Tuesday, February 15, 2011

NATOs Afghan Musketeers for Afghanistan




Messages In This Digest (20 Messages)

1.
Afghan War: NATO Recruits Ex-Yugoslav States For Training Mission From: Rick Rozoff
2.
Persian Gulf: NATO Chief Touts Military Alliance, "Democracy" From: Rick Rozoff
3.
Austria: NATO Commander Discusses Missile Shield, Cyber Warfare, Ene From: Rick Rozoff
4.
Russia Says Foreign Power May Have Caused Satellite Loss From: Rick Rozoff
5.
Kosovo Mafia State, Transit Route For Afghan Heroin: Euro MP From: Rick Rozoff
6a.
Re: Ex-NATO Chief: Europe Can Draft Egyptian Constitution From: r.harneis
7.
Egypt: SuMed Pipeline, Suez Canal "Running Normally" From: Rick Rozoff
8.
State Department Hails Further Penetration Of Central Asia From: Rick Rozoff
9.
Georgian FM To Meet Clinton, Congress To Blast "Russian Occupation" From: Rick Rozoff
10.
Baltic Sea: NATO Training Mission-Afghanistan Expands To 32 Nations From: Rick Rozoff
11.
20 Military Maneuvers Since June: U.S. Raises Profile In East Asia From: Rick Rozoff
12.
Massive U.S.-S. Korea Exercise Prepares For N. Korea 'Regime Change' From: Rick Rozoff
13.
Argentina Seizes Arms, Drugs From U.S. Military Plane; Row Ensues From: Rick Rozoff
14.
Italy Demands "Common European Strategy" Toward Tunisian Refugees From: Rick Rozoff
15.
Yemen: U.S. To Launch $75 Million Counterinsurgency Program From: Rick Rozoff
16.
U.S. Nuclear Supercarrier, 20,000 Troops In All-Out War Korea Drills From: Rick Rozoff
17.
Pentagon Requests $671 Billion Base Budget, War Add-Ons From: Rick Rozoff
18.
Canada Purchases More Leopard Battle Tanks From: Rick Rozoff
19.
Clinton Holds U.S.-Ukraine Strategic Partnership Commission Meeting From: Rick Rozoff
20.
U.S. Pushes Japan On Interceptor Missiles For Eastern Europe From: Rick Rozoff

Messages

1.

Afghan War: NATO Recruits Ex-Yugoslav States For Training Mission

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

Mon Feb 14, 2011 9:51 am (PST)



http://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5hjcU1ROudZ6UFJaAN1UmdAIMqsWg?docId=5945829

Associated Press
February 14, 2011

Former enemies from Balkan wars unite in training mission for Afghanistan
By Slobodan Lekic

BRUSSELS: Bitter enemies in the 1990s, some of the nations that emerged after the war that tore apart Yugoslavia are now uniting in a goodwill mission providing assistance to Afghanistan's expanding army.

Bosnia, Croatia, Macedonia, Montenegro, and Slovenia are planning to field a joint advisory team that would conduct the training for the nascent Afghan military police. The mission will be part of NATO's multinational effort to train and equip the new army.

Officers at NATO headquarters involved in planning the project say the door also remains open to Serbia...where many remain wary of engagement in NATO operations after being bombed by the alliance during the 1999 Kosovo conflict.

"We welcome this initiative led by Croatia to work together with other nations from the Adriatic region to establish a multinational ... liaison team for deployment to ISAF," NATO spokeswoman Oana Lungescu said.
....
NATO has placed a high priority on training and equipping the Afghan security forces....

U.S. Lt. Gen. William Caldwell, the commander of NATO's training mission, told The Associated Press in an interview that the coalition wants to have...additional 740 trainers in place by this summer.
....
Top general staff officers of the five nations will meet in the Montenegrin capital of Podgorica on Feb. 24, to iron out the details of the deployment.
....
___

Associated Press writers Deb Riechmann in Kabul, Dusan Stojanovic in Belgrade and Predrag Milic in Podgorica contributed to this report.
====================================================================
Stop NATO e-mail list home page with archives and search engine:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/stopnato/messages

Stop NATO website and articles:
http://rickrozoff.wordpress.com

To subscribe for individual e-mails or the daily digest, unsubscribe, and otherwise change subscription status:
stopnato-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
======================================================================

2.

Persian Gulf: NATO Chief Touts Military Alliance, "Democracy"

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

Mon Feb 14, 2011 9:51 am (PST)



http://gulfnews.com/opinions/columnists/nato-seeks-gulf-security-partners-1.762160

Gulf News (United Arab Emirates)
February 15, 2011

Nato seeks Gulf security partners
The Istanbul Cooperation Initiative has made a promising start, but complex threats require alliance to intensify its relationship with regional powers
By Anders Fogh Rasmussen

A wind of change is sweeping through Egypt, Tunisia and across the Arab world. The causes are many; the situation in many countries is volatile; and the long-term implications are hard to predict.

Few, if any of us, had predicted such momentous developments only a few weeks ago — and I can understand that many in the region have concerns about instability. But as an alliance of democratic nations, we believe that the right way forward...

That is the way to build genuine, long-lasting stability. And that is in the interest of all our nations, because security in the broader Middle East is of importance far beyond the region.

Our security is intertwined. It is precisely for that reason that I and the entire Nato Council have come to Qatar. At a major conference in Doha starting today, we will meet with representatives of the four Gulf countries who, together with Nato, form the Istanbul Cooperation Initiative (ICI) — Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar and the UAE — to discuss how we can boost our partnership, and extend it to other countries in the region. The Conference will also be attended by representatives from Oman and Saudi Arabia.

