Free Republic

Russia - Masque Of The Red Death Vladimir Putin has been hailed perhaps as the pivotal post cold war Russian leader. He has executed a skillful dog and pony show, convincing both the Bush and Blair administrations that the former Soviet Union was not only no longer a military threat to the West but was indeed now becoming a close ally. Obviously Russia's cooperation with the French and German UN delegation's intransigence in dealing with Iraq has done much to throw cold water on this heretofore-budding union. It's important to note that such a relationship offered hope, though ultimately unfounded,...

This is the moment Ukrainian troops destroy one of Russia's most advanced tanks which are protected by special reactive armour. The armour on the T-90M is designed to explode when hit reducing the penetrative power of an incoming round. The tank is also protected with a automated defence system which fires smoke grenades when it is 'painted' by a laser beam used by an incoming missile. However, the Ukrainian military released drone footage on a Russian armoured unit which resulted in the destruction of the £4million tank as well as a thermobaric multiple rocket system.

More US Navy forces have been sent to surround a hijacked ship loaded with Russian-made tanks Extra destroyers and cruisers were deployed within 10 miles of the Ukrainian vessel Faina being held by Somali pirates because of "great concern" over the possibility of the tanks and other weapons aboard the ship falling "into the wrong hands," said a spokesman for the 5th Fleet. American helicopters were flying over the ship in the Indian Ocean after the pirates demanded 20 million dollars to release the ship and its cargo. The navy spokesman said the weapons had been bound for Sudan and...