http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/easterneurope/ en-us Wed, 11 Nov 2009 04:15:42 GMT Focus Forum 15 http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2383588/posts Nov 10, 2009 — When the Berlin wall fell 20 years ago, Dorothee Hubner first dared to think, “Are we allowed to leave and finally be free?” Her story and that of her parents Gerhard and Gertraude, scientists trapped in East Germany, was told by Andrew Curry, a freelance writer, in Science.[1] Dorothee was 23 years old in 1989. Her parents, also biochemists, “had spent decades struggling to do research in East Germany without compromising their personal ideals with allegiance to the ruling Communist Party.” By not pledging allegiance to the ruling Communist Party, the Hubners faced a life of... CEH http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2383588/posts#comment Wed, 11 Nov 2009 04:15:42 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2382463/posts The collapse of communism: Reagan, Thatcher and the pope By Joseph A. Cannon Deseret News Published: Sunday, Nov. 8, 2009 12:12 a.m. MST Twenty years ago, my wife, Jan, and I were in what was then called West Berlin for a conference. One pleasant afternoon we walked along the Berlin Wall from the Brandenburg Gate to Checkpoint Charlie. During that time, there were significant rancorous anti-Communist demonstrations in East Germany, primarily in the southern part. A German friend, with typical Prussian hubris, dismissed them. "Nothing will come of this, these are just the ineffective rumblings of a bunch of Bavarians."... Deseret News http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2382463/posts#comment Mon, 9 Nov 2009 22:30:05 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2371364/posts So now the cat is well and truly out of the bag. For years, as the number of immigrants to Britain shot up apparently uncontrollably, the question was how exactly this had happened. Was it through a fit of absent-mindedness or gross incompetence? Or was it not inadvertent at all, but deliberate? The latter explanation seemed just too outrageous. After all, a deliberate policy of mass immigration would have amounted to nothing less than an attempt to change the very make-up of this country without telling the electorate. There could not have been a more grave abuse of the entire... The Daily Mail http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2371364/posts#comment Mon, 26 Oct 2009 20:58:38 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2369815/posts Some of you may have read my article on cities with the most beautiful women, this however is about the countries with the most beautiful women. It's always possible to find a city with beautiful women in a land of not-so-amazingly beautiful women. These places on the other hand, are entirecountries with beautiful women. 10. Denmark I've been to Denmark many times, & I can say that I've not found anything rotten there to date. And definitely not the women, the women here are as striking as they come. A lot like their Swedish neighbours, the women of Denmark are... Travelers Digest http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2369815/posts#comment Sat, 24 Oct 2009 04:26:21 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2361459/posts With an ambitious new pipeline planned to run along the bed of the Baltic Sea, the Russian natural gas giant Gazprom is driving a political wedge between Eastern and Western Europe. While the Russian-German pipeline offers clear energy benefits to Western Europe, Central and Eastern European leaders fear it could lead to a new era of gas-leveraged Russian domination of the former Soviet bloc. With its gas wealth and eyebrow-raising network of personal ties, Russia has divided members of the European Union that have vowed to act collectively to protect their security. Currently, Russian gas has to be piped through... NYT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2361459/posts#comment Tue, 13 Oct 2009 17:08:11 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2352837/posts A recent report of an ancient textile facility, of sorts, is turning heads.[1] Sifting through the debris on a cave floor in the Republic of Georgia, scientists recently discovered evidence that the early cave dwellers processed textiles in the cave. While searching for ancient pollen grains, they found tiny flax fibers in the dirt. Some of these fibers were woven, some were cut, and some were dyed black, gray, turquoise, or pink. They also discovered evidence that these people were processing fur (for clothing) and animal hides. What is surprising about the find is that this was supposedly happening 30,000... CMI http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2352837/posts#comment Thu, 1 Oct 2009 21:51:37 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2342671/posts Czechs are used to betrayal by their Western allies. It was at Munich in 1938 that British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain sealed their doom in exchange for a piece of paper promising "peace in our time." The fact that this further gutting of missile defense came on the 70th anniversary of the Soviet invasion of Poland on Sept. 17, 1939, is an eerie coincidence. "Just after midnight I was informed in a telephone call by President Barack Obama that (his) administration had decided to pull out from the planned missile defense shield installations" in the Czech Republic and Poland, the... Investor's Business Daily http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2342671/posts#comment Fri, 18 Sep 2009 10:50:25 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2344602/posts I was reading an article from The New York Times and this jumped out at me: Although the White House denied that its decision was made to curry favor with the Kremlin, it took some satisfaction in comments by Russian leaders suggesting more flexibility. Obama advisers pointed to a few specific areas where they have won concessions from other countries. Russia, for example, has agreed to a framework for nuclear arms cuts and gave permission for American troops to fly to Afghanistan through its airspace.