German Chancellor Angela Merkel
Intelligence Guidance: Week of July 20, 2008
July 18, 2008 2026 GMT
The following are internal Stratfor documents produced to provide high-level guidance to our analysts. These documents are not forecasts, but rather a series of guidelines for understanding and evaluating events, as well as suggestions on areas for focus. [more]
Special Topic Pages
Russian President Dmitri Medvedev, a former chairman of Gazprom
Russia: Moscow's Energy Protectionism
July 18, 2008 2202 GMT
A move meant to protect Russia's state-controlled energy companies could end up backfiring. [more]
Bulgarian President Georgi Parvanov
EU: A Message to the Balkans
July 18, 2008 1852 GMT
Brussels has signaled aspiring EU members in the Balkans that they had best listen to EU demands to reform, possibly freezing $1.6 billion in funds meant for Bulgaria. [more]
Myanmar officials and seized drugs
Organized Crime, Geography and Corruption
July 18, 2008 1848 GMT
Virtually every country has organized crime. Geography, infrastructure and the strength of the government determine how pervasive it will be. [more]
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Situation Reports
Brazil: Offshore Oil Workers To End Strike
July 18, 2008 2022 GMT
Brazil's offshore oil workers' union Sindipetro-NF said it would end its five-day strike at midnight July 18, though it has not reached an agreement with state oil company Petroleo Brasileiro (Petrobras), The Associated Press reported July 18. The oil-rig workers, who will return to their jobs on July 19, said that they would renew their strike if Petrobras fails to make a new offer.
More Situation Reports
Argentina: Government Will Not Raise Export Taxes
July 18, 2008 1952 GMT
Afghanistan: 2 Aid Workers Kidnapped
July 18, 2008 1943 GMT
China: Black People Banned From Beijing Bars
July 18, 2008 1912 GMT
Today's Podcast
Arms seized in Mexican police operations against drug-trafficking are displayed in 2007
The Cartel Wars: A New Push for U.S. Involvement?
July 18, 2008 1317 GMT
After a short spate of relative calm, the wars between Mexico’s drug cartels and the government have been ratcheting up again — and there are indications that someone may be circulating rumors in an attempt to capture Washington’s attention. [more]
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Terrorism Weekly
Graphic for Terrorism Intelligence Report
Another Dam Threat
July 16, 2008 1614 GMT
The flap caused by the closure of a road over a dam in Colorado due to security concerns provides an opportunity to revisit jihadist militants' ability to operate inside the United States and the type of targets they might attack. [more]
Geopolitical Weekly
Graphic for Geopolitical Intelligence Report
Now for the Hard Part: From Iraq to Afghanistan
July 15, 2008 1652 GMT
Terrorism Weekly
Graphic for Terrorism Intelligence Report
Deadly Precedents in Kabul
July 9, 2008 1729 GMT