Iranian Soldiers In Syria?

Syrian Rebels Say Arrested Iranian Fighters -- YNet News

'Free Army' claims to have captured Iranian militants sent by Tehran to aid Assad's crackdown on pro-democracy movement.

Syria's "Free Army" rebels claim to have proof that Iran is aiding President Bashar Assad's brutal crackdown on pro-democracy protesters, Ynet learned Friday.

The rebels have released a video depicting alleged members of the Revolutionary Guards, captured who were captured in the city of Homs.

The video showed travel documents of seven captives, some of whom appeared to be speaking Farsi.

Read more ....

Update #1: Syrian rebels claim they captured Iranian soldiers -- Haaretz
Update #2: Syrian rebels say they hold seven Iranians hostage -- Reuters
Update #3: Syria: Are Captured Iranians Military Men or Engineers? -- Time

My Comment: Men of military age traveling and working in the middle of a war zone .... this is hard to believe. But everything that is now happening in Syria as it slowly disintegrates into all out civil war is also hard to believe.

Civil War In Syria -- News Updates January 27, 2012

Protest: Demonstrators have been taking to Syria's streets in their thousands, such as in Khalidieh, near Homs, yesterday. Daily Mail

More Than 100 people Killed By Security Forces Across Syria -- Haaretz

Surge in violence comes as United Nations Security Council prepares for meeting to discuss escalating crisis.

Security forces killed more than 100 people across Syria on Friday, one of the deadliest days in the more-than-10-month uprising that appears to be developing into a civil war.

The dramatic surge in violence occurred as the United Nations Security Council prepared for a meeting to discuss the Syrian crisis.

Read more ....

More News On The Civil War In Syria

Syria crisis: Arab League's Dabi warns of 'escalation' -- BBC
Violence Rises Sharply in Syria, Flustering Arab League Monitors -- New York Times
Syria violence has risen 'significantly', says Arab League mission chief -- The Guardian
Syria killings spike to 120 as diplomacy heats up -- Khaleej Times
'Better to die than be humiliated,' chant mourners at funeral as Assad regime is accused of carrying out 'terrifying massacre' of women and children. -- Daily Mail
UNICEF says 384 children killed so far in Syria -- Reuters
Syria: claims of 'racial cleansing' as 14 family members are killed -- The Telegraph
Syria bloodbath shocks region -- Gulf News
Deaths rise in Syria as U.N. Security Council to hold talks -- CNN
Syrian violence intensifies as UN meets -- Financial Times
Surge in violence, killings across Syria; U.N. Security Council set to meet -- Washington Post/AP
More than 50 killed in 2 days of violence in Syria -- FOX News/AP
Syria violence kills 37, U.N. Security Council to meet -- Yahoo News/Reuters
Syria violence escalates ahead of UN talks -- Deutsche Welle
Syrian tanks storm restive city of Hama, at least 44 killed -- Haaretz
Fears of a massacre grow as Syrian troops target Hama -- M&C
Syria crisis: Free Army fighters claim control of Douma -- BBC
Syrian security forces launch all-out assault on Douma -- The Telegraph
Syrian rebels defiant on Damascus outskirts -- Reuters
For first time: Deadly clashes in Syria second largest city -- Al Bawaba
Syria unrest: Assad losing grip on Damascus suburb Saqba -- BBC
Inflation and fuel shortages stoke Aleppo violence -- Financial Times
Top Syrian opposition group helping army rebels -- Khaleej Times/AP
Syrian opposition abroad to boost aid to rebel army -- Reuters
Protesters storm Syrian embassy in Cairo -- UPI
Crisis takes toll on Syria economy -- L.A. Times
The view from Damascus: Assad regime is 'weak' and 'robbing banks' to finance repression -- Michael Weiss, The Telegraph

Afghanistan War News Updates -- January 27, 2012

France Resumes Afghan Mission After Soldiers' Deaths -- Deutsche Welle

A freeze on French operations in Afghanistan, imposed after the deaths of four soldiers last week, has been lifted. President Nicolas Sarkozy says troops will remain until the end of next year, if he is re-elected.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy said on Friday evening that French troops would restart their mission to train Afghan security personnel - a week after four soldiers were shot dead by a rebel infiltrator.

