Messages In This Digest (21 Messages)
- 1.
- Almost All Small Nations Challenging U.S. Hit By Strikes, Sanctions From: Rick Rozoff
- 2.
- U.S. Think Tank: Coming EU Collapse To Re-energize NATO From: Rick Rozoff
- 3.
- Rasmussen: Chicago NATO Summit To Focus On Missile System From: Rick Rozoff
- 4.
- Russia To Counter NATO ABM With Sea-Based Missile Defense From: Rick Rozoff
- 5.
- Chinese Foreign Minister Urges U.S. To Revoke Taiwan Arms Sales From: Rick Rozoff
- 6.
- American Military Delegation Visits Lebanon-Israel Border From: Rick Rozoff
- 7.
- NATO Wraps Up Multinational Exercise In Indiana From: Rick Rozoff
- 8.
- European Union Global Military Operations Parallel NATO's From: Rick Rozoff
- 9.
- Russian UN Envoy Decries Double Standards On Conflicts From: Rick Rozoff
- 10.
- NATO To Stay In Libya For A Long Time From: Rick Rozoff
- 11.
- Libyan Air War Continues: 23,571 NATO Sorties, 8,829 Strike Missions From: Rick Rozoff
- 12.
- NATO Chief Names Chicago Summit Dates; "Won't Leave Afghanistan" From: Rick Rozoff
- 13.
- State Department Officials Headed To South Caucasus From: Rick Rozoff
- 14.
- EU To Finalize Plans For Trans-Caspian Pipeline From: Rick Rozoff
- 15.
- U.S.-Trained Georgian Troops Ready For More 'Newly Liberated Lands' From: Rick Rozoff
- 16.
- Saudi Arabia Calls For "Liberation" Of Nagorno-Karabakh From: Rick Rozoff
- 17.
- Belarus-Russia Drills Prelude To CSTO Air Defense System From: Rick Rozoff
- 18.
- NATO Loses Drone In Northwestern Afghanistan From: Rick Rozoff
- 19.
- Russia Warns Against Turkey-Cyprus Conflict From: Rick Rozoff
- 20.
- Why Are NATO Countries So Nervous About Iran? From: Rick Rozoff
- 21.
- Ahmadinejad Criticizes U.S. And NATO Policy Of Perpetrating Wars From: Rick Rozoff
Messages
- 1.
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Almost All Small Nations Challenging U.S. Hit By Strikes, Sanctions
Posted by: "Rick Rozoff" rwrozoff@yahoo.com rwrozoff
Thu Sep 22, 2011 6:52 pm (PDT)
http://www.globaltimes.cn/NEWS/tabid/99/ID/676205/US-stands-against-public-will-in-Mideast.aspx
Global Times
September 21, 2011
US stands against public will in Mideast
-The US is running a risk in its Middle East diplomacy. Its support for Israel is in apparent conflict with global justice at times.
However, the world often has to tolerate this. One important reason is that the US gets the tacit agreement of the authorities in Middle East countries. These governments actually become a buffer for the confrontation between US policy and public will in the Middle East.
-Since the end of the Cold War, almost all small countries that have challenged the US have been hit by strikes or sanctions.
As the Arab Spring continues to sweep the Middle East, Israel appears increasingly isolated. Palestine is taking advantage of the chance and seeking full UN membership. The US has declared its intention to veto the Palestinian UN bid, whereas more than 100 countries support Palestine's request.
Over the past few months, the US largely supported the revolution in the Middle East. But its current decision to block Palestine from entering the UN could drive the Middle East back to old geopolitical fights.
Palestine's request to become a UN member state is in accordance with its public will and the democratic wave across the Middle East. The US may face overwhelming protests and hostility from the Arab world for standing by Israel.
The US is running a risk in its Middle East diplomacy. Its support for Israel is in apparent conflict with global justice at times.
However, the world often has to tolerate this. One important reason is that the US gets the tacit agreement of the authorities in Middle East countries. These governments actually become a buffer for the confrontation between US policy and public will in the Middle East.
The US is facing a diplomatic predicament in the Middle East. This is an example of its global diplomacy in which interests conflict with justice. US diplomacy has an increasing number of double standards. It stresses both pragmatism and idealism at the same time. One US habit that rarely changes is that it requires obedience by other countries, especially smaller ones. Since the end of the Cold War, almost all small countries that have challenged the US have been hit by strikes or sanctions.
But this time, Palestine's firm request and the support of many countries is very embarrassing to the US. With wide support across the world, Palestine now has a strong political position. Palestine's bid strikes exactly at the tender spot of US diplomacy in the Middle East.
The US deserves a clear lesson in diplomacy. It should reflect on its diplomatic ideology and practice. The US involves itself in transnational affairs across the world, although international politics are becoming increasingly multi-polar. The US has to be more humble.
The US policy toward Palestine is problematic not only on a humanitarian level, but also on the level of public democracy. The US has been led by domestic pro-Israeli forces, rather than being guided by the reality on the ground.
The US needs to either make diplomatic adjustments, or to pay for its refusal to adjust. Palestine's goal is courageous. The international community, including China, should join hands together and support its request. The US may stay stubborn but we should make our standpoint clear.
