Jack Kirkpatrick: Shanna, they bought their tickets, they knew what they were getting into. I say, let 'em crash.
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USA
U.S. Naval Update Map: Aug. 18, 2010 | STRATFOR
Japan, U.S.: Military Drills Reportedly Planned August 19, 2010
Japan and the United States are expected to conduct joint naval drills later in 2010 in Oita prefecture, AFP reported Aug. 19, citing Yomiuri Shimbun. The U.S. Navy’s Seventh Fleet will participate in the exercise, which will include a scenario of Japan recapturing a remote southwestern island from an enemy, according to the report. Japan will reportedly provide fighters and patrol planes, with 250 paratroopers from cargo planes guarded by F-15 fighters. The Japanese Defense Ministry did not immediately confirm the report.
U.S.: Aircraft Carrier's Participation In Drills Unlikely August 19, 2010
The United States will likely not send the USS George Washington aircraft carrier to September naval exercises because the focus will be on anti-submarine warfare operations, Yonhap reported Aug. 19, citing an unnamed South Korean Defense Ministry source. Instead, Washington may send at least one Aegis destroyer to the drills in the Yellow Sea, the official said. The exercise will be “significantly” scaled down, according to the source.
U.S.: Taiwan Requests Fighter Jets August 19, 2010
Taiwan’s President Ma Ying Jeou called on Washington to sell the island an upgraded version of the F16 fighter to “balance the military edge” that leans toward China, AFP reported on Aug. 19. Ma told visiting U.S. Congressman Roland Burris that Taiwan wants to acquire the jets to defend itself and ensure the island’s safety, not to start a war.
Bahrain: Will Not Allow U.S. To Use Military Base To Attack Iran August 21, 2010
Bahraini Foreign Minister Shaikh Khalid bin Ahmed al-Khalifa said his country will not allow the United States to use its military base to attack Iran, Ynet reported Aug. 21. He made the statements in an interview with the al-Sharq al-Awsat newspaper, noting that Bahrain’s military agreements with the United States government were defense-based.
EUROPE
Serbia, Kosovo: Rising Tensions and Pristina's Plans | STRATFOR
Germany: 2 Men Charged With Shipment To Iran August 19, 2010
Two men have been charged in Germany with arranging shipment of heating equipment to Iran that could be used in the country’s long-range missile program, Bloomberg reported Aug. 19. The men, identified as German citizen Heinz Ulrich K. and Iranian national Mohsen A., are accused of violating an EU ban on exports of dual-use equipment to Iran as well as an arms embargo for their alleged July 2007 shipment of a vacuum sintering furnace in exchange for 850,000 euros ($1.1 million).
RUSSIA
Iran, Russia: IAEA To Control Bushehr Launch August 19, 2010
Iran is unsealing and moving Russian fuel that was delivered a year ago into the Bushehr nuclear power plant reactor compartment, chief of Russia’s nuclear energy corporation Sergei Kiriyenko said on Aug. 19, Interfax reported. The Rosatom chief told Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin that Bushehr will be launched on Aug. 21 under the control of International Atomic Energy Agency inspectors.
Russia: Plans Made For Tender To Build Helicopter Carriers August 20, 2010
The Russian Defense Ministry has announced an international tender to build two helicopter carrier ships for the Russian navy, Defense Minister Anatoliy Serdyukov has said, Interfax reported on Aug. 20. The producer of Mistral ships will participate in the tender, he said, which is planned for September. Results will be announced by the end of the year.
IRAN
Iran: August Fuel Imports To Decrease August 19, 2010
Irans fuel imports for August are on track to be half those of July and have decreased by 90 percent from August 2009, Reuters reported Aug. 19. Iran is set to import only two cargoes of gasoline for August or approximately 18,000 barrels per day. Mohammad Ali Khatibi, Iran’s envoy to the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, said the decrease in imports is due to a decrease in demand.
Iran: Missile Test-Fired August 20, 2010
Iranian Defense Minister Ahmad Vahidi said a new ground-to-ground missile named Qiam (Uprising) was test-fired, DPA reported on Aug. 20. The test was successful, Vahidi said, speaking at a prayer ceremony in Tehran.
IRAQ
Iraq: Political Leaders Meet In Iran August 20, 2010
Iraqi Shiite leader Muqtada al-Sadr met with Islamic Supreme Council of Iraq leader Ammar al-Hakim in Tehran on Aug. 20 to convince him to accept an alliance with Iyad Allawi’s al-Iraqiya List, Aswat al-Iraq reported, citing an unnamed member of the list. The source said the Sadrist Movement has promised to try to convince al-Hakim to accept a coalition with al-Iraqiya, with Allawi as prime minister. The source is close to the negotiations, according to Iraq al-Aswat.
Iraq: Shiite Militia Leader Returns - Report August 19, 2010
Shiite militia leader Ismail al-Lami, aka Abu Deraa, has returned to Sadr City from Qom, Iran, after receiving training from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, an unnamed security source said, Asharq Al-Awsat reported Aug. 19. The source said al-Lami, who was known as the “Shiite Zarqawi” in reference to former al Qaeda in Iraq leader Abu Musab Zarqawi, has returned to carry out attacks on Iraqi and U.S. military personnel and Sunni civilians, and may be behind many of the recent bombings in Baghdad. The source said al-Lami was part of the Mehdi Army and has resumed command of the Shiite insurgent group Asa’ib Ahl al-Haq. The source said the Iranian government had recently negotiated with and released other members of the group’s leadership to gain their support prior to recent elections.
Iraq: A Militant Leader Returns | STRATFOR
ISRAEL
NOTHING SIGNIFICANT TO REPORT
AFGHANISTAN
NOTHING SIGNIFICANT TO REPORT
SOUTH OF THE BORDER
.Colombia: Suspension of a U.S. Basing Agreement
Mexico: 6 Arrested In Mayor Kidnapping Case August 20, 2010
Six individuals have been arrested for their involvement in the kidnapping and killing of Santiago Mayor Edelmiro Cavazos, according to Nuevo Leon state Attorney General Alejandro Garza y Garza, El Universal reported Aug. 20. Five of the individuals arrested were police officers serving in the Santiago municipal police force, while the sixth individual was a local traffic official. There are at least four more people implicated in the crime, Garza said, adding no more details as the investigation is still ongoing.
MISC
Dispatch: South African Labor Unrest STRATFOR
India, Russia: A Leased Akula II | STRATFOR
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