What's going on in the World Today 110219

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USA

U.S.: Pacific AirSea Battle Concept Described February 18, 2011

The AirSea Battle Concept is a natural progression that will enhance the capabilities of the United States in the Asia Pacific and respond to China’s “anti-access” strategy to drive U.S. forces out of the western Pacific or limit their access to allies, Commander of the U.S. Pacific Command Adm. Robert Willard said, The Washington Times reported Feb. 18. The Marine Corps was added to the AirSea Battle Concept due to the growing assertiveness of China’s military, for use in sensitive scenarios, such as ejecting Chinese forces from disputed islands in the East China or South China Seas, another defense official said. The Battle Concept will also expand war games in Asia against simulated Chinese forces

EUROPE
NOTHING SIGNIFICANT TO REPORT

ASIA
NOTHING SIGNIFICANT TO REPORT

RUSSIA

Russia: Moscow To Deploy Missiles On Kuril Islands - Source February 18,
2011

Moscow will deploy S-400 Triumf surface-to-air missile systems on the Kuril Islands to more effectively shield Russian navy facilities, Interfax reported Feb. 18, citing a Russian General Staff representative. Previously, aerospace defense strategic commander Lt. Gen. Valery Ivanov said an S-400 Triumf system would be in service with the Air Defense Troops, but the representative said the decision was unrelated to the threats of North Korea’s nuclear missile program and the missiles were not part of the plan to reinforce the troops on the Kuril Islands

Russia: New Missile Defense Announced February 17, 2011

Russia will begin serial production of its next-generation missile system, the S-500, in 2014, according to aerospace defense strategic commander Lt. Gen. Valery Ivanov, RIA Novosti reported. The S-500 will be able to track and destroy ballistic missiles with ranges of up to 3,500 kilometers and defend territories at a height of up to 50 kilometers, Ivanov said, adding, more air defenses will be deployed around Moscow.

Krasnoyarsk, Interfax reported Feb. 18. Russia needs an additional 0.5 percent of gross domestic product for defense industry development, Kudrin said

Russia: 3 Vacationers Shot To Death, 2 Injured February 19, 2011

Three vacationers were shot to death after their minibus was forced to stop by masked gunmen in a black car who demanded to see their documents, Reuters reported Feb. 19. The tourists, from the Moscow area, were on a road in Kabardino-Balkaria in the North Caucasus region, according to Russian news agencies. The five passengers of the minivan asked for identification when stopped, then the assailants shot two men and a woman to death and wounded the other two. Separately, a cable-car support pole near Mount Elbrus was blown up late Feb. 18, bringing down dozens of cabins; no one was injured.

IRAN

Iran: Extra Guards Outside Opposition Leader's Home February 18, 2011

Additional security guards have been posted outside the home of Iranian opposition leader Mir Hossein Mousavi, who is under house arrest, BBC reported Feb. 18. The masked guards are reportedly from the prosecutor’s office and are stopping people from entering the house

Iran: Opposition Calls For Rooftop Protest February 17, 2011

Iranian opposition websites have called for Iranians to chant “God is great” and “Death to the dictator” from their rooftops the evening of Feb. 17, The Green Voice of Freedom’s website said.
Iran: Vessel's Suez Transit Delay Caused By Bank Closures - Official

Iran: Somali Pirates Arrested February 19, 2011

Iranian navy forces captured and detained two suspected Somali pirates near the southeastern port city of Chabahar after pirates hijacked an Iranian fishing boat, according to Press TV, Trend.az reported Feb. 19. Iranian forces disarmed and boarded the ship near Pozm, about 52 km (32 miles) west of Chabahar. Iranian officials did not elaborate on where the vessel was attacked and hijacked

Iran: Opposition Calls For Rally Feb. 20 February 17, 2011 An Iranian opposition group called for protests in Tehran and elsewhere at 3 p.m. local time (1130 GMT) Feb. 20 to honor those killed in protests earlier the week of Feb. 13, Al Arabiya reported Feb. 17. The call was posted on Kaleme.com, the website of Mir Hossein Mousavi, as well as on Rahesabz.net by the Green Path of Hope Coordination Council

Egypt: Iranian Ships To Use Suez Canal February 19, 2011

Egypt approved two Iranian naval ships sailing through the Suez Canal to the Mediterranean on Feb. 21, according to a Suez Canal official, Reuters reported. The vessels would arrive at the southern mouth of the canal in the Red Sea’s Gulf of Suez on Feb. 20 and would enter the canal in the northern convoy, completing the journey to the Mediterranean by end of day Feb. 21, the official stated.

IRAQ

Iraq: Protesters Condemn Corruption In Kurdish City February 17, 2011 Protesters rallied at the Sara Gate Square in Sulaymaniyah, northern Iraq, demanding immediate political reforms and condemning corruption, Awene newspaper reported Feb. 17. Approximately 2,500 gathered at 2 p.m. local time, carrying banners against the dominance of the families of Kurdistan Regional Government President Massoud Barzani and Iraqi President Jalal Talabani. The main opposition Change Movement did not officially join the protest, but a smaller opposition group known as the Kurdistan Islamic Union sent 200 demonstrators

ISRAEL
NOTHING SIGNIFICANT TO REPORT

AFGHANISTAN
NOTHING SIGNIFICANT TO REPORT

MIDDLE EAST

SOUTH OF THE BORDER
U.S.: Cartel May Be Behind U.S. Agent Shooting- Congressman February 17, 2011

Rep. Michael McCaul said that new information suggests that the killing of U..S. Immigration agent Jaime Zapata was a hit by the Zetas drug cartel, CNN reported Feb. 17. Federal immigration officials briefed McCaul, saying that Zapata and U.S. Immigration agent Victor Avila were returning to Mexico City from a meeting with U.S. officials in Monterrey and stopped at a Subway restaurant in San Luis Potosi. Afterward, as they were driving, two vehicles believed to be carrying members of the Zetas forced the officers off the road by braking in front of them. According to reports, the agents’ doors automatically unlocked when they put the car in park. In the struggle to lock the doors, the vehicle’s window was partially rolled down. Zapata and Avila told the 10-15 gunmen that they were American diplomats, and the gunmen opened fire through the cracked window. Investigators recovered 83 shell casings at the scene.

MISC
Somalia: Pirates Capture 4 U.S. Citizens February 18, 2011 Pirates captured four U.S. citizens on a yacht in the Indian Ocean off the Somali coast, Somalia’s U.N. Mission announced Feb. 18, the Washington Post reported. The pirates hijacked the yacht, identified as the S/V Quest.. The mission is calling for the immediate release of the four hostages and other captives held by pirates


Except where noted courtesy www.stratfor.com