Friday, August 06, 2010

DTN News: Britain, Pakistan Pledge Unity In 'Anti-Terror' Fight

DTN News: Britain, Pakistan Pledge Unity In 'Anti-Terror' Fight Source: DTN News / AFP
(NSI News Source Info) LONDON , U.K. - August 6, 2010: The leaders of Britain and Pakistan on Friday smoothed over a row about tackling terrorism in the South Asian republic as they agreed to step up cooperation in fighting extremism.
British Prime Minister David Cameron had suggested last week that elements in Pakistan were backing the "export of terror", triggering a diplomatic spat. But he and Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari put on a show of unity after their talks outside London, saying the bond between Pakistan and the former colonial power was unbreakable. Cameron accepted an invitation to visit Islamabad soon and agreed to a yearly summit to strengthen ties. "This is a friendship that will never break, no matter what happens," Zardari said outside the prime minister's weekend retreat of Chequers, northwest of London. "Storms will come and storms will go, and Pakistan and Britain will stand together and face all the difficulties with dignity," he said. Cameron said he wanted to enhance London's "unbreakable relationship" with Islamabad "in the absolutely vital area of combating terrorism". "Whether it's keeping troops safe in Afghanistan or to keep people safe on the streets of Britain, that is a real priority for my government," he said. Cameron's predecessor Gordon Brown said in 2008 that up to three-quarters of the alleged terror plots then under investigation in Britain were linked to Pakistan. Zardari has insisted Islamabad is committed to fighting militants in the region, including in Afghanistan, where the Taliban have waged a fierce insurgency since the US-led invasion drove them from power in 2001. Speaking after their meeting, Cameron and Zardari said London and Islamabad would step up their anti-terror co-operation. "Among the common challenges facing the UK and Pakistan is the fight against terrorism and violent extremism," they said in a joint statement. "Both leaders appreciated the close co-operation that already exists between respective police forces and other security agencies. The two leaders agreed that such co-operation needs to and will intensify." Under the new partnership terms, ministers will meet to enhance links within their briefs. The foreign ministers will meet in October, and Britain's interior minister will visit Pakistan within months. Top civilian and military officials are expected to work closely with their opposite numbers. Cameron briefed US President Barack Obama after the Zardari talks. Relations between the two Commonwealth countries soured after Cameron hit out while on a visit to India last week. "We cannot tolerate in any sense the idea that this country (Pakistan) is allowed to look both ways and is able, in any way, to promote the export of terror, whether to India or whether to Afghanistan or anywhere else in the world," he told an audience in Bangalore. That came after leaked secret US military documents detailed alleged links between Pakistan's intelligence agency and the Taliban. Cameron's remark infuriated Islamabad, especially as it was made on a visit to Pakistan's regional rival, and prompted the Pakistani government to summon Britain's representative in Islamabad for clarification. Zardari came under pressure to cancel his trip over the controversy, while his failure to return home immediately after the flood disaster has also drawn criticism. Cameron said Britain stood ready to provide further flood relief assistance. He and Zardari were to plant a tree at Chequers in memory of the president's wife Benazir Bhutto, the former Pakistani premier who was assassinated in 2007. Meanwhile Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, the couple's 21-year-old son, said he would not be launching his political career yet. The Oxford University history graduate, who is co-chairman of the Pakistan Peoples Party alongside his father, said in a statement he intended to continue his education and was considering studying law. "An understanding of law and an appreciation for the rule of law is important for any politician seeking to strengthen democracy in Pakistan," he said.

