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USA
U.S.: White House Made No Attempt To Stop WikiLeaks July 26, 2010

The White House said it was contacted by The New York Times, German magazine Der Spiegel and London newspaper The Guardian, which had early access to the secret government documents recently made available by WikiLeaks, AP reported July 26. The White House did not try to stop the news organizations from publishing reports on the leaks, but sent a message to WikiLeaks through The New York Times asking it to withhold information that could harm U.S. military personnel. WikiLeaks is delaying the release of about 15,000 documents in order to redact certain information. The spokesman said the leaks contain no new revelations and that a federal investigation into the leaks began during the week of July 18, before the documents were published.

EUROPE

France: Diplomatic Ties With Palestinians Upgraded July 26, 2010

France upgraded its diplomatic ties with the Palestinian Territories and will consider the Palestinian diplomatic representatives in France as a mission headed by an ambassador, chief of mission, AP reported July 26. The representatives for the Palestinian Authority were previously considered a delegation headed by a general delegate. Spain and Greece are considering similar upgrades, Palestinian Deputy Foreign Minister Ibrahim Khreisheh said.


Venezuela: EU Freezes Bank's Assets July 27, 2010

The European Union ordered an obligatory freeze of assets belonging to Banco Internacional de Desarrollo de Venezuela in all EU member states for its alleged links to the Iranian nuclear program through the financial institution’s parent company, Export Development Bank of Iran, Globovision reported July 27. The Venezuelan bank has denied the allegations.


RUSSIA

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Iran: Bushehr Plant On Schedule - Russia July 27, 2010

Construction on Iran’s Bushehr nuclear power plant is on schedule, Russian nuclear agency chief Sergei Kiriyenko said, EU Business reported July 27, citing RIA Novosti. The first stage of the physical launch, which involves placing nuclear fuel in the reactor, will be done by the end of August, he said.

Russia: Latest Iran Sanctions Are Unacceptable July 27, 2010

The latest unilateral U.S. and EU sanctions on Iran indicate a disregard for the joint work in the Iran Six and the U.N. Security Council’s principles, a Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman said on July 27, RIA Novosti reported. Russia considers the practice of using unilateral or collective sanctions on Iran unacceptable, because they are not consistent with the U.N. Security Council’s sanctions, Andrei Nesterenko said. The latest sanctions demonstrate a disregard for the deliberative, coordinated points of the U.N. Security Council resolution, he added.

IRAN

Dispatch: Growing Pressure on Tehran | STRATFOR
Iran, Turkey: Security Agreement Signed July 28, 2010

Iran: Gasoline Imports Lower Than Usual July 26, 2010

Only three cargo shipments of gasoline have reached Iran in July — much fewer than usual — Reuters reported July 26, citing shipping documents obtained by the news agency. A Dubai-based trader said Iran needs 11-13 shipments a month, but, according to a different trader, ship owners are worried about sending shipments to Iran, which has caused it to seek gasoline imports from alternative companies and countries. The gasoline shipments that have arrived in Iran were supplied by Turkish company Tupras and Unipec, the trading arm of China’s Sinopec, according to the shipping document. Another gasoline shipment from Venezuela is expected to arrive in the Iranian port city of Bandar Abbas, two Persian Gulf-based traders said.

Iran and Turkey signed a security agreement in Tehran on July 28, IRNA reported. The Iranian Interior Ministry’s security deputy, Ali Abdollahi, and Turkish Acting Deputy Interior Minister Osman Gunes signed the pact. Abdollahi said international militancy, cooperation on security and the smuggling of illegal drugs were addressed in the document.

Iran: Air Exercise To Launch - Official July 26, 2010

Iran’s air force will launch a weeklong air exercise beginning July 31, Air Force Deputy Commander of Operations Mohammad Alavi announced, Fars News Agency reported July 26. Alavi said 43 fighter-bomber aircraft, including the F-5, F-4, F-7 and Sukhoi-24, will be utilized in the exercise. He said all Iranian air bases will participate, including Mehrabad, Tabriz, Hamedan, Dezful, Bushehr, Bandar Abbas, Shiraz and Esfahan.

IRAQ
Iraq: SoL-INA Alliance Likely To Collapse SoL Spokesman July 28, 2010

A State of Law (SoL) coalition spokesman said the alliance between SoL and the Iraqi National Alliance (INA) is likely to collapse due to the crisis over the prime ministers post, Al-Sharqiyah TV reported July 28. Parliament member Izzat al-Shahbandar said that Iran would like to maintain this alliance at any cost and could accept Nouri al-Maliki as prime minister, but would never accept al-Iraqiya List leader Iyad Allawi as prime minister. INA sources reported that the party is united against Al-Maliki irrespective of Irans position.

