Residents of Gori wait to receive humanitarian aid from local authorities as Russia called today for Georgian forces to surrender in the separatist enclave of Abkhazia
"Amid promise of peace, Georgians live in terror"
So reads the headlines of The Guardian. And from the same source:
Several Russian trucks overshot and missed their turning. One broke down. A soldier got the wheezing vehicle going again. Where was he from? "Chechnya. We've come here to help," he said.For the terrified residents of Gori and surrounding villages, it didn't seem like help. Yesterday morning, as the Russian tanks advanced from their base in South Ossetia they passed through Georgian controlled-villages, telling residents to hang out white flags or be shot.Behind them, according to people fleeing those villages, came a militia army of Chechen and Ossetian volunteers who had joined up with the regular Russian army. The volunteers embarked on an orgy of looting, burning, murdering and rape, witnesses claimed, adding that the irregulars had carried off young girls and men.
There are accounts slowly coming out of Georgia about the behavior of Russian soldiers in Georgia. Unlike the criticism leveled at American troops, the Russians--like Muslims, Chinese and other groups favored by the left--do not get much press, either here or at home. No marches on the Russian Embassy, no Europeans going to the streets. Nothing--except allusions by the left--or Obama--that Bush is at fault.
It is now time to collect some of the outrageous tales coming out of this seemingly-civilized section of the world; to review Putin's troops and expose their Rules Of Engagement. Maybe it is time for a refresher on why our parents and grandparents hated Russia, why so many immigrated to America.
Mari's Tale
Monday, August 18, 2008 21 year old girl raped by "soldiers" (eye-witness reports) Elene Gelashvili, 21 years old, is a refugee from the village of Nikozi: "When the fighting started in Cxinvali, we all took shelter in the cellars of our houses…our house wasn't hit by a bomb, but there were dead and wounded all over the place. We couldn't stay there any longer and decided to walk by foot towards Gori. On the road a driver picked us up and took us to Gori with his minibus. He told the young girl to cover their heads with a veil and act as if you were elderly people, the Russians and Ossetians are everywhere, they are stopping cars and if they like some girl, they take her right away. "Act, as if you were old women!" My friend Mari said, "What a nonsense, how should they take us away"; we implored her, but she was such a hard-head…. We hadn't even passed a kilometre, when we were stopped by 30 armed Russians. A skinny guy put is head into the minibus, saw Mari and pulled her out of the car. All in all there were three men in the bus, which they started to beat with their guns. Then they told the driver to drive on, I still have Maris pale face on my mind…. Two days later we were still in Gori but planned to go to Tbilisi, when we heard of a girl, that had been tortured by soldiers; I couldn't breathe anymore…….I said to myself "if that would really be Mari, she´d be alive at least. I asked some soldiers for her and when I finally found her I hardly recognised her….she had blood all over and was in a terrible state. They had taken her to a village near Cxinvali and about 50 men had raped her there. Then they had put her on drugs and mutilated her. She begged them to kill her…"
Aliko's Tale
It´s hard for me to speak about those things, but I have to, cause all have to know how inhuman and sadistic these Russians are. Take them to court, I beg you…..
My wife has died when she gave birth to our twins, I raised our twins alone, after that also my grandchildren. When this horrible war started Ani was 17, Levan 15. Levan was torn into pieces in front of my eyes by a bomb, his body has been separated from the legs. Ani was taken to a house by soldiers, those murderers, I could hear hear wailing and moaning, but coudn´t do anything about it; I was lying on the ground, after they had beaten me up….
And those pigs still weren’t satisfied with raping her, they told her: “Run, if you make it away from here within 10 seconds, you´ll be free. The deafened and weeping child ran away and was shot by them when they hadn´t even count to three. My dear grandchild."
Tina's tale
"Happened incredible thing: Russian barbarians demolished our gorge. They bombed houses; houses with people inside were in flames. We left our homes and escaped, the road was horrifying: bombs were exploding in front of us damaging cars and people. I saw a car packed with people blew up, human intestines were flying in the air. Some women from my village chose other way to leave the gorge, through river and forests. Cars were carrying bodies of young boys. The gorge is full of dead bodies who were not buried and have been left for crows to eat. I saw a woman who bowled up in front of her house, she was split in many many parts. Wounded asked for help, but there was nobody able to help them. I saw how Russians put two men in sacks and shoot them… Elders stayed in gorge. My parents stayed there. My dad has diabetes and can’t walk. I know their life is in danger, they know it too and they are waiting for death."
Russians robbing a bank
GEORGIAN President Micheil Saakashvili is accusing irregulars associated with the Russian army of raping and looting their way across his country.
"This army travels around with irregulars, travels around with marauders, travels around with rapists, travels around with arsonists, robbers and with looters," Mr Saakashvili said today."
