Turkish Aerospace Delivers First JSF Parts / Northrop Grumman Takes Delivery Of First F-35 Parts From Key Turkish Supplier

Turkish Aerospace Delivers First JSF Parts / Northrop Grumman Takes Delivery Of First F-35 Parts From Key Turkish Supplier

(NSI News Source Info) EL SEGUNDO, Calif. - March 8, 2009: Turkish Aerospace Industries, Inc. (TAI), a major supplier to Northrop Grumman Corporation on the F-35 Lightning II aircraft program, has produced and delivered its first composite parts for the jet.

On 12 July 2002, Turkey became the seventh international partner in the JSF Project, joining the United Kingdom, Italy, the Netherlands, Canada, Denmark and Norway. On 25 January 2007, Turkey signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for involvement in F-35 production. The Turkish Air Force is planning to initially order 116 F-35A "CTOL/Air Force versions" at a reported cost of $11 billion. It is reported that the aircraft will be produced under license in Turkey by the Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI). A Letter of Intent (LOI) was signed between TAI and Northrop Grumman ISS (NGISS) International on 6 February 2007. With the LOI, TAI becomes the second source for the F-35 Lightning II center fuselage during the JSF Signing. The number of center fuselages to be produced by Turkish Aerospace Industries will be determined depending on the number of F-35s Turkey will procure and the number of F-35s to be produced worldwide. The LOI represents a potential value in excess of $3 billion. Northrop Grumman currently produces all F-35 center fuselages at its F-35 assembly facility in Palmdale, California. TAI of Turkey is one of the two international suppliers to Northrop Grumman (the other being Denmark). On 10 December 2007, the Turkish Aerospace Industries, Inc. (TAI) was authorized by the Northrop Grumman to commence fabricating subassemblies for the first two F-35 production aircraft. The subassemblies – composite components and aircraft access doors – will be used in the F-35 center fuselage, a major section of the aircraft being produced by Northrop Grumman, a principal member of the Lockheed Martin-led F-35 global industry team. It is also anticipated that TAI after 2013 will also produce 100% of the F-35 under license from Lockheed Martin Corporation, as was also the case with the F-16 Fighting Falcon program Peace Onyx I and II. Turkey also intends to incorporate in the future several Turkish designed and manufactured electronic systems into the F-35 platform.

The new parts - structural composite panels used to form the outer surface of the new international, multi-role fighter - represent a critical first step in TAI's plans to eventually produce 400 center fuselages for the program. Northrop Grumman will integrate the parts into the center fuselages of the first two production F-35s.

"This delivery represents two significant milestones for the program," said Mark Tucker, vice president of tactical systems and F-35 program manager for Northrop Grumman's Aerospace Systems sector. "It demonstrates that TAI can build composite parts to the precision level needed for a high volume, international aircraft program. And it gives Northrop Grumman a very positive progress report on its commitment to grow and nurture international industrial participation in the program."

According to Tucker, the composite panels also represent the first F-35 parts produced in a new composites manufacturing facility opened by TAI last November in Ankara, Turkey. To date, Northrop Grumman has trained nearly two dozen TAI employees in the high precision fabrication techniques being used in that facility.

TAI's recent shipment included six composite panels - three for each of the two jets being produced under the first phase of low rate initial production. As part of its F-35 work share, the company will produce similar composite panels for every jet made during the production phase of the program.

Northrop Grumman is a principal and founding member of the Lockheed Martin-led F-35 Lightning II team. The company is responsible for the design and production of center fuselages for all three variants of F-35 aircraft: conventional take-off and landing; short take-off, vertical landing; and carrier-compatible. The F-35 Lightning II program expects to build more than 3,100 aircraft.

Under a Letter of Intent signed with Northrop Grumman in Feb. 2007, TAI serves as a second source supplier of F-35 center fuselages to the company. Deliveries of complete TAI-produced center fuselages are scheduled to begin during the low rate initial production (LRIP) phases of the program.

As a member of the F-35 global industry team, Northrop Grumman is central to the development, production and support of the F-35 Lightning II. The company designed and produces the aircraft's center fuselage, radar and other key avionics including electro-optical and communications subsystems; develops mission systems and mission-planning software; leads the team's development of pilot and maintenance training system courseware; and manages the team's use, support and maintenance of low-observable technologies.

