Russia specialist Gary Cartwright assesses issues behind Russia's invasion of Georgia that have received little or no comment in the western media.* 

Probing the enemy.

On August 9th 1942, British and Canadian troops, along with a handful of US Special Forces mounted the raid on Dieppe that was to provide much needed experience and intelligence for the Allies as the free world contemplated the invasion of Europe. The cost in lives was high, and whilst the raid itself is remembered as a military failure, Montgomery claimed that “Dieppe gave the Allies the precious secret of victory”.

There is a small café on the French speaking side of the border that divides the southern half of Belgium from the Dutch speaking north. It was Belgium’s national day on Monday and after the military parade in Brussels there was little unity to be detected among the customers. There was more than a hint of a collective view that the parade marred by heavy rain might be the last in a truly united Belgium.

The European Parliament was emptying out Wednesday as members and officials set off for their summer break but, in the wake of scandals about misuse of expenses, problems were just beginning for political leaders in some national capitals. A well researched report by the organisation Spinwatch details MEPs close links to certain industries, law and lobbying organisations.

Assistants to a political group in the European Parliament are listed on an up-to-date organigram as dedicated to a web site business run by  the wife of  Jens Peter Bonde who until recently was the MEP who headed the multinational Independence and Democracy Group.

In March 2006 EU Reporter carried a front page article exposing how Lisbeth Kirk’s commercial business was being heavily subsidised by the Independence and Democracy Group headed by her husband.