NATO Rips Pakistan's Truce

NATO Rips Pakistan's Truce

(NSI News Source Info) MINGORA, Pakistan - February 18, 2009: NATO warned Tuesday that Pakistan risked creating a safe haven for Islamic extremists after it struck a deal to impose Islamic law and suspend a military offensive in the former tourist haven of Swat Valley. Criticism of the truce mounted as a hard-line cleric, dispatched by the government to convince the Taliban to stop fighting as part of the deal, arrived in the Swat Valley's main city of Mingora to a hero's welcome. NATO says it has 55,000 troops across the border in Afghanistan, and many of them have come under attack by Taliban and al Qaeda fighters believed to have sought refuge in pockets of Pakistan's northwest. (Photo/Image: Representatives of Islamic militants arrive to attend a peace meeting with Pakistani government officials in Peshawar, Pakistan) "It is certainly reason for concern," NATO spokesman James Appathurai said in Brussels about the latest deal. "We should all be concerned by a situation in which extremists would have a safe haven. Without doubting the good faith of the Pakistani government, it is clear that the region is suffering very badly from extremists, and we would not want it to get worse." Britain also weighed in with reservations. "Previous peace deals have not provided a comprehensive and long-term solution to Swat's problems," said a statement from the British High Commission in Islamabad. "We need to be confident that they will end violence - not create space for further violence." In Japan, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said the Pakistani move still needed to be "thoroughly understood." She was on her first visit to Asia since taking up her post. A senior U.S. defense department official described the deal as a "negative development." In Swat, the cleric, Sufi Muhammad, said he was hopeful the Taliban would cooperate with the agreement. "We will soon open dialogue with the Taliban. We will ask them to lay down their weapons. We are hopeful that they will not let us down," Mr. Muhammad told reporters. "We will stay here in the valley until peace is restored." Residents lined the route as his caravan of 300 people drove through, waving and shouting "Long live peace! Long live Islam!" Extremists in Swat have beheaded opponents and torched scores of girls schools in recent months, while gunbattles between security forces and militants have killed hundreds. Up to a third of the valley's 1.5 million people have fled, and the scenic area is now believed to be mostly under militant control. The provincial government in northwest Pakistan announced the deal Monday after it met with Islamists led by Mr. Muhammad, who has long demanded that Islamic, or Shariah, law be followed in this conservative corner of Pakistan. As part of the deal, Mr. Muhammad agreed to travel to Swat and discuss peace with Maulana Fazlullah, the leader of the Swat Taliban and Mr. Muhammad's son-in-law. ASSOCIATED PRESS Representatives of Islamic militants arrive to attend a peace meeting with Pakistani government officials in Peshawar, Pakistan, on Monday. Mr. Muhammad was detained in 2002 after he sent thousands to fight U.S. troops in Afghanistan, but Pakistan freed him last year after he agreed to renounce violence. It is not clear how much influence he has over Mr. Fazlullah or exactly where they would meet, though a spokesman for the Swat Taliban leader welcomed Mr. Muhammad and has spoken positively of the truce. The Swat Taliban said Sunday they would observe an initial 10-day cease-fire in a show of good faith.

Hillary Clinton On Second Asian Country Tour....Indonesia

Hillary Clinton On Second Asian Country Tour....Indonesia

(NSI News Source Info) TOKYO - February 18, 2009: U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton waves upon her departure at Tokyo International Airport on February 18, 2009 in Tokyo, Japan. Clinton is on her first delomatic tour to Asia, visiting Japan, Indonesia, South Korea and China.

Obama Signs Sweeping Economic Stimulus Bill Into Law

Obama Signs Sweeping Economic Stimulus Bill Into Law

(NSI News Source Info) WASHINGTON - February 18, 2009: U.S. President Barack Obama on Tuesday signed a 787-billion-dollar economic stimulus bill into law in Denver, Colorado, calling it the first step to pave the way to long-term growth. The sweeping economic rescue package, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, is designed to jolt the ailing U.S. economy by providing government spending and tax cuts for both individuals and businesses. U.S. President Barack Obama(C) signs the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act Bill next to U.S. Vice President Joseph Biden(L) at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science February 17, 2009. Obama signed a $787 billion economic stimulus bill into law on Tuesday as global markets plunged on fears that the recession would deepen despite government action in many countries. "I don't want to pretend that today marks the end of our economic problems nor does it constitute all of what we have to do to turn the economy around," Obama said before signing the bill. "But today does mark the beginning of the end -- the beginning of what we need to do to create jobs for Americans scrambling in the wake of layoffs. "The beginning of what we need to do to provide relief for families worried they won't be able to pay next month's bills. "The beginning of the first steps to set our economy on a firmer foundation, paving the way to long-term growth and prosperity," the president said.

Obama signed the bill at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science. He will then take a tour of the museum's installation of solar panels, according to a White House press release. The president is underscoring investments the spending plan will make in the "green" energy-related jobs by signing the bill in Colorado, a state its governor Bill Ritter described on Tuesday as "the home of new energy economy," news reports say. At the same time, the White House is launching a website at www.recovery.gov, which is supposed to help people find out how federal dollars are being spent, the pace of scheduled construction projects and whether any federal dollars are being wasted. Since early last week, Obama has turned to appearances throughout the country to sell his economic plans, hoping to sustain support and foster hope among Americans who are giving him high marks in opinion polls. The public backing for the president's economic plan is in contrast to the partisan atmosphere in Congress, where the stimulus bill was passed last week on votes split mostly along party lines. Republicans were nearly unanimous in opposing the stimulus bill, arguing that the bill is too wasteful. Aimed at saving or creating 3.5 million jobs over the next two years and ending the worst U.S. economic crisis since the 1930s, the bill will pump money into highway, bridge and other infrastructure projects, health care, renewable energy development and conservation. It also includes a 400-dollar tax break for most individual workers and 800 dollars for couples, including those who do not earn enough to pay income taxes. Meanwhile, it will provide aid to states so they can head off deep cuts and layoffs and will provide financial incentives for people to start buying again. In addition, it will increase unemployment benefits and food stamps, and subsidies for health insurance to help poor people and laid-off workers. Despite the massive spending plans, economists are warning that it takes time for the economy to recover. Obama also emphasizes that the bill will not produce a rapid return to economic health. So, part of Obama's message as he has traveled across the country is designed to lower expectations, according to local media reports. As another part of the government's economic recovery effort, Obama is scheduled to outline his plan to help struggling homeowners in a speech on Wednesday in Arizona, one of the states hardest hit by home foreclosures that are at the center of the nation's economic woes. Also, the government is not ruling out a second economic stimulus plan, White House spokesman Robert Gibbs told reporters aboard Air Force One en route to Denver. But there are no plans currently in the works for one, he stressed.

