Friday, December 31, 2010
Mexico Security Forces Nab Drug Capo
A leader of the La Familia Michoacana drug gang and four other suspects were apprehended in a joint operation by Federal Police officers, soldiers and marines, Mexico’s Public Safety Secretariat said Friday.
Francisco Lopez Villanueva was arrested Thursday near La Mira – a town in the western state of Michoacan, where the cartel is based – the secretariat said in a statement. It added that the suspects were surrounded during a “land and air” operation.
Francisco Lopez Villanueva was arrested Thursday near La Mira – a town in the western state of Michoacan, where the cartel is based – the secretariat said in a statement. It added that the suspects were surrounded during a “land and air” operation.
Brutal Drug Kingpin Killed, Colombia says
Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos announced Wednesday that ruthless drug lord Pedro Guerrero, alias “Cuchillo” (Knife), was killed last week in a clash with police. “The murderer of murderers fell. We were on his trail for many years. He had become a kind of legend who was unreachable,” Santos told a press conference where he was joined by Colombia’s top cop, Gen. Oscar Naranjo.
U.S. and Venezuela in New diplomatic crisis
A new crisis has erupted in U.S.-Venezuelan relations after Washington responded to Caracas’ refusal to welcome the United States’ proposed envoy to Venezuela by revoking the visa of Venezuelan Ambassador to the United States Bernardo Alvarez. The decision to expel the ambassador followed a weeks-long diplomatic feud and came less than 24 hours after Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez dared the United States to cut off diplomatic ties.
Russia clearly lost war in Caucasus
Popular Kiev newspaper "Ukrainian Pravda" published a response to Putin for his attacks against the Heroes of Ukraine from the Ukrainian Insurgent Army who courageously fought Russian Bolshevik red hordes during the Second World War. The newspaper notes in particular:
"We now see that the war in the North Caucasus shifted to the streets of Moscow. Out of a 900,000 Russian army, 350,000 soldiers and officers are concentrated in the North Caucasus. And they cannot do anything there.
"We now see that the war in the North Caucasus shifted to the streets of Moscow. Out of a 900,000 Russian army, 350,000 soldiers and officers are concentrated in the North Caucasus. And they cannot do anything there.
South American drug gangs funding al-Qaeda terrorists
Islamic rebels familiar with the barren terrain of the Sahara have struck deals under which they provide armed security escorts for drug traffickers in return for a slice of their profits. Counter-terrorism experts said that the terrorists belong to the Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) group, which has kidnapped a series of Westerners and killed a British tourist last year. They warned that the money they receive from drugs gangs could be used to attract new recruits and plan terrorist attacks on European cities. Olivier Guitta, a counter-terrorism and foreign affairs consultant, said that the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), the Marxist rebel group, was the "force behind the agreement with AQIM". In the past drugs were flown or shipped from South America straight to Spain or Portugal but the introduction of more rigorous controls in those countries led FARC to change its way of operating. " Since the routes going through Europe became much more difficult to use, FARC saw an opportunity to use the Sahel and North Africa as its new drug route," said Mr Guitta.
China preparing for armed conflict 'in every direction
In the coming five years, our military will push forward preparations for military conflict in every strategic direction," said Liang Guanglie in an interview published by several state-backed newspapers in China. "We may be living in peaceful times, but we can never forget war, never send the horses south or put the bayonets and guns away," Mr Liang added. China repeatedly says it is planning a "peaceful rise" but the recent pace and scale of its military modernisation has alarmed many of its neighbours in the Asia-Pacific, including Japan which described China's military build-up as a "global concern" this month.
Iran's Intelligence Minister Admits Hacking Into Opposition E-Mail
Iran’s Intelligence Minister Heydar Moslehi has publicly admitted hacking into the e-mail of opposition members. Moslehi was quoted by Iranian news agencies, including ILNA, as saying that e-mails were the most important tool of communication between opposition members during last year’s postelection protests and that the Intelligence Ministry could break into them and defeat “ the enemy."
The Mighty KGB Reassembles Itself
There's a bureaucratic battle going on in Russia, as angry intelligence officials try to resurrect the Cold War era KGB. When the Soviet Union fell apart in 1991, the new Russian government broke up the KGB, creating a domestic intelligence agency (the FSB) and a CIA like operation for foreign intel (the SVR), and several other separate operations that used to be part of the KGB. But because of a recent SVR debacle, and a certain nostalgia for the powerful KGB of yore, FSB officials want to absorb the smaller SVR.
According to Russian officials, the ten Russian spies arrested in the United States last June were betrayed by a Russian SVR official (identified only as "colonel Shcherbakov"). The U.S. claimed they had been watching the ten sleepers for several years, which may indicate that Shcherbakov revealed a lot more if he was on the American payroll all that time. Shcherbakov was in charge of the SVR sleeper cell operation. The Russians use military ranks in the police and intelligence services, and colonels are middle-management. There is political pressure on the head of SVR to resign, indicating that the damage was greater than anyone wants to admit. That escalated into calls for SVR to become part of the FSB.
According to Russian officials, the ten Russian spies arrested in the United States last June were betrayed by a Russian SVR official (identified only as "colonel Shcherbakov"). The U.S. claimed they had been watching the ten sleepers for several years, which may indicate that Shcherbakov revealed a lot more if he was on the American payroll all that time. Shcherbakov was in charge of the SVR sleeper cell operation. The Russians use military ranks in the police and intelligence services, and colonels are middle-management. There is political pressure on the head of SVR to resign, indicating that the damage was greater than anyone wants to admit. That escalated into calls for SVR to become part of the FSB.
Cyber-sabotage and espionage top 2011 security fears
They cite the success of the Stuxnet worm in attacking industrial control systems as a prime example of what to expect in 2011. Other predictions include a rise in sophisticated malware, Wikileaks-style breaches and a focus on mobile. But Stuxnet type attacks top the list of forthcoming fears after the success it had interfering with Iran's nuclear power generation efforts. In November, Iran's president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad confirmed that Stuxnet had hit its target. "They succeeded in creating problems for a limited number of our centrifuges with the software they had installed in electronic parts," Mr Ahmadinejad told a news conference.
The Peak Oil Crisis: 2011 – A Pivotal Year?
Wall Street is getting nervous. As oil prices continue to creep up and as more evidence accumulates that the age of ever-growing energy production and economic growth is coming to an end, a specter is haunting the great investment banks and brokerage houses of New York. For five years now Wall Street and its chorus in the financial media have ignored or denied that global oil production has reached a plateau after 150 years of steady growth. Those who did admit to a problem were quick to assert that the markets would find substitutes first in the form of endless quantities of coal waiting to be exploited and more recently 100 years' worth of shale gas would come seamlessly to the rescue.
The IHH: humanitarianism, terrorism and policy ambiguities
On 22 September 2010, a 3-member fact-finding panel with the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) issued a verdict on Israel’s military action regarding the May 2010 Gaza flotilla.[1] A week later the UNHRC endorsed the panel’s report.[2] Just over two weeks following that report, Turkish families requested that the International Criminal Court (ICC) undertake an investigation into the military action on board one of the vessels.[3] The majority of the UNHRC’s investigation and subsequent verdict are related specifically to the Mavi Marmara vessel – a ship purchased by the Turkish IHH from the Turkish government, sailing under the flag of the Comoros Islands. It was on this ship that nine Turkish activists were killed. The Mavi Marmara was one of six ships to partake in the flotilla and was co-organized by the Turkish Islamist organization – the Foundation for Human Rights and Freedoms and Humanitarian Relief (IHH). The purpose of the flotilla was to attempt to break an Israeli-imposed naval blockade in order to reach the Gaza Strip.
Latin America: no longer the USA’s backyard
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has in his usual outright manner rejected the pressure from Washington trying to impose the candidacy of a new US Ambassador to his country. The ambassador-to-be, whose choice is supported by the State Department but whose confirmation by the Senate is still pending, is Larry Palmer. Hugo Chavez’ objections rise from the comments Mr. Palmer made earlier this year at Senate hearings when he said that morale is low in Venezuela's military and that Colombian leftist rebels from the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) are finding refuge in Venezuela.
Nepal: People’s Revolt and Peace Process Cannot Go Together
The year 2010 has been rightly described as one of ‘lost opportunities’ in Nepal. One of the able commentators ( C.K. Lal) had said and it is worth quoting- “It was a year when conscience and good sense took a collective leave of absence from the minds of men and women entrusted with the task of shaping the destiny of the country.”
Many in Nepal as usual are putting the blame on India. I wish India had been all that powerful and influential- but it is not so. All the political parties are to be blamed, though the Maoists should take the major share as it was within their capability to transform Nepal into a progressive democratic country.
Many in Nepal as usual are putting the blame on India. I wish India had been all that powerful and influential- but it is not so. All the political parties are to be blamed, though the Maoists should take the major share as it was within their capability to transform Nepal into a progressive democratic country.
Malaysia Energy Profile
Malaysia’s national oil and gas company, Petroleam Nasional Berhad (Petronas), holds exclusive ownership rights to all oil and gas exploration and production projects in Malaysia and is the single largest contributor of Malaysian government revenues, almost half in 2009, by way of dividends and taxes.
As Malaysia’s oil fields are maturing, the government is focused on enhancing output from existing fields and from new offshore developments of both oil and gas, which are expected to increase aggregate production capacity in the near- to mid-term.
As Malaysia’s oil fields are maturing, the government is focused on enhancing output from existing fields and from new offshore developments of both oil and gas, which are expected to increase aggregate production capacity in the near- to mid-term.
The Sinister Side of Pakistan’s Sharif Brothers
For decades the Indian political and military establishments have been convinced that the deep anti-India mindset in Pakistan is rooted in Pakistan Army and the Inter Services Intelligence (ISI). However, available indications are that the rot is much deeper, wider. The anti-India and the fulminant form of Islam in Pakistan have political as well as societal backing. The fresh crop of Wikileaks Cablegate says Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, younger brother of Pakistan’s Opposition leader and former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, had “tipped off” the Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) about the United Nations’ sanctions after the LeT’s terror operation in Mumbai in November 2008, the biggest-ever terror strikes in India. As a result of this tip-off, the LeT clean swept its bank accounts, leaving ludicrously small sums to mock at the authorities.