The Nato representatives look forward to hearing the views of these countries, which have a standing invitation to join the ICI.

We must approach these discussions with our eyes open. Back in 2004, the ICI got off to a very promising start. But in recent years, it has proven more difficult to intensify our practical cooperation. Frankly speaking, we have not come close to meeting the potential of our partnership.

The time has come to re-energise this partnership. Because the need for us to cooperate has only grown.

Technological progress and globalisation have made countries increasingly interdependent. We face common threats — terrorism, cyber attacks, the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, piracy and the disruption of energy flows on which our nations depend.

At our summit meeting in Lisbon last November, Nato's 28 Allies agreed on a new Strategic Concept, an agenda for the next decade. It marks a step change in the Alliance's approach to these new and emerging threats. And it places particular emphasis on the need for Nato to work more closely with other nations and organisations to find common solutions.

I see a number of opportunities to bring fresh momentum, scope and substance to our partnership in the Istanbul Cooperation Initiative.

First of all, I hope that we can intensify our political consultations. There are many security issues of common concern. By discussing them more regularly and openly — both on a bilateral and a multilateral basis — we can develop a common understanding and promote common solutions.

We should also enhance our practical cooperation. Nato plans to fully open its tool-box of cooperation activities to all its partners. That will give our ICI partners a range of interesting new opportunities in areas such as military-to-military cooperation, intelligence sharing and border security.

We can also do more together on energy security. With 50 per cent of the world's energy supplies transiting through the Gulf region, this is an obvious shared interest. The Alliance stands ready to work together with its ICI partners to identify the best and most efficient ways to develop projects in this area.
....
In times of turmoil, you can rely on established partnerships. They must be based on a shared recognition of common interests, but also a shared determination to pursue those common interests together.

Given the increasingly complex security threats of the 21st century, I believe there is every reason for Nato and its ICI partners to deepen our partnership.

The Doha conference will, I hope, prove a turning point in making that happen.

Anders Fogh Rasmussen is the Nato Secretary General
====================================================================
Stop NATO e-mail list home page with archives and search engine:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/stopnato/messages

Stop NATO website and articles:
http://rickrozoff.wordpress.com

To subscribe for individual e-mails or the daily digest, unsubscribe, and otherwise change subscription status:
stopnato-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
======================================================================

3.

Austria: NATO Commander Discusses Missile Shield, Cyber Warfare, Ene

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

Mon Feb 14, 2011 9:51 am (PST)



http://www.act.nato.int/multimedia/archive/42-news-stories/523-dsact-visit-to-austria

North Atlantic Treaty Organization
Allied Command Transformation
February 11, 2011

DSACT Visit to Austria
Written by U.S. Army Captain Robin Ochoa

Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Transformation, Polish Army General Mieczyslaw Bieniek had a very productive meeting with Acting Vice Chief of Defence, Lieutenant General Christian Segur-Cabanac, Director General of the Operations Directorate of Austrian General Staff on Monday, February 8th.

During the visit, Bieniek and Segur-Cabanac discussed future Austrian cooperation with Allied Command Transformation, support to operations, Cyber Defense, Missile Defence and Energy Security. Bieniek suggested the need for more Austrian involvement in the Alliance's work on the Comprehensive approach with participation in the Cooperative Cyber Defense Center of Excellence (CCD COE) and Multi National Experiment 7 (MNE-7), stating that this would be of mutual benefit.

Bieniek was offered extensive briefings on the Austrian New Security Strategy, Current Aspects of Austrian Military Policy and Transformation of the Austrian Armed Forces.

The short trip to Austria proved to be very useful and offered great prospects on further enhancement of cooperation.
====================================================================
Stop NATO e-mail list home page with archives and search engine:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/stopnato/messages

Stop NATO website and articles:
http://rickrozoff.wordpress.com

To subscribe for individual e-mails or the daily digest, unsubscribe, and otherwise change subscription status:
stopnato-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
======================================================================

4.

Russia Says Foreign Power May Have Caused Satellite Loss

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

Mon Feb 14, 2011 9:51 am (PST)



http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gacAxiL2ZyfE43w7FpB9QtRlLRSA?docId=CNG.e4c0f8b05d70ed1feaeb1c2cf03f5035.301

Agence France-Presse
February 14, 2011

Russia says foreign power may have caused spy satellite loss

-The official suggested that the electromagnetic pulse may have been aimed at the Russian craft "from a land, sea, air or space vehicle."

MOSCOW: The Russian space agency suggested Monday that a foreign power may have been behind the space accident that disabled one of the country's most modern military satellites earlier this month.

Russia on February 1 launched a high-tech Geo-IK-2 craft to help the military draw a three-dimensional map of the Earth and locate the precise positions of various targets.

News reports said the satellite was a vital part of Russia's effort to match the United States and NATO's ability to target its missiles from space.

But the craft briefly went missing after its launch only to re-emerge in a wrong orbit that left the craft unable to complete its assigned task.

The Russian military and space agency set up a joint task force to probe the accident but it has presented no official results thus far.

One unnamed space official told Interfax however that initial evidence suggested that the craft went off target after one of its booster rockets inexplicably reversed course.

"The probable cause may involve electromagnetic intrusion on the automatic controls," the unnamed space official said.

The official did not identify the country he suspected of trying to derail the Russian military mission. But Moscow frequently accuses Washington of attempting to "militarise" space.

The space official conceded that there may have been other reasons for the launch failure. These included the wrong operations being programmed into the guidance system and other software mistakes.

But the Russian source stressed that the accident occurred between the first and second burns of the Briz-KM upper-stage booster rocket -- an area in which the craft makes no contact with ground control.

