6 New Messages
Digest #4581
Messages
Thu Dec 20, 2012 2:34 pm (PST) . Posted by:
"Rick Rozoff" rwrozoff
http://www.thehindu
The Hindu
December 20, 2012
Russia-NATO standoff over Syria looms
Atul Aneja
====
Analysts point out that there is body of opinion building up in Russia that argues that the kidnapping of the Russian nationals provides legitimate grounds for Moscow’s forceful intervention in Syria.
The hostility shown to Russia inside Syria by the opposition appears only one part of a bigger story, which has a larger international dimension. NATO forces at Ankara’s request are deploying Patriot missiles in Turkey, apparently, not far from the Syrian border. The Russians have slammed this move, and reinforced their opposition with the deployment in Syria of the state-of-the art Iskander missiles, which, apparently cannot be downed by any known anti-missile system.
====
The kidnapping of Russian nationals on Monday is drawing Moscow deeper into the Syrian crisis, which is becoming increasingly internationalised as battle lines get more sharply defined between foreign supporters of the government and the armed opposition.
The foreign ministry of Russia has confirmed that two of its citizens, V.V. Gorelov, and Abdessattar, who holds dual Russian-Syrian nationality, were kidnapped from the coastal city of Latakia. An Italian was also abducted. All three worked in the Syria-owned Hmisho steel plant.
“We are now actively engaged and all the necessary steps are being taken in Syria, and in other countries that may have an impact on the situation,” said Sergei Lavrov the Russian foreign minister. The kidnappers have demanded a ransom, but the abductions may have been triggered more by political motives rather than criminal intent.
Haitham al-Maleh, a member of the National Coalition for Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces told Russia Today that his group identified Russians as legitimate targets because Moscow actively supported the government of Syrian President Bashar Al Assad. “Russia, like Iran, supports the Assad regime with weapons and ammunition, as well as in the political arena, so the citizens of these countries are legitimate targets for militants in Syria," he asserted.
Mr. Maleh said that kidnapping of civilians was not a violation of the Geneva agreements, which, in his view, did not prohibit attacks on non-combatants who were cooperating with enemy armed forces. The Syrian opposition has also kidnapped Ukrainian journalist Ankhar Kochneva near Homs in early October. The abductors are now threatening to kill the journalist unless a $50 million ransom is paid.
Analysts point out that there is body of opinion building up in Russia that argues that the kidnapping of the Russian nationals provides legitimate grounds for Moscow’s forceful intervention in Syria.
The hostility shown to Russia inside Syria by the opposition appears only one part of a bigger story, which has a larger international dimension. NATO forces at Ankara’s request are deploying Patriot missiles in Turkey, apparently, not far from the Syrian border. The Russians have slammed this move, and reinforced their opposition with the deployment in Syria of the state-of-the art Iskander missiles, which, apparently cannot be downed by any known anti-missile system.
The Russian move mirrors the beginning of a standoff between Washington and Moscow - faintly echoing an era when rival missile deployments symbolised the Cold War chill between the two. Iran has also reacted furiously at the deployment of Patriot missiles, and the impending presence of these weapons seems to have reinforced an already existing dynamic of bringing Moscow and Tehran closer.
Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister for Arab and African Affairs Hossein Amir-Abdollahian was in Moscow earlier this week. He told Iran’s Press TV that the Russian position towards Syria had not changed — a rebuttal of western media claims that Moscow’s ties with Damascus were cooling off.
Observers say that long pending transfer of the “game-changing” S-300 missiles by Russia to Iran would be one solid yardstick to measure the establishment of a close strategic relationship between the two. Iran’s armed forces chief, Hassan Firouzabadi had earlier shared Moscow’s concerns towards the deployment of Patriot missiles in Turkey, which, he said, was "a black mark on the world map, and is meant to cause a world war”.
While external tensions simmered, a new crisis was brewing on the regional horizon. The troubled exit in droves of Palestinian refugees from the Yarmouk refugee camp in Damascus, which has been attacked, has generated a fresh debate on the right of Palestinian refugees to return to their homeland. In response to the fighting between armed fighters and government forces in Yarmouk, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has sought international support for bringing his conflict affected people to the Palestinian territories. Israel has for long rejected the right of return to displaced Palestinians, which is one of the core items on final status talks in the Israel-Palestine peace process.
