Russia's Su-35BM/T-10BM : The Last Flanker

Russia's Su-35BM/T-10BM : The Last Flanker (NSI News Source Info) January 6, 2009: The Sukhoi Su-35BM alias Su-27BM or Su-27SM2 is a heavy class, long-range, multi-role, air superiority and strike fighter. It is an improved variant of the Sukhoi Su-27 and is considered to be 4++ generation. The Su-35M was unveiled at the MAKS-2007 airshow. The latest version of the Su-35, Su-35BM, is an advanced capability multi-role air superiority fighter developed from the Su-27. The aircraft has high manoeuvrability (+9g) with a high angle of attack and is equipped with high-capability weapon systems that contribute to the new aircraft's exceptional dogfighting capability. The maximum level speed is 2,390km/h or Mach 2.25. The Su-35BM was unveiled at the Aerosalon MAKS air show in Moscow in August 2007 and its first flight was in February 2008. The aircraft will enter service with the Russian Air Force in 2010 and Sukhoi has announced that the aircraft will be available for export deliveries in 2010. The aircraft is being developed, tested and introduced into serial production by the Sukhoi Design Bureau, based in Moscow, and will be manufactured by KNAPPO of Komsomolsk-on-Amur. Both companies are part of the Sukhoi Aviation Holding Joint Stock Company. Su-35 cockpit The Su-35 is being developed, tested and introduced into serial production by the Sukhoi Design Bureau. The cockpit has a central control column and is fitted with a Zvesda K-36D-3.5E zero-zero ejection seat which allows the pilot to eject at zero speed and at zero altitude. The aircraft has a quadruplex, digital fly-by-wire control developed by the Avionika Moscow Research and Production Complex JSC (MNPK Avionika). The cockpit is fitted with two 230mm×305mm high-resolution MFI-35 liquid crystal displays with a multifunction control panel and a IKSh-1M head up display with a wide 20°×30° field of view. The pilot has two VHF/UHF encrypted radio communications systems and a jam resistant military data link system between squadron aircraft and between the aircraft and ground control. The navigation system is based on a digital map display with a strapdown inertial navigation system and global positioning system. Fighter construction Compared to the Su-27 design from which it is derived, the front fuselage diameter of the Su-35 has been increased to accommodate the larger 900mm-diameter antenna of the Irbis-E radar. High-strength, low-weight, composite materials have been used for non-structural items such as the radomes, nose wheel, door and leading-edge flaps. Some of the fuselage structures are of carbon fibre and aluminium lithium alloy. Weapons The aircraft has 12 hardpoints for carrying external weapons and stores. Each wing has four hardpoints – one on the wingtip and three under-wing stations. There are two hardpoints on the underside of the fuselage on the centreline and one under each engine. Missiles The Su-35 can be armed with a range of guided bombs. The aircraft's air-to-air missiles can include the Vympel R-27 (Nato designation AA-10 Alamo), the Vympel radar-guided medium-range R-77 (AA-12 Adder) and the Vympel short-range infrared-guided R-73E (AA-11 Archer). The aircraft's air-to-surface missiles include the Molniya Kh-29 (AS-14 Kedge) tactical