USA
The United States and Iran on the Lebanese Chessboard | STRATFOR
January 10, New York Times – (Missouri; Virginia; International) Missouri: Ex-C.I.A. officer will be extradited. A federal judge January 10 ordered a former Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) officer to be transferred to Virginia to face charges that he leaked classified government information to a reporter. The former officer was indicted in December on charges he shared restricted information about a secret government program meant to thwart unnamed countries’ weapons programs with a journalist from the New York Times. The journalist wrote about a CIA attempt to disrupt Iranian nuclear research in a 2006 book. That material did not appear in the Times. At a court appearance January 10 in St. Louis, the officer who worked for the CIA from 1993 until he was fired in 2002, agreed to the transfer to Virginia, where CIA headquarters are located and the charges were filed. Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/11/us/11brfs-EXCIAOFFICER_BRF.html?_r=1
January 11, Reuters – (Colorado; National) Would be TSA saboteur sentenced to 2 years in prison. A former data analyst for the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) was sentenced January 11 to 2 years in federal prison for trying to sabotage a computer network used for screening airline passengers. The man admitted in 2010 to attempting to load malicious code into TSA computer servers in October 2009, about 1 week after being told he was being let go from his position at the agency’s operations center. The man had worked at the Colorado Springs, Colorado facility for 5 years, employed by government contractor InfoZen to update TSA computers with data from the Terrorist Screening Database and the U.S. Marshals Service Warrant Information Network. The computers are used by the TSA to screen passengers at U.S. airports with information furnished by intelligence and law enforcement agencies to prevent individuals who pose a threat from boarding commercial flights. The man pleaded guilty in October to one count of attempting to damage a protected computer, an offense that carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and $500,000 fine. But the judge agreed to prosecutors’ recommendation of a 2-year prison term, taking into account security concerns posed by the public disclosure of evidence had the case gone to trial. Source: http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE70A6JS20110111
Agenda: The Obama-Hu Summit | STRATFOR
EUROPE
Germany: Arms Manufacturer Banned From Deliveries To Mexico January 13, 2011
The German government has banned weapons manufacturer Heckler and Koch GmbH from any new arms deliveries to Mexico amid concerns they are ending up in areas of the country where Berlin has forbidden weapons exports over human rights issues, Forbes reported Jan. 13, citing a letter obtained by AP. The letter, sent by the Economic Ministry to Heckler and Koch on Jan. 4, said the company’s exports of “weapons and other defense goods” to Mexico are suspended, pending an investigation.
ASIA
Obstacles to Japanese-South Korean Military Cooperation | STRATFOR
India: Army Reform Proposed January 13, 2011
The Indian Army will establish a Strategic Command to manage the three Strike Corps under a ‘transformation study’ composed by high-level officials for Army chief Gen. V K Singh when he was heading to the Eastern Command, The Times of India reported, Jan. 13. Both the military and the defense ministry said they are prepared to implement the proposal, according to an Army source. The new Strategic Command will absorb either the Jaipur-based South-Western Command or the Pune-based Southern Command and feature a Mountain Corps for the border with China, the source said.
RUSSIA
Russia: Construction Begins For Military Towns In Kaliningrad January 13, 2011
Russia has begun building four full-scale towns for servicemen serving in Baltic Fleet units in the exclave of Kaliningrad, Baltic Fleet Commander Vice Adm. Viktor Chirkov said Jan. 13, Interfax reported. The towns will be built in Kaliningrad, Baltiysk, Gvardeysk and Gusev, and will contain barracks, service facilities, canteens, parks, and storage facilities for military hardware and arms, according to Chirkov. Funds have already been allocated for the construction of the towns, and Russia hopes to have the first one completed within two years, Chirkov added.
IRAN
Iran: U.S. Identifies 24 IRISL, AIO Companies January 13, 2011
Twenty-four shipping companies affiliated with the Islamic republic of Iran Shipping Lines and two entities that are subordinates of Iran’s Aerospace Industries Organization (AIO) were identified, the U.S. Department of the Treasury stated Jan. 13. AIO is a subsidiary of Iran’s Ministry of Defense and Armed Forces Logistics, the arm of the Iranian military that oversees its ballistic missile program and Iran’s missile industries. Designated companies include Starry Shine International Limited, Ideal Success Investments Limited, Top Glacier Company Limited, Top Prestige Trading Limited, Shahid Ahmad Kazemi Industries Group and M. Babaie Industries.