China's support of Palestine's request for full UN membership does not mean hostility toward Israel. Nevertheless, China has the right to make its own judgments and express its views on such major issues.
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- 2.
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U.S. Think Tank: Coming EU Collapse To Re-energize NATO
Posted by: "Rick Rozoff" rwrozoff@yahoo.com rwrozoff
Thu Sep 22, 2011 6:52 pm (PDT)
http://www.defpro.com/news/details/28104/?SID=50824a11d84c46b49aa469947308327b
Defence Professionals
September 22, 2011
Coming EU Collapse Could Re-energize NATO
Daniel Goure, Ph.D.
Early Warning Blog, Lexington Institute
Could the EU collapse? Unthinkable! Impossible! Yet, that is what was being said just a few months ago about the possibility that Greece would default on its debt. Now, as Europe struggles to put together a second bailout package for that country, the conversation has increasingly focused not on how to save Greece - and with it the Eurozone - but when and how the default will happen. The consensus now is not only will Greece default but it will be messy. The unthinkable has become the base case.
A Greek default, albeit actually good for that country, will trigger a massive economic, political and existential crisis for the European Union (EU). A default will put enormous pressure on other weak European economies, particularly Portugal, Ireland, Spain and Italy. This will cause a crisis among the European banks. But more significantly, Europe will be faced with a choice: save the Euro or save the EU. There won't be the time to forge a true single fiscal and political union. The only way both to protect the viable economies of Northern and Central Europe and allow the weaker ones in the South a chance to recover is by the former group of countries to allow, even insist that, the latter group exit the Eurozone. This will fundamentally and irrevocably alter the character and purpose of the EU. In fact, should the economic contagion reach France, the EU will certainly collapse.
It is ironic that the Euro's decline and the EU's possible demise is likely to be a boon for NATO. Absent a strong and expanding EU, NATO will be the sole gravitational force exerting a cohesive influence across the continent. NATO already includes several countries who are not members of the EU; this number will grow significantly if a Euro crisis occurs.
Most important, NATO will have to stand guard over Europe during a time that may come to resemble economic and even politically the 1930s. NATO can help stabilize weak European governments under tremendous stress. It also can deter outside powers from seeking to take advantage of Europe's temporary weakness. Finally, NATO provides the best means for leveraging what is likely to be a shrinking stock of trans-Atlantic military capabilities.
Despite its contributions to the conflicts in Afghanistan and Libya, it has become fashionable in recent years in some circles to dismiss NATO as a quaint anachronism. It may well turn out that NATO will prove to be the most important US security relationship of the 21st Century.
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- 3.
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Rasmussen: Chicago NATO Summit To Focus On Missile System
Posted by: "Rick Rozoff" rwrozoff@yahoo.com rwrozoff
Thu Sep 22, 2011 6:52 pm (PDT)
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/world_now/2011/09/nato-summit-chicago.html
Los Angeles Times
September 22, 2011
Next NATO summit to be in Chicago
NEW YORK: Officials of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization have decided they will hold their next summit in Chicago on May 20-21, 2012, the same month that the Group of 8 industrialized nations will gather in the city.
Anders Fogh Rasmussen, NATO's secretary-general, disclosed the dates in an interview. He said the alliance will be considering several issues, including its missile defense system and its mission in Afghanistan.
...
The NATO members will...discuss the future of their long-planned missile defense system, which they hope to be able to activate in May. Discussions may focus on NATO's hopes for Russian collaboration in the system, though this remains only "a possibility," Rasmussen said.
Protest groups have promised they will turn out by the thousands to demonstrate against the G-8 and NATO meetings.
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- 4.
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Russia To Counter NATO ABM With Sea-Based Missile Defense
Posted by: "Rick Rozoff" rwrozoff@yahoo.com rwrozoff
Thu Sep 22, 2011 6:52 pm (PDT)
http://en.rian.ru/mlitary_news/20110922/167048033.html
Russian Information Agency Novosti
September 22, 2011
Russia to build sea-based 'missile shield' - diplomat
KIEV: Russia is planning to develop its own sea-based missile defense system, a Foreign Ministry official said on Thursday.
"According to our analysis, this system will be very efficient and meet the norms of international maritime law," said Vladimir Kozin, a deputy director of the Russian Foreign Ministry's information and press department.
Kozin did not give any further details on the future missile defense system. He was speaking at a video conference between Moscow and Kiev on European security.
The move is almost certain to be interpreted as Russia's response to NATO's European missile shield, which it says it needs to counter potential missile attacks from "rogue states," such as Iran and North Korea.
The NATO "shield" includes U.S. warships equipped with Aegis ballistic missile defense systems capable of shooting down short- and medium-range ballistic missiles.
Russia has retained staunch opposition to the deployment of missile defense systems near its borders, claiming they would be a threat to its national security.
Moscow has repeatedly warned NATO it would create both defensive and offensive means to counter any missile threat and to penetrate any missile defense if the sides did not agree to cooperate on the issue.
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- 5.
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Chinese Foreign Minister Urges U.S. To Revoke Taiwan Arms Sales
Posted by: "Rick Rozoff" rwrozoff@yahoo.com rwrozoff
Thu Sep 22, 2011 6:52 pm (PDT)
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/china/2011-09/23/c_131154718.htm
Xinhua News Agency
September 23, 2011
Chinese FM urges U.S. to revoke arms sales to Taiwan
NEW YORK: Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi Thursday urged the United States to correct its error by immediately revoking its arms sales plan to Taiwan so as to safeguard the overall situation of Sino-U.S. relations as well as peace and stability across the Taiwan Straits.