Detruire Internet: Hu Jintao en a rêvé, Obama le fait
Le parti démocrate, on le sait, n’est plus ce qu’il était voici quarante ans. Il est aujourd’hui dominé par des gens dont les idées sont clairement liberticides. Ces gens entendent faire aux Etats-Unis ce qui a déjà été fait en Europe : prendre en main les moyens d’information et maintenir un simple simulacre de pluralisme.
Wikileaks/ al Mabhouh, premières révélations
Julian Assange a promis, il y a quelque jours, qu'il publierait prochainement des câbles qui feront la lumière sur l'assassinat d'al Mabhouh commis début 2010 à Dubaï. Les premiers câbles ont été publiés les 25 et 26 décembre 2010. En voici le contenu.
Carte Europe du Nord, prévision de croissance du PIB réel en 2010
L’Estonie adhère à la zone euro le 1er janvier 2011 mais quelles ont été ses performances économiques en 2010 ? Voici la réponse sous la forme d’une carte qui situe l’Estonie dans son environnement géographique.
Avec une prévision de croissance du PIB réel de +2,4% par rapport à l’année 2009, l’Estonie fait davantage que les deux autres Etats Baltes. Les résultats hétérogènes des pays d’Europe du Nord membres de l’Union européenne sont assez significatifs d’une année 2010 marquée par des résultats fortement différenciés entre les 27 pays membres de l’UE.
Russia To Pay Almost $2B For French Warships
Russia will pay France 1.37 billion euros ($1.81 billion) for two Mistral-class assault warships that Moscow agreed to purchase from the NATO member last week, news reports said Dec. 30. "The first ship will cost 720 million euros and the second 650 million euros," the RIA Novosti news agencies cited a source close to the negotiations as saying. The deal, which involves joint construction of the vessels, is the first sale to Russia of such naval high-tech by a NATO country.
EU Could End China Arms Embargo In Early 2011
A European Union arms embargo clamped on China in 1989 following the Tiananmen crackdown could be lifted in early 2011, Brussels sources told France's Le Figaro daily. The lifting of the embargo on all lethal weapons "could happen very quickly," a source close to EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton told the paper.
Wikileaks Rest in Peace
The original Wikileaks initiative is dead, replaced by a bloated apparatus promising 260,000 cables at slower than a snail's pace. At the rate of 20 cables a day it will take 13,000 days to finish -- some 35 years.
The original merits of Wikileaks have been lost in its transformation into a publicity and fund-raising vehicle for Julian Assange as indicated in the redesign website which billboards him.
The original merits of Wikileaks have been lost in its transformation into a publicity and fund-raising vehicle for Julian Assange as indicated in the redesign website which billboards him.
Es Inevitable una grave Crisis Energética, según el Estado Mayor conjunto de EEUU
“Crepúsculo en el desierto” es un libro que resume los argumentos de un banquero de petróleo de Texas, Matthew Simmons, que sugiere que Arabia Saudita está sobreestimando su capacidad de producción futura de petróleo. He aprendido a través del Departamento de Defensa de EEUU que este libro es la fuente de dos recientes informes del Pentágono que prevé una grave falta de petróleo a partir de 2010 y hasta el 2015 por lo menos. Según la tesis desarrollada en “Crepúsculo en el Desierto”, las cifras oficiales publicadas por Saudi Aramco, la compañía nacional de petróleo saudita, sobreestiman altamente el verdadero nivel de las reservas que el mayor productor del mundo posee en su suelo. Como consecuencia de ello, la producción de petróleo saudita dejará de aumentar, e incluso podría estar cerca de una reducción drástica. El personal auxiliar de las fuerzas armadas de EEUU parece tener en cuenta los temores del señor Simmons como bien fundados y creíbles, y en base a ellos, ha realizado un pronóstico de “grave crisis energética inevitable”.
Police continues hunt for drug lords at large
On the photo above (from left to right)
- "Valenciano"
- "El Loco" Barrera
- Luis Enrique Calle Serna
- Javier Antonio Calle Serna
- "Sebastian"
Germany launches inquiry into poisoning of ex-KGB Colonel
German state prosecutors yesterday said they had opened a preliminary investigation to establish whether a dissident former Russian KGB Colonel and his wife who emigrated to Berlin three months ago had been poisoned. The inquiry followed recent reports in the German weekly magazine Focus which said that doctors had discovered dangerously high levels of mercury in the blood of the two emigrés after they arrived in Germany from Russia.
Cyber-Spies to Wage Non-Stop Assaults on Defense Firms in 2011
Defense companies should expect to come under non-stop attack by countries engaging in cyberespionage in 2011, predicted experts at McAfee Labs, the research-and-development wing of the world’s largest dedicated Internet security firm.
Denmark terrorism plot thwarted with arrest of five suspected militant Islamists
Scandinavian authorities thwarted what they describe as a terrorist attack in Denmark targeting the newspaper that published the infamous caricatures of the prophet Muhammad, arresting five suspected Islamic militants Wednesday. According to a statement published by the Danish spy agency PET, the suspected militants’ target was the Copenhagen offices of Jyllands Posten, the newspaper that in 2005 published cartoons lampooning Muhammad, who founded the Islamic religion in the 7th century. The cartoons prompted an international uproar.
Officer charge of Syrian nuclear program was Mossad spy
Tarek Abdel-Razek, who was arrested in Syria last week for allegedly gathering intelligence for Mossad, revealed while he was undergoing investigation the identity of another alleged spy in Syria, saying he was a senior officer who was in charge of the regime’s nuclear project in Damascus, reported the Egyptian newspaper Al-Masry Al-Youm on Wednesday.
English-language magazine provided bomb tips to 9 terror suspects, British say
Nine men arrested in Britain on terrorism charges last week found inspiration and bomb-making instructions in an English-language Internet magazine published by al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, British investigators reportedly said. The revelation, relayed by British newspapers, provided the first purported link between the nine British-based suspects, some of Bangladeshi origin, and an anti-Western terrorism campaign being waged by Yemen-based jihadists of Yemeni, Saudi, U.S. and other nationalities under the aegis of al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula.
Guerra de Carteles del generalato. Policía y Ejército enfrentados por el control del narcotráfico
Chucky frente a cámaras. Action. Al referirse a la muerte de Pedro Oliveiro Guerrero, alias ‘Cuchillo’, “cayó el asesino de asesinos”. “Extrañamente” Caracol divulga esta nota. “Algunas organizaciones sociales se declararon sorprendidas con el operativo adelantado por la Policía contra alias ‘Cuchillo’, cuando siempre en la zona permaneció el Ejército y nunca pudieron capturarlo”.
Madrid expulse 2 diplomates russes accusés d’espionnage. Moscou réplique en renvoyant 2 diplomates espagnols
Le gouvernement espagnol a expulsé deux diplomates russes pour "activités incompatibles avec leur statut" et Moscou a répliqué en faisant de même avec deux diplomates espagnols, a annoncé mardi le ministère espagnol des Affaires étrangères. Le motif invoqué est généralement utilisé par les services diplomatiques pour désigner des activités d’espionnage. "Les deux gouvernements estiment que l’incident est clos", indique le ministère, précisant qu’une visite à Moscou, prévue le 17 janvier, de la ministre espagnole des Affaires étrangères Trinidad Jimenez, est maintenue.
An alleged Russian spy in Parliament, but still no re-affirmation of the Wilson Doctrine by Prime Minister David Cameron
Has the Wilson Doctrine now been broken or abandoned ?
We find it impossible to believe that there can have been any MI5 Security Service espionage investigation into the activities of the Russian Ekaterina "Katia" Zatuliveter, the former Parliamentary researcher / assistant toMike Hancock, the Liberal Democrat MP for Portsmouth South, without any demands for telephone or email Interception or for Communications Data Traffic Analysis.
The fact that she had access to the MP's Parliamentary email and telephones, means that there is a grave danger of "collateral damage" snooping on the correspondence between the MP and his Constituents.
Given how little information the Ministry of Defence actually provides to Members of Parliament and the public, there should have been no risk of any secrets being handed over to Russian intelligence services, even in regard to his work as a member of the Commons Defence Select Committee.
We find it impossible to believe that there can have been any MI5 Security Service espionage investigation into the activities of the Russian Ekaterina "Katia" Zatuliveter, the former Parliamentary researcher / assistant toMike Hancock, the Liberal Democrat MP for Portsmouth South, without any demands for telephone or email Interception or for Communications Data Traffic Analysis.
The fact that she had access to the MP's Parliamentary email and telephones, means that there is a grave danger of "collateral damage" snooping on the correspondence between the MP and his Constituents.
Given how little information the Ministry of Defence actually provides to Members of Parliament and the public, there should have been no risk of any secrets being handed over to Russian intelligence services, even in regard to his work as a member of the Commons Defence Select Committee.
Thursday, December 30, 2010
Pakistan : China’s Israel fast becoming its next North Korea?
A Chinese diplomat confronted by a US counterpart about China’s support for Pakistan regardless of the circumstances is reported to have said, sarcastically : "Pakistan is our Israel".[i] Recent events however suggest that China might be inadvertently making Pakistan a clone of its other client state, North Korea.
In their most recent meeting in Pakistan Chinese and Pakistani leaders reaffirmed that alliance by announcing trade and investment deals worth about USD 30 billion as well as cooperation in a variety of areas including satellite space projects[ii]. Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao who led the delegation, said in his address to Pakistan's parliament , a first by a Chinese leader:
In their most recent meeting in Pakistan Chinese and Pakistani leaders reaffirmed that alliance by announcing trade and investment deals worth about USD 30 billion as well as cooperation in a variety of areas including satellite space projects[ii]. Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao who led the delegation, said in his address to Pakistan's parliament , a first by a Chinese leader:
Russia included in a list of countries posing cyber threat to U.S.
