America’s Place in the World – Pew Research Center

“The latest edition of the Pew Research Center’s quadrennial survey (http://pewrsr.ch/ICEEDU) finds that for the first time in nearly 40 years a majority of the American public says the United States plays a less important and powerful role as a world leader than it did a decade ago. This short video looks at this and other findings from the survey.”

TOW Missiles Supplied to Syrian Rebels

This video shows Syrian rebels utilizing TOW missiles against forces loyal to President Assad.

“Still, the U.S. plan calls for both small arms and more powerful weapons such as TOW missiles, which can penetrate tanks and other armored vehicles. Rebel forces were pictured last week with some of the first TOW missiles, and sources say that the effort will expand throughout the next year. It’s uncertain if the U.S. is sending the TOW missiles through Saudi Arabia, which is also supporting the rebels.” (NPR).

For more information see:

Bulos, Nabih. “Video shows Syrian rebels may have U.S.-made antitank missiles.” LA Times. April 24, 2014. http://www.latimes.com/world/worldnow/la-fg-wn-syria-tank-tow-missiles-20140424,0,6489256.story#ixzz30PoEXTbp

FAS. “TOW.” https://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/land/tow.htm

NPR. “CIA Is Quietly Ramping Up Aid To Syrian Rebels, Sources Say.”April 23, 2014. http://www.npr.org/blogs/parallels/2014/04/23/306233248/cia-is-quietly-ramping-up-aid-to-syrian-rebels-sources-say

Sly, Liz. “Syrian rebels who received first U.S. missiles of war see shipment as ‘an important first step’.” Washington Post. April 27, 2014. http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/syrian-rebels-who-received-first-us-missiles-of-war-see-shipment-as-an-important-first-step/2014/04/27/61ec84d8-0f53-4c9f-bf0a-c3395819c540_story.html

New National Poll: Ukrainians Oppose Russia and Want to Join the EU

“The vast majority of Ukrainians don’t support Russian intervention in Ukraine and think Ukraine should remain a united, unitary state with strong ties to the EU. These were the results of a recent survey conducted in Ukraine by the public opinion and market research company Baltic Surveys/The Gallup Organization on behalf of the International Republican Institute (IRI). Despite Russia’s claims to the contrary, almost two-thirds of Russian-speaking citizens and eastern Ukrainians don’t want Russian “protection”. More than half of Russian speakers strongly approve the interim government. According to IRI polling, there is a striking difference between the true opinions of Ukrainians and how they are being portrayed by Russian propaganda.”

Euromaidan PR

Kyiv, April 30, 2014

The vast majority of Ukrainians don’t support Russian intervention in Ukraine and think Ukraine should remain a united, unitary state with strong ties to the EU. These were the results of a recent survey conducted in Ukraine by the public opinion and market research company Baltic Surveys/The Gallup Organization on behalf of the International Republican Institute (IRI). Despite Russia’s claims to the contrary, almost two-thirds of Russian-speaking citizens and eastern Ukrainians don’t want Russian “protection”. More than half of Russian speakers strongly approve the interim government. According to IRI polling, there is a striking difference between the true opinions of Ukrainians and how they are being portrayed by Russian propaganda.

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Al-Qaeda Still a ‘Serious Threat,’ State Department Says

“Autonomous affiliates throughout the Middle East and North Africa have become increasingly aggressive and are financially independent from the core al-Qaeda leadership.”

Special tactical exercises have been planned in Kyiv for the night of April 30 to May 1, 2014

“Special tactical exercises have been planned in Kyiv for the night of April 30 to May 1 Columns of military equipment will move in city as part of the exercise.”

Euromaidan PR

Special tactical exercises have been planned in Kyiv for the night of April 30 to May 1 Columns of military equipment will move in city as part of the exercise. Please be informed that the deployment of personnel and equipment will start in the city center, said the press service of Kyiv City State Administration.

As previously reported, Acting President Oleksander Turchynov said the Armed Forces of Ukraine are on full combat alert in response to the threat of a Russian attack.

Ukraine has started forming territorial defense units

Earlier today, Turchynov ordered the creation of territorial defense units (battalions) in every region of Ukraine.

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Violence, Strife Persist As Iraq Holds Elections

“Sunni insurgents have claimed responsibility for a new series of deadly attacks apparently designed to discourage voting as Iraq holds its first parliamentary elections since U.S. troops pulled out of the country in 2011.”

Egyptian Blogger Bassem Sabry Dies

“Bassem Sabry, one of Egypt’s most respected bloggers and a democracy advocate who chronicled the country’s turmoil since the 2011 uprising that ousted autocrat Hosni Mubarak, has died.”

Wanted: Li Fangwei, Alias Karl Lee. Reward: $5 Million

“The U.S. is offering a huge reward for information on Chinese businessman Li Fangwei, alias Karl Lee, after accusing him of being a “principal supplier” of ballistic-missile parts to Iran.”

Iran-Contra Redux? Prince Bandar Heads Secret Saudi-CIA Effort to Aid Syrian Rebels, Topple Assad

“The Wall Street Journal recently revealed new details about how Prince Bandar bin Sultan — Saudi’s former ambassador to the United States — is leading the effort to prop up the Syrian rebels. Intelligence agents from Saudi Arabia, the United States, Jordan and other allied states are working at a secret joint operations center in Jordan to train and arm hand-picked Syrian rebels. The Journal also reports Prince Bandar has been jetting from covert command centers near the Syrian front lines to the Élysée Palace in Paris and the Kremlin in Moscow, seeking to undermine the Assad regime. “Really what he’s doing is he’s reprising a role that he played in the 1980s when he worked with the Reagan administration to arrange money and arms for Mujahideen fighters in Afghanistan and also worked with the CIA in Nicaragua to support the Contras,” says Wall Street Journal reporter Adam Entous. “So in many ways this is a very familiar position for Prince Bandar, and it’s amazing to see the extent to which veterans of the CIA were excited to see him come back because in the words of a diplomat who knows Bandar, he brings the Arabic term wasta, which means under the table clout. You know his checks are not going to bounce, and that he’ll be able to deliver the money from the Saudis.”

Nurturing Egyptian Democracy with Helicopter Gunships

“The Pentagon agreed last week to deliver 10 AH-64 Apache helicopter gunships to Egypt. On Monday, an Egyptian judge sentenced 683 people to die for the killing of an Egyptian policeman.”