Paraguay Expresses Alarm over Recent Bolivian Arms Purchases

Posted by Matt in August 31st, 2009 | no comment

Published in Americas, 100 Million, Airplanes, Authorities, Bolivia, Defense Minister, helicopters, Military Equipment, Paraguay, Paraguayan Government, Russia, San Miguel

The Paraguayan government requested a bilateral meeting with Bolivian authorities on Saturday to discuss Bolivia’s recent announcement that it will purchase up to $100 million in military equipment with credit from Russia. The deal, which is reportedly for helicopters, airplanes and other military equipment, was announced on August 12 by Bolivian defense minister Walker San [...]

Iranian Nuclear Threat Targets U.S., Israel

Posted by Matt in August 31st, 2009 | no comment

Published in general, Burst, Earth, Electromagnetic Pulse Attack, Iran, Iranian Nuclear Threat, Islamic Republic, Israel, Missiles, Nuclear Bomb, Nuclear Device, Nuclear Warhead, Rogue Nation, Security Experts, Southeastern Europe, Threat Targets, United States

The Islamic republic has test-fired missiles capable of reaching Israel, southeastern Europe, and U.S. bases in the Mideast — and published reports say Iran is within a year of developing its own nuclear bomb.
Security experts warn that even one nuclear device in the hands of a rogue nation could be used against the United States [...]

China Tightening Control of Rare Earth Minerals – NYTimes.com

Posted by Matt in August 31st, 2009 | no comment

Published in China, China Tightening Control, Control, Green Energy Technologies, Hammerlock, Military Applications, Missiles, Nytimes, Rare Earth Elements, Rare Earth Minerals, Rare Minerals

China is set to tighten its hammerlock on the market for some of the world’s most obscure but valuable minerals.
China currently accounts for 93 percent of production of so-called rare earth elements — and more than 99 percent of the output for two of these elements, vital for a wide range of green energy technologies [...]

China military threat to Taiwan rises despite détente | Reuters

Posted by Matt in August 31st, 2009 | no comment

Published in China, Aircraft Carrier, beijing, Billions Of Dollars, China And Taiwan, China Military Threat, China Taiwan, China Threat, Fighter Jets, Military Analysts, Military Power, Missiles, Reuters, Russia, Taiwan, Ties

The balance of military power between China and Taiwan is shifting towards Beijing, leaving the island few options without U.S. aid in the event of attack, a threat that has not eased despite warming ties.
China has invested billions of dollars in its military, buying from Russia, developing itself advanced fighter jets and missiles, and slimming [...]

Anthony H. Cordesman – A Chance to Avoid Defeat in Afghanistan – washingtonpost.com

Posted by Matt in August 31st, 2009 | no comment

Published in Conflict, Afghanistan, Assessment Group, LOST, Stanley, Three Months, United States, Victory, War Afghanistan, War In Afghanistan, Washingtonpost

The United States cannot win the war in Afghanistan in the next three months — any form of even limited victory will take years of further effort. It can, however, easily lose the war. I did not see any simple paths to victory while serving on the assessment group that advised the new U.S. commander, [...]

U.S. and U.K. Decisions Hurt Global and National Security – WSJ.com

Posted by Matt in August 31st, 2009 | 2 comments

Published in Terrorism, American Television, Attorney General, Bowman, Britons, Cia Interrogation, Civil Libertarians, Consequences, Eric Holder, Government Act, Interrogation Practices, Jack Bauers, Life And Death, Macaskill, National Security, Portrayal, Prudence, Special Prosecutor, Stomach, Television Show, Wsj

The same cannot be said of U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder’s decision to unleash a special prosecutor on past CIA interrogation practices. Unlike Mr. MacAskill, Mr. Holder speaks for the U.S. government; his decision has game changing consequences that will affect the safety of free world.
First, the Obama Administration is going to pay a big [...]

Desalination growing threat to Arabian Gulf – The National Newspaper

Posted by Matt in August 31st, 2009 | no comment

Published in Water, Agriculture, Arabian Gulf, Bahrain, Brine, Desalination Plants, Director General, Dubai, Fresh Water, Gulf Shores, Icba, Kuwait, peak oil, Peak Water, Qatar, Saudi-Arabia, Shawki Barghouti, Uae

Never mind peak oil, or even peak water: Some experts are pondering the possibility of the UAE’s development being limited by “peak salt” – the notional point at which the Arabian Gulf becomes so salty that relying on it for fresh water stops being economically feasible.
There is cause for concern, says Dr Shawki Barghouti, director-general [...]

Was Russia’s ‘Arctic Sea’ Carrying Missiles to Iran? – TIME

Posted by Matt in August 31st, 2009 | no comment

Published in Russia, Arctic Sea, ArcticSea, Distress Signal, Hijackers, Hijacking, Hostage, Iran, Israeli President, Lawyer, Missiles, moscow, Navy Ship, Political Conflict, Political Game, Russia, Shimon Peres, ships, Surprise Visit, Suspected Pirates, Target, Wrong Place At The Wrong Time

But as details of the hijacking emerged, the tale got murkier, and Moscow’s explanation does little to clear things up. Why, with so many other ships carrying much more valuable cargo, would the hijackers target the Arctic Sea and its small load of timber? Why didn’t the ship send out a distress signal? Why did [...]

John Bolton: Sanctions Won’t Work Against Iran – WSJ.com

Posted by Matt in August 31st, 2009 | no comment

Published in Iran, Iran Nuclear, John Bolton, Nuclear Program, Obama, sanctions, Wsj

Accordingly, President Obama is readying two alternatives. One is to characterize “freezing” Iran’s nuclear program at existing levels as a “success.” However, this less than complete termination of Iran’s nuclear program would run contrary to years of determined clandestine efforts. Such a freeze is utterly unverifiable and amounts to surrender. This will result in a [...]

DEBKAfile – Six nations may reveal data concealed by ELBaradei on Iran’s nuclear progress

Posted by Matt in August 31st, 2009 | no comment

Published in Iran, Breaches, Elbaradei, Governments, Inclusion, Iran Nuclear, Japan, Netherlands, New Evidence, Nuclear Bomb, Six Nations

The four governments are Britain, France, Netherlands and Japan. All six had provided ElBaradei with new and detailed information on the advances made by Iran in its race to develop a nuclear bomb for inclusion in his last report on Aug. 28 before he retires next month. But ElBaradei, true to his usual custom of [...]