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The Hindu
December 20, 2012
Russia-NATO standoff over Syria looms
Atul Aneja
====
Analysts point out that there is body of opinion building up in Russia that argues that the kidnapping of the Russian nationals provides legitimate grounds for Moscow’s forceful intervention in Syria.
The hostility shown to Russia inside Syria by the opposition appears only one part of a bigger story, which has a larger international dimension. NATO forces at Ankara’s request are deploying Patriot missiles in Turkey, apparently, not far from the Syrian border. The Russians have slammed this move, and reinforced their opposition with the deployment in Syria of the state-of-the art Iskander missiles, which, apparently cannot be downed by any known anti-missile system.
====
The kidnapping of Russian nationals on Monday is drawing Moscow deeper into the Syrian crisis, which is becoming increasingly internationalised as battle lines get more sharply defined between foreign supporters of the government and the armed opposition.
The foreign ministry of Russia has confirmed that two of its citizens, V.V. Gorelov, and Abdessattar, who holds dual Russian-Syrian nationality, were kidnapped from the coastal city of Latakia. An Italian was also abducted. All three worked in the Syria-owned Hmisho steel plant.
“We are now actively engaged and all the necessary steps are being taken in Syria, and in other countries that may have an impact on the situation,” said Sergei Lavrov the Russian foreign minister. The kidnappers have demanded a ransom, but the abductions may have been triggered more by political motives rather than criminal intent.
Haitham al-Maleh, a member of the National Coalition for Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces told Russia Today that his group identified Russians as legitimate targets because Moscow actively supported the government of Syrian President Bashar Al Assad. “Russia, like Iran, supports the Assad regime with weapons and ammunition, as well as in the political arena, so the citizens of these countries are legitimate targets for militants in Syria," he asserted.
Mr. Maleh said that kidnapping of civilians was not a violation of the Geneva agreements, which, in his view, did not prohibit attacks on non-combatants who were cooperating with enemy armed forces. The Syrian opposition has also kidnapped Ukrainian journalist Ankhar Kochneva near Homs in early October. The abductors are now threatening to kill the journalist unless a $50 million ransom is paid.
Analysts point out that there is body of opinion building up in Russia that argues that the kidnapping of the Russian nationals provides legitimate grounds for Moscow’s forceful intervention in Syria.
The hostility shown to Russia inside Syria by the opposition appears only one part of a bigger story, which has a larger international dimension. NATO forces at Ankara’s request are deploying Patriot missiles in Turkey, apparently, not far from the Syrian border. The Russians have slammed this move, and reinforced their opposition with the deployment in Syria of the state-of-the art Iskander missiles, which, apparently cannot be downed by any known anti-missile system.
The Russian move mirrors the beginning of a standoff between Washington and Moscow - faintly echoing an era when rival missile deployments symbolised the Cold War chill between the two. Iran has also reacted furiously at the deployment of Patriot missiles, and the impending presence of these weapons seems to have reinforced an already existing dynamic of bringing Moscow and Tehran closer.
Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister for Arab and African Affairs Hossein Amir-Abdollahian was in Moscow earlier this week. He told Iran’s Press TV that the Russian position towards Syria had not changed — a rebuttal of western media claims that Moscow’s ties with Damascus were cooling off.
Observers say that long pending transfer of the “game-changing” S-300 missiles by Russia to Iran would be one solid yardstick to measure the establishment of a close strategic relationship between the two. Iran’s armed forces chief, Hassan Firouzabadi had earlier shared Moscow’s concerns towards the deployment of Patriot missiles in Turkey, which, he said, was "a black mark on the world map, and is meant to cause a world war”.
While external tensions simmered, a new crisis was brewing on the regional horizon. The troubled exit in droves of Palestinian refugees from the Yarmouk refugee camp in Damascus, which has been attacked, has generated a fresh debate on the right of Palestinian refugees to return to their homeland. In response to the fighting between armed fighters and government forces in Yarmouk, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has sought international support for bringing his conflict affected people to the Palestinian territories. Israel has for long rejected the right of return to displaced Palestinians, which is one of the core items on final status talks in the Israel-Palestine peace process.
