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In the three previous chapters I have traced and analyzed developments that have shaped the relationship between NATO and Russia since the relationship was officially given an exclusively bilateral institutionalized framework with the Founding Act on Mutual Relations, Cooperation and Security between NATO and the Russian Federation. Using the key "building blocks" of this relationship, namely the PJC, the NRC, the war in Kosovo and 9/11 and its aftermath as independent variables that have crucially influenced this relationship, I have established certain patterns of interaction between the two actors, some more unexpected than others. Breaking the different stages of this relationship down chronologically as well as by form and content has yielded important results relating to my dependent variable. In this final chapter I will first briefly summarize the major findings, referring back to the research questions and hypotheses formulated in chapter 1. I will then discuss how these findings should be situated within the larger research context, as well as what their specific meaning is as far as the dependent variable is concerned. Finally, I will place the results of this dissertation within the wider framework of existing literature, and suggest areas that might be elaborated on in future research.
The objective of this dissertation has been to assess the quality of the relationship between NATO and Russia since its bilateral institutionalization in 1997. The bulk of this thesis consists of an analysis of the institutional frameworks that are in place and the visible outcomes produced. Unlike many other analyses that concern themselves with NATO-Russia interaction, I have tried to focus less on who is responsible for improvements and deteriorations in NATO-Russia relations, instead opting for an analysis of joint policy decisions and operations that serve as indicators of the quality of NATO–Russia interaction. Very often, analysts conclude that it is up to the Russians to decide whether or not NATO-Russia relations qualitatively improve. Also, the incidents in the past ten years that resulted in the deterioration of NATO-Russia relations are often seen as being due to Russian overreaction, implying that a change in Russian policy is required in order to get real results out of the partnership between NATO and Russia. I would argue that this is a one-sided viewpoint for several reasons. First, rather than analyzing internal Russian foreign policy formation per se, I have focused on one aspect of the outcome of this foreign policy, namely, the actual interaction between the two players. Second, bias exists where the policy analysis of a nation-state or that of an organization is concerned. Assessments of national foreign policy take into account how history, psychology, personal leadership, and many other variables factor into the process of foreign policy-making. International organizations, however, are more seldom analyzed with consideration of these "human" factors; they are more often perceived as professionalized bodies that implement fairly rational foreign policy due to their internalized processes and standards.
Therefore, most analyses hold Russia responsible for low points in the relationship between NATO and Russia. Russia's negative attitude toward NATO, and especially NATO enlargement is the result of a "traditional self-understanding of superpower", that coexists with the reality of a painful loss of geopolitical influence in Europe.519 In his treatise on the second round of NATO enlargement, Frank Umbach's main point is that if Russia were to give up its great power aspirations, a whole new security scenario might become possible in Europe, including Russian membership in NATO.520 Even though Umbach's chapter is entitled "The second round of NATO enlargement from a Russian point of view" it would be more appropriate to call it "Russia's attitudes toward the second round of NATO enlargement from a Western point of view". For reasons mentioned above, NATO is usually considered to be the rational organization that seeks to enhance security in Europe, whereas Russia is considered to be a fairly emotional actor whose foreign policy goes against rational considerations. Though assessments such as Umbach's certainly also hold more than a grain of truth, it is remarkable how uneven the roles of constructive and deconstructive part are distributed among NATO and Russia in IR literature. This point was already made in the introduction with a reference to Tsygankov and Tsygankov, who caution against Western bias in IR literature.521 I have offered one possible explanation for the imbalance in assessments that relate to the NATO-Russia relationship. However, as was pointed out in the introduction, the purpose of this dissertation is not to analyze shortcomings of IR theory as far as biases are concerned. Nevertheless, keeping in mind this issue, I have attempted to avoid making a normative assessment of the relationship. Instead, I have focused on treaties, meeting minutes, joint operations and joint training exercises. It is of course impossible to write a dissertation that is wholly free of normative judgements, since they serve as ontological underpinning. Still, instead of assessing the individual players' choices and preferences, I have opted for a structural or systemic approach; an approach that focuses more on the opportunities and constraints that the actors are faced with than on individual preferences.
For this reason, I have opted for an analysis that focuses, on the one hand, on outcomes and on theories that are located on the macro level on the other. In the beginning of the theory chapter I outlined some challenges that had to be addressed concerning research design and implementation. First and foremost there was the difficulty of analyzing two different units, or, in this case, actors: one a nation-state and the other an international organization. In an effort to establish symmetry between these two different units of analysis, I chose to consider both as unitary actors, which also implied that both NATO and Russia were assessed according to outputs, rather than according to internal decision-making procedures. This, in turn, enabled an analysis of the visible outcomes produced by my dependent variable: joint operations and missions such as IFOR/SFOR and KFOR, Operation Active Endeavour, the NATO-Russia Action Plan against Terrorism to name but a few. The independent variables, in turn, served as road map to facilitate interpretation of the relationship between NATO and Russia. Interestingly, the pairing of independent variables – PJC/NRC and Kosovo/9/11 – resulted in findings that were not initially expected: the influence on the dependent variable that each of the individual independent variables actually yielded had to be reassessed; a result that I will discuss in more detail in the next section.
This dissertation started from the premise that NATO itself was attached to the relationship between NATO and Russia:
Since the end of the Cold War, NATO has attached particular importance to the development of constructive and cooperative relations with Russia. Over the past ten years, NATO and Russia have succeeded in achieving substantial progress in developing a genuine partnership and overcoming the vestiges of earlier confrontation in order to strengthen mutual trust and cooperation.522
This passage implies that NATO and Russia have distanced themselves from considering each other enemies and have embarked on a path towards partnership. Technically, this meant finding a common language, largely by defining common threats and common approaches to dealing with them: "Working together to address these challenges is in the interest of both sides and contributes to the further strengthening of the basis of mutual trust which is essential for peace and stability in the Euro-Atlantic area."523 Overcoming confrontation and strengthening trust and cooperation through the identification of common threats and joint action thus constitutes the basis of the relationship between NATO and Russia.
The recurring theme that characterizes the findings of this dissertation is that neither cooperation nor conflict appropriately describes NATO–Russia relations, either in the past or in the present. For a better reflection of reality, I have chosen to juxtapose conflict and cooperation rather than confrontation and cooperation. Literature that concerns itself with establishing patterns of interaction often uses the dichotomous pairing of "confrontation and cooperation" as a guideline. However, the term confrontation is somewhat anachronistic as far as NATO and Russia are concerned. The relationship between NATO and Russia, or rather, between NATO and the USSR during the Cold War was what can only be described as confrontational. However, this pattern of interaction is no longer descriptive of the quality of relations between NATO and Russia. The term confrontation implies that active acts of aggression, or at least, threats of aggression, are pursued by one or another actor – a premise that is clearly not valid anymore. I have therefore opted for the term conflict, which more accurately describes current and past situations. This differentiation of terms already lies at the heart of this dissertation's research interest: conflict implies a different status quo from confrontation. At the other end of the spectrum, cooperation implies an effective pooling of interests and capacities that serves the best interests of both parties. It is largely this status quo that official texts and treaties between NATO and Russia refer to – a spirit of cooperation that has ended a history of confrontation.
My research has revealed that neither confrontation or cooperation, or even conflict and cooperation, adequately describe the relationship between NATO and Russia. First of all, I have already pointed out in various sections of this dissertation that an assessment of NATO-Russia relations also depends on one's own ontology. From a historical perspective, the fact that NATO and the successor state to the Soviet Union are no longer out to destroy one another according to the logic of Mutual Assured Destruction is proof enough that confrontation between the two actors is indeed a thing of the past – and that any conflict scenarios that might emerge should not be overemphasized. This assessment nevertheless runs the risk of significantly lowering expectations about the quality of relations between NATO and Russia. Conversely, interpreting developments in the relationship between the two actors as a series of thinly veiled antagonisms that stand in lieu of open confrontation is just as counterproductive.
