The Week in Review

Reuters

The Week in Review

Vatican-Russia Diplomacy

Asianews reports that Vladimir Putin will visit Pope Benedict xvi in March. Coupled with rumors from within the Orthodox Church that Putin may be accompanied by a Russian Orthodox representative, this may indicate the thawing of relations between Rome and Moscow. Putin is a sufficiently astute politician as to detect the growing political power and influence of this Bavarian pope.

Pope, Egyptian Cleric to Meet

Islamic leaders continue to worry about the pope and brace for his next move against Islam following Benedict xvi’s infamous Regensburg speech. The Vatican announced the forthcoming visit of Sheikh Muhammad Sayyid at-Tantawi, the rector of Cairo’s al-Azhar University. This prominent Islamic cleric had formerly demanded that Pope Benedict retract his condemning remarks against Islam made in that Regensburg speech.

eads Setback = Russia’s Gain?

Barely two years ago, it seemed that European aerospace giant, eads, was set to rob Boeing of much of its market with a full order book for its a350xwb wide-body jet. However, severe setbacks in the production of this new jet and other management troubles dogging eads, resulting in the cutting of 10,000 jobs, have halted production on the project. While eads customers are canceling orders in favor of Boeing planes, Vladimir Putin sees eads as a plum ripe for the picking. In a move that is both politically strategic and commercially expedient, Russia has cancelled Boeing orders, transferred orders to eads and stepped up demands for a greater share in eads and a seat on its board.

Polish Gamble

Old institutions are being purged of Communist cronies as Poland distances itself from its Russian-dominated past. Stratfor reports this move “fits into their proclaimed agenda of … solidifying Poland on the international stage and becoming the key European ally for the United States. … Poland is keeping with its traditional tactic of looking to a power that is not geographically nearby to deal with those near” (February 20). However, they warn, “The last time Poland did this was in World War ii, when it looked to the French to help prevent the Germans from invading, which did not work out too well.” With the U.S. stretched to the limit, economically and militarily, its public and politicians baying for the troops to come home, how dependable would America be as an ally to Poland if it faces Blitzkrieg yet again?

Prodi Vs. the Vatican

On February 19, Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi, President Giorgio Napolitano and Italian government officials met for a closed-door session at the Vatican with some of the pope’s senior advisers to discuss the Prodi government’s efforts to push through a bill giving formal government recognition to unwed and homosexual couples. The Vatican has strongly condemned the proposed legislation. Prodi was closed-mouthed on the result of the meeting. Two days later, he tended his resignation, ostensibly due to his failure to gain a majority on Italy’s involvement in the nato Afghanistan mission. We have a feeling papal rather than parliamentary pressure may be the real reason behind Prodi stepping down.