missiles, the Kh-31P (AS-17 Krypton) anti-radiation missiles and the long-range Kh-58UShE (AS-11 Kilter) anti-radiation missiles. The Su-35 anti-ship missiles include Kh-31A, the long-range Kh-59MK (AS-18 Kazoo), the long-range Kalibr and the NPO Mashinostroenia heavy long-range Yakhont missile. Ordnance The Su-35 can be armed with a range of guided bombs, including the KAB-500Kr TV-guided bomb, KAB-500S-E satellite-guided bomb, LGB-250 laser-guided bomb, Kab-1500Kr TV-guided bomb and KAB-1500LG laser-guided bomb. The aircraft can also be armed with 80mm, 122mm, 266mm and 420mm rockets. Guns The Gryazev-Shipunov 30mm GSh-30-1 gun is fitted in the starboard wing root with 150 rounds of ammunition. Sensors The X-band multimode phased array Irbis-E radar is supplied by Tikhomirov Scientific-Research Institute of Instrument Design (NIIP), based in Zhukovsky. Irbis-E is a high-performance radar designed for the Su-35 aircraft. Irbis-E is a high-performance radar designed for the Su-35 aircraft. The 900mm passive phased array antenna is mounted on a hydraulic actuator for mechanical steering. The electronic steering provides azimuthal and elevation coverage of 60°. With both mechanical and electronic scanning the coverage is 120°. The radar can detect low-observable and stealth aircraft, unmanned air vehicles and missiles with a radar cross section of 0.01m² at ranges to 90km. Radar modes include air-to-air, air-to-ground, air-to-sea, mapping, Doppler beam and synthetic aperture radar modes. It can detect and track up to 30 airborne targets with a radar cross section (RCS) of 3m² at ranges of 400km using track-while-scan mode. Infrared search and track The infrared search and track fire control system, OLS-35 IRST, includes an infrared sensor, laser rangefinder, target designator and television camera. The accuracy of the laser rangefinder is 5m CEP (circular error probability), to a maximum range of 20km against airborne targets and 30km against ground targets. The OLS-35 is a high-performance system with ±90° azimuthal and +60°/-15° elevation coverage. The system's acquisition range against a non-afterburning target is 50km forwards and 90km rearward. The Su-35 can also be fitted with a UOMZ Sapsan targeting and laser designation pod. Countermeasures The aircraft's electronic warfare suite includes a radar warning system, radar jammer, co-operative radar jamming system, missile approach warner, laser warner and chaff and flare dispenser. Engines The aircraft is powered by two Sturn /UFA AL-31F 117S turbofan engines with thrust-vectoring nozzle control, each supplying 86.3kN thrust or 142.2kN with afterburn. The engines were developed jointly by Sukhoi, Saturn and UMPO. The total fuel capacity is 14,350l. In order to increase the unrefuelled range and endurance compared to earlier models the Su-35 incorporates additional tailfin and fin-root tanks. The fuel tanks are of aluminium lithium construction and are located in the wings, fuselage and in the square-tip twin tailfins. The unrefuelled range on internal fuel is 1,580km. For in-flight refuelling the aircraft is equipped with a refuelling probe on the port side of the nose. Two external fuel tanks, type PTB-2000, provide an additional 4,000l of fuel. The ferry range with two external tanks is 4,500km.

