Section: News & Summaries

      Looking for Terrorists in Alderaan Places

      In September 2009, an article from the Economist detailed a significant lack of counterinsurgency tactics in the original Star Wars sci-fi blockbusters. The publication explained that the movie-going public ‘hate insurgency and counterinsurgency.’ This might have been true in the era of Star Wars’ cinematic release in the aftermath of...

      The Revolutionary Path to Reform for Ukraine’s National Police
      Dec17

      The Revolutionary Path to Reform for Ukraine’s National Police

      Ukrainians are growing increasingly impatient with Ukraine’s lack of reforms. But the country’s police reforms are working, says Khatia Dekanoidze, the newly-appointed chief of the Ukrainian National Police.How does she know?”The number one tool to…measure effectiveness of police is trust,” Dekanoidze said on...

      Ukraine: Society No Longer Willing to Compromise with a Compromise
      Dec16

      Ukraine: Society No Longer Willing to Compromise with a Compromise

      Whoever directed the show in Ukraine’s parliament on December 11—when a ruling-party coalition parliamentarian dragged Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk from the podium—may have achieved their objective: there was no serious discussion of the government’s record that day. As a result of internal and external compromises, the current...

      “Ukraine is a work in progress by Putin,” Says General Wesley Clark
      Dec16

      “Ukraine is a work in progress by Putin,” Says General Wesley Clark

      Retired US Army General Wesley Clark, former NATO Supreme Allied Commander, Europe, has campaigned since 2014 to convince Western governments to provide lethal aid to Ukraine to fend off Russia’s occupation of 9 percent of its territory.In a wide-ranging interview, he talked about why this hasn’t happened and about Russian President...

      Should Ukraine Forget Its History?
      Dec16

      Should Ukraine Forget Its History?

      On November 25, 2010, while on a state visit to Kyiv, Israel’s President Shimon Peres stated that, “If Ukrainians were to ask me for advice, I would say: forget history.” Coming from the president of a country steeped in history, the comment was at first glance bizarre. Directed at a country embroiled in seemingly endless...

      Thank You, George!
      Dec14

      Thank You, George!

      In his 2011 essay, “My Philanthropy,” George Soros described his approach to charitable giving. “I relish confronting harsh reality, and I am drawn to tackling seemingly insoluble problems,” he wrote. Indeed, it is with a consistent determination, generosity, and unwavering faith in Ukraine’s potential that Soros...

      US, Russia to discuss Assad’s future

      US Secretary of State John Kerry will try to reach agreement with Russia over the role of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in any political transition. ||| Paris – US Secretary of State John Kerry will use talks in Moscow on Tuesday to try to narrow differences with Russian leader Vladimir Putin over the role of Syrian President Bashar...

      Memo to Presidential Candidates: The Putin Problem Isn’t Going Away
      Dec14

      Memo to Presidential Candidates: The Putin Problem Isn’t Going Away

      Foreign-policy challenges will keep the next commander-in-chief up late. Analysts focus on the threat that Islamic State poses to the United States and its allies, but the Putin problem is unlikely to fade. As the candidates gear up for the next round of debates—slated for December 15 and 19—it’s time to take stock of the threat the Russian...

      Battle for Donetsk Airport: Haunting Documentary Captures Ukrainian Resilience
      Dec14

      Battle for Donetsk Airport: Haunting Documentary Captures Ukrainian Resilience

      A haunting message from a Ukrainian soldier closes “Airport Donetsk,” a documentary about the 200-day siege that ended in January 2015.”I can’t sleep at all,” said the downcast survivor. “I see them…I see my guys in my dreams.”He was one of a dozen Ukrainians and Russians interviewed for this film...

      Watch: Brawl in Ukraine parliament

      A fight erupted between dozens of lawmakers in Ukraine’s parliament on Friday after an MP picked up Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk. …read more Source:...