Sarkozy said French troops would complete their withdrawal from the NATO-led mission in Afghanistan at the end of 2013 - as planned - after himself raising the possibility of an early exit.

Read more ....

More News On Afghanistan

Sarkozy: French Troops to Resume Training in Afghanistan -- Voice of America
France to Resume Afghan Training -- Wall Street Journal
France to resume Afghanistan training mission -- Al Jazeera
France to resume Afghan troop training despite attack -- BBC

War In Afghanistan News 27 January 2012 -- War On Terror News
IED attacks up in Afghanistan -- UPI
‘IEDs Are the Battlefield,’ General Says -- National Defense
NATO Claims 'Successful Year' in Afghanistan -- Defence Professionals
Afghan suicide attack kills four, wounds 34 -- AFP
Taliban leader captured in Afghan province: NATO -- Xinhuanet
Navy lieutenant leads EOD unit in northern Afghanistan -- Dvids
French Afghan troops to leave Kapisa in March -- Reuters
German soldiers hand over security to Afghan forces -- Deutsche Welle
Balkh province transitions to Afghan lead -- Dvids

Taliban willing to compromise, Afghan negotiators say -- Express Tribune/Reuters
Taliban diplomats arrive in Qatar -- The Telegraph
Former High-Ranking US Officials Voice Skepticism on Afghanistan Plan -- Voice of America
Did US, Taliban hold talks in Qatar? -- Rediff

France, Karzai want faster NATO Afghan exit -- CBS/AP
France, Afghanistan to ask NATO to hand over all combat missions to Afghans a year earlier -- Washington Post/AP
Afghan and French presidents meet in Paris -- UPI

Italy signs deal for long-term aid to Afghanistan -- Yahoo News/AP
Afghanistan women: 'Give us a seat at the peace table' -- Christian Science Monitor
Changes in Kabul Classrooms -- New York Times

U.S. Defense Budget Cuts - A News And Budget Roundup

JSF Survives, Global Hawk Dies, Global Strike Revives; Panetta's Budget -- Aol Defense News

PENTAGON: In what may come to be called the dawn of the 21st century drawdown of the American military, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta today unveiled a budget he hopes balances smaller forces with sustained and far reaching threats.

Panetta said the force that will result from the $525 billion budget request for fiscal 2013 will be "smaller and leaner, but agile, flexible, ready and technologically advanced." Army Gen. Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, offered the important point that the budget was predicated on the assumption that "capabilities are more important than size." Since the Army will shrink to 490,000 from its current 570,000 and the Marines will come down to 182,000 from 202,000 under the five-year request that will be crucial to retaining America's overwhelming military superiority.

Read more ....

More News On What Is To Be Cut In the U.S. Defense Budget

Pentagon’s defense budget plan -- U.S. Defense Department (PDF)
Major Budget Decisions Briefing from the Pentagon (Transcript) -- US Department of Defense
Panetta Announces Fiscal 2013 Budget Priorities -- US Department of Defense
Pentagon Outlines 2013 Budget Cuts -- Defense News
Hot Docs: DoD’s 2013 Budget Briefing Documents -- Defense Tech

A Look at the New Pentagon -- Ares/Aviation Week
Pentagon cuts reshape military, trim costs -- Economic Times
Pentagon: Army, Marines to shrink as budget slows -- Boston.com/AP
Panetta Plan for Lean, Agile Military Reflects a Tighter Budget -- Bloomberg Businessweek
Judgment day -- DoD Buzz
Pentagon Plan Includes Base Closings and Smaller Raises -- New York Times
Pentagon budget set to shrink next year -- Washington Post
Budgeting for a new military vision -- CNN
Pentagon cuts reshape military, trim costs -- Reuters
Pentagon Unveils Tighter Spending Plan -- Wall Street Journal
US plans to cut Army, invest in future -- AFP
Pentagon budget cuts hit force size, facilities -- Army Times
DoD Unveils Major Force Reductions -- Military.com
Pentagon Asia Shift Favors Subs, Bombers, Tankers, Panetta Says -- Bloomberg Businessweek
Pentagon budget cuts will shrink military, reduce ground forces -- The Hill
Panetta: Troop numbers to fall, but no hit to active-duty pay and benefits -- Stars and Stripes
Panetta Outlines US Defense Budget Decisions -- Voice of America
US military: Defence Secretary Leon Panetta reveals cuts (Video) -- BBC
Pentagon budget plan hits ships and planes -- Money Control
Defense budget plan would cut spending by half a trillion -- L.A. Times
Panetta Outlines US Defense Budget Decisions -- Voice of America