Clinton, Nakasone Agree To Step Up Japan-U.S. alliance

Clinton, Nakasone Agree To Step Up Japan-U.S. alliance

(NSI News Source Info) TOKYO - February 18, 2009: Visiting U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Japanese Foreign Minister Hirofumi Nakasone agreed Tuesday to "step up the bilateral alliance" to tackle various global issues. Visiting U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton (L, front) shakes hands with Japanese Foreign Minister Hirofumi Nakasone (R,front) after signing a new pact in Tokyo, Japan, Feb. 17, 2009. Clinton and Nakasone signed a new pact Tuesday on the relocation of U.S. Marines from Okinawa to Guam, honoring the two allies' commitment to the 2006 road map on realigning U.S. forces in Japan. "The alliance between the United States and Japan is a cornerstone of our foreign policy, as working together to deal with a multitude of issues not only in Asia and the whole world isthe top priority of the Obama administration," Clinton said at a joint press conference after their meeting.

Clinton said the meeting with Nakasone "ranged across the world", covering economic challenges, clean energy and climate change, coordination on abductee and denuclearization issues of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, and the situation in Pakistan and Afghanistan. The two sides also signed a new pact on the relocation of U.S. Marines from Okinawa to Guam. "The agreement reflects a commitment to modernize our posture in Asia-pacific. It reinforces the core of our alliance, the mission to ensure defense of Japan against attack and to deter anyattack by any necessary means," Clinton said. "Our two countries share contributions in realignment of our forces and the relocation of marines from Okinawa to Guam. This isone more example of the strong and vibrant cooperation we enjoy," she added. As a "further evidence of strong Japan-U.S. alliance", Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso will visit Washington for a meeting with U.S. President Barack Obama on Feb. 24 at Obama's invitation, the first foreign leader invited for a meeting with Obama, Nakasone said. He also said they decided to further strengthen partnership and policy coordination in addressing global issues, vowing to "consult each other anytime."

BAE Systems Receives UK Order For Additional BvS10 VIKINGS

BAE Systems Receives UK Order For Additional BvS10 VIKINGS

(NSI News Source Info) ÖRNSKÖLDSVIK, Sweden - February 18, 2009: BAE Systems has received an additional order for the armoured all-terrain vehicle BvS10 VIKING from the British Ministry of Defence (MoD). The contract is for nine vehicles, seven of the troop-carrying variant and two in command vehicle configuration. The vehicles are being ordered to maintain the capability in theatre. It follows a contract from December 2008 which added mine protection to the current fleet of BvS10 VIKINGs currently in service with the British MoD.

The BvS 10 is an All Terrain Armoured Vehicle produced by BAE Systems Hagglunds of Sweden. This vehicle, referred to as Viking by the UK forces, was originally developed as a collaboration between industry - Hagglunds Vehicle AB - and the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) on behalf of the Royal Marines. The latest vehicles will be built to the same MkI configuration build standard which includes the new mine protection kit. “This contract recognises the performance the BvS10 VIKING delivers to the troops in theatre. It is key to us as a company to meet user needs, and the upgraded variant will meet those requirements,” says Tommy Gustafsson-Rask, director of marketing and sales at BAE Systems Hägglunds. The first vehicle in the contract is anticipated to be delivered directly from stock in February and the whole contract is expected to be delivered during the first quarter of 2009. The mine protection upgrades will be fitted following manufacture of the base vehicles. About BAE Systems BAE Systems is the premier global defence and aerospace company delivering a full range of products and services for air, land and naval forces, as well as advanced electronics, information technology solutions and customer support services. With 100,000 employees worldwide, BAE Systems' sales exceeded £15.7 billion (US$ $31.4 billion) in 2007.

Japanese And Russian Leaders Meet At Sakhalin Island

Japanese And Russian Leaders Meet At Sakhalin Island

(NSI News Source Info) February 18, 2009: Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, left, gestures as Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso looks on during their meeting in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk on Sakhalin Island, Russia Far East, Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2009. With his summit meeting Wednesday with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, Prime Minister Taro Aso is the first Japanese premier to visit Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk in Sakhalin, part of which was once Japanese territory, since the end of World War II.

NATO Supply To Afghan Needs Iran

NATO Supply To Afghan Needs Iran

(NSI News Source Info) February 18, 2009: The Taliban has staged repeated attacks on Afghanistan’s perilous Khyber Pass against trucks loaded with NATO supplies. The international security forces, including Germany’s Bundeswehr, are scrambling to find safer routes — and might even consider one through Iran. The best road networks among all neighboring countries are to be found in Iran, a country neighboring Afghanistan that has recently had significant issues with the West, though for other reasons. These problems with Iran have made this alternative taboo.

But NATO is desperate to find a solution and, according to diplomatic sources in Pakistan, it is also negotiating with Tehran “at a lower level.” The rapprochement already began under former President George W. Bush, who had accused the mullah-controlled regime of being in league with the Taliban.

But now that Obama is in office, ironically enough, there is a better chance that Iran could end up helping the United States — also known as the “Great Satan” — and its allies. During his first state visit to Kabul in August 2007, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad promised Afghan President Hamid Karzai his full support in the struggle for stability. “The best friend of Iran,” Ahmadinejad insisted, “is a country that is economically powerful and developed.” So far, Iran has paid Afghanistan more than $1 billion (€770 million) in development aid. A usable long-distance road already exists in Afghanistan. India, one of the biggest investors in Karzai’s country, has built a road between the city of Zaranj on the Iranian border and Delaram, which lies about 200 kilometers (125 miles) to the northeast in Afghanistan. The road could link the Iranian port of Chabahar with Afghanistan’s turbulent south.

