Free Republic

KABUL, Afghanistan, Dec. 18, 2008 – The Afghan National Army Air Corps has received the first three of six Mil Mi-35 attack helicopters, adding to its growing capabilities. Airmen from the 438th Air Expeditionary Wing and Afghan National Army Air Corps and NATO members load propeller blades onto a flatbed truck in Kabul, Afghanistan, after three refurbished Mi-35 helicopters arrived to join the air corps’ aerial fleet. U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Keith Brown  (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. The helicopters, donated by the Czech Republic, were refurbished by members of Combined Security Transition Command Afghanistan....

The Czech Security Information Service (BIS) is facing renewed scrutiny following recent revelations concerning senior intelligence personnel maintaining close ties to the Russian foreign spy service, the SVR. In mid-August, news broke that three senior BIS officials headed the section responsible for monitoring and uncovering agents working for intelligence services of former Soviet republics, including the Belarusian KGB, the Ukrainian SBU and the Russian SVR. The men were once members of the former Czechoslovakian StB intelligence service. Two of the three men attended special courses in Moscow in 1989 given by what was then the Soviet KGB. This counterintelligence training...

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Czech Republic refuted the statement of the president of Ukraine Victor Yushchenko, which he made after the meeting with the president of Czech Republic, Vaclav Klaus, concerning legalization of Ukrainians, departed for Czech Republic in search of a job. Yushchenko declared that Ukrainian and Czech foreign policy departments prepare a draft agreement, which will ease job placement of Ukrainian citizens in Czech Republic. According to the speaker of Czech MFA, Vita Kolarzha, the statement of the Ukrainian president is contrary to the fact, as his department does not plan any such agreement. Kolarzh pointed out...