US military prepares to shed 100,000 troops -- The Telegraph
New Pentagon Plan Would Cut Ground Forces By 100,000 -- FOX News
Panetta: U.S. ground forces would shrink by 100,000 -- USA Today/AP
US to cut almost 100,000 troops -- BBC
US to cut ground forces by 100,000 -- Press Association

Panetta: Full Commitment to U.S. F-35 Program -- US Defense News
Pentagon says to slow procurement of F-35 fighters -- Reuters
U.S. to slow F-35 procurement as billions get slashed from defence budget -- Canada.com
USAF to Kill Block 30 Global Hawks -- Defense News
Panetta Said to Seek Cancellation of L-3’s U.S. Army C-27J Transport Plane -- Bloomberg

Navy To Drop 3 Ships in 2013; May Keep 313-Ship Goal -- Aol Defense
Panetta: Navy will keep 11-carrier fleet amid defense cuts -- Hampton Roads/AP
Big cuts coming; lower pay raises start in 2015 -- Navy Times
The Proof Is In The Pudding -- Information Dissemination
U.S. Pushes Back Future Ballistic-Missile Sub -- Global Security Newswire
20,000 Marines to be cut, Pentagon announces -- Marine Times

Cyber and unmanned war systems spared axe -- Sydney Morning Herald
The U.S. Military Cuts for the Cloud -- New York Times
Asia-Pacific region spared knife as Panetta slashes US forces -- The Australian
Pentagon cuts to hit defense industry -- Washington Post
Panetta: Military cuts to hit 'all 50 states' -- MSNBC
Pentagon to Request Two New Rounds of Base Closures -- Defense News
HASC Vice Chair dismisses proposed base closures -- DoD Buzz

Humans Lose, Robots Win in New Defense Budget -- Spencer Ackerman, Danger Room
Pentagon's new budget: Rise of the machines -- RT

U.S. Defence Cuts Not Actually Real Cuts -- Ottawa Citizen
U.S. Navy Sidesteps Most Pentagon Cuts -- Defense News
Defense budget plan doesn't cut as deeply as Pentagon says -- McClatchy News
Expert: Proposed U.S. Defense Cuts Less Severe Than They Seem -- Voice of America

Pentagon budget: top 3 winners and losers -- Anna Mulrine, Christian Science Monitor
Military cutback contains surprise -- Nanacy A. Youseff, Kansas City/McClatchy News
The Promise — and The Danger — in Panetta’s Budget -- Gordon Adams, Time
The Defense Budget: “You Used to Be Big” -- Mark Thompson, Time
Panetta Admits There Are ‘Risks’ Associated With Military Cutbacks -- Patrick Goodenough -- CNS News
An altered landscape -- Philip Ewing, DoD Buzz
With a Leaner Military, a Long List of Potential Threats -- Justin Fishel, FOX News
Pentagon’s Preview of Defense Budget Indicates Future Military Will Lack Important Capabilities -- Heritage Foundation

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World News Briefs -- January 27, 2012

Dozens Killed as UN Set to Discuss Syria Resolution -- Voice of America

The violence in Syria continued Friday, bringing to more than 50 the number of people killed there over the past two days. This, as a U.N. resolution to curb the bloodshed appeared to be stalled.

More than 20 people were killed in attacks throughout the country - including six members of the security forces in the northwestern city of Idlib. Syrian activist Rami Abdul-Raham said they were killed by a car bomb at a security checkpoint. Government forces were also reported to have carried out a raid in the flashpoint city of Homs.