According to media reports, a study of potentials of several countries in the field of information warfare has been conducted by the US Homeland Security. The study has been undertaken within the framework of improving National Strategy for Cyberspace Safety of the U.S. The list of countries that pose threat to U.S. security in the information field includes Russia, China, India, Iran, North Korea and Pakistan. As countries that pose a potential threat to the U.S., so-called "Israel", Syria and republics of former Yugoslavia are listed.
Data processing is an important target in modern warfare.
Data processing is an important target in modern warfare.
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Terror Threat in Spain Continues
Police in Spain and Thailand smashed a counterfeiting ring earlier this month, saying it aimed to provide fake European passports to al-Qaida. It's the latest example of Spain's place at the heart of European terrorist activity, serving as a staging ground for multiple plots and enduring the devastating March 2004 Madrid train bombings. Despite its efforts, American officials have expressed concerns – and at times frustration – about Spain's terror growth, State Department cables released by Wikileaks show.
A Phrase To Die For
Despite Pakistan's reputation as an Islamic conservative state, it increasingly isn't. Current law is heavily influenced by Sharia (Islamic law), and a panel of Islamic scholars can rule on the "constitutionality" of laws, at least in terms of Sharia. This has caused increasing unrest recently, because more and more Pakistanis are pushing back at Islamic radicals who want Pakistanis to live according to sedate, and strict, religious rules. Then there is the blasphemy law, which can be invoked against Moslems and non-Moslems (three percent of the population) alike. The maximum penalty is death, and a Christian woman is awaiting execution for blasphemy.
Polisario et narcotrafic : Une équipe de la CIA et DEA débarque à Nouakchott
C’est dans la plus grande discrétion qu’une équipe d’enquêteurs américains, composée d’agents de la Drug Enforcement Administration (D.E.A agence fédérale chargée de la lutte contre le trafic de drogue) et de la Central Intelligence Agency (C.I.A en charges du renseignement extérieur) est arrivée à Nouakchott ce Week-end afin d’apporter son concours aux services mauritaniens dans une enquête qui s’avère d’ores et déjà complexe, celle relative au réseau de narcotrafiquants « composé à 90% d’éléments issus des camps du Polisario » selon une source sécuritaire nigérienne citée par l’Agence France Presse.
Cárteles forman alianza antizeta, revela informe
El informe sobre la “guerra” de las drogas en México, realizado por Stratfor, de Estados Unidos, al que titularon El año más sangriento a la fecha, afirma que en el 2010, la disputa entre los cárteles de las drogas ha ocasionado niveles “sin precedentes de violencia”, con un saldo de 11 mil muertes. Atribuye este aumento a dos factores: al enfrentamiento entre el cártel del Golfo y Los Zetas, y a la ofensiva lanzada por el presidente Felipe Calderón, que “interrumpió” el balance de poder entre los cárteles. Afirma que el gobierno mexicano llegó a su límite y que no tiene los recursos para contener la acción de los cárteles de las drogas, y que por ello debería ampliar la participación de gobiernos extranjeros, para reforzar esta lucha.
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
La cooperación judicial antiterrorista entre España y Marruecos
Marruecos y España son dos países vecinos que están obligados a entenderse porque se necesitan mutuamente. Mantener unas buenas relaciones de vecindad es presupuesto de una acción exterior responsable e inteligente, especialmente cuando existen importantes intereses que afectan a la seguridad. La cooperación bilateral ha experimentado un creciente desarrollo en casi todos los sectores, influenciada por el fenómeno de la globalización y por la aproximación de Marruecos a Europa. Existía, no obstante, una laguna en el sector de la Justicia, que las dificultades de interlocución surgidas al inicio de la investigación de la trama marroquí en el 11-M dejaron al descubierto. Puede decirse que en la cooperación judicial hispano-marroquí hay un antes y un después del 11 de marzo de 2004. A raíz de los atentados terroristas se puso en marcha una estrategia conjunta que ha abierto los canales de comunicación necesarios para el establecimiento de una eficaz colaboración. Este modelo puede ser una referencia para el análisis, en la medida que ejemplifica las posibilidades de cooperación entre países europeos y árabes en un ámbito tan crucial como necesario.
La recomposición de las relaciones transatlánticas: Obama y la UE en la Cumbre de Lisboa
La Cumbre de Lisboa entre EEUU y la UE ha levantado una serie de expectativas con respecto a la recuperación de una relación transatlántica que, conforme a las percepciones de académicos, medios de comunicación y líderes políticos, no pasa por su mejor momento. La atención del presidente Obama a las potencias emergentes, ejemplificadas en su reciente gira por Asia y las renacidas percepciones sobre la irrelevancia de Europa tras los rescates de Grecia e Irlanda y los problemas estructurales de la política internacional de la Unión tras la entrada en vigor del Tratado de Lisboa, han contribuido a esta situación.
Khodorkovsky found guilty, sentence to be announced
The reading of the full verdict is expected to last several days and the sentencing has yet to come. In the first case against Khodorkovsky, it took two weeks for the judge to read the verdict.
The defense seems hopeful that the ruling could be announced in the nearest future.
“From the information we’ve got, we understand that the court plans to finish reading the verdict this year,” said Vladimir Krasnov, a defense lawyer.
The Wars of 2011
On Sunday thousands of Israel haters gathered in Istanbul to welcome the Turkish-Hamas terror ship Mavi Marmara to the harbor. Festooned with Palestinian flags, the crowd chanted "Death to Israel," "Down with Israel" and "Allah akbar" with Hizbullah-like enthusiasm. The Turkish protesters promised to stand on the side of Hamas when it next goes to war with Israel. They may not have to wait long to keep their promise. Over the past two weeks Hamas has steeply escalated its missile war with over 30 launches. Last week, a missile that narrowly missed a nursery school wounded a young girl.
Scandal Threatens India's Economic Growth
A couple of months ago, India was riding high. Its economy came through the worldwide recession with growth at 8 1/2 percent.
World leaders, including President Obama, visited New Delhi to proclaim that India had "arrived."
Yet today, India's government is mired in a series of costly scandals, its parliament is gridlocked, and business leaders fret that foreign investment will fall.
What happened?
World leaders, including President Obama, visited New Delhi to proclaim that India had "arrived."
Yet today, India's government is mired in a series of costly scandals, its parliament is gridlocked, and business leaders fret that foreign investment will fall.
What happened?
al-Shabaab: Obama 'Must revert to Islam' Or We Will Attack America...
A leader of Somalia's Islamist insurgency has threatened to attack America if President Barack Obama does not convert to Islam. Fuad Mohamed "Shongole" Qalaf said in Monday's radio message that President Obama must convert to Islam or Somalia's al-Shabab militia would seek to launch attacks in the United States. Al-Shabab has not yet launched an attack outside Africa but Western intelligence has long been worried because the group targeted young Somali-Americans for recruitment. About 20 have traveled to Somalia for training.
Mexican Government says Cartels Weakened
The government’s security strategy has succeeded in weakening Mexico’s drug cartels, including the Pacific cartel, whose members accounted for 24 percent of the drug arrests made in the country this year, the Security Cabinet said. Record drug seizures and other blows have weakened the criminal organizations, the body, which is made up of several Cabinet secretaries and the Attorney General’s Office, said.
New statement from The Caucasus Emirate’s Jāma’at Shari’at
Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the worlds, peace and blessing be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, companions and all those who follow him until the Judgement Day, and then …
In the course of the special measures carried out by the Mujahideen in order to clarify the circumstances of the battle, it appeared that the location of the Mujahideen was known by some of the villagers, whom were known to be spies. These people, pushed by Satan, conspired to inform the disbelievers.
In mid-March 2009 (precisely on March 22), in a wooded area near the village of Kakashura, in the Temir Khan Shura (russian name: Buynaksk) district of W. Dagestan, 12 Mujahideen of the Kadar Jamaat became Martyrs (Shuhadah) Insha’Allah in a three-day battle.
Swiss case against Pakistani nuclear smuggling ring could expose CIA role
When a Swiss Magistrate recommended bringing nuclear smuggling charges against Friedrich Tinner and his two sons Urs and Marco this week, he could have only guessed at the ripple effect that the case would have in two faraway countries – Pakistan and the United States. The Tinners, who are Swiss nationals, allegedly ran the most notorious nuclear smuggling ring in history – the shadowy web of disgraced Pakistani nuclear scientist Abdul Qadeer Khan.
Russian ex-intelligence officer Kvachkov accused of attempted armed rebellion
Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) has accused ex-intelligence officer Vladimir Kvachkov of preparing an armed rebellion for the forceful seizure of power in Russia, business daily Kommersant reported on Saturday. Kvachkov was arrested on Thursday a day after Russia's Supreme Court upheld his acquittal in a high-profile case of an assassination attempt in 2005 on Anatoly Chubais, former head of the UES electricity giant and architect of post-Soviet reforms.
Did Israel sabotage Egyptian internet?
Arrested spy tells all: Egyptian confesses to working for, recruiting 'hundreds' for Mossad; says Israeli intelligence agency was involved in sabotage that caused entire country's internet network to collapse
Russia: unstable economy and political crisis
Though the rise in oil prices has strengthened Russia’s economy, low growth is still likely this year and next. The budgetary outlook remains uncertain—the government promises to slash spending even as it announces new initiatives—leaving policy makers with a tough choice, particularly as parliamentary and presidential elections approach. Most importantly, however, the country’s political situation appears to be deteriorating, overshadowing all other arenas.
Colombia expels alleged Swedish drug lord
Colombian authorities arrested and expelled a Swedish citizen wanted in his home country to face drug trafficking charges. According to newspaper El Tiempo, Swedish citizen Jonas Sture Oredsson is considered the leader of an organization held responsible for the trafficking of cocaine from South America to Europe.
