With Vladamir Putin Planning To Take Control Of Rusia, 'The Den Of The Assassin' Author Peter Thomas Senese Asks "Is There A Possibility Of A New Cold War?"

Vladimir Putin's decision to stand again as Russian president is no big surprise to anyone, particularly those who realize that in fact, Putin never really relinquished power to begin with. Some may say, "Batman returns, though the idea of Robin (Dmitri Medvedev) becoming prime minister may not work out for long," but others will say "A lunatic willing to arm every dangerous madman in the world is about to put his hands on Russia's biological and nuclear war chest - again."

In 'The Den of the Assassin', one of the main themes in Peter Thomas Senese's geopolitical thriller evolves around Russia's desire to rebuild itself. TheWest often forgets that Russia has more natural resources available to it than almost any other country on the planet - and a deep distrust for Western ideals no matter how much capitalism has been embraced. Pointedly, there is a vast political and social difference between the black market money gained by the oligarchs and the hardliners that still run Russia. And with Putin clearly ready to take full control of Russia again by running for President - he is letting the world know Russia and its agenda are his. With perspective of world power rapidly changing, Putin's timing could not be more interesting.

Sure, the timing was unexpected. There were good reasons for making the decision later -- last time around Medvedev was revealed as Putin's choice for president only after the parliamentary (Duma) elections in December 2007. Medvedev now becomes an early lame duck -- the Kremlin has not dealt with that problem simply by saying he will be prime minister under Putin.

By making the announcement before the Duma elections, Putin has guaranteed a majority for his new '"Popular Front" -- but that will also create problems. Russian voters quickly cottoned on to the fact that the old United Russia party was just a roadblock: it could stop opponents wining elections, but had no role in government or in the generation of policy or strategic thinking.

The corporatist behemoth Popular Front will be even worse. Andrew WilsonRussia has a "managed democracy," but the campaign for the presidential elections next March will now be even longer, and in a long campaign not everything can be easily managed. There are other obvious downsides, even once the timing issue is out of the way. Western leaders who invested time and political capital in engaging Medvedev will be asking loudly what the interregnum was all about. The idea of a Kremlin-approved but reformist new liberal party has been squashed. So have the rumors that Russia's liberal conscience and enforcer of fiscal discipline, Finance Minister Aleksei Kudrin, would be the next prime minister.

But Kudrin would have been a much better choice than an ineffective Medvedev, and could have taken Russia back to the long-forgotten era of real reform when Putin first came to power in the early 2000s -- before the Yukos affair in 2003 and the oil price explosion that sucked the life out of the reform impulse. What does Kudrin do now to stop the markets freaking out? And how long will the mild-mannered Medvedev really last as PM, given that he is unlikely to transform himself overnight into a fire-breathing CEO? The Russian government can't be run on Twitter.

Then there are much bigger strategic questions.

Will Putin 2.0 be any different from Putin 1.0?

Can Putin dismantle Putinism?

Putin always hoped the history books would treat him well, which is why he chooses court historians to write them; but even many of the supposed achievements of his first two terms of office (2000-08), such as Russia's much-vaunted "stability," the restoration of state authority and victory in Chechnya, may now be under threat if Putin comes back in much more difficult economic circumstances and with real anarchy looming in Russia's North Caucasian "internal abroad." Putin backed for 2012 presidency Even stagnation is not an easy option. Will Putin 2.0 be able to stop the growing torrent of capital flight out of Russia, which reached $21 billion in the first quarter of 2011?

Putin's ideologue Vladislav Surkov once coined the term "offshore aristocracy'" to abuse the "cosmopolitan" oligarchs and Western advisers of the Yeltsin era; but this is precisely what Putin's oligarchy has become. The ruling elite is not investing at home -- many of them don't even live in Russia. And capital flight is no longer just for oligarchs, as genuine entrepreneurs and small and medium enterprises (SMEs) despair of red tape and corruption. Will Putin be able to curb the bloated state that has grown so unwieldy under oil money? The budget only balances at an ever higher oil price -- currently reckoned to be about $125 a barrel. How high will the necessary price be in a few years?

Putin has so far failed to build a new narrative. The same old guys still sit beside him. Even his old image as the "good tsar" reigning in the "bad boyars" is suspect. Putin has not cleansed the stables, and the oligarchs close to him may get bolder and more brazen once he comes back to power.

Putin's favorite foreign policy initiatives will be pushed further forward, like the idea of a customs union with Belarus and Kazakhstan, with Ukraine under pressure to join. If Georgia's President Mikheil Saakashvili "does a Putin" and makes himself prime minister after his second term runs out in January 2013, Saakashvili and Putin could then be squaring off for years. The ugly youth group Nashi and its skinhead hinterland will still be around.

