USA
U.S. Naval Update Map: Sept. 21, 2011
U.S.: UAV Bases Being Built In Africa, Arabian Peninsula September 21, 2011
The Obama administration is building secret unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) bases for counterterrorism operations in the Horn of Africa and the Arabian Peninsula, specifically Ethiopia, the Seychelles and Djibouti, as part of a new campaign targeting al Qaeda affiliates in Somalia and Yemen, U.S. officials said, The Washington Post reported Sept. 21. The CIA is also building an airstrip in the Arabian Peninsula to allow for the deployment of UAVs over Yemen.
September 19, Defense News – (National) Schwartz: F-22 grounding ends this week. The F-22 Raptor will take to the air September 21 after 4 months on the ground for safety reasons. The U.S. Air Force Chief of Staff announced an end to the fleetwide stand-down September 19 — first in a letter to Congress, then in a statement posted on the Air Force's Web site. The chief approved a plan developed by Air Combat Command that allows the 160 twin-engine fighters to fly above 50,000 feet — the Raptor flies at 60,000 feet in normal circumstances — after an extensive inspection of every aircraft's life support systems. The systems also will be inspected daily. In addition, the plan calls for pilots to undergo physiological tests and to use additional protective equipment, although the statement did not specify the equipment. In his statement, the Chief said he based his decision on studies conducted by the Air Force Scientific Advisory Board, which has been investigating the Raptor since the standdown took effect May 3. Source: http://www.defensenews.com/story.php?i=7725181&c=AME&s=AIR
September 17, NewsCore – (Michigan) Homemade bomb found in women's restroom in Detroit. A homemade bomb was discovered September 17 inside the ladies' restroom at Adi's Coney Island diner in Detroit, causing a section of the city to go into lockdown. A restaurant employee discovered the device, which police called an IED (improvised explosive device) around 3 p.m. and called police. The entire neighborhood was blocked off and businesses closed while investigators swept the area for other potential threats. Members of the bomb squad detonated the explosive at a nearby car wash. Officials said people could have been seriously hurt if the device had gone off inside the bathroom. A glass bottle was inside the plastic shell, and it was loaded with gasoline, police said. The DHS is investigating and the person(s) responsible will likely face federal charges. Source: http://www.foxnews.com/us/2011/09/17/homemade-bomb-found-in-womensrestroom-in-Detroit/
EUROPE
New York Times – (International) Siemens abandoning nuclear power business. Siemens, the largest engineering conglomerate in Europe, announced September 18 that following the German government’s decision to phase out nuclear power by 2022, it would stop building nuclear power plants anywhere in the world. Siemens, which built all of Germany’s 17 nuclear power plants, is the first big company to announce such a shift in strategy. But other German companies involved in the nuclear energy industry are also reconsidering their options. The company will continue to produce some products used in nuclear power. “We will provide conventional steam turbines that can be used for nuclear power plants and conventional power plants,” a spokesman for Siemens’ energy business said. Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/19/business/global/19ihtsiemens19.html?_r=1&partner=rss&emc=rss
ASIA
Dispatch: India and China Compete For Influence in the South China Sea
U.S.: Officials Plan To Sell Taiwan F-16 Upgrades September 21, 2011
U.S. President Barack Obama’s administration submitted to Congress on Sept. 21 a proposed sale that would provide Taiwan upgrades for F-16 A/B jets rather than new C/D F-16 jet models, Bloomberg reported. The deal allows Taiwan to get $5.3 billion in upgrades for 145 Lockheed Martin Corp F-16 A/B fighter jets. According to Pentagon notices on the Defense Security Cooperation Agency’s website, the upgrades include radar, communications, guided bombs and other technology and training. The United States would sell $52 million in spare parts and a $500 million pilot training and support program to Taiwan.
RUSSIA
Ukraine Joins Russia, Belarus in Military Exercises
IRAN
Dispatch: Freed Hikers and Iran's Power Struggle
IRAQ
NOTHING SIGNIFICANT TO REPORT
ISRAEL
NOTHING SIGNIFICANT TO REPORT
AFGHANISTAN
Rabbani Assassination Raises Questions As Negotiations Begin
Afghanistan Weekly War Update: Haqqani Network Hints at Joining Negotiations
MIDDLE EAST
Pakistani Taliban Attack a Police Official's Home
Egypt: Emergency Laws Will Stay In Place - Official September 21, 2011
Egyptian emergency laws will continue functioning through June 2012, the head of Egypt’s ruling military council, Gen. Adel El-Moursi, told Egyptian news agency MENA Sept. 21, Ahram Online reported.
SOUTH OF THE BORDER
Leaks from Colombia's Internal Intelligence Agency
Above the Tearline: Mexican Cartels and the Threat to Journalists
MISC
Geopolitical Calendar: Week of Sept. 19, 2011
Intelligence Guidance: U.S.-Taliban Talks, Iran's Power Struggle, Greek Austerity
September 20, Softpedia – (Texas) 3D printers used to create ATM skimmers. ATM skimmers were printed with high-tech 3D devices by a group of fraudsters who managed to steal more than $400,000 from unsuspecting bank customers, Softpedia reported September 20. The thieves replicated credit card slots on automated teller machines. The four men indicted by a federal court in June used a 3D printer to create scanners to place on ATMs. The scam began after the gang's leader was imprisoned for ATM fraud in 2009. The group's technical expert decided to print the front of ATM slots. The accomplice who handled the “heavy lifting” was a man from Missouri City, Texas. He was in charge with mounting skimmers on the machines, making sure that the surveillance camera's were blocked. The last member of the gang had the mission of driving all around Texas, emptying the bank accounts of the victims. According to the owner of a company that handles 3D printing, costs for a high-end device that could almost flawlessly reproduce the front of an ATM can reach $20,000. Source: http://news.softpedia.com/news/3D-Printers-Used-to-Create-ATM-Skimmers222574.shtml
Except where noted courtesy www.stratfor.com
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