Flexing its growing international clout while American geopolitical power continues to decline precipitously, Russia is further developing the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) into a post Cold War Warsaw Pact.

As an increasing number of Israelis and Palestinians shift towards more militant means of achieving their respective political goals against a backdrop of coalescing hawkish groups, failed peace initiatives, and rising anti-Israeli sentiment, expect a continued growth in Mid-East violence centered on Israel.

After years of gradually losing its standing as a neutral arbiter between the Israelis and Palestinians, the U.S. government finally and openly declared sides during the Gaza conflict.  Unless President Barack Obama delivers on his promise to chart a new course, the U.S. will lose its place as a primary Middle-East mediator.

Despite Israel and Hamas’ separate announcements of a ceasefire in Gaza, prospects for a regional peace ensuring Israeli stability and security are likely to collapse, resulting in the escalation of Islamic extremism and Israel’s increasing isolation.

Israel is about to launch Phase III of Operation Cast Lead – the capture of Gaza City.  Electoral considerations almost certainly predict that Israel will attempt to topple Hamas and re-occupy Gaza, until Hamas’ rival Fatah can re-establish control on the ground.  The Third Palestinian Intifada may be in the offing.

The 2008-2009 Israel-Gaza War enters its second week, with no signs of letting up any time soon.

On Friday, Hamas suspended its six-month truce with Israel, announcing that the ceasefire would not be extended.

Canada’s combat role in Afghanistan will almost certainly end in a little over two years, if not sooner, due to a convergence of recent events.

Just who was behind last week’s terrorist attack in Mumbai, India? Of all the players involved, everyone seems to have been advantaged by the carnage.  It may be too early to determine just who the mastermind is, but a careful analysis of quickly unfolding events ought to reveal just who had the most to gain – and, in geopolitics, the player with the most to gain is usually the culprit.

The resignation of hundreds of Pakistani police personnel due to fear of Taliban reprisals, and escalating tension along the Indo-Pak border eclipsing Islamabad's focus on militancy along its Afghan border, may result in Pakistan's NorthWest Frontier Province (NWFP) and Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) falling to Pakistan Taliban control.