A major finding of this research project is that the two extremes do not fit the status quo between NATO and Russia. I would also argue that it is not enough to claim that the status quo of the relationship between the two actors is somewhere in between cooperation and confrontation – though this is certainly not untrue. In the introductory chapter I introduced the concept of a certain "irritation"524 that continues to influence the way both actors perceive each other, and the actions that are a result of this perception. This irritation is embedded in the structural confines in which NATO and Russia find themselves. Therefore, the tenets of realism that privilege the concepts of power, perception of strength and imbalance of capabilities are still crucial for understanding NATO–Russia interaction. This, in turn, relates to the first hypothesis I proposed: that neither friendship nor cooperation, nor outright antagonism nor confrontation is characteristic of NATO–Russia relations. A zero-sum mentality can still be discerned – at least on the part of the Russian side. Western critics of Russian foreign policy and Russian attitudes in general usually put forward that less than perfect results of NATO–Russia interaction are due to a persistent Russian zero-sum approach to international politics, as noted earlier. This has two implications: first, it is indeed true that zero-sum logic to NATO–Russia relations keeps on resurfacing periodically. In spite of the PJC and the NRC, both rounds of enlargement were viewed with extreme scepticism by Russia, in contrast to the enthusiasm shown by NATO. The two rounds of NATO enlargement are obvious indicators of incidents where realist conceptualizations of IR theory were at play from the Russian point of view. The second implication of zero-sum logic in NATO-Russia relations is somewhat more complex, as it is really a zero-sum scenario where only one actor consistently sees himself as being caught up in a zero-sum situation, and moreover, as the loser of that game.
This – perceived or actual – inequality has in the past led to frictions that have impeded closer cooperation; this is what I refer to as the structural "glass ceiling" that NATO and Russia hit in their efforts towards an ever-closer partnership. Whereas NATO has always insisted that it is committed to working with Russia as an equal partner – at least since 2002 – the existing structures have not succeeded in providing the equality and partnership originally sought. This is also a consequence of a lack of perspectives: in spite of the plethora of partnership programs that NATO has extended to partner countries, the ultimate goal for most of those partner countries has been membership. There are of course regions that are engaged in partnership schemes with NATO, but that are geographically too remote in order to be considered membership aspirants, such as the countries of the Mediterranean Dialogue (Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Mauritania, Morocco, and Tunisia). In the case of the former member states of the Soviet Union, however, membership has always been – and continues to be – the ultimate goal; a fact that has consistently been threatening to Russia. This, in turn, is also due to the fact that membership perspectives for Russia itself are non-existent, as well as being undesired by the vast majority of Russians. A fairly important segment of the Russian elite, the so-called "Westerners", has consistently argued in favor of Russian membership in western institutions, including NATO. For example, Tatiana Parkhalina, Deputy Director of INION RAN, argues that Russia has no alternative to pursuing a partnership with the West, including NATO.525 Furthermore, Parkhalina argues that a Russian decision against "joining" the West would represent a policy failure with potentially grave consequences. Parkhalina specifically notes that this failure to adopt a more western-oriented foreign policy would have repercussions within the other CIS states, where anti-Russian sentiment is fairly wide-spread.526
Assessments such as these are minority opinion, however, and they mostly do not figure into the Kremlin's decisions (anymore). Instead, Russia pursues a policy of "independence, non-Westernism, and of self-identification in an independent role", according to Alexei Salmin, President of the Russian Public Policy Center.527 This naturally precludes becoming a member of NATO. At the same time, there is no precedent that could serve as a guide to approaching this problem: Russia is too large and geographically too close to Europe not to figure prominently on the agenda of western institutions. At the same time, it is questionable whether Russia in NATO would be in either actor's interest, as this "ultimate" enlargement would imply a transformation of the Alliance that goes beyond the effect that the end of the Cold War in itself has had on NATO. Furthermore, whether accepted by NATO and the West in general or not, Russia continues to claim a different status and thus more attention for itself than any other post-Soviet state. To the West, this is the cause for many problems between Russia and NATO. To Russia, it is the reason for those problems – a dichotomy that is not likely to be resolved in the near future. Alexei Salmin explains that the loss of empire experienced by Russia was not fully understood by the West on the one hand, and, on the other, it happened to quickly in order for Russians to be able to adapt to it.528 Parkhalina adds to this statement that NATO continues to be afraid of Russia, albeit to a lesser extent than that to which Russia objects to NATO. According to Parkhalina, the crisis over Kosovo revealed not only how Russia still acts according to Cold War patterns, but also how NATO does; this situation is criticized by Parkhalina, who argues that being too cautious vis-à-vis Russian concerns is counter-productive for NATO, the West, and for Russia, which would better be served by seeking closer ties with the West.529
The mutual ambivalence that is characteristic of NATO and Russian attitudes towards each other continues to shape both actors' actions and perceptions. Additionally, the perceived imbalance of power positions from which the two actors are negotiating further complicates matters. As I have explained previously, the general attitude towards NATO-Russia cooperation, and western–Russian relations more generally, is that if Russia stopped mourning the loss of empire, then partnership schemes and cooperation would be easier to achieve. Conversely, Russia feels that this attitude is patronizing and that unless Russian interests are being taken into consideration, partnership and cooperation will lack substance. According to Alexei Salmin, this position is a combination of Russian cultural history and of perceived anti-Russian sentiments that are especially present in the new member states of the EU and of NATO.530 Salmin argues that the two sides are not ready to understand each other, but that a mutual understanding needs to be established over time. This is also the reason why, according to Salmin, present institutional arrangements are less than adequate.531 Salmin views the NRC as a tool that imitates cooperation while at the same time still reflecting the traditional situation of conflict between the two actors.532 Salmin argues that the NRC is "necessary but not yet adequate", and that a lot remains to be done in terms of defining cooperation and partnership. This is largely due to a lack of trust, which becomes apparent when looking at the results and outcomes of the NRC. If the NRC worked properly, according to Salmin, then there would be more visible results – and this would also entail enhanced military and technical cooperation, in which, at the moment, neither side invests adequately.533 Finally, Salmin makes the point that certain issues should not be confined to the NATO-Russia sphere, because they are really of global importance, e.g. the fight against terrorism. Salmin also makes an implicit call for multipolarity, as he argues that building local alliances will be essential for solving global problems.534
The second component of Hypothesis 1 stated that there is a certain misconception regarding how key dates that have influenced the way NATO and Russia interact. For the purposes of this dissertation, this has meant evaluating the independent variables and their influence on the dependent variable. In chapter 3 I demonstrated that the most important divergence from the bulk of analytical pieces that my research has identified is the impact that the Kosovo crisis has had on NATO–Russia relations. It was topical to speak of a "new ice age" between the two actors after NATO decided to engage in air strikes against Serbia without a UN mandate – which would never have been possible in the first place due to an inevitable Russian veto in the Security Council. The crisis in Kosovo and the temporary disbanding of the PJC is considered to be the nadir of NATO–Russia relations, or, to use the terminology of this research project, Kosovo is the event that stands for outright conflict. However, I concluded that this is an oversimplification of the facts and, moreover, obscures the underlying issues that were contributing to an escalation of the conflict.
One NATO official argued that "Kosovo didn't destroy anything that had been of value"535 with regard to NATO–Russia interaction. There are several reasons why this assessment is important. First of all, it reveals that the existing institutional structures were not adequate for dealing with a crisis like Kosovo: the PJC formula of 19 plus 1, or 19 against 1 as Russia saw it, was not seen as a platform of negotiation and cooperation, but rather as an instrument to solidify existing imbalances of assets and capabilities, and therefore, of power. Hence, the eruption of the crisis over NATO intervention in Kosovo was a consequence of structures that Russia had felt uncomfortable with since the implementation of the PJC. In chapter 2 I refer to the development of NATO–Russia relations as a pendulum that swings between cooperation and conflict, never really stabilizing on either side. During the Kosovo crisis and for months after, the pendulum remained towards the conflict end of the spectrum. It did not, however, change the quality of the entire relationship. With the exception of the dash for Pristina airport536, there were no pronounced hostilities among troops stationed in the Balkans during 1999. Moreover, the PJC resumed its meetings, and, as empirical evidence shows, the topics that were discussed at the 2000 PJC meetings did not differ significantly from those that were discussed up until April 1999. Therefore, Kosovo did not constitute the great fall-out between NATO and Russia that it is often made out to be.
