Messages In This Digest (15 Messages)

8.: U.S. Prepares To Knock The World Offline From: Rick Rozoff

9.: Kabul's Talks With Tailiban: New Headache For Obama From: Rick Rozoff

10.: "Non-Combat" U.S. Troops In Iraq Engage In Combat From: Rick Rozoff

11.: Afghan War: France Gets 260 U.S. Anti-Tank Missiles, 76 Launchers From: Rick Rozoff

12.: U.S. Postpones Yellow Sea Sub Warfare Exercise Because of Storm From: Rick Rozoff

13.: Downrange Missions: NATO, U.S., Canadian, German, Afghan Forces From: Rick Rozoff

14.: Asia-Pacific: First Global Hawk Arrives In Guam From: Rick Rozoff

15.: NATO To Transfer Czech Troops From Kosovo To Afghanistan From: Rick Rozoff

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1.: Afghanistan: NATO Loses 6 Soldiers In 5 Days

Posted by: "Rick Rozoff" rwrozoff@yahoo.com rwrozoff

Mon Sep 6, 2010 8:21 am (PDT)

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hvWEqwq3CrRvaQCmt21MfoYhjZJQD9I1ND3G1

Associated Press
Sepetember 5, 2010

NATO service member killed in Afghan fighting
By CHRISTOPHER BODEEN

KABUL, Afghanistan: A coalition service member was killed in fighting in Afghanistan's turbulent south Sunday, while a political rival of President Hamid Karzai questioned his approach to pending talks with Taliban who might be having doubts about the insurgency.

The death is the sixth among foreign fighters in Afghanistan this month, five of them Americans. The nationality of the person killed was not released in accordance with standard NATO procedure.

The southern Afghan provinces of Helmand and Kandahar have seen some of the heaviest fighting between insurgents and coalition forces seeking to uproot the Taliban from their long-held strongholds.
....
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http://www.rnw.nl/english/bulletin/nato-reports-two-soldiers-killed-afghanistan

Radio Netherlands
September 5, 2010

reports two soldiers killed in Afghanistan

NATO on Sunday announced the death of two foreign soldiers, one of them American, in Afghanistan's insurgent heartland as the Taliban was blamed for attacks that wounded civilians across the country.

One soldier whose nationality was not given, died Sunday in an insurgent attack, NATO's International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) said in a statement.

Another, confirmed as an American, died Saturday following a Taliban-style bomb attack, ISAF said.

The deaths brings to 497 the total number of foreign troops to die in the Afghan war so far this year, according to an AFP tally based on one kept by the icasualties.org website. The total in 2009 was 521.

The war is nearing the end of its ninth year, with international troops at almost full strength of 150,000, from the United States and NATO.

The deployments include 30,000 US troops ordered up by US President Barack Obama last December as part of a new counter-insurgency strategy aimed at speeding an end to the war.

Most of the new arrivals are heading to Kandahar and Helmand provinces, where the insurgency is concentrated and the fighting is the hardest.
....
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2.: $12.6B In U.S. Arms, Taiwan Missile Shield Ready Next Year

Posted by: "Rick Rozoff" rwrozoff@yahoo.com rwrozoff

Mon Sep 6, 2010 8:22 am (PDT)

http://news.asiaone.com/News/Latest%2BNews/Asia/Story/A1Story20100906-235807.html

Agence France-Presse
September 6, 2010

Taiwan missile defence shield ready next year: report

TAIPEI: Taiwan expects a much-anticipated missile defence shield to be ready next year after buying advanced weapons at a cost of about 300 billion Taiwan dollars (S$12.6 billion), local media reported Monday.

Six batteries of Patriot III missiles forming the backbone of the system will account for roughly half the costs associated with the project, the China Times newspaper said.

A long-range early warning radar system, priced at about 40 billion Taiwan dollars, will allow the military to detect and track incoming ballistic missiles and cruise missiles, it said.

While the Patriot III and radars are US-made, the system will also include locally produced tactical ballistic missiles evolved from existing missiles known as "Tienkung", or Sky Bow, the paper said.

The defence ministry declined to comment on the report.
....
Washington announced in January a weapons package for Taiwan that includes Patriot missiles, Black Hawk helicopters, and equipment for Taiwan's F-16 fighter jets, but no submarines or new fighter aircraft.

Beijing reacted angrily to the arms deal, valued at S$8.6 billion, halting military and security contacts with the United States.
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3.: Russia: North Caucasus Insurgents Trained In Georgia

Posted by: "Rick Rozoff" rwrozoff@yahoo.com rwrozoff

Mon Sep 6, 2010 8:22 am (PDT)

http://www.civil.ge/eng/article.php?id=22643

Civil Georgia
September 6, 2010

Russian Official: Militants Trained in Georgia

Tbilisi: Georgia hosts â€œspecial campsâ€ where militants are trained and then sent to join insurgents in North Caucasus, a senior Russian Interior Ministry official in charge of North Caucasus region has alleged.

â€œGeorgia has become visibly active recently,â€ Nikolai Simakov, deputy head of Interior Ministryâ€™s unit in North Caucasus federal district, said in an interview with Russian newspaper, Vremya Novostei, when asked about foreign aid to militants operating in the North Caucasus.