Monday, December 27, 2010
Iran : un espion d’Israël condamné à mort
Un espion du "régime sioniste" (Israël, ndlr) a été condamné à mort par le tribunal révolutionnaire, a déclaré le procureur général de Téhéran Abbas Jafari Dolatabadi, cité aujourd’hui par l’agence Mehr. "Cet espion a été condamné à mort. Après la confirmation de sa peine, son identité sera révélée", a déclaré M. Dolatabadi, sans donner plus de précision. Il a ajouté que la justice examinait "d’autres dossiers liés à l’espionnage". Il y a deux mois, M. Dolatabadi avait affirmé que la justice allait juger deux espions travaillant pour Israël, selon les médias.
L’Allemagne s’inquiète des cyberattaques chinoises
Les attaques informatiques visant les réseaux du gouvernement allemand sont en forte progression. Un nouveau Centre national de défense électronique sera mis en place l’an prochain. Le gouvernement allemand a annoncé qu’il allait se doter d’un centre de défense contre les attaques informatiques, lancées notamment de Chine, en forte augmentation en 2010. "Il y a eu une augmentation notable de ces attaques électroniques à l’encontre des réseaux du gouvernement allemand et des autorités locales", a affirmé le porte-parole du ministère de l’Intérieur Stefan Paris lors d’une conférence de presse. "L’Allemagne est un pays de haute technologie avec beaucoup d’expérience et de savoir-faire, et il est donc logique que d’autres cherchent à obtenir ces connaissances (...) La Chine joue ici un large rôle", a affirmé M. Paris. Au cours des neuf premiers mois de l’année, quelque 1600 attaques ont été détectées, comparé à 900 pour l’ensemble de l’année 2009, a souligné le porte-parole pour qui nombre d’attaques n’ont probablement pas été détectées.
WikiLeaks Reveals U.S. Twisted Ethiopia's Arm to Invade Somalia
U.S. officials were lying when they claimed to have attempted to restrain Ethiopia from invading neighboring Somalia in late 2006. Newly unveiled documents show that “the Bush Administration pushed Ethiopia to invade Somalia with an eye on crushing the Union of Islamic Courts,” which had established relative peace in much of the country. The U.S. also tried to assemble a “coalition of the willing” to overthrow Robert Mugabe’s government in Zimbabwe.
The Gulf of Mexico is Dying
It is with deep regret that we publish this report. We do not take this responsibility lightly, as the consequences of the following observations are of such great import and have such far-reaching ramifications for the entire planet. Truly, the fate of the oceans of the world hangs in the balance, as does the future of humankind.
The Gulf of Mexico (GOM) does not exist in isolation and is, in fact, connected to the Seven Seas. Hence, we publish these findings in order that the world community will come together to further contemplate this dire and demanding predicament. We also do so with the hope that an appropriate global response will be formulated, and acted upon, for the sake of future generations. It is the most basic responsibility for every civilization to leave their world in a better condition than that which they inherited from their forbears.
What does the Union for the Mediterranean tell us?
The difficult beginnings of the Union for the Mediterranean are instructive about the process of developing a geopolitical project inside the European Union. Site Director of Geopolitics Diploweb.com, Pierre Verluise responded to Alexandra Dobra’s questions.
New German Spy Headquarters Eyeball
Germany’s Federal Intelligence Service, the Bundesnachrichtendienst (BND), is relocating to Berlin with some 4000 employees. The office's site around the former ‘Stadion der Weltjugend’ (World Youth Stadium) in Berlin has been chosen by the BND in an effort to reestablish the urban space and regeneration of the area. The overall project has been divided into three sub-projects – the main building, the school and visitor centre, and the technical and logistics centre. Henn Architekten designed and built the north buildings only (shaded dark grey on the site map), whereas the main building was designed and built by Kleihues+Kleihues architects.
![[Image]](http://cryptome.org/eyeball/bnd-central/pict35.jpg)
The technical and logistics centre houses various functional areas and incorporates goods and transport handling. It also provides access from the north directly to the central axis of the main building. It is thought that many of the employees on site will use this access which is convenient to the nearby underground station. The complex also includes a power plant and office space for a range of functions. The glass-fronted foyer and the car park above face towards the public street. The car park extends over four levels and a four-storey service building is located south of the logistics yard on the opposite side. The office building at the eastern corner completes the group along the Chausseestraße. A fourth element beneath the logistics yard connects all sections of the buildings below ground level.
Architecture firm Kleihues+Kleihues designed the main building for the Bundesnachrichtendienst office. To incorporate the functionally highly complex structure with its gigantic volume into Chausseestraße while taking into account special security requirements as well as to respect and respond to the surrounding dimensions of both the city of Berlin and this particular site hint at the special challenges posed by this task. It is achieved by spreading the structure's volume into a centrally located main structure, a construction along the northern border along Planstraße, one along the southern border along Habersaathstraße and two gate houses joined to the main building on Chausseestraße. The latter is set back from the street and protected by a pine grove. To minimise the visual impact of the massive structure and to break it down for the beholder it purposely avoids long façades and instead employs the alteration between longer and shorter wings broken up by courtyards opening up to the outside.
The technical and logistics centre houses various functional areas and incorporates goods and transport handling. It also provides access from the north directly to the central axis of the main building. It is thought that many of the employees on site will use this access which is convenient to the nearby underground station. The complex also includes a power plant and office space for a range of functions. The glass-fronted foyer and the car park above face towards the public street. The car park extends over four levels and a four-storey service building is located south of the logistics yard on the opposite side. The office building at the eastern corner completes the group along the Chausseestraße. A fourth element beneath the logistics yard connects all sections of the buildings below ground level.
Architecture firm Kleihues+Kleihues designed the main building for the Bundesnachrichtendienst office. To incorporate the functionally highly complex structure with its gigantic volume into Chausseestraße while taking into account special security requirements as well as to respect and respond to the surrounding dimensions of both the city of Berlin and this particular site hint at the special challenges posed by this task. It is achieved by spreading the structure's volume into a centrally located main structure, a construction along the northern border along Planstraße, one along the southern border along Habersaathstraße and two gate houses joined to the main building on Chausseestraße. The latter is set back from the street and protected by a pine grove. To minimise the visual impact of the massive structure and to break it down for the beholder it purposely avoids long façades and instead employs the alteration between longer and shorter wings broken up by courtyards opening up to the outside.
Mossad chief will apologise' over UK passport fraud
The new head of Israel's secret service is ready to apologise for the use of forged British passports during the assassination of a Hamas leader in Dubai, The Telegraph newspaper reported yesterday.
The report, citing "Mossad insiders", said Tamir Pardo, who took over as Mossad's chief this month, will promise that Israeli agents will never again be allowed to use fake British documents during operations abroad. The Israeli government had no official reaction yesterday to the report.
The report, citing "Mossad insiders", said Tamir Pardo, who took over as Mossad's chief this month, will promise that Israeli agents will never again be allowed to use fake British documents during operations abroad. The Israeli government had no official reaction yesterday to the report.
Turmoil and dissent in North Africa's al Qa'eda
Al Qa'eda in the Islamic Maghreb, or AQIM, has recently sought to raise its public profile with a series of successful kidnapping operations of western nationals. Its efforts have garnered attention not only from international terrorism analysts, but from militants themselves. After a September operation in Niger where seven people were kidnapped - including five French citizens - Osama bin Laden himself claimed paternity of this success. Bin Laden's attention is noteworthy, but not the most revealing aspect of these strikes. For that, one needs to examine what members of AQIM are saying about their own activities, and how these tactics are creating rifts within the broader organisation.
Computers of Mono Jojoy' are FARC's WikiLeaks
The computers found in the camp of "Mono Jojoy," the FARC's military commander who was killed in an air strike in September, reveal so much of the guerrilla organization they can be considered the rebels' "WikiLeaks," Colombia's Armed Forces commander told newspaper El Espectador.
According to Colombia' highest military official, "apart from being the FARC's WikiLeaks, it is a clear testimony of their thinking and the evidence of all they have done against the Colombian people. There are eight terrabyte of information on the computers of Jojoy and another 80 and numerous seized USB sticks that show us how they think and how they tried to deceive the government and the country."
According to Colombia' highest military official, "apart from being the FARC's WikiLeaks, it is a clear testimony of their thinking and the evidence of all they have done against the Colombian people. There are eight terrabyte of information on the computers of Jojoy and another 80 and numerous seized USB sticks that show us how they think and how they tried to deceive the government and the country."
Macedonian 'Spy' Row Judge Demands Public Hearing
A judge from Macedonia’s Constitutional Court accused of being an informant for the former Yugoslav secret services has demanded the right to protest his innocence at a public hearing.
The judge's comments on Monday came after the country's Lustration Commission, designed to remove former communist-era informants from holding public office, last week confronted him with a secret service report it said provided evidence he was an informant during the Socialist Yugoslav period.
The judge's comments on Monday came after the country's Lustration Commission, designed to remove former communist-era informants from holding public office, last week confronted him with a secret service report it said provided evidence he was an informant during the Socialist Yugoslav period.
La desmovilización voluntaria de guerrilleros, embuste de la inteligencia militar
A falta de resultados en el terreno militar, por tanto a llenar ese vacío con sus mentiras de siempre. “Farc recluta niños a la fuerza”. “Los niños son utilizados para colocar bombas”. “Se desmovilizó escuadra completa de las Farc”. Para reforzar le agregan, “estas desmovilizaciones, son producto de la acción sicológica, la inteligencia Militar y la presión ejercida por las tropas”.
La del fin de semana. “Seis entregas voluntarias se registraron en los departamentos de Cundinamarca y Boyacá a tropas de la Quinta División del Ejército”, reporta juiciosamente y sin chistar RCN.
La del fin de semana. “Seis entregas voluntarias se registraron en los departamentos de Cundinamarca y Boyacá a tropas de la Quinta División del Ejército”, reporta juiciosamente y sin chistar RCN.
