Will the European Union Become Part of Turkey? (Andrey Areshev, Strategic Culture Foundation)

The EU and Turkey have held an emergency summit amid the worsening dispute between those parties over issues such as the effectiveness of Turkey’s use of the funds allocated by the EU for the resettlement of refugees, protection from illegal migration across the EU’s external borders, and assistance to Greece – a transit point for most of these displaced people. However, as much as can be understood from Angela Merkel’s speeches and interviews, there will be no review of the migration policy of the EU as a whole.

http://www.strategic-culture.org/news/2016/03/11/will-the-european-union-become-part-of-turkey.html

Libya: Little Time Left till Western Invasion Starts (Alex Gorka, Strategic Culture Foundation)

Profiting from a vacuum of power in Libya, the Islamic State (IS) group has strengthened its grip on Sirte. The terrorists have established checkpoints that expand their influence on approximately 120 miles of Libyan coastline.

http://www.strategic-culture.org/news/2016/03/12/libya-little-time-left-till-western-invasion-starts.html

Alternative Germany Speaks Up (Ian Blohm, Strategic Culture Foundation)

The final results of the local elections in the central German state of Hesse last Sunday were a cold shower for the ruling coalition. The new opposition party Alternative for Germany (AfD) won seats in every municipal council in that state, receiving an unprecedented 16.2% of the vote in Hesse’s capital of Wiesbaden. They even pulled in approximately 12% in cosmopolitan Frankfurt am Main – the largest city in Hesse, where voter turnout was a record low (37.3%).

http://www.strategic-culture.org/news/2016/03/11/alternative-germany-speaks-up.html

Jean-Claude Juncker Damns Obama’s Plan for Ukraine (Eric Zuesse, Strategic Culture Foundation)

Jean-Claude Juncker, the most powerful person in Europe, the chief of the European Commission and therefore Europe’s closest equivalent to America’s President, said, in a little-noticed comment on March 3rd, «Ukraine will definitely not be able to become a member of the EU in the next 20-25 years, and not of NATO either».

http://www.strategic-culture.org/news/2016/03/11/jean-claude-juncker-damns-obama-plan-for-ukraine.html

US Administration to Reveal Death Toll of Drone Strikes for First Time Ever (Peter Korzun, Strategic Culture Foundation)

The US and its allies have blamed Russia for indiscriminate bombing in support of Bashar al-Assad in Syria. These accusations have been rejected many times with no evidence provided to support them.

http://www.strategic-culture.org/news/2016/03/11/us-administration-reveal-death-toll-drone-strikes-first-time-ever.html

France Flogs Soul for $3bn Saudi Arms Deal (Finian Cunningham, Strategic Culture Foundation)

Now we know how France secured a $3 billion arms deal from Saudi Arabia – by bestowing a senior Saudi prince with the Legion of Honor. For many French citizens the Legion of Honor symbolizes France’s national soul. And now the French government has put a grubby price tag on it.

http://www.strategic-culture.org/news/2016/03/10/france-flogs-soul-for-3bn-saudi-arms-deal.html

In Search of the British: Integrating... Into What? (Matthew Jamison, Strategic Culture Foundation)

Last autumn I was initiated into Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service Leadership Seminar. The program was established in 1982 by Georgetown University in order to promote dialogue among rising world leaders and individuals who would shape the futures of their countries.

http://www.strategic-culture.org/news/2016/03/09/in-search-british-integrating-into-what.html

Saudis, Turks Bid to Open Lebanon Front (Finian Cunningham, Strategic Culture Foundation)

With a series of blatant measures, Saudi Arabia and its regional allies are evidently trying to destabilize Lebanon. The development is apiece with how Saudi Arabia and Turkey have both sought to undermine the ceasefire in Syria and to escalate that conflict to a region-wide level.

http://www.strategic-culture.org/news/2016/03/07/saudis-turks-bid-to-open-lebanon-front.html

No Way Back for Re-Emerging Silk Road in Flux (Augusto Soto, Strategic Culture Foundation)

Xi Jinping’s recent visits to Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Iran and his upcoming visit to the Czech Republic in March remind us of more challenges for the «One Belt, One Road» (OBOR) policy now than when it was announced in 2013.

http://www.strategic-culture.org/news/2016/03/06/no-way-back-for-re-emerging-silk-road-flux.html

Anti-Russia Sanctions to Cause Major Rift in EU (Andrei Akulov, Strategic Culture Foundation)

In the first few weeks of 2016, the Western sanctions regime on Russia has been coming under pressure as never before. This has led to hopes that the sanctions may be finally lifted as the European Union is preparing to take the decision this July.

http://www.strategic-culture.org/news/2016/03/05/anti-russia-sanctions-to-cause-major-rift-in-eu.html

Turkey Missed Great Chance to Modernize its Military (Andrei Akulov, Strategic Culture Foundation)

A lot has been said about Ankara suffering severe economic and political damage as a result of worsened relations with Russia. There is another aspect of the relationship that has been kept out of spotlight so far.

http://www.strategic-culture.org/news/2016/03/03/turkey-missed-great-chance-modernize-its-military.html