Pakistan Afraid To Hand Over Militants To India, As They May Spill The Beans Of Their Mentors

Pakistan Afraid To Hand Over Militants To India, As They May Spill The Beans Of Their Mentors / Pakistan Took Actions Against Militants Due To USA's Pressure

(NSI News Source Info) January 5, 2009: Pakistan has again arrested, Ustad Mohammed Yasir, the former spokesman for the Taliban. He was last arrested in 2005, and handed over to Afghanistan. But he was freed two years later, in order to get a kidnapped Italian journalist released. The Pakistani government is under a lot of pressure from India and the United States to arrest and prosecute those responsible for the Mumbai massacre. Pakistan does not want to cause domestic unrest by jailing Islam terrorists who are considered heroes to many Pakistanis (for killing Indians, which is a big deal since India has beaten Pakistan in several wars over the last half century, and is doing much better economically.) Nationalist media in Pakistan insist India is about to invade. But Pakistani troops sent to the border, find that there are no Indian troops on the other side. India has planned operations against Pakistan, but from the air. These would be attacks on Islamic terrorist training camps that operate openly in Pakistani (northern) Kashmir. In Kashmir, troops and police have been shooting at each other for five days, in forests near the Pakistan border. So far, four terrorists and three soldiers have been killed. The army is unsure of how large a force of Islamic terrorists it has cornered. Troops of the Pakistan army and security forces gathered in Pakistan's tribal area of Khyber near Peshawar, Pakistan to carry out operations Thursday, Jan. 1, 2009. The Pakistani military launched an operation Tuesday in the Khyber tribal region to secure the major supply route to U.S. and NATO troops in Afghanistan, which has been repeatedly attacked by militants. Maoists in eastern India have a new problem; religion. While technically atheist, the communist Maoist fighters can still be sensitive to religious issues. In eastern India, Maoists killed a Hindu religious leader, for opposing them. At first, local Christians were blamed for the killing, and dozens of Christians were killed in retaliation. When the Maoists admitted to the murder, over a hundred Hindu Maoists spilt off and formed a Hindu Maoist organization, which is now at war with Christian Maoists. The Khyber Pass highway has been reopened, as local tribesmen, warily eyeing newly arrived army tanks, promise to keep the bandits away from the several dozen trucks that roll down the road every hour. January 4, 2009: Another suicide bomb attack took place in northwest Pakistan, killing five policemen and two civilians. Meanwhile, in Kashmir, Indian patrols are running into a higher than usual number of Islamic terrorists trying to sneak across the border from Pakistan. January 3, 2009: Troops patrolling the Khyber Pass highway seized a van loaded with 900 pounds of explosives and suicide bomb making components. Seven terrorist suspects were arrested as well and turned out to be Taliban. January 2, 2009: The Pakistani effort to clear bandits from the Khyber Pass ran into no resistance, the hostiles apparently fled the area. Troops arrested 28 tribesmen, and killed three others, but no one fired on the soldiers and police. Tribal leaders in the area promised to keep bandits off the road in the future. But they always say that when the army shows up. January 1, 2009: Pakistan is in a difficult position regarding the November Mumbai terrorist attacks. Pakistan would like to blame it all on Indian militants. But one of the ten attackers, Mohamed Ajmal Amir Kasab, was captured alive. Recently, the father of Kasab appeared on Pakistani television, admitting that his son was Pakistani and mixed up with terrorists. The U.S. FBI gave Pakistan recordings of satellite phone calls between the Mumbai attackers and known Islamic terrorists in Pakistan. Some of these men were arrested and admitted to their role in the Mumbai operation. India wants these men turned over to them, but Pakistan insists on prosecuting them. India rejects this, because in the past, Pakistan has only gone through the motions of prosecuting and punishing Islamic terrorists. India and Pakistan exchanged lists of their nuclear facilities. This was done in accordance with a 1988 treaty, whereby both countries promise not to bomb nuclear facilities in the event of a war (as this would spread radioactive material over a wide area). Each year, an updated list is exchanged. In South Waziristan, along the Afghan border, a U.S. UAV fired a Hellfire missile at a vehicle carrying seven Central Asian Islamic terrorists, killing four of them. December 31, 2008: As Pakistani troops pulled out of the Swat Valley (which is only 160 kilometers from the capital, Islamabad), some of the 2,000 Islamic radicals who have been terrorizing the region, left their mountain hideouts and began murdering people and looting ("collecting taxes.") December 30, 2008: Pakistani troops and helicopters began advancing along the highway that runs through the Khyber Pass and into Afghanistan. This is a vital supply line for foreign troops in Afghanistan, and several gangs of tribesmen have been attacking the trucks lately. Some of the attackers claim to be Taliban. The road will be closed for several days as the army attempts to hunt down and kill the men responsible for the attacks. December 29, 2008: Four months of heavily protected (by army and police) voting in Kashmir resulted in pro-India parties winning 45 of 87 seats. The northern, Moslem districts, voted for separatist candidates, but enough Moslem voters supported pro-India candidates, along with Hindu voters in the south, to gain a majority. Islamic terrorists urged Moslems not to vote, and many anti-Indian voters stayed away from the polls, but a higher-than-usual number of voters came out, and most of these were pro-Indian. This puts pro-Indian Moslems firmly on the side of the government and is a major defeat for the separatists. December 28, 2008: Pakistani troops have left North Waziristan, along the Afghan border. To the north, a suicide bomber killed 26 people near a polling station, after saying his car had broken down and asking bystanders to help push it to get it started. Troops are also pulling out of the Swat Valley. December 27, 2008: Pakistan has ordered about a third of the 120,000 troops fighting the Taliban, to move to the Indian border. This is a victory for the Islamic terrorists, who launched the November attacks in Mumbai to create tension between India and Pakistan. This technique has worked before, but it was hoped that the Indian and Pakistani leaders would not fall for it this time. But the defensiveness of Pakistan, in trying to deny that the terrorists came from Pakistan, and the insistence of India that Pakistan hand over terrorists operating in Pakistan, caused a media frenzy on both sides of the border that led to halting combat operations against the Taliban. Pakistani leaders consider it more important to pretend to be preparing to defend against an Indian invasion.

