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USA
U.S. Naval Update Map: Jan. 26, 2011 | STRATFOR
EUROPE
NATO: Missile Defense Capability Announced January 27, 2011
NATO announced the development of a system capable of linking various nations’ anti-missile weapons to defend soldiers in the field, DPA reported Jan. 27. The theater ballistic missile defense (TBMD) capability was handed over to NATO military commanders in Uedem, Germany, after NATO technicians successfully computer-tested a software system that linked anti-missile systems from France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and the United States. The TBMD system was awarded interim capability, which allows commanders to do limited missile defense planning and swap information with national ballistic missile defense assets.
U.K.: 5 Cyber Activists Arrested January 27, 2011
British police, in conjunction with U.S. and European law enforcement agencies, arrested a 20-year-old man and a 26 year-old-man for their involvement in “distributed denial of service” attacks by Anonymous, a group of cyber activists, U.K. World News reported Jan. 27. Police also arrested three boys, ages 15, 16 and 19. The arrests were made in London and other parts of the England.
ASIA
China: Egypt Blocked From Internet Searches January 30, 2011
China blocked the word “Egypt” from micro-blog internet searches including web portal sites Sina.com and Sohu.com which are comparable to Twitter, Reuters reported Jan. 30. Search results for “Egypt” said the resulting page could not be found or displayed according to regulations. The move shows the Chinese government is concerned that anti-government protests calling for reforms could spill into China’s internet space.
China Security Memo: Jan. 26, 2011 | STRATFOR
RUSSIA
Russia: NATO To Stage Joint Anti-Missile Defense In 2011 January 28, 2011
Russia and NATO could stage joint anti-missile defense (AMD) drills in late 2011 or early 2012, Interfax reported Jan. 28. According to NATO’s information bureau chief in Moscow Robert Pszczel, an agreement on AMD cooperation has been reached and preparations for large-scale exercises are expected to last several months.
Russia: Submarine To Be Deployed January 21, 2011
The Russian Black Sea Fleet’s submarine, the Alrosa will undertake its first deployment in the Mediterranean Sea for three months, according to a military-diplomatic source, Interfax reported Jan. 21. The Alrosa will surface to pass through the Bosphorus in summer, however, this has not been completely settled with Turkish authorities, the source said, adding, the Alrosa will be accompanied by a group of ships in charge of anti-submarine defense and air defense.
EGYPT
Agenda: With George Friedman on Egypt | STRATFOR
Intelligence Guidance: Mubarak and the Egyptian Military | STRATFOR
The Egyptian Unrest: A Special Report | STRATFOR
Internal Security Forces Creating Problems for Egypt's Army | STRATFOR
Egypt: 3,000 Prisoners Arrested January 30, 2011
Egyptian security forces have arrested 3,113 prisoners that had been freed by protesters during unrest in the country, QNA reported Jan. 31.
Egypt: Gaza Border Closed January 30, 2011
Egypt closed its border with the Palestinian militant group Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip, according to Gaza Palestinian border official Ghazi Hamad, AP reported Jan. 30. The border terminal at Rafah had been expected to reopen Jan. 30 following the routine two-day weekend closure. Hamad said he expects the closure to last several more days.
Egypt: Palestinian Prisoners Arrive In Gaza January 30, 2011
Palestinian prisoners who escaped during the riots from the Abu Zabaal prison in Egypt arrived in the Gaza Strip, according to Palestinian sources who quoted a prisoner who reached his home in the al Bureij refugee camp, YNet News reported Jan. 30. According to the prisoner, Egyptian security forces killed all the political prisoners detained in the prison.
Egypt: Families Of Wealthy Businessmen Reportedly Leave Country January 29, 2011
A Cairo airport official said 19 private jets took off from the airport, carrying the families of wealthy Egyptian and Arab businessmen, Business Week reported. The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the planes left Saturday and most were headed for Dubai. The passengers included relatives of Hussein Salem, a hotel tycoon and close friend of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, and relatives of Naguib Sawiris, the executive chairman of Orascom Telecom.
Egypt: Mubarak's Sons Reportedly In U.K. January 29, 2011
Rumors are circulating that Mubarak’s sons, Gamal, All and Jamal arrived in London on Jan. 29 with their families and are moving from house to house under tight security, according to Arab diplomatic sources.
