Current Events in Mideast-Africa

Pakistan's Dream Navy? (DefenseNews)

Iran flexes Air Force muscle on National Army Day, 18 April http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=fA5J3qEn7-c

Secret State Department cable: Chemical weapons used in Syria (Foreign Policy, The Cable blog)

The gas flows from the sea and the IAF is on alert (Flight Global, Ariel View blog) Definitely scenario fodder there ...

From Flight Global [excerpt]

Obama: Iran a year away from nuclear weapon (Army Times)

For those of you contemplating Persian Gulf scenarios, this might be helpful. Pictorial: Units of the U.S. Navys Naval Forces Central Command (DefenseNews, Intercepts blog)

From US Institute of Peace: Gulf I: Iran's Power in the Air Gulf II: Timeline of U.S.-Iran Encounters Gulf III: Iran's Power in the Sea Lanes Iran's military doctrine

The Syria Question (Air Force Magazine, March 2013)

France Carries Out Airstrikes In Mali France Loses Gazelle, Soldier in Air Raid (from Aviation Week, Ares blog)

Iran Is Still Botching the Bomb (Foreign Affairs)

I say "no", it's only a very bad ejecuted mock-up, absurd intake, absurd wings and wings tickness, absurd canopy .... http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/slideshow/18305497.cms

How the Shah of Iran chose the F-14 Tomcat over the F-15 Eagle (The Aviationist blog)

Triumphant Syrian Rebels Seize Fighter Jets (DefenseNews)

Is This the Secret U.S. Drone Base in Saudi Arabia? (Wired, Danger Room blog)

Syria 'confirms' Israeli air strike near Lebanon border (BBC News)

An unmanned Syrian MiG-21 and the threat of chemical warfare (Flight Global's Ariel View blog) Interesting rumour ...

Showdown With Iran? Maybe Not In 2013 (AOL Defense) The year we reckon with Iran (Fareed Zakaria)

Getting to Yes With Iran: The Challenges of Coercive Diplomacy (Foreign Affairs, January/February 2013)

Patriots enroute to the Turkish-Syria border (DefenseNews' Intercepts blog) With pics.