Similarly, the antonymous counterpart to Kosovo in terms of representing the initiative to cooperate, namely 9/11 and its aftermath, also needs to be evaluated with more care. It is true that immediately after the attacks on New York and Washington, the Kremlin made an unprecedented move by offering unconditional support to the US. It is also true that the joint fight against terrorism is the most visibly successful endeavor that NATO and Russia have embarked upon. Cooperation in Operation Active Endeavour (OAE)537 and the NATO-Russia Action Plan on Terrorism538 would not have been possible without the events of 9/11 and the ensuing re-evaluation of global strategies and alliances that took place. Also, there is a marked increase in the actual quality of cooperation that both OAE and the NATO-Russia Action Plan on Terrorism have generated. From the outset, OAE has been what one NATO official calls "the flagship of NATO–Russia cooperation."539 Therefore, 9/11 and its aftermath can certainly be associated with a new spirit of cooperation between NATO and Russia, and an argument could be made that OAE and the NATO-Russia Action Plan on Terrorism are the two joint NATO-Russia ventures that resulted in the pendulum swinging further towards the cooperation side. These developments might suggest that the pendulum as an indicator of the qualitative relationship between NATO and Russia not only lingered on the cooperation side, but was even in the process of remaining there.
While the achievement that the existence of OAE and of the NATO-Russia Action Plan on Terrorism represents should not be slighted, it is not a foregone conclusion that the spirit of cooperation will prevail. In fact, this spirit has already undergone significant changes in the last few years and is no longer characterized by the unequivocal support that Russia offered to the United States in September of 2001. As I have outlined with reference to empirical evidence throughout chapter 3, there are indications that the window of opportunity for cooperation has closed and that once again the old structural confines limit the quality and quantity of cooperation between the two actors. The promise of unwavering support that Russia made after the 9/11 attacks has also become somewhat more relative, as there is a strong consensus among analysts that this decision was largely taken in order to give Russia bargaining power: a directly reciprocal scenario where Russia would promise its support in return for a western promise to reduce criticism of Russia's handling of Chechnya.540 This bargain did not materialize, however, and Russian participation in the fight against terror – apart from its participation in OAE – remains conspicuously low-key. This, in turn, suggests that 9/11 should not exclusively be associated with cooperation, just as Kosovo should not be associated exclusively with conflict between NATO and Russia.
The second hypothesis put forward in the introductory chapter was of a more theoretical nature. Hypothesis 2 stipulated that neither realism nor constructivism wield sufficient explanatory power to explain the developments in and the quality of the relationship between NATO and Russia. Whereas realism does not explain how it was possible for NATO and Russia to develop institutionalized relations in the first place, constructivism doesn't account for the difficulties that have characterized this relationship from the outset. In my theoretical chapter, I demonstrated that realism and its concept of constant struggle among actors to gain advantage over one another do not capture the status quo. However, neither does the constructivist proposition of norm convergence, according to which NATO and Russia should gradually develop a shared sense of security interests. Empirical evidence does not support the claim that the two actors have reached a state where one can really speak of a convergence of norms, ideas and interests. In chapter 2 I presented a thorough analysis of which aspects of realism and constructivism are useful in order to theoretically conceptualize the status quo of NATO–Russia relations, as well as indicating which aspects are not convincing. I explained my reasons for choosing constructivism and realism as theoretical approaches – as well as why I did not focus on institutionalism – in the beginning of chapter 2. The two poles of cooperation and conflict superficially coincide with the two theoretical approaches of constructivism and realism. The actual status quo fits neither theoretical approach – in the same way as it is not accurate to choose either cooperation or confrontation to describe the status quo.
Finally, chapter 4 tested the dependent variable in relation to developments in an external region: Central Asia. In order to test the dependent variable against a case study, it makes sense to focus on a geographically limited region, or on a particular event, so long as the choice of region is geographically and politically relevant for both actors. For the purposes of this dissertation's research interest, the potential choices of case study turned out to be fairly limited. Obvious choices such as NATO–Russia cooperation in the Balkans, or negotiations over the two rounds of enlargement are first of all already well documented. Moreover, these straightforward options also yield relatively little explanatory power over the present and future state of NATO–Russia relations. Both the Balkans and enlargement are events confined to the past and thus serve to assist understanding the history of the relationship. However, they are no longer defining parameters for the future of NATO–Russia relations. Geopolitical interests pertaining to NATO and Russia have thus far mostly been confined to a clearly defined area, the so-called post-Soviet space. The concept of the post-Soviet sphere is used for lack of a better word, and using this term by no means implies any normative judgement. The post-Soviet space is first and foremost synonymous with the republics of the former Soviet Union, though not exclusively. According to Moscow, the post-Soviet space extends all the way to Serbia, due to cultural and linguistic commonalities between the two countries. I have referred to the concept "sphere of influence" at certain points of this dissertation; a concept that is just as normatively charged as the notion of post-Soviet space: both concepts are frowned upon in IR literature. Nevertheless, it is almost impossible to discuss NATO-Russia relations since the mid-1990s without reference to these concepts.
Points of contention between the two actors have usually arisen out of differentiating interests with regard to the post-Soviet space: the two rounds of enlargement are testimony to this, as is persistent Russian apprehension about anti-Russian sentiment in the new NATO member states. My case study set out to test if and how previous patterns of interaction of the two actors with regard to the post-Soviet area were repeating themselves in the case of Central Asia, and, if so, what those patterns said about the nature of the relationship. According to my hypotheses, NATO–Russia interaction over Central Asia should be characterized by an uncomfortable side-by-side that is neither cooperation nor open conflict, but which is still characterized by an interplay of structural habits containing the remnants of old rivalries, including a perceived imbalance of power. Empirical evidence in chapter 4 demonstrates that my case study supports this hypothesis, albeit with one important variation: there is no NATO–Russia cooperation in any form regarding policies towards Central Asia. Rather, individual priorities in relation to Central Asia differ on important issues such as democratization, security, and future alliances. Also, as outlined in chapter 4, some analysts claim that Russia's contribution to the war against terror has turned out far smaller than might have been expected; in the case of Operation Enduring Freedom for example, Russia did not involve itself at all. Certain acts of irritation that are reminiscent of "great games" that are supposedly confined to the past keep resurfacing. Instances of such irritations are for example reactions to the Andijan events of May 2005 on the West's part, or the rather open Russian support for the Uzbek decision to ask US troops to leave the Karsi-Khanabad airbase. In fact, the Andijan events continue to shape NATO's attitude towards Uzbekistan: in a statement on the first anniversary of the events of 12-13 May 2005, NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer expressed his concern:
On behalf of NATO, I express my deep disappointment that the Uzbek authorities have failed to take action on the calls by NATO and other international organizations for an independent, international inquiry into the tragic events which took place in Andijan on 12/13 May 2005. During the past year, NATO's relationship with Uzbekistan has been under close review by the Allies. It will remain under review, and the Allies will continue to expect Uzbekistan to uphold the principles of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms.541
No such statement has emanated from the Russian side, indicating a clear divergence in norms and values as far as the Central Asian countries in general, and the Andijan massacre in particular is concerned.
Empirical evidence, theoretical approach and case study thus all support the hypotheses that I put forward in the introductory chapter of this dissertation. However, the research results that I have compiled have also yielded some initially unanticipated results. These results are possibly the most revealing ones as they are the result of the in-depth analysis of primary sources, mainly evidence that I have drawn from primary documents and interviews that were conducted with policy-makers and experts. I will underline these findings in the concluding section of this chapter. First I will place my own hypotheses, theoretical findings and research results within the larger framework in order to highlight the most important issues.