â€œWe have information that special camps are set on the territory of this country [Georgia] for the training of fighters. Persons from the Caucasus republics, usually criminals as well as those who are at large in European states, are gathered there, trained and sent to us via neighboring countries,â€ he said in the newspaper interview, published on September 6.

â€œA clash took place recently when a group tried to cross into Russia from Azerbaijan; an Azerbaijani border guard died, one fighter was killed and two others detained. It was revealed during the interrogation, that they were recruited by extremist organizations and sent to Georgia for training with a goal to then operate on Russian territory,â€ Simakov said.

When last month the U.S. Department of State released an annual country report on terrorism, saying that â€œRussiaâ€™s claims of Georgian support for Chechen terrorists and the harboring of such individuals in the Pankisi gorge were unsubstantiatedâ€ , the Russian Foreign Ministry slammed the reportâ€™s Georgia section as biased.

"The report portrays Georgia as a truly exemplary fighter against terrorism. Herewith it ignores available information that Georgia is playing a double game in respect of terrorist underground in the North Caucasus," the Russian Foreign Ministry said on August 13.
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4.: Moldova: "Twitter" Regime's Referendum Fails

Posted by: "Rick Rozoff" rwrozoff@yahoo.com rwrozoff

Mon Sep 6, 2010 8:22 am (PDT)

http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,5977152,00.html

Deutsche Welle
September 6, 2010

Moldovan referendum on constitutional reform fails

Moldovans stayed away from the polls in a referendum on whether the voters should elect their president directly. The low turnout has dashed hopes of a resolution to the political deadlock in the country.

The Moldovan government's hopes of breaking political the deadlock with legislation to directly elect the country's president have been dealt a terminal blow.

Low voter turnout in a referendum on the matter means that the government could not obtain a mandate for the change to be enacted.

Just over 29 percent of the electorate voted in the poll. The figure falls short of the 33 percent required for it to be binding, according to Central Election Commission head Yuri Cocan.

Bildunterschrift: Großansicht des Bildes mit der Bildunterschrift: Voters last year put a pro-western coalition in power
Dissolution of parliament

The referendum's failure was expected to lead to the dissolution of the parliament and snap elections.

Moldova, a former Soviet nation sandwiched between Ukraine and Romania, currently has no president. The country's liberal and pro-Western coalition government has been unable to obtain the necessary three-fifths majority in parliament to elect one.

The Communist Party, which held power from 2001 until last year and has a large minority in parliament, claims that the vote is a coalition plot to seize power. It called for a boycott of the referendum.

Recent opinion polls showed that 75 to 90 percent of those who were planning to vote were in favor of direct presidential elections.

Author: Richard Connor, Nicole Goebel (AFP/Reuters)
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http://www.infotag.md/news-en/585025/

Infotag
September 6, 2010

COMMUNISTS APPLAUDING TO REFERENDUM FAILURE

The opposition Moldovan Communist Party (MCP) expressed satisfaction over the September 5 constitutional referendum failure.

MCP leader and Moldovaâ€™s former president [2001-2009] Vladimir Voronin stated to journalists last midnight, â€œThe ruling Alliance for European Integration has received the result it deserves. Their power-usurpation actions and unwillingness to dissolve the Parliament has led to a complete bankruptcy of these pseudo-politiciansâ€ .

He slashed the ruling coalition for their re-writing the legislature, lowering the voter turnout requirement [to 33.33% from the previous 60%], resorting to ballot rigging and blackmail for the sake of remaining in power.

â€œMoldovan voters appeared to be wiser. They voted with their feet, as the saying goes [meaning they simply did not go to the polls], thus showing their attitude to the current power. There could be no other outcome. We do hope the coalition will now wake up at last and will start acting according to the law. And the law says clearly: the Parliament must be disbanded, and the nation must have elections. Voters will decide themselves which kind of power they needâ€ , said Voronin.

The MCP leader reaffirmed the Communist lawmakers stand ready to take part in amending the Constitution in parliament.

â€œAs you all remember, we offered from the very beginning to vote for Constitution amending in parliament. Our legislative initiative was approved by the Constitutional Court, so it was fit for voting in parliament. For putting it into life, however, the forum had to have a political consensus. Instead of that, the AEI preferred to arrange an unnecessary, expensive referendum to fool voters with. We stood against the referendum, and today we are grateful to voters for their listening to our opinion and for their boycotting that undertakingâ€ , said Vladimir Voronin.

He reminded that earlier this year the Communist Party proposed electing president in parliament in three rounds: in the first round â€" with 61 votes, in case of its failure â€" with 57 votes in a second round, and with 52 in a third round.

â€œThis initiative of ours remains in force. We are ready to vote in parliament in this way. But we shall not vote for returning to a general, direct election of presidentâ€ , stated the MCP Chairman.

Voronin did not explain if the Communists are ready to vote for Constitution amending in the incumbent Parliament or only in the next forum after an early election.
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http://www.infotag.md/news-en/585024/

Infotag
September 6, 2010

SDPM CONGRATULATES MOLDOVAN PEOPLE ON VICTORY OVER USURPER ALLIANCE

The Social Democratic Party has congratulated the Moldovan people â€œon a victory over the anti-popular ruling alliance that has usurped state power in the country and has been long jeering at citizensâ€ , the SDPM leadership wrote in a statement issued on the occasion of September 5 referendum preliminary results.

