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
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 provided Chile with ample cash reserves through which to fund past purchases of F-16 jet fighters, Scorpene attack submarines and four second-hand Dutch naval frigates, along with recent ones of U.S.-produced Avenger fire units, Stinger anti-aircraft missiles and Sentinel radar systems.
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 Israel
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 together. Then ask yourself, how in the world can the Treasury borrow $3.5 trillion in only one year? That’s an amount equal to nearly 30% of our entire GDP. And we’re the world’s biggest economy. Where will the money come from?
Porter Stansberry – The bankruptcy of the United States is now certain
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! News
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.”
Russia is becoming unstable even to the point where collapse is possible – Jamestown.org
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.