"Saakashvili said Russian forces have run amok. "Russian tanks are going for villages inhabited by Georgian populations and throwing people out of their houses, putting people into concentration camps that they are setting up in those villages, and separating men and women," he told CBS News.
"They are taking things like even furniture, toilet seats, killing people, terrorizing people."
And The Mainstream Media does not think that Mr Putin's army deserves anything but a mild reprimand--and a hint or two that Georgians brought this on themselves.
Culture Watch, vol. 28 Nancy Morgan RightBias.com August 18, 2008
Finally, a celebrity who earned it. Michael Phelps is demonstrating the best of America as he continues racking up gold medals in the China Olympics. Check out these awesome photos of his split second win.
China, on the other hand, appears to be cheating. The age of their gymnasts is in question, they faked parts of the opening ceremony and the little cutie who sang was apparently lip synching. The actual singer had buck teeth and wasn't cute enough.
Russia chose this time to invade the country of Georgia. Obama lost his 3 AM moment, tepidly calling for restraint on both sides, before he resumed wave surfing in Hawaii. McCain took a tough stand from the get go.
Russia continues to ravage Georgia as we speak. President Saakashvili was forced to accept defeat last Friday as he signed a peace agreement that gives the Russian Army the right to patrol on Georgian soil. Russia continues to strengthen their position, despite claims they are withdrawing their troops. The Russian bear awakens, and he's hungry.
ELECTION '08:
Forget not standing up to Russia, Obama can't even stand up to Hillary. A deal was reached that will allow Hillary's name to be placed in nomination at the upcoming Dem convention. Rep. Loretta Sanchez of California says she’s happy for the chance to vote for Hillary, and she predicts that as many as half of the Democrats in the House could join her. Should be interesting.
Meanwhile, more info reaches the public about the Messiah.
This photo of Obama’s registration for school in Jakarta documents Barack Obama as Barry Soetoro, nationality as Indonesian and religion as Islam
Obama's registration for school in Jakarta lists his name as Barry Soetoro, his nationality as Indonesian and his religion as Islam. Meanwhile, the Obama camp is going ballistic over Jerome Corsi's new best-seller, 'Obama Nation,' launching an aggressive counteroffensive saying the book is full of lies and innuendoes. As usual, they're a little short on specifics.
The communist party's USA newspaper is endorsing Obama, saying his candidacy represents a "broad multi-class multicultural movement." That about says it all.
Obama will be releasing his third book next month, entitled, 'Change We Can Believe In.' Color me an skeptical. Last but not least, American Thinker has an excellent investigative article, 'Obama's Foreign Donors.' Worth a read. Drip, drip, drip.
GOOD NEWS:
Work has finally begun on a border fence after 12 years of planning, environmental reviews and legal challenges. Denver voters passed initiative 100 that will give police authority to seize cars driven by illegal immigrants. Immigrants are returning to Mexico in droves as more business opportunities emerge in Mexico.
NASA data shows Arctic ice is refusing to melt as ordered, in fact the Arctic ice extent was 30% greater in August 2008 than it was one year ago. The chance discovery of the remains of a giant kangaroo casts doubt on the long held theory that climate change was responsible for its demise. Apparently man is the culprit.
A Texas school district may be the first in the nation to allow teachers to pack guns and, the best news of all: California taxpayers may be on the hook for a staggering $388 million judgement. Apparently the state's tax collection agency was judged to have pursued a former taxpayer a little too vigorously.
MEDIA:
Voters overwhelmingly believe that 'politicians will break the rules to help people who give them a lot of money,' but, surprisingly, most say that media bias is a bigger problem than campaign cash. Media headlines trumpeted the fact that 47% of Americans believe the government should require all radio and television stations to offer equal amounts of conservative and liberal political commentary i.e.: the 'Fairness Doctrine.' Headlines on RightBias see it another way: 'Majority of Americans Reject Fairness Doctrine.'
News-stand sales of U.S. magazines fell 6.3% in the first half of 2008 and PBS, probably the most liberal network in America, will present a program this fall that says the Old Testament is a bunch of made-up stories that never happened. They report, they decide.
A surfer in New Smyrna Beach was caught paddling frantically after spotting a shark closing in on him
CULTURE:
The family of a gay teenager who was fatally shot in class blames the school district for allowing their son to wear makeup and feminine clothing to school. Ellen Degeneres married her girlfriend last weekend.
A federal judge says the University of California can deny course credit to applicants from Christian high schools whose textbooks declare the Bible infallible and reject evolution.
New census figures show whites will be the minority by 2042. Does that mean whites will start getting preferential treatment and won't be held accountable for their actions? Inquiring minds want to know.