The Social Democrats reminded that in the run-up to the referendum they were calling upon compatriots to â€œboycott this political farce imposed on the society by the ruling alliance leaders for the only sake of their remaining in powerâ€ .

In the party leadersâ€™ opinion, citizens responded positively to their appeal, and â€œgave a sharply negative estimate of the entire activity of the Alliance for European Integration over the whole year of their staying in powerâ€ .

The SDPM statement further said that â€œthe Moldovan people have thus spoke out for immediate dissolution of the Parliament and announcing of the date of early parliamentary elections, and new parliament will be supposed to find a way out of the lingering political crisis in the country. Citizens have severely condemned the authoritiesâ€™ outrage upon the Constitution and the Moldovan legislationâ€ .

The statement authors wrote that the Social Democratic Party â€œis immediately embarking on a struggle for an unconditional dissolution of the current Parliament and for announcement of the date of early parliamentary electionsâ€ .
===========================
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5.: NATO, EU Headquarters: "Get Ready For Break-Up Of Belgium"

Posted by: "Rick Rozoff" rwrozoff@yahoo.com rwrozoff

Mon Sep 6, 2010 8:22 am (PDT)

http://www.rnw.nl/english/bulletin/get-ready-break-belgium-top-minister

Radio Netherlands
September 5, 2010

Get ready for break-up of Belgium: top minister

A top Belgian politician warned the country's citizens on Sunday to "get ready for the break-up of Belgium," as King Albert II seeks to relaunch knife-edge coalition talks.

Leading francophone Socialist Laurette Onkelinx, considered a potential successor to party chief Elio Di Rupo, who gave up on negotiations with separatist Flemish leaders on Friday, gave her prognosis in a newspaper interview.

"Let's hope it doesn't come to that because if we split, it will be the weakest who will pay the heaviest price," she told La Derniere Heure. "On the other hand, we can no longer ignore that among a large part of the Flemish population, it's their wish.

"So yes, we have to get ready for the break-up of Belgium. Otherwise we're cooked.

"When I look at the letters I receive, loads of people think it's possible. (Our) politicians have to be prepared," underlined the current caretaker federal minister for health and social affairs.

Albert II tasked late on Saturday the respective speakers of Belgium's French-speaking Wallonia and Dutch-speaking Flanders state parliaments to try once more to navigate seven-party talks aimed at securing some form of government, other than the existing day-to-day formation.

That came after seven weeks of efforts by Di Rupo, who says that the biggest Flemish party, the independence-minded New Flemish Alliance (N-VA), rejected the widest set of concessions towards full autonomy for Flanders in Belgium's tortured recent history.

Belgium, which holds the rotating presidency of the European Union until the end of the year, adding a further layer to the pressure on the sovereign, has not been able to point to a stable government since June 2007.

The stark comments from Onkelinx followed those of another leading francophone Socialist, Philippe Moureaux, who has said Belgium was on the verge of a "progressive organisation of separation."

Formerly taboo among the poorer francophone parts of Belgium, the prospect of going it alone is no longer considered so -- with a third senior official, the head of the Wallonia state government, Rudy Demotte, also telling RTBF radio that "all options" are now open.

Demotte added that Wallonia and the capital region of Brussels, the third federal state and increasingly the focus of arguments about financial settlements, had the wherewithal "to see what we can do ourselves without waiting for tomorrow."

While located within Flanders' borders, Brussels is officially bi-lingual, although recent studies have shown accelerating numbers of registered French speakers, including the nearly one-in-three who hail from abroad.

Tens of thousands of Flemish people, meanwhile, took part on Sunday in an annual demonstration which consists in symbolically "encircling" Brussels by bike or on foot, to remind locals that they are surrounded by Flanders.
===========================
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6.: Think tank offers Kremlin script of entry into NATO

Posted by: "ANTIC.org-SNN" mantic@rogers.com minimaks

Mon Sep 6, 2010 8:25 am (PDT)

Think tank offers Kremlin script of entry into NATO

The Institute of Contemporary Development (INSOR), a Moscow-based nonprofit think tank affiliated with current Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, who heads INSOR's board of trustees, has submitted a report on expanded Russia-NATO relations.

Several options, including Moscow's accession to the alliance, are stipulated. Analysts say the latter scenario is absolutely unrealistic in the short term and propose simply modifying the format of bilateral cooperation.

The report, called "Prospects for Expanded Russia-NATO Relations," advocates three options for expanded Russia-NATO relations: Moscow's complete integration into the alliance, accession on the basis of a bilateral strategic security treaty or the establishment of a coordinating international organization council.

The last option calls for merging other influential international organizations, including the European Union, the Collective Security Treaty Organization, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and possibly the UN, with NATO. The report stipulates no deadlines for implementing these scenarios.

"Dmitry Medvedev has the report and is expected to read it in the near future," an INSOR spokesperson noted. INSOR representatives are to present the report's main points on September 9 at a political forum in Yaroslavl.