============
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Thu Dec 20, 2012 2:37 pm (PST) . Posted by:
"Rick Rozoff" rwrozoff
http://usa.chinadai
China Daily
December 19, 2012
Syrian crisis could push Mideast into chaos
By Liu Yueqin
====
The Syrian government wants countries opposed to war, such as Russia, China and other emerging economies, to restore normalcy. And the opposition forces are determined to overthrow the Assad government with the help of the US, NATO, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Turkey and some other countries. This makes the Syrian crisis akin to the one in Libya before the eventual overthrow of Muammar Gadhafi.
Many believe that with the re-election of Barack Obama as US president, Washington now has a free hand to deal with Assad, while some analysts say it is time the Syrian crisis was resolved through military intervention. France has emerged as the most prominent backer of Syria's armed opposition. And NATO has approved Turkey's request to deploy Patriot missiles along its border with Syria...
The risk of the Syrian crisis spilling over to other Middle East countries is increasing. The military conflict in Syria could spill into Iran, Iraq, Lebanon and other neighboring countries. And once Hezbollah and Hamas, and Israel are drawn into the conflict, the Middle East will be engulfed by chaos and more bloodshed.
====
The Syrian crisis has turned into a civil war. The Free Syrian Army, the main armed opposition in Syria, has launched consecutive attacks on the suburbs of Damascus and even plans to shell the presidential residence. So bloody has been the recent violence that on Sunday UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon expressed alarm at the situation in Syria.
In the beginning, the armed conflict was confined between Syrian government forces and loosely knit opposition fighters. But with the help of foreign forces, the opposition is much stronger now and the conflict has become a doing-dong battle for the control of Syria.
The opposition is gaining increasing international recognition. On Nov 11, 2012, some Syrian opposition groups established the National Coalition for Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces in Doha, Qatar, with the former imam of the Umayyad Mosque in Damascus, Moaz al-Khatib, being elected its president.
The Gulf Cooperation Council immediately recognized the coalition as the legitimate government of Syria. Later, the Arab League, the United States, France and Turkey recognized the coalition as the "true representative" of the Syrian people. On Nov 19, the European Union recognized it as "the legitimate representatives of the aspirations of the Syrian people" and said it was ready to help it build relationships with other countries.
But there still are great differences among Syria's opposition forces. The al-Nusra Front and 13 other armed groups, for example, have rejected the Syrian National Coalition as the "true representative" of the Syrian people.
The role of external forces has been (and will be) crucial to the Syrian crisis. The opposition and their foreign patrons are continuing their fight against the Bashar al-Assad government. The Syrian government and the opposition both are trying to get the support of external forces to consolidate their positions.
The Syrian government wants countries opposed to war, such as Russia, China and other emerging economies, to restore normalcy. And the opposition forces are determined to overthrow the Assad government with the help of the US, NATO, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Turkey and some other countries. This makes the Syrian crisis akin to the one in Libya before the eventual overthrow of Muammar Gadhafi.
At present, on the table are both diplomatic and military resolutions to the Syrian crisis. Many believe that with the re-election of Barack Obama as US president, Washington now has a free hand to deal with Assad, while some analysts say it is time the Syrian crisis was resolved through military intervention. France has emerged as the most prominent backer of Syria's armed opposition. And NATO has approved Turkey's request to deploy Patriot missiles along its border with Syria to protect it from potential cross-border attacks and repeatedly called for establishing a "no-fly zone" in northern Syria.
Obama, during his first term as US president, adopted a policy of strategic retreat from the Middle East, vowing to recalibrate America's relationship with the Islamic world, and announced a near complete withdrawal of US combat troops from Iraq. During the Libyan crisis, the US passed on the "authority" of launching air strikes to NATO. Washington's response to the Syrian crisis, though strong in terms of words, has not been of military intervention; it claims to have offered only non-combative support, such as communications equipment, to the Syrian opposition forces.
Obama is likely to refrain from being involved in a war in the Middle East even during his second term in office, because he needs to rebuild Washington's Middle East strategy, restore American prestige and repair the US' relations with Middle East countries that have been weakened by the "Arab Spring".
There is no guarantee, though, that the US will not use force against the Assad government. There is only a possibility that as long as a non-military solution is likely, Obama will not intervene militarily in Syria for fear of igniting a powder keg in the Middle East. Of course, NATO, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the Syrian opposition want the US to use force to oust Assad. But it seems that both diplomatic and military solutions are still on the table.