In a potential setback to wind power, new research shows that living near wind turbines can cause sleep disorders, difficulty with equilibrium, headaches and childhood "night terrors." Wonder how the cave men would have dealt with all these newfangled disorders and syndromes.
Women, are you attracted to bad boys? Not to worry, its not your fault. A study by British scientists suggest that taking birth control pills can change a woman's taste in men - to those who are genetically less compatible.
IDIOT OF THE WEEK:
This weeks' award goes to the Swedish wrestler who discarded his bronze medal in protest because he didn't win the gold. This poor sport has been stripped of the award and disqualified from the tournament in Beijing.
We promised the Europeans freedom. It would be worse than dishonorable not to see they have it. This might mean war with the Russians, but what of it? They have no Air Force anymore, their gasoline and ammunition supplies are low. I've seen their miserable supply trains; mostly wagons draw by beaten up old horses or oxen. I'll say this; the Third Army alone with very little help and with damned few casualties, could lick what is left of the Russians in six weeks. You mark my words. Don't ever forget them. Someday we will have to fight them and it will take six years and cost us six million lives.
One form of securing testimony used by the Russians is to hang a man by his wrists with bandages so that they will not cut or marks will be left. Then, two small incisions are made into the lower abdomen to allow a portion of the intestines to hang out. After the man has taken all that he can stand without dying, he is cut down, the incisions are sewn up, and he is restored to health with the promise that the operation will not be repeated IF he does as he is told.
I believe that by taking a strong attitude with the Russians, they will back down. We have already yielded too much to their mongolian nature.
There are all kinds of low class slime who are trying and will continue to try to wreck this country from the inside. Most of them don't know it, but they are actually working for the Russians. Some of them do know it, though. It doesn't matter whether they call themselves communists, socialists, or just plain liberals. That is what they are doing.
The Russians are mongols. They are Slavs and a lot of them used to be ruled by ancient Byzantium. From Genghis Kahn to Stalin, they have not changed. They never will and we will never learn, at least, not until it is too late.
Poland is under Russian domination, so is Hungary, so is Czechoslovakia, and so is Yugoslavia; and we sit happily by and think that everybody loves us.
We have destroyed what could have been a good race of people and we are about to replace them with mongolian savages and all of Europe with communism.
General Anders of the Polish II Corps told me that if his Corps got between a German Army and a Russian Army he would have trouble deciding which direction to fight.
The one thing which I could not say then, and cannot yet say, is that my chief interest in establishing order in Germany was to prevent Germany from going communist. I am afraid that our foolish and utterly stupid policy in regard to Germany will certainly cause them to join the Russians and thereby insure a communistic state throughout western Europe.
If it should be necessary for us to fight the Russians, the sooner we do it, the better.
We could have arrived sooner but for the fact that if one flies over Russian occupied territory they shoot at you. Nice friends.
If we have to fight them, now is the time. From now on, we will get weaker and they will get stronger.
The difficulty in understanding the Russian is that we do not take cognizance of the fact that he is not a European, but an Asiatic and therefore thinks deviously. We can no more understand a Russian than a Chinese or a Japanese. From what I have seen of them I have no particular desire to understand them except to ascertain how much lead or iron it takes to kill them. In addition to his other amiable characteristics, the Russians have no regard for human life and they are all out sons of bitches, barbarians, and chronic drunks.
It is said that for the first week after the Russians took Berlin, all women who ran were shot and those who did not were raped. I could have taken Berlin if I had been allowed.
The Russians have a lot of new heavy tanks of which they are very proud. The Marshall asked me how I liked them. I said that I did not and we had quite an argument. Apparently I am the first person ever to disagree with him.
At the dinner I stated that in my opinion Germany was so completely blacked out that so far as military resistance was concerned, they were not a menace and that what we had to look out for was Russia. This caused a considerable furor.
I believe that Germany should not be destroyed, but rather should be rebuilt as a buffer against the real danger, which is Russia and it's Bolshevism.
Russia knows what it wants. World domination. And she is laying her plans accordingly. We, on the other hand, and England, and France to a lesser extent, don't know what we want and get less than nothing as the result.
Let's keep our boots polished, bayonets sharpened, and present a picture of force and strength to the Russians. This is the only language that they understand and respect. If you fail to do this, then I would like to say that we have had a victory over the Germans, and have disarmed them, but we have lost the war.
I have never seen in any army at any time, including the German Imperial Army of 1912, as severe discipline as exists in the Russian Army. The officers, with few exceptions, give the appearance of recently civilized mongolian bandits. The men passed in review with a very good imitation of the goose step. They give me the impression of something that is to be feared in future world political reorganization.
Georgia is a strategic crossroad for hydrocarbon transit in the Caspian region. The country has experienced significant growth since the new democratic government came into force. The main directions of the energy policy are energy security, diversification of gas supplies, reconstruction of hydropower plants, construction of underground gas storage facilities, attracting foreign investments and privatization.