INSOR Director Igor Yurgens said the institute had advocated a plan for Russia-NATO rapprochement for a long time. The current report lists several scenarios, including ones based on confrontation and peaceful cooperation.

He declined to say which plan was the most feasible. "Everything will depend on the situation in Russia and proposals regarding the alliance's transformation, due to be made at the NATO summit in Lisbon this December," Yurgens said.

Analysts do not believe in rapid Russia-NATO rapprochement. "Such rapprochement is possible but will not happen soon," said Vladimir Yevseyev, a military analyst with the Russian Academy of Sciences' Institute of World Economy and International Relations (IMEMO).

"There are too many disagreements in our current relations. Europe still cannot forgive us for the conflict with Georgia over South Ossetia, and we have misgivings about the European missile defense system and the Conventional Forces in Europe Treaty," Yevseyev said.

Other analysts believe that Russia has been methodically preparing to join NATO and is implementing a military reform for that purpose. "In the next few years, Israeli and NATO weapons will account for 30% of the Russian Army's weaponry," said Leonid Ivashov, President of the Academy on Geopolitical Affairs."

"The conversion to the brigade system, purchases of foreign equipment and joint military exercises all aim to facilitate adaptation to the NATO system," Ivashov said.

Ivashov quoted Yurgens as saying that Medvedev was the first modern Russian leader who did not consider the break-up of the Soviet Union as a disaster and whose policy aimed to integrate Russia into the system of Euro-Atlantic security and to ensure its accession to NATO.

Kommersant

http://en.rian.ru/papers/20100906/160483620.html

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7.: 25:1 Civilian Death Rate: U.S. Drone Kills 5 In Pakistan

Posted by: "Rick Rozoff" rwrozoff@yahoo.com rwrozoff

Mon Sep 6, 2010 3:07 pm (PDT)

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/world/2010-09/06/c_13481394.htm

Xinhua News Agency
September 6, 2010

Drone attack kills 5 in Pakistan's tribal area

ISLAMABAD: At least five people were killed on Monday when a suspected U.S. drone launched an airstrike at North Waziristan in Pakistan's northwest tribal belt bordering Afghanistan, local sources told Xinhua.

The pilotless aircraft fired missiles targeting a vehicle in Datta Khel area of North Waziristan, the sources said, adding that the killed were not immediately identified.

It is the third time that the area has been stricken by the U.S. drones over the last four days. On Friday night, a U.S. drone strike killed 14 people including children and women. A second attack on Saturday night killed another six.

The U.S army has intensified the cross-border airstrikes from Afghanistan, intending to kill the militants hiding in the deep mountainous areas along the border, but many civilians were also mistakenly killed in such strikes. There are reports saying that the ratio of civilians killed against the militants in such strikes stands at 25:1.
===========================
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8.: U.S. Prepares To Knock The World Offline

Posted by: "Rick Rozoff" rwrozoff@yahoo.com rwrozoff

Mon Sep 6, 2010 3:07 pm (PDT)

http://www.strategic-culture.org/news/2010/09/06/us-gets-ready-to-knock-the-world-offline.html

Startegic Culture Foundation
September 6, 2010

US gets ready to knock the world offline
Leonid Savin

After October 1 thousands of US military hackers and spies will get down to their cyber war activities.

The declarations for taking cyber defense measures can be heard more and more often in the US. US analysts state that information and communication networks, on which the national infrastructure depends on, are becoming vulnerable for cyber criminals.

Cyberspace defense issue is urgent not only for the US. â€œThe statistics revealed that cybercriminals have upped the ante and are becoming more sophisticated and creative, distributing more aggressive forms of malwareâ€ -Defence IQ website states.

â€œOur statistics show that Trojans and rogueware ('fake' antivirus programs) amounted to almost 85 per cent of all malware activity in 2009. 2009 was also the year of Conficker, though this belies the fact that worms ranked at just 3.42 per cent of last year's malware creationâ€ , the magazine read.

â€œThe Conficker worm has caused serious problems in both domestic and corporate environments, with more than 7 million computers infected worldwide, and it is still spreading rapidlyâ€ . (1)

However it seems that the US is too concerned with the problem of cyber defense in comparison with other countries. On April 26, the CIA unveiled its plans to new initiatives in the fight against Web-based attacks. The document outlines the plans for the next five years and director of the CIA Leon Pannetta said that it was â€œvital for the CIA to be one step ahead of the game when it comes to challenges like cyber space security" (2).

In May 2009, the White House approved Cyberspace Policy Review (3), submitted to the US president by the members of a special commission. The document summed up the state of things in the US cyberspace and national information security. It was proposed to a appoint cyber security policy official responsible for coordinating the US cyber security policies and activities.

The report outlined a new comprehensive framework to facilitate coordinated responses by government, the private sector, and allies to a significant cyber incident. The new system of coordination would enable Federal, State, local, and tribal governments to work with industry to improve the plans and resources they have in place in advance to detect, prevent, and respond to significant cyber security incidents. The initiative also implies providing US counter intelligence with more technical and functional options and training of new cyber defense specialists.

