U.S. Buildup In The Persian Gulf Continues

United States soldiers performed a closing ceremony on Oct. 20 for a base in Tikrit, now under the control of Iraqi forces. Andrea Bruce for The New York Times

U.S. Planning Troop Buildup In Gulf After Exit From Iraq -- New York Times

MacDILL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. — The Obama administration plans to bolster the American military presence in the Persian Gulf after it withdraws the remaining troops from Iraq this year, according to officials and diplomats. That repositioning could include new combat forces in Kuwait able to respond to a collapse of security in Iraq or a military confrontation with Iran.

The plans, under discussion for months, gained new urgency after President Obama’s announcement this month that the last American soldiers would be brought home from Iraq by the end of December. Ending the eight-year war was a central pledge of his presidential campaign, but American military officers and diplomats, as well as officials of several countries in the region, worry that the withdrawal could leave instability or worse in its wake.

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My Comment: Bottom line .... expect more U.S. troops to be based in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Oman.

Editor's Note

Going up to my friends chalet in the Laurentians of Quebec for two days of R&R. Forests, fresh air, good food and company. It will also give me a chance to contemplate and launch at the end of next week a new website that will complement War News Updates. Regular blogging for this blog will return when I come back late Monday night.

Are The Israelis Laying The Groundwork For An Attack On Iran?

Israeli Prisoner Swap May Be Prelude To Attack On Iran -- Washington Times

JERUSALEM — Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s decision to execute a 1,000-for-1 prisoner exchange last week despite his frequently voiced opposition to such lopsided deals is seen by several Israeli military commentators as an effort to “clear the deck” before possibly undertaking an attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities.

Amir Oren, the veteran military analyst for Ha'aretz newspaper, took note of Israel’s exchanging 1,027 Palestinian convicts for army Staff Sgt. Gilad Schalit, who had been captured by Hamas in 2006. Mr. Oren wrote that the price paid by Mr. Netanyahu and Defense Minister Ehud Barak “can be interpreted only in a context that goes beyond that of the Gilad Schalit deal.”

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My Comment: Every few weeks there is always an article that speculates on an Israeli attack against Iran's nuclear facilities. I do not see it happening. The Israelis do not have the assets nor resources to hit all of Iran's facilities .... and would only do superficial damage on their nuclear infrastructure even if they can get a few planes into the country. The blow-back would mean war, with all the major powers interceding in the region to at least maintain oil supplies and their relationships with some of the governments in the region.

T-50 Specs And Performance When Compared To The U.S. F-22

(Click on Image to Enlarge)

My Comment: These specs are provided by the Russians .... so the Americans may have a different opinion. But there is one thing that I like, and it is the price. On a side note, this plane .... at least on paper .... can match the new F-35 .... with the Americans having (I hope) the advantage in the avionics.

Greek Anger Over Debt Crisis Is Directed Especially At Germany

Greek protesters demonstrate against the government's austerity measures on "Oxi Day," Friday, October 28, 2011. Press TV

Greek Anger On Debt Agreement Is Focused Especially On Germany -- New York Times

ATHENS — Every Oct. 28 Greece celebrates “Oxi Day,” or “ ‘No’ Day,” a national holiday commemorating Greek resistance to the Axis powers during World War II. On Friday, those celebrations took on a greater weight. As Greeks suffer from harsh austerity measures, there is growing popular sentiment here that the country has ceded key parts of its sovereignty, and its pride, to its foreign lenders.

Here in Greece, anger is running so high — especially toward Germany, whose Nazi occupation still leaves deep scars here and which now dominates the European Union’s bailout of debt-ridden Greece — that National Day celebrations were called off on Friday in the northern city of Thessaloniki for the first time ever after a group shouted “traitor” to the Greek president, Karolos Papoulias.

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My Comment: I find this protests a sad reminder on how much Europe has declined in the past few decades. They have just had their debts cut in half, but the Greeks (at least as portrayed in the media) are still protesting .... and what is worse .... they want a return to the status quo of being able to have their lifestyles and future paid for by others.

Sorry .... but that gravy train is over.

China Suspected In Hacking Into US Satellites (News Roundup)

Illustration of Landsat-7 satellite. Courtesy of NASA

Hackers Targeted U.S. Government Satellites -- Threat Level

Hackers interfered with the operation of two U.S. government satellites in 2007 and 2008, according to a report to be released next month from a congressional commission.

The hackers obtained access to the satellites through a ground station in Norway, according to Bloomberg Businessweek, which first reported on the information contained in a report by the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission. The satellites are used for climate and terrain monitoring.