Singapore To Keep Up, Repair Chinook Transmissions / Singapore Air Force CH-47 Chinook Helicopters Service Maintained By ST Aerospace - Report

Singapore To Keep Up, Repair Chinook Transmissions / Singapore Air Force CH-47 Chinook Helicopters Service Maintained By ST Aerospace - Report

(NSI News Source Info) Singapore - March 8, 2009: Singapore Technologies Aerospace (ST Aerospace) announced on March 6 it has been recognized by Boeing Integrated Defense Systems (IDS) as a maintenance, repair and overhaul center for the CH-47 Chinook helicopter engine transmission. "Through this association, ST Aerospace's military service capability on the Chinook transmission will be part of the capabilities that Boeing can draw on to support Chinook helicopter operators," ST Aerospace said in a press release.

Singapore Technologies Aerospace (ST Aerospace) is a subsidiary of ST Engineering based in Singapore, with international offices and facilities located in key aviation hubs in Asia Pacific, Europe, the Middle East and the US. The aerospace company is the world's largest, independent, third party airframe MRO provider with an annual capacity of more than 8 million commercial airframe manhours, and extensive capabilities in aerospace engineering and development, engines, aircraft components repair and spares With their AMM operation arm, ST Aerospace perform light and heavy maintenance, upgrades, structural repairs, ageing modification work and conversions for a broad range of commercial aircraft including some of the biggest aircraft manufacturers. On the military front, apart from being an Authorised Maintenance Centre for C-130, Fokker 50, Bell and Super Puma helicopters, ST Aerospace also provides one stop maintenance services for the C-130 Hercules aircraft and F-5 Tiger fighters. Extending beyond MRO support, ST Aerospace also provides aircraft design engineering services offering a wide range of customised solutions for F-16 Falcon and F-5 Tiger fighter aircraft and many others. One prime example is the A-4SU Super Skyhawk, which was a drastically modernised and re-engined version of the old A-4S/A-4S-1 developed exclusively for use by the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF). Singapore's Air Force operates 12 CH-47 helicopters under the 127th Squadron at Sembawang Air Base. Singapore also participates in the "Peace Prairie" training program with the U.S. Army National Guard's 2-149th General Support Aviation Battalion at Grand Prairie, Texas. "We are pleased to appoint ST Aerospace as a repair center for the CH-47 Chinook engine transmission," said Christopher Chadwick, president of Boeing Military Aircraft. "This will be the start of a series of products on the Boeing IDS platform that will be serviced by ST Aerospace. ST Aerospace's high standards in repair and overhaul capabilities and processes provide assurance that this cooperation will benefit Boeing's customers with better services." The Chinook engine transmission is the first Boeing IDS component set up for repair and overhaul by ST Aerospace. "With ST Aerospace's facilities and equipment meeting the standards specified by Boeing IDS, ST Aerospace is poised to take on more repair and overhaul work for other components from Boeing military aircraft," said the press release. "Apart from the Chinook CH-47, Boeing IDS's other key programs include the F-15 and AH-64 Apache." "ST Aerospace has forged a close partnership with Boeing through various programs on commercial and military platforms over the years," said Tay Kok Khiang, president of ST Aerospace. "This relationship will enable ST Aerospace to extend its capability in the Chinook transmission to serve Boeing's Chinook helicopter customers beyond Singapore."

U.S. Navy Naming 3rd Littoral Combat Ship "Fort Worth" - Official / 3rd U.S. Navy LCS to be Named Fort Worth

U.S. Navy Naming 3rd Littoral Combat Ship "Fort Worth" - Official / 3rd U.S. Navy LCS to be Named Fort Worth