The South Caucasus gas pipeline and the BTC (Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan) pipeline allow oil and gas to flow from Azerbaijan through Georgia to Europe. Over the last decade, $5 billion has been invested by BP and its partners into development of the major oil and gas pipelines that cross Georgia.
Reconstruction work on the Batumi Oil Terminal is now complete and reconstruction of the Poti port is currently underway. Construction of a new, Kulevi Oil Terminal, operated by SOCAR, will be completed this year.
There has been a great deal of interest in developing Georgia's own oil and gas fields. Oil exploration projects are being conducted in East and South-West Georgia. In 2007 several new license blocks were awarded to international oil companies.
Specifically, Frontera's strategy is to seek opportunities in known hydrocarbon-bearing basins around the world where historical geopolitical and/or economic situations may have caused significant oil and gas plays to be overlooked or underdeveloped. Being among the first to enter these markets as they change and emerge from these historical situations is a primary objective in order to capture opportunity. Within this strategy, Frontera's current focus is targeted on exploiting a 'Greater Black Sea' initiative, with a primary focus on its core operations in the country of Georgia.
In 2001 the EBRD took possession of Frontera's stake in the project when the US company failed to repay a $ 60 mm loan from the bank. And year later the EBRD has decided to sell its 30 % stake to the Chinese National Petroleum Company.
On July 26, CNPC President Jiang Jiemin had a talk with visiting Russian Deputy Prime Minister lgor Sechin on reinforcing cooperation between the two countries' energy sector.
Mr. Igor Sechin was visiting China at the invitation of his Chinese counterpart Wang Qishan to launch an energy resources negotiation mechanism in Beijing.
(Beijing, May 30, 2005) - The Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad (BOCOG) announces that China National Petroleum Corporation has been selected an official partner of the 2008 Beijing Games after the two parties sign an agreement today.
The agreement entitles China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC), China's largest producer and supplier of crude oil and natural gas, to provide funding and services to the Beijing Olympic Games, the Beijing Paralympic Games, BOCOG, the Chinese Olympic Committee and the Chinese sports delegations to the 2006 Winter Games in Torino, Italy and the 2008 Games in Beijing. CNC is the eighth company to join the elite club of the Beijing 2008 partners.
The partnership agreement was signed by Wang Wei, BOCOG's executive vice-president and secretary general, and Duan Wende, vice president of CNPC and vice president of the listed PetroChina, at a high-profile ceremony at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse. Liu Jingmin, vice mayor of Beijing and BOCOG's executive vice-president, and Chen Geng, president of CNPC and chairman of PetroChina, exchanged souvenirs after the document-signing session.
"We are glad to see CNPC participating in the Beijing Olympic Games as an official partner in the category of crude oil and natural gas," Wang Wei said at the signing ceremony, witnessed by senior officials from the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the Chinese State Council, BOCOG, CNPC and representatives from the International Olympic Committee, China's General Administration of Sport and the Chinese Olympic Committee.
[SNIP]
CNPC is one of the world's top 10 oil companies, ranking 52nd on Fortune's Global 500 list in 2004. In China, it is one of the leading companies in the energy sector. For years, CNPC has been the most profitable company in China, and a top contributor to the government's tax revenue.
Cordially thanking the Turkmen leader for finding the time to arrive in Beijing that hosted the Olympic Games and the opportunity of a personal meeting the CNPC Chairman focused on the significance attached by China to co-operation with Turkmenistan which was brought up to a higher level nowadays. Mr. Jiang Jiemin said that the Chinese leadership paid special attention to the project on construction of the Turkmenistan-China gas pipeline of exceptional importance for intensifying intergovernmental collaboration. In this regard the CNPC Chairman said that he was glad to have an opportunity to report the President of Turkmenistan on the progress of this grandiose project and the works to extract oil and establish the relevant infrastructure in the gas fields on the right bank of the Amu Darya River under the Production Sharing Agreement. The Chinese businessmen informed Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov that the works were carried out and the facilities would be put into service according to schedule. The construction of the section of the pipeline crossing the territory of China had been completed. Mr. Jiang Jiemin said that the gas pipeline from Turkmenistan to the People’s Republic of China would have been constructed by the end of 2009. The capacity of the gas pipeline would be 40 billion cubic metres.