Periodically, Putin's PR machine has pushed out the idea that he is tired of office and looking forward to retirement. We can now put that myth to rest. He has now guaranteed himself another six or even 12 years of hyperactivity, with an overflowing in-tray.

How this all pans-out on the world stage sure is going to be rather interesting. One thing is for sure: with Putin getting ready to flex Russia's muscles (for example, providing Iran with more nuclear technology) and China trying to take over the globe, the next United States President sure is going to have a lot to deal with.

Peter Thomas Senese's 'The Den of the Assassin' is a thrilling geopolitical novel based upon historical fact and is available wherever books are sold, including Amazon.

Peter Thomas Senese: Best-Selling Geopolitical Novelist Releases Electrifying International Financial-Political Thriller THE DEN OF THE ASSASSIN: Senese Launches E-book Series

Author Peter Thomas Senese is pleased to announce the E-book release of the international espionage thriller titled THE DEN OF THE ASSASSIN on September 11th, 2011. Critics have praised THE DEN OF THE ASSASSIN as an international financial espionage thriller steeped in the modern-day realities of our post 9-11 world, providing the story a visceral prescience teeming with realism and frightful possibilities of global cyber and biological terrorism, and Peter Senese as a masterful writer of international intrigue. Peter Senese's THE DEN OF THE ASSASSIN is the first E-book release in a series of the best-selling author's previously hardcover releases of his noteworthy historical fiction novels, which include CLONING CHRIST, CHASING THE CYCLONE, PREDATORS GAMES (Winter, 2011), and QUEST (Spring, 2012).

Peter Senese commented on THE DEN OF THE ASSASSIN, "For readers who enjoy fast-paced, multi-dimensional plots based upon historical events, substantial and thorough research, and plausible possibilities relevant to the world we live in today, THE DEN OF THE ASSASSIN will take readers on a thrilling global geopolitical journey that begins in New York City's Wall Street, but soon darts into the hidden and unseen worlds that exists within nations that have highly questionable agendas towards the United States and the West, including but not limited to China, Russia, North Korea, and Iran. And it is here, in these hidden worlds that disturbing plans that stand against America and the West's idea of liberty and freedom are carefully hatched and cultivated. Most concerningly, as each nation has become more reliant on one another in our global society, a new level of extraordinary vulnerability to our national security has been created, one perhaps we may not be prepared for. In THE DEN OF THE ASSASIN, I believe readers will find the uniquely accurate information on this subject that is carefully weaved through an intricate, entertaining storyline to be quite fascinating - and disturbing."

THE DEN OF THE ASSASSIN opens in New York City, where an unassuming investment banker, Tyler Boxter, is preoccupied with his all-consuming career on Wall Street that acts as a personal shield against the trappings of life that hide guilt and pain and memories he doesn't want. In the midst of the biggest deal of his successful career, and unknown to Boxter, he is about to play a sophisticated but explosive game against a madman who is more savage and merciless than the winds of an atomic holocaust. 

Once a mysterious theft leads Boxter from the sanctity of his Wall Street office and thrusts him into the dark world of international terrorism -- where zealot religious leaders stir and awaken hateful minds in the brutal desserts in the capitol of the Middle East's ancient, once mighty empire, where dark, sunken eyes eager to return to world-glory look into the abyss of Siberia's desolate terrains, where prisoners -citizens- who live on a remote peninsula in Asia would rather submit to isolationist cleansing than feel the wrath of a deceitful troll intent on destroying the ideals of the West - and where a city of scientists continue their unseen diabolical activity deep in the earth and protected by the menacing walls that surround the Forbidden City - knowing that what they have embarked upon is the West's greatest nightmare.

Peter Thomas Senese: writer, filmmaker, and dedicated child advocate will commence his E-book launch by releasing the highly praised, spine-tingling Post 9-11 financial espionage and geopolitical thriller that catapults the reader into a world of incomprehensible possibilities and insane apocalyptic challenges in Senese's intense, page-turning 'THE DEN OF THE ASSASSIN', which will be released on September 11th, 2011. THE DEN OF THE ASSASSIN is presently available in hardcover format from traditional retailers and online merchants. THE DEN OF THE ASSASSIN was initially released in hardcover prior to the author's unexpected race into the cyclones of international child abduction. CHASING THE CYCLONE, inspired by Peter Thomas Senese's experiences in the horrific arena and depicts the horrific insanity of having a child internationally kidnapped, will be released in hardcover later on November 1st, 2011.