The focal points of this dissertation are two very different actors: on the one hand, an international organization that is hailed as the most efficient organization of all times, and on the other a nation-state that is still in transition and which struggles with the legacy of its own past. At the same time, the interaction between the two protagonists goes beyond a "normal" relationship in international politics: present NATO-Russia relations are the result of the past. In my introductory chapter I introduced the notion that NATO-Russia relations are to a certain extend indicative of the state of international relations after the end of the Cold War. This statement needs to be refined to a certain extent: the post-Cold War NATO-Russia constellation cannot be equated with the Cold War NATO-Soviet Union constellation. At the same time, present-day NATO-Russia relations can not be equated with East-West relations per se, as the meaning of East-West relations has changed a great deal since the end of the Cold War. Instead, the current relationship between NATO and Russia is of a rather singular and unprecedented kind; a relationship that needs to be taken out of the clichéd context. The two poles of conflict and cooperation leave a lot of room for a qualitatively differentiated relationship that is by no means static and linear in its development.
Briefly taking a step back from the quality of NATO–Russia relations, I would like to return to the two actors themselves and their positioning vis-à-vis the other. Both of my theoretical approaches, realism and constructivism, attach a great deal of importance to the perceptions and images that one actor has of the other. When confronted with the question of NATO's present purpose in international relations, 30 percent of Russian respondents are of the opinion that NATO is an aggressive military bloc that is opposed to Russia and its allies.542 To 23 percent, NATO is a defense organization consisting of European and North American countries entrusted with keeping international order and with the fight against international terrorism.543 25 percent see NATO as an organization that lost its raison d'être with the end of the Cold War. Finally, 22 percent said they did not know what NATO's present function is. A second question is concerned with the larger political shifts and alignments that have taken place in the last few years in East and Central Europe. When asked what the motivation of East and Central European countries is in seeking NATO membership, 29 percent of respondents said that this happened in accordance with the wish of the people and the governments of these countries to enhance their national security.544 46 percent of respondents were of the opinion that the US and other NATO member states were actively seeking to expand their own sphere of interest, and 25 percent of respondents did not know an answer to that question.545 Question 3 asked whether the accession of some former CIS states to NATO would influence Russia's national security: 7 percent of respondents said that membership of former CIS states in NATO would enhance Russia's national security; 43 percent said that it would threaten Russia's national security; 29 percent were of the opinion that it would not significantly influence Russia's national security; and, finally, 21 percent of respondents did not have an answer to that question.546 The fourth question related to the accession of the Baltic states to NATO: 5 percent of respondents were of the opinion that this accession had a positive effect on Russia's national security; 46 percent said the effects were negative; 29 percent thought that it did not affect Russia's national security at all, and 20 percent had no opinion.547 In a final question, the respondents were asked which options corresponded best with Russian national interests: 5 percent responded that Russian membership in NATO would be the best option; 43 percent were in favor of Russia working together with NATO; 14 percent advocated a creation of a rival security institution to NATO; 22 percent wanted Russia to stay away from any military bloc; and 16 percent had no opinion.548
These figures reflect the ambiguity that is characteristic of NATO-Russia relations. Furthermore, the numbers are a good indicator of the split within Russian society: the small percentage of respondents who advocate Russian membership in NATO corresponds with the group of the so-called Westerners who see Russia's future as lying with western institutions. On the other side of the political spectrum there are those who see Russian interests actively threatened by NATO and NATO expansion: here the numbers indicate that this fear is still very much alive within significant segments of the population. However, a growing segment of the population feels neither enthusiastic about nor threatened by NATO and thus has no objections to Russia working together with the organization. Overall, mistrust of NATO is still the most widespread attitude in Russia, an empirical fact that is important in order to understand Russia's position vis-à-vis NATO, as well as the foreign policy decisions that are taken by the Kremlin.
Similarly, Western perceptions regarding Russia are also paradoxical. On the one hand, there is a wide-spread consensus that Russia is not a real democracy and that efforts to modernize and democratize Russia have not only stalled but actually taken a turn for the worse, especially in the past couple of years. At the same time, however, a poll conducted by French newspaper "Le Figaro" revealed that 55 percent of respondents were of the opinion that Russia – and Ukraine – could one day be members of the European Union, provided that the accession criteria are met. In contrast, only 45 percent of respondents advocated Turkish membership.549 This poll once more reveals how Russia is seen as a European and a non-European country at the same time. Carnegie Moscow Center analyst Lilia Shevtsova comes to the conclusion that Russia and Europe have reached a mutual understanding concerning important issues: on the one hand they recognize their differences, and on the other they agree on the necessity of imitating a partnership.550 The word imitate suggests with biting sarcasm that Shevtsova does not consider relations between the EU and Russia to be adequate. She argues that both sides have lost the will, or the ability, to seriously advance their interaction.
What, then, should the verdict on the relationship between NATO and Russia be – bearing in mind that Shevtsova's assessment of EU–Russia relations is also debatable? First of all, Shevtsova compares EU-Russia relations with US-Russia relations, also reaching a rather negative conclusion: she contends that relations between Moscow and Washington are characterized by a well-known triad: international terrorism, nuclear non-proliferation and the energy dialogue.551 Shevtsova argues that a "polite smile" compensates for the lack of actual progress made in these three areas. The relationship between Russia and the United States is still characterized by an atmosphere of mistrust, even though both sides are actively trying to conceal this. Simultaneously, Russia is fairly open about its quest to squeeze the US out of the post-Soviet territory – this refers mainly to the presence of US (and NATO-led) troops stationed in Afghanistan and the corresponding air bases in Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan.552 This rather negative statement should not be extended wholesale to NATO-Russia relations, even though there is more than a grain of truth to it. NATO-Russia interaction has changed and deepened significantly since the Founding Act on Mutual Relations, Cooperation and Security between NATO and the Russian Federation was signed in May of 1997, and an honest wish to create efficient institutional frameworks for a successful cooperation was certainly a main motivator for the implementation of the PJC and later on the NRC. Even so, as I have proved in this dissertation, existing structural confines continue to shape the successes and failures of the relationship.
Shevtsova hints at this dilemma by stating that both sides (in her case, the West and Russia, not specifically NATO and Russia) have interacted on a basis of misconceptions about each other, resulting in an attitude that privileges path-dependency over innovative solutions. According to her, both actors work with a set of illusions about the other one.553 The West, currently occupied with problems of its own, is hoping that Russia won't cause any problems. In a case of conflict, it is hoped that Russia will give in, as it has done consistently for the past 15 years.554 Even though Shevtsova argues forcefully against a traditional Russian great-power approach to foreign policy, she concedes that in the past interaction between Russia and the West has very often occurred according to great-power logic and zero-sum considerations, or, in other words, key realist assumptions. Moreover, Shevtsova argues that the (in)balance of power that has been characteristic of western-Russia relations ever since the end of the Cold War might be shifting in Russia's favor, largely because of the ever-increasing need of the West for natural resources. According to Shevtsova, western politicians are not paying attention to the fact that the Kremlin will find it increasingly hard to make concessions without losing face. Russia is currently under the illusion that it has ever-increasing room for manoeuvre in order to shape events in international relations in its favor because the rest of the world needs Russian energy.555 Shevtsova also argues that it is wholly unrealistic for the Russian political elite to think that they can control events in international relations based only on the comparative advantage Russia enjoys with regard to natural resources. Still, a realist interpretation of Shevtsova's hypothesis would take into account potential geostrategic shifts that might tip the scale of NATO-Russia relations in Russia's favour. A constructivist would not contend that a shift in the actors' capabilities necessarily leads to a reconfiguration of the interaction between the two actors per se. As far as NATO is concerned, the energy variable obviously does not figure as prominently as it does in bilateral relations between Russia and western states, or even Russia and the EU, because NATO is first and foremost a military organization. Nevertheless, the energy variable might shape individual NATO member states' policies and attitudes toward Russia, which could potentially also affect the relationship that Russia has with NATO. In the final section I will now reiterate the main results of this research project before I turn to consider the outlook for the future of the relationship between NATO–Russia. I will also indicate where future research on the subject might complement the results of this research project.