Yang made the remarks when he delivered a speech to members of the National Committee on United States-China Relations and the US-China Business Council here in New York on the sidelines of the annual general debate of the United Nations General Assembly.
Yang called on the U.S. to fully recognize the great sensitivity and gravity of arms sales to Taiwan, attach high importance to and seriously treat China's solemn stance.
He also urged the U.S. side to stop selling arms to Taiwan and ceasing its military links with Taiwan.
Regardless of China's repeated solemn representations, the U.S. administration announced Wednesday a new arms package worth 5.852 billion U.S. dollars to Taiwan, which includes the so-called " upgrading" of F-16A/B fighter jets.
Yang said respecting each other's core interest is the principle underpinning China-U.S. cooperation.
"We should cherish our cooperation, as it embodies the important common interests of our two countries," said the foreign minister, adding "When it comes to major issues concerning China's sovereignty, security and development interests, the United States should handle them with extreme care so as to prevent interference and setbacks in China-U.S. relations."
The Taiwan issue concerns China's sovereignty and territorial integrity, concerns China's core interest and bears on the sentiments of the 1.3 billion Chinese people. It is always the most important and sensitive issue at the core of China-U.S. relationship, he said.
The United States, Yang said, once again took the wrong decision of making large-scale arms sales to Taiwan in disregard of China's strong opposition and ignoring the improvement and peaceful development of cross-Straits relations.
"This has gravely violated the principles of the three Sino-U.S. joint communiques, particularly the August 17 Communique, grossly interfered in China's internal affairs and seriously undermined China's security, its endeavor to achieve peaceful reunification and China-U.S. relations. It runs counter to the serious commitment made by the U.S. side itself. China is firmly opposed to this decision," said the foreign minister.
"The Chinese side urges the U.S. side to take China's solemn position very seriously, correct the mistake of selling weapons to Taiwan, immediately revoke the above-mentioned wrong decision, stop arms sales to Taiwan and U.S.-Taiwan military contacts, and take real actions to uphold the larger interest of China-U.S. relations and peace and stability in the Taiwan Straits," Yang noted.
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- 6.
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American Military Delegation Visits Lebanon-Israel Border
Posted by: "Rick Rozoff" rwrozoff@yahoo.com rwrozoff
Thu Sep 22, 2011 6:53 pm (PDT)
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/world/2011-09/23/c_131154739.htm
Xinhua News Agency
September 23, 2011
American military delegation tours Lebanon-Israel border
BEIRUT: A U.S. military delegation toured the Lebanese-Israeli border Thursday after meeting earlier the day with Lebanese Army Commander Jean Kawhagi, Lebanon's National News Agency (NNA) reported.
The delegation, with a convoy of five armored U.S. vehicles, visited the Blue Line, a border demarcation between Lebanon and Israel, after talks with Kahwagi on tackling military cooperation and the implementation of U.S. military aid programs to Lebanon, NNA said.
The visit drew criticism from a lawmaker affiliated with Israel's arch-foe, the Shiite armed group Hezbollah, according to the report.
"There is no way that the visit was in the interest of Lebanon," Qassem Hashem, Lebanonese member of parliament, was quoted by NNA, adding that the delegation's visit was a violation of Lebanon's sovereignty.
The Blue Line between Lebanon and Israel was approved by the United Nations in 2000 for the purpose of determining whether Israel had fully withdrawn from Lebanon.
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- 7.
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NATO Wraps Up Multinational Exercise In Indiana
Posted by: "Rick Rozoff" rwrozoff@yahoo.com rwrozoff
Thu Sep 22, 2011 8:06 pm (PDT)
http://www.dvidshub.net/news/77482/bold-quest-2011-wraps-up
Camp Atterbury Public Affairs
September 22, 2011
Bold Quest 2011 wraps up
Story by Michael Maddox
EDINBURGH, Ind. - Camp Atterbury-Muscatatuck Training Complex is no stranger to hosting soldiers with a multitude of unit patches from a wide variety of locations, but recently the installation has also been hosting military members from foreign services across the globe.
Currently, Atterbury-Muscatatuck Complex is hosting Bold Quest 2011, a joint staff lead military coalition combat assessment exercise designed to test the interoperability of target identification systems of 12 NATO member nations to reduce friendly fire incidents. The exercise, which involves more than 700 foreign and U.S. military members, began Sept. 8 and will wrap up Sept. 23.
During Bold Quest military members from nations including Australia, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Poland, the United Kingdom, the United States and NATO, have been working together to test equipment to ensure they are all speaking the same "language" during real-world coalition missions.
Bold Quest is an exercise that has been progressively grown in mission aspects and participants all working together toward one goal - keeping Soldiers safe, said John Miller, Bold Quest operational manager.
"Bold Quest is a recurring series of operational demonstrations in which we bring coalition war fighters, technicians and analysts together in problem solving partnerships that ultimately result in a major operational demonstration in the field. It's testing under operational conditions to the maximum extent that we can replicate," he explained. "This year we have expanded the work in the human dimension of coalition combat identification."