Reviewers of THE DEN OF THE ASSASSIN have praised Peter Thomas Senese's storytelling. Renowned book critic Daniel Jolley commented: "This is one seriously good thriller. Billed as "a novel of international finance and espionage," Den of the Assassin is a super-realistic exploration of frightening possibilities, unsurpassed heroism, Lucifer-like evil, and terrorism of the worst kind ... The novel revolves around some kind of Day of the Jackal-like assassination plot, but the complexity of this novel stretches its tendrils deeply into international finance, the vagaries of the American legal and health care systems, international terrorism, diplomacy, intelligence, WMD, and cold-blooded murder - with a little romance thrown in just to stir up the pot a little more. Peter Thomas Senese does a masterful job traversing the inner hallways of diverse institutions as he slowly brings all of these diverse elements together for a slam-bang climax ... Peter Thomas Senese displays a wealth of knowledge of geopolitics, espionage, and international finance, describing all the technical intricacies of the story's elements and implications with great attention to detail -without ever letting the pace get bogged down or become confusing to the reader. He also keeps a number of secrets close to the vest, saving them for just the right time in the story. This serves to make the book thoroughly believable and increasingly suspenseful. There's no shortage of action here. What Tyler finds himself involved in is nothing less than a war, and he must fight to save not only himself, his friends, and his company, but his very country from an unimaginable catastrophe. The Father's network of agents and killers is as formidable as they come, and the security-related forces Tyler brings into the game are some of the best money can buy. In the end, though, the drama becomes deeply personal, as The Father and Tyler Boxter rush headlong toward a face-to-face encounter of epic proportions . . . Many a writer of thrillers seem to drop the ball somewhere in the middle of their novels, but Peter Thomas Senese's knowledge of geopolitics, international finance, and 21st century terrorist threats keeps the fires of detailed complexity and story evolution stoked and red-hot for the entire ride. Tyler Boxter is no James Bond, but Den of the Assassin proves to be just as exciting as any 007 caper - and much more realistic."

The best-Selling author Peter Senese's upcoming E-book series launch of selected publications from the novelist's previously released and upcoming international geopolitical thriller genre' publications will occur over a six month period and will include a total of four new edition E-book format releases that are intended to be translated and made available in multiple languages, allowing the growing number of readers who enjoy Mr. Senese's novels immediate and affordable access to his written works.

The gut-wrenching, inspirational theological thriller 'Cloning Christ' that jettisons readers to the spiritual and physical battlefront of good vs. evil in Peter Thomas Senese's electrifying, bone-chilling story of faith evolves around the global manhunt for Dr. Max Train, a once-devout, now faithless genomic scientist who may be in possession of the True Cross of Jesus of Nazareth. Cloning Christ will cause heart-racing readers to contemplate the challenges between science and faith while contemplating physical and spiritual issues we all face today in our pursuit to enrich the human condition and experience. 

'Cloning Christ' will be released in E-book on October 15th, 2011. 

Peter Thomas Senese's deeply personal novel, 'Chasing The Cyclone', the critically acclaimed heart-pounding international legal thriller of a father and son's unbowed and unbreakable love and belief in one another in lieu of a wicked international child abduction as told in a way very few writers ever could, and that was inspired by Peter Thomas Senese's unimaginable experiences as a parent chasing the cyclone of international child abduction, will released in hardcover and E-book on November 1st, 2011.

'Predator's Games' the riveting sequel of 'The Den of the Assassin', that propels readers into the shocking and deadly world of alternative energy speculation and depicts the world's power-nations conspiring against one another in an extremely dangerous and potentially cataclysmic quest to control what was once the unthinkable unfolds as unique characters initially introduced in 'The Den of the Assassin' race into real and startling possibilities evolving around advances in alternative energy and mankind's greed. 'Predator's Games' by Peter Thomas Senese will be released during the Thanksgiving Holiday Season.

QUEST, the sequel of CLONING CHRIST will be released during the early spring of 2012, and THE PRODUCTION is presently scheduled to be released in May, 2012.

In keeping true to the outspoken child abduction advocate's intent and desire to raise public awareness on the growing plague known as international parental child abduction, and staying steadfast to his desire to assist children and their parents at risk of being criminally kidnapped abroad, Peter Thomas Senese recently released the extensive and landmark resource guide on this subject he co-authored with renown child advocate Carolyn Vlk titled THE WORLD TURNED UPSIDE DOWN. Mr. Senese and Ms. Vlk made the highly informative publication available free of charge via E-book on his personal websites (including www.peterthomassenese.com or www.chasingthecyclone.com) so that those individuals around the world who may need the contained information may have immediate access to it. THE WORLD TURNED UPSIDE DOWN is also available from traditional E-book retailers including Amazon and Barnes & Noble. 