(NSI News Source Info) March 8, 2009: The third littoral combat ship will be named for the city of Fort Worth, Texas, the Navy secretary's office announced March 6. Two classes of Littoral Combat Ships are the first examples of the U.S. Navy's next-generation surface combatants: the Freedom Class and the Independence Class. Intended as a relatively small surface vessel for operations in the littoral zone (close to shore), the LCS designs are slightly smaller than the Navy's guided missile frigates, and have been compared to the corvette of international usage. However, the LCS designs add the capabilities of a small assault transport with a flight deck and hangar large enough to base two SH-60 Seahawk helicopters, the capability to recover and launch small boats from a stern ramp, and enough cargo volume and payload to deliver a small assault force with armored vehicles to a roll-on/roll-off port facility. The standard armament for the LCS are Mk 110 57 mm guns, while modules containing Non-Line-of-Sight Launch Systems or Mark 54 MAKO Lightweight Torpedoes are available. It will also be able to launch autonomous air, surface, and underwater vehicles. Although the LCS designs offer less air defense and surface-to-surface capabilities than comparable destroyers, the LCS concept emphasizes speed, flexible mission module space and a shallow draft. A new type of warship, the fast and agile LCS is intended to fight in shallow water with various warfare mission modules. The LCS family has two hull types, a semiplaning monohull built by Lockheed Martin and a trimaran being built by General Dynamics. Cmdr. Cappy Surette, a Navy spokesman at the Pentagon, confirmed that the Fort Worth will be built by Lockheed Martin. The ships are named for American towns with patriotic names or histories. The first, Freedom, was commissioned Nov. 8 in Milwaukee, Wis. The second ship, Independence, is expected to be delivered to the Navy this year.

Iraq To Receive 140 Abrams Tanks: U.S.

Iraq To Receive 140 Abrams Tanks: U.S.

(NSI News Source Info) BAGHDAD - March 8, 2009: Iraq will receive 140 Abrams battle tanks from the United States to bolster its forces, the U.S. Army said March 7. The Iraqi army had taken "a major step in the force modernization of its armored units with the recent procurement of 140 M1A1SA Abrams main battle tanks," a statement said.

The Iraqi Army has requested 140 M1A1M tanks as of 2009. 700 may be planned. The tanks were due to arrive over 18 months in groups of 35. The M1 Abrams is a main battle tank produced in the United States. The M1 is named after General Creighton Abrams, former Army Chief of Staff and Commander of US military forces in Vietnam from 1968 to 1972. It is a well armed, heavily armored, and highly mobile tank designed for modern armored ground warfare. Notable features of the M1 Abrams include the use of a powerful gas turbine engine, the adoption of sophisticated composite armor, and separate ammunition storage in a blow-out compartment for crew safety. It is one of the heaviest tanks in service, weighing in at close to 70 short tons. Iraqi troops would begin training with U.S. officers to operate the tanks in December 2010, the statement added. It gave no detail about whether the United States had sold or given the tanks to the Baghdad government. Before the ouster of Saddam Hussein's regime in 2003, the Iraqi army had a fleet of mostly aging Russian T-72 tanks. On Jan. 1, some 260,000 Iraqi soldiers took over control of security operations in Iraq alongside the police after the UN mandate governing U.S.-led forces deployed in the country expired. Most U.S. troops are due to be withdrawn from Iraq within 18 months.

Turkey Says Ready To Resume Mediation In Syrian-Israeli Talks

Turkey Says Ready To Resume Mediation In Syrian-Israeli Talks

(NSI News Source Info) ANKARA - March 8, 2009: Turkey is ready to resume mediation in Israel-Syria peace talks, the foreign minister said Saturday. "We are ready for resumption of talks should the proposal on this come from both sides," Ali Babacan said at a joint press conference with U.S. State Secretary Hillary Clinton. Babacan said Israeli and Syrian representatives have held four rounds of negotiations in Turkey but that they were suspended over Israel's military operation in the Gaza Strip. Talks between Damascus and Tel Aviv stalled in 2000 because the sides were unable to agree on the Golan Heights, which Israel occupied in the 1967 Arab-Israeli Six Day War. Syria has said peace talks would only be possible if Israel accepts the demand for a full return of the Golan Heights.

Russia Ready To Discuss U.S. Missile Proposals - Moscow

Russia Ready To Discuss U.S. Missile Proposals - Moscow

(NSI News Source Info) March 7, 2009: Russia is ready to discuss revised U.S. proposals for a controversial missile shield in Central Europe, as well as ways of dealing with other global problems, the Russian prime minister's spokesman said Friday. "If the United States' original plan on deploying this shield in Europe is somehow reviewed or if we actually receive some concrete counteroffer from the U.S., which takes into account Moscow's interests, then we will view this as an excellent sign, as this is what we have been talking about from the very start," Dmitry Peskov told the Golos Rossii (Voice of Russia) radio. The U.S. has cited Iran's controversial nuclear program as one of the reasons behind its plans to deploy a missile base in Poland and radar in the Czech Republic. The missile shield has been strongly opposed by Russia, which views it as a threat to its national security. The dispute has strained relations between the former Cold War rivals, already tense over a host of other differences. The United States and other Western nations suspect Tehran of secretly seeking nuclear weapons. Iran says its nuclear program is purely aimed at generating electricity. However, unlike his predecessor, George W. Bush, Obama has stated a preference for using diplomatic efforts to resolve the dispute. Top Russian officials have repeatedly expressed their hope that Obama will not follow through with his predecessor's missile defense plans.