Figuring prominently among the results of this research project is an insight that was gained contrary to common sense assumptions, namely the frequently-voiced hypothesis that NATO's main problem ever since the end of the Cold War is that it is no longer useful and therefore anachronistic. This state of affairs, according to many, is the culprit for policy outcomes that are less than optimal, and it is also a reason why Russia and NATO continue to interact with each other in a state of imbalance of power and capabilities. The end of the Cold War has made NATO obsolete; NATO has lost its raison d'être. In fact, this statement misses half the picture. On the one hand, critics who contend that NATO has lost its place and meaning in international relations after the Cold War will always have a point. Fifteen years after the disintegration of the Soviet Union, questions may still legitimately be raised about the feasibility of the "NATO-project" and its actual cost/benefit balance sheet. It is a matter of personal opinion whether or not redesigning NATO in order to enhance the security of its members makes sense. Yet contrary to the theoretical assumption that international organizations are often plagued by inertia due to the problem of path dependency556, today's NATO is no longer the NATO of the Cold War. In fact, today's NATO is not even the NATO of the 1990s. The two rounds of enlargement have changed the composition and purpose of the organization, as has the debate about what exactly it means for NATO to go "out of area", culminating first in the Kosovo intervention and more recently, in ISAF. Though other institutions, most notably the EU, have undergone similar changes in terms of enlargement, NATO has achieved a level of transformation that goes beyond merely taking in new members. The Washington and Prague summits, the Defence Capabilities Initiative and Prague Capabilities Commitment557 all indicate that NATO has undergone quite significant structural changes. These changes have consistently occurred as a reaction to something and not so much as part of a master plan concerning itself with the future of NATO, therefore, there is legitimacy to the claim that NATO has been fairly reactive to change in international relations: nevertheless, reactive change is better than stagnation.
Therefore, the argument that NATO is a Cold War dinosaur does not quite reflect reality. But in spite of the rather thorough transformation that NATO has undergone, it remains an Alliance that has the upper hand in a purely realist capabilities/balance of power game – at least with regard to Russia. As such, NATO continues to be seen in a negative light by a significant proportion of the Russian population and leadership, thus continuing the state of irritation between the two actors that I have referred to throughout my dissertation. My main argument is that this irritation is caused by structural confines that have their roots in a perceived imbalance of power scenario that has not been overcome yet and that is not likely to be overcome: NATO and Russia will most likely always engage differently with each other than NATO and other third countries. Paradoxically, the consistent perception of an imbalance of power has simultaneously led to a trivialization of the relationship: as I have already noted, on many levels the EU is perceived as being far more problematic with regard to Russian national interests than NATO. The constructivist argument in support of this claim would be that a norm convergence has taken place resulting in a decreasing number of contentious issues between the two actors. Conversely, a realist would argue that Russia sees that it has relatively little room for manoeuvre and therefore focuses on channelling its efforts into areas that are still within its control, instead of generally trying to reach a more balanced level of capabilities.
Again, neither explanation fits the actual situation: a convergence of norms is taking place only within the realms of the smallest common denominator. At the same time, outright hostilities over issues that define the state of comparative advantage of NATO over Russia558 are not occurring anymore. The current state of NATO-Russia interaction is a series of small steps, taken one at a time. The milestones in this relationship, namely the establishment of institutionalized fora – the PJC and the NRC – were reached with the intention of finding a common language. While it is undeniable that both the PJC and the NRC have indeed contributed to the establishment of a political dialogue, the events that ended up having the greatest effect on the relationship between NATO and Russia have always been outside events that did not emanate from the forum of dialogue that was established for precisely this purpose. This suggests that a certain amount of unpredictability continues to figure prominently in the relationship between NATO and Russia.
Is Shevtsova right in offering a rather negative viewpoint on the future of relations between Russia and the West? I would argue that, in accordance with my hypotheses, Shevtsova's argument is too pessimistic, since it veers too much toward the conflict end of the spectrum. This is a general observation that pertains to Russia's relationship with the West, whether bilateral or institutional, but is also applies to the way that NATO and Russia interact. This dissertation should by no means be understood as a call to reconsider the entire NATO-Russia relationship, nor do I contend that the negatives outweigh the positives in this relationship. What I do advocate, however, is a more dispassionate discourse about the shortcomings of either actor in academic research on the subject. Instead of focusing on what attitudes needs to be changed for NATO-Russia cooperation to become effective, one should focus on specific areas where there is already a significant amount of cooperation in place: this might be an opportunity for further research projects. A steady process of small steps works better for NATO and Russia than any grand schemes for convergence, especially since the structural confines are such that grand schemes are not necessarily realistic, as I have pointed out previously.
At the same time, elements of Shevtsova's assessment might become increasingly relevant, especially with regard to the ever-increasing competition for natural resources – a factor that is of particular relevance in relation to the states of Central Asia. In fact, if I once again start from the premise that the Central Asian region can be considered to be an indicator with regard to future geostrategic developments, an entirely new constellation might emerge in the next ten years or so. The inevitable question that arises regarding NATO's, Russia's, and Central Asia's futures, is whether NATO will be able to reverse certain trends that have already been set in motion. The feasibility of NATO involvement in Central Asia would be very well suited for a separate research project. Moreover, there is evidence that suggests that the great games and questions of the future will not necessarily include NATO and Russia in the same constellation. It is very feasible that the rise of China as a regional power will reshape set patterns of interaction between the big global players. Therefore, one might ask the question whether NATO and Russia, in their habit of pursuing a policy of small steps, might not have foregone the opportunity for forging the close ties that would be necessary in order to engage in mutually beneficial cooperation, should the pawns on the great chessboard of international relations be rearranged in the future.
519 Umbach, Frank: "Die zweite Runde der NATO-Osterweiterung aus der Sicht Russlands", in: Pradetto, August (ed.): "Die zweite Runde der NATO-Osterweiterung: zwischen postbipolarem Institutionalismus und offensivem Realismus", Frankfurt am Main: Peter Lang Europäischer Verlag der Wissenschaften, 2004, pp. 279-317, p. 315.
520 Ibid, p. 316.
521 Tsygankov, Andrei and Tsygankov, Pavel: "New directions in Russian international studies: pluralization, westernization, and isolationism", in: "Communist and post-communist studies", vol. 37, March 2004, pp.1-17, http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=MImg&_imagekey=B6VGF-4BJ20KY31&_cdi=6037&_user=964000&_orig=browse&_coverDate=03%2F31%2F2004&_sk=999629998&view=c&wchp=dGLbVlb-zSkWb&md5=7478e0b5f93ca05be2cc11e8f03c06ad&ie=/sdarticle.pdf [last accessed on 20 July 2005].
522 Cooperation between NATO and Russia, NATO Handbook, Brussels: NATO Office of Information and Press, 2001, p. 80.
523 Ibid, p. 86.
524 See chapter 1.
525 Interview with Dr. Tatiana Parkhalina, Deputy Director INION RAN, 10 March 2005, Moscow.
526 Ibid.
527 Interview with Dr. Alexei Salmin, President Russian Public Policy Center, 11 March 2005, Moscow.
528 Ibid.
529 Interview with Dr. Tatiana Parkhalina, Deputy Director INION RAN, 10 March 2005, Moscow.
530 Interview with Dr. Alexei Salmin, President Russian Public Policy Center, 11 March 2005, Moscow.
531 Ibid.
532 Ibid.
533 Ibid.
534 Ibid.
535 Interview with NATO Official #3, 16 September 2005, NATO HQ, Brussels, see chapter 3.
536 See chapter 3.
537 See chapter 3.
538 See chapter 3.
539 Interview with NATO Official #2, 13 September 2005, NATO HQ, Brussels.
540 See chapter 3.
541 Statement by the NATO Secretary General on the first anniversary of the events of 12/13 May 2005 in Andijan, 12 May 2006, NATO Brussels: NATO public data service [email@example.com], on behalf of NATO Integrated Data Service [email@example.com].
542 Kerneck, Barbara: "Russlands Sicht of EU und NATO – wie es die russischen Politiker mit ihren außenpolitischen Programmen halten", Berlin: Köster, 2004, p. 74. The study was conducted in January 2003 with a sample of 1600 Russian citizens.
543 Ibid.
544 Ibid.
545 Ibid.
546 Ibid.
547 Ibid, p. 75.
548 Ibid.
549 N24 News, 24 March 2005, http://www.n24.de/politik/ausland/index.php/n2005032411401800002, [last accessed on 16 May 2006]. The "Le Figaro" survey was taken in Germany, France, Poland, the United Kingdom, Spain and Italy in March 2005.
550 Shevtsova, Lilia: "Bürokratischer Autoritarismus – Fallen und Herausforderungen", in: Aus Politik und Zeitgeschichte #11, Bonn: Bundeszentrale für politische Bildung, 2006, pp. 6-13, p. 12.
551 Ibid.
552 Ibid.
553 Ibid, p. 13.
554 Ibid.
555 Ibid.
556 See chapter 2.
557 See chapter 1.
558 Such as NATO enlargement.
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Kitchen Kids!
Date & Time
Thursday, January 31, 2013 -
4:30pm to 5:30pm
Creative Spark
Event Details
Have a mini chef on your hands? Head to Creative Spark to stir, blend, and season. Explore various recipes while learning how to create nutritious meals. Snack on delicious treats and enjoy whimsical presentations by the instructor. Creative Spark, 757 Long Point Rd. #2, Mount Pleasant. Thursday, 4:30-5:30pm. $75 per family. (843)881-3780, www.creativespark.org

