Police Work, Politics and World Affairs, Football and the ongoing search for great Scotch Whiskey!

Saturday, December 25, 2010

What's going on in the World Today Christmas 2010

In this season I have to think of forgiveness and I recall a war story from a friend who was sharing MRE’s (Meals Ready to Eat, aka Meals Rejected by Ethiopians) with an Islamic relief group in Afghanistan. He was pulling out the ones with pork and the man asked Jim “What are you doing?”

Jim answered “These have pork and I don’t want to offend your religion.”

The response was “A hungry man knows no religion and Allah forgives.”

I though the story of forgiveness was great on this day.

Merry Christmas to all….and too all a Good Night!



HYPERLINKS MAY REQUIRE AN EMAIL:

USA
Agenda: With George Friedman | STRATFOR

U.S. Naval Update Map: Dec. 22, 2010 | STRATFOR

EUROPE
Italy: Anarchists Claim Rome Bombings December 23, 2010

Italian anarchist group Federazione Anarchica Informale claimed responsibility for two parcel bombings that targeted the Swiss and Chilean Embassies in Rome on Dec. 23, according to Italian news agency Ansa, DPA reported. A statement was recovered from a small box found next to an embassy worker who was injured in one of the explosions.

ASIA

China Security Memo: Dec. 22, 2010 | STRATFOR

Japan: Surveillance Of Chinese, North Korean Subs To Increase December 23, 2010

Japan will increase its surveillance of Chinese and North Korean military activities, particularly submarine movements, at the suggestion of the United States as part of Japan’s enhanced intelligence role in the countries’ alliance, Asahi Shimbun reported Dec. 23, citing Japanese government sources. Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan and U.S. President Barack Obama will issue a joint declaration with U.S. officials’ suggestion that Japan increase the frequency of patrols by the Maritime Self-Defense Force’s P-3C anti-submarine surveillance aircraft.

India Between China and Russia | STRATFOR

RUSSIA
NOTHING SIGNIFICANT TO REPORT

IRAN

Iran: 4 Militants Arrested December 22, 2010

Four militants were arrested while attempting to plant explosive devices in densely populated areas in Mahabad city, Iran, IRNA reported Dec. 23. All four of the militants are from the same family with three arrested in Mahabad and another while fleeing towards Bukan, Mahabad General and Revolutionary Courts Prosecutor Samad Hazrati stated. Hazrati said four Kalashnikov rifles were confiscated from the militants who were attempting to carry out the attack in the first ten days of the mourning month of Moharram.


Nigeria: U.N. Panel To Visit Over Iranian Arms Shipment December 23, 2010

The United Nations will send an eight-man panel of experts to Nigeria on Jan.18-21 for investigations over an arms shipment recently intercepted from Iran, an unnamed senior official said Dec. 23, Xinhua reported.

China: Ship Detained Over Loan Defaults December 23, 2010

Hong Kong officials detained a Maltese flagged ship, The Decretive, linked to Iranian companies blacklisted by the United States on Nov. 14, the South China Morning Post reported Dec. 23. Hong Kong authorities acted after four European banks, led by the German-based HSH Nordbank moved over alleged loan defaults totaling $268 million. The Decretive is one of five vessels linked to the Islamic Republic or Iran Shipping Lines (IRISL) that the banks want to seize over the defaults but is not directly linked to international sanctions against Iran. The Decretive was anchored on Dec.22, 2.3 kilometers southeast of Lamma, Hong Kong.

An Alternative View on Iran's Subsidy Reforms | STRATFOR

IRAQ
Iraq: 93 Arrested In Anbar Province December 23, 2010

Ninety-three suspects, including 60 wanted men, were arrested by Iraqi forces during a crackdown on al Qaeda in the western Anbar province, Iraqi Defense Ministry spokesman Maj. Gen. Mohammed al-Askari said, AFP reported Dec. 23. An overnight raid was launched late Dec. 22 and included army, police, tribal forces and members of Sahwa, an anti-Qaeda militia, al-Askari said. The operation aimed to secure Baghdad and deprive al Qaeda the opportunity to conduct terrorist attacks, he said.

ISRAEL
NOTHING SIGNIFICANT TO REPORT

AFGHANISTAN
A Week in the War: Afghanistan, Dec. 15-21, 2010 | STRATFOR

MIDDLE EAST
Egypt: Cooperation Led To Israeli Spy Ring Discovery December 23, 2010

Egyptian-Lebanese-Syrian cooperation led to the exposure of the Israeli espionage network operating in the telecommunications sectors of the three countries, Al-Arab news reported Dec. 23, citing unnamed Egyptian security sources. Interrogations conducted by Egyptian authorities revealed information about another network operating in Syria, information that Egypt passed on to Syria, leading to the arrest of a prominent Syrian security official who had been allegedly spying for Israel. The information gathered from the suspect, Tarek Abdul Razzak, will soon be made public, according to the sources.

SOUTH OF THE BORDER
Mexican Drug Wars: Bloodiest Year to Date | STRATFOR

Venezuela: Students Protest New Law On Universities December 23, 2010

Thousands of Venezuelan students demonstrated in Caracas against a new law passed by the National Assembly giving the government more power over the country’s universities, AP reported Dec. 23. The protesters planned to march to the National Assembly building but were stopped outside the Central University of Venezuela in Caracas by riot police and soldiers, who used water cannons and fired plastic bullets into the air. Hundreds of students later restarted the march on another route through Caracas.

MISC
Chinese Microblogs and Government Spin | STRATFOR

Intelligence Guidance: Week of Dec. 19, 2010 | STRATFOR


Except where noted courtesy www.stratfor.com

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