...
Technology training and testing is one major part of Bold Quest 2011, according to Maj. Tommy Myrvoll, with the Norwegian Battle Lab, and Bold Quest project officer.
...
Maj. Markus "Starbuck" Stury, a pilot for the German military from the 33rd Fighter Bomber Wing, said Bold Quest has also allowed the Germans to fine tune coalition communication skills to prevent any friendly fire incidents.
"We fly our aircraft with the (identification) system, and we circle around in an orbit, then we run our system. As the computers are connected to the ground station and they send us information back, we can then make sure all of our data is correct before we deploy our ordnance," Stury said. "With a bombing run, you don't want to have errors, especially with friendlies close by."
...
The training area, support and accommodations at Camp Atterbury-Muscatatuck have been the perfect venue for the Bold Quest team to accomplish their missions, said Miller.
"The venue meets all of our needs. It's rare to find a place that does that," said Miller. "It's not just the air and ground space, but it's the event control facilities that are available to us here at Atterbury as well as the proximity of the airfield."
...
Hosting events such as Bold Quest just reinforces the capabilities of Atterbury-Muscatatuck Complex, said Maj. Gen. Cliff Tooley, assistant Adjutant General for the state of Indiana.
"Bold Quest is sort of a prototype of what we are designed to support, and that is the blending and training of forces with testing and technology with the intent of taking technology and making it more rapidly deployable to the field by interfacing it with the soldiers as early as possible," said Tooley.
Tooley added, that adding in the coalition element just makes soldiers that much more prepared for future missions.
"Very seldom will we deploy upon our own, we'll always engage with our partners in coalition efforts. When we respond to the emergencies of the world, we'll do it with our partner nations," he said. "All of those emergencies require that you come together as team quickly and you can only do that if you practice and rehearse before the event."
Miller said this is the first time that the National Guard has provided the majority of the U.S. support to the event, and that the Guard members have exceeded all expectations.
...
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- 8.
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European Union Global Military Operations Parallel NATO's
Posted by: "Rick Rozoff" rwrozoff@yahoo.com rwrozoff
Thu Sep 22, 2011 8:06 pm (PDT)
http://www.europolitics.info/sectorial-policies/cooperation-and-assessment-of-military-missions-on-agenda-art313603-13.html
Europolitics
September 22, 2011
Informal Defence Council
Cooperation and assessment of military missions on agenda
By Eric van Puyvelde
-Apart from the EU ministers, also participating are the commanders of EU military operations and representatives of the EU Military Staff, EU Military Committee, the European Defence Agency, the External Action Service and NATO Headquarters.
On the first day of the informal Defence Council, on 22 September in Wroclaw, Poland, the 27 ministers discussed the Union's current engagement in military missions and operations carried out in the framework of the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP). These include the EU NAVFOR Atalanta naval operation in Somali waters, the EUTM training mission in Uganda and the EUFOR Althea mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina. They also debated questions related to the Southern neighbourhood, in particular support for Libya.
The second day's agenda will focus on evaluation of the 'Weimar initiative' (to relaunch European defence, initiated by Poland, Germany and France in December 2010) and the 'Pooling and sharing initiative', based on the pooling and sharing by member states of military capabilities needed to carry out operational activities.
After the meeting, Polish Defence Minister Tomasz Siemoniak planned to meet representatives of the NATO member states and EU applicant states (Albania, Croatia, Montenegro, Macedonia, Iceland, Norway and Turkey) to brief them on the debates.
The two-day meeting is chaired by the Polish minister on behalf of EU High Representative Catherine Ashton, who is attending the UN General Assembly. Apart from the EU ministers, also participating are the commanders of EU military operations and representatives of the EU Military Staff, EU Military Committee, the European Defence Agency, the External Action Service and NATO Headquarters.
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- 9.
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Russian UN Envoy Decries Double Standards On Conflicts
Posted by: "Rick Rozoff" rwrozoff@yahoo.com rwrozoff
Thu Sep 22, 2011 8:12 pm (PDT)
http://en.rian.ru/world/20110923/167053528.html
Russian Information Agency Novosti
September 23, 2011
Double standards inadmissible in conflict prevention - Russian envoy to UN
UNITED NATIONS: There is no place for double standards, dictated by the political situation or preferences of any countries, in conflict prevention, the Russian envoy to the United Nations said on Thursday.
"Why are efforts to get political process and national dialogue underway made in respect to some countries, like Yemen, and sanctions are adopted against other countries' authorities and the opposition there is set for confrontation?" Vitaly Churkin said at a UN Security Council session.
"The experience of Iraq and Libya shows that ultimately only nations themselves can determine the fate of their countries, while exterior armed intervention in domestic conflicts creates the risk that the antagonism spiral will uncoil in certain parts of the world," Churkin said.
The Russian envoy suggested that a complex strategy be developed to prevent the reasons for conflicts and ensure long-term political stability and economic development.
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- 10.
