Jebediah Nightlinger: [referring to the madam Kate Collingwood's offer of sexual favor:
Well, I have the inclination, the maturity, and the wherewithal... but unfortunately, I don't have the time.
Hope you had a great weekend...
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USA
U.S.: Special Operations In Pakistan Near Approval December 20, 2010
Senior United States military commanders in Afghanistan are pushing for the expansion of Special Operations ground raids in Pakistan’s tribal areas to capture or kill leaders from the Taliban and Haqqani network, the New York Times reported Dec. 20. Military and political leaders say the plan is not yet approved, although a sense of urgency has taken hold ahead of the current administration’s deadline to withdraw soldiers from Afghanistan. U.S. officers have begun to prepare plans with one senior officer saying, “We’ve never been as close as we are now to getting the go-ahead to go across.”
EUROPE
NOTHING SIGNIFICANT TO REPORT
ASIA
China Security Memo: Dec. 15, 2010 STRATFOR
Pakistan: Militants Attack NATO Tankers December 20, 2010
Militants fired rockets at a NATO convoy carrying supplies to Afghanistan, destroying two oil tankers and wounding two people, in the northwestern area of Khyber, Pakistan, AP and BBC News reported Dec. 20. According to Pakistani government officials, the militants were armed with rockets and assaults rifles. Traffic along the route in the Khyber tribal region was suspended.
RUSSIA
Russia: 460 Detained Ahead Of Protest December 19, 2010
More than 460 individuals, most of whom were teenagers, were detained Dec. 19 in areas around Moscow as police attempted to prevent racially-motivated riots, a police spokesman said, RIA Novosti reported. Police are on high alert ahead of an unsanctioned public protest against the death of football fan Yegor Sviridov, who was killed in a brawl with migrants from Russia’s predominately Muslim North Caucasus region.
IRAN
Iran: Subsidies Yield Reduced Gasoline Consumption December 20, 2010
Gasoline consumption in Iran has dropped by 16.5 percent after a government subsidy plan implemented Dec. 18, ISNA reported Dec. 20. According to ISNA figures, 2.4 million liters (634,000 gallons) were consumed on Dec. 19 — 800,000 liters less than on Dec. 18. The head of Iran’s gas station owners syndicate said reported a 15 to 18 percent drop in gasoline sales in the past 2 days. Moreover, kerosene consumption has dropped by 91.5 percent, while fuel oil consumption has dropped by 51.8 percent, compared with consumption on Dec. 18.
Iran: $1 Billion Invested In Tehran Refinery December 20, 2010
One billion dollars was invested in Tehran Oil Refinery to improve the quality of the gasoline produced as Iran’s gasoline production has recently increased by 2 million liters, says the managing director of the National Iranian Oil Refining and Distribution Company Mohsen Ghadiri, Mehr News Agency reported Dec. 20. Ghadiri said Tehran Oil Refinery’s capacity for refining oil and oil products increased to 250,000 barrels a day with 16 percent made into gasoline and 30 percent made into diesel. He said the new gasoline production unit will be operational by Sept. 2011 with a daily output of 2 million liters, adding that the development projects currently under way should increase oil production by at least 10 million liters a day by late March 2011.
IRAQ
Iraq: No Parliament Vote On Cabinet Dec. 20 December 20, 2010
The Iraqi parliament will not vote on a new Cabinet on Dec. 20, Iraqi Parliament Speaker Osama al-Nujaifi said, Reuters reported. A spokesman for Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki said an announcement may be made Dec. 20 about the makeup of half the Cabinet, even if there was not agreement on the entire body. Iraqi lawmakers have said points of contention include the finance ministry, vice presidential posts, deputy prime ministers, interior, defense and national security ministers.
ISRAEL
Turkey: Israel Must Apologize, Pay Reparations - PM December 20, 2010
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Turkish-Israeli relations will return to normal after Israel apologizes to the Turkish republic and pays compensations, The Jerusalem Post reported Dec. 20, citing Syrian Arab News Agency. Erdogan confirmed that Israel and Turkey engaged in high-level diplomatic talks in Geneva, Switzerland, but said Turkish demands remain unchanged regarding Israeli aggression on humanitarian ships in the Gaza Strip and the death of nine Turkish citizens. Erdogan said Israel’s actions were responsible for the failure of Israeli-Palestinian peace talks causing suspicion over Israel’s sincerity in achieving peace. He added that Syria wants to revive negotiations on a possible Syria-Israel peace treaty with a Turkish mediator.
