Wednesday, June 23, 2010

What's going on in the World Today 100623

USA

U.S.: Predator Drones To Monitor Texas-Mexico Border

June 23, 2010

The United States intends to deploy two Predator drones along the Texas-Mexico border, U.S. Homeland Security chief Janet Napolitano said June 23, AFP reported. The deployment is part of a new effort to reduce illegal immigration and organized crime. Currently, four drones patrol the border with Mexico in Arizona, and one patrols the U.S.-Canadian border in North Dakota. The Predators in Texas will patrol the border and nearby areas in the Gulf of Mexico.

EUROPE

Germany: Police Raid Homes, Cafe In Fundraising Case

June 23, 2010

German police moved in on homes and a cafe in Hamburg, Hanover and Frankfurt the week of June 21 as part of an inquiry into alleged fundraisers for militant group the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan, prosecutors said June 23, DPA reported. One man is believed to have had weapons training at a camp along the Afghan-Pakistani border; others were reportedly involved in handling money transactions.

RUSSIA

Russia: Black Sea Fleet Reinforced By 2020

June 23, 2010

Russia’s Black Sea Fleet will be reinforced with 15 new combat ships and diesel-electric submarines by 2020, the commander of the Russian navy Adm. Vladimir Vysotsky announced, RIA Novosti reported June 23. The Russian navy command is considering dispatching two Baltic Fleet frigates to the Black Sea Fleet. The possible transfer of the Neustrashimy and Yaroslav Mudry frigates to the Black Sea naval base is connected with combating piracy in the Gulf of Aden, the admiral said, which is much closer to Sevastopol than Baltiisk. The decision has not yet been made, he said.

IRAN

Iran: Supreme Leader Calls For Unity

June 23, 2010

Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei called for unity among Iran’s citizens while addressing student in the Basij and faculty members from various universities on June 23, Iranian radio reported. The address came after Basij students held a protest June 22 against the decision made by Iranian parliament members which favored the endowment of Azad University property to the public. Khamenei said any act that leads to division, even with honest intentions, would be harmful to Iran and the Islamic system.

Iran: 20 Percent Uranium Produced

June 23, 2010

Iran produced a 17 kg stockpile of 20 percent enriched uranium and can produce up to 5 kg of the fuel per month, the head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) Ali Akbar Salehi announced, ISNA reported June 23. The job continues at an appropriate pace so that the fuel plate plant is equipped, he said, stating that it is Iran’s legal right. Iran is also enriching uranium by 3.5 percent and building the Arak heavy water reactor, he said, adding that testing is completed on the third generation of centrifuges and construction of a fourth generation is planned in Esfahan.

IRAQ

NSTR

ISRAEL

June 23, 2010

Israeli forces on the morning of June 23, local time, started to build and fortify a site on a hill overlooking the towns of Kfar Kila and Fatima Gates near the border and Israeli farmlands in Misgav Am settlement, a Lebanese security source said, Petra reported.

Israel: IDF Draws Up New Gaza War Doctrine

June 23, 2010

Israel Defense Forces (IDF) drew up plans to evacuate entire Palestinian villages and refugee camps from areas of conflict in the event of an Israeli incursion, The Jerusalem Post reported June 23. Ahead of an invasion of the Jabalya refugee camp in a large-scale operation, for example, IDF would give prior notification to residents and designate an amount of time they would be given to leave. IDF would also enter potential conflict zones more slowly to permit residents to evacuate the area. Current assessments in the military are that Hamas is not interested in instigating a new conflict with Israel.

Turkey: Israeli Decision To Ease Gaza Blockade 'Not Enough'

June 22, 2010

A Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesman on June 22 called the Israeli decision to ease the Gaza blockade a “positive step but not enough,” Anatolia news agency reported. Burak Ozugergin said the blockade threatened peace and stability in the region and should be lifted entirely. Turkey will continue to monitor developments on the blockade and will work toward normalizing living conditions in the Gaza Strip, Ozugergin added.

Israel: Turkish Military To Test Heron Drones

June 22, 2010

A Turkish military delegation arrived in Tel Aviv to conclude test-runs in the delivery of four Israeli-made drones, the remaining lot in a 10-UAV deal between Turkey and Israel, Anatolia news reported June 22. The Turkish delegation will stay in Tel Aviv for nearly two-weeks to test the Heron UAVs, the electronic equipment and spare parts.