Arabs Candidly Are Fed Up With Pro-Iranian Hamas

Arabs Candidly Are Fed Up With Pro-Iranian Hamas

(NSI News Source Info) January 5, 2009: The current fighting between Hamas and Israel is only big news because the Israelis are trying to defend themselves. Months of Hamas rocket attacks on Israel, or years of Palestinian terrorist attacks inside Israel, were not news.

But this time around it's different. In the past, the Palestinian terrorists were given a pass, because the media in the Moslem world, and many parts of the West, consider the Palestinians victims of Israeli aggression and, therefore, victims no matter what they do.

But this time around, it's different. Many Arab governments are openly criticizing Hamas for bringing on the Israeli offensive. Even public opinion in the Arab world is hostile to Hamas, and not as sympathetic to their plight as during past Israeli military operations. Hamas appears to have used up all its "victim" cred due to their long history of aggression, and unwillingness to negotiate in good (or any) faith.

Smoke rose from central Gaza as Israeli soldiers crossed the border on Sunday.

This all began back in 1994-96, when Hamas suicide bomb attacks inside Israel derailed peace negotiations with the Palestinians, and began turning Israeli public opinion against the idea of a peace deal with the Palestinians. Then, in 2000, when a peace deal seemed at hand, Hamas took the lead in launching a massive campaign of terrorist attacks on Israel.

These were defeated after a few years, as Israel developed new tactics that kept the terrorists out of Israel. But not before Hamas carried out about 70 percent of 150 suicide bombings that killed a thousand Israelis (mostly civilians, although Hamas didn't care who they killed, even if they were Arabs, as long as it was inside Israel.) For many Arabs, the line was crossed in 2007, when Hamas launched an attack on its Fatah rivals in Gaza. Nearly 200 Fatah members were killed. In the past, Fatah and Hamas would arrest each others people for a few days. But deliberately killing rivals was considered something only the Israelis did. Finally, Hamas angered the majority of moderate (culturally) Arabs by attempting to impose lifestyle rules on Palestinians. This was done in the name of Islam, a Hamas effort to impose their vision of how a Moslem should live.

While this plays well in places like Saudi Arabia and Iran, it was never what Palestinians believed in, not most Moslems in general. Finally, Hamas has angered most Sunnis (who comprise 80 percent of all Moslems) by accepting military aid, and guidance, from Iran.

At the moment, there is growing hostility to Shia (ten percent of all Moslems) Iran because of an increasingly hostile atmosphere between Iran (which believes it should lead the Moslem world) and Arabs (who believe Sunnis should bow to no one in terms of religion).

It doesn't help matters that Iran is not an Arab country (they are Indo-European) and have dominated the region for thousands of years. Iranian encouragement of Hamas aggression is seen directed at Arabs as much as Israel. Many Arabs, while voicing some support for Hamas, are not-so-secretly hoping that Israel will smash this arrogant, pro-Iran organization.