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More News On Hackers Targeting US Satellites

China key suspect in US satellite hacks: commission -- Reuters
Chinese military suspected of hacking US satellites -- Sydney Morning Herald
Chinese Military Blamed For Hacking U.S. Satellites -- Information Week
US Satellites hacked by Chinese Military says Congressional Commission -- Slash Gear
China gained control of two US satellites -- Tech-Eye
China suspect in US satellite interference: report -- AFP
Were US Satellites Hacked by the Chinese Military? -- Gizmodo
Report: U.S. Satellites Attacked by Chinese Hackers -- PCMag
Suspected US satellite hacking attacks: Reaction -- BBC

British Commandos Successfully Snatch Tribal Leader In Somalia

Elite Commandos Storm Lawless Somali War Zone To Snatch Tribal Leader -- The Daily Mail

British commandos made a dramatic amphibious landing on Somalia’s war-torn shores to seize a tribal leader, the Daily Mail can reveal.

In an extraordinary operation in a lawless area teeming with bandits and pirates, elite Royal Marines launched Viking armoured vehicles from landing craft and pushed several miles inland to pick up the clan chief.

The unprecedented covert landing comes at a sensitive time in the troubled East African country as Al Qaeda-linked groups are training terror recruits and pirates are holding more than 100 hostages after seizing their boats.

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My Comment: Expect more raids in the future.

Canada Thinking Of Buying Nuclear Submarines

One of Canada's new Victoria class submarines , HMCS Windsor, is docked at the CFB Halifax Dockyard. Sandor Fizli/The Globe and Mail

SSNs For Canada - Potentially A Bargain -- Information Dissemination

CBC News is reporting that the Harper Government is at least pondering the idea of cutting their losses with the Victoria class submarines and replacing them with nuclear submarines. The Victoria class submarines have been plagued with problems since being acquired from the UK, and despite being described as the "military bargain of the century" when purchased for $750 million in 1998, they have become anything but.

The submarines are currently all out of service, with HMCS Victoria the soonest to potentially return to service by late next year. The article describes the issues.

One of the subs, HMCS Chicoutimi, has been in active service of the Royal Canadian Navy exactly two days in the 13 years since it was purchased from the Brits.

The Chicoutimi caught fire on its maiden voyage from the U.K. to Canada, killing one sailor and injuring a number of others.

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More News On Canada's Submarine Fleet (Or Lack Of)

Canada may buy nuclear submarines -- CBC
Nuclear submarines for Canada? -- DoD Buzz
Canada flirts with nuclear sub purchase -- UPI
Two subs will be fully operating by late 2012, top sailor pledges -- Globe And Mail
Government Considering Mothballing All Victoria-class Submarines. Peter MacKay Hints At Buying Nuclear Submarines? -- Ottawa Citizen
Canada's ailing submarines -- CBC
Spotted: Much ado about Canada's submarine fleet -- CBC
Should Canada purchase nuclear submarines? (poll) -- CBC

My Comment: The advantage of living in Canada is that over the years I have gotten to know a few people in government. On the issue of submarines, I asked my contacts in the Canadian government a few weeks ago on what was the prospect of buying new subs. The answer I got back was very blunt .... there is no money in the coffers for such a purchase. As for Minister McKay's hint of purchasing such subs .... sorry .... but he dos not have that type of clout in the government.

Russia Successfully Tests It's Bulava Missile

Russian Submarine Test-Fires Bulava Missile Successfully -- RIA Novosti

Russian Navy successfully test-fired an experimental Bulava (SS-N-X-30) intercontinental ballistic missile on Friday from its Yury Dolgoruky submarine in the White Sea, the Defense Ministry said.

“Today as part of the state trials program, a successful routine test took place of a Bulava ICBM from the Yury Dolgoruky submarine,” the Navy said.

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More News On Russia Successfully Testing It's Bulava Missile

Russia says nuclear missile test a success -- Reuters
Successful test launch for Russia’s Bulava missile -- RT
Russia test-fires missile from submarine -- UPI
Russian Bulava Missile Hits Target in Trial -- Global Security Newswire
Russia successfully tests Bulava ballistic missile -- AP
Bulava missile visible from Norway -- Barents Observer

Iran Has Had Nuclear Weapons For Years

The Iranian nuclear scientist who defected to the United States is thought to have worked on the Iran nuclear program at this suspected uranium-enrichment facility near Qom, Iran. DigitalGlobe/Handout/REUTERS

Iran Already Has Nuclear Weapons -- Reza Kahlili, The Washington Times

Western intelligence has known it for years.

The pressure the United States and the West is bringing to bear on Iran to keep it from acquiring nuclear weapons is all for naught. Not only does the Islamic Republic already have nuclear weapons from the old Soviet Union, but it has enough enriched uranium for more. What’s worse, it has a delivery system.

The West for nearly a decade has worried about Iran’s uranium enhancement, believing Iran is working on a nuclear bomb, though the government maintains its uranium is only for peaceful purposes.

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My Comment: These are the type of articles that I read .... and pray that is not true.