Rent-A-Helicopters Headed To Afghanistan

Rent-A-Helicopters Headed To Afghanistan

(NSI News Source Info) February 21, 2009: Military officials are fond of describing helicopters as a "key enabler" that is often in short supply in Afghanistan. Almost two years ago, Royal Netherlands Maj. Gen. Ton van Loon, commander of NATO's Regional Command-South, complained: "One of the resources that we could never have enough of in this very large country, with very low infrastructure levels, [is] aviation. ... We can never have enough. It is clearly also something that we have to rely on the American aviation assets [for] heavily.

We're very glad for the Americans' support of the efforts in RC-South with a large helicopter force, and we badly need them to be able to do the operations." When the Marine Corps returned to Afghanistan last year, they brought a Marine Air-Ground

Task Force with a pretty significant complement of helicopters (pictured here).

But NATO and U.S. forces have looked to contracted aircraft to fill some of the gaps. NATO decided to lease civilian helicopters in late 2007; and the Army hired Blackwater Worldwide Xe to do "low cost/low altitude" airdrop of cargo pallets to isolated combat outposts. Carson helicopters, a firm that operates heavy-lift helicopters for firefighting and construction, recently signed a deal with to haul supplies for the U.S. military in Afghanistan. The Mail Tribune, a southern Oregon paper, reports that the company will provide seven Sikorsky S-61 helicopters, along with parts and maintenance, to a partner company contracted by the Pentagon. Their partner?

While Carson would not say, the Mail Tribune cited court documents and Department of Defense records that show the contract is with Presidential Airways, a subsidiary of the company formerly known as Blackwater Worldwide.

Al-Qaeda Founder Launches Fierce Attack On Osama bin Laden

Al-Qaeda Founder Launches Fierce Attack On Osama bin Laden

One of al-Qaeda's founding leaders, Dr Fadl, has begun an ideological revolt against Osama bin Laden, blaming him for "every drop" of blood spilt in Afghanistan and Iraq.

By David Blair in Cairo

(NSI News Source Info) February 21, 2009: Sayyid Imam al-Sharif, who goes by the nom de guerre Dr Fadl, helped bin Laden create al-Qaeda and then led an Islamist insurgency in Egypt in the 1990s. But in a book written from inside an Egyptian prison, he has launched a frontal attack on al-Qaeda's ideology and the personal failings of bin Laden and particularly his Egyptian deputy, Ayman al-Zawahiri. Twenty years ago, Dr Fadl became al-Qaeda's intellectual figurehead with a crucial book setting out the rationale for global jihad against the West. Sayyid Imam al-Sharif: The terrorist attacks on September 11 were both immoral and counterproductive, he writes Today, however, he believes the murder of innocent people is both contrary to Islam and a strategic error. "Every drop of blood that was shed or is being shed in Afghanistan and Iraq is the responsibility of bin Laden and Zawahiri and their followers," writes Dr Fadl. The terrorist attacks on September 11 were both immoral and counterproductive, he writes. "Ramming America has become the shortest road to fame and leadership among the Arabs and Muslims. But what good is it if you destroy one of your enemy's buildings, and he destroys one of your countries? What good is it if you kill one of his people, and he kills a thousand of yours?" asks Dr Fadl. "That, in short, is my evaluation of 9/11." He is equally unsparing about Muslims who move to the West and then take up terrorism. "If they gave you permission to enter their homes and live with them, and if they gave you security for yourself and your money, and if they gave you the opportunity to work or study, or they granted you political asylum," writes Dr Fadl, then it is "not honourable" to "betray them, through killing and destruction". In particular, Dr Fadl focuses his attack on Zawahiri, a key figure in al-Qaeda's core leadership and a fellow Egyptian whom he has known for 40 years. Zawahiri is a "liar" who was paid by Sudan's intelligence service to organise terrorist attacks in Egypt in the 1990s, he writes. The criticisms have emerged from Dr Fadl's cell in Tora prison in southern Cairo, where a sand-coloured perimeter wall is lined with watchtowers, each holding a sentry wielding a Kalashnikov assault rifle. Torture inside Egyptian jails is "widespread and systematic", according to Amnesty International. Zawahiri has alleged that his former comrade was tortured into recanting. But the al-Qaeda leader still felt the need to compose a detailed, 200-page rebuttal of his antagonist. The fact that Zawahiri went to this trouble could prove the credibility of Dr Fadl and the fact that his criticisms have stung their target. The central question is whether this attack on al-Qaeda's ideology will sway a wider audience in the Muslim world. Fouad Allam, who spent 26 years in the State Security Directorate, Egypt's equivalent of MI5, said that Dr Fadl's assault on al-Qaeda's core leaders had been "very effective, both in prison and outside". He added: "Within these secret organisations, leadership is very important. So when someone attacks the leadership from inside, especially personal attacks and character assassinations, this is very bad for them." A western diplomat in Cairo agreed with this assessment, saying: "It has upset Zawahiri personally. You don't write 200 pages about something that doesn't bother you, especially if you're under some pressure, which I imagine Zawahiri is at the moment." Dr Fadl was a central figure from the very outset of bin Laden's campaign. He was part of the tight circle which founded al-Qaeda in 1988 in the closing stages of the war against the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan. By then, Dr Fadl was already the leader of Egyptian Islamic Jihad, an extremist movement which fought the Cairo regime until its defeat in the 1990s. Dr Fadl fled to Yemen, where he was arrested after September 11 and transferred to Egypt, where he is serving a life sentence. "He has the credibility of someone who has really gone through the whole system," said the diplomat. "Nobody's questioning the fact that he was the mentor of Zawahiri and the ideologue of Egyptian Islamic Jihad." Terrorist movements across the world have a history of alienating their popular support by waging campaigns of indiscriminate murder. This process of disintegration often begins with a senior leader publicly denouncing his old colleagues. Dr Fadl's missives may show that al-Qaeda has entered this vital stage.

U.S.A.: Feds Pop Alleged Al Qaeda Associate

U.S.A.: Feds Pop Alleged Al Qaeda Associate

Calif. Man Accused of Lying About His Identity, Alleged Ties to Al Qaeda Leaders

By PIERRE THOMAS and JASON RYAN

(NSI News Source Info) February 21, 2009: The Justice Department has charged a California man for allegedly lying about his identity and immigration status, and failing to disclose that he has been associating with senior al Qaeda leaders. According to a newly-released indictment, Ahmadullah Sais Niazi hid from U.S. immigration officials his association with his brother-in-law Dr. Amin al-Haq, who the indictment says is the security coordinator for Osama bin Laden, and Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, another Islamic radical suspected of supporting "terrorists acts carried out by al Qaeda and the Taliban." Niazi and his attorney were unreachable for comment. The FBI learned last year that Niazi and his wife allegedly had used the Hawala system, unlicensed money transfers popular in the Middle East and Asia, to transfer money to Afghanistan and Pakistan, according to an FBI affidavit filed in the case.

U.S. Secretary Of State Hillary Clinton Arrives For China Visit

U.S. Secretary Of State Hillary Clinton Arrives For China Visit

( NSI News Source Info) BEIJING -February 21, 2009: U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton arrived in Beijing on Friday evening, kicking off her first visit to China since she took office. Clinton was greeted by Chinese Assistant Foreign Minister Liu Jieyi at the airport. US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton (L) talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi on February 21, 2009 in Beijing, China, Clinton is on a three day visit to the Chinese capital, as part of her first diplomatic tour to Asia. During her stay in China, Clinton is scheduled to meet with Chinese state leaders to exchange views on bilateral relations as well as international and regional issues of common concern, according to the Chinese Foreign Ministry. "We stand ready to strengthen dialogue with the U.S., enhance mutual trust, expand cooperation and promote greater development of bilateral relations in the new era," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu said at a regular press conference on Feb. 19,ahead of Clinton's visit. China is the last leg of her four-nation Asian visit which started Feb. 15, following Japan, Indonesia and the Republic of Korea (ROK). Clinton is scheduled to leave China for home Feb. 22.

Nigeria: Kidnappings, Corruption On The Increase, Officials Turning A Blind Eye

Nigeria: Kidnappings, Corruption On The Increase, Officials Turning A Blind Eye

(NSI News Source Info) February 21, 2009: Kidnappings are on the increase, and the targets tend to be the families of corrupt former government officials. The kidnappers know these families have money, and no longer have access to government security forces to provide guards for family members. Women and children are increasingly favored as victims. A man keeps his money in his back pocket in a Lagos. In Nigeria, where officials are keen to clean up a reputation for massive corruption, authorities insist that humble citizens show more respect for the country's currency, the naira.