subset: commoncrawl


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Conran gives £17.5m towards new Design Museum
Sir Terence Conran has given a gift worth £17.5m towards relocating the Design Museum.
The museum will relocate from Shad Thames, south-east London, to the disused Commonwealth Institute building in Kensington in 2014. It will have three times the exhibition space.
According to Estates Gazette Sir Terences's donation comprises £7.5m cash and the proceeds from the sale of the lease of the existing site, valued at £10m. The budget for converting the new location is £77m. Some £54m has already been raised.
Posted in People, Retail Industry Tagged 2014, commonwealth institute, conran, design museum, gift, kensington, lease, proeprty, shad thames, sir terrance conran, terrance
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text: I was messing around in Photoshop and decided I wanted to apply the "3D Flag" method I learned with another material. So I picked glass. Now the effect came out pretty good. But I personally think it needs something else, but for the life of me I can't figure it out. So if you have any suggestions, whether you like it as is or or needs something else, leave a comment.


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Shop Cute Rain Coats, Rain Boots, and Umbrellas for Spring 2011
Slick Rain Gear to Keep You Covered During Those April Showers
Photo 1 of 13
Slick Rain Gear to Keep You Covered During Those April Showers
>> We're expecting a load of rain showers for the next couple weeks, so we rounded up some of the best rain-repelling (but still stylish) gear for you to stay dry in. There's a cute Marc by Marc Jacobs umbrella to add a little sunshine to your day, a smart canvas coated coat from Opening Ceremony, waterproof booties, and a windproof bucket hat from Urban Outfitters — that should do the trick. But there's more where that came from — check out the slideshow for more of our splash-proof favorites!


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Speaking Event: Iran - Still in the Crosshairs!
A conversation with
Prof. of Political Science, Notre Dame de Namur Univ.
Native of Iran
During recent confirmation hearings for Sec'y of Defense Chuck Hagel, the Senate Committee spent more time grilling Hagel about Iran and his possible support for an Israeli attack on that country than just about any other issue. The Senate is now considering a bill telling the President to do just that: provide military support to an Israeli attack. At the same time, the Administration continues to insist that "all options are on the table", including a U.S. attack. While in Iran, elections to replace Mahmoud Ahmadinejad will take place in June. In other words, this is a very critical period.
Ali Ferdowsi is a native of Iran who was a dissident during the reign of the Shah. He continues to visit Iran every summer to stay up-to-date with the political pulse of the country.
You are an important part of the conversation!


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You are here
Punch Brothers
Date & Time
Monday, May 27, 2013 (All day)
Event Details
Equal parts punk band and bluegrass quintet, mandolinist Chris Thile, guitarist Chris Eldridge, bassist Paul Kowert, banjo player Noam Pikelny, and violinist Gabe Witcher make their long-awaited return to Spoleto after their sold-out 2009 festival debut. Performing songs from their latest album, Who's Feeling Young Now?, the band offers some of their most lively and original music to date. TD Arena at the College of Charleston, 301 Meeting St. Monday, 7pm. $65-$35. (843)579-3100, www.spoletofestivalusa.org


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HP believes that engineering IT capability is critical in today's marketplace. An organization's competitiveness can be defined/shaped by how quickly it can bring new products to market. Engineering productivity is at a premium, and many organizations struggle to find ways to improve productivity. Many have multiple design teams, geographically distributed, each involved with multiple projects. In order to operate at a high efficiency level, they require effective information flow across project teams.Valuable product engineering time is wasted in these inefficiencies. Return these hours to engineering productivity and propel your business forward with HP Engineering Cloud Transformation Services.
Begin your journey with Engineering Cloud Transformation Experience Workshop and realize the scope, scale and critical success factors for your Product Development and Engineering (PD&E) transformation program. Understand the financial benefits of the transformation with Engineering Cloud Rapid Investment Analysis, while Engineering Cloud Proof-of-Concept will demonstrate the user experience and benefits in your own environment.
HP addresses all major industry verticals, including manufacturing, aerospace, electronics, oil, gas, energy and automotive. Whether you start with smaller technology projects or embark upon a complete transformation, HP Engineering Cloud Transformation Services can help you evolve your IT engineering infrastructure utilizing HP's years of experience in engineering and designing solutions, now within a private cloud solution . We will help you understand what it takes to lower cost, protect IP, and improve information flow across the design chain.
Connect with HP cloud experts like Ewald Comhaire to learn about efficient ways to build your hybrid delivery cloud solution on HP CloudSystem.
© Copyright 2017 HP Development Company, L.P.


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Originally Posted by zeus3925
Brutus just told me he is going to put an end to this--he is running for Congress. His Slogan: "Put a Dog in the House!"
Somehow I think our dogs could do a much better job than most of congress whether republican or democrat.
Non political: Nice looking dog! I'm curious to his pedigree. Would you mind sending it to me?
Forum Rules


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Hello my Turkey Friends. I am new to hunting turkey, and with all the knowledge you guys have, my question (I hope you can help me on) is............
I thought I would start this thread for the- new to the sport ( or those who may have just a season or two under their belt) to ask for help on this crazy sport we call turkey hunting.
I came to this site a year ago because the different magazines on hunting almost ALL assume we know about the sport and does not help those starting from the very beginning. I have asked many questions from you guys and I am now a better hunter from it.
I know you guys say that is what this whole forum is for...but this thread makes it obvious that we will help those new to the sport.
Lets just put it out there and if it is used...It will stay on the front page. If not- it will be bumped off in a week or so.