Taliban Steals U.S. military Supplies - And Sells Them (Watch Video)

Taliban Steals U.S. military Supplies - And Sells Them

(NSI News Source Info) February 18, 2009: Pakistani oil tankers carrying supplies for U.S. and NATO forces in southren Afghanistan's Kandahar province, wait for clearance to travel to Afghanistan at Pakistani border post in Chaman, Pakistan. Afghan and Pakistani truck drivers say their work is becoming increasingly risky, and some are becoming wary of crossing Taliban-held areas despite their relatively high pay. Because 75 percent of U.S. military supplies in Afghanistan come by road from Pakistan's ports, a functioning supply line through the Khyber Pass is critical.

Video: Taliban Steals U.S. military Supplies - and sells them - CBS

Video: Taliban Steals U.S. military Supplies - and sells them - CBS

Obama Orders Thousands Of U.S. Troops To Afghanistan

Obama Orders Thousands Of U.S. Troops To Afghanistan

(NSI News Source Info) WASHINGTON - February 18, 2009: President Barack Obama, in his first major military decision, has authorized the Pentagon to send an extra 17,000 troops to Afghanistan to tackle worsening insurgent violence, the White House said on Tuesday. U.S. servicemen board a plane bound for Afghanistan at Manas Air Base near Kyrgyzstan's capital Bishkek, February 13, 2009. "This increase is necessary to stabilize a deteriorating situation in Afghanistan, which has not received the strategic attention, direction and resources it urgently requires," Obama said in a written statement. As a presidential candidate, Obama promised to focus more attention on the war in Afghanistan, where Taliban militants and other insurgents have stepped up their campaign of violence in the past two years. "The decision was communicated to the Pentagon yesterday. The orders were signed today," White House spokesman Robert Gibbs told reporters traveling with Obama in Denver. The 17,000 troops include an Army brigade equipped with Stryker armored vehicles, a Marine expeditionary brigade and support personnel, officials said. The forces are part of an anticipated U.S. troop build-up that could expand the U.S. military presence in Afghanistan to 60,000 troops, from a current 38,000, in coming months. There are also some 30,000 troops from NATO nations attempting to stabilize Afghanistan. The announcement comes while the White House is still conducting a broad review of U.S. policy on Afghanistan. The deployment provides two of three extra combat brigades requested by top U.S. and NATO commander in Afghanistan, Army General David McKiernan. Most of the extra forces are expected to be sent to southern Afghanistan, where a shortage of U.S. and NATO troops face an intensifying Taliban insurgency.

U.S. Air Force Says Needs More F-22 Fighters

U.S. Air Force Says Needs More F-22 Fighters

(NSI News Source Info) WASHINGTON - February 18, 2009: The Air Force has determined it needs more Lockheed Martin Corp F-22 fighter jets than have been ordered so far, but fewer than it previously sought, the service's top uniformed officer said on Tuesday. Gen. Norton Schwartz, Air Force chief of staff, said he would not dispute a characterization that over the coming three years the service was seeking to add 60 of the premier fighter jets to the 183 now on order, for a total of 243. The revised request would be for a fleet totaling fewer than 381 Raptors, the previous Air Force goal, Schwartz told reporters, without disclosing the new number. In this July 20, 2008 file photo provided by the U.S. Air Force, F-22 Raptors join 16 F-15E Strike Eagles on the flight line of Andersen Air Force Base, Guam. Over the next six years, nearly 25,000 U.S. Marines, soldiers, family members and civilian Defense Department employees are to descend on the tiny Pacific island of Guam, transforming the sleepy tropical outpost into a hub of America's military in the Pacific. The Air Force once sought to buy as many as 750 F-22s, which it reckons cost about $142 million apiece in fiscal 2008, not including development costs. The revised requirement is "driven by analysis as opposed to some other formulation," Schwartz said. "And I think it will withstand scrutiny." The administration must make critical decisions about the F-22 by about March 1 or Lockheed Martin says it will have to start phasing out the production line, threatening tens of thousands of jobs. Schwartz said he expects to present the Air Force's new F-22 analysis to Secretary of Defense Robert Gates within a few weeks. Pressed on why the Air Force was giving up on the 381 F-22s it had long stated it needed to make sure it could dominate the skies from day one of any future conflict, Schwartz spoke of going from a "low risk" to a "moderate risk" number. "And there are few things in our armed forces that we have, you know, a low-risk posture, simply because of the overall demands across the force," he said. Lockheed Martin, the Pentagon's No. 1 supplier by sales, said, "We're encouraged to read that based on an analysis of needs, the Air Force wants to purchase additional F-22s beyond the current 183..." "We stand ready to work with the Air Force and DoD to continue building and delivering high-quality Raptors on schedule and budget, whatever the final number is determined to be," said Sam Grizzle, a Lockheed spokesman. He said some suppliers had already been notified that Lockheed would start shutdown activities on March 1 unless President Barack Obama "certifies that continued production of the F-22 is in the national interest." To date, 135 Raptors have been delivered to the Air Force. Lockheed says "more than 95,000 Americans owe their jobs to the F-22 program." Gates and other Pentagon holdovers from the administration of former President George W. Bush have resisted buying more F-22s. Instead, they have favored the less costly F-35 Joint Strike Fighter being developed by Lockheed with eight foreign partners: Britain, Italy, the Netherlands, Turkey, Canada, Australia, Denmark and Norway. Schwartz made clear the Air Force was prepared to sacrifice on other, unspecified weapons acquisition priorities in exchange for funding for more than 183 F-22s. "Our basic approach is if we want something, we're going to pay for it," he said. Schwartz rejected recent criticism of the F-22's performance by John Young, the Pentagon's top arms buyer, who said the F-22s were ready to fly only 62 per cent of the time.

U.S. Looking For New Air Base To Supply Forces In Afghanistan

U.S. Looking For New Air Base To Supply Forces In Afghanistan

(NSI News Source Info) WASHINGTON - February 18, 2009: Wanted a large airport in Central Asia, preferably a former Soviet air base. With the clock ticking for the United States to close Manas Air Base in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, the Pentagon is scrambling to find an alternative. The aircraft deployed by the U.S. Air Force at Manas are primarily military cargo planes, aerial tankers for in-flight refueling and smaller aircraft to ferry supplies to troops on combat missions. The Boeing F-15E Strike Eagle provides close air support for the troops. It flies out of Bagram Air Base inside Afghanistan. The Boeing F-18 Hornet, a carrier-based multirole fighter jet, is capable of hitting aerial and ground targets. It carries out missions of reconnaissance, air escort and defense, close air support and interdiction.