The official suggested that the electromagnetic pulse may have been aimed at the Russian craft "from a land, sea, air or space vehicle."

The Geo-IK-2 mishap came less than five weeks after President Dmitry Medvedev fired two top space officials for a launch failure caused Russia to delay the deployment of its own navigation system.

Investigators said that accident was caused by a basic fuel miscalculation that made the craft too heavy to reach its required height.

The three Glonass satellites would have completed a system whose research had been started by the Soviet Union in 1976.
====================================================================
Stop NATO e-mail list home page with archives and search engine:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/stopnato/messages

Stop NATO website and articles:
http://rickrozoff.wordpress.com

To subscribe for individual e-mails or the daily digest, unsubscribe, and otherwise change subscription status:
stopnato-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
======================================================================

__________________________________________________________
8:00? 8:25? 8:40? Find a flick in no time
with the Yahoo! Search movie showtime shortcut.
http://tools.search.yahoo.com/shortcuts/#news

5.

Kosovo Mafia State, Transit Route For Afghan Heroin: Euro MP

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

Mon Feb 14, 2011 9:51 am (PST)



http://english.ruvr.ru/2011/02/14/44351856.html

Voice of Russia
February 14, 2011

Kosovo a mafia state – EuroMP


Euro-Parliament member and head of the United Nations counternarcotics agency Pinot Ariacchi describes Kosovo as a mafia state built around transnational organized crime and the import of Afghan-produced heroin.

Speaking in Moscow Monday, he criticized the international officials in Kosovo and the nations that extended recognition to it for turning a blind eye to the problem.
====================================================================
Stop NATO e-mail list home page with archives and search engine:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/stopnato/messages

Stop NATO website and articles:
http://rickrozoff.wordpress.com

To subscribe for individual e-mails or the daily digest, unsubscribe, and otherwise change subscription status:
stopnato-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
======================================================================

6a.

Re: Ex-NATO Chief: Europe Can Draft Egyptian Constitution

Posted by: "r.harneis" r.harneis@wanadoo.fr

Mon Feb 14, 2011 9:52 am (PST)



Dear Rick,

Just a line to congratulate you today's offering.

In recent years, I do not think I have see such a combination of
nonsense, effrontery, hypocrisy and sheer sinister menace assembled in
one e-mail.

Robert

7.

Egypt: SuMed Pipeline, Suez Canal "Running Normally"

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

Mon Feb 14, 2011 12:13 pm (PST)



http://www.platts.com/RSSFeedDetailedNews/RSSFeed/Oil/8539041

Platts
February 14, 2011

Egypt's Sumed pipeline, Suez Canal operating normally

London: The Sumed oil pipeline connecting the Red Sea with the Mediterranean is operating normally while the Suez Canal is also operating without any incidents or delays, officials said Monday.

Sumed owner Arab Petroleum Pipelines Company said in a statement that operations at the pipeline's terminals at Ain Sukhna in the Red Sea and Sidi Kerir in the Mediterranean were running normally, with tankers being accommodated without any delays.

"In fact, Sumed's throughput level during January and February 2011 is expected to be considerably higher than [that of the] same period in 2010," the statement said.

"Furthermore, the preliminary schedule for March throughput is also normal to bring the expected overall first quarter 2011 throughput to a much higher level than the first quarter of 2010."

Meanwhile a Suez Canal official said: "Everything is normal. Politically, everything has changed but the military has not made any changes to the canal [operations or regulations]"

The official noted that the current chairman of the Suez Canal Authority, Admiral Ahmed Ali Fadel, has strong links to the military having been a long-serving member of the Egyptian navy.

"The military said they will honour all international agreements," the source said. "This includes the agreements regarding the canal and the peace agreement with Israel."

Although there were fears that Sumed operations and the passage of ships through the Suez Canal could be affected by the weeks of civil unrest that led Friday to the resignation of President Hosni Mubarak, there has been no disruption to date.

In 2009, an estimated 1 million b/d of crude and refined products moved north through the Suez Canal to the Mediterranean, while 800,000 b/d moved south towards the Red Sea, according to the US Energy Information Administration.

An estimated 1.1 million b/d of crude flowed through the Suez-Mediterranean or Sumed Pipeline.
====================================================================
Stop NATO e-mail list home page with archives and search engine:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/stopnato/messages

Stop NATO website and articles:
http://rickrozoff.wordpress.com

To subscribe for individual e-mails or the daily digest, unsubscribe, and otherwise change subscription status:
stopnato-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
======================================================================

8.

State Department Hails Further Penetration Of Central Asia

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

Mon Feb 14, 2011 12:13 pm (PST)



http://en.trend.az/news/politics/1829101.html

Trend News Agency
February 14, 2011

Assistant Secretary: U.S makes progress in relations with Central Asian countries

Baku: The U.S. made significant progress in expanding cooperation with the Central Asian countries, Assistant Secretary on Central and Southern Asia Robert O. Blake said in an interview with Asia-Plus.

"I think we feel that we've made very good progress in expanding our engagement with all of the governments of Central Asia," he said in an interview.

He said that the U.S. established a series of annual bilateral consultations with each of the countries to discuss in detail the full range of bilateral priorities and to set concrete targets to make progress in each of those areas.

"I will be going out in fact next week to Turkmenistan first, to have our six-month review with them, and then to Uzbekistan after that for our first annual bilateral consultations in Tashkent," Blake said.

According to him, overall good progress was made in cooperation, particularly on Afghanistan.

Each of the region's countries is providing the U.S. with help in various ways. Some of them provide humanitarian assistance, some of them assist with the Northern Distribution Network, Blake believes.

According to him, others are helping with scholarships as Kazakhstan is doing.