(emphasis added) Then I read an article on RFERL that had the following: BISHKEK -- A... It's a Kwazy Life http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2344602/posts#comment Mon, 21 Sep 2009 10:24:38 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2343551/posts When Barack Obama was running for the White House, he posed as a man with a cool head in a crisis who would display calm resolve in the face of any thuggery from the world's rogue states. The candidate described by his aides as "no drama Obama" would have despised the label of a gambler. Yet his decision to abandon plans for a missile defence shield in central Europe amounts to nothing less than a colossal gamble – and one that history may yet condemn as irresponsible and reckless. Be in no doubt about the stakes: the defensive system that... telegraph.co.uk http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2343551/posts#comment Sat, 19 Sep 2009 12:46:20 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2343524/posts OBAMA ABANDONS OUR ALLIES This Morning, In “Move Likely To Cheer Moscow And Roil The Security Debate In Europe,” Obama “Told East European States He Is Backing Away From Plans For An Anti-Missile Shield There.” (Peter Spiegel, "U.S. Shelves Nuclear-Missile Shield," The Wall Street Journal, 9/17/09; Jana Mlcochova and Gabriela Baczynska, "U.S. Backs Away From Missile Shield In Europe," Reuters, 9/17/09) Today Is 70th Anniversary Of Soviet Invasion Of Poland. “For Poland, the timing of the announcement is particularly sensitive. Thursday marked the 70th anniversary of the Soviet invasion of eastern Poland following a pact between Moscow and Nazi Germany,... mc.org http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2343524/posts#comment Sat, 19 Sep 2009 12:03:42 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2343330/posts Security: An Iranian mullah once said "a world without America and Zionism" was a real possibility. Our sellout of Eastern Europe and missile defense brings that dream closer to reality. It would take only one warhead."Is it possible for us to witness a world without America and Zionism?" Iran's Mahmoud Ahmadinejad asked at a "World Without Zionism" conference in Tehran in 2005. "But you had best know that this slogan and this goal are attainable, and surely can be achieved." He added that Iran had a strategic "war preparation plan" for what it called "the destruction of Anglo-Saxon civilization." A... IBD Editorials http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2343330/posts#comment Sat, 19 Sep 2009 00:56:28 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2343320/posts Senator Inhofe was on Savage show tonight. He said the Star Wars missile defense for Poland and the Czech Republic were also for protection of the United States. Inhofe said there are three stages of an ICBM flight. Launch, midflight and terminal phase. Savage radio show http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2343320/posts#comment Sat, 19 Sep 2009 00:40:22 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2342444/posts Strategic Defense: With Iran on the verge of a deliverable nuke, the administration tells our allies in the dead of night that we will scuttle missile defense plans in Eastern Europe to please the Russians.Czechs are used to betrayal by their Western allies. It was at Munich in 1938 that British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain sealed their doom in exchange for a piece of paper promising "peace in our time." The fact that this further gutting of missile defense came on the 70th anniversary of the Soviet invasion of Poland on Sept. 17, 1939, is an eerie coincidence. "Just after... IBD Editorials http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2342444/posts#comment Fri, 18 Sep 2009 00:25:45 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2213082/posts Alliances: The U.S. has expressed a willingness to barter away missile defense sites in Poland and the Czech Republic. Now the Polish foreign minister says he hopes his country doesn't regret trusting the United States.The Brussels Forum is a privately organized high-level meeting of the most influential North American and European political, corporate and intellectual leaders to address pressing challenges currently facing both sides of the Atlantic. One of the pressing issues discussed at this year's conference was whether the U.S. is serious about bartering away plans for missile defense sites in Poland and the Czech Republic in exchange for... IBD Editorials http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2213082/posts#comment Tue, 24 Mar 2009 00:53:49 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2342663/posts STILL determined to "push the reset button with Rus sia," President Obama hit the delete key on our allies in Eastern Europe. Obama's decision to abandon missile defense as we know it, cutting the throats of Poland and the Czech Republic, handed Moscow's hard-liners their biggest win since the collapse of the Soviet Union. Russian strongman Vladimir Putin insisted all along that we'd never be permitted to deploy an anti-ballistic missile system in the former Soviet empire. He was right. And Obama got nothing in return. No Russian commitments on Iran's nuclear program. No sovereignty guarantees for Georgia. No restrictions... NY Post http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2342663/posts#comment Fri, 18 Sep 2009 10:27:11 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2342627/posts ...People, do not fool yourselves into thinking that a Cumbaiya society exists anywhere other than between the ears of historically drug ridden liberals. In the real world, our enemies view the U.S. as some sort of arrogant monster that needs to be destroyed. And, a lot of people in D.C. agree with that philosophy. They go by the name of ‘Czars. And, since they work for Obama and are not held accountable to anyone about anything they do or say, they can bend his ear, and stroke his tail, anyway he or they see fit. Does this administration honestly think... Barry's Obamanation http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2342627/posts#comment Fri, 18 Sep 2009 06:41:45 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2341711/posts WASHINGTON -- The White House will shelve Bush administration plans to build a missile-defense system in Poland and the Czech Republic, according to people familiar with the matter, a move likely to cheer Moscow and roil the security debate in Europe. Wall Street Journal