Read more ....

MIDDLE EAST

More than 50 killed in 2 days of bloody turmoil in Syria. Syrian revolt creeps closer to Damascus.

Officials: Car bomb targets funeral in Baghdad, killing dozens.

Israel says Iran 'drifting' toward nuke goal line.

Barrier proposed as Israel border.

Iran could ban EU oil exports next week: lawmaker.

ASIA

Taliban diplomats arrive in Qatar.

Musharraf delays Pakistan return without setting new date.

Pakistan's military academy attacked near Bin Laden house.

Tibetan student 'killed in third Sichuan, China clash'.

China denies nuclear accident.

AFRICA

Libya militias prepare to retake Bani Walid from Gaddafi loyalists.

In Libya, rebels still dominate Tripoli streets.

One million children in Sahel at risk, UNICEF warns.

Somali pirate captors move US hostage after SEAL raid.

Egyptians mark 1st anniversary of 'Friday of rage'.

Nigeria on edge as Islamist group extends campaign of violence.

Sudan and South Sudan leaders bid to defuse oil dispute.

African economy faces ‘serious’ threats from Europe crisis.

EUROPE

Costa Concordia company offers passengers compensation.

Putin dismisses protests with a joke remark.

Russia bars liberal candidate from presidential election.

Russian military to beef up special forces in N. Caucasus.

Spain's unemployment total passes five million.

AMERICAS

Canadian pipeline needs aboriginal consent: chief.

In Mexico, eight men are executed in downtown Monterrey.

Brazil search of collapsed buildings intensifies; 7 dead.

U.N. workers find 35 pounds of cocaine.

Scientists: Haiti, DR may facing big quake period.

Former Guatemalan dictator Efrain Rios Montt faces trial for genocide.

TERRORISM/THE LONG WAR

Pakistani family wants justice in CIA killing.

Panetta: al Qaeda is "still a real threat".

'We will attack Nigeria again and again', Boko Haram leader vows.

Mali blames Al-Qaeda as rebels launch new attacks.

US adds IMU, IJU operatives to list of global terrorists.

ECONOMY/FINANCE/BUSINESS

GDP grows 2.8% at year's end but rate falls short of expectations.

Google says privacy change won't affect government users.

Europe signs up to controversial ACTA web treaty.

Apple 'attacking problems' at its factories in China.

Report: Amazon merchant bribed buyers for positive reviews.

Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- January 27, 2012

Sub-Based Global Strike Weapon Reborn; Questions Remain -- Aol Defense

WASHINGTON: The Pentagon is again looking to its submarine fleet to fill a long-standing desire for a Prompt Global Strike weapon.

The Navy will finance work on an "undersea conventional prompt global strike option" as part of its share of DoD's $525 billion budget request for Fiscal 2013, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said during today's press conference at the Pentagon. He did not go into detail on whether the weapon would be carried by the older Ohio-class submarines or the Virginia-class boats currently being built by the Navy. A PGS is a non-nuclear weapon designed to hit any target around the world within an hour. The only current weapons able to strike global targets that quickly are intercontinental nuclear missiles. Their numbers, range and warheads are strictly limited by various treaties, including the START treaties.

Read more ....

MILITARY AND INTELLIGENCE NEWS BRIEFS

Talks with Russia on missile defence stalled - NATO -- Reuters

EDA Compares EU and US Government Defence Spending -- Defpro

Ukraine Boosts Military Budget by 30% -- RIA Novosti

Russian Military Continue Massive Re-armament -- Ares/Aviation Week

Russia to Modernize All Military Airfields by 2020 -- RIA Novosti

Russia This Year to Field Short-Range Missiles Near NATO States: Source -- Global Security Newswire

Iranian F-14 fighter jet crashes in country’s south; both pilot and co-pilot killed -- Washington Post/AP