A ground staff directs a C-130 Hercules at Manas Air Base near Kyrgyzstan's capital Bishkek. Kyrgyzstan is delaying a decision on whether to close the last U.S. airbase in Central Asia while it bargains with both the United States and Russia, the leader of the main opposition faction in parliament said on Friday. However, Manas' long runway is perfect for the large military transport aircraft Boeing C-17 Globemaster, designed for rapid airlift of troops and cargoes as well as emergency medical evacuation and airdrop missions to and from the military bases or battle sites around the globe. Later, the U.S. Air Force added the aerial refueling tanker aircraft Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker to the Manas contingent. On Feb. 3 Kyrgyzstan announced it would close Manas for NATO operations. The base has provided key logistical support to NATO's Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan since 2001, when Kyrgyzstan granted the coalition forces unrestricted overflight rights for humanitarian, combat and rescue missions. Some 1,200 military personnel, mainly Americans, are stationed in Manas. Moreover, the base would have been a vital hub to implement the planned 30,000-troop increase of deployed forces under U.S. President Barack Obama's plan to expand operations in Afghanistan. Likely to lose Manas, Washington is seeking alternative options for the northern transit route. The United States is negotiating with Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan to secure access to their railway networks for shipping supplies to Afghanistan. Tajikistan opened its airspace and territory for the transit of commercial and humanitarian cargo. Yet it is rather challenging to deliver large volumes of cargo to Tajikistan itself, which is lacking military infrastructure and is dependent on Russia for security support and economic aid. Turkmenistan, with a large air base in Mary (also known as Merv) only 24 miles from the Iranian border, is another interesting option. But the country is traditionally neutral, and the Iranians may blow a stack if a massive U.S. Air Force presence appears on their doorstep. However, if the Obama administration's outreach to Iran succeeds, that may change. The United States may be able to return to the airports of Karshi-Khanabad, Uzbekistan. It was evicted from there in 2005 under combined Russo-Chinese pressure and a successful influence operation targeting Uzbek President Islam Karimov. Some equipment also could be moved from Manas to Almaty, Kazakhstan. The United States could also use it for emergency landing. However, the states have not offered to host NATO on any permanent basis, and Almaty is considered too far. Washington may also try to renegotiate Manas, but this will depend on Russia's goodwill. The Pentagon also has the very expensive option of supplying the troops by air from Qatar and Kuwait, where the United States has air bases, but be as it may, the Manas eviction note puts the "Northern supply route" for Afghanistan in jeopardy, thanks to Russia's hard-nosed practice of geopolitical arts.

UCLA Geographers Urge US To Search Three Structures In Pakistan For Bin Laden

UCLA Geographers Urge US To Search Three Structures In Pakistan For Bin Laden (NSI News Source Info) February 18, 2009: While U.S. intelligence officials have spent more than seven years searching fruitlessly for Osama bin Laden, UCLA geographers say they have a good idea of where the terrorist leader was at the end of 2001 — and perhaps where he has been in the years since. In a new study published online today by the MIT International Review, the geographers report that simple facts, publicly available satellite imagery and fundamental principles of geography place the mastermind behind the Sept. 11 attacks against the U.S. in one of three buildings in the northwest Pakistan town of Parachinar, in the Kurram tribal region near the border with Afghanistan. "If he's still alive, he honestly could be sitting there right now," said Thomas W. Gillespie, the study's lead author and an associate professor of geography at UCLA. "It is still the safest tribal area and city in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) of northwest Pakistan and one of the only tribal areas that the U.S. has not bombed with its unmanned Predators."