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Resources on how economic and political forces interact to influence world affairs, from the Maurice R. Greenberg Center for Geoeconomic Studies. (Monthly)
The Center for Geoeconomic Studies works to promote a better understanding of how economic and geopolitical forces interact to influence world affairs.
In Market Madness, Blake C. Clayton shows that predictions of dwindling oil supplies and a rise in prices have been empirically proven incorrect. Technological advances and geopolitical shifts have repeatedly prompted sudden, severe drops in oil prices—exactly like the one we are experiencing today. More
In By All Means Necessary, Elizabeth C. Economy and Michael Levi explore the unrivaled expansion of the Chinese economy. China is now engaged in a far-flung quest, hunting around the world for resources, and deploying whatever it needs in the economic, political, and military spheres to secure them. More
In More Money than God, Sebastian Mallaby has written the first authoritative history of hedge funds—from their rebel beginnings to their role in defining the future of finance. More
In Money, Markets, and Sovereignty, the authors present a fascinating intellectual history of monetary nationalism from the ancient world to the present and explore why, in its modern incarnation, it represents the single greatest threat to globalization. More
In The Closing of the American Border, Edward Alden goes behind the scenes to tell the story of the Bush administration's struggle to balance security and openness in the wake of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. More
In Termites in the Trading System, Jagdish Bhagwati reveals how the rapid spread of preferential trade agreements endangers the world trading system. More


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Family: Nymphalidae, Brush-footed Butterflies view all from this family
Dimensions 3 1/8-3 5/8" (79-92 mm).
Habitat Cities, suburbs & towns, Freshwater swamps, marshes & bogs, Meadows & fields, Shorelines & salt marshes.
Range Florida, Texas.
Julia Dryas iulia
eNature Quicklinks
WildlifeGuides: Nature in North America
LocalNature: Your neck of the woods
©2007 eNature.com


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Our Spa Retreat in Spain offers luxury villa for up to 14 Guests and private Casa only couples. DDG Retreat offers unique location, design, style, attention to details, amazing views and absolute privacy.
Find great spas and retreats for your vacation. Pamper yourself at our Costa del Sol, Spain spa resorts. Take a break from your vacation and visit our relaxing day spas. Enjoy a soothing massage or unwind in the sauna at our spa retreats. Our Costa del Sol, Spain health spas will enhance your beauty from the inside out. Indulge in numerous spa treatments and services at our health resorts. A visit to our health retreats will make you feel rejuvenated and refreshed. Browse our Costa del Sol, Spain spas and retreats and plan your vacation today!


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The deal
Sleeping bag for $21.90 (rrp. $49.90)
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4 chairs
Foldable Buckets: Pink & Blue
Purple & Camo Pink
Orange & Camo Blue


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By Daniel Inman
Japanese stocks finished at a fresh eight-month high on Monday, as the yen weakened following Shinzo Abe's return to power as Prime Minister of Japan, while stocks in mainland China continued to gain after Friday's strong performance.
In the final week of trading before Christmas, the focus was on Asia's two largest economies, as investors in both China and Japan digested developments over the weekend.
The U.S. dollar rose to its strongest level against the yen since April 2011 early Monday, to as high as ¥84.48, after the Liberal Democratic Party won a landslide victory in Japan's general election on Sunday. The greenback pulled back from its peak, but remained up on the day at ¥83.90 compared with ¥83.52 late Friday in New York.
The LDP's victory was largely expected, with the yen softening during the buildup to the election amid expectations that the new government will introduce aggressive monetary easing. Over the last five weeks, the U.S. dollar had advanced 5.1% against the Japanese currency.
"Policy may be looser, but maybe not as loose as some in the market think it will be. And if that is the case, it could be hard for the yen to keep on moving down," said Paul Mackel, head of Asian currency research for HSBC in Hong Kong.
Betting against the Japanese currency is becoming an increasingly popular trade, as data from the International Monetary Market showed that noncommercial yen short positions rose to their highest level since July 2007, as of December 11.
The election results, along with the weaker yen, provided a lift for Japanese stocks, with the Nikkei Stock Average up 0.9% at 9828.88. The index has been a major beneficiary of the weaker yen, with the local market climbing 13.4% since mid-November.
Once again, exporters gained on the weaker yen: industrial robotics company Fanuc Corp. was 1.4% higher and Komatsu added 2.3%.
Utilities were a major beneficiary of the LDP victory, with Tokyo Electric Power soaring 32.9%, as the new ruling party is discussing restarting the nation's idle nuclear power plants. Kansai Electric Power also shot up 17.7%.
Stocks in mainland China were also higher, with the Shanghai Composite up 0.5% at 2160.34, as the market added to Friday's gains—its best day of trading since October 2009, up 4.3%.
Friday's sharp moves anticipated the Central Economic Work Conference, held over the weekend, where senior officials said that their top economic priority is to ensure that domestic demand comes to the fore, reducing dependence on exports and investing in state-owned companies.
"Cues from the annual Central Economic Work Conference are certainly a positive for the market but we expect gains to be capped as the specifics are pretty much within market expectations and don't really carry anything new," said Jacky Zhang, an analyst at Capital Securities.
Although the Shanghai Composite remains Asia's worst performing major market, it has staged a substantial rally in recent weeks, after hitting a multiyear low early in December. The index has since recovered, rising 10.3% from its most recent trough on December 3.
Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index was down 0.4% at 22513.61 in lackluster trading, following other regional markets that slipped on Monday given a lack of positive catalysts over the weekend and amid lingering uncertainty over U.S. fiscal cliff negotiations. But with the broad MSCI All Country Asia Ex-Japan rising 16.1% up to Friday, the region's stocks are close to recovering all of the 16.8% decline the index suffered in 2011.
Australia's S&P/ASX 200 was down 0.2% at 4573.40, as selling in high-yield stocks offset strength in mining stocks. Banks such as Commonwealth Bank of Australia and Australia & New Zealand Banking Group were down 0.6% and 0.7% respectively.
Major miners however, pushed forward due to a gain in iron ore prices brought about by positive Chinese manufacturing data late last week. Fortescue Metals Group was up 3.7% and Rio Tinto added 0.8%.
South Korea's Kospi Composite slipped 0.6% to 1983.07.
Write to Daniel Inman at email@example.com


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2 cups Bisquick
2 eggs, beaten
2 Bottles of beer, your choice, I like Becks
2 cups cashews, run through coffee grinder, ground to dust
1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped fine
1 Turkey breast cut into 1 inch cubes
2 tb spoons of lemon zest
1/2 inch of heated olive oil in a pan. ( don't skimp, use olive oil. Its worth it!)
douse the cubes of breast in 1/2 a bottle of beer
douse chef in second bottle of beer
place cubes in bag of bisquick and shake
dip chunks in egg and the remaining 1/2 bottle of beer ( unless you already drank it...)
place chunks in bag of chopped cashews, and cilantro mix. Shake the hell out of it til all pieces are covered.
pan fry til golden brown in olive oil/lemon zest mix.
This is a big hit with the folks at my place. Hope you enjoy.


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By JB Clark | Daily Journal
TUPELO – A Verona man was charged with two counts of burglary of a dwelling and armed robbery in Tupelo Thursday.
Cornelius Long, 21, of Verona, was charged Thursday after being extradited from Missouri.
Tupelo Police Capt. Rusty Haynes said Long has been on Tupelo's Top 5 Most Wanted list since December for an armed robbery that occurred at a local hotel.
Long was picked up by police in Missouri and then extradited to Tupelo.


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Latest Headlines
Bull Durham & 299 Better Movies
Posted on 27 Feb 2014 by Steven Keys.
I love movies. Most people like 'em, some are ambivalent…I love 'em. I used to love television but then the new millennium arrived. What took 50 years to build took just five to turn into the "vast wasteland" Misters Minow & Martin presaged. Movies are what we wish life could be. Does that make me a dreamer? "You beeeeet (Chief)." There are worse epitaphs. I love the studio mo...