Israel: Body Of Missing U.S. Tourist Found December 19, 2010
Israeli security forces have found the body of Christine Logan, a U.S. tourist believed to have been kidnapped Dec. 18 by Arab assailants while hiking with a friend near Jerusalem, Haaretz reported Dec. 19. Logan’s friend, a 46-year-old British immigrant named Kaye Susan Wilson, managed to escape the attackers by pretending to be dead after suffering multiple stab wounds. According to Wilson, she and Logan were hiking at Khirbet Hanut, near Beit Shemesh, when they were assaulted by two Arab men. Security forces, including Israel Defense Forces and border police troops, launched a manhunt for Logan shortly after Wilson reported the attack, and Shin Bet and the police are currently investigating the possible presence of terrorism cells in the area. The search for the assailants is ongoing.
Palestinian Territories: Israeli Fighter Jets Strike Hamas Base December 20, 2010
Israeli F-16 fighter jets struck a military base belonging to Hamas in the Gaza Strip on Dec. 20, Xinhua reported, citing unnamed witnesses and local security sources. The sources said that jets fired a missile at the base, which is located west of the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis, but that no injuries were reported. The Israeli airstrike was made after three homemade projectiles fired by Gaza Strip militants landed in an empty area in southern Israel, causing no injuries, Israeli radio reported. Palestinian sources said that the Israeli fighter jets struck four targets and injured two gunmen, AFP reported.
AFGHANISTAN
Afghanistan: Army Commuter Bus Attacked December 19, 2010
Around five Afghan army officers were reportedly killed in Kabul when two Taliban militants strapped with explosives ambushed a bus ferrying troops to work during rush-hour traffic, an Afghan Defense Ministry spokesman said Dec. 19, AP and Xinhua reported. The attack was the first of its kind in Kabul in months. The militants opened fire on the bus; one detonated a vest with explosives, while the other was shot and killed before he could detonate his vest. Separately, Abdul Wahid Omarkhel, the district chief of the Chahar Dara, Kunduz province, survived an ambush involving a roadside bomb.
Afghanistan: Army Recruitment Center Attacked December 19, 2010
The Taliban have claimed responsibility for an attack at an army recruitment center in Kunduz province, Afghanistan, sparking a daylong gunfight that ended only after the last remaining militant detonated his suicide vest, local officials said Dec. 19, AP and Xinhua reported. The attack began at daybreak when two militants stormed the center with guns and explosives. Seven security personnel and both militants were reportedly killed in the attack. Provincial Deputy Gov. Hamdullah Danishi said initial reports indicated the attackers were dressed in army uniforms.
MIDDLE EAST
NOTHING SIGNIFICANT TO REPORT
SOUTH OF THE BORDER
Russia: Venezuelan Officers Interested In S-400 System December 20, 2010
A delegation of Venezuelan military officers expressed interest in Russia’s S-400 air defense system during a visit to a Russian training facility in Kapustin Yar, Interfax-AVN reported Dec. 20, citing an unnamed security official in the Southern Federal District. The visit was made as part of military cooperation efforts between Russia and Venezuela.
Mexico Adopts a New Security Strategy in Juarez STRATFOR
Mexico: Former Presidential Candidate Freed From Captivity December 20, 2010
Former Mexican presidential candidate Diego Fernandez de Cevallos has reportedly been freed after being kidnapped in May, AP reported Dec. 20. Fernandez de Cevallos had been missing since his car was found abandoned near his ranch in Queretaro state. President Felipe Calderon’s National Action Party (PAN), of which Fernandez de Cevallos was a member, is trying to confirm reports of his release, according to a party spokeswoman. However, Mexico’s Televisa network reported that Fernandez de Cevallos’ lawyer confirmed his release. According to Reforma newspaper, PAN senator Fauzi Hamden also confirmed his release. AP contacted a number of parties for confirmation, but none was able to confirm the information.
MISC
Turkey: PM Asks Obama To Block Genocide Vote December 20, 2010
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan asked U.S. President Barack Obama to block a possible congressional vote on a resolution that would declare the killings of Armenians during World War I genocide, AP reported Dec. 20. Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu told parliament that Erdogan had sent a letter to Obama warning him that the vote would damage the countries’ ties.
Except where noted courtesy www.stratfor.com
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