You can threaten to rape female captives, to encourage payment, and children are easier to handle and more likely to get a prompt payment. Ransoms of over a million dollars are common here. This is a more dangerous way to make money than stealing oil from pipelines, but the payoffs are larger.

The number of criminal gangs is increasing, because of the growing number of lucrative opportunities. While the government has sent thousands of additional police and military personnel to the Delta, most of those are being used to supplement the private security (often former police and military) guarding government and oil company facilities. Employees of the oil companies, and their families, are also increasingly favored targets of kidnappers. You don't get as large a ransom from these working stiffs, but you don't run into as much security, or risk of a large scale police reaction. Ransoms for these victims are usually $100,000 or less.

There have been so many kidnappings among oil company employees (Nigerian and foreign), that the Nigerian employees have threatened to strike. Management pointed out that there is great demand for oil company jobs (in a region of high unemployment and low pay), and the strike threat faded. The union leadership backed down, but many of the workers walked out for three days as a "warning" anyway. Government corruption and inefficiency manifested themselves recently when a local drug company was caught shipping teething medicine for infants that contained an industrial chemical. So far, 84 infants have died. The government recalled all the medicine, or at least tried to, and about a dozen people were arrested.

There is a longer term problem, in the north, where Islamic conservatives continue to discourage parents from allowing their children to be vaccinated against polio. As a result, about half the polio cases on the planet occur in Nigeria. This resistance to vaccination (which some Islamic conservatives insist is really a Western plot to sterilize Moslem children) has stymied the planet wide effort (costing over $5 billion so far) to eradicate polio (which can only exist in a human host). The army has ordered courts martial for officers in charge of security during a December 20 attack on a Niger delta housing compound for oil company personnel. An investigation revealed that the officers completely failed to take charge of the defense of the ALSCON facility. Although the government found $2 billion in stolen (by former dictator Abacha) government funds in Swiss bank accounts, and convinced the Swiss to give the money back, most of the cash remains in Switzerland.

That's because the $290 million that has been returned so far, appears to have disappeared. The Swiss believe that the recovered stolen money is being stolen again, and will not resume payouts until assured that the money will be put to legitimate uses. February 18, 2009: In the Niger delta, security guard repulsed a MEND attack on an employee housing compound. February 17, 2009: Two boatloads of Nigerian gunmen attacked the seaside presidential mansion in neighboring Equatorial Guinea. Security guards repulsed the attack, and captured 16 of the attackers. Such attacks are increasingly common, mainly because Equatorial Guinea is just 200 kilometers from the Niger delta, and Nigerian criminal gangs are increasingly coming across the water to raid and plunder. The presidential palace attackers are said to belong to MEND, but MEND denies this. It may have been MEND members moonlighting, a not uncommon event. In the Niger delta itself, security forces repulsed a MEND attempt to attack an oil production facility. February 10, 2009: An army patrol found 22 barges full of stolen oil hidden in a Niger delta backwater, waiting for boats to haul the oil to a neighboring country for sale. The loss of these barges will cost the oil theft gang involved over a million dollars. But this seizure is a rare event. Most of the stolen oil is still getting out of the country. The military and police are accused of ineptitude and corruption, as reasons for the oil theft continuing. February 6, 2009: MEND rebels attacked a natural gas plant in the Niger delta. Three attackers and one soldier were wounded. MEND had said it would resume such attacks after the recent end of its ceasefire. February 5, 2009: At 3 AM, two boats of gunmen attacked an oil company security boat, killing the boat commander (a retired army officer) and wounding another crew member. The two attacking boats then retreated when the security boat returned fire. The need for private security forces has increased oil company operating costs to the point where many foreign firms will simply not consider working in Nigeria.

Ukraine, India Headed For Defense Cooperation Agreement

Ukraine, India Headed For Defense Cooperation Agreement

(NSI News Source Info) February 21, 2009: India and the Ukraine have agreed to frame an inter-governmental commission on military technical cooperation, after talks at AeroIndia 2009 in Bangalore.

The result would be a broad set of umbrella agreements that would define key requirements like security, technology transfer, and support, opening the way to defense projects with Ukrainian firms.

India already has a framework of this type in place with Russia, is reportedly negotiating one with France, and arguably needs one with the United States. The BTR-3 is an 8×8-wheeled armoured personnel carrier manufactured by KMDB in Ukraine. The most significant of exports was to the Myanmar Army which acquired 1000 BTR-3Us, to be assembled in Myanmar. The BTR-3U is an all-new production vehicle, rather than an upgrade of the existing in-service vehicle, such as the BTR-80. The Ukraine has a substantial defense industry left as a legacy from the Soviet Union, and some products like the BTR-3E1/3U have become export successes. India is certainly aware of the T-80UD “Al-Khalid” tank developed for Pakistan, whose rapid and successful fielding resulted in a rush effort to add T-90S tanks to the Indian Army’s fleet.

The Ukraine needs more of those orders in order to modernize and maintain its defense industrial base, which is vital to the country’s continued security. India has a different problem, which it shares with the Ukraine: sets of Soviet/Russian-made equipment that must be maintained and upgraded, despite poor cooperation from Russian firms. Reports indicate that Ukrainian expertise will be sought for programs aimed at modernizing Indian armor, MiG, Antonov, Tupolev and Ilyushin aircraft; and Mil and Kamov helicopters. Missiles, radars, and weapons cooperation are also reportedly under discussion. It’s worthy of note that all of these potential areas are also areas of Israeli expertise, and Israeli cooperation with India has grown apace on that basis. What Israel lacks, and the Ukraine offers, is original manufacturing capabilities for Russian equipment designs, and for many of the associated parts that would be used as spares.

The Middle East, F-35 And SA-20

The Middle East, F-35 And SA-20

(NSI News Source Info) February 21, 2009: Selling the Lockheed Martin F-35 to Israel continues to be an uncertainty-plagued proposition with the most difficult funding and advanced capability issues still to be worked out between Tel Aviv and Washington.

An American refusal to permit the installation of Israeli-made electronic surveillance and warfare systems in the Joint Strike Fighter may postpone the planned delivery of the fifth- generation stealth jet beyond the target date of 2014, senior defense officials told The Jerusalem Post. In a recent interview with Aviation Week & Space Technology, Maj. Gen. Charles Davis, executive officer of the JSF program, said that Israel would not be allowed to put its own systems in the F-35.

"They [Israel] are going to buy aircraft that have basically the same capability as all the others," Davis said. "They are trying to do 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. Defense industries such as Rafael, Elbit and Israel Aerospace Industries subsidiary Elta have protested the decision with Defense Ministry Dir.-Gen. Pinchas Buhris who last month made a lightning visit to Washington DC to discuss the issue with the Pentagon, The Jerusalem Post says.

Israel has asked for the right to install its own electronic warfare, radar, munitions and command and control systems into the aircraft, citing special Israeli Air Force operational requirements for a more defined set of enemy threats and a much smaller aerial combat zone which multiplies the risk of surprise. In the past, before announcing a decision to purchase the F-15I and the F-16I, the Israeli Defense Ministry first negotiated the installation of Israeli-made systems and then announced the sale. However in the case of the JSF, the US refused to conduct the negotiations with Israel until an announcement was made in Oct. that it would procure the plane. 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, The Jerusalem Post reported.

Also in play is the new Obama administration which is expected to make an official decision on the issue in the coming months. Israel and the US are scheduled to sign a Letter of Agreement by the end of the year, Israeli officials say. The Jerusalem Post reported that each plane would cost Israel over $100 million and not the estimated $50-$60 million that Lockheed Martin had initially claimed it would cost. The issue, as explained by Davis, is the difference between the year of purchase, the exchange rate, and flyaway cost versus the cost when training, spares and long-term sustainment and other issues that are subject to constant change. An Israeli defense source told The Jerusalem Post said that the cost would make it very difficult for Israel to complete its initial plan to purchase 75 aircraft. He said that if not for operational considerations, the IDF would have preferred to wait several years before ordering the aircraft, once the price goes down. The operations consideration is the sale of advanced surface to air missiles to Israel’s neighbors, in particular Syria and Iran. U.S. officials recently confirmed to Aviation Week that the SA-20 long-range and the SA-22 had been sold and SA-21 upgrades were a likely future upgrade.

Now the Russians appear to be backing away – temporarily -- from the $800 million SA-20 sale to Iran at least.

