Essential Reading to Understand The Headlines

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Showing posts with label weapons. Show all posts
Showing posts with label weapons. Show all posts

Friday, February 18, 2011

FBI Says US Will Surely Be Hit By A WMD While Turkey and Jordan Gets Nuke Deal and Somalian Terrorists Raring to Go

FBI: 100 Percent Chance of WMD Attack http://bit.ly/gTQAhH

Jordan, Turkey ink nuclear deal http://bit.ly/fYx37p

Somalia: Al Shabaab Wraps Up Training for Hundreds of Its Fighters http://allafrica.com/stories/201102180095.html

AFP: Somalia arrests five over demo bloodbath http://bit.ly/eXZSE4

Monday, February 7, 2011

The Dangers of the Iranian Nuclear Program In Light of the Arab Uprisings

Those in the Intelligence community has known for a long time what other countries in the Middle East like Saudi Arabia feels about a nuclear Iranian regime. Now every person in the world who cared to read newspaper reports about the leaked US diplomatic cables knows as well that the region's leaders not cooperating with Iran are on edge. They ask the US to do something about it and they would even turn a blind eye if Israel (a country they don't like as well but would rather live with) decides to take matters into its own hands.

In reality any sort of military option is dwindling as days go by since there is no conclusive intelligence now what kind of capability Iran has and if such a military strike will have high degree of success. Now let's say that the US and Israel decides to keep the status quo as regards the Iranian nuclear program. What will nervous countries in the Middle East do? One option will be to arm themselves with nuclear weapons as well to protect their people and serve as a deterrent to an Iranian attack. The US may even be tempted to sell such weapons since it could get more revenues to aid its ailing economy. We will now be in a dangerous scenario of a Middle East nuclear arms race.

Now in light of the recent uprisings in the Middle East as what is happening to Egypt, this is going to be particularly troubling. We have seen how volatile a region this could be as regimes can be suddenly toppled like in Tunisia. What if this happend to an Arab country which has a nuclear weapons program? A radical Islamic movement like the Muslim Brotherhood replaces that power vacuum and finds a gold mine of weapons of mass destruction automatically in its hands! Then the danger meter really goes on high alert for the Western world and in Israel.

The Egyptian protests is a dangerous lesson which the US must fully study in light of the Iranian nuclear weapons capability. It must be able to imagine such possibilities because their Iranian adversaries are probably dreaming of it as we speak since it is just another road to chaos which would bring about their prophetic theology.

Monday, January 3, 2011

Iran is Importing North Korean and African Nuclear Scientists

The following video report enhances previous news that Iran is importing nuclear talent. It seems that it not only gets nuclear minds from North Korea but from African nations as well.

Friday, December 31, 2010

Russia and US Continue to See Eye-to-Eye on Things Nuclear Plus Other Kremlin News


U.S. helps Ukraine send 2 bombs worth of uranium to Russia http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/40859303/ns/us_news-security/

RT@httweets:Putin vows to develop India ties - Hindustan Times http://t.co/YT8gnlL

Russia Starts Oil Pipeline to China as Putin Attempts to Diversify Exports - Bloomberg http://t.co/ZhDHnhn via @BloombergNow

Moscow police detain 68 anti-Kremlin protesters http://t.co/WaqSrVs via @washingtonpost

Somaliland releases Russian crew - Africa - Al Jazeera English http://bit.ly/gxuf3Q

Thursday, December 30, 2010

Weapons News from France, Russia and China Makes for a Jittery World

French Deal to Sell Ships to Russians Is Criticized http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/29/world/europe/29france.html

Saudi & Russia in talks to sign nuke deal: report http://www.alarabiya.net/articles/2010/12/28/131240.html

China’s 5th Generation Fighter Exposed? - Defense-Update http://bit.ly/exMIMG

Israel's Elbit Systems gets $18 mln Asian contract http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSLDE6BS07320101229

U.S. Congress Asked to Pre-Approve Apache Block III Sale to India - Defense-Update http://bit.ly/e6chiu