U.S. Navy Signs Major Virginia Submarine Contract

U.S. Navy Signs Major Virginia Submarine Contract (NSI News Source Info) January 5, 2009: A major new U.S. Navy production contract for eight more Virginia-class submarines marks the most successful year yet for the high-profile submarine, as well as the importance of its Washington and New England advocate communities. The U.S. Navy has signed a five-year, $14 billion contract with Northrop Grumman and General Dynamics Electric Boat for eight Virginia-class submarines (Aerospace DAILY, Dec. 23). In official statements late Dec. 22 and a teleconference call with reporters early Dec. 23, executives and lawmakers were ebullient with the milestone. General Dynamics Electric Boat’s press conference on the announcement drew congressional heavyweights. Sens. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.), Christopher Dodd (D-Conn.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) were joined by Reps. James Langevin (D-R.I.) and Joe Courtney (D-Conn.). Dodd said the Navy’s contract announcement is the “culmination of decades of work. This didn’t happen miraculously.” The contract immediately provides for $2.4 billion to fund construction of SSN-784, to be the USS North Dakota, as well as advanced procurement for SSN-785 and funding to purchase materials and parts for multiple boats at one time. The Navy said that to reach its cost-cutting goal, the program followed a three-prong strategy. The first element, which accounts for half of the supposed savings, involved increasing production to two ships annually in a multiyear procurement (MYP) contract to spread the shipyards’ overhead costs over more ships. Industry has long argued that they could achieve more savings per sub if the Navy and Congress ordered more subs sooner. Meanwhile, the rest of the savings stem from a $600 million investment to redesign portions of the ship for more efficient production and to improve construction processes, thereby reducing the construction span from 84 to 60 months, the Navy said. Along those lines, the most extensive cost-reduction modification involves the replacement of the traditional sonar sphere with a Large Aperture Bow (LAB) Array and the 12 vertical launch tubes with two large Virginia Payload Tubes (VPT). The LAB and VPT, along with more than two dozen associated modifications, save $40 million per submarine, beginning with the FY ’12 ships, according to the Navy. In a Dec. 18 announcement, Rear Adm. William Hilarides, the Navy’s program executive officer for submarine, said all Virginia subs now under construction are on track to be delivered between eight and 12 months early compared with their the contract delivery dates.

Russian Warships Dock at Turkish Naval Base

Russian Warships Dock at Turkish Naval Base (NSI News Source Info) MOSCOW - January 5, 2009: A naval task force from Russia's Northern Fleet began on Monday an informal visit to Turkey, a Navy spokesman said. "Today, on January 5, a group of Northern Fleet warships led by the Admiral Kuznetsov aircraft carrier and the Admiral Levchenko destroyer arrived at the Akzas naval base for an informal visit," Capt. 1st Rank Igor Dygalo said. The Levchenko will dock at the base while the Kuznetsov remains at sea. The visit will last until Thursday, after which the carrier group will carry out joint exercises with the Turkish Navy before returning to its duties in the Mediterranean Sea, Dygalo said. The Russian Navy spokesman also said that the large ASW ship Admiral Chabanenko was in the Atlantic on its way back to the Northern Fleet base after a Latin American tour that included visits to Cuba and Venezuela. He added that the Northern Fleet's Pyotr Veliky nuclear-powered missile cruiser was in the southeastern Atlantic and would dock in Cape Town on Friday for an historic visit by the Russian Navy to South Africa. Russia announced last year that its Navy had resumed, and would continue to build up, a constant presence throughout the world.

Oshkosh Wins $1.1 Billion For Truck Replacement, Spares / Oshkosh Corporation Awarded Contract To Provide Replacement Defense Vehicle Parts

Oshkosh Wins $1.1 Billion For Truck Replacement, Spares / Oshkosh Corporation Awarded Contract To Provide Replacement Defense Vehicle Parts (NSI News Source Info) OSHKOSH, Wis. - January 5, 2009: Oshkosh Corporation announced today that Oshkosh Defense has been awarded a sole source contract with the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) to provide replacement parts for medium and heavy tactical vehicles. This annual contract has a potential duration of 10 years, if all option years are exercised, and a value of up to $1.12 billion.

This follows a one-year contract that included seven option years, each of which were exercised, that ended in December 2008. Under the contract, Oshkosh Defense will supply the DLA with replacement parts to support Oshkosh’s medium and heavy tactical vehicles, which include the Medium Tactical Vehicle Replacement (MTVR), Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Truck (HEMTT) and Palletized Load System (PLS).

Oshkosh also supplies replacement parts for other manufacturers’ medium and heavy-payload vehicles. “Oshkosh Defense vehicles provide the superior performance and reliability that our military customers demand, and we are proud to support those vehicles with our top-of-the-line aftermarket parts and services,” said Robert G. Bohn, Oshkosh Corporation chairman and chief executive officer.

