Current Events in Mideast-Africa

Mideast Militants Gain Footholds Lebanon Standoff Shows Spread Of al Qaeda-Style Extremism By Bill Spindle and Cam Simpson The standoff in Lebanon between a group of armed extremists and the Lebanese military, now in its second week, vividly shows how political turbulence in the Middle East has helped a new breed of al Qaeda-style militants gain footholds where they had rarely been active on such a scale. In Lebanon, the Fatah Islam militant group now holed up inside a Palestinian refugee camp has capitalized on the crosscurrents of conflict in the region -- from Iraq to Lebanon and the Palestinian territories -- to recruit followers, cultivate support and…

Musharraf's Grip Falters In Pakistan Nationwide protests push the U.S.-backed general into a corner. By Laura King, Times Staff Writer ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN — When President Perez Musharraf survived back-to-back assassination attempts in 2003, he might have thought the worst was behind him. But now, after easily quelling any threat to his power during eight years of military rule, the general appears trapped in a labyrinth of his own making. His attempt 2 1/2 months ago to sideline Pakistan's independent-minded chief justice touched off nationwide protests that have coalesced into a full-blown pro-democracy movement. Islamic militants have established a firm…

Jihadists Moving Into Lebanon From Syria By Christopher Allbritton, Washington Times NAHR EL-BARED, Lebanon -- Heavily armed foreign jihadists have been entering Lebanon from Syria from around the time Western authorities noticed a drop in the infiltration of foreign fighters from Syria to Iraq, Lebanese officials say. Syrian authorities, hoping to disrupt Lebanon so they can reassert control of the country, "have stopped sending [the jihadists] to Iraq and are now sending them here," charged Mohammed Salam, a specialist in Palestinian affairs in Lebanon. "They sent those people to die in Lebanon." Maj. Gen. Ashraf Rifi, commander of Lebanon's Internal Sec…

From Army Times Iran deeply involved in Iraq, Petraeus says By Sean D. Naylor - Staff writer Posted : Thursday May 24, 2007 7:38:56 EDT BAGHDAD — The Iranian government has spent the last few years training elite “secret cells” of renegade Shi’a cleric Moqtada al-Sadr’s Mahdi Army, while funding that group and other Shi’a militias in Iraq to the tune of “hundreds of millions of dollars,” said Army Gen. David Petraeus, the senior U.S. commander in Iraq. In an exclusive May 18 interview with Military Times, Petraeus said the involvement of the Iranians is “absolutely nefarious. It is hugely damaging to Iraq. It is fuelling the Shi’a militia side of things and …

[iran continues to beef up the point defences, and check out the bold print ... interesting stuff] From Jane's Defence Weekly 22 May 2007 Iran set to obtain Pantsyr via Syria By Robin Hughes Iran is set to acquire at least 10 96K6 Pantsyr-S1E self-propelled short-range gun and missile air-defence systems as a derivative of a major deal struck between Syria and Russia earlier this year. A source close to the deal told Jane's that Russia has agreed to sell Damascus "some 50 Pantsyr-S1E systems", with initial deliveries set to begin later in 2007. Syria is understood to be receiving the Pantsyr-S1E equipped with the latest Roman I-Band fire control radar. …

From Defence Talk Military strike on Iran would be catastrophic: Pakistan PM Agence France-Presse | May 21, 2007 AMMAN: Pakistani Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz said Friday that a military strike on Iran over its nuclear activities would be "catastrophic" and hoped US-Iranian talks this month would reduce tensions. "The use of force to solve this issue will have catastrophic implications for the whole umma (Muslim nations) and for the whole world," Aziz told a press conference in Amman. "We are pleased to see that Iran will be engaging in a dialogue with the United States and we hope that leads to a reduction of tensions in the region," said Aziz, who is in …

From Foreign Affairs, May/June 2007 issue Summary: By rushing into Iraq instead of finishing off the hunt for Osama bin Laden, Washington has unwittingly helped its enemies: al Qaeda has more bases, more partners, and more followers today than it did on the eve of 9/11. Now the group is working to set up networks in the Middle East and Africa -- and may even try to lure the United States into a war with Iran. Washington must focus on attacking al Qaeda's leaders and ideas and altering the local conditions in which they thrive. Read the remainder of the article at the link above.

From Navy Times Nimitz set to replace Ike in Persian Gulf area By Barbara Surk - The Associated Press Posted : Sunday May 6, 2007 15:42:51 EDT DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — The Navy said Sunday it was replacing an aircraft carrier now departing the Middle East as part of the Bush administration’s stepped up military presence in the Persian Gulf area. The aircraft carrier Nimitz and the accompanying ships of its strike group were expected in Mideast waters within two days, replacing the departing carrier Dwight D. Eisenhower, said Navy Cmdr. Kevin Aandahl of the Bahrain-based 5th Fleet. The San Diego, California-based Nimitz will join the aircraft carrier…

The IAF vs Iran's Nuke Complex

From Defence Talk Iran can make 'nowhere safe' for US Agence France-Presse | Apr 27, 2007 TEHRAN: Iran has the capacity to fire tens of thousands of missiles at American targets and make "nowhere safe" for the United States, a top security official said on Wednesday. "Iran has long-range missiles that can make nowhere safe for America," said Mohammad Baqer Zolqader, deputy interior minister for security affairs and former deputy head of the Revolutionary Guards, according to the official IRNA news agency. "Iran is able to fire tens of thousands of missiles per day at American targets on a daily basis and, with its long-range missiles, can threaten Israel …

