblast collects only 36% of its expenses in taxes

“The most subsidized and unprofitable oblasts for the budget are Donetsk, Luhansk, and Crimea.” – The eastern oblasts drain funds from Kiev.

Euromaidan PR

Oligarch Rinat Akhmetov

Donetsk Oblast collects only 36% of its expenses in taxes

A very interesting figure was cited at a meeting between a group of journalists and Verkhovna Rada chairman [Oleskandr] Turchynov yesterday [March 22]. Authorities conducted an audit of all benefits and budget subsidies in all regions of Ukraine.

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VIDEO VOICES of the Revolution: KOZAK SYSTEM – “Brother for Brother” (new video)

Polish-Ukrainian solidarity through music

Voices of Ukraine

03.21.2014

The song “Brother for Brother” by Kozak System is an unusual combination of forces of Polish-Ukrainian music in solidarity with the fight for freedom and democracy in Ukrainian society. This protest song is a joint effort of Kozak System (Ukraine), Enej and Darek Maleo Malejonka, artists with a strong position in music.

Directed by – Matthew Winkiel
Photos – Luke Łazarczyk, Simon Mrozowski, Martin Pabiniak
Editing – Michael Berensztajn
Implementation and Production – Mania Studio
Pyrotechnics: Artur Sobieraj (www.pirotechnik.com)
In the video uses archive footage courtesy of TV hromadske.tv.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QBW85LFx_fw]

Song “Brother for Brother” by the band KOZAK SYSTEM, together with Polish bands ENEJ and Maleo Reggae Rockers
music. KOZAK SYSTEM
Ukrainian. Text Alexander Polozhynsky
Polish text – Enej and Maleo Reggae Rockers

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CSIS on the U.S. Army of the Future

The Center for Strategic & International Studies (CSIS) produced two conference videos on the Army of the future:

1. “Delivering a Ready, Modern Army for the Future, Featuring U.S. Army Gen. Ray Odierno.”

“This is a tough time” – cut budgets, cut personnel, and the greatest demands of leadership…

CSIS. “Delivering a Ready, Modern Army for the Future, Featuring U.S. Army Gen. Ray Odierno.” Youtube. March 13, 2014. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2dhbkcrOVgk

2. “Discussion on the 2014 QDR and FY15 Defense Budget.”

RISK MANAGEMENT: “How far do you thin that [risk]?”

CSIS. “Discussion on the 2014 QDR and FY15 Defense Budget.” Youtube. March 11, 2014. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lBRraizuPoQ

 

Ukraine’s Lessons for Democratization: Three Things to Know

CFR video on the Ukrainian Revolution:

1. Good and Democratic Governance

2. Strong Civil Society

3. International Support

CFR. “Ukraine’s Lessons for Democratization: Three Things to Know .” Youtube. March 20, 2014. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8dTSP0-XUcc&list=UUL_A4jkwvKuMyToAPy3FQKQ

EU leaders to agree trade deal with Ukraine

One Solution

This article has been excerpted from a March 21 news release from the London Evening Standard

European Union leaders will  sign a trade deal with Ukraine designed to give economic support to the beleaguered state in the wake of Russia’s annexation of Crimea.

EU leaders, including David Cameron, worked late into the night on a new list of members of the Moscow regime to face travel bans and asset freezes in response to what the Prime Minister described as “unacceptable” actions by Russia.

US President Barack Obama stepped up action against Moscow by putting billionaire oligarch businessmen – including Vladimir Putin’s banker Yury Kovalchuk – on a blacklist of regime figures who will face sanctions from America.

But opposition leader Alexey Navalny, former candidate for Moscow mayor, said there should also be sanctions against oligarchs who have made a home in the West – like Chelsea FC owner Roman Abramovich.

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INVASION OF CRIMEA – March 22, 2014 – Summary

Photos from the front – Belbek

Voices of Ukraine

Dmitry Tymchuk, Information Resistance

22.03.2014
Translated and edited by Voices of Ukraine

Information Resistance

Brothers and sisters!
Here is the summary for March 22 (for the summary from the previous day, see Summary of March 21).

The bad news:

1. The Russians have almost achieved what they wanted. Ukrainian units are being taken over. Some have stood down, after the valiant and excruciatingly long stand-off. Some are being overrun by force and dirty tricks – like in Belbek today.

Many officers and contractors wish to continue serving in the Armed Forces of Ukraine, but getting to the mainland is a whole separate issue. Earlier today, we briefly described Kyiv’s position [post by Information Resistance]- to hold the troops [in Crimea] until the UN General Assembly, to have a bargaining chip in the matter of declaring Crimea a demilitarized zone. However, the General Assembly will meet on…

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All Crimeans to remain Ukrainian citizens

All Crimeans to remain Ukrainian citizens

Euromaidan PR

Government Minister Ostap Semerak notes that Ukrainian citizens who are being coerced into obtaining Russian passports will remain citizens of Ukraine.

As announced by Minister of the Cabinet of Ministers, Ostap Semerak, Ukraine continues to recognize Crimeans that are to receive Russian passports as citizens of Ukraine. “Ukrainian citizens who are being coerced into obtaining Russian passports remain citizens of Ukraine. This contradicts the law of Ukraine because Ukraine does not recognize dual citizenship, but in this instance, with a part of Ukrainian territory having been seized and residents forced into accepting passports of a neighboring country, it will be recognized.”

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