USA
Initial Profile of the Arizona Congresswoman's Shooter | STRATFOR
EUROPE
NOTHING SIGNIFICANT TO REPORT
ASIA
Dispatch: U.S. Defense Secretary Gates Visits China | STRATFOR
RUSSIA
NOTHING SIGNIFICANT TO REPORT
IRAN
Iran: Djiboutian Navy Cooperation Sought - Navy Commander January 10, 2011
Iranian Navy commander Adm. Habibollah Sayyari said that Iran seeks to educate the Djiboutian Navy in producing, improving and maintaining equipment and logistics because the country lies in an important location, BBC reported Jan. 10, citing state-run Iranian television. Sayyari’s comments came as he visited Djibouti to inspect the a squadron of the Iranian Navy in the Gulf of Aden and to meet with his Djiboutian counterpart Col. Abdourahman Aden Cher. Djibouti’s close location to the Bab el-Mandeb Straits and the Gulf of Aden makes the country important economically and in other aspects, Sayyari said. Djibouti asked Iran to expand their military ties, Col. Abdourahman Aden Cher said.
Iran: Oil Consumption Decreases - Minister January 10, 2011
Iran’s oil consumption has decreased to 53 million liters (about 14 million gallons) per day from 66 million liters per day, Iranian Oil Minister Masoud Mir-Kazemi said Jan. 10 on the ministry’s website. According to Mir-Kazemi, petrochemical facilities in the country have stopped producing oil. Iran no longer needs to produce oil at petrochemical facilities because a plan to increase oil production has been implemented; the quality of oil produced at refineries has been improved; and oil consumption has decreased, Mir-Kazemi said.
Afghanistan: Fuel Controls Not Exclusive To Afghans - Iran January 10, 2011
Iran’s control of fuel and tanker traffic is not exclusive to shipments to Afghanistan, Iranian Economy and Finance Minister Shamseddin Hosseini said on Jan. 10, Fars News Agency reported. There is no ban on shipments of fuel to Afghanistan, Iranian Ambassador to Afghanistan Fada Hossein Maleki said, and transit has returned to previous levels. Maleki said Afghanistan is entitled to the fuel, which is for the citizens, with Kabul controlling it.
IRAQ
Iraq: 20,000 Kurdish Forces Transferred To Iraqi Ministry January 10, 2011
The Kurdistan Regional Government’s (KRG) Interior Ministry will transfer 20,000 Zerevani peshmerga to the Iraqi Interior Ministry, KRG Deputy Interior Minister Fayaq Tofiq said Jan. 10, AKnews reported. The forces will continue their duties in the Kurdistan region, Tofiq said, adding that the ministry is creating a force, expected to be established in 2011, to defend the region’s oil refineries.
Iraq: United States To Supply Advanced Weaponry January 10, 2011
Iraq is planning to sign an accord with the United States to supply the Iraqi Army with F-16 jets, Abrams tanks and other weapons for $13 billion, Iraqi Defense Ministry spokesman Maj.Gen. Mohammed al-Askari said Jan. 10. Askari said the consignment aims to supply the Iraqi army with jets, tanks, advanced helicopters, warships, armored cars and light weapons, but will not cover the armament of north Iraq’s Kurdish Peshmerga forces.
ISRAEL
Israel: Rockets Fired From Gaza Land In Ashkelon January 10, 2011
Three Qassam rockets were fired from the Gaza Strip on Jan. 10, exploding in open areas in Ashkelon region, Haaretz reported Jan. 10. Two of the rockets landed in the region’s southern industrial zone, while the third landed in the Ashkelon Beach Regional Council.
Israel: IAF Attacks Gaza January 10, 2011
The Israeli Air Force attacked two militant “sites” used to train militants or act as outposts in the Gaza early on Jan. 10, DPA and Israel National News reported. The attacks are reportedly in response to repeated rocket firings into Israel. All Israeli planes returned to their base.
Israel: European Diplomats Recommend Palestinian Capital January 10, 2011
The heads of European diplomatic missions in Jerusalem and Ramallah compiled a report saying East Jerusalem should be treated as the capital of the Palestinian state and that politicians should refuse to visit Israeli government offices beyond the Green Line and to decline Israeli security in the Old City or elsewhere in East Jerusalem, Haaretz reported Jan. 10. The report was compiled last month and sent to the Political and Security Committee in Brussels, but not released until now due to the sensitivity of the content. The report also discusses the possibility of preventing “violent settlers in East Jerusalem” from entering the European Union and recommends a boycott of Israeli products from East Jerusalem.
AFGHANISTAN
Afghanistan: Germany To Provide Support Beyond 2014 January 9, 2011
Germany will continue to support Afghanistan beyond 2014 after the transfer of security responsibilities takes place between Afghan national security forces and the 140,000-strong NATO-led troops, German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle said Jan. 9 during his Afghan visit, Xinhua reported. Germany will provide Afghan police training, Westerwelle stated during a joint press conference with his Afghan counterpart, Zalmai Rasoul. Germany’s contribution to the rebuilding process of the post Taliban Afghanistan is appreciated, Rasoul said.
Afghanistan: Taliban Loses Influence - Petraeus January 10, 2011
The Taliban are losing influence in Afghanistan’s Helmand and Kandahar provinces, NATO top commander U.S. Gen. David Petraeus said Jan. 10 during a visit to Helmand province, AP reported. There is increasing dissension in the insurgents’ ranks as fighters respond negatively to battling through the winter, pushed by leaders in Pakistan, Petraeus said, adding that targeted strikes have fractured midlevel Afghan-based leadership. Taliban losses are tremendous, causing enormous stress on the command and control structure, he said. The Alikozai tribe halted insurgent attacks in Helmand’s Sangin district after NATO and Afghan forces made such a move much more tenable, Petraeus stated.
MIDDLE EAST
Saudi Arabia: 47 Al Qaeda-Linked Suspects Wanted January 9, 2011
The Saudi Arabian Interior Ministry released a list of 47 Saudis located outside the country and wanted for suspected links to al Qaeda, according to state news agency SPA, AFP reported Jan. 9. Authorities identified the list of people who “adopt the deviant ideology,” the ministry stated, adding that many are believed to be active in Yemen under the banner of al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula.
SOUTH OF THE BORDER
NOTHING SIGNIFICANT TO REPORT
MISC
NOTHING SIGNIFICANT TO REPORT
Except where noted courtesy www.stratfor.com
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