People gather at the site of a suicide attack in a bazaar in the main town of Parachinar, in the Kurram tribal region. At least 22 people were killed on Saturday in spiralling violence in northwestern Pakistan as international concern grew over the deteriorating security situation and al Qaeda threat along the Afghan border. Despite keen interest in the terrorist recluse and a $25 million reward for information leading to his capture, academics have shied away from getting involved in the quest to find him, the researchers contend. Meanwhile, dramatic improvements in remote-sensing imagery have improved the odds of civilians doing so. "We believe our work represents the first scientific approach to establishing bin Laden's current location," said John A. Agnew, study co-author and UCLA geography professor. "The methods are repeatable and could easily be updated with new information obtained by the U.S. intelligence community." The researchers advocate that the U.S. investigate — but not bomb — the three buildings. They warn that if bin Laden indeed remains to this day in the tiny city of Parachinar, or even elsewhere in the relatively thinly populated tribal area of Kurram, he may move to the city of Peshawar (population 1.4 million) in the neighboring tribal area of North-West Frontier Province if Peshawar falls to the Taliban. News reports have warned of that possibility since last summer. "If bin Laden were to move to Peshawar, which would become an option if the Taliban were in control there, the search would become much more complicated," Gillespie said. "It's the difference between looking for someone in L.A. versus in Big Bear," he added, referring to a mountain resort town 90 miles east of Los Angeles. The findings are based on the last information on bin Laden's whereabouts to be made public by U.S. intelligence sources, which have closely guarded the details of any efforts to locate him. One and a half months after the coordinated attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon claimed the lives of more than 3,000 people, a walkie-talkie radio broadcast placed bin Laden in Tora Bora, a cave complex in eastern Afghanistan. In an unsuccessful attempt to capture bin Laden, U.S. forces attacked the caves the following month. Soldiers from the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry and U.S. army personnel excavate an al Qaeda grave site known by locals as the al Qaeda martyr memorial. In the village of Markhanai in the Tora Bora area of eastern Afghanistan. DNA samples were taken from 23 bodies unearthed from the cemetery. Canadian troops and U.S. forensic experts hope the DNA samples will identify some of those buried there after being killed in U.S. bombing late last year. al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden was believed to have fled Tora Bora in December during weeks of heavy bombing by U.S. aircraft, as pro-U.S. Afghan troops, aided by U.S. Special Forces closed in. But there was also speculation he might have been killed by the air strikes. The four-day mission combed the region of Tora Bora, an area of caves, tunnels and underground bunkers. The UCLA findings rely on two principles used in geography to predict the distribution of wildlife, primarily for the purposes of designing approaches to conservation. The first, known as distance-decay theory, holds that as one travels farther away from a precise location with a specific composition of species — or, in this case, a specific composition of cultural and physical factors —the probability of finding spots with that same specific composition decreases exponentially. The second, island biogeographic theory, holds that large and close islands have larger immigration rates and will support more species than smaller, more isolated islands. Inspired by distance-decay theory, the seven-member team started by drawing concentric circles around Tora Bora on a satellite map of the area at a distance of 10 kilometers — or 6.1 miles — apart. "The farther bin Laden moves from his last reported location into the more secular parts of Pakistan or into India, the greater the probability that he will be in an area with a different cultural composition, thereby increasing the probability of his being captured or eliminated," Gillespie said. Then, informed by island biogeographic theory, the researchers scoured the rings for "city islands" — or distinctly separate settlements of considerable size. "Island biology theory predicts that he would find his way to the largest but least isolated city of that area," said Gillespie, an authority on measuring and modeling biodiversity on Earth from space. "If you get stuck on an island, you would want it to be Hawaii rather than one with a single palm tree. It's a matter of resources." The approach netted 26 cities within a 12.4-mile radius of Tora Bora on imagery from Landsat Enhanced Thematic Mapper Plus (ETM+), a global archive of satellite photos managed by NASA and the U.S. Geological Survey. With a 2.7-square-mile footprint, Parachinar turned out to be the largest and fourth-least isolated city, the team determined. "Based on bin Laden's last known location in Tora Bora, we estimate that he must have traveled 1.9 miles over a 13,000-foot-high pass into Kurram and then headed for the largest city, which turns out to be Parachinar," said Agnew, who is the current president of the Association of American Geographers, the field's leading scholarly organization. The researchers ruled out cities on the Afghanistan side of the border because the country was occupied at the time by U.S. and international forces and has been particularly unstable ever since. "The Pakistan side of the border is much better for hiding because of its ambiguous political status within the country and the formal absence of U.S. or NATO troops," Agnew said. Faced with the prospect of picking from more than 1,000 structures clearly portrayed in the satellite imagery of Parachinar, the team decided to come up with a short list of the criteria that bin Laden would need for housing, based on well-known information about him, including his height (between 6'4" and 6'6", depending on the source), his medical condition (apparently in need of regular dialysis and, therefore, electricity to run the machine) and several basic assumptions, such as a need for security, protection, privacy and overhead cover to shield him from being spotted by planes, helicopters and satellites. So they looked for buildings that could house someone taller than 6'4" and were surrounded by walls more than 9 feet tall (both as judged by mid-afternoon shadows depicted on the satellite imagery), and that had more than three rooms, space separating them from nearby structures, electricity and a thick tree canopy. Only three structures fit the criteria. The buildings also appeared to be the best fortified and among the largest in Parachinar. Two are clearly residences, the study states. The third may be a prison. But whatever the third structure is, it has "one of the best maintained gardens in all of Parachinar," the study says. While the three structures meet all six of the criteria that the researchers believe would be required for lodging bin Laden, an additional 16 structures in Parachinar appear to meet five of the six criteria. If bin Laden is not in the first three structures, the U.S. military should investigate these other buildings, the study urges. The outgrowth of an undergraduate geography course in remote sensing, the study lists five 2008 UCLA graduates as co-authors. The students have since gone on to a range of endeavors, from selling real estate and attending law school to earning a master's degree from Oxford University. One now works for a remote-sensing company. Undergraduates had attempted to take on the same study in 2006, but at 30 x 30 meters — or nearly 100 x 100 feet — the resolution of publicly available satellite images of the area at the time was insufficient. In contrast, today's resolution is 0.6 meters, or just under 2 feet, Gillespie said. The remote-sensing company that employs one of the alumni authors plans soon to unveil a 0.4-meter resolution of the entire world. "Technology has caught up to the question," said Gillespie, who serves as the director of the Spatial Demography Group for the UCLA-based California Center for Population Research. "Finding Osama bin Laden: An Application of Biogeographic Theories and Satellite Imagery" is not the first attempt by Gillespie and Agnew to bring scientific analysis to nettlesome political issues. In September 2008, they received widespread attention for a satellite study of the density of lights in the night sky of Baghdad in the time leading up to, during and immediately following the U.S. military surge of 2007. The findings cast doubt on the role claimed by the U.S. military in quelling violence during that time and suggest instead that intra-sectarian conflict was responsible for clearing whole portions of the city, leaving them both dark and devoid of the objects of Iraqi-on-Iraqi violence.

Israeli Radar The Apparent Choice Of South Korea

Israeli Radar The Apparent Choice Of South Korea

(NSI News Source Info) February 17, 2009: The Green Pine early warning radar systems made by the Elta subsidiary of Israel Aerospace Industries might be the winning system for the South Korean army at a cost of $214 million, according to the Korea Times.

The EL/M-2080 "Green Pine" Radar System, is a transportable ground-based, multimode solid state phased array radar. Incorporating ELTA's vast experience in surveillance and fire control radars and utilizing the company's state-of-the-art phased array technology, the "Green Pine" radar is designed to autonomously detect and simultaneously track dozens of Tactical Ballistic Missiles (TBMs) from long ranges, under all weather conditions and in the presence of undesired echoes. The modular, solid state, active array technology implemented in the radar, including multiple advanced transmit / receive modules, provides high redundancy, graceful degradation, high reliability and high availability. *Operational in the Israel Air Force, this advanced radar enhances the country's Air Defense System.

The radar component of Israel's Arrow anti-ballistic missile system can locate and track incoming missiles such as those in the North Korean arsenal over 500 kilometers. The systems will be delivered in 2010 and become operational in 2012. The newspaper quoted an anonymous source in Korean's Defense Acquisition Procurement Agency as saying that the Green Pine is more suited for South Korea's defense needs in terms of both operations and cost than similar systems developed in other countries, such as the United States and France. South Korea wanted to test a US long-range radar system, which the US will not export, and rejected a lower quality system.

