By Kunduz Jenkins (9/21/2005 issue of the CACI Analyst)

BACKGROUND: Recently, ex-president Askar Akaev and his supporters have given a number of interviews and statements in the mass media and in public appearances, arguing that the March Revolution regressed the country with an accompanying huge rollback in its development. They also claim that the country achieved impressive results in implementing democratic and economic reforms under the rule of the former president. Yet actual facts demonstrate the opposite.

By Stephen Blank (9/21/2005 issue of the CACI Analyst)

BACKGROUND: Although these were ostensibly anti-terrorist exercises, Chinese Chief of Staff Liang Guanglie stated that they were directed against terrorism, separatism, and extremism. While the operations conducted here clearly represent the kinds of operations China might conduct against Taiwan which it regards as a separatist province, China also regards the threat posed by Muslim insurgents in Xinjiang as separatism and extremism based on religion and quite clearly regards those who conduct these ”separatist” operations as terrorists. Nevertheless these exercises’ scale and scope suggest a large-scale conventional operation rather than an anti-terrorist mission.

By Mark Simakovsky (9/21/2005 issue of the CACI Analyst)

BACKGROUND: In December 1991, the CIS was created to help manage the collapse of the Soviet Union and resulting economic and political instability. The Kremlin hoped to maintain Russian leadership and supremacy in Eurasia by turning the CIS into a tightly knit economic union and collective security arrangement. After 14 years, a collection of ineffectual summits, unimplemented treaties and unfulfilled promises has highlighted the slow death of the CIS.