Sweden: Dock Workers Block Israeli Cargo In Protest

June 23, 2010

The Swedish Dock Workers Union on June 23 established a weeklong blockade of cargo to and from Israel in protest of the Israeli raid on a Gaza-bound aid flotilla in late May, AFP reported, citing a union representative. The dock workers’ protest was due to occur in all unionized Swedish ports, and ends at midnight local time on June 29.

AFGHANISTAN

NSTR

SOUTH OF THE BORDER

Mexico: Inmates Riot In San Luis Potosi Prison

June 22, 2010

Inmates believed to be linked to Mexican drug-trafficking cartels Los Zetas and the Gulf Cartel rioted June 22 at La Pila prison in San Luis Potosi, San Luis Potosi state, setting fire to a dormitory area, Proceso reported. Unconfirmed reports said one person was killed and that the head of the prison’s guards had been severely injured.

Mexico: Camps Raided, Marijuana Seized

June 23, 2010

Mexican security forces destroyed eight camps belonging to suspected drug traffickers and seized approximately 2 tons of marijuana in the municipality of Santiago Papasquiaro, Durango state, El Universal reported June 23, citing a statement from the state attorney general’s office. The statement did not specify when the operation took place

Mexico: 3 Dead, 1 Ton Of Marijuana Seized

June 23, 2010

Three people were killed, five injured and 17 others were arrested after an anonymous tip led the Mexican military to raid a house in Guadalupe, Nuevo Leon state, in the early morning hours of June 23, local time, El Universal reported. Upon arriving at the location, the soldiers were fired upon by occupants of the house. After the situation was brought under control, soldiers discovered the house was being used as a marijuana stash house and seized more than 1 ton of the drug.

Brazil: Iran Must Decide On Nuclear Fuel Deal

June 23, 2010

Iran appears to be willing to restart discussions on a nuclear fuel swap proposal, Brazilian Foreign Minister Celso Amorim said June 23, Reuters reported. Amorim said the positive reaction by Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki to French President Nicolas Sarkozy’s suggestion that talks continue indicated that Tehran was in agreement. Iran is responsible for addressing Western concerns about the deal, Amorim said, adding that Brazil would participate in mediation efforts if Iran and the Vienna Group supported it.

MISC

Kyrgyzstan: Will Supply Fuel To U.S. Air Base Directly

June 22, 2010

The interim Kyrgyz government announced on June 22 plans to form a state-owned company that will provide the U.S. air base at Manas with fuel, AP reported. Interim Kyrgyz leader Roza Otunbayeva signed a decree ordering that the company be formed within 10 days, replacing the private intermediary firms created under the former regime.

Kyrgyzstan: OSCE Discusses Sending International Police

June 23, 2010

An Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) official said June 23 that an international police force may be necessary to restore stability in Kyrgyzstan’s south, Reuters reported. The OSCE and EU foreign ministers are discussing using international police to provide crisis management support in Kyrgyzstan, a special envoy for the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly said. The EU has no immediate plans to dispatch police. Collective Security Treaty Organization Secretary-General Nikolai Bordyuzha will visit Kyrgyzstan on June 25.

ARTICLES BELOW MAY REQUIRE YOU GIVE AN EMAIL:

U.S.: The Afghanistan Strategy After McChrystal | STRATFOR">A great quote from this article:
Meanwhile, a U.S. program to farm out more than 70 percent of logistics to Afghan trucking companies appears to be funding both warlord militias independent of the Afghan security forces and the Taliban itself. As STRATFOR has discussed, this may be a valuable expedient allowing U.S. combat forces to be massed for other purposes, but it also risks undermining the very attempts at establishing good governance and civil authority that are central to the ultimate success of the U.S. exit strategy — not to mention running counter to the effort to starve the Taliban of at least some of its resources and bases of support.




The Flotilla Route from Iran | STRATFOR

Dispatch: Medvedev's U.S. Visit | STRATFOR

Above the Tearline: Intelligence Calculations | STRATFOR

No comments:

Post a Comment