India Decommissions Last MiG-23 Ground Support Aircraft / Indian Air Force To Retire MiG-23 Fighters

India Decommissions Last MiG-23 Ground Support Aircraft / Indian Air Force To Retire MiG-23 Fighters

(NSI News Source Info) NEW DELHI - March 7, 2009: India decommissioned on Friday its last MiG-23 Flogger fighter-bomber, a Soviet era aircraft in service with the Indian air force for 28 years, a Defense Ministry official said. "It was the best ground support aircraft we have ever had," the source said.

Indian Air force. All four squadrons of IAF have been phased out : MiG-23BN ground attack aircraft on 6th March 2009 & MiG-23MF air defence interceptor in 2007. The Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23 (NATO reporting name: "Flogger") is a swing-wing fighter aircraft, designed by the Mikoyan-Gurevich bureau in the Soviet Union and is considered to belong to the "Third Generation" aircraft category along with similar-aged Russian-produced fighters like the MiG-25 "Foxbat". It was the first Soviet fighter with a look-down/shoot-down radar and beyond visual range missiles, and the first MiG production fighter plane to have intakes at the sides of the fuselage. Production started in 1970 and reached large numbers with over 5,000 aircraft built. Today the MiG-23 remains in limited service with various export customers. India's fighter fleet has boasted 70 MiG-23BN and MiG-23MF aircraft since the beginning of the 1980s. The planes were used extensively in military encounters with neighboring Pakistan. During the Kargil War with Pakistan in 1999, MiG-23s played an important role in supporting an Indian ground offensive in the Kashmir region. However, steep maintenance costs and the lack of spare parts for the outdated aircraft led to its decommissioning. India is replacing the old MiG-21 and MiG-23 aircraft with new Su-30MKI multi-role fighters, which are produced under a Russian license by India's Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd and entered service with the IAF in 2002. India signed a deal with Russia to manufacture 140 Su-30 fighters in late 1990s, and ordered 40 additional Su-30s in 2007. With a strength of approximately 170,000 personnel and 1,130 combat aircraft in active service, the Indian Air Force is the fourth largest in the world.

Iran To Mull US Afghan Invitation / Iran Must Be Duly Respected As Mature Nation And Be Proven Better Factor On Afghan War

Iran To Mull US Afghan Invitation / Iran Must Be Duly Respected As Mature Nation And Be Proven Better Factor On Afghan War

Iran is home to one of the world's oldest continuous major civilizations, with historical and urban settlements dating back to 7000 BC. The first Iranian dynasty formed during the Elamite kingdom in 2800 BC. The Iranian Medes unified Iran into an empire in 625 BC. They were succeeded by three Iranian Empires, the Achaemenids, Parthians and Sassanids, which governed Iran for more than 1000 years. Iranian post-Islamic dynasties and empires expanded the Persian language and culture throughout the Iranian plateau. Early Iranian dynasties which re-assereted Iranian independence included the Buyids, Samanids, Tahirids and Saffarids. The blossoming of Persian literature, philosophy, medicine, astronomy, mathematics and art became major elements of Muslim civilization and started with the Saffarids and Samanids. Iran was once again reunified as an independent state in 1501 by the Safavid dynasty—who promoted Twelver Shi'a Islam as the official religion of their empire, marking one of the most important turning points in the history of Islam. "Persia's Constitutional Revolution" established the nation's first parliament in 1906, within a constitutional monarchy. Iran officially became an Islamic republic on 1 April 1979, after the Iranian 1979 Revolution.