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NATO To Stay In Libya For A Long Time
Posted by: "Rick Rozoff" rwrozoff@yahoo.com rwrozoff
Fri Sep 23, 2011 5:34 am (PDT)
http://english.ruvr.ru/2011/09/23/56617171.html
Voice of Russia
September 23, 2011
NATO to stay in Libya
Igor Siletsky
-[A] lengthy war in Libya can destabilize the situation in neighboring countries, like it was in Afghanistan and Iraq – the more so, because the whole north of Africa is now gripped with revolutions.
NATO has prolonged its mandate for staying in Libya for another 90 days.
This was done without asking any permission from the UN or any other similar organization. It looks like NATO commanders just consider it unnecessary to waste time on asking for the UN's permission. Why all this "bureaucracy", if the war, as they claim, is very close to an end? At least, NATO's official reports say that now, Gaddafi's supporters are incapable of serious resistance.
However, analysts believe that the real reason why NATO has prolonged its mandate is that, in reality, it is too early to say that the Gaddafi regime is living its last days.
It is not the first time that NATO's commanders say that the Libyan war is very close to an end – and, then, do something which shows that they have realized that they'd hurried a bit to say so. Still, they try to put a brave face on the sorry business. Recently, Lieutenant General Charles Bouchard, who commands the NATO operation in Libya, said that NATO's mission in Libya is not yet over, but it continues quite successfully. According to Mr. Bouchard, only three regions in Libya are still controlled by Gaddafi's supporters, including isolated enclaves around the towns of Bani Walid and Sirte (the latter is Muammar Gaddafi's birthplace).
NATO commanders don't know where Gaddafi himself is. However, he keeps on ordering his supporters not to surrender.
According to NATO's estimates, in total, 200,000 Libyans are living on territories which are still controlled by Gaddafi's supporters. At the same time, all Libya's major cities have already returned to normal life, and law and order have been re-established there.
NATO does not intend to supply the Libyan oppositionists (who now in fact rule Libya) with weapons – this is not envisioned by the mandate. However, Lieutenant General Bouchard says, NATO would have nothing against this if any country, on its own initiative, supplies them with weapons.
NATO also doesn't intend to persecute Gaddafi's supporters who are retreating to neighboring Niger and Sudan. This is Niger and Sudan's internal problem, Mr. Bouchard says.
However, many analysts say that NATO's official reports about the success of Gaddafi's opponents and their Western helpers are too optimistic.
"This is already the second time that NATO has prolonged its stay in Libya," Russian analyst Veniamin Popov says. "This speaks of the fact that NATO is still far from reaching its aims in Libya."
"It is too early to say that Gaddafi's regime is already done with," Mr. Popov believes. "His supporters are still resisting. At the same time, there is no unity between the members of the Transitional National Council, which also hampers their full victory."
It looks like NATO has drawn no lessons from its unsuccessful operation in Afghanistan - in the Libyan operation, they are following the same dubious scenario.
Another analyst, Stanislav Tarasov, says:
"Let us remember the beginning of the Afghan operation. At first, international forces were introduced there on a resolution from the UN Security Council. Then, the UN announced that the command over the international forces in Afghanistan belongs to NATO. Now, these forces in Afghanistan are still being commanded by NATO – and hardly anyone can say that they have achieved great success. However, in Libya, NATO is acting according to the same scenario – and the fact that it is prolonging its mandate for another three months says that it is still far from success."
Most analysts agree that, most probably, NATO will stay in Libya for a long time. Gaddafi's supporters, weak as they may seem, still may keep resisting for long. Moreover, a lengthy war in Libya can destabilize the situation in neighboring countries, like it was in Afghanistan and Iraq – the more so, because the whole north of Africa is now gripped with revolutions.
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- 11.
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Libyan Air War Continues: 23,571 NATO Sorties, 8,829 Strike Missions
Posted by: "Rick Rozoff" rwrozoff@yahoo.com rwrozoff
Fri Sep 23, 2011 5:34 am (PDT)
http://www.nato.int/nato_static/assets/pdf/pdf_2011_09/20110923_110923-oup-update.pdf
North Atlantic Treaty Organization
September 23, 2011
NATO and Libya
Allied Joint Force Command NAPLES, SHAPE, NATO HQ
...
Over the past 24 hours, NATO has conducted the following activities associated with Operation UNIFIED PROTECTOR:
Air Operations
Operation UNIFIED PROTECTOR air assets continue monitoring missions over Libya.
Since the beginning of the NATO operation (31 March 2011, 06.00GMT) a total of 23,571 sorties, including 8,829 strike sorties, have been conducted.
Sorties conducted 22 SEPTEMBER: 97
Strike sorties conducted 22 SEPTEMBER: 34
...
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- 12.
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NATO Chief Names Chicago Summit Dates; "Won't Leave Afghanistan"
Posted by: "Rick Rozoff" rwrozoff@yahoo.com rwrozoff
Fri Sep 23, 2011 5:34 am (PDT)
http://www.nato.int/cps/en/SID-2B3F9DAB-859B9747/natolive/news_78426.htm
North Atlantic Treaty Organization
September 23, 2011
NATO Secretary General announces Chicago summit dates
-In Chicago, "I hope and expect we'll be able to declare interim operational capability. This will be a significant step forward, because we have been discussing the development of a NATO-based missile defence system for many many years," the Secretary General said...Rasmussen said that he hopes to break new ground in NATO's partnership with other countries and organisations, especially in North Africa and the Middle East...
