As readers may know, this weekend the Munich Conference for Security Policy was held. Among the illustrious guests like German Chancellor Merkel, Vladimir Putin, Robert Gates and others, yours truly was in Munich as well. Due to an unfortunate mix up, my name wasn’t on the VIP list and thus I couldn’t pass through security. However, I did manage to get a few pictures of the event in historic Munich. I should also note that at the link above, one can listen to all the speeches made during the event which I highly recommend.






Comments to this entry
Giustino
February 11, 2007
9:31 pm
Russia is so hard to figure out though. They whined and jumped up and down when the Estonians joined NATO and then ... nothing happened. Estonians are now serving in Afghanistan and Iraq. Big deal. Plus, they posture like they're all cool with Baltic NATO membership now, but five years ago they were adamantly opposed. So will further NATO enlargement produce the same result?
How does one differentiate between your regular Russian temper tantrum and taking them seriously?
Lexington Green
February 12, 2007
5:31 am
I actually wish she would.
Maybe she could slap Putin around while she is at it.
Giustino
February 12, 2007
6:49 pm
von Kaufman-Turkestanky
February 12, 2007
7:40 pm
Chirol, your challenge: at the next big event, get your name on the VIP list and give us the skinny on what goes on!
In the meantime, good luck with the planning for the Caucasus trip, have a safe one, and good luck with the even more important nuptials. All the best.
Kevin
February 13, 2007
5:22 am
Michael
February 14, 2007
7:39 pm
IJ
February 14, 2007
10:00 pm
The alliance's S-G told the Munich conference that NATO aims to work better with the United Nations, and develop better ties with Russia. Interestingly De Hoop Scheffer called for all NATO nations to spend at least 2 percent of their national income on defence. This would especially hurt old members Luxembourg (estimated 0.6% of GDP in 2006), Belgium (1.1%), Canada (1.2%), Spain (1.2%) and Germany (1.3%). Low spending Germany is currently president of the EU and the G8.
kevin
February 15, 2007
6:13 am
IJ
February 16, 2007
11:48 am
However NATO's attitude to Russia may not be shared by leading member US.
"The Pentagon is preparing to start negotiations with Poland and the Czech Republic about hosting missile interceptors and radars. . .Russia threatened on Thursday to pull out of a landmark nuclear arms control treaty unless the US backed away from plans to install its missile defence shield in Eastern Europe."
IJ
February 16, 2007
12:57 pm