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neither can a TON of science
neither can a TON of science
So all scientists are by your definition athiests? For that matter, anyone who believes in evolution? Where do you draw the line. If I think the earth is round, and revolves around the sun, does that make me an athiest? That's what people said not long ago. What changed? What convinced you that the earth is round...after all, those ][/QUOTE]
Dude ,you need to learn to read.
Oh by the way God invented the true sciencesI'm trying to figure out how yiou are interpreting what I have said.So all scientists are by your definition athiests? For that matter, anyone who believes in evolution? Where do you draw the line. If I think the earth is round, and revolves around the sun, does that make me an athiest? That's what people said not long ago. What changed? What convinced you that the earth is round...after all, those satellite images are probably bogus images put out by rocket scientists trying to take all the glory again.
Actually I feel like I'm talking to a mental patient.
your not liberal are you
Anyway I think you missed all my points.
Also in biblical times they new the earth was roundish and it hangeth upon nothing,,,it wasn't until after the first century that much common knowledge was lost. Kind of like the dark ages. Those dudes back then new a hell of alot more than we do now. we are just more technical now,,,although they had methods of measuring and cutting that surpass even the fanciest high dollar machine made today.
Anyway we are much more of a stupid people than 2000 to 6000 years ago. You can also find a map of noth america made BC,,, pretty dam good for sailor with a triangle in his back pocket
What facts? Give me some facts. Even Darwin said none of evolution could be proven...are you guys ignoring even your own guru?I apologize if I am being too sarcastic, but I REALLY don't understand the unwillingness to look at facts with an open mind.
I have posted links to data containing scientific facts. Jeff is just wrong and I do not believe he searched any of the data posted...no way since it would take hours and hours and his response is just so typical.
Pete (not trying to argue here), that is called the "gap" theory brought about by perhaps Thomas Chalmers (Scottish theologian). The problem with the gap theory is that it totally undermines the entirety of God's order of things in terms of the Gospel. Death did not come about for any living creature until the fall of man after Adam and Eve sinned against God. Until then death was not a reality. So, for a Christian to believe in the gap theory says that God's Word is unreliable and not factual...I cannot buy that.
Creation science is factual science backed up by geological data, natural data, historical data, spiritual data, secular data, et-all. Evolutionists just totally ignore the facts and keep believing the lie.
In terms of Christians embracing partial-evolution and partial-creation (somehow God used evolution in His creative process) that is also not compatible with the bible. Evolution is by and large naturalism that excludes any possibility of intervention (ie GOD)...and true evolutionists will not even consider intelligent design (which renders God a cosmic force of somekind).
Evolution must stand on its own merits...which it has not been able to since its origins.
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth (Gen 1:1 NKJV)... 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. 4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. (John 1:1-4NKJV)
No evolution, no monkey ancestors, no big bang!
Article [I.]
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
Article [II.]
A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.
If you trace back all the begets and begats listed in the word ,,there are time frames listed with every section,,,some not evident but most are right there in Black and white.
it traces a little over 6000 years from the fall of man,,,it doesn't say how long it took God from genesis 1:1 to genesis 2:7 or so where he made formed and created man. There could be some time besides the 5 or 6 days God took to put things back in order. There is some figureatively speaking type stuff in there. There could possibly be millions and billions of years between genesis 1:1 and genesis 1:2 because there is no word "Was" in the old hebrew,,,its the word "became" and a record in Isaiaha will back up that study.
Anyway there could be room for it,,,, [/QUOTE ]
Pete, are you a believer in Genesis? Since you are so insistent that others take a look at your documents, please take a look at this link. Would like to hear your comments on this.
if you start out with a false premise you will always have a false conclusion. I guess the reason I can freely speak about this stuff is because I put most of my energy in most of my life studying this stuff,,, when I say study I don't mean some religious garb spued about.Pete, are you a believer in Genesis? Since you are so insistent that others take a look at your documents, please take a look at this link. Would like to hear your comments on this.
I'm refereing to the vast amount of research materials out there that anyone can get.and putting the pieces together.
The bible doesn't go down like most religions teach it. Thats all I can tell you.
Whats your story? How come you are so opinionated about this subject. Have you also spent most of you life researching the word. Tell me about it. This sounds interesting
That can certainly fit since God is light and in him is no darkness. Lucifer was the anle of light.The early universe was not "dark". We know from quantum mechanics that the earliest universe was a sea of quarks, followed shortly after by a sea of free nucleons and photons. Until the era of "decoupling", about 300,000 years after the formation of the universe, the entire universe was as bright throughout as the surface of the sun is today.
So it is possible there was no darkness pre genesis 1:2
never thought about that one
This verse has the formation of light occuring only AFTER the "waters" and the earth already existed. As noted above, this is simply wrong. The entire universe was brightly lit for its first 300,000 years of existence, billions of years before the earth came into being
This is why a little biblical research is in order,,,,
the link has great questions and all answeres are elementary
Thanks for posting that.
I can't sit here all day gotta go.
I'll take all that as good-natured ribbing, I guess I had that coming.
Anyway, I do read a lot. You don't get board-certified in Surgery by NOT knowing how to read a lot, and sort good science from junk science progagated by those with agendas or profits to massage. (that's rampant in medicine)
I would hope that if you ever need medical treatment, you seek a scientific physician who bases treatment on modern scientific method, and not a Benny-Hin type faith healer who makes billions (with a 'b') with the same reasoning that leads to 6000 year old planet earth conclusions.
I do agree with you on the part of us being dumber than many peoples from by-gone eras. Brilliant minds such as Newton, Franklin, Darwin, Descartes, Locke, Voltaire, Copernicus, Galileo, Plato...all advanced out understanding of natural world we live in. Most were persecuted by the religious fundamentalists of their times...some even executed. How dare someone propose lightening is an electrical phenomenon, and not just God hurling lightening bolts at the non-believers!! Or that crazy heretic notion that the earth revolves around the sun!
No, I'm not liberal, nor a mental patient. Just a simple guy who enjoys dogs in my time away from work.
Cheers, and lets all have a great weekend,
God Bless PFC Jamie Harkness. The US Army's newest PFC, but still our neighbor's little girl!


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Adirondack Single Rocker
Pine Wood. 34.5w x 38d x 46h". Available in the following colors: Natural, White, Hunter, Lime, Mint, Aqua, Caribbean Blue, Baby Blue, Rustic Red, Tractor Red, Flamingo, Butter, Canary Yellow, Olive Gray, and Black. Each color is available in either a solid finish or a washed finish. Please state your choice of color and finish in the comments section of your order form.
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Mountain Lion
Posted 01 October 2012 - 10:41 AM
Going to Best Buy today to investigate an iMac desktop purchase.
Posted 01 October 2012 - 11:06 AM
Mountain Lion is the operating system. Somehow Apple has take to naming their series of OS by wild critters. I don't know what the series was before leopard, I came to Mac with Snow Leopard, then Lion and now Mountain Lion. I guess because these systems are crazy wild and powerful. LOL. Keep considering Amy, Mac rocks!
I'm considering a Mac so I'm reading all these Mac forums with interest. However, being a current PC user, can someone educate me as to what Mountain Lion is? Operating system? Organizing system? Photo editing software? I'm in the dark.
Going to Best Buy today to investigate an iMac desktop purchase.
A true friend reaches for your hand and touches your heart. ~Author Unknown
Posted 01 October 2012 - 07:33 PM
Posted 04 October 2012 - 12:49 PM
Posted 05 December 2012 - 10:49 AM
Lynn (mrh)
Posted 05 December 2012 - 05:41 PM
I recently upgraded my 2 year old iMac from Snow Lepeard to Mountain Lion 10.8.2 Nothing but trouble. Even tho everything was backed up by Carbonite, I lost many Mail folders, incl. much genealogy and my accounts. I am still weeping. I am working with a tech and he is helping me with a lot of small things that are happening. Kind of sorry I changed.
Lynn (mrh)
Oh, gosh, I'm so sorry you had so much difficulty and lost so many files! I can't imagine why you would have lost files upgrading to Mountain Lion though. I'm just glad you have a techie to help you figure it all out.
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