"So I think we're making good progress there and we'll continue to work very closely with them," he said.

According to Blake, on the economic front, the relations between our countries are still relatively under-developed with the exception of Kazakhstan where American companies have a very significant and growing presence. "So that's an area where I think the U.S. would like to do more and we hope to be able to expand trade and investment with the Central Asian countries," he said.
....
Answering the question on a repetition of the Egyptian scenario in the central Asia, Blake noted that one should not make comparisons here, because countries are always so different from each other.

"But I think that all of the leaders around the world need to look at the situation in Egypt, and many countries could benefit from some of those lessons. I think I've just described some of the areas where I think more openness is needed. So I very much hope that people will take a hard look at what's going on there and how they themselves can respond to the aspirations of their people in their countries," he said.
....
====================================================================
Stop NATO e-mail list home page with archives and search engine:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/stopnato/messages

Stop NATO website and articles:
http://rickrozoff.wordpress.com

To subscribe for individual e-mails or the daily digest, unsubscribe, and otherwise change subscription status:
stopnato-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
======================================================================

9.

Georgian FM To Meet Clinton, Congress To Blast "Russian Occupation"

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

Mon Feb 14, 2011 12:13 pm (PST)



http://en.trend.az/news/politics/1829155.html

Trend News Agency
February 14, 2011

Georgian FM to meet with U.S State Secretary
N. Kirtskhalia

Tbilisi: Georgian Foreign Minister Grigol Vashadze will meet with U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

Vashadze and Clinton plan to meet within the Georgian Foreign Minister's visit to the U.S., scheduled for February 17, Georgian Deputy Foreign Minister Nino Kalandadze said today at the traditional Monday press briefing.

"We have been working over this visit for a long time. We hope it to be successful," she said.

Kalandadze also reported that Vashadze will hold meetings in the Senate and the U.S. Congress within his visit to the U.S. Georgia will promote the adoption of the resolution on the occupation of Georgia by Russia. It has been already prepared in the Senate.

It is also planned to discuss cooperation between the two countries within the strategic charter on cooperation between Georgia and the U.S.
====================================================================
Stop NATO e-mail list home page with archives and search engine:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/stopnato/messages

Stop NATO website and articles:
http://rickrozoff.wordpress.com

To subscribe for individual e-mails or the daily digest, unsubscribe, and otherwise change subscription status:
stopnato-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
======================================================================

10.

Baltic Sea: NATO Training Mission-Afghanistan Expands To 32 Nations

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

Mon Feb 14, 2011 12:43 pm (PST)



http://ntm-a.com/news/1-categorynews/2080-ntm-a-welcomes-latvia-and-lithuania-to-training-mission?lang=

North Atlantic Treaty Organization
Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe
February 12, 2011

NTM-A welcomes Latvia and Lithuania to training mission
By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class John R. Fischer
NATO Training Mission-Afghanistan Public Affairs

NATO Training Mission-Afghanistan welcomed Latvia and Lithuania to the ranks of troop contributing trainer nations, now totaling 32 nations, in a flag ceremony at NTM-A Headquarters in Kabul, Afghanistan, Feb. 12.

NTM-A Commander Lt. Gen. William B. Caldwell IV introduced Valteris Baliukonis – Lithuanian Ambassador to Afghanistan and head of the Lithuanian mission in Afghanistan – and Latvian Capt. Didzis Veidenbaums, the senior ranking Latvian officer in Kabul, to guests and officials.
....
Baliukonis and Viedenbaums addressed the crowd after the playing of the border-sharing Baltic States' national anthems.

"I am proud that we – both Lithuanians and Latvians – as cousins to each other, can join NATO Training Mission-Afghanistan," said Baliukonis. "This is the biggest mission in the world, I believe. Not only of NATO but of other partners – it is worldwide. Truly we are proud."
....
Latvia and Lithuania will combine efforts to lead a new aviation mentor team in Kandahar. The trainers from these two nations – along with Belgium, which is already a part of the Air Mentor Team – will bring a very specific technical skill set to training the Mi-17 Rotary Wing there.
....
"For ISAF first, and specifically for NATO Training Mission - this is enormous." Caldwell said. "This means that today there are 32 different nations across the world who decided they're going to commit resources inside Afghanistan to train the Afghan National Security Force – the army, police and the air force. This international effort we have here has just been further expanded, and we're greatly appreciative of the contributions these two nations have made."
====================================================================
Stop NATO e-mail list home page with archives and search engine:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/stopnato/messages

Stop NATO website and articles:
http://rickrozoff.wordpress.com

To subscribe for individual e-mails or the daily digest, unsubscribe, and otherwise change subscription status:
stopnato-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
======================================================================

11.

20 Military Maneuvers Since June: U.S. Raises Profile In East Asia

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

Mon Feb 14, 2011 6:42 pm (PST)



http://www.china.org.cn/world/2011-02/15/content_21921826.htm

China Daily
February 15, 2011

US raises military profile in East Asia

Two Thai F-16 jet fighters crashed on Monday during military exercises involving the United States and six other nations in Thailand's northeastern Chiang Mai province.

Xinhua News Agency said the two pilots on board were rescued.

Despite the accident, the 12-day exercises, code-named Cobra Gold, will continue until Feb 18.

The maneuvers are just one of the many joint military exercises the US has held with nations in the Asia-Pacific region to show off its presence and military strength in the area, experts said.

The participation of Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Singapore and Malaysia makes the 30th annual joint exercise one of the world's largest multilateral military maneuvers.

"It is an important part of the US strategy to boost its presence in the Asia-Pacific region," said Yin Zhuo, a major-general of the Chinese navy.

