USA
U.S. Naval Update Map: May 18, 2011 | STRATFOR
EUROPE
Poland, U.S.: Joint F-16 Deals Planned Under Offset Program May 19, 2011
Poland’s WZL-2 aviation works, Lockheed Martin and the Polish Economic Ministry will sign a deal under the U.S.-Polish offset program for two projects related to the contract for 48 F-16 jets Poland has purchased from Lockheed Martin, PAP news agency reported May 19. Lockheed Martin Deputy CEO Philip Georgariou said during a speech at the Polish Economic Ministry that the offset program has resulted in long-term contracts for Polish industry and will continue to bring benefits to the country. The contract, which will include the transfer of fuselage painting technology, will be signed May 20.
Poland's Continued Hesitation Over Eurozone Entry | STRATFOR
ASIA
North Korea, Iran: China Blocks U.N. Report On Missile Tech Transfers May 18, 2011
China’s U.N. Ambassador Li Baodong said Beijing is still studying a U.N. expert panel’s report indicating North Korea and Iran have been sharing ballistic missile technology in violation of U.N. sanctions, AP reported May 18. Li’s comments came after a closed-door meeting of the U.N. Security Council to discuss sanctions implementation against North Korea. Britain’s Deputy Ambassador to the United Nations Philip Parham said the U.N. Security Council had broad support for the report’s release with China as the only country to object to its immediate publication.
RUSSIA
Russia: ICBM Placed On Combat Duty May 17, 2011
Russia placed its new RS-24 Yars intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM) carrying multiple individually targeted warheads on combat duty, Voice of Russia reported May 17. The RS-24 missiles can penetrate highly protected targets as well as any current ballistic missile defense for the next 20 years, Russian Strategic Missile Force commander Sergei Karakayev said.
Russia: May Give Belarus Missiles To Counter U.S. Defense May 19, 2011
A military diplomatic source in Moscow said May 19 that if the third deployment area of the U.S. missile defense system is opened in Poland, Romania or other NATO countries, Russia will have to put the S-400 Triumf on its western border with Belarus, Interfax-AVN reported. The source said that since Belarus is a strategic ally for Russia, it would be unnatural to supply it with armaments within the Russian framework at market prices. Therefore, Russia has decided to meet the challenge by creating a common air, missile and, in the long term, space defense system.
IRAN
P
Iran Backs Down on a Flotilla Threat | STRATFOR
Iran: Impeachment Motion Filed Against President May 17, 2011
A number of lawmakers have filed a lawsuit with the Majlis Presiding Board against Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s government for violating the Iranian Constitution, Fars news agency reported May 17, citing the Majlis’ Article 90 Commission member Fazel Moussavi. The lawsuit was further referred to the Article 90 Commission, and the commission has a 10-day deadline to decide if the lawsuit is valid or not. After the decision, the commission will present a report to the Presiding Board who will then present a report to the Majlis. If the Majlis validates the report in three separate votes, then the impeachment motion will be put on the Majlis’ agenda.
IRAQ
NOTHING SIGNIFICANT TO REPORT
ISRAEL
Israel's Post-Nakba Crisis | STRATFOR
AFGHANISTAN
Afghanistan: 1,700 Militants Disarmed Through Program May 19, 2011
More than 1,700 former Taliban fighters have joined a reintegration program during its first year, AFP reported May 19, citing British Maj. Gen. Phil Johns, who is in charge of the program. Another 40 to 45 groups of militants are in negotiations, Johns said, bringing the possible total to 2,000. International financing for the program totals $141 million, including $58 million from the U.S.
Afghanistan: Taliban Attack Construction Company, Kill Dozens May 19, 2011
Thirty-six people were killed and 20 were wounded May 19 in a firefight that followed an attack by the Taliban on an Afghan road construction company, AFP reported. A large group of Taliban attacked the company around 2 a.m. local time in the eastern Afghan province of Paktia, a provincial spokesman said. The attack lasted several hours and killed eight Taliban, the spokesman said. A Taliban spokesman said 40 people were killed and four vehicles were burned.
MIDDLE EAST
U.S. Operations in Pakistan Upset Domestic Balance of Power | STRATFOR
SOUTH OF THE BORDER
Mexico Security Memo: Massive Vehicle Theft | STRATFOR
Guatemala: Suspected Los Zetas Leader Arrested May 18, 2011
Guatemalan security forces arrested suspected Los Zetas leader Hugo Alvaro Gomez Vasquez on May 17 in the municipality of Tactic, Alta Verapaz department, Milenio reported May 18. Gomez Vasquez is reportedly linked to the murders of 27 people in the department of Peten on May 15.
Mexico: CPS Second-In-Command Arrested May 19, 2011
Mexican soldiers arrested suspected drug boss Victor Valdez and the police chief accused of protecting him on May 19 in Cuernavaca, Reuters reported. Valdez is believed to be the second-in-command of Cartel Pacifico Sur (CPS) led by Hector Beltran Leyva. Valdez told reporters that local police chief Juan Bosco helped the cartel evade capture. Bosco received about $1,290 a month for tipping off the cartel, Valdez said. Bosco was later arrested by soldiers, according to the Mexican army.
MISC
The Limited Significance of the 'Stealth' Helicopter Wreckage | STRATFOR
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