The risk of the Syrian crisis spilling over to other Middle East countries is increasing. The military conflict in Syria could spill into Iran, Iraq, Lebanon and other neighboring countries. And once Hezbollah and Hamas, and Israel are drawn into the conflict, the Middle East will be engulfed by chaos and more bloodshed. To prevent the Middle East from sliding into turmoil, the US and Russia tried to promote a peaceful transfer of power in Yemen, which was successful.
The Syrian crisis seems to have spiraled out of control and led to ethnic conflicts, and the Kurdish problem has become another important factor in the crisis. The Kurds in Syria have taken advantage of the turmoil to consolidate their position, which is perceived as a big threat to Iraq, Turkey and Iran. These three countries will not allow the Kurds in their territories to unite with those in Syria to establish a Kurd state.
So if the Syrian crisis continues for long, the consequences for the entire Middle East will be disastrous.
The author is a researcher at the Institute of West Asian and African Studies, affiliated to the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.
============
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http://groups.
Stop NATO website and articles:
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============
China Daily
December 19, 2012
Syrian crisis could push Mideast into chaos
By Liu Yueqin
====
The Syrian government wants countries opposed to war, such as Russia, China and other emerging economies, to restore normalcy. And the opposition forces are determined to overthrow the Assad government with the help of the US, NATO, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Turkey and some other countries. This makes the Syrian crisis akin to the one in Libya before the eventual overthrow of Muammar Gadhafi.
Many believe that with the re-election of Barack Obama as US president, Washington now has a free hand to deal with Assad, while some analysts say it is time the Syrian crisis was resolved through military intervention. France has emerged as the most prominent backer of Syria's armed opposition. And NATO has approved Turkey's request to deploy Patriot missiles along its border with Syria...
The risk of the Syrian crisis spilling over to other Middle East countries is increasing. The military conflict in Syria could spill into Iran, Iraq, Lebanon and other neighboring countries. And once Hezbollah and Hamas, and Israel are drawn into the conflict, the Middle East will be engulfed by chaos and more bloodshed.
====
The Syrian crisis has turned into a civil war. The Free Syrian Army, the main armed opposition in Syria, has launched consecutive attacks on the suburbs of Damascus and even plans to shell the presidential residence. So bloody has been the recent violence that on Sunday UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon expressed alarm at the situation in Syria.
In the beginning, the armed conflict was confined between Syrian government forces and loosely knit opposition fighters. But with the help of foreign forces, the opposition is much stronger now and the conflict has become a doing-dong battle for the control of Syria.
The opposition is gaining increasing international recognition. On Nov 11, 2012, some Syrian opposition groups established the National Coalition for Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces in Doha, Qatar, with the former imam of the Umayyad Mosque in Damascus, Moaz al-Khatib, being elected its president.
The Gulf Cooperation Council immediately recognized the coalition as the legitimate government of Syria. Later, the Arab League, the United States, France and Turkey recognized the coalition as the "true representative" of the Syrian people. On Nov 19, the European Union recognized it as "the legitimate representatives of the aspirations of the Syrian people" and said it was ready to help it build relationships with other countries.
But there still are great differences among Syria's opposition forces. The al-Nusra Front and 13 other armed groups, for example, have rejected the Syrian National Coalition as the "true representative" of the Syrian people.
The role of external forces has been (and will be) crucial to the Syrian crisis. The opposition and their foreign patrons are continuing their fight against the Bashar al-Assad government. The Syrian government and the opposition both are trying to get the support of external forces to consolidate their positions.
The Syrian government wants countries opposed to war, such as Russia, China and other emerging economies, to restore normalcy. And the opposition forces are determined to overthrow the Assad government with the help of the US, NATO, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Turkey and some other countries. This makes the Syrian crisis akin to the one in Libya before the eventual overthrow of Muammar Gadhafi.
At present, on the table are both diplomatic and military resolutions to the Syrian crisis. Many believe that with the re-election of Barack Obama as US president, Washington now has a free hand to deal with Assad, while some analysts say it is time the Syrian crisis was resolved through military intervention. France has emerged as the most prominent backer of Syria's armed opposition. And NATO has approved Turkey's request to deploy Patriot missiles along its border with Syria to protect it from potential cross-border attacks and repeatedly called for establishing a "no-fly zone" in northern Syria.