Farc: una década 2000-2010 resistiendo el embate feroz de los planes imperiales
Los hechos desmienten el último informe de Arco Iris. Este más bien parece un análisis de la inteligencia militar en boca de un reinsertado. Se equivoca de cabo a rabo. Con propósitos divisorios, la supuesta marginal presencia de las Farc en 250 regiones del país y la incapacidad del EMBO en asimilar la copiada estrategia balcánica de bombardear primero para entrar a ‘copar terreno’. Ahora para frenesí y contentillo de la cúpula militar. 3500 bajas en la guerrilla.
Tras Walid Makled
El pasado 19 de agosto, Walid Makled, alias “El Turco”, fue detenido en la ciudad de Cúcuta y recluido en la cárcel de máxima seguridad de Cómbita (Colombia); se le imputan los delitos de tráfico ilícito de drogas, legitimación de capitales por narcotráfico, asociación para delinquir y homicidio. Tras las solicitudes de extradicción hechas por los gobiernos de Estados Unidos y Venezuela, el presidente colombiano Juan Manuel Santos declaró públicamente que Makled será entregado a su país natal. Sin embargo, las múltiples declaraciones y amenazas que Makled ha ofrecido a los medios colombianos conllevan a pensar que éste se ha convertido en un caso mediático, cuyos tiempos de resolución deberían acortarse para garantizar la aplicación efectiva de la ley .
Des anarchistes revendiquent les explosions des deux ambassades à Rome
La Fédération anarchiste informelle (FAI) a revendiqué les attentats qui ont frappé deux ambassades à Rome dans un message retrouvé à côté de l’une des deux victimes. La police évoque des indices similaires à des épisodes terroristes en Grèce. Un groupe anarchiste a revendiqué jeudi soir les explosions à Rome de colis piégés dans les ambassades de Suisse et du Chili, qui ont fait deux blessés et entraîné la mise en alerte de toutes les représentations diplomatiques de la capitale italienne. La Fédération anarchiste informelle (FAI) a revendiqué ces deux attentats dans un message retrouvé à côté de l’une des deux victimes.
Douze Somaliens soupçonnés de terrorisme arrêtés à Rotterdam
Douze Somaliens soupçonnés d’"implication dans des activités terroristes" ont été arrêtés vendredi 24 décembre à Rotterdam, a annoncé samedi le parquet national néerlandais. Le parquet a été alerté par les services de renseignements néerlandais (AIVD), selon lesquels "plusieurs Somaliens voulaient, à court terme, commettre une attaque terroriste aux Pays-Bas", a ajouté le parquet. Les Somaliens arrêtés sont âgés de 19 à 48 ans. Six d’entre eux habitaient à Rotterdam, cinq n’avaient pas de lieu de résidence connu et un habitait au Danemark, selon la même source. Aucune arme et aucun explosif n’ont été saisis lors de perquisitions menées dans un magasin de téléphonie et dans quatre habitations à Rotterdam ainsi que dans deux chambres de motel à Gilze-Rijen (dans le sud du pays), a précisé le parquet national néerlandais.
Des Suisses au service de la CIA
La CIA a utilisé trois ingénieurs suisses pour infiltrer un trafic de matériel nucléaire mis en place par le scientifique pakistanais Abdul Qadeer Khan. Pour éviter que l’affaire ne s’ébruite, le gouvernement américain a ensuite fait pression sur la Suisse pour entraver l’enquête sur les activités de ces trois ingénieurs helvétiques. Une affaire qui sort aujourd’hui grâce à la ténacité d’un magistrat Andreas Muller.
Sunday, December 26, 2010
La France livrera quatre navires Mistral à la Russie (officiel)
Les autorités russes ont retenu le consortium formé par les industriels français DCNS et STX et les chantiers navals russes OSK au terme d’un appel d’offres sur la construction de quatre bâtiments de projection et de commandement (BPC) de classe Mistral, a annoncé vendredi l’Elysée par voie de communiqué.
"L’offre du consortium prévoit dans un premier temps la construction en commun de 2 navires de ce type, qui devrait être prolongée par la fabrication de deux unités supplémentaires", stipule le communiqué.
"L’offre du consortium prévoit dans un premier temps la construction en commun de 2 navires de ce type, qui devrait être prolongée par la fabrication de deux unités supplémentaires", stipule le communiqué.
PJLF 2011 : Les drones et les autres programmes de communication et de renseignement
1. Les programmes de drones : la nécessité d’acquisitions complémentaires en l’attente de décisions sur de futurs programmes
La France a pris en matière de drones d’observation un important retard que votre commission a régulièrement souligné.
La loi de programmation militaire 2003-2008 prévoyait l’entrée en service du système intérimaire de drone MALE (SIDM) en 2003 et la livraison des 12 drones Euromale, réalisés en coopération européenne, à compter de 2009.
En fin de compte, le système intérimaire constitué du drone Harfang n’est entré en service que fin 2008-début 2009. Quant au programme Euromale, il n’a jamais vu le jour et a été réorienté en Advanced UAV. L’étude de levée de risque financée par l’Allemagne, l’Espagne et la France, pour un montant total de 57,7 millions d’euros, n’a semble-t-il pas été pleinement concluante.
Le 4ème drone SIDM Harfang commandé en complément des trois drones déployés en Afghanistan est en phase d’essais de réception à Cognac. Depuis mars 2010, les drones Harfang intègrent un dispositif de transmission vidéo au profit des troupes au sol (Rover).
A court terme, le besoin porte sur le maintien d’une capacité MALE au profit des forces. Comme la indiqué le 9 novembre dernier devant la commission le chef d’état-major de l’armée de l’air, « il faut être conscient des limites du système intérimaire, dont les obsolescences, d’ores et déjà visibles, doivent nous conduire à prendre des décisions cette année, si nous voulons pérenniser cette capacité précieuse, incontournable aujourd’hui en termes de renseignement et d’anticipation ». En effet, si rien n’est fait, le risque de rupture capacitaire deviendrait majeur à une date que l’on ne peut établir avec précision, mais que l’on situe généralement autour de 2013.
A plus long terme, c’est-à-dire à l’horizon 2020, une solution pérenne fondée sur un programme en coopération européenne est souhaitable. Vos rapporteurs se félicitent à cet égard de la décision de la France et du Royaume-Uni de lancer en 2011 une évaluation en commun, en vue de disposer aux alentours de 2020 d’un système de drones de haute capacité.
En l’attente de cette solution pérenne, une décision doit être prise pour éviter la rupture capacitaire d’ici 2020. Deux solutions sont à l’étude : la prolongation du Harfang et l’achat sur étagères du Predator B américain, le Reaper.
D’après les indications dont disposent vos rapporteurs, les performances actuelles du Harfang et du Reaper ne sont pas comparables. Plus puissant, plus rapide, volant à plus haute altitude, le Reaper possède 36 heures d’autonomie contre 24 pour le Harfang. Ses capteurs optiques permettent d’identifier une activité suspecte, alors que ceux du Harfang, de conception plus ancienne, se limitent à la détection. Pour des raisons analogues, le potentiel d’évolution du calculateur du Harfang est plus limité que celui du Reaper, par exemple si l’on souhaitait coupler capteurs optroniques et électromagnétiques. Enfin, l’effet de série bénéficie au Reaper, produit à 200 exemplaires, son coût à l’heure de vol étant bien inférieur à celui du Harfang.
Performances comparées du Harfang et du Reaper
Harfang | Reaper | |
Propulsion | La motorisation du drone lui permet d’atteindre une altitude de 6 km et une vitesse maximale de 180 km/h. L’autonomie de vol est de 24 heures. | Le moteur à turbo-propulseur permet d’atteindre une altitude de 15 km et une vitesse maximale de 470 km/h. L’autonomie de vol est de 36 heures. |
Capteurs | Le capteur optique du drone a été conçu il y a plus de dix ans Il offre une capacité de détection des activités suspectes. Le capteur radar n’offre qu’une capacité tout temps limitée. | Le capteur optique a bénéficié des dernières évolutions et offre une capacité d’identification. Les images électro-optiques et infrarouge peuvent être fusionnées. Le capteur radar est issu d’une technologie récente et offre une résolution satisfaisante. |
Capacité d’évolution | De conception ancienne, le calculateur peut difficilement intégrer de nouvelles fonctions. Il existe un risque d’obsolescence sur de nombreux composants. | L’évolution du calculateur est en cours de conception, avec la mise en service d’une version nouvelle en 2012. |
Coût de possession | Système intérimaire, il n’a été produit qu’à 4 exemplaires. Le coût à l’heure de vol est supérieur à 10 000 €, ce qui contraint à limiter l’activité. | Produit à plus de 200 exemplaires, le coût à l’heure de vol est de l’ordre de 8 000 €. |
En ce qui concerne l’autonomie stratégique, les Italiens ne paraissent pas limités en quoi que ce soit par le fait d’être équipés en drones américains.
Des éléments complémentaires sur la possibilité de prolonger le Harfang sont en cours d’examen. Il s’agit de savoir si cette solution peut être mise en oeuvre dans des conditions financières, des délais et avec des performances soutenant la comparaison avec un achat sur étagères de Reaper. La question sera soumise au nouveau ministre de la défense.
Aux yeux de vos rapporteurs, il est indispensable de maintenir et renforcer rapidement l’équipement des forces sans obérer les ressources financières permettant de réaliser à l’horizon 2020 en coopération européenne une capacité pérenne performante.
Les dotations prévues en 2011 au titre des activités du SIDM et du maintien de la capacité MALE s’élèvent à 72,6 millions d’euros en autorisations d’engagement et 19,5 millions d’euros en crédits de paiement.
