What's going on in the World Today 100917

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USA

U.S. Naval Update Map: Sept. 15, 2010 STRATFOR

U.S.: Couple Indicted In Attempt To Share Classified Nuclear Weapons Data  September 17, 2010

Two previous contractors at the Los Alamos National Laboratory, Pedro Leonardo Mascheroni and his wife Marjorie Roxby Mascheroni, were charged with attempting to communicate classified nuclear weapons data to someone they believed to be working for the Venezuelan government, according to a news release by the Department of Justice Sept. 17. The indictment does not charge anyone associated with the Venezuelan government, stating that Mascheroni had conversations with an undercover FBI agent posing as a Venezuelan government official in March 2008.

EUROPE

NOTHING SIGNIFICANT TO REPORT

ASIA

Agenda: With George Friedman Intelligence from various parts of Asia suggest China is becoming more assertive.

RUSSIA

Russia: Chechen Militants Claim Sept. 9 Attack September 16, 2010

A Chechen Islamist group claimed credit for the Sept. 9 bombing in Vladikavkaz, North Ossetia, which killed 18 people and wounded 140, AP reported Sept. 16. The Riyadus Salikhin Martyrs’ Brigade issued a statement on a website affiliated with Chechen rebel groups saying the attack was part of its “jihad” against Russia in the northern Caucasus.

IRAN

Iran: Petrochemical Exports Cut, Gasoline Imports Reconsidered September 17, 2010

Iranian Deputy Oil Minister Abdolhossein Bayat said the country’s petrochemical exports have all but stopped after the implementation of a program to increase gasoline production at domestic petrochemical units, Iran’s Mehr News reported Sept. 17. Bayat said the oil ministry might resume gasoline imports in late September. He said gasoline production capacity at six of Iran’s petrochemical complexes had reached 19 million liters (just over 5 million gallons) per day, saying that the product made at the complexes is sent to oil refineries and changed into high-octane gasoline.

Political Infighting in Iran Going Critical? STRATFOR

IRAQ

Turkey's Kurdish Strategy

STRATFOR

ISRAEL

Israel: IAF Attacks Gaza Weapons Warehouses September 16, 2010

The Israeli air force (IAF) attacked weapons warehouses in the northern and southern parts of the Gaza Strip on Sept. 16, Israel National News reported. Israel will not tolerate any attempt to harm its citizens and soldiers, and will continue to act with determination and power against the perpetrators of any militant attacks, an IAF spokesman said, adding Israel views Hamas as solely responsible for what is happening in the Gaza Strip.

Israel: F-35 Stealth Fighters Purchased September 16, 2010

An Israeli committee headed by Prime Minster Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Ehud Barak authorized the purchase of 20 F-35 stealth fighter jets Sept. 16, Ynet reported. The first plane is set to arrive in 2015, but Israeli pilots will be allowed to train on them much earlier in the United States.

Israel: Warns Hamas About Possible Return To Assassination Policy September 16, 2010

Israel has warned Hamas that it could return to a policy of “targeted assassinations” of the Islamist group’s leadership in Gaza and abroad if armed attacks and rocket strikes against Israel do not stop, Xinhua reported Sept. 16, citing Palestinian newspapers and news agencies. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly asked the Arab countries to transfer a warning to Hamas that the resumption of armed hostilities and suicide attacks would make Israel return to what sources called a policy of assassinations. Israeli Prime Minister Office spokesman Mark Regev said he was aware of the reports, but would not comment on them.

AFGHANISTAN

A New Offensive Against the Taliban in Southwestern Afghanistan STRATFOR

Afghanistan: Russia Offers Military Cargo Aircraft September 17, 2010

Russia will provide military transport aircraft on a payment basis to the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan, Russian Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov said, Itar-Tass reported Sept. 17. The plan will enable Russia to keep its military transport aviation busy, he said, adding that Russia’s military transport aviation could be supplied either to the international coalition in Afghanistan as a whole and to its individual members, including the United States and France.

SOUTH OF THE BORDER

NOTHING SIGNIFICANT TO REPORT

MISC

Syria: Russia To Supply Yakhont Missiles September 17, 2010

Russia will fulfill its three-year-old contract and supply Yakhont supersonic, anti-ship cruise missiles to Syria, Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov said, Itar-Tass reported Sept. 17. Similar missiles were previously supplied, he said, adding that if they did not get into the hands of terrorists, the new missile supply would not either. It is a 2007 contract that should not be stopped in 2010, Serdyukov stated.

Except where noted courtesy http://www.stratfor.com/