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 TOPICS

• Shakhmati! The geopolitical chess game turns against Russia as they are forced to choose between being excluded from the WTO and signing the Kyoto agreement.

• No sooner than an Ingush provincial leader has declared 'no ethnic backlash' from the Beslan attack, North Ossetians vow revenge when the 40 day mourning period is over. One Beslan resident states, "There will be violence. It won’t be noisy. It will be quiet - one person at a time."

• The "right" to conduct pre-emptive attacks has become part of the Russian anti-terror doctrine recently. However, many believe it is less about anti-terror operations and more about re-invigorating the Russian effort to maintain control over the Caucasus. Russian policy toward Chechnya especially, has been more political in the past couple of years, but the anti-terror initiative of preemption might tip policy back toward a more overt military prosecution of securing Chechnya. The other side of the coin is a Russia finally awakening to the global threat posed by pan-islamic nationalism. Which is the truth is only known in the Kremlin - for now.

Other Topics Today Include: arms sales and trade surplus; state run oil profits as YUKOS dies; inflation worries; political opposition uniting against Putin; first woman governor assesses first year; military draft excludes Chechens; Alkhanov inaugurated in secret location; Russia-Iran nuke fuel deal; Putin heads to China as two countries celebrate relations and joint ventures; secret uranium mission a success; introducing the Vodnik

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