Tuesday, December 28, 2010

Obama to Cut Defense Spending Despite Increasing Terror and Other Security Threats

Reddawnstates Obama to propose huge cuts in defense. http://www.federaltimes.com/article/20101223/DEPARTMENTS01/12230301/ #gopt #tcot

Making Sense of the START Debate | STRATFOR http://bit.ly/fAzBvi

U.S. embassy in London was a target of UK suspects | Reuters http://reut.rs/g3WuOW

Iraqi Prime Minister Says U.S. Forces Must Leave On Time - WSJ.com http://on.wsj.com/ggs5fq

Dobroyeutro David Headley`s Wife Faiza Speaks Out via @dobroyeutro Whistleblower PROCEED WITH CAUTION... via @ElyssaD http://cot.ag/gMBTV4

Canadians face pricey visa for UAE after diplomatic spat - thestar.com http://bit.ly/fPyt0u

Thursday, December 23, 2010

As Russia Gets Excited About Things Nuclear, Australia Battles Terror Issues Plus Other Security News

BBC News - Russia applauds US vote to back nuclear arms treaty http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-12066501
   
Russian Duma could ratify START within days http://af.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idAFTRE6BM0XE20101223

High security Serb nuclear shipment reaches Russia http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE6BL4EF20101222

ietweet Australia apologised to Indian doctor Mohammad Haneef for wrongly detaining him on terror charges three years ago. http://goo.gl/k7vXh
 
Three guilty over jihadist gun plot on Australia army base http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_asiapacific/view/1100754/1/.html

UN council OKs big boost in AU Somalia force http://af.reuters.com/article/topNews/idAFJOE6BL0KH20101222

Indonesia: House Churches Closed http://on.fb.me/gmz3QS

Terrorist Minds #8: Al-Shabaab Becoming Even More Dangerous http://t.co/e9nZhvp

Christmas—God’s Cure http://t.co/0Wzhsgs via @AddThis

State Department Announces Cybersecurity Post -- Government Security -- InformationWeek http://t.co/utvyQAO


Canada’s little-known spy agency comes out into the open http://t.co/Ws1jXZF via @globeandmail

Iran Imports Talents to Accomplish Nuclear Dreams Plus Other Related News

'Iran globally recruiting scientists for nuclear program' http://t.co/JCWfVAF via @Jerusalem_Post

FM: Iran with nuclear bomb will seek occupation of Gulf http://t.co/EpxPYtg via @Jerusalem_Post

Debka: Jundallah is on point of executing abducted Iranian nuclear scientist http://www.debka.com/article/20482/

AFP: Hong Kong holds ship linked to Iran firm: report http://bit.ly/hpaevC

Iran using most of its own energy reserves - UPI.com http://bit.ly/hkZrnl

Iran’s New Foreign Minister Appears in Istanbul - NYTimes.com http://nyti.ms/fCnSQ1

AFP: Ahmadinejad seeks warmer ties with Yemen http://bit.ly/dWp8yB

Tehran reiterates support for Kabul http://www.presstv.ir/detail/156754.html

PrairiePundit: Iran now says Pakistan, not US, UK and Israel responsible for bombing http://bit.ly/f9aHiT

Five national radioisotope-production plans unveiled in Iran http://www.tehrantimes.com/index_View.asp?code=232704

Monday, December 20, 2010

Russians Warn US Politicians of Restarting START Plus Other News in America

Russia Warns Against START Changes - WSJ.com http://on.wsj.com/gdnkys

Scott Brown to support New START treaty - A national political and campaign blog from The Boston Globe - Boston.com http://bit.ly/f3KenZ

START treaty: GOP stiffens opposition to nuclear treaty with Russia - latimes.com http://lat.ms/frz8y0

Missile defense program failed second test in a row, U.S. says http://t.co/3p7ivcw via @washingtonpost


Saudi king 'in talks to buy hospital to move mosque project away from Ground Zero' - Telegraph http://t.co/IbskaOG via @Telegraph