Yin noted that in the past two years, besides scheduled military exercises, the US has increased those related to sensitive issues, such as the ones jointly held with Japan and South Korea last year.

"Holding such military exercises aiming at fighting terrorism and natural disasters will help the US enhance ties with these nations and build up its 'soft power' in this region," Yin noted.

Costs on the battleground in Iraq alarmed the US, making it depend more on its allies including Japan, South Korea and Australia when returning to the Asia-Pacific region, Yin said.

It has also enhanced military ties with other nations in this region such as Singapore and Thailand, according to Yin.

Since the last Cobra Gold exercises held in June 2010, the US has held around 20 joint military maneuvers with nations in the Asia-Pacific region, including Japan and South Korea.

The US has been claiming its military exercises are for peaceful purposes, which has been doubted by analysts.

Judith B. Cefkin, the US deputy chief of mission, said at the opening ceremony of Cobra Gold 2011 that the joint exercise was a symbol of Washington's commitment to supporting the security of its "friends and allies in the Asia-Pacific region".

"The fundamental nature and biggest feature of the joint military exercises lies in its military nature, which cannot be disguised by emphasizing its peaceful purposes," said Senior Colonel Xiao Shizhong from the Academy of Military Science in Beijing.

"Its real purpose is actually to show off its military presence and capacity in the Asia-Pacific region, show its support for nations participating in the exercises, and deter certain nations in this region," said Xiao.

More than 11,000 people, including 7,200 US service personnel, are taking part in the exercises, including ground, air and water drills and 17 humanitarian assistance projects, eight engineering projects and nine medical assistance programs.

China has been sending observers to the exercises since 2002, according to Xiao, refuting Japanese media reports that claim China intends to compete for dominance in security issues in this region.

"It is only groundless speculation by some observers," Xiao said, "due to the nature of such military exercises, China is unlikely to be a participant".

India, Sri Lanka, Laos, Brunei, Russia, Mongolia, South Africa, the United Arab Emirates and New Zealand also sent observers this year, according to the Bangkok Post.
====================================================================
Stop NATO e-mail list home page with archives and search engine:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/stopnato/messages

Stop NATO website and articles:
http://rickrozoff.wordpress.com

To subscribe for individual e-mails or the daily digest, unsubscribe, and otherwise change subscription status:
stopnato-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
======================================================================

12.

Massive U.S.-S. Korea Exercise Prepares For N. Korea 'Regime Change'

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

Mon Feb 14, 2011 6:42 pm (PST)



http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2011/02/15/2011021500290.html

Chosun Ilbo
February 15, 2011

S.Korea-U.S. Drill to Prepare for Regime Collapse in N.Korea

South Korea and the U.S. will stage an annual joint military drill in late February and early March to prepare for a sudden change in North Korea and local provocations. Until last year, the drill dubbed "Key Resolve/Foal Eagle" was meant as preparation for a full-scale war with the North.

The drill is to cover politically and diplomatically sensitive scenarios including a civil war in the North in case of North Korean leader Kim Jong-il's death and a failure of his heir Jong-un to seize control, and Chinese troops marching across the Apnok (or Yalu) River.

The decision to change the nature of the massive annual exercise means a revised assessment of military threats, government sources said Monday.

The previous "Key Resolve/Foal Eagle" drill followed an operational plan that envisioned the urgent dispatch of large U.S. troop reinforcements and equipment to Korea, carrying out counterattack operations up to an area north of Pyongyang, and bringing down the North Korean regime in case of an invasion of the South.

But this year's drill follows a contingency plan for sudden change in the North. It covers six scenarios.
====================================================================
Stop NATO e-mail list home page with archives and search engine:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/stopnato/messages

Stop NATO website and articles:
http://rickrozoff.wordpress.com

To subscribe for individual e-mails or the daily digest, unsubscribe, and otherwise change subscription status:
stopnato-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
======================================================================

__________________________________________________________
Finding fabulous fares is fun.
Let Yahoo! FareChase search your favorite travel sites to find flight and hotel bargains.
http://farechase.yahoo.com/promo-generic-14795097

13.

Argentina Seizes Arms, Drugs From U.S. Military Plane; Row Ensues

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

Mon Feb 14, 2011 6:42 pm (PST)



http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5i62Jh_zk_izFw4g3oQeWai05dkJg?docId=CNG.ebeff272fc0b04d38c80f83bba916cbc.471

Agence France-Presse
February 14, 2011

Argentina, US in diplomatic spat after cargo seized

-[Argentine Foreign Minister Hector] Timerman reacted to [Obama's] decision by saying that the United States has "more interests than friends."
He said Obama would not visit Argentina because "it won't buy arms or even sign a defense agreement."

BUENOS AIRES: Argentina and the United States engaged Monday in a diplomatic spat after Buenos Aires authorities seized what they said were undeclared weapons and drugs on a US military aircraft last week.

The Argentine government said it planned to lodge a formal protest with Washington, while the US State Department said it was "puzzled and disturbed" by the seizure of what it claimed was routine equipment for training the Argentine federal police.

Officials in Argentina said the US Air Force C-17 transport plane was searched and its cargo seized by customs officials on Thursday at Ezeiza International Airport after arriving with experts and material for a hostage rescue training exercise.

In a statement late Sunday, President Cristina Kirchner's government said it would lodge a protest with Washington and ask it to cooperate in a probe into the air force's attempt "to violate Argentine laws by bringing in hidden material in an official shipment."

Argentina has said it seized "sensitive material" that had not been declared in a manifest submitted by the US embassy.

"Among the material seized, which the State Department makes no reference to, are from weapons to different drugs, including various doses of morphine," the foreign ministry said in Sunday's statement.