Russia has put a hold on delivery of the SA-20, according to the Russian newspaper Kommersant. The delivery of the systems would be delayed until the upcoming meeting between President Dmitry Medvedev and his US counterpart, Barack Obama. Israel Radio quoted Moscow sources as saying that Russia also wanted to avoid ruining a $100 million drone purchase from Israel.

Georgia, which has close ties to Israel’s aerospace industry, had used Elbit UAVs to monitor the Russian military buildup prior to the 2008 conflict between Russia and Georgia.

Iran Hails Military Ties With Russia

Iran Hails Military Ties With Russia

(NSI News Source Info) MOSCOW — February 21, 2009: Iran's defense minister said Friday he hopes to obtain new weapons from Russia to upgrade the nation's arsenals. Iran has relied on Russian military assistance in the past and hopes to continue doing so, Mostafa Mohammed Najjar said. Iranian Defense Minister Mostafa Mohammed Najjar seen at a news conference in Moscow, Russia, Friday, Feb. 20, 2009. Najjar voiced hope for boosting military ties with Russia. "Russia has advanced military technologies, we have used them and plan to keep using them," he said at a news conference. Najjar wouldn't elaborate on what specific weapons Iran was seeking. He met with his Russian counterpart and toured some Russians weapons plants during his five-day visit that began Monday. Moscow has developed close ties with Tehran and is building its first nuclear power plant. Russia also has supplied weapons to Iran, including Tor-M1 air-defense missiles, despite U.S. and Israeli complaints. However, Russian officials have rejected claims that they have provided Iran with more powerful, long-range S-300 air defense missile systems.

Supplying the S-300s to Iran would markedly change the military balance in the Middle East and the issue has been the subject of intense speculation and diplomatic wrangling for months. Israel and the U.S. fear that, were Iran to possess S-300 missiles, it would use them to protect its nuclear facilities, including the uranium enrichment plant at Natanz or the country's first atomic power plant now under construction at Bushehr by Russian contractors. That would make any potential military strike on the Iranian facilities much more difficult. Anatoly Isaikin, head of the Russian Rosoboronexport state arms-selling monopoly, was quoted in an interview published earlier this month as saying that it had not supplied S-300s to Iran yet but was ready to do so if ordered by the government. Russia's daily Kommersant has said earlier this week that Moscow had frozen the sale of S-300s, pending the first meeting between President Barack Obama and Russian counterpart Dmitry Medvedev. Russia hopes that Obama could reverse course on the previous administration's plan to deploy missile defense sites in Poland and the Czech Republic, and NATO's eastward expansion. But Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov warned this week that Russia has no intention to toughen its policy toward Iran regarding its nuclear program. The statement sounded like a signal that Russia had no intention to offer any immediate trade-offs on Iran. Israel, the U.S. and much of the international community believe Iran is secretly developing nuclear weapons. Tehran insists its uranium enrichment program is intended solely for civilian energy needs. Russia has sizable economic ties with Iran, including the $1 billion contract to build the nuclear power plant at Bushehr which is expected to go online this year. Moscow has supported limited U.N. sanctions on Iran, but worked to blunt efforts by the U.S. and others to impose tougher measures.

Japan's Navy Holds Anti-Piracy Exercise

Japan's Navy Holds Anti-Piracy Exercise

(NSI News Source Info) TOKYO - February 21, 2009: Japanese military and coast guard ships held a drill Friday to prepare for next month's mission to join multinational forces in the fight against pirates off the coast of Somalia.

Japan's Maritime Self-Defense Force's destroyer "Takanami" approaches a Japan coast guard patrol boat, bottom, which plays a role of pirate boat during an anti-piracy exercise off port of Kure, Hiroshima, western Japan Friday, Feb. 20, 2009. Japanese military and coast guard ships held a drill Friday to prepare for their dispatch next month on a mission to join multinational forces in the fight against pirates off the coast of Somalia.

The Defense Ministry said the exercise took place off Hiroshima in western Japan. Japanese navy ships are expected to deploy to the pirate-infested Gulf of Aden in early March.

Friday's exercise involved one destroyer, a military helicopter, two patrol boats and about 180 navy and 60 coast guard personnel.

Opposition lawmakers have criticized the deployment, saying it could draw Japan into military operations prohibited by its postwar pacifist constitution.

But Tokyo has argued that the battle against piracy is a crime-fighting operation rather than a military one and thus is not prohibited by Japanese laws. Japanese coast guard staff, who will be on board for the Somali mission, are vested with rights to arrest and investigate suspected pirates.

Japan's post-World War II charter limits its military to conducting defensive operations. The navy personnel on the anti-piracy mission are allowed to use weapons only in self-defense or under emergency circumstances.

Despite Japan's pacifist constitution, its navy has been increasingly operating far away from the country's shores. It began a refueling mission in the Indian Ocean in 2001 to support U.S.-led forces in Afghanistan.

Somali waters are now patrolled by more than a dozen warships from countries including Britain, France, Germany, Iran, the United States and China. South Korea has also ordered warships sent to the region to protect its vessels and crews from pirates.

Tokyo has said its ships will be sent only to protect Japanese commercial vessels _ though the government says none have thus far been hijacked. Pirates have fired at three Japanese vessels. No one was injured.

Army Surplus Machine Guns, Vehicles Lost

Army Surplus Machine Guns, Vehicles Lost

Audit Finds More Than 7K Surplus Items Mishandled Overseas

(NSI News Source Info) February 21, 2009: The Pentagon may have mishandled or even lost track of thousands of surplus machine guns, armored vehicles and other pieces of demilitarized equipment sold or provided to foreign governments, according to an internal audit. Some of the equipment was given to unauthorized nations, jeopardizing U.S. national security, according to the report by the Defense Department's inspector general. The lax control over surplus items "increased the risk of providing foreign governments unauthorized property that could be used to threaten our national security," the Feb. 13 report concluded. A copy of it was obtained Thursday. Defense Logistics Agency spokesman Douglas Ide did not immediately know whether the items at issue were sold or given to the foreign governments. "We take the nature of the IG's findings seriously," Ide said in a statement. "We're reviewing the report in light of the IG's recent comments and will respond to the IG's concerns. The report, dated Feb. 13, is based on a sampling of 175 pieces of equipment out of 7,373 pieces that were either sold or otherwise given to 19 foreign governments between October 2001 and March 2006. The report does not identify the foreign governments. President George W. Bush last year signed legislation prohibiting the Pentagon from selling leftover F-14 fighter jet parts. Democratic lawmakers sought the ban after The Associated Press reported that buyers for Iran, China and other countries had exploited weaknesses in Pentagon surplus-sale security to obtain sensitive military equipment, including parts for F-14 Tomcats and other aircraft, and missile components. Iran is believed to be the only country still trying to fly Tomcats. The U.S. Navy retired its fleet in 2006. The inspector general's report concluded: *As many as 7,259 of 7,373 items, including M-16 rifles, M-60 machine guns, and armored personnel carriers, were not properly tracked, safeguarded, accounted for, or reconciled. *As many as 291 of 7,373 line items, including M-16s parts, were shipped to foreign governments that were not authorized to have those items. *As many as 960 of 7,373 items were wrongly identified by how they should be demilitarized to prevent misuse. The 7,373 items were valued in the report at $296 million. The value of the items sampled was not immediately clear. Surplus military equipment can be sold to allied governments when the Pentagon no longer needs it. Some equipment may need to be dissembled or otherwise altered to make sure it can't be used against the United States. Over the nearly five-year period, the Defense Department gave 57 allied governments $2 billion worth of surplus equipment. The report rapped the Defense Logistics Agency and the Navy and Air Force transport offices with failing to vigorously track the equipment. It did not find similar weaknesses within the Army.

Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Singapore Hosts Intelligence Chiefs Pow-Wow

Singapore Hosts Intelligence Chiefs Pow-Wow

(NSI News Source Info) February 21, 2009: Singapore Defense Minister Teo Chee Hean played host to the second Asia-Pacific Intelligence Chiefs Conference (APICC) Feb. 18-20 at the Sheraton Towers Hotel. The conference is co-hosted by the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) and the U.S. Pacific Command. APICC is an informal forum for military intelligence chiefs from the Asia-Pacific region to discuss intelligence challenges. Gordon MacKay, left, speaks to Singapore's Defense Minister Teo Chee Hean before a plenary session at the Shangri-la Dialogue Asia security summit in Singapore. The theme for this year's conference is "Sharing Expertise in Managing Transnational Security Issues," a press release said. The first conference was held in 2007 in Kuala Lumpur. The conference focused on "enhanced information-sharing among the Asia-Pacific nations on counterterrorism, maritime security and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief." Intelligence officials included representatives from Bangladesh, China, Indonesia, Japan, Singapore, the United Kingdom and the United States. During the opening ceremony, Teo said that "intelligence and information sharing is an important aspect of international cooperation" and emphasized that by sharing diverse perspectives and experiences, such exchanges help to build understanding and "lay the foundation for our countries and armed forces to work together in response to any future crises." He stressed that in today's complex security landscape "our armed forces and intelligence professionals need to cooperate in the sharing of information, knowledge and expertise" as this was "crucial for a collective understanding of the challenges faced, and to enable relevant and coordinated responses by the stakeholders." Teo said the economic crisis would compound problems in the areas of terrorism, proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, piracy, natural disasters and pandemics. "These hardships will create additional social and political stresses, and, if not managed properly, could lead to greater friction and tensions. We saw this in our region here in southeast Asia in the aftermath of the 1997 Asian financial crisis," he said. Only by international cooperation can problems be kept from spinning out of control. He said three broad principles would help regional actors survive this coming crisis. "First, achieving regional security is the collective responsibility of all stakeholder countries. Second, our cooperative approach should be open and inclusive, engaging responsible international organizations and extra-regional stakeholders that can play a constructive role. And third, such cooperation must take place in a framework of respect for international law, regional norms and national sovereignty, recognizing the diversity of the Asia-Pacific region." As an example, Teo pointed to Singapore's creation of the Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia (ReCAAP) in 2006 with 14 member countries. "The ReCAAP Informational Sharing Centre has helped to provide more accurate reports of incidents of piracy and armed robbery against ships in the region, as well as facilitated the sharing of best practices among countries," he said. "Similarly, the Information Fusion Centre, to be located at the Changi Command and Control Centre in Singapore, will enhance information-sharing on the sea situation in our region and beyond, thereby promoting international and regional maritime security cooperation." Teo also pointed to the Mumbai attacks as a latest example of a "string of terrorist attacks" and a "grim reminder that terrorism remains a common and persistent threat." Teo said good intelligence cooperation in information exchange, early warning and capacity building are the foundations to fighting terrorism. "Countering the regional Jemaah Islamiyah network, whose tentacles spread across several countries in our region, including Singapore, would not have been possible without good intelligence exchange and close regional cooperation," he said. "Good intelligence exchange and concerted action has also allowed the JI network to be disrupted, potential attacks thwarted and key personalities arrested."

U.S. May Look At Turkey Following Kyrgyz Base Closure

U.S. May Look At Turkey Following Kyrgyz Base Closure

(NSI News Source Info) ANKARA - February 21, 2009: Washington may look at setting up a military base in the Black Sea city of Trabzon in Turkey as an alternative to the Kyrgyz base which is due to close later this year, a Turkish newspaper said on Friday. Kyrgyz President Kurmanbek Bakiyev signed on Friday a decree to close the U.S. base used for the past eight years to support NATO operations in nearby Afghanistan.

The United States will have 180 days to withdraw some 1,200 personnel, aircraft and other equipment from the Manas airbase. Turkey's pro-government Yeni Safak, citing an unofficial U.S. source, reported that Washington could turn to Turkey as an alternative location for the military base should the U.S. get a negative response from two other Central Asian states, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan. "If the Tajik and Uzbek variants do not work, then the next in line will be Turkey's Black Sea coast [in] Trabzon," the newspaper reported. The decision to close the Kyrgyz base comes as U.S. President Barack Obama announced he will send an additional 17,000 soldiers to Afghanistan to fight Taliban and al-Qaeda insurgents. The move will increase the U.S. contingent to more than 50,000 personnel. Russia, which has an airbase in Kant, a short distance from the U.S. base at Manas, recently said it was ready to broaden cooperation with Washington on non-military supplies to Afghanistan via the "northern corridor," which is likely to cross Russia into Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan before entering northern Afghanistan. The Commander of U.S. Central Command Gen. David Petraeus, who is currently in Central Asia, may visit Turkey in the near future to discuss the issue, the newspaper said. The U.S. Air Force has been deployed at an airbase in Turkey's southern city of Incirlik since the signing of a joint agreement in 1954. The NATO base is currently home to the United States' 39th Air Base Wing and some 5,000 U.S. service personnel.

U.S. Marines’ Heavy Trucks LVSR Logistic Vehicle System Replacement

U.S. Marines’ Heavy Trucks LVSR Logistic Vehicle System Replacement

(NSI News Source Info) February 20, 2009: Trucks are the unglamorous but very necessary backbone of any mobile military force. The US Marines certainly fit the description of a mobile force, and Oshkosh Defense supplies their MTVR medium trucks. The LVSR was built to answer the call on the most challenging military missions. It loads flat racks, ISO containers, bridges and boats, as well as fuel containers, and even loads and unloads flat racks from trailers towed by the LVSR. In 2006, the Marines took the next step, and chose a winner to replace a worn-down Oshkosh LVS heavy truck fleet that has served since 1985. Like their predecessors, these new “Logistic Vehicle System Replacement” (LVSR) heavy trucks will usually find themselves transporting heavy equipment, and basic supplies such as ammunition, fuel, and water. That winner was also an Oshkosh design, which shares MTVR features like the TAK-4® independent suspension system for better off-road performance, leverages advances in automated vehicle diagnostic systems, includes factory-installed armor, and sports a special 600 hp CAT C15 engine. The new 10×10 all wheel drive LVSR trucks have a a 22.5 ton on-road payload and a 13.5 ton off-road payload, with a maximum recommended vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of 98,000 pounds/ 44,452 kg. The LVSR can ford 5 feet/ 152.4 cm of water, travel at up to 65 mph/ 105 kph, and has an on-road cruising range of 300 miles/ 483 km. The vehicle will also load and unload flat racks from towed trailers, each of which adds 33,000 pounds/ 14969 kg of payload. All adapters and lift hardware are carried on the vehicle.

Contracts and Key Events

The Marine Corps System Command, Quantico, VA manages these contracts. Unless otherwise indicated, Oshkosh Corporation in Oshkosh, WI is the contractor. Feb 18/09: A $23.3 million fixed-price delivery order under a previously awarded indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity contract (M67854-06-D-5028, #0039) for 60 more LVSR trucks and 30 more weapons mount kits. Work will be performed in Oshkosh, Wis., and is expected to be complete by March 31/10. Dec 23/08: A $176.3 million fixed-price delivery order under a previously awarded indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity contract (M67854-06-D-5028, #0025). This delivery order exercises pre-priced options for 400 LVSR production cargo vehicle, 17 LVSR Low Rate Initial Production (LRIP) 5TH Wheel Vehicles, 11 LVSR LRIP Wrecker Vehicles, 275 production weapons mount kits, 110 engine arctic kits, and 171 add-on armor kits. Work will be performed in Oshkosh, WI, and work for this delivery order is expected to be complete by May 31/10. May 31/06: Oshkosh Truck Corporation in Oshkosh, WI wins an estimated $740.2 million firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery /indefinite-quantity contract for the US Marine Corps’ Logistics Vehicle System Replacement heavy trucks. The initial $28 million order involves 22 cargo trucks, 2 wrecker trucks, 2 fifth wheel variants, vehicle kits, training (operator/maintainer-cargo), test support-production verification testing cargo, meetings, and contract data requirements. Over the life of the contract, total orders could involve 1,350 LVSR MKR18 cargo, 150 LVSR wrecker, and 400 LVSR fifth wheel trucks. Work will be performed in Oshkosh, WI, and is expected to be complete by May 2012. This contract is the result of a limited LVSR System Development and Demonstration Phase competition. Oshkosh won, and moved on to the the Production and Deployment (P&D) Phase with this contract. The Marine Corps Systems Command in Quantico, VA manages this contract (M67854-06-D-5028).

US Army Awards Urgent Order For 3 Bell 407 Helos / Pentagon Contract Announcement

US Army Awards Urgent Order For 3 Bell 407 Helos / Pentagon Contract Announcement

(NSI News Source Info) February 20, 2009: Bell Helicopter Textron, Inc., Hurst, Texas, was awarded on Feb. 18, 2009, a $7,030,290 commercial firm fixed price contract awarded on urgency for three (3) Bell 407 Standard Configuration Helicopters.

The Bell 407 is a four-bladed, single engine, civil utility helicopter; a derivative of the Bell 206L-3 LongRanger. The 407 uses the four-bladed, soft, in-plane, rigid rotor with composite hub that was developed for the United States Army's OH-58D Kiowa Warrior instead of the two-bladed, semi-rigid rotor of the 206L-3. The Bell 407 is frequently used for corporate and offshore transport, as an air ambulance, law enforcement, electronic news gathering and movie making.

