What's going on in the World Today 101011

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USA

NOTHING SIGNIFICANT TO REPORT

EUROPE

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ASIA

China: U.S. May Lift Arms Embargo October 11, 2010

U.S. President Barack Obama requested that Congress lift the ban on C-130 cargo aircraft sales to China, emphasizing U.S. national interests in the termination of suspensions, according to an Oct. 8 letter, China Daily reported Oct. 11. Obama stated that C-130 cargo aircraft would be deployed in response to oil spills at sea.

Dispatch: U.S.-China Relations Dominate ASEAN Defense Meeting STRATFOR


RUSSIA

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IRAN

Iran: Jundallah Threaten To Release Nuclear Official's Confession October 11, 2010

Iranian militant group Jundallah has threatened to release what it called a confession from an Iranian nuclear official the group claimed it captured in recent days unless Iran releases 200 jailed members of Jundallah, Asharq Al-Awsat reported Oct. 11. A Jundallah spokesman said the senior nuclear official is Amir Hussein Sherani Bin Mohammad Sherani, and that he had confessed details of Iran’s pursuit of a nuclear weapon. The spokesman said the individual was captured in Esfahan and is currently being held in Balochistan. The Iranian Atomic Energy Organization had earlier said the man had no links to the atomic energy agency, but was a contract worker with a company that did work for the organization.

IRAQ

Iraq: Al-Iraqiya No Longer Demands Premiership October 10, 2010

The al-Iraqiya List will drop its demand that former Iraqi Prime Minister Iyad Allawi become prime minister if the party is guaranteed an equal share of power in the Iraqi government, AP reported Oct. 10, citing al-Iraqiya lawmaker Sheikh Adnan al-Danbous. Al-Danbous, who is reported to be close to Allawi, said posts are not as important as participation in the decision-making process. He added that current Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki may retain the post as long as al-Iraqiya receives the presidency or parliamentary speakership. Al-Danbous also said negotiations are not over, and said it is unclear what positions the al-Iraqiya List will receive as al-Maliki has likely promised the presidency to the Kurdish parties.

ISRAEL

NOTHING SIGNIFICANT TO REPORT

AFGHANISTAN
Update on NATO Supply Line Security in Pakistan STRATFOR

The ISI and Conflicting Interests Between the United States and Pakistan STRATFOR

Afghanistan: NATO Plans Security Transfer In Early 2011 October 11, 2010

NATO plans to transfer security responsibility to Afghan forces beginning in early 2011 or at the latest in July 2011, and will likely endorse the plan at the NATO summit in Lisbon from Nov. 19-20, according to NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen, Reuters reported Oct. 11. Rasmussen said the transition process must be based on conditions in the country, and said NATO must expand its efforts in order to have 300,000 Afghan soldiers and police trained by October 2011.

Pakistan, Afghanistan: Border Checkpoints To Be Built October 11, 2010

New trade routes will be established after new checkpoints at the Pakistani border are built, The Nation reported Oct. 11. Checkpoints will be built by December in Nawapas, Bajaur agency; Angor Adda, South Waziristan; Ghulam Khan, North Waziristan; and Shaheedan Dhand, Kurram agency. An unnamed source said the routes are intended to ensure that NATO supplies, which were halted during the recent Torkham closure, will be able to get through in the event of future protest closures.

Afghanistan: NATO Supplies Via Tajikistan Increase October 11, 2010

Sherkhan Bandar customs officials on the Tajik-Afghan border in Afghanistans Kunduz province said the amount of NATO supplies going through the customs department increased over the past week, Tolo TV reported Oct. 11. NATO previously used the port only for fuel supplies, an official stated, adding all other logistical supplies were transported through the port since last week.

MIDDLE EAST

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SOUTH OF THE BORDER

Mexico: 8 Police Killed In Sinaloa State October 11, 2010

A convoy of suspected drug cartel members killed eight traffic police officers Oct. 11 on a highway in Sinaloa state 80 kilometers from the capital, Culiacan, Reuters reported. The state prosecutor’s office said the officers were ambushed by three or four cars of people who began shooting with automatic weapons.

MISC

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Except where noted courtesy www.stratfor.com