Kenya And Somalia Seeking 'Big Countries' To Help Fight Militants

Image: Somalia has called for a naval blockade of Kismaayo, a seaport controlled by the Shabab. The New York Times

‘Big Countries’ Are Sought To Help Fight In Somalia -- New York Times

MOGADISHU, Somalia — Kenya and Somalia on Monday called for other nations to help in their fight against Islamist insurgents, as an aid organization said that five civilians were killed and more than 50 wounded when a military aircraft hunting the militants struck a displaced-persons camp in southern Somalia.

Most of the victims and wounded were women and children, the organization said.

In a meeting in Kenya’s capital, Nairobi, delegations from Somalia and Kenya, which has sent hundreds of soldiers backed by tanks and gunships into Somalia in a premeditated assault to vanquish the Shabab Islamist militant group, called for a naval blockade on the Shabab-controlled seaport of Kismaayo.

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My Comment: There are going to be no takers .... at least publicly.

There Are No Warships Left Defending Britain

Photo: Reuters

No Warships Left Defending Britain After Defence Cutbacks -- The Telegraph

Defence cuts have left the stretched Royal Navy unable to provide an emergency standby ship to protect British waters for a month.

The Navy normally provides a minimum coverage of a frigate or destroyer fulfilling the role of Fleet Ready Escort (FRE) in order to be able to respond quickly to a potential threat at home or abroad.

However, slashed Defence budgets and the war in Libya has meant there hasn't been a vessel available since the start of October.

The last ship to fill the role, called the FRE, was HMS Portland but that left for war games off the coast of Scotland in October, and it is now having a rest period in Plymouth on the south coast.

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My Comment: I can here the British political class line right now .... nothing to see here .... let's move on.

A Must Read Commentary On Iraq

A Complicated Close For U.S. In Iraq -- Robert Burns, New York Times

John F. Burns, The New York Times’s senior foreign correspondent, covered the months leading up to the war in Iraq in 2002 and 2003 from inside Saddam Hussein’s Iraq, then served as Baghdad bureau chief from 2004 to 2007.

LONDON — Nine weeks left, and common sense at last, after nearly nine years of agony and misgiving: that, assuredly, has been the reaction of many Americans to President Obama’s announcement this month that the last American troops will be withdrawn from Iraq by Dec. 31. Polls have long shown that a majority of Americans considered the invasion of Iraq in March 2003 to have been a major mistake, the costs in lost American and Iraqi lives too high, the burden of at least three-quarters of a trillion dollars in American military spending too heavy for American taxpayers to bear, the damage to America’s standing in the world likely to take long years to repair.

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My Comment: I usually agree with Robert Burns 50% of the time .... but this commentary and analysis is one in which I agree 100%. This is my must read for today.

Iraq Government Targets Sunnis In Latest Crackdown

Iraq Arrests More in Wake of Tip About Coup -- New York Times

BAGHDAD — The government of Iraq continued to respond vigorously on Monday to a tip from the new interim leaders in Libya that former members of Saddam Hussein’s military and Baath Party were plotting a coup — so much so that critics are now saying that the information has become a pretext for arresting its political opponents.

As the overwhelming majority of high-ranking Baathists were Sunnis, the mass arrests by the Shiite-controlled government of Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki is fanning sectarian tensions, just six weeks before the United States military is scheduled to withdraw its last soldiers.

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My Comment: The idea of former Sunni Bathists doing a coup and being successful in Iraq is a pipe-dream .... but it is an excuse for the Iraqi government to arrest your opponents.

Bribery, Theft And Looting On The Increase In Both Iraq And Afghanistan

U.S. Sees Rapid Rise In Cases Of Bribery, Theft And War Looting In Iraq And Afghanistan -- Daily Mail

* $83m recovered from Iraq probes in a single year

As the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan wind down, the number of people indicted and convicted by the U.S. for bribery, theft and looting in both countries is rapidly rising, new reports have revealed.

Examples of crimes committed by U.S.personnel include a Marine in Iraq who sent home $43,000 in stolen cash by hiding it in a footlocker among American flags.

Another soldier shipped thousands more concealed in a toy stuffed animal and an embassy employee tricked the State Department into wiring $240,000 into his foreign bank account.

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Update: US reports more prosecutions for bribery, other crimes in Afghan, Iraq rebuilding effort -- Washington Post/AP

My Comment: I presume everyone is now aware that the money from the U.S. is drying up .... hence the last scramble for the last morsels of cash that may be floating around. Personally .... I cannot say that I am shocked .... but at least some individuals (all be it a small group) are now being held accountable for this theft.