Sweden To Examine $5B Gripen Upgrade Proposal -- Defense News

Israeli paras prep for airborne strikes -- UPI

Nuclear subs will stay in Scotland, Royal Navy chiefs decide -- The Telegraph

Simulator helps design Royal Navy future aircraft carriers' flight deck -- Navy Recognition

UK considers Rafale and F-18 as 'interim aircraft' -- Defence Management

German Angst as U.S. troops bid "Auf Wiedersehen" -- Yahoo News/Reuters

DoD Identifies Brigades Slated to Leave Germany -- Military.com

JIEDDO to Send Hundreds of New Throwable 'bots to Afghanistan -- Ares/Aviation Week

US seeks military ties, not base, in Philippines -- CBS/AP

US Warship Calls at Ukrainian Port Amid Protests -- RIA Novosti

F/A-18E/F contract brings DOD aircraft orders this week to 25 in deals worth $2.2 billion -- Avionics Aviation

GAO Assesses U.S. Navy’s Focus on Arleigh Burke Destroyers -- Defpro

Navy Getting Very Close to UAV Aerial Refueling -- Defense Tech

New drone can land on aircraft carrier -- Standard Examiner

National Museum USAF displays formerly classified reconnaissance satellites -- US Air Force

MoH-level Valor Leads to a Robot Hand -- Defense Tech

Rep. Rivera introduces modified DREAM Act for military -- McClatchy News

Pentagon shooter pleads guilty, agrees to 25 years -- FOX News/AP

Dying soldier gets medal 70 years later -- ABC News

America’s Most Dangerous Mall: Going Shopping at the Pentagon -- Danger Room

Ethics of 'Autonomous' Combat Drones Debated -- Militaryt.com/UPI

US Navy Seals rescued American hostages from Somalia – why won’t Britain do the same? -- Con Coughlin, The Telegraph

Torture Widespread In Libya's Prisons

Libya Militias, Army Torturing Detainees: Watchdogs -- Breitbart/AFP

Libya's regular army and array of militias have been torturing loyalists of slain dictator Moamer Kadhafi, several of whom have been killed in custody, human rights groups charged on Thursday.

Amnesty International said that despite promises, Libya's new rulers have made "no progress to stop the use of torture", as Doctors Without Borders suspended its work in the third-largest city Misrata over similar claims.

Read more ....

More News On Widespread Torture Claims In Libyan Prisons

UN rights chief: Libyan gov't must control prisons -- AP
Prisoners tortured by Libyan militia -- Sydney Morning Herald
'Free' Libya shamed by new torture claims -- The Independent
Held Libyans 'died after torture' says Amnesty International -- BBC
Libya's new torturers pick up where Gaddafi left off -- The Australian
MSF quits prisons in Libya city over "torture" -- Reuters
Libya militias, army torturing detainees: watchdogs -- AFP
Doctors Without Borders says it halts work in Libyan city’s prisons because of torture -- Washington Post
MSF withdraws staff over Libya torture cases -- The Telegraph

Editor's Note

Stuck in meetings this morning. Regular blogging will return after 12:30 EST.

Update: Running late. Will be blogging after 13:00 EST

Bomb Attacl Kills 32 In Baghdad

Blast Near Funeral Procession Kills 32 In Baghdad -- L.A. Times

The suicide bomber targets a Shiite neighborhood, the latest attack in a wave of violence just weeks after the U.S. military withdrawal.

BAGHDAD — A suicide bomber detonated an explosives-packed car near a funeral procession in southeastern Baghdad on Friday, killing at least 32 people -- half of them policemen who were guarding the march -- in the latest brazen attack since the U.S. troop withdrawal from Iraq.

Police officials said the blast occurred at 11:00 a.m. in the predominantly Shiite neighborhood of Zafaraniyah, where mourners had gathered for the funeral of a person killed the day before. They said 65 people were wounded in the attack, including 16 policemen.

Hospital officials confirmed the death toll.

Read more ....