MIDDLE EAST: Iran, Lebanon, Jordan Upgrade Air Power

MIDDLE EAST: Iran, Lebanon, Jordan Upgrade Air Power

(NSI News Source Info) February 17, 2009: Iranian media quoted Air Force chief Brig. Gen. Ahmad Mighani as telling reporters that the Islamic Republic has set up a new military branch devoted exclusively to air defenses that will be in charge of guarding Iran's nuclear sites from potential Israeli or U.S. air attacks.

Iraq, with a severely dilapidated air force that has yet to recover from three decades of war and sanctions, is on track to take delivery of an undisclosed number of South Korean-made T/A-50 Golden Eagle lightweight fighter jets.

The branch, called the Name of the Holy Prophet Command, will draw together all the antiaircraft systems, surveillance gear, radar and missiles from the country's regular military branch as well as the elite Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps under one umbrella with a mandate "to enhance and expand combat capabilities of the country's air defense unit," said Mighani, according to a report published on the website of Iran's English-language Press TV news channel. "To counter the enemy's advanced military equipment, we should be equipped with state-of-the-art air defense technology," Mighani said. Iran isn't the only country in the Middle East to make plans to upgrade its air power. So have two of Israel's neighbors, Lebanon and Jordan. A Lebanese military official told The Times last month that Russia has begun training its pilots operate a batch of 10 MIG fighter jets Moscow is donating to Beirut. Meanwhile, Jordan is set to take delivery of 20 F-16 fighter jets from Holland and Belgium, according to Defense Industry Daily. Earlier this month, French President Nicolas Sarkozy pressed Kuwait to buy a couple dozen Rafale fighter jets, and he urged the Omanis to replace their aging fleet with French planes. Even Iraq, with a severely dilapidated air force that has yet to recover from three decades of war and sanctions, is on track to take delivery of an undisclosed number of South Korean-made T/A-50 Golden Eagle lightweight fighter jets. With world economies in a seeming free fall, look for more defense firms hustling to sell their wares to whichever countries with cash in hand.

Iran To Boost Air Defense Capabilities

Iran To Boost Air Defense Capabilities

(NSI News Source Info) TEHERAN, Iran - February 17, 2009: Iran restructured its military in an effort aimed at improving its air defense capabilities, military commanders have said. The move is seen as part of a broader military build up by Teheran, which is concerned about the US military's presence in neighboring Iraq and Afghanistan and Israeli threats to target its nuclear facilities. Gen. Ahmad Mighani announced over the weekend that Iran's supreme leader ordered a new branch be split off from the air force to deal specifically with any threats to the country's air space. The order rearranges the regular military into four branches - the ground force, the navy, the air force and the air defense force, he said.

Iranian military jets F-4 and a tanker aircraft used for refueling. The forthcoming Iranian military drill will involve Iran's F-4 Phantoms, F-5 Freedom Fighter/Tigers, F-7 fighter jets, F-14 Tomcats, Saeqeh (Thunderbolt) fighter jets and Boeing KC-707 aerial refueling tanker aircraft. The commander of the new force will oversee radar, military intelligence gathering equipment and anti-aircraft missile units, Mighani said. He did not elaborate. Some Iranian lawmakers praised the decision to establish the air defense force. Mohammad Esmaeil Kowsari, a prominent parliament member, said the reorganization "centralizes decision-making in the air defense system and boosts the country's readiness" to deal with outside threats. Tensions have somewhat eased between Teheran and Washington since US President Barack Obama took office last month, but disputes over Iran's nuclear program remain unresolved. Israel, the United States and some allies accuse Iran of seeking to build nuclear weapons. Iran denies the charges, saying its aim is to generate electricity. Iran has taken Israeli threats of attacking its nuclear sites seriously and has said Israel would be subject to Iran's "devastating retaliation" if it attacked the Islamic Republic. Both Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni and Likud leader Binyamine Netanyahu, both seeking to head Israel's next governmen, are seen as likely to contemplate military action against Iran. Since the end of the eight-year Iran-Iraq war in 1988, Iran has held military maneuvers annually to improve its military stamina and to test locally made equipment such as tanks, armored personnel carriers and missiles. Iran also has inaugurated new air and naval bases on its eastern and southern borders in recent years. Most of the country's 12 air force bases are situated in the west near the border with Iraq and Turkey. Iran's regular military is separate from the elite Revolutionary Guards, which mainly control Iran's missile program. But Mighani said all air defense units, including those belonging to the Guards, will be directed under the new air defense force.

US Trying To Get Israel To Leave Joint Strike Force Program?

US Trying To Get Israel To Leave Joint Strike Force Program?

Source: Israel Matzav

(NSI News Source Info) February 17, 2009: In October, the Pentagon approved the sale of 25 F-35 stealth-enabled joint strike fighters to the Israeli Air Force, with an option to purchase up to 50 more. Just last week, I reported that cost overruns that may make the jets cost more than $100 million each were causing the IDF to rethink the purchase. Now, there's a new problem that should give further pause to Israeli purchases of the jets.

When Israel expressed interest in the jets, it asked to install its own technology on them. This wasn't just a question of buying Israeli out of patriotism. Israel fears that the jets will be sold to other countries in the region - like Saudi Arabia - and if our own technology is installed it will allow Israel to maintain a qualitative superiority even if the jets are sold to our enemies. While the United States is the primary customer and financial backer, the United Kingdom, Italy, the Netherlands, Canada, Turkey, Australia, Norway and Denmark have agreed to contribute US$4.375 billion toward the development costs of the program. Total development costs are estimated at more than US$40 billion (underwritten largely by the United States), while the purchase of an estimated 2,400 planes is expected to cost an additional US$200 billion. The nine major partner nations plan to acquire over 3,100 F-35s through 2035, making the F-35 one of the most numerous jet fighters. There are three levels of international participation. The levels generally reflect the financial stake in the program, the amount of technology transfer and subcontracts open for bid by national companies, and the order in which countries can obtain production aircraft. *The United Kingdom is the sole *"Level 1" partner, contributing US$2.5 billion, about 10% of the development costs under the 1995 Memorandum of Understanding that brought the UK into the project. *Level 2 partners are Italy, which is contributing US$1 billion; and the Netherlands, US$800 million. *Level 3 partners are Canada, US$475 million; Turkey, US$195 million; Australia, US$144 million; Norway, US$122 million and Denmark, US$110 million. Israel and Singapore have joined as *Security Cooperative Participants (SCP).

