ISDEI Instituto de Seguridad, Defensa y Estudios Internacionales

More than 50 years after President Eisenhower's warning, Americans find themselves in perpetual war. By Jonathan Turley January 13, 2014 - In January 1961, US President Dwight D Eisenhower used his farewell address to warn the nation of what he viewed as one of its greatest threats: the military-industrial complex composed of military contractors and lobbyists perpetuating war. Eisenhower warned that "an immense military establishment and a large arms industry" had emerged as a hidden force in US politics and that Americans "must not fail to comprehend its grave implications". The speech may have been Eisenhower's most courageous and prophetic moment. Fifty years and some later, Americans find themselves in what seems like perpetual war. No sooner do we draw down on operations in Iraq than leaders demand an intervention in Libya or Syria or Iran. While perpetual war constitutes perpetual losses for families, and ever expanding budgets, it also represents per

By Finian Cunningham January 13, 2014 - Russian intelligence has now reportedly obtained solid proof that Saudi Arabia was directly involved in the twin terror attacks on the city of Volgograd. The attacks killed more than 32 people and injured over 100 others. Most of the victims were civilians. According to an informed Russian official source, reported by the Fars News Agency, Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) has informed President Vladimir Putin of the Saudi link to the Volgograd massacre. This will come as no surprise to Putin. The Russian leader was warned by the Saudi intelligence chief Prince Bandar Bin Sultan during a heated four-hour private meeting back in July that Wahhabi-sponsored terrorists based in the North Caucasus region of Russia would be targeting the Sochi Winter Olympics. The Sochi Games are due to open on February 7. Volgograd is a key transport hub linking Moscow with the southern Russian territory and the Black Sea resort city of Sochi in particular, whe

Analysis EUROPE Jan. 13: U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will meet in Paris to discuss the situation in Syria. Jan. 13-16: The European Parliament will hold a plenary session. Jan. 14: Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades will visit the United Kingdom and is expected to meet with British Prime Minister David Cameron. The Cypriot foreign, energy and finance ministers are also expected to visit the United Kingdom while Anastasiades is there. Jan. 16: French Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian will discuss the cost of France's military operations with the finance committee of the National Assembly. Jan. 16: Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras is expected to present Greece's goals for its time as EU president to the European Parliament. Jan. 16-17: A European Parliament delegation will be in Ireland to meet with Irish government officials and discuss the country's experience with the bailout program. Jan. 18: EasyJet cabin crew mem

Stratfor Summary Switzerland is at the geographic center of Europe and in many ways is thoroughly integrated with the European Union, but the country resists full institutional integration for strategic reasons. Bern's "discriminatory" approach to immigration drew the ire of the European commissioner for employment, social affairs and inclusion earlier this week. Through bilateral agreements, Switzerland tries to find a balance between independence and integration with the rest of Europe. Maintaining this balance will become more difficult as the European crisis lingers and Euroskeptical forces in Switzerland remain strong. Brussels, as well as core countries such as France and Germany, is likely to put additional pressure on Switzerland out of fear that its selective European integration strategy will gain momentum in EU countries, thus weakening the bloc's structures. However, this pressure is unlikely to be effective because the European Union's crisis has fur