Egypt: April 6 Movement Calls For General Strike January 30, 2011
Members of Egypt’s pro-democracy April 6 movement called on Egyptians to begin a general strike on Jan. 30 that would last until the demands of the people are met, Al-Masry Al-Youm reported. Speaking during a press conference, the group also said it was trying to persuade the army to side with the people. April 6 leader Ahmed Maher announced his group’s rejection of President Hosni Mubarak’s Jan. 28 speech, calling it the same repeated nonsense they have heard for the past 30 years. The group urged all Egyptians to continue the uprising until Mubarak steps down. In addition, Maher blamed the country’s security forces for the vandalism and theft seen in Cairo because they released thugs and convicts from prisons to terrorize the populace.
Egypt: 34 MB Members Walk Out Of Prison January 30, 2011
Around 34 members of the Muslim Brotherhood (MB), including leaders Essam el-Aryan and Saad el-Katatni, walked out of Wadi Natrun prison north of Cairo unhindered Jan. 30 after guards abandoned their posts during anti-government protests, a lawyer for one of the escapees said in an interview with AFP, Reuters reported. The escapees had been arrested Jan. 27 for their participation in the protests. A security source told AFP that several thousand inmates overwhelmed the guards during the night of Jan. 29. However, MB leader Mohammed Mursi told Al Jazeera that the members of his group did not escape as the doors of the prison were opened by the residents.
Egypt: Opposition Figure Says He Will Support ElBaradei January 30, 2011
In an interview with Al Jazeera television, Ayman Nour, a political opponent of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak who spent more than three years in jail, said he and his allies have agreed to cooperate with Mohamed ElBaradei and the movement against Mubarak, BBC News reported Jan. 30. According to Nour, he and his allies will not conduct negotiations with the government; rather, they will conduct negotiations with the Egyptian military to seek assistance in their cause.
Egypt: Funerals Turn Into Protests In Alexandria January 30, 2011
Funerals for the victims of violent demonstrations in Egypt have turned into protests in the city of Alexandria, where several police stations have already been set on fire, Al Jazeera reported Jan. 30. Protesters are also defying the nationwide curfew.
IRAN
NOTHING SIGNIFICANT TO REPORT
IRAQ
Iraq: France Offers To Sell Mirage Fighter Jets January 27, 2011
France offered to sell 18 Mirage fighter jets to Iraq for 733 million euros ($1 billion), AFP reported Jan. 27. Deliveries of the Mirage F1 retrofitted jets could begin in late 2011, and the aircraft would be immediately operational since Iraqi pilots have been trained on them, the French ambassador said. Because of the price, the Mirage deal would not affect a deal currently being negotiated between the United States and Iraq for F-16 fighter jets, he added.
ISRAEL
Israel: Change In Egypt Would Force IDF Shift - Source January 28, 2011
A fundamental shift in Egypt’s government could force a “revolution in Israel’s security doctrine,” an unnamed defense official said, Ynet reported Jan. 28. The official emphasized that the peace treaty with Egypt is an important strategic asset, allowing the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to focus elsewhere. The IDF would need to allocate major resources to devote attention to the Egyptian front as well, the source said. This would not mean that Egypt is immediately an enemy country, but the IDF’s attention would need to shift, the source added.
Israel: Controlled Explosion At IDF Testing Site January 27, 2011
The Geophysical Institute of Israel carried out a controlled explosion of 100 tons of explosives at the ground forces testing site of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) in the Negev, Harretz reported Jan. 27. The test allowed the institute to calibrate the instruments of seismic stations that monitor nuclear testing throughout the world.
AFGHANISTAN
Afghanistan: Deputy Provincial Governor Killed January 28, 2011
The deputy provincial governor of Kandahar, south Afghanistan, was killed by a roadside explosive device, according to sources, Al Jazeera reported Jan. 29. Several bodyguards were also killed, sources said.
Afghanistan: Delegation Leaves For Iran January 28, 2011
An Afghan delegation led by Finance Minister Omar Zakhelwal and representatives from the Ministry of Economy and the Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Industries left for Iran on Jan. 28, Afghanistan’s Pajhwok news agency reported. The visit is to discuss an agreement reached recently with Iran’s ambassador to Afghanistan, who reportedly promised a solution to a fuel tanker blockade affecting fuel shipments from Iran to Afghanistan.
MIDDLE EAST
NOTHING SIGNIFICANT TO REPORT
SOUTH OF THE BORDER
U.S. Missionary Killed in Mexico | STRATFOR
Mexico: Soldiers Seize Record Amount Of Opium January 21, 2011
Mexican soldiers confiscated 245 kilos (540 pounds) of opium from a home in the town of Chilpancingo in Guerrero state, AFP reported Jan. 21, citing the Secretariat of National Defense.
MISC
AQAP: Inspiring Jihadists During Times of Failure and Defeat
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