From Defence Talk France in talks to sell Rafale jets to Morocco Reuters | Apr 26, 2007 PARIS: France is negotiating to sell Rafale combat aircraft to Morocco, constructor Dassault Aviation said on Wednesday. The planemaker, which has until now declined to confirm the talks, is seeking the first export customer for the multi-role aircraft, which made its combat debut in Afghanistan this month. "I can't answer your question because the matter is being discussed the governments of (France and Morocco)," Edelstenne told LCI television, asked whether a sale could happen after the next round of French presidential elections on May 6. France was reported la…

From DefenseNews Posted 04/20/07 11:14 Kuwait Readies for Possible U.S.-Iran War By AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE, KUWAIT CITY U.S. ally Kuwait is to form an emergency team to draw up contingency plans for any conflict between the United States and Iran, a senior minister said in comments published April 20. ”The team ... will devise a comprehensive contingency plan to deal with risks that may result in case a war breaks out in the Gulf on the back of the rising U.S. military escalation towards Iran,” State Minister for Cabinet Affairs Faisal al-Hajji told the Al-Watan daily. The cabinet will form the team at its weekly meeting on April 22, drawing on officials from th…

From Flight International DATE:20/04/07 SOURCE:Flightglobal.com Israel in talks with USA over F-22 orders By Arie Egozi Israel has approached the USA about acquiring Lockheed Martin F-22s as concern mounts about new threats to the country’s regional air superiority. Sources say that the issue was raised during a one-day trip by US defence secretary Robert Gates to Israel last week. Washington has so far not authorised the export of the Raptor stealth fighter, but sources in Israel say this is the first time a “reasonable” request has been made. Among the subjects discussed with the country’s prime minister and defence minister were Israel’s conce…

Chicago Tribune April 9, 2007 Musharraf Opposition Galvanizes As protests grow and support weakens for Pakistan's president, the U.S. faces possible loss of crucial ally By Kim Barker and Bay Fang, Tribune correspondents ISLAMABAD, Pakistan -- For 27 years, Anwar Khan Afridi served in the Pakistani army. But the retired colonel now plans to mail his eight medals back to the government. He also wants to return his army pension of two plots of land and $313 a month. "I will no longer write anything using the name 'colonel,'" said Afridi, 58, holding his military decorations as he joined 4,000 other protesters outside Pakistan's Supreme Court last week.…

From DefenseNews Posted 04/17/07 15:40 Iranian Navy Says It Will Launch Iran-Built Destroyer By REUTERS, TEHRAN Iran’s navy plans to launch the first Iranian-built destroyer soon, the official IRNA news agency quoted a naval commander as saying on April 17. The announcement in the Gulf port of Bandar Abbas comes at a time of growing tension between Iran and the West over Tehran’s nuclear program, which Washington and others suspect is a cover for making atom bombs. Tehran denies the charge. "Soon the first Iranian-made destroyer will be launched ... and will surprise the world’s military community with its facilities, equipment, capabilities and technology," c…

Here's some scary scenario fodder. India fighting a nuclear war on two fronts. After Testing China-Specific Missile, India Eyes ICBMs By AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE, NEW DELHI DefenseNews Buoyed by the successful test of a missile that can hit China, India says it can extend its nuclear range beyond Asia, but experts say it is unlikely to take such a step for fear of upsetting the West. The launch on April 12 of the intermediate-range Agni-III missile capped New Delhi’s drive to produce a device capable of striking targets 3,500 kilometers (2,170 miles) inside China, which has an unresolved border dispute with India. The government’s Defence Research and Devel…

From Air Force Times Israeli jets come close to firing on airliner Staff reports Posted : Wednesday Apr 11, 2007 16:57:10 EDT Israel air force fighter planes scrambled Wednesday to intercept a U.S. airliner after it lost communications with air controllers, security officials said. The Continental passenger plane was flying in from the U.S. when it lost contact. Following anti-terror procedures, two Israeli warplanes intercepted the plane and guided it back over the Mediterranean Sea until communications were restored, Channel 10 TV reported. When it was determined that there were no problems on board and the pilot was in control, the plane was allowed t…

Washington Times April 10, 2007 Pg. 9 Kurdish Tensions Move Iraq Meeting Global conference set for Egypt By Nicholas Kralev, Washington Times Tensions between Iraq and Turkey have risen sharply in recent days, contributing to a decision to convene an international conference on Iraq in Egypt rather than in Istanbul, diplomats said yesterday. The spat began over the weekend when Massoud Barzani, leader of the autonomous Kurdish region in northern Iraq, infuriated Ankara with threats to promote disturbances in Kurdish cities in Turkey. "Turkey is not allowed to interfere in the Kirkuk issue, and if it does, we will interfere in Diyarbakir's affair…

Boston Globe April 4, 2007 US Is Said To Advise Militants On Raids In Iran By Reuters WASHINGTON -- The United States has been secretly advising and encouraging a Pakistani militant group that has carried out a series of deadly guerrilla raids inside Iran, ABC News reported yesterday, citing US and Pakistani intelligence sources. The raids have resulted in the deaths or capture of Iranian soldiers and officials, ABC reported. The group, members of the Baluchi tribe, operates from Pakistan's gas-rich province of Baluchistan, just across the border from Iran, the report said. The only relationship with the group that US intelligence acknowledges is…

From DefenseNews Posted 03/23/07 08:25 Britain: 15 Navy Personnel Held by Iran REUTERS, LONDON Iran captured 15 British Royal Navy personnel during a "routine boarding operation" in Iraqi waters March 23, Britain’s Ministry of Defence said. Iran’s ambassador in London has been summoned and Britain is demanding the immediate safe release of the sailors. "At approximately 1030 Iraqi time this morning, 15 British naval personnel, engaged in routine boarding operations of merchant shipping in Iraqi territorial waters ... were seized by Iranian naval vessels," the ministry said in a statement. "We are urgently pursuing this matter with the Iranian authorities at t…