(NSI News Source Info) March 7, 2009: Iran would consider a US invitation to a conference on Afghanistan later this month, a government spokesman has said. Tehran declared that it was ready to review any approach from Western powers, as it would offer any help to its eastern neighbour. US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said in Brussels this week Iran should be included in the Afghanistan summit. President Obama has said the United States is ready to talk to Iran if it "unclenched its fist". Iranian government spokesman Gholamhossein Elham said: "If America and European countries and others need to use Iran, they should give us [the invitation]." Nato's 'biggest challenge' "We will review it with the approach that we are ready to offer any help to Afghanistan," he told a news conference on Saturday, reported Reuters news agency. Mrs Clinton, who visited Turkey on Saturday, has proposed the conference for 31 March, at a location to be decided. It aims to bring in Afghanistan's other neighbours, such as Pakistan. She said on Thursday: "There are a lot of reasons why Iran would be interested. So they will be invited. Obviously it is up to them to decide whether to come." She called Afghanistan "Nato's biggest military challenge". French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said he hoped Iran would attend such a meeting, but noted Tehran had failed to attend recent French talks on Afghanistan. The US is at odds with Iran over its nuclear programme, which Washington says is aimed at building an atomic bomb. Tehran says it is a civilian energy programme. Iran, which opposed the Taleban regime toppled by the US-led invasion of Afghanistan in late 2001, has experienced a rise in drug use as easily available heroin from Afghan opium harvests flows across the border.

The Market for Main Battle Tanks: China Leads With Type 98, For State-Of-The-Art Grade One German Leads With Leopard 2 - Annual Analysis By Forecast

The Market for Main Battle Tanks: China Leads With Type 98, For State-Of-The-Art Grade One German Leads With Leopard 2 - Annual Analysis By Forecast International

(NSI News Source Info) March 7, 2009: In its annual analysis "The Market for Tanks," the Forecast International Weapons Group projects that the international market will produce over 6,500 main battle tanks, worth in excess of $26.76 billion, through 2018. However, while increased modernization and retrofit remains transparent to FI's analysis of new-production tanks, this factor remains a significant component of the international market. The Leopard 2 is a German main battle tank developed by Krauss-Maffei in the early 1970s and first entering service in 1979. The Leopard 2 replaced the earlier Leopard 1 as the main battle tank of the German Army. Various versions have served in the armed forces of Germany and twelve other European countries, as well as several non-European nations. More than 3,480 Leopard 2s have been manufactured. The Leopard 2 first saw combat in Afghanistan with the Danish and Canadian ISAF forces.

The first export customer were The Netherlands which received 445 vehicles between July 1981 and July 1986. The Netherlands later resold 114 of these (and one turret) to Austria, 80 to Canada in 2007, another 52 tanks to Norway and finally 37 to Portugal. Sweden also acquired 280 Leopards, 160 2A4s from German stocks, designated Stridsvagn 121, and the rest Leopard 2(S) models (designated Stridsvagn 122) similar in configuration to the Leopard 2A5 variant. Spain first leased and later bought 108 2A4 models in the interim period before 219 license-built Leopard 2A6 models (Leopardo 2E) were ready to replace them. Switzerland bought 380 between 1987 and 1993. A number of countries also use versions of the tank, including Poland, Denmark, Finland, Greece, Turkey and Chile. Germany has fielded about 2125 Leopard 2s in various versions. The design was also tested by Britain in the 1980s, which ultimately decided on the Challenger 2. The Australian Army evaluated ex-German Leopard 2s as a replacement for its Leopard 1 tanks in 2003 but instead selected the M1A1 Abrams. Dean Lockwood, weapons systems analyst at Forecast International, notes that "in 2008, U.S. Department of Defense contract awards for the maintenance, RESET, and upgrade of the existing M1 Abrams inventories carried a total value in excess of $1.46 billion. That was equivalent to more than 46 percent of the total value of all new-production main battle tanks entering the international market in 2008 (nearly $3.17 billion). Last year, the Chinese Type 98 program maintained its position as the single largest new-production program. Yet, with a total value of $395.79 million (for 116 new-production tanks), the Type 98 program was worth only about 27.11 percent what the U.S. DoD spent on the M1 Abrams in 2008." The expense associated with the modernization and retrofit of high-end main battle tanks pales in comparison with the prospect of new tank procurement. Thus, FI expects new production of high-end tanks to remain relatively low, accounting for 14.9 percent of all production and 24.22 percent of the value of the market during the forecast period. In terms of sheer numbers, Forecast International expects Pakistan's Al Khalid, the Type 98 of the People's Republic of China, and the Russian Federation's T-90 (including India's licensed T-90S production program) to continue to dominate the market, representing 60.57 percent of all new tanks rolling out worldwide, and accounting for 52.28 percent of the value of the market, through 2018. In the international market for main battle tanks, the days of U.S. and European domination over new production are long gone. Nevertheless, the established U.S. and European players continue to make their presence felt. The 120mm Rh 120 smoothbore ordnance, the state-of-the-art Leopard 2, and the combat-proven M1 Abrams continue to set the standard for main battle tank design worldwide. Second only to the infantryman in terms of combat effectiveness, the "mailed fist" of heavy armor remains the arm of decision on the modern battlefield. Further, as Operation Iraqi Freedom (2003-present) evolved from a war of movement into a security operation, the main battle tank has proven surprisingly adaptable. According to Lockwood, "In the congested streets of Iraqi cities, the Abrams serves as a significant force multiplier, fully up to meeting the challenges of an asymmetric warfare environment."