Work is to be performed at Hurst, Texas, with an estimated completion date of Feb. 28, 2009. Bids were solicited using sole source with one bid received. U.S. Army Aviation & Missile Command, Redstone Arsenal, Ala., is the contracting activity (W58RGZ-09-C-0018).

US Army to Deploy Stryker Vehicles in Afghanistan / Strykers Gear Up for New Mission in Afghanistan

US Army to Deploy Stryker Vehicles in Afghanistan / Strykers Gear Up for New Mission in Afghanistan

(NSI News Source Info) WASHINGTON - February 20, 2009: The Army’s Stryker armored vehicle will get its first crack at the resurgent Taliban and terrorist strongholds in Afghanistan this summer when the 2nd Infantry Division’s 5th Stryker Brigade Combat Team hits the ground there. Army Gen. David D. McKiernan, commander of NATO’s International Security Assistance Force and U.S. Forces Afghanistan, said at a Pentagon news conference yesterday that he specifically requested the Stryker brigade for its versatility.

The IAV Stryker is a family of eight-wheeled all-wheel-drive armored combat vehicles produced by General Dynamics Land Systems, in use by the United States Army. Based on the Canadian LAV III light-armored vehicle, which in turn is based on the Swiss MOWAG Piranha III 8x8, the Stryker is the U.S. Army's first new armored vehicle since the M2/M3 Bradley Fighting Vehicle in the 1980s.

“I asked for a Stryker capability, with one of the brigade combat teams, so that it could provide the mobility, the situational awareness, the protection,” McKiernan said. “And, quite frankly, it provides a lot of infantrymen. And that would give us an ability to maneuver capabilities in the southern and southwestern parts of Afghanistan.”

The brigade will bring about 4,000 soldiers and nearly 300 Strykers to the fight in Afghanistan. They will be operating in the country’s southern region and along the Pakistan border, areas that don’t have a sufficient security presence, preventing governance and infrastructure progress, McKiernan said.

“We need persistent security presence in order to fight a counterinsurgency and to shape ‘clear, hold and build’ in support of a rapidly developing Afghan capacity,” he said, referring to the strategy of clearing an area of insurgents, preventing them from returning, then taking advantage of the improved security to build governance and infrastructure.

The additional troops also will have a dual responsibility in training and organizing Afghan police forces and army, he said. Military leaders there hope to double the size of the Afghan army to 134,000 troops as soon as 2011.

Mentoring and training Afghan forces is necessary for success there, the general said. “Our goal [is] to attempt to accelerate the growth of the Afghan army,” McKiernan said. “But we need to do that in a smart way. We need to do it in a holistic way, so it's not just a question of numbers; it's a question of training, equipping, leader development and their employment.”

The Army brigade’s deployment was officially announced this week as part an additional 17,000 soldiers and Marines President Barack Obama ordered to Afghanistan.

Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates signed the deployment orders at around 7:25 a.m. on Feb 17, and Obama’s announcement was pending notification of the soldiers’ and Marines’ families, Pentagon officials said. The Strykers originally were slated for an Iraq deployment this summer, but anticipated the switch “some time ago,” a brigade spokesman said yesterday.

Army Maj. Mike Garcia wouldn’t give specifics as to when the soldiers were notified of their new Afghanistan mission, but said it was enough time to adjust their training before arriving at the National Training Center earlier this month at Fort Irwin, Calif. “Their training scenario is focused on an Afghanistan fight,” Garcia said. “We knew this some time ago and had enough time to modify the scenario.”

The brigade started its training at the National Training Center on Feb. 15, learning the various cultures within Afghanistan. Persian Farsi, Pashto and Urdu are some of the languages and customs they’ll get a crash course in.

They’ll also learn what to expect regarding Afghanistan’s mountainous terrain, weather and type of insurgency they may face, based on military experiences there. Their training will continue through the end of the month, Garcia said.

The Stryker brigade concept has proven successful in urban warfare since it was first introduced to live combat December 2003 in Iraq, but it has never been used in Afghanistan. The Stryker community recognizes the challenges, but is confident in their capabilities. “Yes, it is a different theater,” Garcia said. “Combat is never easy, but they’re still prepared, mentally and physically, to go to combat. It’s just a different place on the globe to us.”

Afghanistan’s mountainous and rigid terrain, freezing weather and the freedom of movement insurgents have enjoyed there will be new challenges for the Stryker. There are distinct differences compared to Iraq regarding the terrain and culture, but Garcia said, “the basic tenets and concept of fighting a counterinsurgency remain the same.” “Stryker brigades are very versatile,” he said, echoing McKiernan.

Strykers can travel long distances very fast. The 10 different models of Stryker vehicles include infantry, engineer, reconnaissance and medical evacuations variants, and can carry as many as 14 soldiers, Garcia explained. “With the incredible capabilities they have to conduct reconnaissance and target bad guys with precision operations while mitigating collateral damage, Strykers are probably one of the best formations that the Army has put on the fields in decades,” he added.

The 5th Stryker Brigade Combat Team will be making the unit’s first combat deployment. It was activated at Fort Lewis on May 4, 2007, as the Army’s seventh Stryker brigade.

Germany Offers Extra Troops for Afghanistan, UK Wants More / Gates Encouraged by NATO Discussions on Afghanistan

Germany Offers Extra Troops for Afghanistan, UK Wants More / Gates Encouraged by NATO Discussions on Afghanistan

(NSI News Source Info) KRAKOW, Poland - February 20, 2009: Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said he is encouraged by discussions with NATO allies here today on the way forward in Afghanistan.

“There was a lot of focus on the run-up to the Afghan election in August and the importance of added security,” Gates told traveling and international press following the beginning of the NATO defense ministers meeting.

At the meeting, Germany committed forces to help with security in Afghanistan as the election approaches. “We welcome the commitment of additional German forces for the upcoming Afghan national elections,” Pentagon Press Secretary Geoff Morrell said.

“For those contests to be credible, voter turnout must be robust and representative, and improving the security situation is the key to making that happen. We encourage other nations to do as we and the Germans have now done and deploy more troops before Afghans go to the polls later this year."

The need for more resources on the civilian side of operations in Afghanistan also was discussed. The ministers heard from Afghan Defense Minister Abdul Rahim Wardak and United Nations Special Representative for Afghanistan Kai Eide.

Gates said it was important to hear from the Afghans, “because it’s fundamentally their fight, and we are helping them. The more we see them in the lead, the better it is.” Gates said he spoke with leaders about the review of U.S. Afghan policy that’s under way and stressed the inclusiveness of that strategy.

“There will be Afghan and Pakistani teams coming to the U.S. to work with us on it,” he said. Richard Holbrooke, President Barack Obama’s special envoy to Afghanistan and Pakistan, will meet with NATO allies in Brussels.

Obama’s recent decision to send more U.S. troops to the country will put resources in place to implement the strategy.

In the past, coalition troops have not had the manpower to hold areas after clearing out the Taliban and affiliated terror groups, Gates said. “What we are doing with this troop increase … is to have a more or less continuing presence with our Afghan partners … to bring security to the population,” he said. “Without that kind of security, economic development is very difficult.” Safe havens in Pakistan have contributed to the increase in violence in Afghanistan.

Gates praised the Pakistani military and Frontier Corps, a federal paramilitary force, for re-entering the fray in the tribal areas. The secretary said all of the ministers expressed strong support for training Afghan security forces.

All view the Afghan National Army and Afghan National Police as the institutions that will lead the fight. “Particularly with respect to the police, more than in the past, there was an expression of the importance of helping to train and expand the police,” Gates said.

The secretary stressed the importance of civilian contributions to Afghanistan. Governance is key, and the secretary wants aid to local, district and provincial governments as well as the national government.

“The last thing the Afghans want is for us in some way to re-create warlords,” he said. “The question is, How can you engage the local population in defense?” Gates also spoke of the Kyrgyzstan parliament’s vote today to close Manas Air Base, an important logistics hub for the effort in Afghanistan.

“Manas is important, but it is not irreplaceable,” the secretary said. “We are going to continue to work with the Kyrgyz. We [have] not resigned ourselves to this being the last word.” U.S. planners have looked at alternatives to the base.

“Speaking for myself, since the Department of Defense will have to pay the bill, I think we are prepared to look at the fees and see if there is justification for a somewhat larger payment, but we’re not going to be ridiculous about it.” He said he hopes to “walk this back” with Kyrgyz leaders and continue the arrangement.