NATO's forthcoming summit in Chicago will take place on May 20-21, 2012, NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen announced during a visit to the United States.
"We'll have the next NATO summit in Chicago on May 20-21 next year. This will be an important summit, following up on the decisions taken at Lisbon last year, but also breaking new ground," the Secretary General said on the margins of the United Nations general Assembly in New York. NATO's last summit was held in Lisbon in November 2010.
The full Chicago summit agenda has not yet been finalised, but NATO's Enduring Partnership with Afghanistan - agreed in Lisbon - will be a key point...
The Chicago summit will make clear that, even after that date, NATO "will not leave Afghanistan behind: we'll stay committed, with a focus on continuing to train and educate Afghan security forces, to continue to improve their capacity," Rasmussen said.
In Lisbon, NATO heads of state and government agreed to create a system to defend NATO European territories and populations against ballistic-missile threats, and to begin talks on possible missile-defence cooperation with Russia.
In Chicago, "I hope and expect we'll be able to declare interim operational capability. This will be a significant step forward, because we have been discussing the development of a NATO-based missile defence system for many many years," the Secretary General said...
The summit is also expected to agree on new ways for NATO nations to prioritise, specialise and share multinational projects so that they can keep and improve their security capabilities, even in times of economic austerity – an approach known as "Smart Defence".
And Rasmussen said that he hopes to break new ground in NATO's partnership with other countries and organisations, especially in North Africa and the Middle East – a partnership which plays an important role in the NATO-led operation [against] Libya.
"There are many positive lessons learnt from our Libya operations. We'd also like to broaden the perspective and further strengthen these partnerships," the Secretary General said.
The Chicago meeting will be the first NATO summit in the United States since 1999 when the Alliance celebrated its fiftieth anniversary in Washington.
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- 13.
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State Department Officials Headed To South Caucasus
Posted by: "Rick Rozoff" rwrozoff@yahoo.com rwrozoff
Fri Sep 23, 2011 5:59 am (PDT)
http://en.trend.az/regions/scaucasus/azerbaijan/1935892.html
Trend News Agency
September 23, 2011
U.S. top officials to discuss regional stability in Baku
V. Zhavoronkova
Baku: Deputy Assistant Secretary for European and Eurasian Affairs Eric S. Rubin will travel to Azerbaijan, Armenia and Georgia on Oct. 16-22, the Information Officer of the U.S. Embassy in Baku Keith Bean told Trend.
Moreover, the Director of the Office of Caucasus Affairs and Regional Conflicts in the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs at the U.S. Department of State, Justin Friedman, will travel to Azerbaijan, Armenia and Georgia from Sept.28 until Oct.8.
During the trip, the top officials will meet with the government officials and civil society leaders to discuss bilateral issues, as well as issues related to regional peace and stability.
During their stay in Azerbaijan, Rubin and Friedman will discuss the U.S.-Azerbaijan bilateral relations, stressing the strategic and shared interests underlying bilateral cooperation in security, energy and democratic reform.
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- 14.
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EU To Finalize Plans For Trans-Caspian Pipeline
Posted by: "Rick Rozoff" rwrozoff@yahoo.com rwrozoff
Fri Sep 23, 2011 5:59 am (PDT)
http://en.trend.az/capital/energy/1935711.html
Trend News Agency
September 23, 2011
Negotiations to lay Trans-Caspian Gas Pipeline scheduled for October
A. Akhundov
Baku: The European Union's talks with Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan on the project of laying a Trans-Caspian Gas Pipeline will begin in October, European External Action Service (EEAS) Director for Eastern Partnership Gunnar Wiegand told journalists in Baku.
"This project is important both in terms of diversification of energy resources import routes by the EU, and in terms of diversification of export routes for Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan," Wiegand said.
...
Earlier, the EU adopted a mandate to start negotiations with Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan on construction of the Trans-Caspian gas pipeline. It caused dissatisfaction with Russia and Iran, who are against the construction of gas pipelines on the Caspian Sea.
...
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- 15.
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U.S.-Trained Georgian Troops Ready For More 'Newly Liberated Lands'
Posted by: "Rick Rozoff" rwrozoff@yahoo.com rwrozoff
Fri Sep 23, 2011 6:00 am (PDT)
http://en.trend.az/regions/scaucasus/georgia/1935707.html
Trend News Agency
September 23, 2011
President: Georgia has borne more than its share in the international effort in Afghanistan
E. Tariverdiyeva
Baku: Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili is proud that Georgia has borne more than its share in the international effort in Afghanistan - over a thousand soldiers are fighting in the dangerous Helmand Province.
...
Georgia has become a provider, not just a consumer, of international security, Saakashvili said.
...
According to Saakashvili, Georgia is ready once again to take on more than its share in this international effort.
"Our experience of radical post-revolutionary transformation over the past eight years could well be useful for the newly liberated lands," President Saakashvili underscored.
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- 16.