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DTN News: Chinese Air Defense Forces Battle Rain As Military Drill Continues

DTN News: Chinese Air Defense Forces Battle Rain As Military Drill Continues
Source: DTN News / Xinhua
(NSI News Source Info) JINAN, China - August 6, 2010: Chinese air defense forces on Thursday battled rain while continuing a five-day military exercise featuring drills that include the relocation of air defense positions and command posts. More than 12,000 Chinese military personnel, along with seven types of military aircraft, divided into Red and Blue rivals, took part in the exercise-- code-named "Vanguard-2010,"-- which started on Tuesday in seven cities across Henan and Shandong Provinces.
Warplanes fly during a military drill held by Air Force of the Guangzhou Military Area Command of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) based in Guangzhou, capital of South China's Guangdong province, July 29, 2010. (Xinhua/Shen Ling) (ly)

Warplanes fly during a military drill held by Air Force of the Guangzhou Military Area Command of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) based in Guangzhou, capital of South China's Guangdong province, July 29, 2010. (Xinhua/Shen Ling)

Warplanes fly during a military drill held by Air Force of the Guangzhou Military Area Command of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) based in Guangzhou, capital of South China's Guangdong province, July 29, 2010. (Xinhua/Shen Ling)

Warplanes dive during a military drill held by Air Force of the Guangzhou Military Area Command of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) based in Guangzhou, capital of South China's Guangdong province, July 29, 2010. (Xinhua/Shen Ling) (ly)

Warplanes dive during a military drill held by Air Force of the Guangzhou Military Area Command of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) based in Guangzhou, capital of South China's Guangdong province, July 29, 2010. (Xinhua/Shen Ling)

Soldiers equip a missile for a warplane before the military drill held by Air Force of the Guangzhou Military Area Command of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) based in Guangzhou, capital of South China's Guangdong province, July 29, 2010. (Xinhua/Shen Ling) (ly)

Soldiers equip a missile for a warplane before the military drill held by Air Force of the Guangzhou Military Area Command of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) based in Guangzhou, capital of South China's Guangdong province, July 29, 2010. (Xinhua/Shen Ling)

At about 6 a.m. Thursday, the Red forces started their seven-hour relocation drill, which was complicated by heavy rainfalls that began early Thursday morning in Shandong and Henan Provinces.

By 1 p.m., the Red forces had finished relocating to their new defense positions, while the Blue forces launched a second round of attacks which began on Wednesday. Earlier reports said the annual drill, consisting of two phases to run from Tuesday to Saturday, would feature emergency evacuations, war planning, reconnaissance, early warning activities, ground-to-air attacks and evacuations of command posts during its first phase which ends on Thursday. Its second phase will include testing Chinese air defense troops' abilities in fighting air units in a "complicated electromagnetic environment." A "Vanguard-2009A" exercise was held in 2009 involving 5,000 soldiers and officers from the Chinese army and air force and more than 50 types of military equipment. In 2008, "Vanguard-2008" included participation by a 2,200-strong armored brigade from the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Jinan Military Area Command. The exercise was partly opened to foreign students studying at China's military academies.
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DTN News: Aerospace/Defense Headlines - News Dated August 6, 2010

DTN News: Aerospace/Defense Headlines - News Dated August 6, 2010
(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - August 6, 2010: Comprehensive daily news related on Aerospace/Defense for the world of TODAY.
*Comprehensive daily news related on Aerospace/Defense for the world of TODAY.

Friday August 6, 2010

Thursday August 5, 2010
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DTN News: Israel Releases Turkish Ship From Gaza Aid Flotilla