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

US Keeping An Eye on North Korean and Russian Nuclear Developments

N Korean nuclear tech more advanced than Iran's http://bit.ly/hWS8PH TODAYonline

Jets Buzz Seoul as South Korea Simulates Attack - BusinessWeek http://bit.ly/fR5Loi


The Associated Press: Democrats making push on US-Russia arms treaty http://bit.ly/dNl9j1

NTI: Global Security Newswire - New Russian Ballistic Missile Sub to Join Navy in 2011 http://bit.ly/eG1huf

Moscow struggles with entrenched leader of Belarus http://af.reuters.com/article/energyOilNews/idAFLDE6BC0S220101215?sp=true

Thursday, December 9, 2010

Iran Obsessed With Things Nuclear While Civilian Oppression Grows

Iran will produce an atomic bomb when the Supreme Leaders say so - Haaretz Daily Newspaper | Israel News http://bit.ly/i1ylUq

Ahmadinejad: Swap deal could be only nuclear issue in Istanbul - Monsters and Critics http://bit.ly/gmhCCw

FoxNews.com - Stuxnet Worm Still Out of Control at Iran's Nuclear Sites, Experts Say http://fxn.ws/feJqv7

71 PERCENT OF IRANIANS WANT NUCLEAR WEAPONS: Only 1 in 6 believe Israel or the U.S. will attack -The Joshua Fund Weblog http://bit.ly/fNTBcb

Iran Placing Medium-Range Missiles in Venezuela; Can Reach the U.S. http://www.hudson-ny.org/1714/iran-missiles-in-venezuela

Gates, in UAE, will discuss Iran and Yemen: official http://theusdaily.com/articles/viewarticle.jsp?id=1283979&type=home

Christian Faces Death Sentence in Iran http://on.fb.me/f5taL7

Outcry of Tehran University students: “Iran has become a prison; Evin prison has become a university” http://bit.ly/e9fXNz

AFP: Bailed top Iranian reformist back in jail http://bit.ly/hYsNRD

Iran, China discuss major rail project http://www.presstv.ir/detail/154655.html

Sunday, April 25, 2010

Airport Security is not for the Lazy

The West sees airport security as a matter of precise technology while for Israel, nothing still beats human intelligence, and careful observation as a means of bringing safety to the aviation industry.

Sela, who helped design the security system at Ben-Gurion International Airport, has some 30 years' experience in the field. He warned the lawmakers, “You are reacting to incidents instead of being one step ahead of them” when the acquisition of the scanners was announced, days after a Nigerian national tried to blow up a U.S. airliner in December.

“I don't know why everybody is running to buy these expensive and useless machines,” Sela commented. “I can overcome the body scanners with enough explosives to bring down a Boeing 747. That's why we haven't put them in our airport.”
Source: Israelnationalnews.com

This article from thesun.com provides a glimpse on how Israel airport implement security in the area.

Airport security is not a lazy type of job. You do not wait or react for airport security against terrorist. Terrorist organizations study and plot on security loopholes. If this is the case, reactionary measures like technology will be inefficient. In my opinion, technology has a place but it should not be the first line or the only line of defense. Careful and active observation and investigation should be the best weapon in preventing terrorist attacks.

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

Russia Will Push Harder Against Israel in the Upcoming NPT

The Review of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty won't start until the month of May in New York but as early as now, Russia is beginning to tighten the screws not only on Israel but also on the United States. Sensing an opening that the United States is slowly changing its foreign policy towards Israel, Russia is now appealing to its Cold War rival to pressure Jewish state not only as regards Jerusalem but also on its nuclear arsenal.

"The United States should, in fact, try to convince Israel to act more responsibly in resolving the Middle-East conflict and with regard to its nuclear arsenals," Pikayev told FNA Wednesday.
source: FARS News Agency

Russia is against stiff sanctions in Iran for its nuclear violations since it is a big supporter of the Islamic state and helps in building their nuclear technology. It seems the strategy now is to slowly take off the eyes of the world on Iran and focus them on Israel as the more immediate danger to the Middle East.