The last but not least - in mid 2010, on the territory of the Lackland air base in Texas the construction of the first specialized cyber intelligence center for a 400 personnel began. The 68th Network Warfare Squadron and 710th Information Operations Flight were moved to San Antonio. This place was chosen because of it is close to other cyber military facilities - Air Force Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Agency, Texas Cryptology Center of the USNational Security Agency, united information operations command and the US Air forces cryptology support. It will function in the interests of the US Space command, US Air Forces command and US Air Forcesâ€™reserve.

Numerous publications in the US mass media show that the reform of the national cyber defense forces as well as the introduction of the doctrine and strategy of the cyber war are soon to be completed. As for the US cyber strategy we can assume that it is in line with the general concept of the US global leadership.

William Lynn III in his article "ThePentagon's Cyberstrategy", published in Foreign Affairs journal (September/October 2010), outlined five basic principles of the future strategy:

- Cyber must be recognized as a warfare domain equal to land, sea, and air;

- Any defensive posture must go beyond â€œgood hygieneâ€ to include sophisticated and accurate operations that allow rapid response;

- Cyber defenses must reach beyond the departmentâ€™s dot-mil world into commercial networks, as governed by Homeland Security;

- Cyber defenses must be pursued with international allies for an effective â€œshared warningâ€ of threats; and

- The Defense Department must help to maintain and leverage U.S. technological dominance and improve the acquisitions process to keep up with the speed and agility of the information technology industry (4).

When commenting this article analysts point out that â€œThe capabilities being sought would allow U.S. cyber-warriors to "deceive, deny, disrupt, degrade and destroy" information and computers around the globeâ€ . (5)

Gen. Keith Alexander, the head of the Pentagon's new Cyber Command(ARFORCYBER) said: "We have to have offensive capabilities, to, in real time, shut down somebody trying to attack us," Earlier Keith Alexander compared cyber attacks with weapons of mass destruction and according to his recent statements the US is planning offensive application of the new warfare.

While Washington is accusing other countries of aiding and sponsoring cyber terrorism (Statistic shows that most of cyber attacks against US informational systems were made from China), the US special forces are training new personnel for cyber wars.

The command - made up of 1,000 elite military hackers and spies under one four-star general - is the linchpin of the Pentagon's new strategy and is slated to become fully operational Oct. 1.- Washington Post reports (6). The Defense Department has â€œ15,000 networks and 7 million computing devices in use in dozens of countries, with 90,000 people working to maintain them and it depends heavily on commercial industry for its network operationsâ€ (7). Attracting allies and private companies working in the sphere of IT and security the US plans to establish the new order in the global cyber space.

Considering all this what may we expect? It is quite likely that we may expect spying by means of tabs and backdoors in software sold by well-known companies such as Microsoft, as well as an informational blockade, limiting access to alternative sources of information. Thus from October 1, all the achievements of the informational age can be challenged.

_________________

(1) http://www.defenceiq.com/article.cfm?externalID=2718
(2) http://www.defenceiq.com/article.cfm?externalID=2460
(3) http://www.whitehouse.gov/assets/documents/Cyberspace_Policy_Review_final.pdf
(4) William J. Lynn III W. Defending a New Domain: The Pentagon's Cyberstrategy.// Foreign Affairs. September/October 2010. http://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/66552/william-j-lynn-iii/defending-a-new-domain(29.08.2010)
(5) Webster S. Pentagon may apply preemptive warfare policy to the Internet. August 29, 2010. http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2010/0829/pentagon-weighs-applying-preemptive-warfare-tactics-internet/ (30.08.2010).
(6) Nakashima E. Pentagon considers preemptive strikes as part of cyber-defense strategy. Washington Post. August 28, 2010.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/08/28/AR2010082803849_pf.html
(7) Daniel L. Lynn Outlines Cyber Threats, Defensive Measures. American Forces Press Service. http://www.defense.gov/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=60600
===========================
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9.: Kabul's Talks With Tailiban: New Headache For Obama

Posted by: "Rick Rozoff" rwrozoff@yahoo.com rwrozoff

Mon Sep 6, 2010 3:07 pm (PDT)

http://english.ruvr.ru/2010/09/06/18992690.html

Voice of Russia
September 6, 2010

Kabul's talks with Talibs - new headache for Obama

The USA will reconsider its policy on Afghanistan, if it fails to work by December. A statement to the effect, made by the Pentagonâ€™s head Robert Gates, was made public parallel with the decision of the Afghan President to strike a strategic deal on the armistice with the Talibs.

The U.S. Defence Secretary made a forced confession after his inspection trip last week to Kandahar Province in Afghanistan, which is regarded as the headquarters of the radical Taliban movement. There the U.S. and NATO troops are launching the most wide-scale offensive in the whole period of the Afghan campaign. And judging by the statement the Pentagonâ€™s chief made they donâ€™t know how it will end. Most likely, they regard Afghanistanâ€™s President Hamid Karzai as a sheet anchor.

Karzai is ready to make it up with the Talibs for the talks with which he has established a Peace Council. The recent failures on the Afghan front have forced Americans more and more often to turn a blind eye to Kabulâ€™s advances to the Talibs.

The establishment of a negotiating mechanism has become a new concession of official Washington, which it made in an attempt to save its own reputation, the Deputy Director of the Institute of Oriental Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences Vyacheslav Belokrenitsky says: I donâ€™t think that Hamid Karzai could come up with the initiative to establish a Peace Council without the Americansâ€™ consent.

