Israel and Iran share most negative ratings in global poll

Posted by Matt in March 3rd, 2007 | no comment

Most people believe Israel and Iran have a mainly negative influence in the world with almost as many saying the same about North Korea and the United States, according to a BBC World Service poll of 28,000 people across 27 countries.
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Israeli band’s anti-war hit pushes pop contest’s buttons

Posted by Matt in March 3rd, 2007 | no comment

Published in Iran, Islam, Nuclear, Off-Topic, War, Iran, Israel, Nuclear, War

This is an off-topic article that I found interesting. Occasionally, I post these kinds of articles.
The Eurovision Song Contest organizers are threatening to throw out an Israeli entry because the entry refers to a crazy leader that wants to nuke Israel.
JERUSALEM — The Eurovision Song Contest, an annual event that proves European popular
culture can take [...]

Russia: Hollow Tipped Threat

Posted by Matt in March 3rd, 2007 | no comment

Published in Military, Russia, Military, Russia

Russia plays at being a great power. Lately it has been rattling its saberâ€”with more swagger than actual bite.
Stolid, ramrod-stiff Sergei Ivanov is generally not one to inspire rapturous applause. Yet that’s just what Russia’s former Defense minister did last month when he appeared before Parliament to announce a $189 billion program to rebuild Russian [...]

Israel slams Russia for arming Syria

Posted by Matt in March 3rd, 2007 | no comment

Published in Israel, Military, Russia, Syria, Israel, Russia, Syria

Jerusalem aimed harsh criticism at Russia on Friday for its decision to supply Syria with advanced missiles, including anti-aircraft missiles and new anti-tank missiles that can penetrate Western-made tanks.
Senior Israeli officials expressed concerns that the arms would be transferred to Hizbullah, warning that missiles that were supplied to Syria in the past got into the [...]

Iran’s deepening presence in the Americas

Posted by Matt in March 3rd, 2007 | no comment

Published in Americas, Iran, Iran, Latin-America

Iran’s plans to open a series of embassies in Latin America is a sign of Washington’s weakened position in the region and underscores the likelihood that the US has lost out to its geopolitical rivals.
Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Mehdi Mostafavi said on 27 February that his country would re-open embassies in Chile, Colombia, Ecuador and [...]

As China gets stronger, Taiwan seeking major purchase of U.S. missiles

Posted by Matt in March 3rd, 2007 | no comment

Published in China, Missiles, Taiwan, U.S., China, Missiles, Taiwan, U.S.

TAIPEI, Taiwan: Taiwan is seeking to buy more than US$400 million worth of missiles and parts from the United States to bolster its air defenses, prompting a strong protest from China.
The government is looking to buy 218 AMRAAM medium range air-to-air missiles and another 235 Maverick missiles, at an estimated cost of $421 million.
The purchase [...]

US rejects Chinese protest over planned Taiwan missile sale

Posted by Matt in March 3rd, 2007 | no comment

Published in China, Military, Missiles, Taiwan, U.S., China, Military, Missiles, Taiwan, U.S.

The United States rejected a Chinese protest Friday over plans to sell hundreds of US missiles to rival Taiwan.
“The United States assists Taiwan in meeting its legitimate self-defense needs,” said State Department spokesman Sean McCormack, arguing that the missile sale fell within US legislation governing US-Taiwan relations.
“The Bush administration remains fully committed to fulfilling the [...]

Party leader says Taiwan lacks votes for independence

Posted by Matt in March 3rd, 2007 | no comment

Published in Taiwan, Taiwan

TAIPEI (Reuters) – Taiwan’s pro-independence president has no hope of pushing through constitutional change to sever the island’s China ties, a move sure to provoke war with Beijing, before his term ends in 2008, a leading ally said.
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Intelligence Fusion Centers

Posted by Matt in March 3rd, 2007 | no comment

Published in U.S., general, Intelligence, U.S.

In the early morning hours of September 9, 2001, a Maryland State Trooper made a routine traffic stop, pulling over a car headed north on I-95 and issuing a speeding ticket. Two days later, the driver of that car, Ziad Jarrah was one of four hijackers aboard United Airlines Flight 93 when it crashed in [...]

The Nuclear Threat From China

Posted by Matt in March 3rd, 2007 | no comment

Published in China, Nuclear, U.S., China, Nuclear, U.S.

In altering their position relative to that of the United States, the Chinese have received generous assistance from the past two American presidents, who have accomplished first a carefree diminution of our orders of battle and then the incompetent deployment of what was left, in a campaign analogous to losing a protracted struggle with Portugal. [...]