S’agissant des drones tactiques, la dotation de l’armée de terre en SDTI (système de drones tactiques intérimaires), qui comportait initialement 18 drones, a été complétée par l’achat de 3 drones supplémentaires de nouvelle génération et la reprise de 6 drones Sperwer d’occasion de l’armée canadienne. Des acquisitions complémentaires sont en cours d’étude pour compenser l’attrition en Opex. Les échéances d’un futur programme de drones tactiques (avec une version terrestre, SDT, et une version marine, SDAM) ont été décalées d’un an et se situent à l’horizon 2017.
Les dotations prévues en 2011 au titre des activités du SDTI et du maintien de la capacité drone tactique s’élèvent à 92 millions d’euros en autorisations d’engagement et 9,8 millions d’euros en crédits de paiement.
L’armée de terre dispose de 60 petits drones DRAC et 50 autres doivent être commandés fin 2010.
Enfin, pour répondre aux besoins spécifiques des forces spéciales, l’acquisition d’une capacité complémentaire de plusieurs systèmes de mini-drones Skylark, développés par la société israélienne Elbit, a été opérée en janvier 2010.
2. Les autres programmes dans le domaine du renseignement et des communications
L’année 2011 verra la livraison de 6 nouvelles nacelles de reconnaissance Reco NG (recueil d’images à haute altitude et transmission en temps réel) pour le Rafale. Sur un total de 20 nacelles prévues, 12 devraient avoir été livrées fin 2011, les 8 dernières étant attendues au cours de 2012. Ce système apportera des améliorations notables par rapport aux capacités actuelles des Mirage F1 CR. Il fonctionnera de jour comme de nuit, à grande distance ou à basse altitude et très grande vitesse. Les images pourront être transmises en temps réel ou en temps différé. Les dotations prévues pour 2011 s’élèvent à 2 millions d’euros en autorisations d’engagement et à 30 millions d’euros en crédits de paiement.
En matière de renseignement d’origine électromagnétique (ROEM), la rénovation des deux Transall C160 Gabriel est en cours. La rénovation portera à la fois sur la mise aux normes de l’aviation civile et sur les capacités « Elint » (Electronic intelligence). Un premier appareil a déjà bénéficié de la rénovation de l’avionique. Le premier appareil entièrement rénové devrait être disponible en octobre 2011 et le second en 2012.
La capacité de renseignement électromagnétique aéroportée repose également sur les baies Pelican embarquées sur les ATL 2 de la marine et sur le pod Astac, embarqué sur les Mirage F1CR de l’armée de l’air. Il était prévu que le pod Astac soit transféré sur Mirage 2000D au retrait des Mirage F1CR, mais cette opération est remise en cause par la suspension du programme de rénovation des Mirage 2000D.
Outre le programme spatial Ceres et la rénovation des C160 Gabriel, les opérations intéressant le renseignement électromagnétique sont regroupées, dans le projet annuel de performances, en deux ensembles distincts selon qu’elles relèvent du niveau stratégique ou du niveau tactique.
Les opérations de ROEM stratégique ont pour objectif de moderniser les systèmes de commandement et d’exploitation, la capacité de localisation en gamme HF en réutilisant les sites d’implantation existant et la capacité d’interception en H/V/UHF pour l’ensemble des armées et la DRM. A ce titre, les autorisations d’engagement s’élèvent à 123,7 millions d’euros et les crédits de paiement à 15,3 millions d’euros pour 2011.
Les opérations de ROEM tactique visent quant à elle à réaliser les stations de guerre électronique Catiz, destinées à être intégrées sur les VAB et commandées cette fin d’année 2010, ainsi que d’autres charges utiles de guerre électronique à intégrer sur les différents porteurs des armées.
S’agissant des avions de détection, la rénovation des 4 avions Awacs a été lancée. L’opération de rénovation des communications s’étalera de 2010 à 2012. Par ailleurs, la commande de la mise à niveau des 3 avions de guet Hawkeye de la marine est prévue en 2011.
En matière de communications, l’équipement des forces terrestres en nouveaux postes de radio à haut débit doit s’achever en 2010 avec la livraison des derniers postes « PR4G-VS4-IP », portant à 7 051 le nombre total de matériels. Le programme « PR4G-VS4-IP » est destiné à multiplier par quatre les débits, par rapport aux postes de radio de quatrième génération (PR4G), afin notamment de permettre la transmission simultanée de la voix et des données et de pouvoir renseigner en temps réel les feux sol-air.
Enfin, 380 stations radio tactiques HF Melchior ont été livrées en 2009 sur une commande de 675 stations. Les 295 autres sont attendues d’ici mars 2011. Le nombre total de stations prévu est de 1 100. Une seconde tranche de 425 stations, en version 2, est en cours de définition, 66 stations devant être commandées en 2011. Portables à dos d’homme ou embarquées sur des véhicules tactiques, ces stations, destinées notamment aux forces spéciales, doivent permettre la diffusion des renseignements recueillis et la transmission des ordres de bout en bout, en garantissant l’interopérabilité avec les autres réseaux des armées et ceux des alliés, dans des modes de fonctionnement discrets, antibrouillés et sécurisés.
PJLF 2011 : Le renseignement de sécurité (DGSE, DPSD)
L’action « recherche et exploitation du renseignement intéressant la sécurité de la France » regroupe les activités de la direction générale de la sécurité extérieure (DGSE), comptabilisées dans la sous-action « renseignement extérieur » et de la direction de la protection et de la sécurité de la défense (DPSD), figurant pour leur part dans la sous-action « renseignement de sécurité de défense ».
Les crédits de la direction du renseignement militaire (DRM) relèvent en revanche du programme 178 « préparation et emploi des forces », du fait de la vocation opérationnelle du renseignement d’intérêt militaire, notamment sur les théâtres d’opérations extérieurs.
Le coup d’Etat a déjà eu lieu en Iran
Le limogeage du ministre des Affaires étrangères Manouchahr Moutaki, proche du guide de la révolution iranienne, a confirmé les craintes des services de renseignements occidentaux et notamment ceux de la CIA.
Craignant un coup d’Etat de la part des franges les plus radicales des Pasdarans-gardiens de la révolution-, les analystes américains sont aujourd’hui presque sûrs que le « putsch » a déjà eu lieu à Téhéran.
Saturday, December 25, 2010
Wikileaks cable reveals U.S. conspired to retaliate against European nations if they resisted GMOs
Wikileaks continues to rock the political world by shedding light on conspiracies, corruption and cover-ups. The latest batch of diplomatic cables released by Wikileaks reveals what can only be characterized as a U.S.-led conspiracy to force GMOs onto European countries by making those countries pay a steep price if they resist.
The cable reveals the words of Craig Stapleton, the US ambassador to France, who was pushing the commercial interests of the biotech industry by attempting to force GMOs into France. In his own words (below), he expresses his frustration with the idea that France might pass environmental laws that would hamper the expansion of GMOs:
The cable reveals the words of Craig Stapleton, the US ambassador to France, who was pushing the commercial interests of the biotech industry by attempting to force GMOs into France. In his own words (below), he expresses his frustration with the idea that France might pass environmental laws that would hamper the expansion of GMOs:
Friday, December 24, 2010
L’affrontement euro-américain sur la protection des données personnelles
Le 7 juillet 2010, le parlement européen a ratifié le second accord Swift autorisant le transfert à l’administration américaine de données bancaires relatives à des citoyens européens. L’utilisation stratégique du concept de « guerre contre le terrorisme » faite par les américains leur a permis de faire accepter et légitimer par les autorités européennes des actes illégaux commis sur le sol des états européens. Tirant profil de la volonté de conciliation des représentants de l’Union européenne, les autorités américaines ont remporté une victoire décisive où l’enjeux n’est pas uniquement le droit des citoyens européens à voir leurs vies privées être protégées, ni même l’utilisation économique et commerciale qui pourrait être faite de la captation de ses informations, mais la question de l’applicabilité du droit américain sur le sol européen.
War and the Global Economic Crisis: Blame America's War Economy rather than China
There is a growing chorus of voices in the media and the academy singling out the actions of the Chinese state as central to the dilemmas of the world economy. This focus finds its most articulate presentations, not in the xenophobia of the right, but in the polite analysis of many left-liberals.
Nobel Laureate economist Paul Krugman, for instance, writing in the run-up to November's G20 summit in South Korea, praised the United States' approach of creating money out of nothing (“quantitative easing”) as being helpful to the world economy, and criticized the Chinese state's attempts to keep its currency weak as being harmful. “The policies of these two nations are not at all equivalent,” he argues, adding his influential voice to the chorus which is increasingly targeting China for the world's woes. Krugman's, however, is a simplistic analysis which overlooks the role of the U.S. over decades in creating huge imbalances in the world economy, and has the dangerous effect of scapegoating one of the poorest nations of the world (China) for the problems created by the world's richest.
Nobel Laureate economist Paul Krugman, for instance, writing in the run-up to November's G20 summit in South Korea, praised the United States' approach of creating money out of nothing (“quantitative easing”) as being helpful to the world economy, and criticized the Chinese state's attempts to keep its currency weak as being harmful. “The policies of these two nations are not at all equivalent,” he argues, adding his influential voice to the chorus which is increasingly targeting China for the world's woes. Krugman's, however, is a simplistic analysis which overlooks the role of the U.S. over decades in creating huge imbalances in the world economy, and has the dangerous effect of scapegoating one of the poorest nations of the world (China) for the problems created by the world's richest.
South Korea set for new drill as N.Korea raps ‘warmongers’
South Korea's military prepared Thursday for a new show of force involving artillery fire, missiles and fighter planes, with backing from Washington but criticism from North Korea of "warmonger" tactics. The one-hour live-fire exercise at Pocheon, 30 kilometres (20 miles) south of the tense land border with North Korea, would be the largest ground-air joint fire drill this year, an army spokesman told AFP. It was to begin at 2:00 pm (0500 GMT), he said. Military officials said 105 types of weaponry -- including tanks, anti-tank missiles, attack helicopters, self-propelled guns, multiple launch rockets and six fighter jets -- would be mobilised at Pocheon. The army spokesman said it would be the first time multiple launch rockets had been mobilised in such a joint fire drill.
