	Generational Dynamics
	Forecasting America's Destiny ... and the World's

\| HOME \| WEB LOG \| COUNTRY WIKI \| COMMENT \| FORUM \| DOWNLOADS \| ABOUT \|

Generational Dynamics Web Log for 30-Oct-2010
30-Oct-10 News -- Caucasus terrorism / politics becomes embroiled in 2014 Olympics

Web Log - October, 2010

30-Oct-10 News -- Caucasus terrorism / politics becomes embroiled in 2014 Olympics

Obama administration is discussing new arms sales to China

Caucasus terrorism / politics becomes embroiled in 2014 Olympics

A very dramatic scene is underway in the obscure republic of Kabardino-Balkaria, a province in southern Russia, part of the northern Caucasus.

On October 20, gun fighting broke out between rebel forces and police, in which people on both sides were killed, according to Jamestown. After the clash, about ten insurgents hid inside some 300 kilometers of underground tunnels connecting abandoned mines.

In a massive counter-terrorist operation, over 400 policemen were sent to trap the insurgents in the mines, with the objective of capturing them and preventing them from escaping.

The operation is expected to go on for several more days. However it ends, it's sure to become a part of the folklore of this region, a long-time site for the conflict between ethnic Russians and ethnic Circassians.

Rebel activity has been growing in this formerly quiet region. But that changed on July 21, when rebel terrorists attacked the Baksan hydroelectric power plant with homemade bombs, disabling the plant and causing millions of dollars in damages. It's only in the last couple of days, according to Itar-Tass, that the persons directly involved in the sabotage has been arrested.

The increased rebel activity has been energized by the selection of the resort city of Sochi, on the Black Sea, for the 2014 Winter Olympics hosted by Russia. Sochi, as it turns out, is claimed by the Circassians as their terrority, and it is the site of a major battle between Circassians and Russians in 1864, a battle that the Circassians claim was a Russian genocidal killing of Circassians. According to a 2009 article on the Circassian World web site, which promotes Circassian independence.

Circassians are almost unknown in the west, but some groups intend to change all that by means of Circassian activism between now and 2014, which ironically will be the 150th anniversary of the climactic 1864 battle, in which the Russians conquered Sochi and dispersed the Circassians.

Additional links

The Obama Administration is discussing a major policy change in US-China military relations. The Chinese media has reported the possibility that the US may lift its twenty year old arms embargo on China. The Institute of Peace & Conflict Studies

A tip from Saudi Arabian intelligence led to the discovery of explosive packages on Friday on planes bound for the U.S. Associated Press

The Israelis and Palestinians are discussing an Obama administration proposal that East Palestine would be part of a Palestinian state, but Israel would lease the land for 40 to 99 years. Haaretz

Ministers from Japan and China had planned to meet during a conference being held in Hanoi with the objective of patching up some of the ill will between the two countries. But China canceled the meeting, claiming that Japan lied about China agreeing to resume talks with Japan on exploration for oil and gas in the East China sea. Bloomberg

The EU has set in motion a divisible battle to modify the Lisbon Treaty to include penalties for any nation failing to meet maximum deficit requirements. The proposal that offending nations would lose voting rights is off the table for now, and the exact penalities have yet to be agreed. All 27 EU nations would have to agree. Reuters

French public union workers voted on Friday to end their walkouts at the country's oil refineries, after the pension reform that will raise the retirement age from 60 to 62 was passed by both houses of Parliament. NY Times

(Comments: For reader comments, questions and discussion, see the 30-Oct-10 News -- Caucasus terrorism / politics becomes embroiled in 2014 Olympics thread of the Generational Dynamics forum. Comments may be posted anonymously.) (30-Oct-2010) Permanent Link
Receive daily World View columns by e-mail
Donate to Generational Dynamics via PayPal

Web Log Pages

Current Web Log

Generational Dynamics Web Log for 30-Oct-2010 30-Oct-10 News -- Caucasus terrorism / politics becomes embroiled in 2014 Olympics

Caucasus terrorism / politics becomes embroiled in 2014 Olympics

Additional links

Web Log Pages

Generational Dynamics Web Log for 30-Oct-2010
30-Oct-10 News -- Caucasus terrorism / politics becomes embroiled in 2014 Olympics