Showing satisfaction at this information Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov focused on the importance of this project for diversifying the development of Turkmenistan’s fuel and energy sector and exporting energy resources to the world markets as well as with regard to the significance that Turkmenistan attached to enhancing partnership with China, maintaining and developing the traditions of Turkmen-Chinese friendship. The Turkmen leader reaffirmed Turkmenistan’s adherence to the commitments undertaken noting that the country’s profound energy potential guaranteed the success of the agreement on natural gas export to the People’s Republic of China. The results of the audit of hydrocarbon resources carried on by the British company would be another guarantee of Turkmenistan’s competence as a dependable fuel exporter. The President suggested that the Chinese partners would purchase up to 10 billion cubic metres in addition to 30 billion cubic metres as stipulated by the intergovernmental agreement. The Turkmen leader also called for expanding co-operation with CNPC by implementing new projects, particularly construction gas processing facilities.
The Chinese partners showed keen interests in the President’s proposals and expressed sincere gratitude to the Turkmen leader for the constructive approach to co-operation. Mr. Jiang Jiemin said that the Turkmen leader’s initiatives would be taken into consideration and specified during the talks with the fuel and energy departments of Turkmenistan.
President Vladimir Putin scored a victory for access to Turkmen gas on Saturday, winning approval for a direct pipeline around the Caspian in a major setback to U.S.-backed plans for an alternative route that would bypass Russia.
The new pipeline is due to run from western Turkmenistan along the Caspian shore, pumping billions of cubic meters of gas through Kazakhstan before entering Russia, from where it will likely be exported at great profit.
A triumphant Putin announced the deal after a meeting with Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov and Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev in the Caspian port of Turkmenbashi.
The deal serves a big blow to U.S. and European Union interests. Washington and Brussels have been lobbying hard for a pipeline that would send Turkmen gas to Europe under the Caspian Sea, cutting Moscow out of the picture.
The new pipeline will come as a relief for Gazprom, which relies on Turkmen gas to fulfill its supply contracts as production at home stagnates and energy demand across Europe grows.
Competition for Turkmen gas reserves, estimated by BP's Statistical Review to stand at 2.9 trillion cubic meters, has intensified since the death of President Saparmurat Niyazov in December.
An official agreement would be signed by July, and construction could begin within one year of its signing, Putin said in remarks posted on the Kremlin web site.
Under an agreement signed with Niyazov in 2003, Turkmenistan was committed to ship 50 billion cubic meters of gas to Russia next year, a number due to rise to 80 bcm by the time the agreement runs out in 2028.
Putin said the new pipeline would pump at least 20 bcm of gas annually by 2012, and Industry and Energy Minister Viktor Khristenko said in Turkmenbashi that the number could eventually reach 30 bcm, Itar-Tass reported.
Officials failed to indicate how much it would cost to build the pipeline, but Itar-Tass cited 2003 estimates placing construction costs at $1 billion. The true cost of the pipeline would likely run much higher, as the prices of materials such as steel have risen drastically in recent years.
Russia, through state-run Gazprom, already imports about 42 bcm of gas per year from Turkmenistan at a price of $100 per 1,000 cubic meters.
It then exports the gas to Europe for an average price of $250 per 1,000 cubic meters, reaping tremendous profit while using domestic reserves to fulfill cheaper supply contracts at home.
Gazprom CEO Alexei Miller, who was accompanying Putin on his trip, said the $100 price for Turkmen gas would last through 2009 and that a new price would be negotiated by July of that year.
The three presidents said they would also expand the capacity of an existing pipeline that currently pumps Turkmen gas to Russia through Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan to 90 bcm. Uzbek President Islam Karimov signed off on the deal from Tashkent before the Turkmenbashi summit, Putin said.
Niyazov won key concessions from Putin on oil transit during talks in the Kazakh capital, Astana, on Thursday, prompting some analysts to speculate on a possible trade-off for Kazakhstan's approval of the Caspian pipeline project.
Putin said he would drop longstanding objections to expansion of the Caspian Pipeline Consortium, which carries oil from Kazakhstan's Tengiz field to the Russian Black Sea port of Novorossiisk. He also agreed to Kazakhstan's participation in the Russian-controlled pipeline from the Bulgarian Black Sea port of Burgas to Alexandroupolis on the Greek Adriatic.
"We will transport [oil and gas] by whichever route is profitable," Nazarbayev said in Turkmenbashi, news agencies reported.
Putin said the Turkmen leadership had initiated plans for the new Russia-backed Caspian pipeline. "We are opening the Caspian route at the request of Turkmenistan," Putin said, The Associated Press reported.
No other countries would be invited to participate in the pipeline's construction, he added. "It's enough to have three countries," he said.
The deal will likely further put off discussion of a trans-Caspian pipeline that would ship Turkmen gas under the Caspian Sea to Baku. Azerbaijan and then on to Europe, Russian officials and analysts said.
"Existing technical, legal, environmental and other risks relating to the trans-Caspian project are so great that it would be impossible to find an investor," Khristenko said, remarks posted on the Kremlin web site showed.
"Unless this is a political project, and then it does not matter what would be inside the pipeline as long as it exists," he said.