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

Obama on Israel and the NPT

The words are not clear but it seems that there is no escaping the topic of Israel as a non-signatory to the Nuclear Proliferation Treaty or the NPT. Next month a review on the treaty will be made and non-signatories like Iran and North Korea will be on the block for this one. Another country of course that could be on the block will be Israel. Although Israel has escaped scrutiny in the past since it never threatened anyone with nuclear weapons (which it neither confirm nor deny of having), the increasing anti-semitism of the world gives you the feeling that this issue will be under the microscope this time.

In a more recent article we had, we hoped that the present summit in Washington will not be sidetracked by this and hopefully in the waning hours of the event, it will not go in the direction of pinpointing Israel.

On the 2nd day of the summit the inevitable has come and the media has asked Obama about it.

“And, as far as Israel goes, I’m not going to comment on their program, but what I’m going to point to is the fact that consistently we have urged all countries to become members of the NPT. So there’s no contradiction there. We think it is important that we have an international approach that is universal and that rests on three pillars, that those of us who have nuclear weapons are making serious efforts to reduce those stockpiles.”
source Jpost.com

The US President side-stepped from the question somewhat but it seems the direction is that it would be good if Israel will let the nuclear issue out of the bag. If that is what he meant, will he pursue it aggressively next month in New York or even in the coming months.

Obama has been seen so far by most observers as more for appeasement of Islamic nations. Will he use this as another leverage to gain ground in extending a hand to the Middle East region?

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

A Month From Now... No Country Will Consider Attacking Iran

Iran has provided another clue of its nuclear capability and if it is true will really have the world on edge. Iranian Atomic Energy deputy chief just sent a warning that the country is now barging into the nuclear club and no one could and should stop it.

Iranian Atomic Energy deputy chief Behzat Sultani said Tuesday that the Islamic Republic will join the "nuclear club" within one month and added, "No country will consider attacking it after that." He provided no further details. Sultani added that 70% of the Arak nuclear reactor has been completed.


Now is this an empty threat? How many warnings have leaders heard and classified them as empty threats and only to wake up one day to a nightmare. 9-11 was a warning years in the making and yet it happened because of the lack of urgency on those who can stop it.

Sarkozy Now Gets It - World Must Protect Israel!

In a CBS interview French President Sarkozy has seemingly now understand that the key to preventing an Iran - Israeli war is to protect the latter and not appease the former. We can scan some of the statements of the French President in his interview with CBS.

I don't even want to think it was possible. And the best way-- to avoid this disaster scenario is to take measures in order to get Israel to understand that we are determined to ensure its security.


Although I do not agree with the French President's assessment of pressuring Israel as regards the latter's conflict with the Palestinians, President Sarkozy puts it into proper perspective that Israel will be pushed to attack Iran if it sees that no one is really willing to stop Iran in acquiring nuclear weapons.

The French President also doesn't fully agree with the way Obama has been handling the situation with the diplomatic gesture with Iran and sympathizes with Israel's impatience.

I consider the fact that Iran should get its hands on a nuclear weapon-- a military nuclear weapon, together with the many statements made by Iranian leaders against the democracy that is Israel is dangerous and unacceptable. Unacceptable, quite simply. President Obama has wanted to stretch out his hand in order to show clearly to the Iranians that it was not they who were the target, but their leadership.

He extended his hand in order to guarantee the unity of the international-- community in particular, but the security council, which I endorsed, but patience has its limits. And we have come to a time now where we need to vote sanctions.


As to the sanctions Sarkozy makes it known that to make "toothless" sanctions will be a big mistake.

I'm a realist. I'm down to earth. The best solution is the unity of the security council, but not at any price. Not at the price of a resolution that is so toothless that it would achieve nothing. You know, I would not want the world to wake up to a conflict between Israel and Iran, quite simply because the international community has been incapable of acting.


Time is running out on the world against Iran and leaders like Sarkozy are now realizing it. Hope this isn't too late.


