USA
NSTR
EUROPE
U.S., Poland: Sign Missile Shield Pact
July 3, 2010
The United States and Poland signed an agreement July 3 to carry out a revised missile defense shield despite Russian objections, Reuters reported. U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton witnessed the signing of the pact, which allows the two countries to implement plans to station U.S. missile interceptors on Polish soil to defend against potential threats from Iran and elsewhere. Clinton said that the agreement reinforces the United States’ commitment to Poland’s security and sovereignty.
Poland: U.S. Interceptors In Place By 2018 - Spokesman
July 1, 2010
Polish Defense Minister Bogdan Klich said the United States has promised to deploy SM-3 interceptor missiles in Poland between 2015 and 2018 under the U.S. plan to defend NATO allies in Europe from possible Iranian attack, a spokesman for Klich said July 1, Reuters reported.
U.S.: Clinton Hopes Russia Accepts U.S. Missile Defense
July 3, 2010
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton expressed hope June 3 that Russia would reconsider its opposition to a U.S. missile defense system in Europe and accept an offer to cooperate in developing technologies for shooting down hostile weapons, AP reported. She said the NATO-endorsed missile defense system based in Europe would be aimed at Iran’s missile arsenal. Moscow views the project as a potential threat to its own missile arsenal, but Clinton explained that it is a purely defensive system that does not threaten Russia.
IRAN
Seeing they won’t be enforced I gotta agree with him.
Iran: President Calls Sanctions Pathetic
July 3, 2010
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on July 3 said the latest round of sanctions against his country are pathetic and warned world powers that they would regret their bullying, Reuters reported. In his first speech since U.S. President Barack Obama signed into law sanctions targeting Iran’s fuel imports, Ahmadinejad said the measures would not hurt Iran’s economy or stop the country from taking on a greater role in world affairs.
We are talking the French here!
France: Iran Oil Embargo Is A Mistake CEO
July 2, 2010
The CEO of French energy company Total said an embargo on Iranian oil products is a mistake and will harm ordinary people, AFP reported July 2. He said that the embargo is not the proper way to settle political disputes and that Total will resume its deliveries to Iran at the first opportunity.
Iran: Syria Armed With Radar
July 1, 2010
Iran sent Syria a sophisticated radar system, according to Israeli and U.S. officials, The Wall Street Journal reported July 1. The mid-2009 transfer was described in recent months by two Israeli officials, two U.S. officials and a Western intelligence source, and confirmed by the Israeli military. Though they didn’t name the system’s final recipient in Syria, these and other officials described it as part as a dramatic increase in weapons transfers and military coordination among Iran, Syria and Hezbollah. Iran and Syria both denied that a radar transfer took place.
Russia: S-300 Contract Not Tied To Sanctions - Majlis Speaker
July 2, 2010
Iranian Majlis Speaker Ali Larijani called for further talks on Tehran’s contract with Russia for S-300 air defense missiles, IRNA reported June 2, citing an interview with Al-Watan. He said the contract was finalized before the U.N. Security Council placed recent sanctions on Iran. He called the weaponry defensive.
IRAQ
ISRAEL
Egypt: 10,000 Palestinians Cross From Gaza Into Egypt Since June 1
July 3, 2010
Hamas said more than 10,000 Palestinians have crossed into Egypt via the Rafah border since it was opened June 1 following Israel’s attack on a Gaza-bound aid flotilla, DPA reported July 3. The Hamas-run corporation for crossings and borders said that 10,531 people crossed from Gaza into Egypt, while another 10,172 crossed from Egypt into Gaza. A Hamas statement said people crossing from Gaza into Egypt are seeking medical treatment in Egypt, are students or are traveling to other countries.
Israel: Relations With Turkey To Be Maintained - PM
July 2, 2010
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he wants to avoid further harm to Israeli-Turkish relations, Reuters reported July 2. Netanyahu said in a televised interview that while there are no specific agreements between the two countries, it would be beneficial to prevent ties from deteriorating.
Israel: No Apology, Compensation Over Flotilla Raid - PM
July 2, 2010
Israel will not apologize or give compensation to those injured in the Gaza aid-flotilla raid, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, Haaretz reported July 2. Netanyahu said he is sorry for the loss of life, but Israel can not apologize for its soldiers acting in self-defense.
Russia: Armored Vehicles To Be Delivered To West Bank
July 1, 2010
Russia will send 50 armored personnel vehicles to Palestinian security forces in the West Bank, Xinhua reported July 1, citing an announcement by the Russian Foreign Ministry. The vehicles will be delivered to Jordan in a matter of days, and then given to security forces in the West Bank, a spokesman for the ministry said.
AFGHANISTAN
Afghanistan: Mines Ministry Open To Foreign Investment
June 30, 2010
Afghan Mines Minister Wahidollah Shahrani said nearly 200 international companies are interested in investing in Afghanistan’s mining sector, Pajhwok reported June 30. Shahrani said the ministry will offer the Hajigak iron ore deposit and oil blocks in the Afghan-Tajik basin in early 2011 and the Kashquri oil block and Sheberghan gas block in September 2011. He added that the Afghan-Tajik basin is estimated to hold 1.6 billion barrels of oil.
Afghanistan: Taliban Threaten NGO Attacks
July 1, 2010
The operation commanders of the Islamic Emirate (as the Taliban movement calls itself) are going to meet shortly to finalize a new war strategy under which the foreigners working on their national agendas, particularly Indians, will be targeted, according to Taliban commander Qari Ziaur Rehman, The News International reported July 1. The Taliban commander said they would never hold talks with the Karzai regime or the NATO commander because the Taliban “already won the war. All non-Muslims who try to alienate the Afghan people from the Islamic Emirate will be driven out of the country, he said.