Berdymukhammedov said consideration of the alternative route was still "on the table," Russian news agencies reported.
The Turkmen leadership has promised to build a gas pipeline to China, and Berdymukhammedov said the country was also considering routes to Afghanistan and India.
"Don't worry, there is enough [gas]," he said, Reuters reported.
Turkmenistan, largely closed to the outside world during Niyazov's rule, has refused to allow any independent assessment of its gas reserves and claims closer to 10 times the figure put forward by BP.
"If these claims are substantiated and if the Turkmens find investors to produce this gas, the possibility of the trans-Caspian pipeline remains on the table," said Valery Nesterov, an analyst at Troika Dialog.
Both the Odessa-Brody pipeline in Ukraine and the Nabucco pipeline, planned to carry gas from the Caspian to Austria, were approved despite Russian objections, he noted.
The EU, supported by the United States, has been pushing to reduce its reliance on Russian gas amid concerns over Moscow's ability to wield its energy power for political ends.
Nesterov said politics would win out. "If politicians really have a strong desire to get more gas that would bypass Russia, they could offer to incur some financial losses and risks," he said.
Putin moved to reassure critics on Saturday, saying: "We take our responsibility in the world energy supply very seriously."
Putin wrapped up his three-day visit to Turkmenistan on Sunday, flying to the Caspian port of Aktau, the center of Kazakhstan's booming oil industry. He was due to hold further talks with Nazarbayev before flying back to Moscow on Tuesday. (The Moscow Times 14.v.07)There's about 666 TA DA's in here somewhere mah Ferals..... also notice in the below how they are only bombing the pipeline that British Petroleum is the major owner of:
News reports indicate that Russia may have tried to bomb the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline, which runs through Georgia. If so, the bombs missed, and flow of oil through the pipeline was not interrupted. The BTC pipeline runs from the Caspian Sea to the Mediterranean coast of Turkey; note Russia to the north and Iran to the south:
The BTC pipeline runs through Georgia, well south of South Ossetia:
USS Kitty Hawk could be decommissioned in 2008 Carrier could be sent to India Throwing a monkey wrench into Russian plans
Could India be getting a decommissioned US aircraft carrier?
What new rhetoric can we then be expected to hear from Russia?
If current rumors in India are true, the United States could end up providing India what its traditional Russian arms supplier has long promised to provide, but so far failed to deliver. In the process the United States could deliver a severe blow to Russia's defense industry, adding another item to the long list of grievances Russian officialdom has lodged against the United States.
During the Cold War, India was famously the largest and most powerful of the "non-aligned" nations that stayed out of the East v. West confrontation. At the same time, however, India enjoyed close relations with the then-Soviet Union that went beyond just the bonds of political convenience and trade ties between the two nations.
India has been a favorite customer of Russia and the USSR in the past.
Former Indian PM Indira Ghandi was one of Soviet Party Secretary Leonid Brezhnev's favorite foreign leaders, and he loved to make a show of that affection when she traveled to the USSR. Residents in sections of Moscow that straddle the main road leading from Vnukovo airport to the centre of the city can still recount how in those times they were dragooned by their local party officials to line the streets and wave Indian flags (if during the day) or flashlights (if at night) to greet Mrs. Ghandi's motorcade on official state visits.
India took advantage of their favored but non-allied nation status by purchasing from the USSR some of the most advanced weaponry available at the time. In the 1970s and 80s, India's fledgling defense industry benefited from Soviet specialists providing them with numerous current-day weapons platforms and the establishment of production lines to license-build Soviet hardware, such as the Mikoyan MiG-27s that were assembled at the Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) plant in Nasik
. When the USSR and the Soviet empire collapsed, it the weapons dealings between the countries only grew. Russia needed the money and India needed the weapons.
In fact, Russia has sold India some weapons that not even the Russian armed forces have received--all for the bucks which a newly-configured Russia needed badly.
By the 1990s, Moscow was selling India some of the most advanced weaponry in its arsenal, including the high-powered Sukhoi Su-30MKI, a specialized variant of the heavyweight fighter than was optimized for aerodynamic performance and upgraded with a new-generation radar set, the NIIP N011M Bars model, that not even the Russian Air Force has in service.
Four years ago, Russia and India signed a contract to provide the Indian Navy with their own aircraft carried, plus a version of the MiG-29 to use on the carrier. New Delhi had long sought the power projection an aircraft carrier gives in the India
On the face of it this seemed like the perfect deal for both sides. India was to be given an older-generation aircraft carrier, the Admiral Gorshkov, for free, but would have to pay $700 million for a refit of the vessel, plus they would have to purchase the MiG-29Ks and eight naval helicopters for another $800 million. India was also offered options to purchase an additional 30 MiG-29Ks and upgrades to Indian port facilities in order to dock and service the Gorshkov for a total of another $1.5 billion. But, the program has proven to be overly ambitious and has run into a number of snags that threaten to derail a decades-long symbiotic relationship.
