USA
Former Watertown police officer among 18 charged in drug, extortion offenses. Federal law enforcement authorities May 24 unsealed an indictment that charges 18 people, including a former Watertown, Massachusetts police officer, with drug, extortion, and money laundering offenses, a U.S. attorney announced. According to the U.S. attorney, federal and local law enforcement agencies have “executed search warrants at seven locations in Watertown and Waltham, resulting in the seizure of more than $700,000 in U.S. currency, seven kilograms of gold bars, 80 pounds of marijuana, four weapons, and several vehicles.’’ The indictment, according to U.S. attorney’s office, alleges a former Watertown Police officer, conspired with another defendant to “impede, impair, and obstruct the lawful functions of the Department of Homeland Security.’’ The indictment alleges one of the defendants, used his personal connections with members of the Watertown Police Department, “to obtain information about law enforcement activity in order to impede and obstruct investigations into his drug trafficking activities in Watertown.’’ The former police officer was fired in November 2010 for unrelated misconduct issues, the police department said. He had a history of complaints during his 13-year career in Watertown, the police chief said. Source: http://www.boston.com/yourtown/news/watertown/2011/05/former_watertown_police_ office.htm
EUROPE
How Russia Could Respond to New U.S.-Polish Cooperation | STRATFOR
Dispatch: Europeans Discuss Ballistic Missile Defense | STRATFOR
Poland: U.S. Aviation Detachment Agreement To Be Announced May 27, 2011
The conclusion of the agreement to establish a U.S. aviation detachment in Poland will be announced May 28, senior White House national security official Liz Sherwood-Randall said while on board Air Force One on May 27, Reuters reported. The agreement will allow U.S. air forces to train Polish troops to utilize the F-16s and C-130s they purchased from the United States, Sherwood-Randall said. Trainers and aircraft will be sent to Poland so they can become more inter-operable with NATO, and it will be a small permanent presence on the ground and then a more substantial rotational presence, Sherwood-Randall added.
ASIA
South Korea, U.S.: Bio-Terrorism Drill Discussed May 26, 2011
Military officers from South Korea and the United States discussed holding the first joint exercise to deal with bio-terrorism, Yonhap reported May 26.
Agenda: Challenges Facing China's Leadership | STRATFOR
Dispatch: Sea Lanes, Natural Resources at Stake in the South China Sea | STRATFOR
RUSSIA
Russia and the U.S.: The Unexpected Common Ground | STRATFOR
Russia: S-400 Missile Systems To Be Stationed In Belarus May 24, 2011
Russia will station its S-400 anti-aircraft missile systems in Belarus, state secretary of the Union State of Russia and Belarus, Pavel Borodin said, Russian Times reported May 24.
IRAN
NOTHING SIGNIFICANT TO REPORT
IRAQ
Iraq: Debaathification Committee Head Killed
Ali al-Lami, the head of the Justice and Accountability Commission (JAC) responsible for debaathification, was killed in east Baghdad on May 26, according to security officials, AFP reported. Al-Lami was shot by insurgents using silenced pistols while he was in his car, an interior ministry official said. The JAC banned several hundred parliamentary candidates from taking part in Iraq’s March 7, 2010, parliamentary election due to alleged ties to Saddam Hussein’s Baath Party.
Iraq: Report On Military Capabilities Near Completion May 25, 2011
A review of Iraq’s military capabilities is nearly complete and will be presented to Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and other senior political leaders, an unnamed U.S. congressional aide said May 25, Reuters reported. The aide said the purpose of the report was to remove politics from the debate about a continued U.S. troop presence in the country and narrow the issue to Iraq’s security capabilities. A second source in Baghdad called the report a “readiness assessment.”
ISRAEL
Dispatch: Opening the Egypt-Gaza Border Crossing | STRATFOR
Dispatch: Netanyahu's Speech Before the U.S. Congress | STRATFOR
AFGHANISTAN
NOTHING SIGNIFICANT TO REPORT
MIDDLE EAST
Yemen's Tribal Troubles | STRATFOR
Implications of Egypt Opening the Rafah Crossing | STRATFOR
Pragmatism Exacerbating Intra-Hamas Fault Lines | STRATFOR
SOUTH OF THE BORDER
Mexico: Drug Gunmen Force Down Police Helicopter May 25, 2011
Mexican police said May 25 that one of their Russian-made MI-17 helicopters was forced to land after drug cartel gunmen opened fire on the craft, wounding two officers, AP reported. The police statement says the pilot decided to land about 3.5 miles from the scene of the attack in the state of Michoacan. The attack occurred early on May 24 near the city of Apatzingan, one of the main territories of the La Familia Michoacana drug cartel.
Mexico: Cartel In Michoacan Has Undergone Rupture - Police May 28, 2011
The La Familia Michoacana cartel is not allied with Los Caballeros Templarios group, Mexico’s Federal Police (PF) learned after a raid that killed 11 and netted 36 arrests, Borderland Beat reported May 28. Detainees told PF there had been a rupture within La Familia involving leaders Enrique Plancarte Solis (La Chiva) and Jose de Jesus Mendez Vargas (El Chango). Since the rupture, La Familia has been in a territorial dispute with Los Caballeros.
Mexico: 29 Killed In Nayarit Firefight May 26, 2011
Mexico’s National Defense Secretariat confirmed that 29 people were killed May 25 in a firefight between suspected drug-trafficking cartels in the municipality of Ruiz, Nayarit state, El Universal reported May 26.
Mexico: Residents Flee After Gunfights In Michoacan State May 25, 2011
More than 1,000 residents in Buenavista Tomatlan municipality, Michoacan state, fled to temporary shelters after firefights between unidentified gunmen began May 22, Milenio reported May 25. Approximately 200 people fled to the nearby municipalities of Aguililla and Apatzingan.
MISC
Above the Tearline: Inside a Protective Agent's Mind | STRATFOR
Except where noted courtesy www.stratfor.com
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