Pakistan Facing Internal ‘Mortal Threat’: Miliband

Pakistan Facing Internal ‘Mortal Threat’: Miliband

*By M.Ziauddin Dawn News Pakistan

(NSI News Source Info) LONDON - March 7, 2009: Alluding to the on going tussle between Zardari and Nawaz Foreign Secretary David Miliband told BBC Radio’s Today programme on Friday that politicians must unite to face a ‘very grave situation’ that was worsening. Britain Foreign Minister David Miliband. He fingered Lashkhar-e-Taiba for the Lahore attack without directly accusing it of carrying out the bloody attempt. He said that Pakistan was facing a ‘mortal threat’ from internal militancy. According to Miliband Pakistan's internal instability was ‘a grave situation and... it has got worse’. Miliband urged politicians to unite, saying: ‘I think that the degree of political disunity that exists at the moment is only contributing to the problem.’ He added that country's economic decline in the global credit crunch was also a major factor. ‘You’ve got the combination of a political crisis precipitated by the recent Supreme Court judgment, so democratic politicians are not coming together to fight terrorism. Secondly you've got massive economic uncertainty; this is a country now with a massive IMF loan. And thirdly, you've got a security challenge on a number of fronts. The western frontier that you referred to, the 2,400 kilometre border with Afghanistan; but also the attacks in the centre of Pakistan, those that claimed the life of Benazir Bhutto as Frank Gardner said, and obviously the most recent attack. So this is a very grave situation, and it's intimately linked to the situation in Afghanistan.’ He fingered Lashkhar-e-Taiba for the Lahore attack without directly accusing it of carrying out the bloody attempt. ‘I think one of the issues that I've been raising in my four visits to Pakistan, is the need for central and local government in Pakistan to work to replace those Lashkar-e-Taiba or at least their front organisations, welfare and educational organisations, with the arms of the Pakistani state. And this goes to, what I think is a core issue. Pakistan is a country that for 60 years, over the last 60 years, it's had about 31 years of military rule. At the same time, it spends less than half the amount of money on education as it does on the military. And there you have a recipe for people seeking a better life for their kids turning to madrassas and turning to extremism. I think that is the combination that needs to be taken on in the Punjab.’ ‘Now the problem is you've got a central government in Islamabad and a local government in Lahore, who are now at loggerheads as the result of the Supreme Court judgment I mentioned. And that's why we are putting so much emphasis on democratic politicians coming together in Pakistan, because we worked hard alongside many Pakistanis for the restoration of democratic rule. It's now vital that whatever the political differences between President Zardari, between Nawaz Sharif, the leader of the opposition, his brother who's the leader of the Punjab, or was the leader of the Punjab until last week, come together to unite against the mortal threat that Pakistan faces which is a threat from its internal enemies, not its traditional external enemies.’ When told that President Musharraf was holding or seem to be holding the line, but this (Zardari’s) government was failing Miliband disagreed and said: ‘I don't accept that, because a military rule cannot hold the line if it loses the confidence of its people, and I think that is what had happened in... especially in the later years of President Musharraf's rule; he'd lost the confidence of his own people, and you cannot fight a counterinsurgency if you do not have the confidence of the people.’