Russia: FM Comments On Visa Regime, Arctic Resources January 13, 2011
Russia and the European Union will move closer to a mutual visa-free travel regime in 2011 after a list of problems is compiled and resolved by the end of the year, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Jan. 13, RIA Novosti reported. Lavrov also commented on Arctic resources saying rumors of a war over them are due to political and judicial solutions, but are unfounded. Russia, the United States, Canada Denmark and Norway are seeking to assert jurisdiction over parts of the Arctic, believed to contain 25 percent of the world’s oil and gas.
IRAQ
NOTHING SIGNIFICANT TO REPORT
ISRAEL
Israel: Army Collecting Weapons From West Bank Settlers January 14, 2011
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) are collecting weapons the army gave West Bank settlers in light of the relative calm in the territories recently, Ynet News reported Jan. 14. The improved security situation in the West Bank, along with a large increase in weapon thefts, led to the decision to make military weapons less available to settlers. IDF officials also expressed concern that the armed settlers could take the law into their own hands. A military source told Ynet that thousands of weapons will be collected and that weapons will be returned to residents if needed, “but under supervision.”
Palestinian Territories: Guyana Recognizes Palestine As A State January 13, 2011
Guyana said it hopes the increasing recognition of the state of Palestine will contribute to a resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, in a Foreign Ministry statement released Jan. 14, Al Jazeera reported. Guyana’s has a long standing commitment to the right of self determination for the people of Palestine to achieve a homeland of their own, independent, free, prosperous and at peace, the statement said.
Palestinian Territories: Gazan Leaders Commit To Truce January 13, 2011
Gaza’s leaders will ensure a truce in place on rocket fire against Israel, an unnamed minister said Jan. 13, AFP reported. The minister said the militant factions there, which agreed to calm on Jan. 12, will not give Israel reason to launch a war. Hamas security forces positioned in the border’s northern and eastern sectors to enforce the truce. He said Israel knows that Gaza is quieter now than it has been since 2007.
AFGHANISTAN
Afghanistan: Taliban No Longer Oppose Girls' Education - Minister January 14, 2011
The Afghan Taliban no longer oppose girls’ going to school, the Afghan Eucation Minister Gholam Faruq Wardag said, Tolo TV reported Jan. 14. Wardag said senior Taliban were no longer opposed to education, including for girls.
Afghanistan: People Ask Taliban For Adjudication - Minister January 13, 2011
The lack of an effective judicial system in parts of Afghanistan is leading Afghans to seek adjudication from the Taliban, Afghan Justice Minister Habibollah Ghaleb said, Pajhwok news agency reported Jan. 13.
Pakistan: 20 NATO Tankers Attacked January 15, 2011
Unidentified militants attacked and set fire to at least 20 NATO fuel supply tankers Jan. 14 near Dear Murad Jamali in the Naseerabad area of Balochistan, Geo News reported. The ambush took place as the drivers were on break, according to police sources. Gunfire also hit nearby shops and hotels, witnesses said. Law enforcement officials were not yet on scene.
MIDDLE EAST
NOTHING SIGNIFICANT TO REPORT
SOUTH OF THE BORDER
Mexico: 16 Killed In Firefight In Veracruz January 14, 2011
Unconfirmed reports indicated that at least 16 people were killed in a firefight between soldiers and suspected cartel gunmen in Xalapa, Veracruz state, El Universal reported Jan. 14. The incident began late Jan. 13 in the Higueras neighborhood and lasted approximately five hours.
Colombia: Drug Trafficker Linked To Sinaloa Cartel Arrested January 13, 2011
Colombian police arrested suspected Colombian drug trafficker and key Sinaloa cartel associate Julio Enrique Ayala Munoz in the western city of Cali on Jan. 12, El Universal reported Jan. 13. Ayala Munoz faces charges in the United States and could be extradited.
Mexico: Mayor Killed In Oaxaca State January 13, 2011
Unidentified gunmen killed Luis Jimenez Mata, the mayor of Santiago Amoltepec, Oaxaca state, Mexico, at his residence, El Universal reported Jan. 13. The attackers reportedly arrived at the mayor’s house and shot him as he answered the door.
MISC
Dispatch: 2011 Annual Forecast | STRATFOR
Except where noted courtesy www.stratfor.com
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