Russia: Big Buddy

Big Buddy

July 26, 2006: The Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) is falling apart. Formed by Russia in the 1990s, after the collapse of the Soviet Union, the CIS was sort of a successor of the Soviet Union. But at a recent meeting of CIS representatives, members Armenia, Ukraine, Georgia and Turkmenistan did not attend.

July 25, 2006: Russia and Venezuela signed a deal for the same of over a billion dollars worth of Russian warplanes and helicopters.

A small bomb went off outside the offices of a pro-monarchist newspaper in Moscow. No one claimed responsibility.

July 21, 2006: A military satellite was launched successfully. Russia is rebuilding its military satellite network, after nearly two decades of decay (because of lack of money).

July 20, 2006: A small bomb went off next to a highway outside Moscow. No one claimed responsibility.

July 14, 2006: Russia is putting billions of dollars into developing a high tech commercial airliner. "Superjet 100" would carry a hundred passengers, and, in theory, exploit a market segment that is vulnerable to new competitors. If Russia could pull this off, it would make Russians military aviation more competitive as well.

July 13, 2006: China and Russia have become a powerful diplomatic coalition, working together on both North Korean (missiles and nukes) and Iranian (the same) issues. China and Russia are also cooperating in counter-terrorism issues, and how to deal with the United States.

July 12, 2006: The government has offered to store nuclear wastes for foreign nuclear reactions. This could earn billions of dollars a year, for Russia has plenty of isolated land suitable for such a site, and most nations are happy to get the radioactive stuff out of their countries.