“Like I said, it’s an important base, but not so important that we will waste taxpayer dollars,” he said. The global economic crisis colors all deliberations, “but there was less mention of that today than I expected,” Gates said. taking significant budget cuts, but “by inference, people aren’t using the

“There have been a few people who have said they are not cutting back on their commitment, but they are not increasing their commitment as much as they would like because of budgetary pressures.”

Many NATO defense ministries are economic crisis as an excuse to cut back on their contributions or to walk away from their commitments to Afghanistan,” Gates said.

Singapore Receives First AEW Gulfstream / RSAF's First Gulfstream 550 Airborne Early Warning Aircraft Returns to Singapore

Singapore Receives First AEW Gulfstream / RSAF's First Gulfstream 550 Airborne Early Warning Aircraft Returns to Singapore

(NSI News Source Info) February 20, 2009: The Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) received its first Gulfstream 550 Airborne Early Warning (G550-AEW) aircraft at Tengah Air Base this evening.

Chief of Air Force, Major-General Ng Chee Khern, officiated at the homecoming ceremony. The RSAF has acquired a total of four G550-AEW aircraft to replace its ageing E-2C Hawkeye aircraft which have served the Air Force well for more than 20 years. The Singapore air force’s first Gulfstream 550 Airborne Early Warning aircraft on the ramp at Tengah air base after its delivery.

Equipped with a sophisticated mission suite that includes an Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar, the G550-AEW aircraft is able to detect, identify and track aerial targets.

The G550-AEW aircraft has a longer detection range than the E2C Hawkeye - more than 200 nautical miles.

This will allow the RSAF to see farther and respond more effectively to various operational situations.

The advanced airborne early warning capabilities offered by the G550-AEW aircraft will enhance the robustness of Singapore's networked air defence system.

US Ready To Pay More For Kyrgyz Base Within Limits: Gates

US Ready To Pay More For Kyrgyz Base Within Limits: Gates

(NSI News Source Info) Krakow, Poland - February 20, 2009: The United States is ready to pay more but not beyond a "reasonable" amount to use an air base in Kyrgyzstan to supply US forces in Afghanistan, US Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Thursday. U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates addresses reporters during his final press conference at a meeting of NATO defence ministers in Krakow, Southern Poland February 20, 2009. "We have not resigned ourselves to this being the last word," Gates said after the Kyrgyz parliament voted Thursday to close the Manas air base. "We're going to continue to work the problem with the Kyrgyz" government, the defense chief said during a visit to Poland for a NATO defense ministers meeting. "I think we are prepared to look at the fees and see if there is a justification for a somewhat larger payment but we're not going to be ridiculous about it," he said. "We're prepared to do something that we think is reasonable." The United States pays 17.4 million dollars a year to use the strategic air base, which serves as a vital hub for moving troops and supplies in and out of Afghanistan. The move by Kyrgyzstan complicates the US mission in Afghanistan just two days after President Barack Obama approved the deployment of 17,000 additional troops there and follows a series of insurgent attacks on vital supply lines through Pakistan. Kyrgyzstan's decision came shortly after Russia offered major financial aid, but Kyrgyz officials have insisted the two issues are not related. The US government was holding "discussions" with the Kyrgyz government and had yet to receive official notification of a decision to close Manas, a Pentagon spokesman said earlier in Washington. "Manas is important but it's not irreplaceable," Gates said. "We have looked at alternatives, and have been talking to a number of different countries," he said on the sidelines of the NATO meeting. Gates said that contingency plans for other supply routes reflected the increased demands that will come from the planned deployment of US troop reinforcements to Afghanistan. "The thinking and the planning that has been done in terms of an alternative network takes into account the increase of troop levels and the requirements that they will impose," he added. After the parliamentary vote in Kyrgyzstan, the legislation was due to be signed by President Kurmanbek Bakiyev. The United States would then be formally notified and given six months to remove its base, said ruling Ak Zhol party lawmaker Zayinidin Kurmanov in Bishkek. The US base, home to about 1,000 troops, including small French and Spanish contingents, was set up to support coalition forces fighting to oust the Taliban in Afghanistan in the wake of the September 11, 2001 attacks. About 15,000 people and 500 tonnes of cargo move in and out of the Manas air base every month supporting the NATO mission in Afghanistan and the Afghan army. Since Bishkek's announcement, both Russia and Tajikistan have offered their territory to transit non-lethal supplies to NATO and US forces in Afghanistan. General David Petraeus, head of Central Command, which oversees the region, travelled to Uzbekistan on Tuesday to meet President Islam Karimov and discuss regional security. The visit was widely interpreted as a sign that the United States was seeking to use the country as a transit route for Afghanistan. Tashkent closed a US air base that helped serve troops stationed in Afghanistan in 2005, following EU and US criticism over the Uzbek government's handling of an armed uprising in the city of Andijan.

Chinese Navy To Attend Joint Military Exercise In Pakistan

Chinese Navy To Attend Joint Military Exercise In Pakistan

(NSI News Source Info) February 20, 2009: The Chinese navy will participate in a ten-day multinational naval exercise in the seas off Pakistan in March, a Ministry of National Defense official said Thursday.

A task force, composed of the destroyer Guangzhou, a helicopter and 10 members of the marine corps will take part in the "Peace-09" exercise, said ministry spokesman Huang Xueping. The drill, slated for March 5 in the port city of Karachi, was initiated by the Pakistan navy and will be attended by 11 countries.

It includes search-and-rescue exercises, anti-piracy operations and fleet formation defenses. The purpose for attending the operation is to allow the Chinese navy to gain useful experience from foreign counterparts, strengthen its communication capacity, learn how to cooperate with foreign navies in handling new threats and challenges at sea and maintaining regional peace and stability, Huang said.

The Chinese navy, together with task forces from France, Turkey, the United Kingdom and the United States, attended a Pakistan navy-initiated joint military exercise in March 2007.

Singapore's Stealth Frigates Display Power In Navy Drill

Singapore's Stealth Frigates Display Power In Navy Drill

(NSI News Source Info) February 20, 2009: Singapore's six radar-evading stealth frigates displayed their firepower for the first time at a military exercise held by the country's navy and air force, local media reported on Thursday.

The Formidable class multi-role stealth frigates are the latest platforms to enter into service with the Republic of Singapore Navy, and are multi-mission derivatives of the French Navy’s La Fayette class frigate. The frigates are key information nodes and fighting units, and are “by far the most advanced surface combatants in Southeast Asia". The six ships form the 185 Squadron of the Navy.

According to Chinese Language newspaper Lianhe Zaobao, some 800personnel participated in the two-day military exercise to end on Thursday in the South China Sea. The newspaper said it was arranged by Singapore's Defense Ministry on board the RSS Steadfast in the South China Sea, 185 km north-east of Singapore, to observe the joint military drill.

Besides six radar-evading stealth frigates, the navy also sent three missile corvettes, one Landing Ship Tank, one submarine.

And the air force sent two F-5 Tiger jets, four F-16 fighter jets, oneE-2C surveillance aircraft and one Super Puma helicopter for the mission. During the two-day drill, the stealth frigates and other vessels demonstrated how to hunt and destroy enemies on land, at sea and in the air.

