USAPakistan: ISI Cuts Off Contact With CIA February 23, 2011
Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) agency’s relationship with the CIA has been put into question after the shooting death of two Pakistanis by Raymond Davis, a contracted agent of the United States, AP reported Feb. 23, citing an obtained unreleased ISI statement. An unnamed ISI official told AP that the ISI had no idea who Davis was when he was arrested and that the ISI fears that there are hundreds of CIA-contracted agents operating in Pakistan without the knowledge of either the Pakistani government or the ISI. The ISI knows and works with senior CIA officials in Pakistan, the official said, adding that it is upsetting that the CIA would secretly send other agents to Pakistan. The official said that the ISI is currently not talking to the CIA at any level, even the most senior level, and that in order to regain support and assistance from the ISI, the CIA must start showing more respect.
EUROPE
NOTHING SIGNIFICANT TO REPORT
ASIA
Dispatch: Middle East Unrest and China's Resource Interests
India: Thousands Protest High Food Prices February 23, 2011
At least 50,000 Indian trade unionists marched through the streets of New Delhi toward the parliament building to protest high food prices, Reuters reported Feb. 23.
RUSSIA
Russia: NATO Missile Defense Shield Group To Form February 22, 2011
Russia will form an interdepartmental working group to cooperate with NATO in developing a missile defense shield by Mar. 18, or earlier if circumstances permit, Russia’s envoy to NATO Dmitri Rogozin said, Interfax reported Feb. 22. Speaking from Moscow, Rogozin said the group will be responsible for coordinating negotiations with NATO on the counter-missile dossier, adding Russia will remove all obstacles if NATO and Moscow cease military plans against each other. Rogozin said American missile defense systems create risks to the new START treaty, adding Russia will transit NATO cargo to Afghanistan only by air.
Russia: S-300 Shipment To Algeria To Proceed February 22, 2011
Russian state-owned arms exporter Rosoboronexport vowed to fulfill an order to deliver a second battalion of S-300 strategic air defense batteries to Algeria, Interfax reported Feb. 22, citing the company’s director for special missions. Algeria’s deputy defense minister visited the firm to discuss the contract, the director said. Saudi Arabia may sign large weapons deals with Rosoboronexport despite regional unrest, he added.
IRAN
Iran: Russia To Sign Isotope Delivery Agreement February 23, 2011
Russia is ready to sign an agreement to deliver radioactive isotopes for medical purposes to Iran, RT News Line reported Feb. 22. According to a Rosatom spokesman, no exact delivery date was set, but during a Feb. 22 visit to Iran, Russia’s nuclear agency Rosatom’s chief Sergei Kiriyenko discussed Iran’s request for molybdenum-99 and iodine-131 isotopes.
IRAQ
NOTHING SIGNIFICANT TO REPORT
ISRAEL
Israel: Iran Could Detonate Nuclear Device In 2011 - DM February 23, 2011
Iran could detonate a nuclear device within a year as it overcomes problems in its nuclear program, but they are still “several years” away from delivering a nuclear weapon on a medium-range missile, Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak said, AFP reported Feb. 24. Iran is moving slower than expected and has encountered obstacles along the way, including the possibility of cyber-warfare, Barak said, adding, “they keep moving forward” and are accumulating more mid-level enriched uranium, “that should be disturbing to us.”
Israel: Troops Fire On Militants Following Bomb Attack February 23, 2011 Israeli tank fire wounded 11 people, including at least six militants, in the Gaza Strip Feb. 23 following an attack on an Israeli patrol, the military and Palestinian officials said, AP reported. The Israeli military said its tanks fired on militants after the militants detonated a bomb targeting the Israeli patrol near the border. Militants then fired mortars at the soldiers. Gaza health officials say two of the wounded militants were in serious condition. Islamic Jihad and Hamas militants said they fired mortars at the troops.
AFGHANISTAN
NOTHING SIGNIFICANT TO REPORT
MIDDLE EAST
Dispatch: Gadhafi's Uphill Battle
Egypt: Thousands Protest After Priest Found Dead February 23, 2011
Thousands of Coptic Christians protested in the city of Assiut for the second day on Feb. 23 after a priest was found stabbed to death in his home, Daily News Egypt reported. Over 3,000 protesters marched on Feb. 22.
Egypt: MB Calls For Protests Against New Cabinet February 23, 2011
The Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood (MB) is planning a rally on Feb. 25 in Tahrir Square, Cairo, to demand a new government, Al Bawaba reported Feb. 23, citing Al-Quds Al-Arabi. The MB was banned during former President Hosni Mubarak’s rule and is demanding a government that does not include anyone who served under Mubarak. Senior MB leader Essam el-Erian said the defense, justice, interior and foreign ministers have not changed and that indicates Egypt’s policy will remain “in the hands of Mubarak and his followers.”
Libya: Former Minister Urges Army To Join People February 22, 2011
Former Libyan Interior Minister Gen. Abdul Fattah Younes, who defected from Moammar Gadhafi’s regime, has urged the Libyan army to join the people and respond to their demands, echoing similar statements made by Egyptian military leaders prior to the resignations of President Hosni Mubarak, Al Jazeera reported Feb. 22 Saudi Arabia: King Spends On Housing, Education, Social Welfare February 23, 2011
Saudi King Abdullah increased spending on housing by 40 billion riyals ($10.7 billion) as well as boosting the social security budget by 1 billion riyals and earmarking funds for education, Bloomberg reported Feb. 23, citing Saudi state-run television. Amid popular uprisings in the Arab world, Abdullah also ordered the creation of 1,200 jobs in supervision programs and made permanent a 15 percent cost-of-living allowance for government employees.
Bahrain: 308 Political Prisoners Freed February 23, 2011
Bahrain released 308 political prisoners on Feb. 23, DPA reported, citing a government statement. Many of the prisoners claimed to have been tortured.
Yemen: Students Killed At Rally February 22, 2011
Two students were killed during a rally of more than 1,000 anti-government protesters in Sanaa, Yemen, Al Jazeera reported Feb. 22. According to witnesses, 20 other protesters were injured when supporters of Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh fired shots and threw rocks at the rallying protesters. About 1,000 students spent the night camped in a large tent in Al-Huriya (Liberty) Square, near Sanaa University.
SOUTH OF THE BORDER
Mexico: U.S. Intelligence Agencies Not Coordinating - President February 22, 2011
Mexican President Felipe Calderon denied that a lack of coordination was undermining the fight against drug cartels, instead blaming the rivalry between U.S. intelligence agencies, according to El Universal, Reuters reported Feb. 22. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, CIA, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement constantly attempt to outdo one another while refusing to take responsibility, Calderon said. U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Carlos Pascual has demonstrated “ignorance” about events in the country and distorted reality, Calderon added.
Venezuela: Russian Delivery Of S-300 Missile Systems Delayed February 22, 2011
Russian delivery of S-300 missile defense systems to Venezuela was delayed but will go ahead as the contract exists but has not yet been implemented, according to Russian state-owned arms exporter Rosoboronexport’s Special Programs Director Nikolai Dimidyuk, RIA Novosti reported Feb. 22. Dimidyuk said Venezuela rescheduled the delivery date several times but a timeframe has now been reached.
MISC
Above the Tearline: Attack Recognition and Evasive Action | STRATFOR
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