The deal has run into problems and has given a major migraine to some on both sides.
But, for all of the success at MiG in making good on their promises to the Indians to build a new-generation carrier airplane--tailhook and all--the progress on the carrier has been abysmal.
When the Russian state arms export agency Rosoboronexport (ROE) made the carrier deal, the vessel was scheduled to be delivered to the Indian Navy in 2008. ROE must not have known what they were getting themselves into and as of last summer the bad news for the Indians could no longer be kept secret. As reported by Russian military analyst Aleksandr Golts, "the money [$1.5 billion] was allocated, but the work was never done."
Another Russian military commentator, Pavel Felgenhauer, stated the situation more bluntly in one of his columns on the carrier entitled "Sold: The $1.5 Billion Lemon."
The Gorshkov is roughly have the size of a U.S. carrier and was originally designed with a flight deck large enough only for a vertical take-off and short landing (VSTOL) airplane like the famous Harrier jump jets operated by the U.S. Marine Corps and the Royal Navy. Russia's Cold War-era answer to the Harrier was the Yakovlev Yak-38, a lackluster performer and an airplane so dangerous that was referred to as "the widowmaker."
Now the USA has stepped into the breech and started doing some old-fashioned Yankee horse-trading.
Enter the United States. According to numerous sources inside India, when U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates visits New Delhi late in February (provided his Tuesday Potomac Primary Day broken shoulder does not alter his itinerary) he will be carrying a signed letter from U.S. President George W. Bush offering a better deal for India than the one they have been struggling to get out of Moscow for four years now. The Indian Navy will reportedly be offered the soon-to-be decommissioned USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63) aircraft carrier for free--provided the Indian Navy will agree to purchase 65 of the newest model Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornets to be operated off of it.
If true--and if New Delhi accepts--this can do more than just sink the Russian carrier deal and the MiG-29K contract. The Indian Air Force (IAF) are deep in the throes of a tender to purchase almost 200 new fighter aircraft, with Boeing and RSK-MiG both in the field of six contenders. An order of 200 fighter airplanes is unheard of--larger than any such export sale in more than 20 years. In an era where sales of 12, 20, or 40 fighters are more common, this is the PowerBall Lotto of export competitions.
The Russians won't be happy, the Indians and Boeing are going to dancing in their offices, and the USA looks like it will kill 3 or 4 birds with one stone.
But there are sure to be voices raised in protest in all three countries.
1- In Russia at the lost business and prestige.
2- In India, by those who may be concerned at antagonizing Russia.
3- In the US, by those who can't just see the Kitty Hawk flying the Indian--or any other country's--flag.
You can be sure that the Kitty Hawk flying the Indian flag will be a strange sight for the thousands of US sailors who've served aboard her down through the years.
Will the deal go through? Will the USS Kitty Hawk be patrolling the Indian Ocean as India's first aircraft carrier? Will the Russian's denounce the imperialist Americans again?
The first ever medical center specifically built to treat Muslims in Russia according to Muslim custom or "Sharia Law" is expected to open soon in Moscow.
The centre has been organized according to cultural values of Islam, its demands and peculiarities.
The main difference from the usual clinic is that there are male doctors for male patients and female specialists for female patients. The personnel clothing meets the standards of Shariah laws: a Muslim doctor would be dressed from head to foot. Only hands are allowed to be bare, whereas women are supposed to wear hijabs. It will be allowed to prescribe only alcohol-free drugs.
There are special rooms in the new clinic for ablution and prayers (with a dividing screen for men and women). There is also a halal refreshment room, where food does not contain animal fat. Vegetable oil is used instead of butter. Food should also contain no alcohol - its consumption is forbidden by Islam. It is generally believed that Muslims pay much attention to their food, as these requirements are given by Allah whom they honour and respect.
The doctors in the Muslim clinic will have special qualifications. They will approach every patient according to Quran, the Holy Book for all Muslims. [1]
For those who are strict adherents of the Muslim faith this type of facility is needed as it lessens the stress of worrying if one is breaking one's religious vows.
According the article the doctors at the center will also be providing care to non-Muslims.
"Bums don't have sexual lives, and they have no money for [injectable] drugs"
From the Moscow Times comes a story about which "groups" were most likely to contract and transmit HIV. According to the head of the Federal Center to Fight AIDS, Journalists and "homosexuals" top the list.
Journalists Help Spread HIV
Journalists and homosexuals top the list of social groups that most actively contract and transmit HIV, Vadim Pokrovsky, head of the Federal Center to Fight AIDS, told the Novy Region news agency Thursday.