State Department spokesman Philip Crowley said "we are puzzled and disturbed by the actions of Argentine officials," adding they conducted what he called "an unusual and unannounced search of the aircraft's cargo."
....
"We continue to call on the Argentine government to return our equipment," he said, adding the United States regretted the training exercise was canceled.

He said Assistant US Secretary of State Arturo Valenzuela at the weekend called Argentine Foreign Minister Hector Timerman and other officials to register "our great concern" about the incident.

The Argentine foreign ministry statement said Valenzuela "refused to explain why they tried to pass this material."

Argentine officials said Valenzuela had contacted Timerman hopes of resolving the situation, and was said to have expressed "concern on behalf of the US Defense Department over the seizure of items related to the security of the United States."

The incident comes amid a chill in US-Argentine bilateral relations, and follows US President Barack Obama's decision to exclude Argentina from his first scheduled trip in March to Latin America. Obama will travel to El Salvador, Brazil and Chile.

Timerman reacted to this decision by saying that the United States has "more interests than friends."

He said Obama would not visit Argentina because "it won't buy arms or even sign a defense agreement."
====================================================================
Stop NATO e-mail list home page with archives and search engine:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/stopnato/messages

Stop NATO website and articles:
http://rickrozoff.wordpress.com

To subscribe for individual e-mails or the daily digest, unsubscribe, and otherwise change subscription status:
stopnato-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
======================================================================

__________________________________________________________
Be a PS3 game guru.
Get your game face on with the latest PS3 news and previews at Yahoo! Games.
http://videogames.yahoo.com/platform?platform=120121

14.

Italy Demands "Common European Strategy" Toward Tunisian Refugees

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

Mon Feb 14, 2011 6:42 pm (PST)



http://www.adnkronos.com/IGN/Aki/English/Security/Italy-Govt-asks-European-Union-to-help-stem-Tunisian-immigrant-influx-steps-up-patrols_311682010828.html

ADN Kronos International
February 14, 2011

Italy: Govt asks European Union to help stem Tunisian immigrant influx, steps up patrols

Lampedusa: Italian authorities have stepped up patrols on the tiny southern island of Lampedusa where over 5,000 illegal immigrants have arrived from Tunisia over the past week. The Italian government has declared a "humanitarian emergency", and has asked the European Union for 100 million euros to help stem the flow of migrants amid fears the current unrest in North Africa could trigger a much vaster exodus.

Around 100 Carabinieri military police have been deployed on Lampedusa which lies between Sicily and Tunisia, and interior minister Roberto Maroni has ordered a longstanding refugee transit centre on the island to be reopened while many hundreds of migrants have been flown to other centres.

The spokeswoman for he UN refugee agency, Laura Boldrini, said an "unpredented" number of people had arrived on Lampedusa in such a short period of time.

"We need to accelerate the transfer of migrants on Lampedusa to other Italian locations," she said, noting that 2,000 people are currently crammed into the Lampedusa transit centre which is designed to accommodate 800 people.

"This is a very difficult situation to manage," she said, adding that the EU should "clarify the extent of its cooperation with the Italian government."

UNHCR is offering protection to 200 minors intercepted on Lampedusa, she said.

For the past two years, the Italian government has relied on a policy of intercepting migrants at sea and returning them with the cooperation of the Libyan and Tunisian governments.

Italy appears to have been caught unprepared by the political situation in Tunisia, which has been beset by strikes and public sector wage demands over the past week. A popular revolt ousted its authoritarian president Zine El Abidine Ben Ali on 14 January after 23 years in power.

Desperate Tunisian migrants are gathering in the country's ports and are understood to be paying people smugglers up to 1,400 euros each for their passage across the Mediterranean to Italy aboard rickety boats. Those who reached Lampedusa said they they were desperate for work, and were fleeing violence and disorder. Some said they feared persecution after Ben Ali's overthrow.

Catherine Ashton, the EU foreign policy chief, is currently visiting Tunisia to discuss the issue.

Italy's foreign minister Franco Frattini was due to visit Tunisia late on Monday and to try and persuade its transitional government to allow Italian police there to help stem the outflow of illegal immigrants. The Italian government also hopes the EU borders agency Frontex will get involved, although Frontex said in a statement on Monday it had not received a formal request for help.

Maroni earlier on Monday likened the situation to the flow of migrants from East Germany after the collapse of the Berlin wall in 1989, and called for an urgent meeting of EU heads of state and government.

"Europe must have a common strategy. Italy is tackling this crisis alone with its own resources," he said.

He has asked the EU for 100 million euros to tackle the influx of migrants.

Twenty-nine people lost their lives late Sunday when the boat they were travelling in was rammed by a Tunisian patrol boat near the city of Gabes, in Tunisia's southeast, according to a report by an Arab-language internet site. Eighty-six people survived the incident, according to the site.

The incident drew condemnation from the Vatican newspaper L'Osservatore Romano, which described it as "tragic". It called the influx of migrants "a true emergency."
====================================================================
Stop NATO e-mail list home page with archives and search engine:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/stopnato/messages

Stop NATO website and articles:
http://rickrozoff.wordpress.com

To subscribe for individual e-mails or the daily digest, unsubscribe, and otherwise change subscription status:
stopnato-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
======================================================================

__________________________________________________________
TV dinner still cooling?
Check out "Tonight's Picks" on Yahoo! TV.
http://tv.yahoo.com/

15.

Yemen: U.S. To Launch $75 Million Counterinsurgency Program

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

Mon Feb 14, 2011 6:42 pm (PST)



http://www.ajc.com/news/nation-world/official-us-to-expand-837448.html

Associated Press
February 14, 2011

Official: US to expand Yemeni military training
By LOLITA C. BALDOR

WASHINGTON: [T]he U.S. military will begin a new training program with Yemen's counterterrorism unit....