Afghanistan: District Taliban Chief Arrested - NATO
July 1, 2010
NATO said Afghan and international forces captured a Taliban district leader after a four-hour gunbattle in Helmand province, AP reported July 1. A NATO statement said a “large number” of insurgents were killed during fighting in Baghran district. A number of insurgents were wounded and captured, including the Taliban district chief of Now Zad.
Afghanistan: Pakistan To Train Military Officers
July 1, 2010
Afghan President Hamid Karzai agreed to dispatch an unspecified number of military officers to Pakistan for training, the Washington Post reported July 1. Afghan National Security Adviser Rangin Dadfar Spanta said the move was intended to show confidence in Pakistan in hopes of facilitating talks between the two countries on the Taliban. Details are unclear, with the number of officers participating said to be either a handful or a few dozen and the commencement date said to be “soon.” U.S. Lt. Gen. William Caldwell, who leads the NATO training command in Afghanistan, said the United States was not aware of the arrangement.
Afghanistan: Petraeus To Review Air Support Rules
July 1, 2010
U.S. Gen. David Petraeus, the new NATO commander in Afghanistan, said July 1 that he would review restrictions on the use of air power in the war, Reuters reported. Following discussions in Brussels with NATO allies, Petraeus said close air support and other secondary firepower directives were sound, but troops had expressed concerns that some processes had become too bureaucratic. The intention is to look at how the rules are implemented and ensure that implementation is even across all units, Petraeus said, adding that changes would not come if they risked the lives of more Afghan civilians.
SOUTH OF THE BORDER
Mexico: Opposition Party Leads
July 5, 2010
Mexico’s leading opposition party appeared poised to capture most of the 12 governorships at stake in the July 4 elections, preliminary results show, Notimex reported July 5. Candidates from coalitions led by the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) led in nine races. President Felipe Calderon’s National Action Party (PAN) led in three races. The PRI led in the states of Chihuahua, Durango, Hidalgo, Quintana Roo, Tamaulipas, Tlaxcala, Veracruz, Aguascalientes and Zacatecas. PAN led in the states of Oaxaca, Sinaloa and Puebla. Final election results are expected later in the day.
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez announced the arrest of El Salvadorian citizen Francisco Chavez Abarca, whom Chavez linked to “the terrorist Luis Posada Carriles”, EFE reported July 2. Chavez claimed that Chavez Abarca had attempted to enter Venezuela through Maiquetia airport using a fake passport. Posada Carriles is accused of terrorism by the Venezuelan government for his alleged role in the 1976 bombing of a Cuban airliner.
Mexico: Suspect In Killing Of U.S. Consulate Worker Arrested
July 2, 2010
Mexican authorities arrested Jesus Ernesto Chavez Castillo, who is suspected in March of ordering the murder of Lesley A. Enriquez, a U.S. Consulate employee in Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua state, El Universal reported July 2. Chavez Castillo is a suspected leader of the Los Aztecas criminal group and is believed to have been involved in an attack earlier this year that killed 13 people in Ciudad Juarez.
Mexico: Cantu Murder Linked To Organized Crime
July 1, 2010
An initial investigation by Mexican authorities has shown that the assassination of Tamaulipas state gubernatorial candidate Rodolfo Torres Cantu was linked to organized crime, Milenio reported July 1, citing Tamaulipas state Gov. Eugenio Hernandez. Hernandez said that a political motive for the crime had not been ruled out.
MISC
South Korea: North Korea's Direct Talk Offer Rejected
July 1, 2010
South Korea rejected North Korea’s proposal for direct military talks on the sinking of a warship, saying the issue should be handled under the armistice that ended their 1950-53 war, AFP reported July 1. Seoul should focus on discussions at the U.N. Security Council, said South Korean Foreign Ministry spokesman Kim Young Sun. It is more appropriate to hold general-level talks between the United Nations Command and North Korea’s military and address the issue within the framework of the armistice agreement, he said.
Kyrgyzstan: CSTO Will Not Send Troops
July 1, 2010
The rapid reaction forces of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) will not be deployed to troubled Kyrgyzstan, the CSTO secretary general said, RIA Novosti reported July 1. Kyrgyzstan’s law enforcement has the necessary forces to solve the tasks facing it, Nikolai Bordyuzha said at the Engineering Technologies 2010 forum near Moscow. CSTO is ready to render any assistance to Kyrgyzstan, including investigating the reasons for the riots in Osh, he stated, adding that international extremist organizations are behind the bloody events in Osh.
U.S.: Al Qaeda Numbers Estimated In Pakistan
July 1, 2010
American intelligence officials estimated that there were somewhat “more than 300” al Qaeda leaders and fighters hiding in Pakistans tribal areas, The New York Times reported July 1. Michael E. Leiter, director of the National Counterterrorism Center, said there have been some “incredible successes” against al Qaedas leadership. The group is weaker than it has been at any time since 2001, he said, adding that weaker does not mean harmless.
THESE MAY REQUIRE AN EMAIL:
Israel, Turkey: Maintaining the Relationship | STRATFOR
Europe: The State of the Banking System
Iran and sanctions
...Decades of neglect, mismanagement and lack of foreign investment...As a result, Iran needs to import roughly 30 percent of its gasoline and relies heavily on Western technology, capital and services ...
... Without the gasoline imports, technology and capital needed to keep Iran economically afloat, the country theoretically could be pressured enough to make concessions on its nuclear program in the interest of avoiding a social uprising that could unseat the clerical regime.
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