U.S. Navy and Lockheed Martin $6.5 Billion Arms Deal To Taiwan Near Complete

U.S. Navy and Lockheed Martin $6.5 Billion Arms Deal To Taiwan Near Complete

(NSI News Source Info) TAIPEI, Taiwan — February 20, 2009: The U.S. Navy and Lockheed Martin Corp. reached agreement this week on a $1.3 billion deal to refurbish a dozen antisubmarine aircraft for sale to Taiwan, the “last step” forward in a major arms deal stalled since 2007, according to a senior Taiwanese legislative aide familiar with the matter. “The deal is now going very smoothly,” the aide told Kyodo News on condition of anonymity. “This is the last step,” he said, referring to plans to ink a contract later this month on refurbishing 12 P3-C Orion aircraft that have already been cleared by the U.S. Congress for sale to Taiwan. Long-awaited progress on the deal came as the administration of U.S. President Barack Obama said it would seek to boost defense ties with Taiwan, a sticking point in U.S. relations with China, which claims the self-ruled island as part of its territory. The push for the planes also coincides with U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s first overseas visit, including to China, as top U.S. diplomat. U.S. National Intelligence Director Dennis Blair hinted in a Feb. 12 Senate committee meeting that Washington would sell Taipei more arms. “Taiwan should not be so defenseless that it feels it has to do everything China says,” the former four-star Navy admiral said. “That means we’re going to have to help them some more in order to maintain a balance.” Clinton said Tuesday that Washington’s stance on arms sales to Taipei remains unchanged under Obama, citing the Taiwan Relations Act, which has required Washington to provide Taipei with arms of a defensive nature since 1979. Clinton’s comments generated fresh tensions with China ahead of her arrival Friday in Beijing, which is still fuming over Congress’ approval in October of a $6.5 billion arms package to Taipei. Beijing reacted by canceling a slew of planned military exchanges with Washington, a ban that remains in effect. The $6.5 billion package includes 30 Apache attack helicopters and 330 Patriot (PAC-3) missiles and dates back to a 2001 deal valued at roughly US$18 billion. Amid partisan bickering, Taiwan’s parliament pared down the package over six years and budgeted some items separately. Designed for hunting submarines, the turboprop-driven P3-C planes, whose delivery to Taiwan should start in 2013, were also included in the 2001 package, but preceded by roughly a year the $6.5 billion deal in their notification to Congress, a key hurdle in the U.S. foreign military sales process. But the deal appeared to have stalled since receiving congressional approval in 2007. Though the planes were cleared for sale before Obama took office, the timing of further movement on the deal signals Obama’s readiness to increase military engagement with Taiwan, said Lin Chung-pin, a former deputy defense minister. “This is part of Admiral Blair’s and Secretary Clinton’s message,” Lin said by phone Thursday, adding, “It serves U.S. interests in the region to continue on with these deals.” The American Institute in Taiwan, Washington’s de facto embassy in Taipei, declined to comment, referring Kyodo to Lockheed Martin’s Taipei office. The company did not immediately return phone calls Thursday.

In Defense Of The F-22 Raptor

In Defense Of The F-22 Raptor

(NSI News Source Info) February 20, 2009: Depending on who you listen to, the F-22 is either a boondoggle, or the key to America's air superiority in the coming century. One thing that's interesting to note, though, is that Israel, Japan and Australia would all love to get their hands on it, but can't due to the U.S. export ban on the aircraft.(Okay, there's a bit of sticker shock, too.)

One of the big arguments against expanding orders for the F-22, besides the fact that we're kind of hard up for cash these days, is that it plays no counterinsurgency role.

My hunch, though, is that the current defense procurement debate -- which boils down to "Do we need it in Iraq and Afghanistan?" -- is going to seem pretty dated two years from now, when the withdrawal from Iraq is in its final stages and, I'm willing to wager, the withdrawal from Afghanistan has already begun.

Not to be naive about defense contracts, and runaway defense spending in general. Nor to buy into the ways in which Russian and Chinese expenditures are used to drum up alarm, which are misleading.

Russia, like India, has fundamental weaknesses in its defense modernization program and China's buildup is consistent with a deterrent (i.e., defensive) capacity.

Regardless, the cost threshhold is already too high to entertain the notion of conflict with either Russia or China.

But part of what keeps it high on our end is our commitment to weapons systems like the F-22, which maintain our conventional dominance. So while we don't need as many as the Air Force brass is now trying to gin up as "economic stimulus," we will have to move past the F-15s and F-16s that make up the bulk of our fleet now.

As far as alternatives, the F-22 is what we have, and it's what the rest of the world wants. Besides, it's bad enough that the American car industry is about to go under. The least we can do is hold onto our aircraft industry.

Obama Ignores Breakthroughs In Anti-Missile Technology

Obama Ignores Breakthroughs In Anti-Missile Technology

(NSI News Source Info) February 20, 2009: As evidence mounts that North Korea is preparing to launch a long-range missile – possibly, an InterContinental Ballistic Missile with enough range to reach the United States – President Obama no longer has to put U.S. nuclear forces on alert or threaten a pre-emptive first strike on North Korea, thanks to national missile defense interceptors deployed in California and Alaska. When North Korea conducted its first test of a missile with ICBM capabilities in 2006, “some [of the President Bush’s advisors] were urging him to launch a pre-emptive attack” on North Korea, Lt. Gen. Henry A. “Trey” Obering III reveals in a soon-to-be released documentary produced by the conservative Heritage Foundation. Unhappy with that option, President Bush rushed into deployment sea-based missile defense systems on board of Aegis-class cruisers in the Pacific that were still under development and had never been used in combat. He also placed on alert the handful of silo-based interceptors his administration had installed at Fort Greely, Alaska starting in July 2004, and ordered his commanders to intercept and destroy any incoming North Korean missile, something they had never done under battlefield conditions before. The president would not have had that option without the $100 billion the United States taxpayer has invested in missile defense research and deployed systems since 1983, Lt. Gen. Obering and other experts interviewed in the new Heritage Foundation documentary said. Lacking credible missile defense systems, “the only other ability you have is to apologize to those that die,” Lt. Gen. Obering said. Not to develop such systems would be “morally bankrupt,” he added. The Heritage Foundation documentary, screened recently to a select audience of Washington, DC insiders, takes its title, “33 Minutes,” from the time it would take an ICBM (Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) to reach the United States if launched from North Korea or Iran. The Los Angeles Times reported that the U.S. intelligence community has now reversed its highly controversial National Intelligence Estimate on Iran that claimed Iran had shut down its nuclear weapons program in late 2003. U.S. intelligence officials now “expect the Islamic Republic to reach [nuclear] development milestones this year,” the Times reported, noting that President Obama himself described Iran’s “development of a nuclear weapon” as one reason giving urgency to his plans to talk to Tehran’s leaders. And yet, despite these alarming developments in Iran and North Korea, the Obama administration has said it plans to review funding of missile defense systems, arguing that the technology must be “proven” for current deployment plans to continue. Heritage Foundation expert Dr. James Jay Carafano, who helped produce the documentary, scoffed at such criticism. “We are long past the time when you could question whether this technology works,” he said, citing dozens of successful tests. Missile Defense Agency officials frequently have described their kinetic kill vehicles, which strike incoming missiles head on and destroy them without using explosives, as “hitting a bullet with a bullet.” But in recent years, the technology has gotten even better, Lt. Gen. Obering said. “We are now able to hit a spot on a bullet with a bullet.” Heritage is encouraging its 400,000 members to host home-screenings of “33 Minutes,” and hopes to strike a television deal, Heritage vice-president Rebecca Hagelin said on Wednesday night after the screening. “We are also making two ten-minute shorts, a seven minute trailer you can download from our website, and even a two-minute version,” she said. Using dramatic computerized simulation of a nuclear missile attack on New York, the documentary also includes an exclusive interview with former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, who rarely has appeared in public since a series of strokes slowed her down in 2002. As Prime Minister, Mrs. Thatcher was a strong supporter of the President Ronald Reagan’s initial missile defense program, known as the Strategic Defense Initiative. Speaking slowly but emphatically, the “Iron Lady” lived up to her reputation, warning that nuclear missiles in the hands of rogue dictators pose an unacceptable threat to the free world. “If America is held hostage, then the free world is held hostage,” Lady Thatcher said. “American leadership is essential. You know what you must do. You must do the right thing.” Dr. Kim R. Holmes, a Heritage vice president for Defense and Foreign Policy studies, said after the screening that recent comments about missile defense from President Obama and others in his administration were “not encouraging.” Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has stated publicly that our deployed missile defense systems “could be a bargaining chip” with the Russians and the Iranians, he said. There is a real possibility that the arms controls battles of the 1980s and 1990s that pitted conservatives against disarmament liberals could come back under the Democrat-controlled Congress, he warned. “History could repeat itself with a new arms control treaty” that could ban missile defense systems. “In a way, we’re victims of our own success,” Dr. Holmes said. Once President Bush took office in 2001 and announced that the United States was withdrawing from the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty, the administration talked less about missile defense as a Republican-controlled Congress appropriated tens of billions of dollars to test and deploy real systems. That could all change under Obama, Dr. Holmes warned. “We want to put missile defense back on the conservative agenda,” he said. Dr. Carafano noted recent polls showing that 90% of the American people believe a missile strike against America is a credible threat, while a majority believe that missile defense systems should be funded and deployed. “There is a huge credibility gap between what Washington wants, and what America wants,” he said.

