A New Shield for Israel

Posted by Matt in October 10th, 2007 | no comment

Published in Israel, Military, Israel, Military

Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak said on Tuesday that Israel will soon be able to intercept 90 percent of the missiles launched at it, from Iran’s Shahab-3 missiles to Palestinian Qassam rockets.
The difference between intercepting a medium-range ballistic missile and a Qassam rocket is immense, and the technical challenges of defending against such a broad [...]

Mysterious transmissions assaulting Israeli satellite TV broadcasts

Posted by Matt in October 10th, 2007 | no comment

Published in Israel, Satellites, Israel, Satellites

Mysterious transmissions assaulting Israeli satellite TV broadcasts
International Herald Tribune,Â FranceÂ - 11 hours ago
6, the day Israeli warplanes slipped past Syria’s Russian-made air defense systems, attacked a military target deep inside the country and escaped …
Mysterious ’snow’ disrupts Israeli TV Telegraph.co.uk
Israeli raid on Syria wrecks TV viewers’ pleasure back home Scotsman
all 16 news articlesÂ Â»

A warning to the West: Both Iran strategies being debated in Washington would lead to disaster

Posted by Matt in October 10th, 2007 | 4 comments

Published in Iran, West, Iran, West

If we do not take this path, then a major war will disrupt the Middle East very soon, and we will all lose what we hold dear: the Iranian people will lose their lives, their land and their history; the West will lose its energy and the vital trade links with all the promise they [...]

Defense Focus: MLRS in fashion — Part 1

Posted by Matt in October 10th, 2007 | no comment

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

WASHINGTON, Oct. 10 (UPI) — Multi-launch rocket mortars are an old artillery system that goes back 65 years, and the United States has never been interested in them, so why are they more important than ever now?
The modern military Multiple Launch Rocket System mortar was born in 1936 when Nazi Germany developed the six-barreled Nebelwerfer. [...]

China and Taiwan flex military muscles

Posted by Matt in October 10th, 2007 | no comment

Published in China, Military, Taiwan, China, Military, Taiwan

China and Taiwan flex military muscles
International Herald Tribune,Â FranceÂ - 13 hours ago
This system is a direct challenge for self-governing Taiwan as it seeks to counter the mainland’s growing military power. China regards the democratic …
Taiwan’s military parade a warning for China ABC Online
Taiwan flexes military muscle Aljazeera.net
Taiwan slams China military build-up PRESS TV
Khaleej TimesÂ - Alalam News [...]

Five ex-communist countries sign oil pipeline deal bypassing Russia

Posted by Matt in October 10th, 2007 | no comment

Published in Energy, Europe, Russia, Energy, Europe, Russia

VILNIUS (AFP) – Five former communist-bloc countries signed a deal Wednesday to extend an oil pipeline that bypasses Russia, in a move that could diversify supplies and cut Moscow’s energy clout.
The presidents of Azerbaijan, Georgia, Poland, Ukraine and host nation Lithuania looked on as government ministers and state oil company bosses inked an accord [...]

Putin’s Risky Bid to Hold on to Power

Posted by Matt in October 10th, 2007 | no comment

Published in Russia, Russia

Vladimir Putin appears to have found a way to remain the most powerful man in Russia after he leaves office as president — without having to amend the constitution. But his plan is not without risk. It could aggravate tensions within the innermost Kremlin circle. By Uwe Klussmann, Christian Neef and Matthias Schepp in Moscow [...]

India-China Competition Revealed in Ongoing Border Disputes

Posted by Matt in October 10th, 2007 | no comment

Published in China, India, general, China, general, India

While there may be an element of truth in all these arguments, there are other more fundamental reasons behind the recent chill in Sino-Indian relations. Apparently, the strategic consequences of India’s economic resurgence coupled with U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice’s offer in March 2005 to “help make India a major world power in the [...]

China Announces Gains in Air Defense

Posted by Matt in October 10th, 2007 | no comment

Published in China, Military, China, Military

A senior officer from Chinese Air Force headquarters, Fang Lei, said a seamless network of all-weather air defense radars had been installed to cover all Chinese airspace, according to a report on the Web site of the official military newspaper, the Liberation Army Daily.
The networkâ€™s detection and surveillance capability was â€œvery closeâ€ to those [...]

Has a renewed peace process begun?

Posted by Matt in October 10th, 2007 | no comment

Published in Israel, Israel

Question asked of Jerusalem Post columnists: “Do you believe that a significant renewed peace process has begun? Who do you think will make a significant concession at Annapolis: Israel, the Palestinians, both or neither?” For all replies, see “Burning Issues #41: Has a renewed peace process begun?“
No significant peace process exists now, nor has it [...]