L. Todd Wood

U.S. veterans can help tackle corruption

On a recent trip to Chisinau to investigate the political situation in the tiny former Soviet republic, I had the pleasure of meeting with a very distinguished gentleman, a former colonel in the Moldovan armed forces, who fought in the war against pro-Russian separatists in the early 1990s during the Transdniester conflict, a small strip of land bordering Ukraine

A cautionary tale from Ukraine on prosecutors and power

As special counsel Robert Mueller announced his first indictments of Paul Manafort and others in the Russia election hacking probe, it seems a good time to examine what can happen when a prosecutor is weaponized to attack political and business adversaries.

CROSSTALK: Russia collusion narrative is dying

As people like Donna Brazile slowly come out and tell the truth about the Democratic Party and the 2016 election, the Leftist-spun Russia narrative is collapsing. We now know that if anyone was "collusion" with Russia, whatever that is, it was Hillary and Bill, and all their minions.

China urges children to snitch on parents

In an effort which would make Mao and Stalin proud, China is getting families into the spying game. To celebrate its first National Security Education Day on Nov. 10th, the communist government is launching a ten-minute video for children explaining how to tell if someone in your family is working for a foreign government.

China unveils massive island maker signaling further expansion in South China Sea

China has been slowly but steadily building its influence in the South China Sea, militarizing its multiple 'man made islands' in the process.

Moldova is a small country fighting a big cyberwar against Russian incursions

In the U.S. we are witnessing firsthand the new hybrid warfare of the 21st century — cyberattacks, disinformation, financial shenanigans, social media manipulation and corruption — a combination of weapons for which the West has yet to find an effective defense. There is, however, one small country that has found a way to deal with this plethora of threats and actually find a way forward.

Europe in Kim Jong-un’s nuclear crosshairs

While on a recent trip to Eastern Europe, and talking with government officials in multiple jurisdictions, I noticed one change in the national security narrative that is new to this part of the world. Europe is realizing that North Korea can hit the continent with nuclear weapons.

Is Democratic Republic of Congo at risk of falling into the hands of extremists?

Ukraine corruption cuts far deeper than many know

Corruption in Ukraine is not exactly a fresh news story, but I don't think most people understand the depths of the problem.

Family feud in Ukraine turns ugly, showing shades of James Comey’s FBI

Therapists say it takes five years to get over a divorce, emotionally and financially. For Serhei Rybalka, a Ukrainian businessman, it looks like it will take longer, if ever. The problem is, Mr. Rybalka's former wife is the daughter of Ukrainian oligarch, Gennadiy Butkevich, the owner of the ATB corporation, the largest grocery store chain in Ukraine.

Truth and deceit in the Middle East

As we have seen with the "Arab Spring," politics and claims of allegiance in the Middle East are not always as they seem. In most instances, when looking at power players in the region, one has to look behind the curtain to ascertain where real loyalties lie.

Iryna Savytskaya case deserves the attention of feminists, globe

I'm speaking of Iryna Savytskaya, an accountant from Ukraine who is currently languishing in a Georgian jail in the Caucasus. Ms. Savytskaya traveled to Georgia on a business trip and was imprisoned apparently at the behest of the Ukrainian government. The detention appears to be a carefully pre-arranged operation between the Ukrainian and Georgian officials.

Central Asian global security to the forefront

U.S. President Donald Trump announced recently a new American strategy for the country's longest war: Afghanistan. The major change is a shift from the "deadlines," used to the detriment of American national security by the Obama administration, to a focus on "conditions."

The Boy Scouts’ War on Boys

This may sound cheesy to some, but to me as a very young teenager, I remember it being a very big deal. It was towards the end of Boy Scout summer camp in the marshlands off Savannah, Ga. The event I'm speaking of was the 'ordeal' for the Order of the Arrow, a rite-of-passage of sorts.

Behind the Curtain: Czechs may take a step back in upcoming vote

Since the collapse of the Soviet Union and the Warsaw Pact decades ago, the United States has pointed to the Czech Republic as a beacon of relative prosperity and success in Eastern Europe.

Fake news polls threaten democracy

It's been almost a year since the 2016 election that brought Donald Trump to the presidency of the United States. The weeks prior to the only poll that mattered on Election Day were filled with false predictions and downright fraud by polling companies seeking to impact the eventual outcome of the election by showing Hillary Rodham Clinton the obvious winner.

Donald Trump warns Ukraine on treatment of U.S. companies

In a recent meeting on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly, President Trump asked Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko -- twice -- to "take good care of U.S. companies." American companies "see a tremendous potential there, so take good care of them," Mr. Trump told his Ukrainian counterpart.

Russia develops Iron Man-style armored suit: Report

The Russian Defense Ministry is designing and building new combat equipment for the average soldier, which includes an exoskeleton and 'active protection' measures. The third generation of Ratnik combat gear may appear by 2022, Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Ground Forces Col. Gen. Oleg Salyukov, reported Russian state news agency TASS.

CROSSTALK: North Korea useful US irritant for Russia, China

With all the news and threats flying back and forth between Washington and Pyongyang, it is worth drilling down into the historical and geopolitical scenario on the Korean Peninsula and ignore the bluster.

Needing friends, Ukraine picks a fight with new language law

As Ukraine struggles with corruption and a hot war with pro-Russian separatists in the east, including the devastating destruction Wednesday of one of its largest weapons depots through a likely act of sabotage, keeping the European Union — and more importantly the International Monetary Fund — happy would seem like an urgent priority. However, in one fell swoop, Kiev has managed to anger almost all of Eastern Europe.