“Our customers always know their vehicles are backed by an extensive and dependable network of parts and support services with Oshkosh.” The first contract order is valued at $17.5 million and is for approximately 2,300 replacement part numbers to support Oshkosh’s tactical vehicles.

Oshkosh Defense provides aftermarket service, repair and parts distribution to its customers around the world. Oshkosh Defense, a division of Oshkosh Corporation, is an industry-leading global designer and manufacturer of tactical military trucks and armored wheeled vehicles, delivering a full product line of conventional and hybrid vehicles, advanced armor options, proprietary suspensions and vehicles with payloads that can exceed 70 tons.

Oshkosh Defense provides a global service and supply network including full life-cycle support and remanufacturing, and its vehicles are recognized the world over for superior performance, reliability and protection. Pentagon Contract Announcement Oshkosh Corp., Oshkosh, Wis. is being awarded a maximum $1,121,351,999 firm fixed price, indefinite delivery, sole source contract for heavy and medium tactical trucks support.

There are no other locations of performance. Using services are All DoD and civilian agencies. There were originally two proposals solicited with one response.

Contract funds will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The date of performance completion is December 31, 2009. The contracting activity is the Defense Supply Center Columbus (DSCC), Columbus, Ohio (SPM7LX-09-D-9008). (ends)

AM General Wins $252M for Humvees / Pentagon Contract Announcement

AM General Wins $252M for Humvees / Pentagon Contract Announcement (NSI News Source Info) January 5, 2009: AM General, LLC, South Bend, Ind., was awarded on Dec. 30, 2008 a $252,202,191 firm/fixed/price contract to add 1,698 EA High Mobility Multi-Purpose Wheeled Vehicles to contract.

Work will be performed in Mishawaka, Ind., with an estimated completion date of Dec. 31, 2009. One bid was solicited and one bid received. Tank and Automotive Command, Warren, Mich., is the contracting activity (DAAE07-01-C-S001).

India Signs $2.1 Billion Defence Deal With Boeing / India Signed Deal for Eight Boeing P-8I Long Range Maritime Reconnaissance Aircraft

India Signs $2.1 Billion Defence Deal With Boeing / India Signed Deal for Eight Boeing P-8I Long Range Maritime Reconnaissance Aircraft

(NSI News Source Info) NEW DELHI - January 5, 2009: India has signed a $2.1 billion contract with leading U.S. aircraft manufacturer Boeing Co for naval patrol aircraft as part of an overhaul of the South Asian nation's mainly old Soviet military hardware. India, fast becoming one of the world's biggest arms importers, said at least eight of the P-8I anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare planes would be delivered in four years. 'The deal has been signed and the delivery of the P-8I should start in four years' time,' defence ministry spokesman Sitanshu Kar said on Monday. India is looking to spend $30 billion on imports over the next five years to modernise its largely Soviet-era arms and is also trying to strengthen its navy by introducing new weapons systems. Boeing plans to make inroads into the South Asian defence market and has already submitted a bid for a contract to supply India with 126 multi-role fighter jets, potentially worth more than $10 billion. Last July, Boeing said it would bid for defence projects in India worth up to $20 billion over the next 10 years. India is also keen to strengthen its own aerospace industry and has asked major weapons exporting countries to transfer defence technology to India. Defence experts said the P-8I would give India an edge over its rivals. The aircraft would carry air-to-surface missiles as well as anti-shipping missiles to tackle sea-based threats, a defence official said.

A Boeing spokesman in New Delhi said the company would release a detailed statement on the deal in two days. Last month, India successfully tested a supersonic cruise missile from a moving ship, in what officials said was a major boost for its defence capabilities.

India Gives Pakistan Evidence In Mumbai Attacks / Why Pakistan Is Flip Flopping Indecision On Mumbai Attacks Militants In Spite Of Evidence?

India Gives Pakistan Evidence In Mumbai Attacks / Why Pakistan Is Flip Flopping Indecision On Mumbai Attacks Militants In Spite Of Evidence?