DTN News: Israel Releases Turkish Ship From Gaza Aid Flotilla
Source: DTN News - - This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources including BBC News
(NSI News Source Info) JERUSALEM, Israel - August 6, 2010: Israel has released an impounded Turkish aid ship on which nine activists were killed as they tried to break the Gaza blockade two months ago. The Mavi Marmara was towed out of Haifa by a Turkish tugboat following a request from Ankara. Two other Turkish ships are set to leave within hours. Israel's deadly raid on the aid convoy in May strained relations with Turkey and caused an international outcry.
The Mavi Marmara ship, aboard which Israel's deadly raid on a Gaza-bound flotilla took place on May 31, 2010, leaves the Haifa port, northern Israel, on its way to Turkey, Thursday, Aug. 5, 2010. (DTN News/AFP Photo)
The Mavi Marmara ship, the place where Israel's deadly raid on a Gaza-bound flotilla took place on May 31, 2010, is seen in Haifa port, northern Israel, before sailing to Turkey, Thursday, Aug. 5, 2010. (DTN News/AFP Photo)
Israel this week agreed to co-operate with a UN investigation into the clash. The three Turkish towing ships will "receive three vessels anchored in Israel along with the personal equipment that was aboard them," Israel's defence ministry said in a statement. It is believed that three remaining non-Turkish boats are still being held in Israel, along with the Irish cargo ship, Rachel Corrie, which sailed towards Gaza some days later.
Deadly clash The Mavi Marmara was the largest of the six-ship flotilla intercepted by Israeli troops on 31 May. The flotilla, crewed by activists from a coalition of pro-Palestinian groups, was trying to reach Gaza with 10,000 tonnes of humanitarian aid. Israel and Egypt have blockaded the Palestinian territory since the Hamas militant group took control of it in 2007. The Israelis, who recently loosened the blockade, say it is intended to stop militants in Gaza from obtaining rockets to fire at Israel. The Israeli military has said its commandos resorted to force only after being attacked by activists after they rappelled from helicopters onto the deck of the Mavi Marmara. But the activists say the commandos opened fire as soon as they boarded the vessel, which was in international waters at the time. Earlier this week, the United Nations announced that it was opening an inquiry into the flotilla raid which would include both Israeli and Turkish participation. Following months of negotiations, Israel agreed on Monday to co-operate with the inquiry.

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DTN News: Kyrgyz Police Disperse Anti-Government Protests

DTN News: Kyrgyz Police Disperse Anti-Government Protests Source: DTN News / Xinhua (NSI News Source Info) BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan - August 6, 2010: Kyrgyz police were mobilized Thursday to disperse anti-government demonstrators outside the capital city of Bishkek.
Kyrgyz police forces fired in the air to disperse some 2,000 demonstrators assembling outside Bishkek to support Urmat Baryktabasov, a former presidential candidate.
Riot policemen guard in Bishkek, capital of Kyrgyzstan, Aug. 5, 2010. Kyrgyz police were mobilized Thursday to disperse anti-government demonstrators outside the capital city of Bishkek. Interim President Roza Otunbayeva said Thursday that Baryktabasov has been arrested. (Xinhua/Sadat)
Riot policemen patrol in Bishkek, capital of Kyrgyzstan, Aug. 5, 2010. (Xinhua/Sadat)
Riot policemen patrol in Bishkek, capital of Kyrgyzstan, Aug. 5, 2010. (Xinhua/Sadat)
Supporters of Kyrgyzstan opposition leader Urmat Baryktabasov attend a protest in Bishkek, capital of Kyrgyzstan, Aug. 5, 2010. (Xinhua/Sadat)
Supporters of Kyrgyzstan opposition leader Urmat Baryktabasov attend a protest in Bishkek, capital of Kyrgyzstan, Aug. 5, 2010. (Xinhua/Sadat)
Riot policemen guard in Bishkek, capital of Kyrgyzstan, Aug. 5, 2010. (Xinhua/Sadat)
Riot policemen guard in Bishkek, capital of Kyrgyzstan, Aug. 5, 2010. (Xinhua/Sadat)
Riot policemen patrol in Bishkek, capital of Kyrgyzstan, Aug. 5, 2010. (Xinhua/Sadat)
Riot policemen patrol in Bishkek, capital of Kyrgyzstan, Aug. 5, 2010. (Xinhua/Sadat)
Police also stopped a number of buses loaded with supporters who intended to go into the capital. Baryktabasov has long been wanted by authorities for trying to oust a previous government in 2005 while trying to run for president at that time. He recently returned to Kyrgyzstan after fleeing the country for five years. Interim President Roza Otunbayeva said Thursday that Baryktabasov has been arrested. Also on Thursday, some 1,000 protesters marched across central Bishkek and Claiming the nation isn't ready to hold parliamentary elections in October, demonstrators demanded a role in the government for Baryktabasov. They also demanded to meet with Otunbayeva and stop a criminal investigation against Baryktobasov.
"At the current time the situation in the city (Bishkek) is under control and we will not allow a destabilisation," Interior Minister Kubatbek Baibolov said on national television. The Central Asian nation has suffered months of turmoil and bloodshed since the ouster of President Kurmanbek Bakiyev in early April. The violence has killed more than 300 people and injured thousands more. Otunbayeva, who is trying to restore order and stability in the country, held a constitutional referendum June 27 to approve a new constitution.
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DTN News: First Oshkosh Defense Vehicles To Enter Iraqi Fleet