For more on this interview visit CBS.com

Monday, April 12, 2010

The Difference Between the Rogues: Iran and North Korea

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton just recently announced that by their own estimates, North Korea has about 6 nuclear weapons as of this time.

In a rare reference by the chief US diplomat to the number of weapons held by North Korea, Clinton said Pyongyang had "between one and six nuclear weapons."
from the AFP

North Korea having nuclear weapons is not news anymore to the whole world. In 2006, North Korea has claimed that it has tested nuclear weapons and that Japan and the US has both stated that at that time an earthquake has been recorded that could give credence to this claim. In 2009, it tested a second bomb.

Now one has to wonder why the US and other world leaders react differently when it comes to Iran and North Korea as to the issue of nuclear weapons? Both are rogue states and both are outwardly violating UN regulations. Both face UN sanctions but you sense the feeling that Iran is the more immediate concern than the Northern Korean regime.

The world is concerned with North Korea and rightly so. But I think that the world is correct as well to be more wary of the present Iranian regime. Unlike North Korea, Iran has a strong ideological agenda.

North Korea you see uses its nuclear weapons more or at least at this point as a deterrent to other world powers. They also use their nuclear technology for business purposes, supplying other countries or organizations (even terrorists) with the technology as long as the price is right. It also uses it for future purposes like a conflict with Japan or South Korea. So Primarily, North Korea has nuclear weapons as a means for power and economic trade.

Now Iran has a completely and more dangerous purpose. The present Iranian regime just like other jihadist organizations aims to produce nuclear weapons not for defense, or to secure power or even to gain more money. Iran has nuclear weapons so it can use it against its enemies, the Western world and Israel. This is the Iranian world view and a chaotic world is more to Iran's liking since the present regime holds to the religious idea that their messiah, the 12th imam, will rise if they induce war in this world. However; the mainstream media plays the Iranian agenda, this is the truth and the world better be wary before everything goes out of hand.

While North Korea will be content with the present world, Iran isn't and would like to usher in their dangerous idea of the future so they could get their so-called paradise.

What Must Not Happen at the Nuclear Summit

I was quietly watching the BBC channel today and listening to their primer on the Nuclear Summit in Washington. After the usual review of world news about the topic, it mentions that one of the agenda in the summit is the review of related UN resolutions. In the BBC website itself there was a substantial coverage to such an issue and pointing at Iran, North Korea and of course Israel as non-signatories to the Nuclear Proliferation for the Treaty. While the former two countries are openly violating any nuclear treaty and thus would not sign, Israel has a very different reason. Opening up information on whether it has nuclear weapons or not (they categorically will neither confirm nor deny possession of nukes), will put the country's security in peril since it is surrounded by its enemies.

The one thing that is scary about this summit and the subsequent discussions on the Nuclear Proliferation Treaty is that such agreements that could be produced would force Israel to reveal nuclear weaponry information, and if they have them, where are they located since it must be inspected. If Obama himself will support this move then it is going to be catastrophic not just for Israel but for the rest of the world since is a potential conflict with UN and world powers that Israel will not compromise and the consequences of such a diplomatic stalemate is too frightening to consider.

Monday, March 1, 2010

Where is That Nuclear Cookbook?

If you lost something related to nuclear stuff, try looking for it in Iran.

Somewhat similar to the Debkafile report but this one the owner didn't intend it to be rerouted to Iran. This story from the AP shows how persistent Iran was in getting the nuclear gauges even to the extent of defying international sanctions.

Source: The Associated Press by Peter Enav and Debby Wu

Debkafile: Iran has Enough Material for Nuclear Warheads

It seems that from this report of the Debkafile, the question is not whether Iran will make nuclear weapons but whether they already have the weapons at this point.

So, even without 1,950 kilo- stock of enriched uranium Iran has produced at Natanz, the Islamic Republic has piled up enough material to make three or five bombs or warheads.

Source: Debkafile

Those yellowcakes were meant to go to Syria via a North Korean ship in 2007. When it had to go to a different destination because it was about to be bombed by Israeli planes, the nuclear material found itself in Iran two years later!