HYPERLINKS MAY REQUIRE AN EMAIL:
USA
WikiLeaks and American Diplomacy STRATFOR
Dispatch: U.S.-German Diplomacy in Light of
WikiLeaks STRATFOR
U.S. Naval Update Map: Dec. 1, 2010 STRATFOR
EUROPE
Spain: 8 Alleged Islamic Militants Arrested December 1, 2010
Eight suspected Islamic militants with links to al Qaeda and the 2008
Mumbai attacks were arrested after the Spanish National Police raided
half a dozen homes beginning at 7 p.m. on Nov. 30 in the central Ravel
district of Barcelona and in Badalona, Spain, El Pais and
TypicallySpanish.com reported Dec. 1. According to police sources, the
militants — 7 Pakistanis and one African – sent money and fake
documents including passports to members of the Islamic militant group
Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) in Pakistan. Spanish police believe those
arrested collaborated with the LeT in the 2008 Mumbai bombing attacks,
adding that none resisted arrest.
Central European Fears and the
German 'Question Mark' STRATFOR
ASIA
Shifting Diplomatic Lines on the
Korean Peninsula Crisis? STRATFOR
RUSSIA
Russia, U.S.: Joint Military Exercises To Resume in 2012 December 1,
2010
Russian and U.S. military forces will resume the practice of joint
military exercises in 2012, with talks on preparation and execution of
these drills to take place in 2011, Russian Chief of Ground Forces Col.
Gen. Alexander Postnikov said Dec. 1, Interfax –AVN reported. Postnikov
said the joint exercises provide an opportunity to visit troop training
centers in Western Europe and the United States.
Russia: Military Redistricting Complete December 1, 2010
The Russian military has completed reorganizing its military districts
and is now organized into four military districts instead of six,
Interfax-AVN reported Dec. 1. The announcement was made by Lt. Gen.
Andrei Tretyak, the deputy chief of the general staff and head of the
Main Directorate for Operations. The Western Military District will be
headquartered in St. Petersburg, the Southern Military District will be
headquartered in Rostov-on-Don, the Central Military District will be
headquartered in Yekaterinburg, and the Eastern Military District will
be headquartered in Khabarovsk.
Russia: S-500 Missile To Enter Service By 2020 December 1, 2010
Russia’s S-500 advanced anti-ballistic missile is expected to enter
service by 2020, Russian Air Force spokesman Col. Vladimir Drik said
Dec. 1, Interfax-AVN reported. Drik said S-400 air defense systems and
Pantsir-S gun and missile air defense systems will begin to be
introduced into service in 2011. All of Russia’s anti-aircraft missile
regiments will be fully equipped with S-400 and Pantsir-S systems by
2020, he added.
IRAN
Iran: Cyberpolice Unit To Be Created December 2, 2010
Iran is planning to create a cyberpolice unit in an effort to battle
information leaks, DPA reported Dec. 2, citing Mehr news agency.
Iranian Police Chief Ismaeli Ahmadi-Moqadam said the development and
speed of information has become “confusing,” so the country must adapt
by strengthening its information security.
Iran: Swiss Envoy Called Over U.S. Navy 'Arabian Gulf' Order December
2, 2010
The Iranian Foreign Ministry has summoned Swiss Ambassador to Iran
Livia Leu Agosti to protest the order by the United States directing
its navy units to refer to the Persian Gulf as the “Arabian Gulf,” ISNA
reported Dec. 2. The director-general of the ministry’s international
law division submitted a message to the ambassador saying that the
waterway between Iran and the Arabian Peninsula is recognized as the
Persian Gulf by books, documents maps and credible sources around the
world. (COMMENT: Good to know we're not the only people with
bureaucrats so chickens#$%!)
IRAQ
U.S., Iraq: Special Forces Operations Cut In Half December 1, 2010
U.S. and Iraqi special operations forces are carrying out roughly half
as many operations in Iraq as a year ago, U.S. Army Col. Darsie D.