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Saudi Arabia Calls For "Liberation" Of Nagorno-Karabakh
Posted by: "Rick Rozoff" rwrozoff@yahoo.com rwrozoff
Fri Sep 23, 2011 6:09 am (PDT)
http://en.apa.az/news.php?id=155760
Azeri Press Agency
September 23, 2011
Saudi Deputy Minister: "The occupied territories must be liberated unconditionally because it is a right of Azerbaijan"
Parvin Abbasov
Baku: Chairman of the Azerbaijan's State Committee for Work with Religious Associations Hidayat Orujov met with Saudi Arabian Under Secretary of the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Endowments, Da'wah and Guidance Abdul Aziz bin Abdullah Al-Ammar and Saudi Ambassador to Azerbaijan Fahad bin Ali Al-Dawsari, the press service of the State Committee told APA.
...
Abdul Aziz bin Abdullah Al-Ammar said Saudi Arabia has an unchanged and univocal position on the Nagorno Karabakh conflict. He said the occupied territories of Azerbaijan must be liberated unconditionally because it is a right of Azerbaijan and "truth will triumph".
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- 17.
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Belarus-Russia Drills Prelude To CSTO Air Defense System
Posted by: "Rick Rozoff" rwrozoff@yahoo.com rwrozoff
Fri Sep 23, 2011 6:22 am (PDT)
http://www.itar-tass.com/en/c32/231304.html
Itar-Tass
September 22, 2011
Belarus-RF drilled air defence may turn in CSTO joint air defence
THE FIRING RANGE ASHULUK (Astrakhan region): A unique air defence system, which was created at the joint operative military exercises between the Armed Forces of Russia and Belarus, may become a prototype of a joint air defence system of the CSTO countries, Russian Defence Minister Anatoly Serdyukov said on Thursday.
"The military exercises at the Ashuluk firing range are unique that a multilayer air defence system was created and tested. This air defence system is made up of modern combat systems S-400, S-300, Tor, Pantsir and Buk," the minister said after the Russian-Belarusian military exercises on Thursday.
Under the scenario of the exercises, "cruise missiles, airplanes and ballistic targets of the mockup enemy were seeking" to break through this multilayer air defence system, the minister said. "Amid strong radioelectronic jams all attacks were rebuffed thanks to qualified actions of the combat teams. The air defence system created at the military exercises may turn into a prototype of a future joint CSTO air defence system," Serdyukov underlined.
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- 18.
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NATO Loses Drone In Northwestern Afghanistan
Posted by: "Rick Rozoff" rwrozoff@yahoo.com rwrozoff
Fri Sep 23, 2011 6:26 am (PDT)
http://www.pajhwok.com/en/2011/09/23/isaf-drone-crashes-sar-i-pul
Pajhwok Afghan News
September 23, 2011
ISAF drone crashes in Sar-i-Pul
By Yaqub Ali Madani
KABUL: An unmanned International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) plane crashed in the Suzma Qala district of northwestern Sar-i-Pul province, officials said on Friday.
...Police visited the area and saw parts of the aircraft, according to Inayatullah Azizi, the district police head.
With the NATO-led force yet to comment on the incident, the Taliban claimed shooting down the aerial vehicle, the first to crash in the province.
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- 19.
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Russia Warns Against Turkey-Cyprus Conflict
Posted by: "Rick Rozoff" rwrozoff@yahoo.com rwrozoff
Fri Sep 23, 2011 8:53 am (PDT)
http://english.ruvr.ru/2011/09/21/56470613.html
Voice of Russia
September 23, 2011
Moscow calls on Cyprus and Turkey to avoid any sharp steps - Lavrov
Moscow calls on Cyprus and Turkey to avoid any actions which might aggravate the situation in relations between the two countries. This was announced Tuesday in New York by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov emerging from talks with the President of the Republic of Cyprus Demetris Christofias.
"In the context of geological prospecting works on the shelf in the exclusive economic zone of Cyprus, our position is based on international law. The issue should be addressed within the legal framework of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea dated 1982," Lavrov said.
The U.S. company Noble Energy has begun exploratory drilling in the Mediterranean Sea off Cyprus' southern coast in search of hydrocarbons. Ankara responded saying the move could destabilize the situation in the region, reports ITAR-TASS.
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- 20.
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Why Are NATO Countries So Nervous About Iran?
Posted by: "Rick Rozoff" rwrozoff@yahoo.com rwrozoff
Fri Sep 23, 2011 9:11 am (PDT)
http://english.ruvr.ru/2011/09/23/56623477.html
Voice of Russia
September 23, 2011
Why is the West so nervous about Ahmadinejad?
Boris Volkhonsky, senior research fellow, Russian Institute for Strategic Studies
-When Mr. Cameron mentioned "violent prevention of demonstrations" and "detention and torture of those who argue for a better future," should he not have put a mirror in front of himself? After Abu Ghraib and Guantanamo prisons any mention of torture by a Western leader sounds at least dubious.
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's speech WAS blunt, which was, at the same time, its weakest and strongest point. But isn't it the blunt truth that is really getting on the Western leaders' nerves?
Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's speech at the U.N. General Assembly on Thursday, as usual, sparked a mass walkout. 30 delegations including those of the U.S. and all European Union members left the audience in a demonstration of protest. This has not been the first incident of the kind – last year the U.S. delegation also left the General Assembly during Ahmadinejad's speech. And taking into account that his presidential term ends in two years this is likely not to be the last occasion of the kind.
What angered the Western diplomats?