Iraq: Parliament Session Scrapped July 27, 2010

Iraq’s parliament postponed indefinitely what would have been only its second session since a March election, AFP reported July 27. The session is postponed until further notice because the political entities failed to reach any agreement, said Fouad Massum, who as the oldest parliament member holds the post of caretaker speaker. The heads of the parliamentary blocs met and agreed to give more time to political entities to reach agreement regarding the selection of a speaker and two deputies, he said, adding that representatives insisted on calling the current government a caretaker administration.


ISRAEL
Israel: National Security Adviser To Visit Washington July 28, 2010

Israeli National Security Adviser Uzi Arad is traveling to Washington, D.C. to meet with his U.S. counterpart, Gen. James L. Jones, Ynet reported July 28. They are set to discuss the Iranian nuclear program and direct peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians. Arad will then join Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak, who is already in Washington meeting with senior U.S. officials.

Iran: Egypt To Issue Visas To Parliamentary Delegation July 28, 2010

Egypt will issue visas to members of an Iranian parliamentary delegation slated to visit Gaza, Iran’s IRNA reported July 28, citing comments from Ahmadi Bighash, member of the Iranian parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy Commission. Bighash told IRNA that the decision to issue the visas was announced several hours ago by the Egyptian interest section in Tehran. He said the visas will be issued within two weeks.


AFGHANISTAN
Afghanistan: U.S. Special Forces Raid Taliban Hideouts July 28, 2010

U.S. special forces began a series of night raids July 24 in Afghanistans Arghandab Valley against suspected Taliban hideouts in the village of Khosrow Sofla, Reuters reported July 28. The special forces also set up local defense forces in Arghandab to train villagers to protect themselves and their villages.




SOUTH OF THE BORDER

Mexico: 4 Journalists Kidnapped In Durango July 28, 2010

Two reporters and two cameramen were abducted July 28 after reporting on a prison scandal in Durango state involving a local drug cartel, Reuters reported. Milenio newspaper and TV network said the journalists were working for them and are now being held by organized crime.

Colombia: Venezuela Reopens Border To Coal Trucks July 28, 2010

Venezuela is once again allowing Colombian coal trucks to cross the countries’ shared border on their way to export terminals, Argus reported July 28. The reopening of the border comes after allegations that Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia rebels have been launching operations from inside Venezuela. Traffic at the border is moving slowly, according to Asocarbon Director Oscar Ortega. Colombian trucks carry coal across the Venezuelan border to export terminals at Lake Maracaibo.

Colombia: Gas Supplies Continue To Venezuela July 27, 2010

Colombia will continue gas supplies to Venezuela despite simmering tensions between the two countries, according to Mining and Energy Minister Hernan Martinez, Xinhua reported July 27. A final decision has not been made, he stated, adding that President Alvaro Uribe instructed his government to analyze possible outcomes of the issue. Martinez admitted that cutting the gas supply could affect the Venezuelan people, because gas is used to generate electricity. He was not sure how long it will take the government to make its decision. Uribe has less than two weeks left in office.

Above the Tearline: A Mexican Firefight Explained | STRATFOR

MISC

U.S.: North Korea Violated Armistice - General July 27, 2010

U.S. Army Gen. Walter Sharp said July 27 that the sinking of South Korea’s ChonAn warship by North Korea violated the 1953 cease-fire agreement, Yonhap reported. Sharp, who commands U.S. Forces Korea and the United Nations Command, said the results of a multinational investigation into the incident are clear. Sharp urged North Korea to act in accordance with the armistice and cease all provocative acts. China and other countries must help deter North Korea from future provocations, Sharp added.

No kidding :<)

Japan: Panel Proposes Defense Policy Shift July 27, 2010

While updating Japan’s National Defense Program Guidelines, a government panel compiled a draft report that would shift Self-Defense Forces deployment to focus on the Nansei Islands area that includes the Okinawa Islands, sources said July 27, The Yomiuri Shimbun reported.
The report stressed coping with multiple contingencies and responding proactively to limited, small-scale invasions on the Korean Peninsula and in the Taiwan Strait. It proposed joint development and production of weapons with the United States and allies sharing similar values. The report reiterated the important role of the Japan-U.S. alliance and encouraged joint use of U.S. bases in Japan.