DTN News: First Oshkosh Defense Vehicles To Enter Iraqi Fleet
Source: DTN News / Oshkosh Corporation
(NSI News Source Info) OSHKOSH, Wis. - August 6, 2010: Oshkosh Defense, a division of Oshkosh Corporation (NYSE:OSK), announced today its first ever order for vehicles to the Iraqi Armed Forces. The inaugural order is for 60 Heavy Equipment Transporter Systems (HETS), which includes the Oshkosh® HET vehicle and a trailer. Oshkosh also will provide operator training, spare parts and manuals. “Oshkosh Defense is committed to helping international militaries become more independent by supplying vehicles that increase their mission and logistics support capabilities,” said Ron Ziebell, Oshkosh Defense vice president and general manager, International Programs. “We look forward to working with the Iraqi Armed Forces as they strive to improve security within the region.” The Oshkosh HET is designed to rapidly transport M1A1 Main Battle tanks, armored vehicles and self-propelled guns, as well as a six-person crew, so the vehicles and soldiers arrive in mission-ready condition. The contract, valued at more than $40 million, was received through the U.S. Army TACOM Life Cycle Management Command (LCMC). Work under the contract is expected to be completed in May 2011. The HET is part of the company’s line of international vehicles and technologies designed to meet a variety of logistical and operational needs around the world. About Oshkosh Defense
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. For more information, visit http://www.oshkoshdefense.com/. About Oshkosh Corporation
Oshkosh Corporation is a leading designer, manufacturer and marketer of a broad range of specialty access equipment, commercial, fire & emergency and military vehicles and vehicle bodies. Oshkosh Corporation manufactures, distributes and services products under the brands of Oshkosh®, JLG®, Pierce®, McNeilus®, Medtec®, Jerr-Dan®, Oshkosh Specialty Vehicles, Frontline™, SMIT™, CON-E-CO®, London® and IMT®. Oshkosh products are valued worldwide in businesses where high quality, superior performance, rugged reliability and long-term value are paramount. For more information, visit http://www.oshkoshcorporation.com/. ®, ™ All brand names referred to in this news release are trademarks of Oshkosh Corporation or its subsidiary companies. Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains statements that the Company believes to be “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements other than statements of historical fact, including, without limitation, statements regarding the Company’s future financial position, business strategy, targets, projected sales, costs, earnings, capital expenditures, debt levels and cash flows, and plans and objectives of management for future operations, are forward-looking statements. When used in this press release, words such as “may,” “will,” “expect,” “intend,” “estimate,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “should,” “project” or “plan” or the negative thereof or variations thereon or similar terminology are generally intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors, some of which are beyond the Company’s control, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These factors include the impact on revenues and margins of the planned decrease in M-ATV production rates; the cyclical nature of the Company’s access equipment, commercial and fire & emergency markets, especially during a global recession and tight credit markets; the duration of the global recession, which could lead to additional impairment charges related to many of the Company’s intangible assets and/or a slower recovery in the Company’s cyclical businesses than equity market expectations; the expected level and timing of U.S. Department of Defense procurement of products and services and funding thereof; risks related to reductions in government expenditures, the potential for the government to competitively bid the Company’s Army and Marine Corps contracts, the startup of the Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles contract and the uncertainty of government contracts generally; the consequences of financial leverage associated with the JLG acquisition, which could limit the Company’s ability to pursue various opportunities; risks related to the collectability of receivables during a recession, particularly for those businesses with exposure to construction markets; risks related to production delays as a result of the economy’s impact on the Company’s suppliers; the potential for commodity costs to rise sharply, including in a future economic recovery; risks associated with international operations and sales, including foreign currency fluctuations; and the potential for increased costs relating to compliance with changes in laws and regulations. Additional information concerning these and other factors is contained in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. All forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release. The Company assumes no obligation, and disclaims any obligation, to update information contained in this press release. Investors should be aware that the Company may not update such information until the Company’s next quarterly earnings conference call, if at all.
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DTN News: US To Sell 2 Perry Class Frigates To Taiwan In Move Likely To Anger Beijing: Report