Thursday, December 23, 2010
Serbia to push Montenegro on Organised Crime
Slobodan Homen, State Secretary in Serbia’s Ministry of Justice, says Montenegro’s new government must demonstrate its readiness to continue the fight against organized crime. “The new government will have a serious task, to demonstrate its willingness to be one of key factors in the fight against organized crime in the region,” Homen said.
Northern Nigeria: Background to Conflict
Violence in northern Nigeria has flared up periodically over the last 30 years. Mainly in the form of urban riots, it has pitted Muslims against Christians and has seen confrontations between different Islamic sects. Although there have been some successes in conflict management in the last decade, the 2009 and 2010 troubles in Bauchi, Borno and Yobe states involving the radical Boko Haram sect show that violence still may flare up at any moment. If the situation were to deteriorate significantly, especially on Christian-Muslim lines, it could have serious repercussions for national cohesion in the build up to national elections in April 2011. To deal with the risks, community-level initiatives need to be reinforced, a more subtle security response should be formulated and the management of public resources must be improved. While some in the West panic at what they see as growing Islamic radicalism in the region, the roots of the problem are more complex and lie in Nigeria’s history and contemporary politics.
North Korea: The Risks of War in the Yellow Sea
The Yellow Sea off the Korean peninsula has become a potential flashpoint for a wider conflict. An escalating series of confrontations by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) has seen the sinking of a Republic of Korea (ROK) naval vessel and the shelling of civilian settlements on an island near the boundary. The disputed nature of this maritime boundary, known as the Northern Limit Line (NLL), as well as the volatility of DPRK politics has created a serious risk that any further provocation might turn into a wider conflict. While international attention is once again focused on the North’s nuclear program, there is an urgent need to implement measures that could reduce the possibility of a clash in the Yellow Sea becoming something worse.
Computador de 'Fabián Ramírez' revela nexos con narcos de México
Un mes después de que la Fuerza Aérea bombardeara el campamento de 'Fabián Ramírez', en las selvas del Yarí (Caquetá), se empiezan a conocer los primeros detalles de los documentos hallados en el lugar, el pasado 20 de noviembre. Varias fotografías de una celebración que el jefe guerrillero hizo en Candilejas, luego de "coronar un cargamento", según está consignado en uno de los computadores incautados en medio de la operación Némesis.
Perverse Carbon Payments Send Flood of Money to China
European legislators in Brussels have discovered that the strategy they devised to combat climate change is helping subsidize the economy of their, and America’s, major global competitor — China. European companies have been overpaying Chinese companies more than 70 times the cost to eliminate a potent greenhouse gas — triflouromethane, or hfc 23, a byproduct of manufacturing a refrigerant that has been banned in developed countries and is being phased out in developing ones.
Police Swoop on Macedonia Drugs Barons
In a joint operation, Macedonian, German and Austrian police forces on Tuesday and Wednesday swooped on some 100 suspected drug smugglers and drug dealers in the three countries. Among the 29 arrested in Macedonia are six Macedonian nationals suspected as masterminds of the group. Three were named as Zoran Manaskov-Skrseniot, Spase Dimovski-Ajduk and Tome Dimovski-Tomce.
How the African Union Defines Terrorism
As Africa grows more concerned with terrorist attacks, as the conflict in Somalia spills over in the East and Al-Qaeda in Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) grows more and more bold and active in the West, the African Union is currently working on a draft law and common ground to harmonize their counter-terrorism policies. Yesterday, Magharebia published a detailed article on the progress of the draft law. Here’s an excerpt:
“This law will enable member nations of the AU to pursue or extradite terrorists active on their territory,” African Union (AU) Peace and Security Commissioner Ramtane Lamamra said. The bill also calls for “drawing up of a list of known terrorist and terrorist entities, like those of the UN”, he noted. (…)
Hay una fila de ministros y jefes del DAS en la misma onda de Uribe
En un articulo en el diario Publico.es se informa que un juzgado de Madrid admite abrir un proceso contra el ex presidente colombiano Álvaro Uribe Vélez como máximo responsable por el espionaje contra exiliados colombianos en España y contra organizaciones españolas y ciudadanos españoles, reseña desde Honduras, Dick Emanuelson. El caso abre más posibilidades que el señor Uribe sea juzgado en otros países europeos en donde ha operado la policía política secreta DAS, bajo mando directo de la Casa presidencial.
Pologne/espionnage : un Russe condamné
Le Tribunal régional de Varsovie a condamné un Russe de 41 ans à trois ans de prison ferme pour espionnage au profit de la Russie, a rapporté l’agence PAP. Tadeush Y., un citoyen russe muni d’une carte de séjour en Pologne, avait été arrêté par l’agence polonaise de contre-espionnage (ABW) le 4 février 2009.
Thales et Cassidian* ont mis en service avec succès INTRACED
L’Etat-Major des Armées et la Direction Générale de l’Armement ont officiellement annoncé la mise en service opérationnelle d’INTRACED, le premier Intranet Classifié de Défense. Cette décision fait suite à une phase d’évaluation approfondie de cette solution destinée aux Armées et au Ministère de la Défense.
Première étape vers la généralisation des intranets sécurisés au sein du Ministère de la Défense, INTRACED garantit un accès sécurisé à de nombreuses applications telles que messageries, travail collaboratif, annuaires.
Première étape vers la généralisation des intranets sécurisés au sein du Ministère de la Défense, INTRACED garantit un accès sécurisé à de nombreuses applications telles que messageries, travail collaboratif, annuaires.
Le système d’information INTRACED permet de fédérerl’ensemble des réseaux du Ministère de la Défense, y compris les systèmes de commandement des corps d’armées français (tels que SICF, SIC21, SICA, INTRACED Air, MUSE, etc.).
Le Directeur du renseignement américain pas informé d’une opération antiterroriste en Grande-Bretagne
La Maison Blanche, passablement embarrassée, a reconnu mercredi que le Directeur du renseignement américain, James Clapper, n’avait pas été informé de l’arrestation lundi en Grande-Bretagne de 12 hommes dans le cadre d’une opération antiterroriste. Ces douze hommes, âgés de 17 à 28 ans, sont soupçonnés d’avoir préparé des attentats dans plusieurs villes britanniques, ce dont la presse a fait largement état. Mardi soir, un journaliste de la chaîne de télévision américaine ABC a demandé à James Clapper si cela pouvait avoir des répercussions sur la sécurité aux Etats-Unis.
Kosovo: Europe's Mafia State. Hub of the EU-NATO Drug Trail
In another grim milestone for the United States and NATO, the Council of Europe (COE) released an explosive report last week, "Inhuman treatment of people and illicit trafficking in human organs in Kosovo."
The report charged that former Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) boss and current Prime Minister, Hashim Thaçi, "is the head of a 'mafia-like' Albanian group responsible for smuggling weapons, drugs and human organs through eastern Europe," The Guardian disclosed.
If diplomacy fails, Israel may attack Iran’s nuclear facilities – Israeli analyst
Israel would prefer not to attack, but is very close to launching a strike on Iran to prevent it from assembling a nuclear weapon, says senior Israeli military and intelligence analyst, Dr Ronen Bergman.
He is also the author of the book "The Secret War with Iran”.
Mozambique: rising concerns about Narcotrafficking and Money Laundering in Nation
document
S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 03 MAPUTO 000713SIPDIS
NOFORN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/25/2019
TAGS: SNAR EFIN KCOR PTER PGOV PREL MZ
SUBJECT: RISING CONCERNS ABOUT NARCOTRAFFICKING AND MONEY
LAUNDERING IN MOZAMBIQUE
REF: A. 08 MAPUTO 1228
B. 08 MAPUTO 1098
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Todd C.Chapman, Reasons 1.4(b+d)
1. (S/NF) Summary: Large-scale narcotics shipments pass through Mozambique, taking advantage of a vast and lightly guarded coastline. Money laundering may be increasing. Narcotraffickers in the country have connections to South Asia, and some appear to have links to the ruling Frelimo party and the GRM. Using Department of State INL funds, the Embassy has led a successful border security program with the Portuguese Embassy that has resulted in the seizure of narcotics. The mission has also provided support via DoD and Treasury, and directed counternarcotic assessments by the Africa Command, LegAtt, and DEA. While not a thoroughly-corrupted narco-state, the trends in Mozambique suggest cause for concern unless the GRM takes quick action to address these growing problems. End Summary.
My Trip to Al-Qaeda (part 1)
An official selection of 2010 Tribeca Film Festival, offers a crash course in modern islamic fundamentalism. Wright's footage and interviews range from the radicalization of future al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri after he and other Egyptians were imprisoned for the 1981 assassination of Egyptian Anwar El Sadat, to the rise of Osama bin Laden after he fought the Soviets in Afghanistan during the 1980s, to America's current dilemma as a superpower in danger of overextending its military presence in a region filled with militants who prefer death over life.
The Jihadis path to self-destruction
Nelly Lahoud spoke at the New America Foundation about her newest book, The Jihadis' Path to Self-Destruction. Her comments focused on modern jihadi discourse as well as historical trends of Islamic dissent. Much of her lecture explored comparisons made between modern jihadis and early Kharijism (a seventh century splinter movement). According to Ms. Lahoud, the two groups are not perfectly analogous, but they do suffer from the same shortcomings. In the case of the Kharijites, this matters little since the group no longer exists. But for modern jihadis, and those waging war against them, there are serious implications. The problem with scriptural rigidity—as practiced by the Kharijites and groups like al Qaeda today—is that it produces dissent within groups and distaste among a broader, more moderate public. Strictness can create a plurality of jihadis who might share very general goals but disagree on theological details. A united front of jihadists, according to Ms. Lahoud, will most likely never materialize because of this. And, although today's jihadists differ greatly from the Kharijites, they share a common destiny of irrelevance because their views produce hostility within their own ranks and beyond. Such conclusions suggest modern jihad could prove self-destructive.