Europe: Anti-Russian Sanctions Worthless (Pyotr Iskenderov, Strategic Culture Foundation)

The voices in the EU calling for lifting the anti-Russian sanctions are getting increasingly louder. German Chancellor Angela Merkel told a meeting of the Christian Democratic parliamentary group on February 16 that she would «rather today than tomorrow lift» the sanctions imposed on Russia. Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico put it bluntly saying the sanctions against Russia are «nonsense».«The sooner they are removed, the better», he added.

http://www.strategic-culture.org/news/2016/03/01/europe-anti-russian-sanctions-worthless.html

Clinton-Bush Hardliner Attacks Congress for Blocking Invasion of Syria (Eric Zuesse, Strategic Culture Foundation)

In a Huffington Post interview on February 23rd, the Clinton-Bush former head of the NSA and CIA, and defender of their use of waterboarding, and of their violating the 4th Amendment to the US Constitution (both of which types of legal violations he says are necessary in order to keep Americans safe), accused Congress of being gutless: «Congress didn’t step up and authorize the use of military force» to invade Syria.

http://www.strategic-culture.org/news/2016/02/29/clinton-bush-hardliner-attacks-congress-for-blocking-invasion-of-syria.html

Eurovision, Crimean Tatars and Some Digressions (Michael Averko, Strategic Culture Foundation)

The February 21 Associated Press (AP) article has the tabloid title of «Ukraine's Eurovision Entry Takes Aim at Russian Oppression». Covering much of the same points in a similar manner, the February 23 Washington Post (WaPo) article has the debatable title of «Ukraine's Eurovision Entry is a Dig at Russia and it isn't Very Subtle».

http://www.strategic-culture.org/news/2016/02/28/eurovision-crimean-tatars-and-some-digressions.html

US Considers Plan B to Undermine Syria’s Peace Process (Peter Korzun, Strategic Culture Foundation)

The recently concluded Russia and US-brokered peace accord on Syria has many opponents inside Syria and internationally. The Islamic State and Jabhat an-Nusra – the groups not covered by the truce agreement – control more than half of the country’s territory, including Aleppo, oil deposits and pipeline routes.

http://www.strategic-culture.org/news/2016/02/27/us-considers-plan-b-undermine-syria-peace-process.html

Turkey Continues to Terrorize Kurds (Andrey Areshev, Strategic Culture Foundation)

The recent terrorist attack in Ankara resulted in the deaths of 28 Turkish servicemen. It gave the government led by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan another pretext to put the blame on Kurdish armed groups operating in Syria and inside Turkey.

http://www.strategic-culture.org/news/2016/02/24/turkey-continues-to-terrorize-kurds.html

Serbia: Another Big Step Toward NATO Membership Against People's Will (Alex Gorka, Strategic Culture Foundation)

Without formally rejecting the policy of neutrality, Belgrade is actively expanding cooperation with NATO. On February 19, Serbian President Tomislav Nikolić signed into law the IPAP (Individual Partnership Action Plans) agreement with Alliance that says Serbia is obliged to provide the right of unrestricted movement of NATO troops on its territory, guaranteeing them immunity.

http://www.strategic-culture.org/news/2016/02/24/serbia-another-big-step-toward-nato-membership-against-peoples-will.html

What the Renunciation of Chemical Weapons Has Meant for Syria (Igor Shumeyko, Strategic Culture Foundation)

Propaganda, slander, and envious gossip about the effectiveness of the Russian air strikes are all part of the discussions about the operations of Russia’s Aerospace Defense Forces in Syria, although approval of «Putin’s loyalty to his allies» – compared with that «big wuss» Obama – can also be heard. But there has been no careful examination of one fairly important reason why Russia is supporting Syria’s Bashar al-Assad..

http://www.strategic-culture.org/news/2016/02/24/what-renunciation-chemical-weapons-has-meant-for-syria.html

The Syrian Kurds: Threatened by Turkey, America’s Untrustworthy Ally (Wayne Madsen, Strategic Culture Foundation)

Syria’s Kurds, who have been successful in occupying large tracts of territory originally seized by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), are now facing concerted military pressure from Turkey, which is backed by military forces from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Ironically, the Kurds are facing one NATO military force, that of Turkey, while being armed and trained by another NATO military, that of the United States.

http://www.strategic-culture.org/news/2016/02/24/the-syrian-kurds-threatened-by-turkey-america-untrustworthy-ally.html

Syria’s Conflict: Russia, US Join Together to Achieve Major Diplomatic Breakthrough (Peter Korzun, Strategic Culture Foundation)

The United States and Russia have agreed on a new cease-fire for Syria that will take effect on February 27. President Obama and Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke on the phone on Monday, February 22, in the continuing effort to bring a pause in the fighting between warring factions in Syria. It revives hopes for a solution to a five-year war that resulted in 260,000 deaths and a refugee crisis to hit Europe.

http://www.strategic-culture.org/news/2016/02/24/syria-conflict-russia-us-join-together-achieve-major-diplomatic-breakthrough.html