Peter Thomas Senese commented, "I am extremely pleased to announce the E-book publications of selected novels that readers from all over the world have embraced. It is indeed a very humbling experience to have such a large and diverse number of book lovers from Los Angeles to Christ Church to Beijing to St. Petersburg to Athens to Oslo to The Isle of Skye to New York, and from Anchorage to Cape Town and places in between to have interest in my novels. 

"I am, as I will continue to be, extremely grateful for the worldwide reception my stories have received. This interest and appreciation supports my strong belief that society continues to evolve into global citizens, and with each and every passing day, the concerns or interests that one person shares in one part of the world has relevance to another person living on the other side of the planet. I think this is truly remarkable, particularly since one of the primary undercurrents of each of my books is the value of global citizenship. The other undercurrent - and I once thought this was a secret only a few readers realized, but in time I came to know how much I have been mistaken - is that if you hear the voice attached to the words in my novels, you will hear the voice of a parent who deeply loves his child. As I now have come to understand, a substantial number of my readers have heard and indentified with that voice. So perhaps these are two of the reasons why my writing continues to be embraced and evolve onto the global stage."

Not lost on Peter Thomas Senese, who splits his time between New York and Los Angeles is that 'THE DEN OF THE ASSASSIN's E-book release falls a day after September 11th, 2011. Commenting from New York's Ground Zero where he was paying tribute on the ten year anniversary of the terrorist attacks on American soil, Peter Senese commented, "Having spent substantial time here, in and around New York's Ground Zero, losing many close friends and having had many other friends and family directly impacted by the malicious attacks or who were attached to the rescue operations, including an amazing heroic brother who was and is today with the FDNY, I was witness to the pain, suffering, and tragedy that occurred. But as you can see, on September 11th and the days that lead up to the unprovoked attacks against an innocent people that believe in freedom, an isolated group of men and women from around the world lost their faith in God and in each other. However, as those moments and days after these attacks occurred as has been demonstrated, mankind demonstrated an incredible belief in one another and in God. It was in our resolve, determination, and spirited remembrance for those who left this physical world, only to move on to His world, took place, that we were able to feel and see the love, the miracles, and the human connectivity of man's goodness. On a personal note, THE DEN OF THE ASSASSIN, which is very much a New York book, I believe replicates the great spirit that surged forward that day and the days that ensued in New York City and the world thereafter. In fact, I wrote portions of this story on Wall Street; inside Trinity Church, inside Federal Hall, and from a historic building built in 1836 and was once the headquaters for National City Bank - Citibank. There is no question in the story that is THE DEN OF THE ASSASSIN is there ever a failure to remember what occurred that day."

According to the Association of American Publishers, E-book sales represent the largest single format for book sales in the United States. Paperback sales are considered second, followed by hardcover book sales, both of which sales figures continue to decline. 

Peter Senese added, "As an author who embraces my publishing independence, and having had considerable success, including having several of my books hit and stay on various publishing-industry best-seller lists, the ever-expanding use of e-book readers will allow for good writers with important issues that they desire to share with worldwide opportunity to reach audiences via e-book publications. Over the course of the past years, I have purposefully delayed the electronic release of my novels until I felt comfortable with the evolution of electronic distribution of my writings, and that my readership audience, who was accustomed to reading my books in hardcover format, would support my E-book publication. After receiving an incredible number of inquiries from book lovers all over the world expressing their desire to have my novels made available in E-book format and in multiple languages, I have become extremely comfortable that now is the time to launch selected books I have written on E-book format. This is very exciting!

Peter Thomas Senese is a storyteller focusing on messages in all formats that bespeak global connectivity. 

Mr. Senese is actively involved in supporting issues that impact the lives of children, including demonstrative support of literacy programs and our nation's public libraries. He is actively engaged in numerous and extensive activities surrounding international child abduction prevention including the production of the groundbreaking documentary film on IPCA titled CHASING PARENTS, the publication of the landmark resource guide titled THE WORLD TURNED UPSIDE DOWN and various actively evolving around legislation that will protect children and others from international child abduction or, malicious online impersonation. 

To learn more about Peter Thomas Senese and his various writings, activities, child advocacy, or to order an autographed and dedicated copy of one of Peter's novels, please visit his official website (www.petersenese.com, www.thedenoftheassassin.info, www.chasingthecyclone.com, or www.peterthomassenese.blogspot.com). All of Peter Thomas Senese's books (print and E-book) are available through all traditional online and traditional bookstores as well as his personal website where consumers may order a signed and dedicated copy of one of Peter's books.

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