Winds of Change.NET Regional Briefings run on Tuesdays & Wednesdays, and sometimes Fridays too.

This Regional Briefing focuses on the enigma that is Russia, via Joel Gaines of No Pundit Intended. Joel is a veteran of the Gulf War with the 3rd Armor Division, where he worked in an intelligence capacity. He speaks Russian, and has worked in several of the former soviet satellites.

TOP TOPIC:

• Beslan School Terror: You can immediately help the victims: Please visit the International Foundation for Victims of Terror Acts for more information.

• In North Ossetia, Beslan School #1 was the target of a brutal and senseless act of terror. Islamo-fascists from the Chechen region, augmented by terrorists from Ingushetia held more than 1200 in a state of siege in the school's gymnasium. The siege ended when one of the improvised explosive devices detonated - killing and wounding hundreds.

• The attack was a severe blow to Russia's attempts to stay above the fray, known as the War on Terror, which impacts so many other nations. The Chechen separatist leaders, Aslan Maskhadov and Shamil Basayev, have been implicated by the FSB as having a direct involvement in the attack.

• The hero of Beslan: Yanis (Ivan) Kanidis, a 74 year old gym teacher, who died that more of his children might live.

Other Topics Today Include: Three economic growth scenarios, YUKOS woe deepens, Putin's controlled democracy, Russia's dismay about Chechen attacks,Alu Alkhinov is new Chechen president, US/Russia relations hurt?, Georgia and S. Ossetia still at it, assassinated with a BB, Introducing the T-90 tank, terrorists targeting nuke sites.

• Multiple Terrorist Attacks
• Russia's Economy
• Internal Politics
• Chechnya
• International Relations & Security
• Paging Mr. Bond...