Afghanistan War News Updates -- November 1, 2011

U.S. Revises Its Strategy For Ending The Afghan War -- Washington Post

The Obama administration has launched a revised strategy for Afghanistan that officials hope will lead to substantive negotiations with insurgents and regional support for a political end to the war.

The strategy is an attempt to fold disparate policy elements into a comprehensive package as the administration tries to fashion an exit that will not leave Afghanistan open to civil war or the reestablishment of terrorist bases.

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More News On Afghanistan

U.S. hopes regional talks will stabilize Afghanistan -- Reuters
Afghan, Pakistani Leaders Meet Amid Tensions -- Voice of America
Turkey: Regional meeting to address security, economy in Afghanistan before troop pullout -- Washington Post
Turkey hosts Afghanistan-Pakistan talks -- Reuters
Afghanistan, Pakistan presidents meet in Turkey -- AFP

Combined Forces Kill 10 Insurgents in Afghanistan -- US Department of Defense
2 coalition troops die in attack in Afghanistan -- CNN
Kandahar blast death toll rises -- UPI
Handful of comrades bid quiet farewell to latest Canadian to die in Afghanistan -- Yahoo News/Canadian Press
Afghan MPs From Kandahar Against Speedy Transition -- ABC News/AP
Afghan MPs from Kandahar oppose speedy transition from NATO control in their province -- Washington Post
Afghan Leader Offers Belated Condolences for U.S. Deaths -- New York Times
Afghan Success Comes At High Price For Commander -- NPR
UN Condemns Attack In Kandahar -- Radio Free Europe

Trial Opens in Court-Martial of Soldier Tied to Afghan Killings -- New York Times
Rogue US army unit leader saw Afghans as 'savages' -- AFP
Calvin Gibbs admits taking fingers off Afghans' bodies -- BBC

Afghans bemused by Karzai's views -- Khan Mohammad Danishju, Asia Times

World News Briefs -- November 1, 2011

Markets Slide After Surprise Referendum Is Set By Greece -- New York Times

ATHENS — European markets slid dramatically on Tuesday after Prime Minister George A. Papandreou stunned the continent’s leaders with a surprise announcement late Monday that his government would hold a referendum on a new aid package for Greece.

The proposed ballot measure would put Greek austerity measures — and potentially membership in the euro zone — to a popular vote for the first time, risking Mr. Papandreou’s political future and threatening even greater turmoil both among the countries that share the single currency and further afield.

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MIDDLE EAST

UNESCO Palestine decision sets off U.S.-U.N. confrontation.

US fears unilateral Israeli strike on Iran.

Syria mining Lebanon border.

U.N. investigators find 'new signs' of Syrian nuclear efforts.

Palestinians aim to join 16 other UN agencies.

Tehran mayor plotting to seize British ambassador's residence and gardens.

ASIA

British forces attack Taliban stronghold in central Helmand.

Turkey hosts Afghanistan-Pakistan talks.

Afghan-Indian agreement heralds a strategic shift in the region.

Thai flood frustration grows.

China to play a big role at G20 summit.

AFRICA

NATO ends victorious Libya campaign.

Libya: revolutionaries turn on each other as fears grow for law and order.

Libya struggles to create army out of militias.

Sudan, rebels say fighting in southern oil state. Report: Sudan Gov’t forces kill, rape civilians in Blue Nile.

Kenya military claims to kill 18 pirates.

Tunisia issues warrant for Arafat's widow.

An exceptional change in Zambia, and via the ballot box, too.

EUROPE

Papandreou proposes referendum for Greeks to vote on debt deal.

Rosen Plevneliev elected new Bulgarian President.

U.N.'s Ban to call new Cyprus meeting in January.

Economy on brink of recession despite Q3 growth.

AMERICAS

No major U.S. Fed moves expected as economy shows gains.

Is Mexican cartel the next 'Anonymous' target?

'Massive' smuggling ring dismantled in Arizona.

U.S. relaxes Canadian border checks as agents are told to stop searching buses, trains and planes for illegal immigrants.

Political hackers are one of Latin America’s newest headaches.

TERRORISM/THE LONG WAR

Flying proudly over the birthplace of Libya's revolution, the flag of Al Qaeda.

US Predator strike kills 4 'militants' in Mir Ali.

Libya: Al Qaeda flag flown above Benghazi courthouse.

ECONOMY/FINANCE/BUSINESS

U.S. home prices heading for triple-dip.

Iraq oil starting to come on strong.

China stops short of pledging cash help for eurozone.

Regulators investigating MF Global for missing money.

Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- November 1, 2011

Photo: One of Israel's submarines off the Israeli coast, 2008. Tomer Appelbaum

Report: Israel Seeking To Upgrade Its Nuclear Weapons Capabilities -- Haaretz

Israel is extending the range of its Jericho 3 missiles and upgrading its sea-based cruise missiles, according to an independent U.K. commission report published in the Guardian.

Israel is working on improving its nuclear weapons capabilities, according to a report by the independent Trident commission in the United Kingdom that was published in the Guardian newspaper on Monday.

According to the report in the Guardian, Israel is extending the range of its Jericho 3 land-to-land missiles so they will have the capabilities of transcontinental missiles.

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MILITARY AND INTELLIGENCE NEWS BRIEFS

Nuclear powers plan weapons spending spree, report finds -- The Guardian

World Poised to Enter New "Era" of Nuclear Weapons: Report -- Global Security Newswire

GCHQ chief reports 'disturbing' cyber-attacks on UK -- BBC

Flying eye: Russia deploys new aerial radar -- RT

Does South Korea Need The F-35? -- AOl Defense

New Kyrgyz president calls for closure of U.S. air base -- RIA Novosti

Saudi King to Name Salman as Defense Minister: Source -- Defense News

Turkey to rewrite software source codes of 204 F-16 fighters -- Today's Zaman

Exclusive: U.S. Considers Unusual Arms Deal for Turkey -- Washington Post/Reuters

US To Maintain Military Presence in Gulf Region, Pentagon Says -- ABC News

US says has no military operation outside Kenya borders -- AFP

U.S will have a Gulf presence, but troop numbers uncertain, Pentagon says -- Stars and Stripes

FBI says Russians were a 'new breed' of spy -- Stars and Stripes/AP

US GI in SKorea gets 10 years in prison for rape -- Yahoo News/AP

Monday F-35 Update -- Defense Tech

Pentagon Tester: JSF F-35 Program Risking a "Serious Mishap" -- Time

Pilots await go-ahead for F-35 flight ops -- Air Force Times

Radar repair: New guidance for ailing Aegis -- Navy Times

Humvees Are Maxed Out; Army Needs JLTV, Says Gen. Lennox -- Aol Defense

U.S. Navy First Airship in 50 Years Revealed -- Eagle Speak

New Littoral Combat Ship a 'Dream' in Sea Trials -- Military.com

Caffeinated beef jerky tested for military MREs -- Yahoo News/The Envoy

The defense “jobs” conundrum -- DoD Buzz

Jobless veterans say military experience is not valued -- Reuters

An all-volunteer military poses challenges for U.S. -- Washington Post

Violence more common among kids of combat veterans -- TBO.com/AP

America's new Middle East 'mini-Nato' -- Simon Tisdall, The Guardian

Reconsider Futenma relocation -- Japan Times editorial

The dangerous debate over cutting military spending -- Robert Samuelson, Washington Post

Next American Generation Drones Unveiled

Phantom Eye: The technology behind it means pilotless dog-fights have come a step closer

Next Generation Drones Can Stay In Air For FOUR Days And May Eventually Conduct Dog Fights At 65,000ft -- Daily Mail

The maiden flight of a revolutionary drone aircraft that can stay in the air for four days at 65,000 feet is just days away.

The Phantom Eye, made by Boeing's secretive Phantom Works division, is powered by hydrogen and is designed to carry out surveillance and reconnaissance missions while remaining at high altitude. It will produce only water as a by-product.

Its inaugural flight will take place at Edwards Air Force Base in California and is expected to last between four and eight hours.

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My Comment: I am looking forward to reading on what will be the next weapons platform for this new generation of drones.

The destruction Of Britain's War Memorials

Toppled after 90 years: Vicar Kevin Scott at The Old Malden monument, in Surrey, after thieves pushed it the ground to steal a strip of lead worth £5

Sacred Memories Sold As Scrap: Clampdown On Dealers Who Encourage Pillage Of War Memorials, Demand Police -- Daily Mail

Campaigners fighting to save war memorials from scrap metal thieves say only a handful have ever been brought to justice.

Tragically, the War Memorials Trust also revealed that only one in ten of the stolen plaques and statues are ever recovered.

Frances Moreton, director of the trust, said the rest end up being melted down by unscrupulous scrap metal dealers making a fast buck out of Britain’s fallen heroes.

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My Comment: I do not live in Britain, but to me it is easy to solve and stop this problem .... change the laws to make the punishment more severe, and to change the regulations for scrap dealers in accepting scrap metal that is obviously not scrap metal. But .... it appears .... changing laws and regs are not easy in Britain.