Rogers Jr. said Dec. 1, AP reported. Rogers, who leads an estimated
4,500 U.S. special forces in Iraq, said only about 25 operations are
conducted each week. U.S. forces go on most operations in an advisory
role, but occasionally they sit out as many as seven per week, he said.
Iraq: All Members Of Al Qaeda In Anbar Arrested - Interior Minister
December 2, 2010
Iraqi security forces arrested between 39 and 42 members of al Qaeda’s
network in Anbar province, Iraqi Interior Minister Jawad al-Bolani
announced Dec. 2, Al-Iraqiyah TV and Aswat al-Iraq reported. The arrested group “represents the whole organizational structure” of the al Qaeda organization and the Islamic State of Iraqi in Anbar, al-Bolani said. Iraqi Maj. Gen. Dhia Hussein said the raids that led to the arrests were carried out based on information gathered from other recently detained al Qaeda militants, AFP reported. The rate of attacks in the country has declined tenfold over the past two months, al-Bolani said.
ISRAEL
Israel: New Jerusalem Neighborhood Approved December 2, 2010
The District Committee of Planning and Construction in Jerusalem has
formally approved a new neighborhood of 625 housing units in northeastern Jerusalem, The Jerusalem Post reported Dec. 2, citing Channel 10 News. The neighborhood will be called North Pisgat Ze’ev
Israel: U.S. Quiet On Settlement Freeze December 2, 2010
The Israeli government did not agree to a new settlement freeze,according to the U.S. administration, a Palestinian official said Dec. 2, AFP reported. U.S. State Department spokesman Philip Crowley declined to confirm the remarks, stating that the United States will not provide a “play-by-play.” Quiet conversations continue with both sides on the substance of the peace process, Crowley said.
AFGHANISTAN
NOTHING SIGNIFICANT TO REPORT
MIDDLE EAST
NOTHING SIGNIFICANT TO REPORT
SOUTH OF THE BORDER
Mexico: Military Patrols Michoacan For Alleged LFM Truce December 1, 2010
Mexican military and police forces patrolled Morelia state and the city
of Michoacan on the first day of an alleged month-long truce announced
by drug-trafficking cartel La Familia Michoacana (LFM), Milenio reported Dec. 1. The truce had been announced in banners and fliers distributed across the state.
Mexico: Federal Police Arrest Los Zetas' Hidalgo Leader December 2, 2010
Mexico’s federal police said they have arrested Eduardo Ramirez Valencia, alias “El Profe,” the regional leader of Los Zetas’ operations in Hidalgo state, as well as an accomplice, El Universal reported Dec 2. Ramirez allegedly coordinated smuggling operations from Panama and the Dominican Republic. Authorities said this is the first indication that Los Zetas are using a route employed by other criminal organizations. A police spokesman said a containment operation has been set up in Hidalgo to halt Los Zetas’ advances, adding that they have practically been swept from the state.
Mexico: Military, Los Zetas, Gulf Cartel Clash In Matamoros December 2,2010
Mexican troops clashed with gunmen from the Gulf cartel and Los Zetas in Matamoros, Tamaulipas state, along the Mexican border with the United States, The Brownsville Herald reported Dec. 2. Tractor-trailers
blocked various avenues and main thoroughfares in an effort to prevent
military vehicles from reaching the city, an unnamed Mexican law
enforcement source said. The Los Tomates-Veterans International Bridge
to Brownsville was shut down by authorities, a Mexican military source
said. Mexican Marines, army troops and Federal Police were deployed
throughout Matamoros, and military helicopters flew overhead. The
fighting reportedly began when members of Los Zetas attempted to enter
the city and the Gulf cartel confronted them. Several Gulf cartel
strike teams were sent to Matamoros as reinforcements, including the
Los Zeros, Los Ms and Los Lobos teams, a source said.
MISC
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