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Naoto Kan’s Remarks strain Relations with South Korea
When the people of Japan gave a mandate to the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) and dethroned the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), they had hoped that the former will bail out the country from its prolonged recession. That hope soon dissipated after Hatoyama Yukio bungled on several fronts: a foreign policy independent of the United States that he sought to craft, an impracticable position on the relocation of the Futenma airbase, and policy on social welfare measures that proved unsustainable. Now Kan Naoto is proving no better. His choice of some Cabinet colleagues has proved wrong, with the Justice Minister Minoru Yanagida quitting office over his “job is easy” gaffe. Now Kan himself is embroiled in a controversy over his suggestion that Japanese troops could be dispatched to the Korean peninsula if North Korea were to collapse. While meeting the families of Japanese nationals abducted by North Korea, Kan ignited the furore when he said Tokyo and Seoul were discussing plans to “allow our troops to conduct rescue operations in case of contingencies.”
US to Increase Pressure on Gbagbo Until He Yields Ivory Coast Presidency
The State Department said Tuesday that the United States and other countries will step up pressure on Ivory Coast President Laurent Gbagbo until he yields power to his elected successor, Alassane Ouattara. The Obama administration announced travel sanctions against Mr. Gbagbo and his close associates.
Officials here say the travel sanctions are only the opening move in an international campaign that will steadily ratchet up the pressure on Mr. Gbagbo to accept the election results and leave the country.
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton imposed travel restrictions on Mr. Gbagbo and members of his family, including his wife, and other associates who are said to be supporting policies that “undermine the democratic process” in Ivory Coast.
Officials here say the travel sanctions are only the opening move in an international campaign that will steadily ratchet up the pressure on Mr. Gbagbo to accept the election results and leave the country.
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton imposed travel restrictions on Mr. Gbagbo and members of his family, including his wife, and other associates who are said to be supporting policies that “undermine the democratic process” in Ivory Coast.
The Wikileaks Effect: information warfare and battle for the truth
On 25 July 2010, the Guardian, the New York Times and Der Spiegel published simultaneous reports on the ‘Afghan War Diary’, a collection of more than 91,000 classified reports on the war in Afghanistan furnished by Wikileaks. These documents reportedly covered the January 2004 to December 2009 period of the war in Afghanistan. Since then, hundreds of thousands of United States diplomatic cables have been leaked by Wikileaks, the whistle-blower website, to a wider array of news groups including the Sydney Morning Herald.
What’s Inside the New Nuke Arms Treaty
Back from the brink of annihilation, the Obama administration’s treaty with Russia on reducing nuclear weapons is looking like it’ll pass the Senate after all, possibly as early as Wednesday. The only thing that everyone’s overlooked in the past several months’ political theater over the treaty is what it actually does — and doesn’t do. So we’re here to help.
The headlines first: New START caps strategic nuclear warheads as 1550 on each side. (According to the nuke wonks at the Ploughshares Fund, the Russians have 2600 strategic nuclear weapons and the U.S. has just under 2000.) The intercontinental ballistic missiles, subs and bombers that deliver them have to be capped at 800 deployed and non-deployed launchers. By most arms-control experts’ accounts, these are pretty modest cuts, still allowing each side to incinerate the earth several times over.
The headlines first: New START caps strategic nuclear warheads as 1550 on each side. (According to the nuke wonks at the Ploughshares Fund, the Russians have 2600 strategic nuclear weapons and the U.S. has just under 2000.) The intercontinental ballistic missiles, subs and bombers that deliver them have to be capped at 800 deployed and non-deployed launchers. By most arms-control experts’ accounts, these are pretty modest cuts, still allowing each side to incinerate the earth several times over.
China Prepared to Recognize Palestinian State
Chinese Deputy Foreign Minister Zhia Jun stressed that China is prepared to renew its recognition of a Palestinian state if the UN Security Council or the United Nations pass such a resolution. He pointed out that China was one of the first countries that recognized the PLO in the 1960s, noting that "the young generation may not know this information." He made this statement in response to a question by Asharq Al-Awsat on the possibility of his country taking a stand similar to that recently taken by some Latin American countries which recognized a Palestinian state.
Fatah asked Israel to attack Hamas: Wikileaks
Members of Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas' Fatah party asked Israel to attack rival Palestinian movement Hamas in 2007, diplomatic cables leaked by whistleblower WikiLeaks show. The latest batch of cables quote the head of Israel's Shin Bet security agency as telling U.S. officials that "demoralized" Fatah officials in the Gaza Strip had asked for help against the growing strength of Hamas. "They are approaching a zero-sum situation, and yet they ask us to attack Hamas," Shin Bet chief Yuval Diskin told U.S. officials. "They are desperate." He went on to praise his organization’s "very good working relationship" with Abbas' security service, which he said shared with the Shin Bet "almost all the intelligence that it collects."
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Gazprom cuts output forecast to 570-580 bcm by 2015
Russia’s gas giant Gazprom has cut its gas output forecast for 2015 to 570-580 billion cubic meters per year due to worsening market conditions, the company said on Tuesday.
“As it was noted at a board of directors meeting, the development of internal and international gas markets helps forecast gas production of the Gazprom group at up to 570-580 bcm by 2015,” Gazprom said in a statement.
In the pre-crisis year of 2008, when the company produced about 550 bcm of gas, Gazprom CEO Alexei Miller said that output could grow to 570 bcm in 2010 and reach 610-615 bcm in 2015.
In November 2010, Gazprom cut its forecast for this year’s gas output to 515 bcm from 520 bcm.
“As it was noted at a board of directors meeting, the development of internal and international gas markets helps forecast gas production of the Gazprom group at up to 570-580 bcm by 2015,” Gazprom said in a statement.
In the pre-crisis year of 2008, when the company produced about 550 bcm of gas, Gazprom CEO Alexei Miller said that output could grow to 570 bcm in 2010 and reach 610-615 bcm in 2015.
In November 2010, Gazprom cut its forecast for this year’s gas output to 515 bcm from 520 bcm.
Wikileaks: Shabak Told U.S. Hamas Wouldn’t Take Over Gaza
There seems to be a meme among a certain conspiracy minded portion of the left that the Israeli government has colluded with Wikileaks to reveal information that casts Israel’s enemies in a derogatory light and casts no aspersions on Israel. According to this theory, Julian Assange is in the Mossad’s pocket and made a deal with them to go lightly on Israel. Frankly, I don’t buy it mainly because there IS damaging information among the Wikileaks cables about Israel. I’ve already written two posts detailing such material. In my report yesterday on the Israeli TV story on Israeli sabotage of Iran the segment referred to another cable in which the Mossad’s Meir Dagan advocated to senior State Department official, Nicholas Burns, that the U.S. join Israel in fomenting regime change in Iran.
Northern Nigeria: Background to Conflict
Nigeria’s far north is not the hot bed of Islamic extremists some in the West fear, but it needs reinforced community-level peacebuilding, a more subtle security response, and improved management of public resources lest lingering tensions lead to new violence. Northern Nigeria: Background to Conflict, the latest report from the International Crisis Group, examines the region’s conflict risks. Violence has flared up there periodically for more than 30 years. Mainly in the form of urban riots, it has seen Muslims pitted against Christians, confrontations between different Islamic sects, and rejectionist sects against the state. The relative calm that much of northern Nigeria had enjoyed for several years was broken by the emergence in 2009 of Boko Haram, a radical group that appears to have some links to al-Qaeda.
Russia, India ink oil, gas, nuclear energy deals
Russia and India have signed intergovernmental agreements on cooperating in the oil and gas and nuclear energy spheres as well as jointly developing information technologies. Russian President Dmitry Medvedev began his official two-day visit to India on Tuesday during which he is scheduled to meet with his Indian counterpart Pratibha Patil and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. The Russian and Indian foreign ministers signed an agreement on easing visa requirements for certain categories of citizens. The countries’ governments have also agreed on joint cooperation in emergency situations.
India’s Quest For Nuclear Energy
As India’s economy booms, one thing that India is perennially short of is energy. India and China have been scouting for energy resources across the world with missionary zeal. With fossil fuels fast draining out, India’s only recourse seems to be looking out for alternate sources of energy, which include nuclear energy. Although, at present, India generates only 4.7 gigawatts of nuclear power, which constitutes only about 3% of the total electricity generation, it has an ambitious plan to increase that to 60 gigawatts by the year 2035.
India’s nuclear programme has a long history, which harks back to the mid-1950s when it was started at the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre(BARC) in Trombay, a suburb of Mumbai, India’s commercial capital. India had acquired dual-use technologies under the “Atoms for Peace” programme which aimed at facilitating the civil use of nuclear technologies. Under this programme, India acquired a Cirus 40 MWt heavy-water-moderated research reactor from Canada while the heavy water required for its operation was purchased from the U.S.
India’s nuclear programme has a long history, which harks back to the mid-1950s when it was started at the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre(BARC) in Trombay, a suburb of Mumbai, India’s commercial capital. India had acquired dual-use technologies under the “Atoms for Peace” programme which aimed at facilitating the civil use of nuclear technologies. Under this programme, India acquired a Cirus 40 MWt heavy-water-moderated research reactor from Canada while the heavy water required for its operation was purchased from the U.S.
Russia: Pandora’s Box of Nationalism
Vladimir Putin utilized nationalist fervor in Russia to consolidate his personal authority and strengthen the country’s statehood following the Soviet collapse. But now the Kremlin may be finding that nationalism is a double-edged blade, a weapon that, all of a sudden, is threatening to subsume Russia’s identity as a multi-ethnic state. Ten days after hundreds of nationalist thugs rioted in central Moscow, attacking non-Russians from Central Asia and the Caucasus while voicing chauvinist slogans, the Russian capital remains on edge, and Putin’s government continues to struggle to keep racist and xenophobic sentiments in check.
The Operational Network of Abu Dujana al Khorosani in AFPAK
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