Meanwhile, the administration of President Obama has found itself in a new grip at the hands of the Talibs. In June this year Republican Congressmen subjected the White House to severe criticism, saying that the Talibs are getting hold of the money, meant for Afghan companies, which supply food and weapons to the U.S. troops. Besides, the Congressmen have learned some facts, which can be regarded as sensational. As it turned out, the Pentagon is hiring mediation firms, the heads of which are relatives of Hamid Karzai, having close ties with the Talibs.

It is not ruled out that the dismissal of the former commander of the U.S. forces in Afghanistan General Stanley McChrystal was caused by such scandalous facts. His successor David Petraeus has redoubled efforts to catch and eliminate the Taliban leaders. And for this, time is needed, which the White House does not have, Expert with the Institute of Oriental Studies Viktor Korgun says:For the time being, Obamaâ€™s new strategy is not workable enough. Meanwhile, the U.S. troop withdrawal date is approaching. And of course, this is an object of serious concern for the administration of Barack Obama, because, as it seems to me, America will not be ready for this.

Therefore, it is nervous. The more so as the Afghans are beginning now direct talks with the Talibs, or at least, are doing all the necessary preparations for this. Americans, who till recently voiced their disapproval over direct contacts, donâ€™t like the Afghansâ€™ activities on that score. Therefore, they are trying to reconsider their new strategy. Perhaps, to drag out somewhat the troop withdrawal date.

Under pressure by members of the Democratic Party, Democratic President Barack Obama announced that the U.S. troop withdrawal would begin in the summer of 2011.

In the meantime, the U.S. military is demanding that the White House should not hurry. Possibly, Robert Gatesâ€™ statement was exactly in support of this stand. And this is another proof that the date of the U.S. troop withdrawal is a purely political decision.

The USA has scored neither a military nor a political victory in Afghanistan. Hence, Kabulâ€™s visible turn towards striking a strategic deal on the armistice with the Talibs.
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10.: "Non-Combat" U.S. Troops In Iraq Engage In Combat

Posted by: "Rick Rozoff" rwrozoff@yahoo.com rwrozoff

Mon Sep 6, 2010 3:07 pm (PDT)

http://english.ruvr.ru/2010/09/06/19029758.html

Voice of Russia
September 6, 2010

Non-combat US troops in Iraq engage in combat
Boris Volkhonsky

On September 5, US troops were called in by Iraqi authorities to help combat insurgents who attacked an army base in Baghdad. There were no casualties among the American military and the whole incident would hardly be worth mentioning be it not for the fact that American participation in combat took place only five days after the widely advertised pullout of all US combat troops.

The memories of a high profile TV address by President Obama to the nation in which he declared that the mission is over and all combat troops have been withdrawn from Iraq, are still fresh.

Skeptics immediately pointed out that the remaining amount of 50,000 American military was too big for â€˜advisersâ€™ as they are officially called. Doubts were also expressed as to whether the pullout really signifies that the wave of violence in Iraq has subsided and Iraqi officials can cope with the terrorist threat themselves. As a Russian expert, President of the Institute of Middle Eastern Studies Evgeny Satanovsky said in an interview to â€œVremya novosteyâ€ daily, if Obamaâ€™s speech did signify anything it was only a recognition of American failure in Iraq and the whole TV address was intended only for internal consumption in view of the complicated situation the Democrats are facing in mid-term elections.

It did not take long to prove that skeptics were right.

Iraqi officials cannot handle the terrorist problem for themselves and non-combat US troops do engage in combat. While helping the Iraqi forces to fend off the attack, US troops used helicopters and unmanned aircraft.

Not only Russian, but American experts as well question the success of US Iraqi policy. An article in The New York Times by Steven Lee Myers and Duraid Adnan was published on Sunday under a heading that speaks for itself, â€˜Attack Shows Lasting Threat to US in Iraqâ€™.

In the authorsâ€™ view, the attack â€œunderscored the ambiguity of the American militaryâ€™s role in Iraq...and punctuated a sharp rise in violence as the United States declared an official end to its combat missionâ€ . As for Iraqis, the attack seemed so furious that one of the civilians locked in the compound even thought that this was a coup and that the government of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki had fallen. Well, this time it did not, but the very fact that such a thought occurred to an ordinary Iraqi on the earliest possible instance, does not leave much hope that the government will last long.

Back in 2003, the ongoing Iraqi campaign was widely advertised as â€œAmericaâ€™s imperial momentâ€ . In 2008, Obamaâ€™s promises to withdraw the troops from Iraq turned to be a significant factor in his election campaign. â€œImperial adventureâ€ had apparently failed by that time. Now, the pullout is as widely advertised â€" Barack Obama is trying to show that he keeps his promises. But the failure of Bushâ€™s â€œimperial projectâ€ seems to pound back on Obama. The pullout has proved to be no more than just a pun, with combat troops being simply relabeled as â€˜advisersâ€™ (just like the Operation â€˜Iraqi Freedomâ€™ was renamed â€˜New Dawnâ€™), and the insurgents taking the opportunity to increase violence.

