DAILY DIALECTIC
December 25, 2008

"Russia reserves the right to use force again to defend its interests and will not tolerate attempts by Western powers to contain it, President Dmitry Medvedev said in an interview broadcast on Wednesday..."

"President Horst Kohler says he is confident that Germany can pull through the current economic crisis if the country pulls together to do so. In his annual Christmas address to the nation, Germany's head of state said that while many people were worried about their jobs, the crisis also presented a unique opportunity. The former managing director of the International Monetary Fund said it was a chance to create a better economic and financial order. President Kohler also appealed to business executives to exercise integrity, modesty and judgement in the interest of the common good..."