USA
United States: New Terror Alert System Announced April 20, 2011
A new terrorism warning system will provide the public with information on specific threats, replacing the color-coded alerts put into effect following the September 11, 2001, attacks, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said April 20, CNN reported. Napolitano said a main goal was to provide a clearer understanding of the nature of the specific threat, what people should do in response to it and how to help security officials in responding. She said the new system, which will take effect on April 26, has two levels of alerts, compared to the previous system’s five levels. The two alert levels of the new system are “elevated threat” and “imminent threat.”
PERSONAL COMMENT: Gee, I feel safer already...we gonna pat down 5 year olds now instead of 6 year olds?
EUROPE
NOTHING SIGNIFICANT TO REPORT
ASIA
Dispatch: Truckers Strike in Shanghai | STRATFOR
RUSSIA
Russia: Air Force Begins Large-Scale Drills April 19, 2011
The Russian air force began large-scale two-day exercises over the Baltic, North and Black seas on April 19, the Russian Defense Ministry said, Xinhua reported. A total of 45 warplanes, including MiG-29s, MiG-31s and Su-27s, will participate in air-to-air missile launches, refueling operations and team-building exercises, the ministry said.
Russia, France: Helicopter Carrier Contract Will Take Time April 20, 2011
A contract regarding the Russian navy’s purchase of two French Mistral-class helicopter carriers will not be signed any earlier than 2012 due to the complicated preperation process, a diplomatic military source said April 20, Interfax reported. The source said the political decision to buy the carriers was decided long ago and the process may take several months or even years to complete, though pre-contract work is under way.
Russia: Nord Stream Undersea Section Finished In July April 20, 2011
Russia will finish emplacing the undersea section of the Nord Stream pipeline in July, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said April 20 in his annual address to parliament, RIA Novosti reported. Putin said Europeans will receive natural gas via the pipeline in October 2011.
IRAN
Iran: Army Ready To Send Peacekeeping Force Abroad - Commander April 20, 2011
Iran’s army is ready to send troops on peacekeeping missions throughout the world, the commander of Iran’s ground forces, Brig. Gen. Ahmad Reza Pourdastan, said on the sidelines of the April 19 Army Day commemoration ceremony, IRNA and FNA reported April 20. The Iranian army has formed and trained a peacekeeping battalion, Pourdastan said. The unit is awaiting orders to be sent to nations specified by the United Nations, Pourdastan said. He rejected speculation that Tehran intended to send the unit to Bahrain.
Iran: Regional Countries Invited To Observe War Games April 20, 2011
The Iranian Army Ground Force will stage war games in 2011 and plans to invite regional countries to participate as observers, Iranian Army Ground Force Commander Brig. Gen. Ahmad Reza Pourdastan said on the sidelines of a meeting with foreign military officials in Tehran April 19, Fars News Agency reported April 20.
IRAQ
Iraq: Security Forces Deployed In Sulaymaniyah April 19, 2011
A security force of roughly 5,000 was deployed April 19 in Sara Square in the northern Iraqi city of Sulaymaniyah, where protests have occurred daily, privately owned Awene weekly reported. Shops on Mawlawi, Piramerd, Kawa and Goran, the main streets in the marketplace, were closed, according to the report. Security forces also detained students aboard 17 buses en route to the courthouse for a protest.
ISRAEL
NOTHING SIGNIFICANT TO REPORT
AFGHANISTAN
NOTHING SIGNIFICANT TO REPORT
MIDDLE EAST
Kuwait: Iranian Spy Cell Planned Attacks - FM April 21, 2011
An alleged Iranian espionage cell uncovered in Kuwait in May 2010 had surveilled U.S. military facilities and planned to bomb strategic Kuwaiti facilities with explosives found in its possession, Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammad al-Salem al-Sabah said April 21, Reuters reported. The cell possessed the names of officers and other sensitive information, al-Sabah said. He said despite the incident, Kuwait wants good relations with Iran, but Tehran must respect the sovereignty of the Gulf Cooperation Council states.
SOUTH OF THE BORDER
NOTHING SIGNIFICANT TO REPORT
MISC
NOTHING SIGNIFICANT TO REPORT
Except where noted courtesy www.stratfor.com
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