In his speech, Ahmadinejad called the West, primarily the U.S., arrogant powers, questioned their ability to "run or govern the world", also questioned whether Islamist terrorists were behind the 9/11 attacks, called for scrapping the "prevailing world order" – including the U.N. Security Council as currently structured – in favor of a more evenly balanced system, and condemned military crackdowns on all those who do not succumb to the West's pressure.
"Can the flower of democracy blossom from NATO's missiles, bombs and guns?" asked Iranian President addressing an almost half-empty audience hall.
Later, in an interview to Associated Press, Mr. Ahmadinejad further elaborated on some theses of his speech. He accused the U.N. nuclear watchdog, the IAEA, of being in the pocket of the U.S. and actually being guilty of the murder of three Iranian nuclear scientists allegedly killed by Israel-trained agents.
He also expressed doubts that two planes alone could bring down the WTC twin towers on September 11, 2001, and lashed at the U.S. policies across the Middle East – from Libya to Afghanistan.
At the same time, the Iranian President said that it was not too late for the U.S. president Barack Obama to fulfill his pre-election promises and improve ties with Iran.
Western powers were quick to react.
The spokesman for the US mission at the United Nations Mark Kornblau condemned Ahmadinejad's remarks. "Mr Ahmadinejad had a chance to address his own people's aspirations for freedom and dignity, but instead he again turned to abhorrent anti-Semitic slurs and despicable conspiracy theories," he said.
British Prime Minister David Cameron, addressing the U.N. General Assembly just minutes after Ahmadinejad's speech and the Western walkout, derided Mr. Ahmadinejad probably as fiercely as the latter had criticized the West.
"He (Ahmadinejad – B.V.) didn't remind us that he runs a country where they may have elections of a sort but they also repress freedom of speech, do everything they can to avoid the accountability of a free media, violently prevent demonstrations and detain and torture those who argue for a better future," said British Premier.
Further on, he called on the U.N. to be more prepared to take action against oppressive regimes.
In fact, the whole dispute has not demonstrated anything in any way new. The war of words between the West and Iran has been going on for years. Lately, the West resorted to the language of sanctions, but stopped short of a direct intervention in order to protect "those who argue for a better future." Everyone understands that however strong the West's desire for a regime change in Iran might be, such intervention would be disastrous and ruinous for both the attacker and the attacked country. Hence, both sides keep on balancing on the brink of a direct confrontation, never crossing the "red line".
But certain things need commenting.
First, until now, there has not been a conclusive and comprehensive explanation of how the twin towers actually collapsed 10 years ago and who exactly, apart from the half-mythical Al Qaeda, operated and orchestrated the attacks. What angers the West, is the simple fact that somebody raises such questions contradicting the counter-myth created by the Western special services and media. And if this someone is the leader of a state only recently labeled as "rogue", this only adds to the anger.
Second. When Mr. Cameron mentioned "violent prevention of demonstrations" and "detention and torture of those who argue for a better future," should he not have put a mirror in front of himself? After Abu Ghraib and Guantanamo prisons any mention of torture by a Western leader sounds at least dubious.
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's speech WAS blunt, which was, at the same time, its weakest and strongest point. But isn't it the blunt truth that is really getting on the Western leaders' nerves?
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- 21.
-
Ahmadinejad Criticizes U.S. And NATO Policy Of Perpetrating Wars
Posted by: "Rick Rozoff" rwrozoff@yahoo.com rwrozoff
Fri Sep 23, 2011 9:28 am (PDT)
http://www.sana.sy/eng/22/2011/09/23/371083.htm
Syrian Arab News Agency
September 23, 2011
Ahmadinejad Criticizes US and NATO Policy in Perpetrating Wars
R. Raslan/ al-Ibrahim
NEW YORK: Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Thursday criticized US and NATO policy in perpetrating wars, indicating the catastrophic situation of the Iraqi and Afghani people under occupation.
The Iranian News Agency (IRNA) quoted President Ahmadinejad in his speech at the UN General Assembly as saying that it is not allowed to undermine the UN position and turn it into a tool for certain parties.
The Iranian President raised questions about the powers behind imposing colonialism for over four centuries, triggering the First and Second World Wars, occupying land and imposing Zionism and over sixty years of war, homelessness, terror and mass murder on the Palestinian people and on countries of the region.
Ahmadinejad condemned the US use of nuclear weapons against innocent people, and its stockpiling thousands of warheads in arsenals.
He pointed out that Washington used the September 11 incidents as a pretext to attack Afghanistan and Iraq, killing, injuring, and displacing millions with the ultimate goal of bringing into its domination the Middle East and its oil resources.
What is the justification for the presence of hundreds of US military and intelligence bases in different parts of the world other than military occupation, President Ahmadinejad asks.
Some parties look for their progress and prosperity through destroying other countries and spreading poverty. They use power, proclaim themselves the custodians of all governments and abuse the international law. They weaken countries through military intervention and destroy their infrastructures in order to plunder their resources by making them all the more dependent, he said.
On September 11 attacks, Ahmadinejad said that "instead of assigning a fact-finding team, the US Administration killed the main perpetrator and threw his body into the sea."
"Would it not have been reasonable to bring him to trial in order to identify the elements behind the safe space provided for the invading aircraft to attack the twin world trade towers!", President Ahmadinejad concluded.
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