US Researcher Honoured In Singapore

US Researcher Honoured In Singapore

(NSI News Source Info) February 20, 2009: THE former chief of the US Air Force Research Laboratory (ARFL) was conferred the Singapore Defence Technology Distinguished Fellowship by Minister for Defence Teo Chee Hean at the Ministry of Defence (Mindef) on Friday morning. Minister for Defence Teo Chee Hean conferring the Singapore Defence Technology Distinguished Fellowship on Mr Lester McFawn. Mr McFawn was lauded for the facilitation of bilateral cooperation between AFRL and Singapore's defence technology agencies during his tenure as Executive Director from September 2003 to January last year. A three-year technology cooperation roadmap was one such joint project that benefits both air forces, expanding research and development cooperation between ARFL and Mindef. The Singapore Defence Technology Distinguished Fellowship was established in 1996 to recognise individuals who have contributed significantly to the development of Singapore's defence technology capabilities. The award was conferred on Mr McFawn in recognition of his outstanding contributions in strengthening defence technology cooperation and fostering excellent defence ties between the US and Singapore, said a Mindef statement.

China Wants Greater Presence Of Developing Nations In UNSC

China Wants Greater Presence Of Developing Nations In UNSC

(NSI News Source Info) United Nations - February 20, 2009: China has called for a greater representation of developing countries, in particular those from Africa, in a reformed UN Security Council.

'In the reform of the Security Council, priority should be given to the greater representation of developing countries, in particular African ones,' China's UN Ambassador Zhang Yesui told an informal plenary of the General Assembly Thursday.

With developing countries accounting for the vast majority of the UN's 192 member states, the composition of the Security Council can no longer reflect the political reality of the UN, he said.

Developing countries have been demanding more say in matters of global peace and security, rejecting the political dominance of the so called P5, or the five permanent members of the Security Council - the US, Russia, China, France and Britain.

They have called for enlarging the council from the current 15 to 21 or 25 members, to include the emerging nations.

During discussions in the late 1990s, Germany, Japan, India, Brazil, South Africa and Nigeria demanded permanent seats on a reformed council.

Pakistan's Local Gov't Orders Closure Of NATO Transportation Station

Pakistan's Local Gov't Orders Closure Of NATO Transportation Station

(NSI News Source Info) ISLAMABAD - February 20, 2009: A provincial government in Pakistan has ordered closure of a transportation station for NATO forces based in Afghanistan, a minister told the regional assembly Thursday. The private transportation station to facilitate NATO forces was established on a 12-acre land in Fateh Jang, a town in the eastern Punjab province.

A Pakistani man is seen standing next to burnt trucks for U.S. and allied forces in Afghanistan after an attack by militants on the outskirts of Peshawar, the main city in the region that borders the lawless, militant-plagued tribal belt and is a key stop for vehicles traversing the famed Khyber Pass, Pakistan. Suspected militants attacked a terminal used by vehicles ferrying supplies to U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan early Saturday, the latest in a string of strikes on the critical and increasingly perilous supply route that snakes through northwest Pakistan. "The Punjab government has ordered the local administration to wind up the NATO transportation system," Law Minister Rana Sanaulah told the assembly. Opposition lawmaker Sher Ali Khan raised the issue in the house and said that transportation system had been set up for supplies of NATO forces in Afghanistan, adding that arms and other items had been supplied from the station. The provincial minister confirmed to the house that a person had given the land on rent for the NATO supply trucks, adding that the land had been given without permission from the Punjab government. Sanaulalh also said that NATO supply trucks were parked at the station before their journey to Afghanistan. The members of the provincial assembly welcomed the closure of the station by thumping desks. Officials say that some 70 percent of oil and other items are supplied to U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan through Pakistan. NATO oil tankers and trucks are frequently attacked by suspected militants in the northwestern city of Peshawar and the Khyber tribal region. December was the worst month for NATO trucks as militants torched around 300 trucks and military vehicles in Peshawar. In view of security concerns, the U.S has struck deal with Russia and Central Asian states for transportation of supplies to forces in Afghanistan.

BAE Systems Joins Battle For US Army Order

BAE Systems Joins Battle For US Army Order

(NSI News Source Info) February 20, 2009: BAE Systems, Europe's largest defence contractor, is gearing up to supply the United States with new armoured vehicles for President Obama's troop surge in Afghanistan. The company is competing to supply 2,000 all-terrain vehicles for the US Army, which will be deployed in Afghanistan as part of expanded operations there. President Obama said this week that he would send an additional 17,000 troops to Afghanistan from the spring as part of efforts to combat the resurgent Taleban. The US Department of Defence is seeking a lighter version of the Mine Resistent Ambush Protected (MRAP) carriers it has ordered to protect troops in Iraq. The MRAP vehicles are designed to limit the damage to troops from roadside bombs and improvised explosive devices (IEDs). These bombs became the major cause of death of troops in Iraq after the 2003 invasion. The US has bought 12,000 MRAPs and BAE, the largest supplier of armoured vehicles in the world, won nearly 60 per cent of the orders. Last year it delivered 4,700 MRAPs, which was a significant contributor to a 31 per cent increase in BAE's profits. The company said yesterday that revenue in 2008 had increased by 18 per cent to £18.5 billion and underlying profits were nearly one third higher at £1.9 billion. BAE's Land Systems division, which builds armoured vehicles in the US, the UK, Sweden and South Africa, increased sales by 38 per cent to £6.4billion. Ian King, the chief executive of BAE, said: “Land Systems was driven by MRAP last year. We always knew that MRAP would be a one-off gain but there is also good organic growth in that division.” BAE will announce next week the vehicles that will compete for the next phase of MRAP purchasing. It is likely to offer lightweight variants of the RG-33 and Caiman vehicles. The Pentagon's latest MRAP order is for all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) that will be smaller and more manoeuvrable than the troop carriers built for Iraq. The M-ATV, as the new version is being called, will weigh up to 10tonnes compared with up to 24tonnes for existing MRAPs. President Obama's determination to combat the Taleban has alleviated fears in the defence sector that he would immediately cut the military's budget. BAE received nearly 60 per cent of its sales from the Pentagon last year and expects continued strong demand this year. Mr King said that BAE would not be immune to the impact of a global economic downturn but investors believe that the company is better placed than most to weather a difficult 2009. BAE's share price has gained more than 20 per cent in the past three months while the FTSE 100 has experienced a small decline. The share price was up 13p to 400p yesterday. Mr King said: “We don't think we're recession-proof. We do have some insulation because of the length of the order book and the visibility we have, but we are very vigilant on what's going to happen when we look forward and look at what governments have done to fund the financial bailouts.” BAE's order book grew by 20 per cent last year to £46.5 billion. The company's strong results enabled it to increase its dividend by 13 per cent to 14.5p a share. Howard Wheeldon, senior strategist at BGC Partners, the brokerage firm, said: “In difficult global economic times such as these it is heartening to see a UK-based company that is both diverse and international producing not only sustainable growth in shareholder value but also rewarding shareholders with a decent dividend increase. At least there are no balance sheet concerns here.” BAE had to write down the value of its assets by £177 million last year, primarily because of the falling value of its 35 per cent holding in Saab, the Swedish aerospace company that makes the Gripen fighter jet.

Why Raytheon Designed A Ray Gun?

Why Raytheon Designed A Ray Gun?

(NSI News Source Info) February 20, 2009: What has Raytheon, the USA company that makes navigation equipment, got in common with sci-fi riot control?

Two years ago the UK Ministry of Defence's Strategic Trends depicted an alarming futuristic scenario in which middle-class radicals could engage in revolutionary activity with violent 'flashmobs', threatening the authorities with lawless disorder.

There are growing signs that these predictions may turn true. Remember the Greek riots following the police shooting of a teenager? Recently, police confronted demonstrators protesting deteriorating economic conditions and political corruption in Latvia, Lithuania and Bulgaria. There have been smaller demonstrations in Spain, Turkey, Denmark and Italy.

'These disturbances are another consequence of the bursting of the speculative capitalist bubble and the illusion of unlimited prosperity that once sustained it,' says journalist Matthew Carr.

The US military sees the modern city as the battleground of the 21st century.

Now it's reported that the Pentagon is experimenting with an array of weapons, including the Active Denial System (ADS), a microwave 'ray gun' designed by Raytheon, which directs unbearable heat on the skin from a 2km distance and is specifically designed for crowd dispersal. Other ongoing projects include acoustic devices and Pulsed Energy Projectiles (PEPs) which hurl plasma at crowds, causing 'pain and temporary paralysis'.

These weapons were originally intended for the urban battlegrounds of the Third World. 'But if Barack Obama fails to reactivate the ailing US economy, they may well find themselves deployed in the United States,' writes Carr.

'The news from Wall Street that US financiers awarded themselves a staggering $18.4bn in bonuses in 2008 hardly helps the new president's cause.'Next time your switch on your Raytheon chartplotter or radar watch out!