The effort will mark the first time the U.S. has trained the counterterrorism unit, which has traditionally focused on protecting Yemen's capital, according to a senior defense official. Under the plan, the training would begin in the next few months, and the Yemenis could more than double the size of their counterterror force, which now numbers about 300.

The official spoke on condition of anonymity because details are still being worked out.
....
The new training program would expand U.S. military assistance to Yemen....
....
The new training program in Yemen will cost about $75 million, the defense official said. And the goal is to create a national counterterror unit that will be better able and equipped to travel out to tribal regions and ferret out insurgents hiding there.

To date the U.S. military, with about 100 trainers rotating in and out of Yemen, has been working with that country's special operations forces and their military, particularly aviation units.
....
Military transport has been a persistent challenge for the Yemenis, but just in the last month, the U.S. delivered four Huey helicopters to Yemen and has been training the aviation units. The aircraft will help the Yemeni forces get troops, equipment and supplies to combat outposts in the more remote tribal regions.
....
====================================================================
Stop NATO e-mail list home page with archives and search engine:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/stopnato/messages

Stop NATO website and articles:
http://rickrozoff.wordpress.com

To subscribe for individual e-mails or the daily digest, unsubscribe, and otherwise change subscription status:
stopnato-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
======================================================================

16.

U.S. Nuclear Supercarrier, 20,000 Troops In All-Out War Korea Drills

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

Mon Feb 14, 2011 6:42 pm (PST)



http://www.arirang.co.kr/News/News_View.asp?nseq=112632&code=Ne2&category=2

Arirang News
February 15, 2011

US Supercarrier to Join KOR-US Joint Military Drill

A US nuclear-powered aircraft carrier is expected to join the South Korea-US annual joint military exercise later this month.

According to a government official Tuesday the annual Key Resolve and Foal Eagle exercises will be carried out through mid-March with a US supercarrier and over 20-thousand US soldiers participating to thoroughly check the allies' combined defense capabilities.

The official added that during the upcoming drill the two allies will prepare for all possible scenarios, including an all-out war and instability in the North.
....
====================================================================
Stop NATO e-mail list home page with archives and search engine:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/stopnato/messages

Stop NATO website and articles:
http://rickrozoff.wordpress.com

To subscribe for individual e-mails or the daily digest, unsubscribe, and otherwise change subscription status:
stopnato-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
======================================================================

17.

Pentagon Requests $671 Billion Base Budget, War Add-Ons

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

Mon Feb 14, 2011 6:48 pm (PST)



http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-02-14/pentagon-requests-671-billion-for-basic-spending-wars.html

Bloomberg News
February 14, 2011

Pentagon Requesting $671 Billion for Core Defense Spending, Wars, OMB Says
By Tony Capaccio

The Pentagon is requesting $671 billion for the fiscal year starting Oct. 1, $37 billion less than this year's request, according to the Office of Management and Budget.

The request includes $553 billion in core Department of Defense spending, including weapons procurement, and $117.8 billion in military spending in Iraq and Afghanistan, according to the federal budget documents released today.

The proposal includes $203.8 billion for weapons buying and research, including $113 billion in base procurement, $75.7 billion in research and $15 billion in war-related procurement.

It also includes $9.7 billion for 32 Lockheed Martin Corp. F-35 fighter jets, $4.7 billion for two additional Virginia- class submarines built by Northrop Grumman Corp. and General Dynamics Corp. and $975 million toward two additional Lockheed Martin Advanced Extremely High Frequency communications satellites.

"There are a number of new areas where we are beginning to invest," Defense Secretary Robert Gates told reporters at the Pentagon. Almost all of $70 billion that the military services achieved in a budget-cutting exercise to reroute funding into higher priority areas will be funneled into modernization programs, Gates said.

The defense budget will also increase spending on cyber and electronic warfare, unmanned drones and helicopters, according to the budget documents.
....
====================================================================
Stop NATO e-mail list home page with archives and search engine:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/stopnato/messages

Stop NATO website and articles:
http://rickrozoff.wordpress.com

To subscribe for individual e-mails or the daily digest, unsubscribe, and otherwise change subscription status:
stopnato-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
======================================================================

__________________________________________________________
Looking for earth-friendly autos?
Browse Top Cars by "Green Rating" at Yahoo! Autos' Green Center.
http://autos.yahoo.com/green_center/

18.

Canada Purchases More Leopard Battle Tanks

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

Mon Feb 14, 2011 7:13 pm (PST)



http://www.shephard.co.uk/news/landwarfareintl/canada-buys-more-leopard-2s/8323/

Shephard Group
February 14, 2011

Canada buys more Leopard 2s

The Canadian armed forces has purchased 12 surplus Leopard 2 (Pz 87 Leo) main battle tanks (MBT) from Switzerland.

Due to be converted to 'protected special vehicles', the MBTs will be supplied without armament and further components, Switzerland's defence procurement agency, Armasuisse said in a statement on 10 February. The agency has been tasked with the performance of the contract and the sale of surplus equipment.
....
Under a similar contract announced by Armasuisse on 11 November 2010, the Swiss forces sold 42 surplus Pz 87 Leos to Rheinmetall Landsysteme, part of the consortium in Germany that produced the Leopard 2.

Between 1987 and 1993, 380 Pz 87 Leo MBTs were accepted by the Swiss forces. Of these, 134 combat vehicles were subjected to a quality maintenance programme, said Armasuisse. The Swiss MBT has reached the first half of its planned service life, and is to be adapted to its changing requirements.

