11:05 pm, St. Petersburg time

Turkish court upholds ban on YouTube: Ataturk's legacy safe 

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In Baku, Clinton meets with Aliyev, civil society advocates


All smiles in Baku
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Endless War: A Recipe for 4-star arrogance

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Russian Olympic tally: $12.4 million per medal

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Kirkuk-Ceyhan pipeline attacked yesterday: temporarily knocked out of service

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Lindsey Graham: US might be able to turn over "part" of Afghanistan by July 2011 withdrawal date.

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Jamestown spooks: Questions remain after Kyrgyz referendum

1:30 am

Roza Otunbayeva has been sworn in as Kyrgyzstan's president.....for the next year and a half.


Keeping the seat warm in Bishkek

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Hillary, in Kyiv, tells Ukraine that "door to NATO is still open." C'mon Ukraine! Don't be shy! The door is still open! (waits) Still open! C'mon! You can do it...(waits) C'mon Ukraine! It's still open, but you better hurry, the train is leaving! You can do it! C'mon...

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After Kyiv, Clinton went to Krakow to sign the deal setting up the missile defense shield based in Poland.

The "shield" is supposed to protect us all from Iran. Of course, when Vladimir Putin suggested in 2007 that the system be based instead in Azerbaijan—which borders Iran—the United States blew off the idea entirely.

But that doesn't mean the system is targeting Russia or anything!

Actually, this shield is a scaled-down version of the one that Bush & Co. were pushing—that one was supposed to cost over $50 billion.

Obama's shield is estimated at costing only a little bit more than $1 billion. Which is tremendous savings, as long as you're cool with the fact that the new and improved shield plan is mainly designed to protect Europe, rather than the United States.

Bummer! 

Is this an issue that "fiscal conservative" Republicans would be willing to take up while they vote against extending unemployment benefits because they're too expensive? 400,000 people in Michigan alone will lose their benefits by the end of this year. 


Sorry Volodya, another dumb idea. Makes much more sense to put them missiles in Poland! Too bad Michigan won't be protected by the shield, but who cares about Michigan, anyway?

Next on Clinton's agenda: Baku, Yerevan, Tbilisi
 
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Sean's Russia Blog has a funny post re spies' infiltration of boring American communities...

...."going native" as they whine about home ownership

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The Jamestown Foundation reports that "insurgency-related violence took place throughout the North Caucasus this past week, with incidents reported in Dagestan, Ingushetia, Kabardino-Balkaria and Chechnya."

About the Jamestown Foundation: they were (are?) reportedly a CIA-front organization, and their material is notorious for its anti-Russia slant. Of course, you can also get that with the Washington Post, but still...

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Kamil Pasha sez: Yes Virginia, there is an Ergenekon
 
....whatever that means.

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US official: we're not ignoring Georgia

But how can we be sure? After all, it's been nearly two years since the US has given Georgia a gift like the $1 billion they received after their 2008 war with Russia. 

John McCain, who (along with every other Republican in the senate) voted against extending unemployment benefits is angry because the US isn't giving more money to Georgia (Republic of, that is). Maybe those 400,000 Michiganians should move to Tbilisi.

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ps.

Farewell, Reşid: Piston legend Rasheed Wallace is officially retiring from the NBA 


Good memories: Wallace wearing a Gordie Howe jersey to the
Pistons' championship parade in 2004