More News On Today's Bomb Attack in Baghdad

Officials: Car bomb targets funeral in Baghdad, killing dozens -- CNN
Iraq suicide bomber kills dozens -- The Guardian
Car bomb attack near funeral in Baghdad kills 32 people -- BBC
Suicide Bomber Kills 32 at Baghdad Funeral March -- ABC News/AP
Report: Blast outside hospital kills dozens in Baghdad -- MSNBC
Bomb in Shiite neighborhood kills dozens in funeral procession -- Washington Post
Suicide bomber kills 31 in Baghdad attack -- Reuters
Suicide car bomb outside Baghdad hospital kills 31 -- AFP

Argentina Does Not Have The Military Power To Seize The Falklands

Argentina Doesn't Have Military Power To Seize The Falklands Says Defence Minister -- The Telegraph

Argentina does not have the military capability to invade the Falkland Islands, Gerald Howarth, a Defence Minister, has claimed.

Mr Howarth said that Argentina was “sabre rattling” and that the country would not repeat the “folly” of its unsuccessful 1982 invasion.

The British government has recently scrutinised its plans to defend the Falklands amid concerns over increased tensions surrounding the 30th anniversary of the war. The Duke of Cambridge is due to be deployed to the islands in the spring.

On Thursday, senior Conservative MPs questioned Britain’s ability to defend the Falklands in the wake of recent cutbacks to the Royal Navy.

Read more ....

My Comment: It would be difficult .... but not impossible, for Argentina to use it's military to seize the Falklands. But it would be very messy and bloody. But this is all academic, Argentina is pursuing the Falklands through a diplomatic and political route .... not a military one. Their hope is that with time, there will be a government in London that may come to some form of compromise (like Hong Kong) in which the Falklands will become a part of Argentina. Considering Britain's history of giving up former possessions .... I say that this will probably be the best route for Argentina to follow.

U.S. To Iraq: Don't "Blow This Opportunity"

At least two civilians were killed after a motorcycle bomb missed a passing police patrol in Kirkuk [AFP]

U.S. To Iraq: Don't "Blow This Opportunity" -- Yahoo News/Reuters

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States has warned Iraq not to "blow this opportunity" to become a prosperous, unified nation, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said on Thursday, saying it must start to act like a democracy and embrace compromise.

Iraq has suffered its worst political crisis in a year with Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki's move to arrest Vice President Tareq al-Hashemi last month, which has raised fears of renewed sectarian violence following the U.S. troop withdrawal.

Read more ....

My Comment: Unfortunately, many Iraqis are not listening.

Why Nine Americans Were Killed By An Afghan Officer At A Kabul Military Base

Afghan soldiers patrol outside a gateway to Kabul's airport following a shooting incident April 27 that killed nine Americans. Musadeq Sadeq / The Associated Press

EXCLUSIVE: Inability To Learn English, Pay Cut Behind Afghan’s Murder Of 9 Americans At Kabul Military Base -- FOX News

The Afghan soldier who gunned down nine Americans in a shooting rampage at a military compound in Kabul last April targeted and killed his U.S. mentors after they took away his wings and cut his salary nearly in half because he was unable to learn English, a longtime colleague of the killer has told FoxNews.com.

A second Afghan airman, who was wounded in the April 27 attack, says the gunman, Col. Ahmed Gul, also intended to kill Afghans who were working with the Americans at the base at Kabul Airport. And he said he fears there will be more incidents like it as the war winds down.

Read more ....

My Comment: This Afghan was a 46 year old colonel ... not a regular run of the mill soldier. Talk about a complete failure in the screening process of who to admit (and not) in the Afghan military.

Picture Of The Day

U.S. Navy flight deck personnel prepare to launch an F/A-18F Super Hornet from the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson in the Arabian Sea, Jan. 18, 2012. U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class James R. Evans

Cyber Attacks Spread Throughout The Middle East

Israeli Hacker Team Brings Down Iranian Websites -- Jerusalem Post

English-language Iranian media outlet Press TV, Iranian Ministry of Health and Medical Education are hacked and taken are offline.

Israeli hackers brought down Iran's Press TV website and two websites belonging to the Ministry of Health and Medical Education on Thursday.

The hackers, who call themselves "IDF Team," said their actions were a response to a series of attacks on Israeli sites the previous day.

Read more ....