He added that the most risky groups were the ones where homosexuals have the opportunity to actively socialize, and he also mentioned policemen, doctors and show-business figures as risk groups.
Pokrovsky said, however, that public perception about high rates of HIV among the homeless had been proven wrong. "Bums don't have sexual lives, and they have no money for [injectable] drugs," he said.
After homosexuals and journalists were cops, doctors and "show business types' as risk groups.
These figures surprised us but then again these only apply to Russia?
A new study from Pravda. Since this is one of the days that I'm smarter and nicer but becoming emotionally dreamy (according to this story) then I've decided to post it.
Women become smarter and nicer only for seven days of their monthly cycle
How can women be so different? A sweet and tender bunny can turn into a spiteful and irritable bitch without any apparent cause. Where is their common sense? What for are all these groundless suspicions and jealousy? These are typical questions men have been asking for ages. Even Nancy Meyers in her “What Women Want” did not give a clear explanation to this question. But now it is science that can answer. It turns out that sex hormones rule over women’s brain. The knowledge of biochemistry can easily predict women’s emotions.
The difference between male and female brains is not a secret to modern-day science: cerebral hemispheres function in different ways. Neurons - nerve cells in woman’s brain – are always active. These factors cause constant changes in perception and handling of information.
Scientists explained this fact through experimental results. They discovered that pregnant mice are much smarter than their non-pregnant companions. The animals become cleverer because their brain receives more estrogen, the female sex hormone.
“This hormone stimulates the growth of dendrites, neuron sprouts; and this, in its turn, improves cerebration,” Professor Craig H. Kinsley said.
The professor believed at first that the experiment held true only for animals. But his colleagues from York University of Toronto proved that estrogen positively influenced all mammalian female beings, especially human beings of female sex. The latter should not necessarily be pregnant to be wise: their quick-wittedness depends on the menstrual period.
The concentration of estrogen in female body grows in about ten days after the beginning of the menstrual period. As a result of this process women become smarter and nicer, but only for seven days. Men can quickly tell the difference between photographs of one and the same woman made in different monthly periods.
“On these days women are also prone to rivalry. Her senses including hearing, vision, smell, her skin sensitivity, logic and emotions can either worsen or intensify during menstruation,” Charles Crawford, a psychologist from Simon Fraser University says.
On the basis of these experiments scientists compiled a peculiar calendar, which men can use in their relations with the opposite sex. The only difficulty is that men should possess enough information about women whose behavior they want to predict.
From the first till the seventh day of the cycle:
Women experience slight problems with understanding other people and prefer to simply smile back. The ability to express thoughts weakens. Women become dreamy and emotional.
From the eighth to the fourteenth day:
Women grow wiser and prettier, but become emotionally unbalanced at the same time. They make scathing remarks about other women, but are favorably concerned with men.
From the fifteenth to the eighteenth day:
This is a period of extreme suspiciousness and jealousy. The organism demands more sex and scandals. Mental capacity decreases. Skin becomes more sensitive to caress.
From the nineteenth to the twenty-second day:
Mental capacity fades away. Problems with memory are possible. Women become extremely confiding. Their color sensing is quite OK: all presented bouquets of flowers would be appreciated.
Once they got a taste of the decadent West, it seems they enthusiastically joined in the fun. At least they picked up a maxim of the advertising industry: sex sells.
At first, it was hard to decide if this story was a spoof or not: after all, the artist is named "Maxim Dikinov". But the photos were real enough, so as always, we'll leave it up to the reader.
A bronze sculpture of a stallion holding a piece of rail in its mouth was built last week in the yard of Yar Hotel situated at the entrance to the Russian town of Voronezh. The 3.5-meter-high statue weighs more than 3 tons. The stallion has a short-cut tail and the well-marked reproductive organ which greatly resembles the one of a man.
Maxim Dikunov named his stallion Yaryzh and said that it symbolizes the struggle between nature and civilization.
Of course, an artist is usually proud of his creations. After working many hours, a vision is made real.
But what about the artist's parents? What do they think?
According to Maxim’s mother, the management of Yar Hotel arranged a contest to choose the sculpture which could perfectly express the atmosphere of the hotel. A lot of sketches were suggested to the hotel Muscular bronze stallion with weird human genitalia advertises provincial hotel administration. Finally they choose the stallion.
When the sculptor’s father was asked about the stallion’s human sex organ he said that “it is just a matter of nature and peopel should not stick noses in it.”
One can understand a parent being proud of their offspring; it's more difficult to explain the reaction of the Yar Hotel's director. She seems downright gleeful at her property's purchase. Yana Chernyshova, the hotel’s director, said she "liked this sculpture very much. The artist exceeded expectations."
When she saw the sculpture she realized that it was "exactly" what she wanted.
We'll have the good taste not mention that Catherine the Great was also Russian.