DTN News: US To Sell 2 Perry Class Frigates To Taiwan In Move Likely To Anger Beijing: Report
Source: DTN News / AP
(NSI News Source Info) TAIPEI, Taiwan- August 6, 2010: A Taiwanese newspaper reported Thursday that the U.S. will sell the democratic island two warships, a move that would almost certainly anger China and further undermine Beijing's already tense relations with Washington. The report, in the mass circulation Apple Daily, quotes an unnamed Taiwanese senior officer as saying that the U.S. Navy will sell Taiwan two Perry class frigates, about to be decommissioned, for $20 million each. The ships' sale will be formally approved by the State Department in late 2010 or early 2011, the paper quoted the officer as saying. Taiwan's defense ministry and the de facto U.S. Embassy in Taipei declined to comment on the report. Any new sale of U.S. military hardware to Taiwan could be expected to incense China. The mainland and the island split amid civil war in 1949, and Beijing sees third country involvement in the island's defense as interference in its internal affairs.
Long dormant tensions between Washington and Beijing resurfaced last month when U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton told an Asian forum in Hanoi, Vietnam, that the U.S. regarded settlement of a series of territorial disputes between China and several Asian countries in the South China Sea as being in America's national interest. The Chinese Foreign Ministry described those comments — and Clinton's demand that the disputes be resolved through multilateral negotiations — as "an attack." China prefers to address the disputes bilaterally because it believes that approach works to its advantage. Washington transferred recognition from Taipei to Beijing in 1979 but is legally committed to helping Taiwan defend itself against possible Chinese attack. A multibillion dollar sale to the island of American command and control systems and other sophisticated armaments led to a freeze in formal contacts between the Chinese and American militaries when it was announced earlier this year. Perry class frigates were designed in the U.S. in the 1970s. They can be used to launch submarine-hunting helicopters. China's submarine deployment in the Taiwan Strait — the 100-mile- (160-kilometer-) wide body of water separating the island from the mainland — is a major Taiwanese concern.
Description
Frigates fulfill a Protection of Shipping (POS) mission as Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) combatants for amphibious expeditionary forces, underway replenishment groups and merchant convoys. Background
The guided missile frigates (FFG) bring a short range anti-air warfare (AAW) capability (provided by their Phalanx Close-In Weapon System) to the frigate mission, but they have some limitations. Designed as cost efficient surface combatants, they lack the multi-mission capability necessary for modern surface combatants faced with multiple, high-technology threats. They also offer limited capacity for growth. Despite this, the FFG 7 class is a robust platform, capable of withstanding considerable damage. This "toughness" was aptly demonstrated when USS Samuel B. Roberts struck a mine and USS Stark was hit by two Exocet cruise missiles. In both cases the ships survived, were repaired and returned to the fleet. USS Stark was decommissioned in May 1999.
The Surface Combatant Force Requirement Study does not define any need for a single mission ship such as the frigate and there are no frigates planned in the Navy's five-year shipbuilding plan.
The lead ship of the class, USS OLIVER HAZARD PERRY (FFG 7), and the following ships have been decommissioned: FFG 9-16, 19-27, 30, 31, & 34.
FFG 17, 18, 35, & 44 were built for Australia.
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