More News On Cyber Attacks In The Middle East

Iranian government websites hacked in cyber assault -- TG Daily
Israeli hackers attack Iranian sites -- AFP
Israel hackers say they targeted six Iranian websites -- M&C
Israeli Hacker Counterstrike on Arab Sites -- Arutz Sheva
Israeli hackers deface Iranian Government websites -- Techworld
Israeli hackers breach Saudi meteorological website -- Jerusalem Post
Israeli sites downed in cyber blitz -- TG Daily
Hackers Target Israeli Newspaper, Hospital Web Sites -- PC Mag
Cyber vandalism – not warfare -- YNet news
Arab-Israel Cyberwar: New Twist to Decades-old Middle East Conflict -- International Business Times

The Alarming Rise Of Electronic Espionage

Sailors on the watch-floor of the US Navy Cyber Defence Operations Command monitor. (Credit: US Navy)

Digital Spies: The Alarming Rise Of Electronic Espionage -- Popular Science

Foreign agents are stealing stealth technology, hacking heads of state, and sabotaging American companies. And while many of these attacks are traced to China, electronic espionage is an accelerating scourge that knows no national boundaries.

The first warning that hackers had penetrated the American oil company came soon after the initial breach, in the summer of 2009. The computer help desk received complaints from employees who were locked out of their accounts or whose computers had already been logged onto.

Then the complaints abruptly ceased: The digital spies had obtained an administrator password and were intercepting help-desk tickets, unlocking accounts, and notifying users that their problems had been fixed. With that access, the hackers copied thousands of confidential emails—including those of top executives—and transmitted them to China in massive files late at night, after the oil company's employees had left for the day.

Read more ....

My Comment: And this type of espionage is just starting ....

The Importance Of Djibouti To The U.S. Defense Strategy

Djibouti Outpost Behind Somalia Rescue Is Part of New Defense Strategy -- New York Times

WASHINGTON — An austere Pentagon outpost in the hardscrabble desert on the Horn of Africa proved serendipitously ideal as a launching pad for Tuesday’s commando raid that freed two aid workers held in Somalia. The use of the base, Camp Lemonnier in neighboring Djibouti, is also a signpost to the future, as the military focuses on “economy of force” missions that can preserve an American military presence and protect national security interests at relatively low cost.

A rescue mission from any other American base in the region would have added hours to the raiding party’s mission to infiltrate Somalia and neutralize the nine kidnappers — all were killed — without injury to the Navy Seal team or the hostages. Basing the complex airborne assault on a warship would have been far more complicated.

Read more ....

My Comment: These small countries/territories are playing a crucial role in maximizing U.S. response and reach. They are more economical than maintaining a naval presence, and they can be more effective in the region because of their permanent status. On the negative .... they are a tempting target for terrorists and opponents of U.S. influence. For more info on the effectiveness of these "outposts" to U.S. strategy, check out this post from the L.A. Times.

Somali Pirates Are Becoming Very Dangerous

A Somali pirate boss stands on sandy dunes just outside the central Somali coastal town of Hobyo in 2010 (AFP/File, Roberto Schmidt)

Somali Pirates Chop Off Hostage Captain’s Arm To Elicit $3m Ransom -- Daily Mail

* New tactic used to extract greater sums from shipping companies

Somali pirates have started to cut off their hostages' limbs in a bid to extract even greater ransoms from the owners of the ships they capture.

The horrific new tactic was used last Friday on the Vietnamese captain of a ship being held in the Somali pirate lair of Haradhere.

Chao-I Wu's right arm was cut off after negotiations to pay a $3million ransom for his fishing ship, the FV Shiuh Fu-1, broke down.

Read more ....

My Comment: Respect for life is non-existent in some places of the world .... Somalia is clearly one of those places.