Participant nations: F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF)

*Primary customer: USA

*Level 1 partner: UK

*Level 2 partner: The Netherlands and Italy

*Level 3 partner: Canada, Turkey, Australia, Norway and Denmark

*Security Cooperative Participants (SCP): Israel and Singapore Some of the partner countries have wavered in their public commitment to the JSF program, hinting or warning that unless they receive more subcontracts or technology transfer, they will forsake JSF for the Eurofighter Typhoon, Saab JAS 39 Gripen, Dassault Rafale or simply upgrade their existing aircraft. Norway has several times threatened to put their support on hold unless substantial guarantees for an increased industrial share is provided. Despite this Norway has signed all the Memoranda of Understanding, including the latest one detailing the future production phase of the JSF program. They have, however, indicated that they will increase and strengthen their cooperation with both competitors of the JSF, the Typhoon and the Gripen.

Israeli demands include installing an advanced radar and conformal fuel tank design for long-range missions made by Israel Aerospace Industries, as well as other electronic and weapons systems that could require changes to the configuration of the aircraft.

"We have unique needs and need to retain our superiority in the region," a senior defense official explained. "

To meet these needs we must to be able to install our own systems." The US is refusing to allow Israel - the first country to whom the jets have been offered which is outside the US and the eight countries who are full members of the Joint Strike Force program - to install its own technology. Last week, in an interview with Aviation Week, Maj.-Gen. Charles Davis, executive officer of the JSF program, said that Israel would not be allowed to put its own systems in the JSF, also known as the F-35.

"They [Israel] are going to buy aircraft that have basically the same capability as all the others," Davis told Aviation Week. "

They are trying to do a requirements analyses for future missions. That [customization] is doable through software. It is not doable by Israelis sticking boxes in the airplane. [Elbit and Elta being involved] is not an option," he says.

The IDF is now talking about delaying the purchase to some point beyond 2014. That would lower the cost, but would not solve the technology issue. And one cannot help but get the sense that the IDF feels its been had by the Americans: In the past, officials said, before announcing a decision to purchase an aircraft the MOD first negotiated the installation of Israeli-made systems and then announced that it had made a decision. This, officials said, was the case with the F-15I and the F-16I.

However in the case of the JSF, the US refused to conduct the negotiations with the MOD until an announcement that it would procure the plane had been made. The announcement was made in October in an official request to the Pentagon.

A defense industry source familiar with the negotiations between Israel and the US said that the talks were "tough" but predicted that a deal would be reached in the coming months and that Israel would finally place an official order.

You can bet that there's going to be a lot of pressure placed on Israel to place that order. With a recession on, what is potentially a $75 billion order would be a huge boost for the American defense industries. You would think it would also be an incentive to make the customer king. And that has to make you wonder why the US is suddenly playing hardball.

Oh by the way, one of the countries that is a member of the Joint Strike Force is Turkey. Other members include the United Kingdom, Italy, the Netherlands, Canada, Australia, Norway and Denmark, each of whom contributed between $110 million (Denmark) and $2.5 billion (United Kingdom) towards the development costs, with the United States footing the balance of the bill. Israel and Singapore paid $20 million each to receive the lower level status of a 'security cooperative participant' in the program. Hmmm.

Obama Faces Tough Decision On Pricey Presidential Helicopters

Obama Faces Tough Decision On Pricey Presidential Helicopters

(NSI News Source Info) WASHINGTON ― February 17, 2009: When President Obama returned today from Chicago, he arrived at the White House on Marine One - one of a fleet of presidential helicopters that is now 30 years old, new Marine One is supposed to take off next year. But, runaway costs threaten to ground the replacements.

Marine One is the call sign of any United States Marine Corps aircraft carrying the President of the United States. It usually denotes a helicopter operated by the HMX-1 "Nighthawks" squadron, either the large VH-3D or the newer, smaller VH-60N "WhiteHawk". Both are due to be replaced by the VH-71 Kestrel, a derivative of the AgustaWestland EH101. A Marine Corps aircraft carrying the Vice President is designated Marine Two.

Lockheed-Martin signed a contract four years ago to build 28 new helicopters for $6.1 billion. Numerous Pentagon-mandated changes have ballooned the price tag to $11.2 billion - meaning each of the new choppers would cost $400 million, or as much as Air Force One.

Defense analyst Daniel Goure argues the new Marine One must be able to completely protect the president.

The armored helicopter would be equipped with communications gear and defensive systems capable of fending off missiles and even the effects of a nuclear blast.

"The president will be able to do anything and everything he does on Air Force One or from the national command post in the White House," Goure says. "He can launch a nuclear war if that's what's required."

The Pentagon says it needs 28 of the helicopters because they have to cover the president everywhere he goes, usually three at each stop. This week there will be choppers in Chicago, Denver, Phoenix and Ottawa.But critics say the helicopters are the latest example of out-of-control spending - especially unaffordable in the current recession.

And Lieutenant Colonel Gene Boyer, who flew Marine One the day Richard Nixon resigned, says there's no way the government needs 28 of them.

"In this economy, I believe it's a foolish investment and going beyond 14 to 16 helicopters is absolutely ludicrous," Boyer says.The program is so far over budget the White House could pull the plug. But it could take years to build cheaper replacements and security officials warn in a post-9/11 world it's the wrong place to be cutting corners.

