EXCLUSIVE: U.S. to stop counting new missiles in Russia – Washington Times

Posted by Matt in November 30th, 2009 | no comment

Published in Russia, U.S., Assembly Line, Cold-War, Control Tool, Observers, Range Missiles, Russia, United States, Washington Times

The United States is about to lose a key arms-control tool from the closing days of the Cold War — the right to station American observers in Russia to count the long-range missiles leaving its assembly line.
EXCLUSIVE: U.S. to stop counting new missiles in Russia – Washington Times

Russia building arms plants in Venezuela – Forbes.com

Posted by Matt in November 30th, 2009 | no comment

Published in Venezuela, Ak 103, Andean Nation, Automatic Rifles, Contracts, Forbes, Military Helicopters, moscow, Plants, Russia, Venezuela

Russia is building arms plants in Venezuela to produce AK-103 automatic rifles and cartridges and is finalizing contracts to send 53 military helicopters to the Andean nation, Moscow’s envoy to Venezuela saidMonday.
Russia building arms plants in Venezuela – Forbes.com

Latin America Goes Arms Shopping | Defense Spending

Posted by Matt in November 30th, 2009 | no comment

Published in Americas

Chile, in particular, ties profits from its principal commodity – copper – to defense investment. Under a military expenditures law introduced in 1958, ten percent of the revenues derived from the country’s copper exports are funneled directly to the Chilean military for purchases of defense matériel. The quadrupling of copper prices earlier in the decade [...]

The Associated Press: Hezbollah to continue arming to fight Israel

Posted by Matt in November 30th, 2009 | no comment

Published in Middle East, arsenal, Associated Press, Dramatic Improvement, hezbollah, Israel, Israel Israel, Israel Military, Lebanon, Nasrallah, Range Missiles, rockets

Israel’s military says that since its 2006 war with the group, Hezbollah has tripled its prewar arsenal to more than 40,000 rockets, some of which can strike virtually anywhere in Israel — a dramatic improvement over the short-range missiles fired in 2006.
Nasrallah said the buildup was necessary.
The Associated Press: Hezbollah to continue arming to fight [...]

Dubai Debt: Global Economic Recovery Still in Danger – TIME

Posted by Matt in November 30th, 2009 | no comment

Published in Dubai, Economy, Boom, Danger Time, Dominique Strauss Kahn, Economic Recovery, Excess Capacity, Global Economy, Global Issue, International Monetary Fund, Late November, Managing Director, New Menu, No Doubt, Policy Challenges, Recession, Slew, Stimulus, surprises, Uncertainty, Unemployment, Unresolved Problems

The worst of the crisis is almost certainly behind us, but that doesn’t mean the crisis is over. Lying ahead are a slew of unresolved problems, policy challenges and, no doubt, further surprises. Unemployment remains a serious global issue, and may yet get worse; excess capacity left over from the boom years haunts the recovery; [...]

The bankruptcy of the United States is now certain

Posted by Matt in November 30th, 2009 | no comment

Published in U.S., 12 Months, Bankruptcy, Deficit Spending, Economy, Gdp, Money, Porter Stansberry, Term Debt, Trillion, U S Treasury, United States

It’s one of those numbers that’s so unbelievable you have to actually think about it for a while… Within the next 12 months, the U.S. Treasury will have to refinance $2 trillion in short-term debt. And that’s not counting any additional deficit spending, which is estimated to be around $1.5 trillion. Put the two numbers [...]

Russia is becoming unstable even to the point where collapse is possible – Jamestown.org

Posted by Matt in November 30th, 2009 | no comment

Published in Russia, Apparent Reason, Criminalization, Dagestan, Ekho Moskvy, Express Train, Federal Assembly, Financial Pyramid, Gazeta Ru, Interior Ministry, Medvedev, North Caucasus, Police Brutality, Police Unit, Political Commentators, Public Criticism, Special Police, Suicide Bombings, Support Www, Transport Route, Violent Attacks

One thing we know about collapsing countries, they can limp along for years before the collapse suddenly happens for no apparent reason. Russia might be entering such a state.

…. Putin’s own system of power distinctly resembles a financial pyramid where the top crooks extract vast profits by cheating a great number of naive stakeholders; the [...]

Iran Guards take over naval forces in Gulf: US intelligence – Yahoo! News

Posted by Matt in November 30th, 2009 | no comment

Published in Iran, Gulf News, Naval Intelligence, Naval Operations, News Iran, Persian Gulf, Revolutionary Guards, Strait Of Hormuz, Vital Sea Lanes, Yahoo, Yahoo News

Iran has given the Revolutionary Guards Corps command over naval operations in the oil-rich Persian Gulf and Strait of Hormuz as part of a strategy to block access to vital sea lanes in the event of a war, according to a US intelligence study.
Iran Guards take over naval forces in Gulf: US intelligence – Yahoo! [...]

The West Bank’s third intifada approaches | GlobalPost.Com

Posted by Matt in November 30th, 2009 | no comment

Published in Middle East, Champion, Christmas, Fears, Intifada, Rain, Streets Of Bethlehem, Tension, ThirdIntifada, Walid, West Bank

Rain on the streets of Bethlehem can’t cool simmering tension.
“The city seems a bit livelier than it was the run-up to last Christmas,” I said.
“Yes,” said Walid, who also happens to be a Palestinian weight-lifting champion (he dead-lifts 680 pounds). “But underneath, it’s very dangerous and everyone fears a Third Intifada.”

West Bank | Third Intifada

DEBKAfile – As Obama hands Afghanistan commanders new orders, Mullah Omar warns of US defeat

Posted by Matt in November 30th, 2009 | no comment

Published in Asia, Conflict, Afghan, Afghanistan, Allies, Barack Obama, Conflict, Debkafile, Intelligence Sources, Inter Services, Italian Leaders, Karachi, Military Chiefs, Mullah Omar, NATO, Nato Countries, New Strategy, Pakistan, Secret Headquarters, Taliban

As US president Barack Obama informed senior military chiefs in Afghanistan Monday, Nov. 30, they would receive another 30,000 US and 10,000 extra troops from eight NATO countries, Afghan Taliban leader Mullah Omar tried to get the jump on him by warning that the US and its allies faced defeat.
Obama briefed UK, French, Russian and [...]