Recap On The U.S. Navy SEAL Rescue Of Kidnap Victims In Somalia

U.S. Hostage Jessica Buchanan Reunited With Husband And Dad After Dramatic Rescue In Somalia By Bin Laden Navy SEALs Team -- Daily Mail

* Jessica Buchanan, 32, was working for aid group clearing mines
* Fellow worker Poul Hagen Thisted, from Denmark, also freed
* Nine pirates killed and five captured in ferocious gun battle
* Navy SEAL Team Six parachuted in and launched raid in dead of night
* Obama congratulates soldiers and Leon Panetta on rescue operation
* School teachers describe Buchanan as 'very Christian' and 'committed'

Two hostages rescued by U.S. special forces in a daring raid on Somalia pirates earlier this week have been flown to Italy - with American citizen Jessica Buchanan finally reunited with her husband.

Ms Buchanan, 32, originally from Ohio, was flown to U.S. base Naval Air Station Sigonella along with Poul Hagen Thisted, 60, of Denmark, after their three-month hostage ordeal ended on Wednesday.

The aid worker was reunited with her husband Erik and father John - just one day after nine Somali pirates were killed and five captured by the SEALs unit responsible for killing Osama Bin Laden.

Read more ....

More News On The Rescue Of Two Hostages by US Navy SEALs

U.S. Special Forces Free Hostages in Somalia in Pre-Dawn Raid -- Bloomberg Businessweek
US commando team that killed Bin Laden swoop on Somali pirates -- The Guardian
Navy SEALs rescue kidnapped aid workers Jessica Buchanan and Poul Hagen Thisted in Somalia -- Washington Post
Navy SEALs Rescue Hostages in Somalia -- Wall Street Journal
Somali Government Backs US Hostage Rescue -- Voice of America
Special-ops hostage rescue in Somalia shows shape of US campaign to come -- Washington Post/AP
SEALs and Delta the go-to US forces for rescuing American hostages overseas -- Washington Post/AP
Somalia hostage's husband cites 'three months of hell' -- USA Today
'It was three months of hell': U.S. hostage's husband kept quiet to protect her until dramatic rescue in Somalia by Navy SEALs -- Daily Mail
Jessica Buchanan's Husband Calls Kidnapping 'Three Months of Hell' -- ABC News
Rescued American's dad "proud" of the U.S. -- CBS
'I have great news for you': the moment Barack Obama told father of Somalia hostage she had been freed -- The Telegraph
Obama thought of daughters in Somalia raid planning -- AFP
As parent of 2 daughters, Obama sympathizes with father of American rescued from Somalia -- Washington Post/AP
Exclusive – Navy SEALs Rescue Made Obama Think of Own Daughters -- ABC News

Mexico Is The Kidnap Capital Of The World

Think Kidnapping Is Bad In Somalia? It's Worse In Mexico -- L.A. Times

Somalia is a hot spot for kidnapping, as the rescue Wednesday of two hostages by U.S. Navy SEALs has spotlighted. But Mexico, Afghanistan and Venezuela are even worse, according to a company that tracks threats across the world.

Somalia and Kenya together ranked ninth in the world for kidnapping foreigners from October to December of last year, with two kidnappings a month, the Britain-based company AKE found. (Somali waters, where piracy has been a persistent problem, ranked fifth, with 13 crew members taken a month.)

Read more ....

My Comment: One more good reason on why not to go there for a vacation.

Iran Set to Turn Off Oil Shipments to Europe

Iran Set to Turn Off Oil Supply to Europe: Revenge for EU Sanctions -- Spiegel Online

The European Union embargo on Iranian oil will only come into effect in six months, but the leadership in Tehran wants to act first: Exports to Europe are set to be halted immediately. It is a move which could mean added difficulties for struggling economies in southern Europe.

It's a move which has tit-for-tat written all over it, but one which could nonetheless have a serious impact: The Iranian government wants to present a bill to parliament this weekend calling for an immediate halt to oil deliveries to Europe. The move, with most reports citing the Iranian news agency Mehr, has come about in response to the EU agreement to impose sanctions against Iran, which were announced earlier this week.

Read more ....

My Comment: If Iran gos through with cutting off oil shipments, I expect to see a rise in prices, other OPEC countries like Saudi Arabia stepping in to fill the need, and Iran facing a budgetary and fiscal crisis. In short .... everyone is about to lose, the question is .... who will be losing the most.