Pakistan To Impose Islamic law In Restive Swat Valley

Pakistan To Impose Islamic law In Restive Swat Valley

(NSI News Source Info) PESHAWAR, Pakistan -February 17, 2009: Pakistan agreed Monday to suspend military offensives and impose Islamic law in part of the restive northwest, making a gesture it hopes will help calm the Taliban insurgency while rejecting Washington's call for tougher measures against militants. A U.S. defence official called the deal "a negative development," and some Pakistani experts expressed skepticism the truce would decrease violence. One human rights activist said the accord was "a great surrender" to militants. Elsewhere in the northwest, missiles fired by a suspected U.S. spy plane killed 30 people in a house used by an extremist commander, witnesses said. It was the deadliest of almost three dozen apparent American attacks on al-Qaida and Taliban targets in the semiautonomous tribal lands close to the Afghan border since last year. A local resident distributes sweets among people after the government decision to implement Islamic Law, Monday, Feb. 16, 2009, in Mingora, the main town of Pakistani Swat Valley. The government agreed to implement Islamic law and suspend a military offensive across a large swath of northwest Pakistan on Monday in concessions aimed at pacifying a spreading Taliban insurgency there. Monday's peace agreement applies to the Malakand region, which includes the former tourist destination of the Swat Valley, where extremists have gained sway by beheading people, burning girls' schools and attacking security forces since a similar agreement broke down in August. U.S. officials complained the earlier accord allowed militants to regroup and rearm and urged Pakistan's government to concentrate on military solutions to the insurgency in the rugged frontier region, where al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden is believed to be hiding. The new agreement intensified that unease. "It is hard to view this as anything other than a negative development," a senior Defence Department official said. He spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of relations with Pakistan and because he was not authorized to speak on the record. A White House spokesman, Tommy Vietor, said later: "We have seen the press reports and are in touch with the government of Pakistan about the ongoing situation in Swat." Speaking in India, President Barack Obama's special envoy for the region, Richard Holbrooke, did not directly address Pakistan's peace effort in Malakand. But he said the rise of the Taliban in Swat was a reminder that the United States, Pakistan and India face an "an enemy which poses direct threats to our leadership, our capitals and our people." The government in northwestern Pakistan announced the deal after officials met with local Islamic leaders who have long demanded that Islamic, or Shariah, law be followed in this staunchly conservative corner of Pakistan. Among the participants was a pro-Taliban cleric who authorities said would return to Swat and tell militants there to disarm, although there was no mention in the agreement of any need for extremists to give up their weapons. Many analysts questioned whether the fighters would listen to the cleric and said they doubted the deal would stop violence. Critics asked why authorities were responding to the demands of a militant group that has waged a reign of terror. "This is simply a great surrender, a surrender to a handful of forces who work through rough justice and brute force," said Athar Minallah, a lawyer and civil rights activist. "Who will be accountable for those hundreds of people who have been massacred in Swat? And they go and recognize these forces as a political force. This is pathetic." The Swat Taliban, which had said Sunday it would observe a 10-day ceasefire in support of the government's initiative, welcomed the deal. "Our whole struggle is for the enforcement of Shariah law," Swat Taliban spokesman Muslim Khan said. "If this really brings us the implementation of Shariah, we will fully co-operate with it." Several war-weary residents interviewed in the Swat area welcomed the announcement. "We just want to see an end to this bloody fighting," said Fazal Wadood, a teacher. "We do not mind what way it comes. It is no problem if it comes through the Islamic system." Pakistan's shaky civilian government is under intense domestic pressure to retake control of the Swat Valley, although many Islamist legislators and other Islamic groups have urged it to negotiate with the militants. Amir Haider Khan Hoti, chief minister in North West Frontier Province, said troops in Swat would remain there but stop offensive operations and go on "reactive mode," retaliating only if attacked. He stressed they would not leave the valley until the militant threat was over. A spokesman for the army said militants would have to live up to the truce deal. "At the moment, the military has been asked to hold back and allow the peace initiative there," Maj.-Gen Athar Abbas said. "But it is to be seen whether they (the militants) follow this ceasefire in true letter and spirit or take undue advantage of it." Hoti said the main changes to the legal system promised by the accord already are included in existing laws stipulating Islamic justice. But he said they would be implemented only after peace was restored in the valley. Hoti said the laws, which allow for Muslim clerics to advise judges when hearing cases and the setting up of an Islamic appeals court, would ensure a much speedier and fairer justice system than the current system, which dates back to British colonial times. The rules do not ban female education or contain other strict interpretations of Shariah that have been demanded by many members of the Taliban in Pakistan -- restrictions imposed by Afghanistan's Taliban regime that was ousted by the U.S.-led invasion in late 2001.

Danish Soldiers Negotiating With Afghan Taliban: Report

Danish Soldiers Negotiating With Afghan Taliban: Report

Source: Copenhagen (AFP) Feb 16, 2009

(NSI News Source Info) Copenhagen - February 17, 2009: Danish soldiers in Afghanistan have begun negotiating with the Taliban to try to break the deadlock there, a newspaper reported Monday, as a poll suggested most Danes considered the war unwinnable. A soldiers from the Afghan national army (ANA) holds a rocket propelled granade launcher (RPG) during a CIMIC (Civil Military Cooperation) operation on February 16, 2009 in Dawlatkhel in the Alassay valley. A NATO soldier and nine Afghan civilians died in attacks across insurgency-torn Afghanistan while military offensives killed at least 17 suspected militants, officials said Monday. Troops had holding talks with the Taliban as wiping out the insurgency was proving so difficult, a Danish officer told the Jyllands-Posten daily. "We have already held several meetings with local chiefs where the Taliban were represented," Lieutenant Colonel Bjarne Hoejgaard told the paper after a six-month mission in Afghanistan. "We cannot get around it. We must intensify the dialogue and the negotiations with the Taliban if we want to have peace in Afghanistan, because we cannot eliminate the enemy," he added. Hoejgaard insisted the meetings were not about negotiating a truce with the most extreme elements, but were aimed at creating more security for Danish soldiers by entering into dialogue with more moderate, local Taliban. "The more local Taliban we kill the more enemies we create," Hoejgaard said. The report came as a new poll showed that 55 percent of Danes believed the war against the Taliban insurgency could not be won. The poll of 1,000 people showed 22 percent of people thought victory was within reach, while 22 percent remained uncertain. The survey, carried out earlier this month by Capacent Epinion for Danish public broadcaster DR. It also showed that 48 percent of those questioned believed Denmark should maintain troops in Afghanistan, while 41 percent said the Scandinavian country should withdraw its soldiers. Denmark currently has 700 troops stationed mainly in the southern Afghan Helmand province under British command. It has lost 21 soldiers since it joined international efforts to remove the Taliban regime in Kabul in 2001 -- the highest per-capita death toll among coalition forces.