As BBC World Affairs Editor John Simpson reports from Baghdad, â€œit is a pattern that every occupying power becomes used to. America, it seems, cannot do anything right - not even getting out.â€

â€œAmerica seems to have shrunk as a direct result of its imperial adventure in Iraq,â€ concludes the author, and â€œit will have to work very hard to persuade the rest of the world that it is strong again.â€

Iraqi commentators are even more outspoken. â€œI don't think the Americans are taking this action for the sake of Iraq. They are doing it for President Obama,â€ writes a 49-year old Nermeen Al Mutfi in a BBC blog. â€œAnd what are they handing over? There is still violence everywhere.â€ Â Another blogger, a 42-year old Dr Anees from Baghdad writes, â€œWhen the Americans are gone, I believe, it will be easier for the extremists. It is a moral boost for them. They will be victorious because they have kicked the Americans out. But there is no victory, really.â€ Â

There seems to be more truth in these words of an ordinary Iraqi than in the whole TV address by the President of the world strongest superpower.
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11.: Afghan War: France Gets 260 U.S. Anti-Tank Missiles, 76 Launchers

Posted by: "Rick Rozoff" rwrozoff@yahoo.com rwrozoff

Mon Sep 6, 2010 3:43 pm (PDT)

http://www.defensenews.com/story.php?i=4765539&c=LAN&s=TOP

Defense News
September 2, 2010

French Await Javelin for Afghanistan Training
By PIERRE TRAN

PARIS: French defense officials hope a shipment of 260 U.S.-built Javelin antitank missiles and 76 launchers will land this month, allowing training to start in October and be deployed in Afghanistan at the beginning of next year, an industry executive said Sept. 2.

A signing of the long-awaited contract, worth about $70 million, took place July 9 at the French Embassy in Washington as part of a Foreign Military Sale deal between the governments.

The U.S. side has delivered the equipment, which French officials hope will be put on board and shipped to France this month. That would allow training to begin at the Canjuers Army camp in southern France. Training is in the hands of the Javelin joint venture, which comprises Lockheed Martin and Raytheon.

French Army planners are keen to equip their soldiers in the Afghan theater with a powerful weapon against the thick walls of houses and compounds that provide highly effective cover for insurgents.

France has lost 49 soldiers in Afghanistan. President Nicolas Sarkozy said Aug. 25 at the annual conference of French ambassadors here that France would stay in Afghanistan "as long as necessary."

The purchase of the relatively small number of Javelin missiles was made against a backdrop of fierce competition from MBDA, which offered the Milan ER, and Rafael of Israel, which offered the Spike.
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12.: U.S. Postpones Yellow Sea Sub Warfare Exercise Because of Storm

Posted by: "Rick Rozoff" rwrozoff@yahoo.com rwrozoff

Mon Sep 6, 2010 3:43 pm (PDT)

http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=55789

Navy NewsStand
September 4, 2010

Anti-Submarine Warfare Exercise Delayed
By Public Affairs Office, Yongsan Army Garrison, Republic of Korea

YONGSAN GARRISON, Seoul: Republic of Korea and the United States Forces postponed a planned Anti-Submarine Warfare Exercise Sept. 4, which was to begin Sept. 5 and continue until Sept. 9, 2010.

The delay is due to imminent arrival of Tropical Storm 10W, which is forecasted to enter the waters west of the Korean Peninsula on Sept. 6, 2010.

Although the alliance is capable of operating in all weather conditions, this decision was made in the interest of safety for the participants. Both high winds and heavy seas would have directly impacted the exercise area and training objectives.

The ASW exercise will be rescheduled for a later date, but the new dates have not been set.
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13.: Downrange Missions: NATO, U.S., Canadian, German, Afghan Forces

Posted by: "Rick Rozoff" rwrozoff@yahoo.com rwrozoff

Mon Sep 6, 2010 3:43 pm (PDT)

http://www.usafe.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123220555

United States Air Forces In Europe
September 3, 2010

U.S. supports Canadian post in Germany
by Senior Airman Clay Murray
52nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs

-During the first half of the year, the detachment oversaw traffic of more than five and a half million pounds of freight, 341 sea containers and 43 vehicles to Afghanistan on 65 different flights.
-"Obviously fighting the fight is the first priority for us. Everything flying through Spangdahlem and coming through us supports the Afghanistan mission. We find our presence here is of great value to the overall mission in Afghanistan. It's a very important role in connection with the massive support of the United States."

SPANGDAHLEM AIR BASE, Germany: American Airmen aren't the only North Americans stationed here executing missions that support NATO partners downrange.

Bordering the outskirts of the base nearly at the edge of the 52nd Fighter Wing and 726th Air Mobility Squadron's flightline, four Canadian military and two civilians serve as liaisons at the center of U.S., NATO, German and Afghanistan forces.

Lt. Col. Damian Boyle, Canadian material support group detachment Spangdahlem commander, has been at the detachment since its conception April 20, 2009, and he plans to stay until the trial period of three years is complete, he said.

"In December I got a full staff - three other military - and then in June two civilians," Colonel Boyle said. "We are here at Spangdahlem at the invitation of USAFE and the German government, and it's a trial. We're only here until 2012 to determine whether or not it's a feasible solution to global sustainment requirements."