(NSI News Source Info) NEW DELHI - January 5, 2009: India gave Pakistan what it says is the most detailed evidence yet tying the militants who attacked Mumbai to "elements" in Pakistan on Monday, responding to weeks of demands from Islamabad for proof that the siege began across the border. India has blamed Pakistani-based militants for the attacks in November that killed 163 people, but Islamabad has denied the accusations and requested proof. Indian Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee speaks at a media briefing, after meeting the Pakistani High Commissioner at the former's office in New Delhi, India, Monday, Jan. 5, 2009. The evidence handed to the Pakistani ambassador in New Delhi included material from the interrogation of the lone surviving gunman, alleged details of conversations between the gunmen and handlers in Pakistan, recovered weapons and data from satellite phones, according to a statement from the Indian Foreign Ministry. "This material is linked to elements in Pakistan," the ministry statement said. "It is our expectation that the government of Pakistan will promptly undertake further investigations in Pakistan and share the results with us so as to bring the perpetrators to justice." A Pakistani Foreign Ministry spokesman, Mohammed Sadiq, said the authorities were reviewing the evidence and would not elaborate. India has laid the attack to Lashkar-e-Taiba, a militant group based in Pakistan, where the authorities have arrested at least two men accused of planning the attacks and began a nationwide crackdown on a charity believed to be a front for Lashkar. India has called on Pakistan to hand over the suspects and to dismantle what they say is a terrorism network based across the border. Pakistani leaders say they would try any suspects in the attacks in their own courts. Much of India's evidence against the militants comes from interrogations of Muhammad Ajmal Kasab, the only gunman to survive the attacks. He has reportedly told the authorities that he and nine others were Pakistani, that he was trained in Pakistan and that his handlers are still there. Pakistan has said it has no record of Kasab as a Pakistani citizen. The Mumbai attacks began Nov. 26 and lasted for nearly three days. The 10 gunmen attacked 10 sites across Mumbai, the Indian financial capital, including two five-star hotels, the main railroad station, popular restaurants and a Jewish center.

Enough Of The Bushes Already

Enough Of The Bushes Already

(NSI News Source Info) Source: Mike Lupica, Daily News - January 5, 2009: At a time when just about everybody named Bush is frantically trying to rehabilitate the image, and legacy, of the outgoing commander in chief, we now get the most amazing pronouncement yet from the family: Former President George H.W. Bush feels he has another son warming up in the bullpen. "I'd like to see [Jeb Bush] run," the old man said on television Sunday. "I'd like to see him be President one day." Former President George H.W. Bush, President George W. Bush and Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, together in 2006. Now this was a father sounding like a father and acting like one, straight up. That is exactly what the old man - far and away the best of all the Bushes - was Sunday, whether he was talking about Jeb or the current Bush in the White House, the one who will leave office in a couple of weeks being viewed as one of the worst and weakest Presidents in history, as much of a bust-out case as the economy he leaves behind for Barack Obama. That is why nobody, not even Bush 41, this quite honorable old man, a war hero who plans to jump out of an airplane this year to celebrate his 85th birthday, doesn't get to rewrite the story now. It is much too late in the game for that. "It's been tough on his father and his mother," the former President said Sunday, talking about Bush 43 and all the criticism he's received. Even the old man, who now looks like a giant as President compared with his kid, would have to admit it's been somewhat tougher on the country. But he was still out there punching away Sunday, a good soldier to the end, even suggesting that the media in general, and The New York Times in particular, have been "grossly unfair" in its coverage of his oldest son. Again, he's too nice a man to get caught in the crossfire directed at Bush 43 on his way out the door, because none of this mess is his fault. And the old man is allowed to think of the Oval Office as the family business if he wants to. But blaming his son's problems on the media would make about as much sense as Bill Clinton blaming all of his problems on a zipper that worked. Or Eliot Spitzer blaming his issues on the hotel. One week it's Dick Cheney trying to edit the last eight years in America, almost line by line. Then it's Laura Bush, trying to be as good a wife as George H.W. Bush is a father. You half expect them to start buying time on television trying to still run George W. Bush for President as the rest of the country gets ready to kick him to the curb. History, they all keep saying, will have a different view of the last eight years in America. Not without 3-D glasses it won't - or several stiff drinks.