November 09, 2009 Freedom Fries I will forever associate the fall of the Berlin Wall with french fries. In 1989, my wife and I were living and working in Moscow. Our friend Bob was apartment-sitting in the American embassy complex; and on November 9 he invited us over for dinner... History Int'l Relations Russia File
August 12, 2009 The Bogeyman When it comes to bogeymen, China, Cuba, even North Korea can't hold a candle to old Mother Russia. This week, as tempers flared and theatrical protests abounded around health care, a woman offered this irrational take on proposed reforms at a town hall meeting ... Humor Int'l Relations Russia File
July 13, 2009 From Mikhail to Michael Four years ago, in August 2005, then Senator Barack Obama was detained for three hours at a Siberian airport. Obama, with Senator Dick Lugar, was on a US delegation touring nuclear warhead storage and disposal sites. Russian border guards insisted on searching the delegation's plane. The senators refused... History Int'l Relations Russia File
July 10, 2009 ICBM Launch Agreement Background information and text of the 1988 treaty between the U.S. and Soviet Union regarding ICBM and SLBM launches. History Int'l Relations Russia File
July 07, 2009 Obama's Speech in Moscow President Obama gave a nice tribute to Russian culture in his speech to Moscow college students. Culture Int'l Relations Russia File
February 20, 2009 Afghanistan: A Second Chance? Thirty years ago, in 1979, the Persian Gulf was a tinderbox. On January 16, following months of uprisings, the Shah of Iran was overthrown. One month later, it looked like Afghanistan’s turn. The Soviet-backed thugs running the country had imposed radical social reforms, sparking a civil war and threatening pro-Soviet rule... History Int'l Relations Politics Russia File
January 06, 2009 Gas Tussle Sometimes it can be hard to get at the facts. And given that the western media went way down the wrong road on the recent Georgian crisis, one is inclined to be skeptical of coverage on the current Russia-Ukraine gas spat. Environment Int'l Relations Russia File
August 28, 2008 080808 With time, we are finding out more and more about the events that led to the recent Russo-Georgian War in the Caucausus. Two very good recent accounts have been published... History Int'l Relations Politics Russia File
August 15, 2008 Caucasian Stalemate Last Thursday, after several days of skirmishes and confrontation in the breakaway region of Ossetia, Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili announced a unilateral cessation of hostilities. Hours later, however, Saakashvili ordered his armed forces to undertake a full-scale assault on Ossetia... History Int'l Relations Literature Politics Russia File
June 25, 2008 A Metaphorical Net Game Russia has truly regained its prowess as a sports superpower, and it may rise further yet. It will surely be giving the U.S. a run for its money in the overall medals race at the Beijing Olympics in August... this rise in sports achievement takes place against the backdrop of a Russia that, without putting too fine a point on it, has bumbled from failure to failure in foreign policy in recent months Int'l Relations Politics Sports Russia File
June 17, 2008 Tokyo Declaration Document between Russia and Japan, May 5, 1986. History Int'l Relations Regions Russia File