http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2341711/posts#comment Thu, 17 Sep 2009 04:25:29 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2339582/posts Czechs feel betrayed, Poles irked, Romanians slighted. Ask them who's to blame, and the answer may come as a surprise: Obama. George W. Bush fawned over Eastern Europe, and its leaders rushed to join his post-9/11 "coalition of the willing." Now many—officials and ordinary citizens alike—are grumbling over what they perceive as the Obama administration's neglect. It's a startling shift in a region long accustomed to cozy ties with the United States. Breit Bart http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2339582/posts#comment Mon, 14 Sep 2009 20:57:12 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2338195/posts The next 100 years George Friedman Published 27 August 2009 Japan and Turkey form an alliance to attack the US. Poland becomes America’s closest ally. Mexico makes a bid for global supremacy, and a third world war takes place in space. Sounds strange? It could all happen. . . In 1492, Columbus sailed west. In 1991, the Soviet Union collapsed. These two events bracketed the European age. Once, Mayans lived unaware that there were Mongols, who were unaware there were Zulus. From the 15th century onwards, European powers collectively overwhelmed the world, creating the first truly global geopolitical system in... New Statesman http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2338195/posts#comment Sat, 12 Sep 2009 20:57:16 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2326393/posts America reneges on missile defense for New Europe The United States is poised to dump a critical missile-defense agreement with two of its most dependable NATO allies. The Polish daily Gazeta Wyborcza reported yesterday that the Obama administration is going to scrap the "third site" anti-missile system scheduled to be deployed in Poland and the Czech Republic. Missile interceptors in Poland and a radar station in the Czech Republic were scheduled to be deployed by 2013. Now the plan appears to have been shot down. This move sends the wrong signal to our allies in Eastern Europe. The former Soviet... THE WASHINGTON TIMES http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2326393/posts#comment Fri, 28 Aug 2009 09:06:03 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2326261/posts Washington may relocate the controversial missile defense system planned for Eastern Europe to the Balkans, Turkey or Israel, a Polish newspaper reports. The U.S. plan included 10 long-range interceptor missiles in Poland and a radar station in the Czech Republic. That plan will almost certainly be scrapped, Polish daily Gazeta Wyborcza reports. Washington is now looking for alternative locations including in the Balkans, Israel and Turkey, the daily says, citing U.S. administration officials and lobbyists based in Washington. "The signals that the generals in the Pentagon are sending are absolutely clear: as far as missile defense is concerned, the current... Space War http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2326261/posts#comment Fri, 28 Aug 2009 03:25:27 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2324730/posts The ongoing de-Christianization of Kosovo continues and unlike the past frenzy of the anti-Serbian mass media in the West, we mainly have a deadly silence about the reality of Kosovo and the continuing Albanianization of this land. However, how is it “just” and “moral” to persecute minorities and to alienate them from mainstream society; and then to illegally recognize this land without the full consensus of the international community? How ironic it is that the same United States of America and the United Kingdom, two nations who were in the forefront of covertly manipulating the mass media; remain mainly silent... The Seoul Times http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2324730/posts#comment Wed, 26 Aug 2009 12:28:01 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2322374/posts Plaque in Pranjani dedicated to the Halyard Mission on September 12, 2004. The plaque next to it reflects the same inscription in the Serbian language. Photo courtesy of OSS Halyard Mission radioman Arthur "Jibby" Jibilian Serb soldiers in front of the Halyard Mission monument first dedicated in September of 2004,in Pranjani, Serbia August 15, 2009. Photo courtesy of Lt. Col. John Cappello Ohio National Guard troops that are in Serbia doing work on schools in South Serbia. They are working with Serb soldiers, some of which are also in the photo. The older folks are those who participated in assisting... www.generalmihailovich.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2322374/posts#comment Sun, 23 Aug 2009 01:55:54 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2321998/posts "Irresponsible" To Identify Secret Sites, Says CIA; Lithuania Denies Allegation A third European country has been identified to ABC News as providing the CIA with facilities for a secret prison for high-value al Qaeda suspects: Lithuania, the former Soviet state. Former CIA officials directly involved or briefed on the highly classified program tell ABC News that Lithuanian officials provided the CIA with a building on the outskirts of Vilnius, the country's capital, where as many as eight suspects were held for more than a year, until late 2005 when they were moved because of public disclosures about the program. Flight... ABC http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2321998/posts#comment Sat, 22 Aug 2009 14:31:01 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2319960/posts Participants in a very eventful picnic gather for its 20th anniversary at the Austro-Hungarian border. Twenty years ago Wednesday, Hungarian Border Guard Arpad Bella was standing in front of that gate in his summer uniform, pistol at his side, awaiting the arrival of a special delegation of Austrian visitors. Bella’s men had been told to be on the lookout. Meanwhile, reformers within Hungary’s Communist Party had given local democracy activists permission to organize a symbolic event on the border — a “pan-European picnic” in which they would share food, wine and declarations of cooperation with their Austrian neighbors. With foreign... Global Post http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2319960/posts#comment Wed, 19 Aug 2009 23:10:09 GMT