In addition to the Swiss contracts, on 17 December 2010 it was announced by Rheinmetall that its Canadian division was contracted to modernise and overhaul 42 Leopard 2A4 main battle tanks sold from the Dutch armed forces to the Canadian Army. The work is expected to be completed by the start of 2012.
====================================================================
Stop NATO e-mail list home page with archives and search engine:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/stopnato/messages

Stop NATO website and articles:
http://rickrozoff.wordpress.com

To subscribe for individual e-mails or the daily digest, unsubscribe, and otherwise change subscription status:
stopnato-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
======================================================================

19.

Clinton Holds U.S.-Ukraine Strategic Partnership Commission Meeting

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

Mon Feb 14, 2011 7:14 pm (PST)



http://www.stockmarketsreview.com/news/104393/

U.S. Department of State
February 14, 2011

Europe and Eurasia: Secretary Clinton to Open the U.S.-Ukraine Strategic Partnership Commission Meeting on February 15

Notice to the Press
Office of the Spokesman
Washington, DC

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and Ukrainian Foreign Minister Kostyantyn Gryshchenko will open the Third Meeting of the U.S.-Ukraine Strategic Partnership Commission in their role as co-chairs on February 15 at approximately 10:40 a.m. At the meeting, they will sign a Cooperative Plan on Combating Human Trafficking in Ukraine. U.S. and Ukrainian officials also will sign an agreement to deploy the U.S. Geological Survey to assess potential energy resources in Ukraine, such as shale gas.
....
Secretary Clinton and Foreign Minister Gryshchenko will also meet with Ukrainian civil society leaders and hold a bilateral meeting on a range of issues of mutual concern, including increased cooperation in nuclear security and nonproliferation, as well as democracy and enhancing the investment climate in Ukraine.

Deputy Assistant Secretary Daniel Russell and Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Olexandr Gorin will lead the sessions of the Strategic Partnership Commission throughout the day, including a discussion of democracy and rule of law; nonproliferation; defense; economic reform trade and investment; and science and technology.
====================================================================
Stop NATO e-mail list home page with archives and search engine:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/stopnato/messages

Stop NATO website and articles:
http://rickrozoff.wordpress.com

To subscribe for individual e-mails or the daily digest, unsubscribe, and otherwise change subscription status:
stopnato-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
======================================================================

__________________________________________________________
Don't get soaked. Take a quick peek at the forecast
with the Yahoo! Search weather shortcut.
http://tools.search.yahoo.com/shortcuts/#loc_weather

20.

U.S. Pushes Japan On Interceptor Missiles For Eastern Europe

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

Mon Feb 14, 2011 7:41 pm (PST)



http://www.forexyard.com/en/news/pushes-Japan-on-missile-interceptor-coproduction-2011-02-15T003144Z-US

Reuters
February 14, 2011

US pushes Japan on missile interceptor coproduction
By Jim Wolf

* Seeks deal for possible transfer to third countries
* Codevelopment involves Raytheon, Mitsubishi Heavy
* Absent a deal, U.S. plans to produce missile on its own

Washington: The Pentagon's Missile Defense Agency is pressing Tokyo to clear the sale of advanced missile interceptors, codeveloped with Japan, to third countries and to agree to joint production.

The United States plans to deploy the Standard Missile-3 Block IIA upgrade by 2018, U.S. Army Lieutenant General Patrick O'Reilly said in a Jan. 3 letter to Nobushige Takamizawa, director general of policy at the Japanese defense ministry.

The system is a centerpiece of President Barack Obama's plan....It took on greater significance after Obama scrapped George W. Bush-era plans to deploy a long-range missile defense system in Poland and the Czech Republic. The missile is due to start intercept tests in 2014.

The cooperative development program is rapidly heading for "key milestones at which production planning decisions will need to be made," O'Reilly wrote.

Absent a coproduction deal, the United States will assume it will produce the missiles at a Raytheon Co facility in the United States, he said.

The letter was first reported by Aviation Week. A copy was obtained by Reuters. Rear Admiral Randall Hendrickson, the MDA's deputy director, discussed the contents Monday with reporters during a briefing on the agency's 2012 budget request.

The United States is interested in a coproduction deal with Japan, the top U.S. ally on missile defense, "but we're going to make the decisions that we need to make obviously," he said in a teleconference.

Raytheon, the world's biggest missile maker, is cooperating on the project with Japan's Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. Neither company responded to requests for comment. The Japanese embassy in Washington had no comment.

O'Reilly in his letter sought to clarify Japan's stand on the Block IIA's availability for transfer to other nations that might want to acquire it.

"It is essential that Japan and the United States expedite our efforts to reach an understanding in which Japan assures the United States that Japan has a policy and established procedures to approve third-party sales and transfers of missile defense technical data and equipment," he wrote.
....
The new missile will include larger second- and third-stage rocket motors and a larger warhead to provide a greater area of defense against ballistic missile threats. The missile is to be deployed at sea and ashore, including in Poland.

(Reporting by Jim Wolf; Editing by Phil Berlowitz)
====================================================================
Stop NATO e-mail list home page with archives and search engine:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/stopnato/messages

Stop NATO website and articles:
http://rickrozoff.wordpress.com

To subscribe for individual e-mails or the daily digest, unsubscribe, and otherwise change subscription status:
stopnato-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
======================================================================

Recent Activity
Visit Your Group
Sell Online

Start selling with

our award-winning

e-commerce tools.

Yahoo! Groups

Mental Health Zone

Mental Health

Learn More

Y! Groups blog

the best source

for the latest

scoop on Groups.

Need to Reply?

Click one of the "Reply" links to respond to a specific message in the Daily Digest.


at 6:26 AM

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)