During the first half of the year, the detachment oversaw traffic of more than five and a half million pounds of freight, 341 sea containers and 43 vehicles to Afghanistan on 65 different flights. Supplies for the forces downrange are flown on C-17 Globemasters, AN-124 Ruslans and Ilyushin IL-76s.

Capt. Deanna Phillips, 726th Air Mobility Squadron director of operations, works with members of the Canadian detachment. Coordination of frequent air traffic must be carefully scrutinized by all involved, she said.

"The 726th AMS and the Canadian detachment have a great working relationship," Captain Phillips said. "We continually interact, providing support in both directions. We provide the space they need within our squadron to conduct their operations and also collaborate on issues concerning C-17s. Together we are coalition partners who rely on one another when operations are busy for solutions to manage the heavy workflow in and out of Spangdahlem AB."

From the first day the detachment was set up and until it is no longer staffed, personnel working for the Canadian government here will focus on supporting the war efforts of Canada in Afghanistan, Colonel Boyle said.

"The role of what we're doing here is facilitating our movements around the world and optimizing cargo movement on those planes," Colonel Boyle explained. "We don't have a base in Europe as the U.S. does, so we're trying to reestablish a point in Europe to move cargo. Doing it this way cuts the cost of renting an aircraft in half...not in terms of US dollars, but in terms of Canadian dollars."

Colonel Boyle, who has spent time in Afghanistan, said the stop-off point in Spangdahlem is vital to Canada's support of the war in Afghanistan. It has its place in the fight, he said.

"What we do here is extremely important for the fight in Afghanistan," Colonel Boyle said. "I spent seven months on the ground in a Kandahar construction team, so I know what it feels like from their perspective to get support. Everything we do here is based on getting the material to them as soon as possible.

"Obviously fighting the fight is the first priority for us," he added. "Everything flying through Spangdahlem and coming through us supports the Afghanistan mission. We find our presence here is of great value to the overall mission in Afghanistan. It's a very important role in connection with the massive support of the United States."
....
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14.: Asia-Pacific: First Global Hawk Arrives In Guam

Posted by: "Rick Rozoff" rwrozoff@yahoo.com rwrozoff

Mon Sep 6, 2010 3:43 pm (PDT)

http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123220612

United States Air Force
September 3, 2010

1st Global Hawk lands in Guam
by 2nd Lt. Nicole White
9 Reconnaissance Wing Public Affairs

BEALE AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- In a stride forward for the RQ-4B Global Hawk remotely piloted aircraft program, the first aircraft landed at 9th Operations Group Det. 3 at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, Sept. 1 after an 18 hour flight from here.

The aircraft was flown by pilots and sensor operators from the 12th Reconnaissance Squadron here. The flight to Andersen AFB marked the surpassing of the 45, 000 flight-hour mark for the Global Hawk program.

The RQ-4 Global Hawk is preparing to go through the Department of Defense-directed Initial Operation Test and Evaluation process. Upon completion, Det. 3 will be operational. The current focus at Andersen AFB will be to bed down and conduct procedural testing with the aircraft.

"Det. 3 will take care of validation and character testing such as taxi and pattern tests," said the 12th RS commander.

It is anticipated that future missions will be strategic reconnaissance and humanitarian support.
....
The landing of the RQ-4 at Andersen AFB marks a historical step forward for the 12th RS and for the 9th Reconnaissance Wing.
....
Airmen from the 12th RS will be working closely with Det. 3 and PACAF officials to ensure the stand up of the forward operation location runs smoothly.
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15.: NATO To Transfer Czech Troops From Kosovo To Afghanistan

Posted by: "Rick Rozoff" rwrozoff@yahoo.com rwrozoff

Mon Sep 6, 2010 5:26 pm (PDT)

http://www.praguemonitor.com/2010/09/06/%C4%8Dr-plans-intensify-isaf-mission-afghanistan

Czech News Agency
SReptember 6, 2010

ÄŒR plans to intensify ISAF mission in Afghanistan

Prague: The number of Czech troops within the ISAF mission in Afghanistan should be increased, while that in Kosovo should be soon lowered to 90 members, Defence Minister Alexandr Vondra told journalists after a meeting with President Vaclav Klaus Friday.

Czechs will be needed in Afghanistan for about another three years, Vondra said, adding that he would submit the relevant proposal to the government in September or early October.

"Some countries are completely leaving Kosovo, others temporarily," Vondra said, adding that obviously, the large contingent was no longer needed there.

At present, there are about 500 Czech soldiers in the KFOR mission.

"The work is much smaller than some two to three years ago," Vondra said.

In the past months, the reputation of Czech troops was tarnished by some scandals as some of them smoked marihuana, were drunk or brawled.

"Soldiers must have some tasks. If there are too many of them and have nothing to do, this can cause some troubles," Vondra said.

Czechs troops "undoubtedly are needed and will be for about three years" in Afghanistan, Vondra said.

Vondra said the troops there would be reinforced "appropriately" to the lowered presence in Kosovo.
....
At present, there are about 530 Czech troops in Afghanistan, mainly in the Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) in Logar province. Czech helicopter pilots help transport the allied and Afghan units and some troops are at the Bagram base near Kabul.
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