Obama, during his first term as US president, adopted a policy of strategic retreat from the Middle East, vowing to recalibrate America's relationship with the Islamic world, and announced a near complete withdrawal of US combat troops from Iraq. During the Libyan crisis, the US passed on the "authority" of launching air strikes to NATO. Washington's response to the Syrian crisis, though strong in terms of words, has not been of military intervention; it claims to have offered only non-combative support, such as communications equipment, to the Syrian opposition forces.
Obama is likely to refrain from being involved in a war in the Middle East even during his second term in office, because he needs to rebuild Washington's Middle East strategy, restore American prestige and repair the US' relations with Middle East countries that have been weakened by the "Arab Spring".
There is no guarantee, though, that the US will not use force against the Assad government. There is only a possibility that as long as a non-military solution is likely, Obama will not intervene militarily in Syria for fear of igniting a powder keg in the Middle East. Of course, NATO, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the Syrian opposition want the US to use force to oust Assad. But it seems that both diplomatic and military solutions are still on the table.
The risk of the Syrian crisis spilling over to other Middle East countries is increasing. The military conflict in Syria could spill into Iran, Iraq, Lebanon and other neighboring countries. And once Hezbollah and Hamas, and Israel are drawn into the conflict, the Middle East will be engulfed by chaos and more bloodshed. To prevent the Middle East from sliding into turmoil, the US and Russia tried to promote a peaceful transfer of power in Yemen, which was successful.
The Syrian crisis seems to have spiraled out of control and led to ethnic conflicts, and the Kurdish problem has become another important factor in the crisis. The Kurds in Syria have taken advantage of the turmoil to consolidate their position, which is perceived as a big threat to Iraq, Turkey and Iran. These three countries will not allow the Kurds in their territories to unite with those in Syria to establish a Kurd state.
So if the Syrian crisis continues for long, the consequences for the entire Middle East will be disastrous.
The author is a researcher at the Institute of West Asian and African Studies, affiliated to the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.
============
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http://groups.
Stop NATO website and articles:
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============
Thu Dec 20, 2012 2:54 pm (PST) . Posted by:
"Rick Rozoff" rwrozoff
http://www.nato.
North Atlantic Treaty Organization
December 20, 2012
Visit to NATO by the Prime Minister of Djibouti
The Prime Minister of Djibouti, Mr. Dileita Mohamed Dileita, will visit NATO Headquarters on Friday, 21 December 2012. He will meet the NATO Secretary General, Mr. Anders Fogh Rasmussen.
Media Advisory
09:15 NATO Secretary General and Mr. Dileita will jointly meet the press at the main entrance
The press point will be streamed live on the NATO website.
Video footage and still photographs will be available on the NATO website after the event.
------------
http://www.nato.
North Atlantic Treaty Organization
December 19, 2012
Visit to NATO by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Jordan
The Jordanian Foreign Minister, Mr. Nasser Judeh, will visit NATO Headquarters on Wednesday 19 December 2012. He will meet the NATO Secretary General, Mr. Anders Fogh Rasmussen.
There will be no media opportunity.
============
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http://groups.
Stop NATO website and articles:
http://rickrozoff.
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============
North Atlantic Treaty Organization
December 20, 2012
Visit to NATO by the Prime Minister of Djibouti
The Prime Minister of Djibouti, Mr. Dileita Mohamed Dileita, will visit NATO Headquarters on Friday, 21 December 2012. He will meet the NATO Secretary General, Mr. Anders Fogh Rasmussen.
Media Advisory
09:15 NATO Secretary General and Mr. Dileita will jointly meet the press at the main entrance
The press point will be streamed live on the NATO website.
Video footage and still photographs will be available on the NATO website after the event.
------------
http://www.nato.
North Atlantic Treaty Organization
December 19, 2012
Visit to NATO by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Jordan
The Jordanian Foreign Minister, Mr. Nasser Judeh, will visit NATO Headquarters on Wednesday 19 December 2012. He will meet the NATO Secretary General, Mr. Anders Fogh Rasmussen.
There will be no media opportunity.
============
Stop NATO e-mail list home page with archives and search engine:
http://groups.
Stop NATO website and articles:
http://rickrozoff.
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============
Thu Dec 20, 2012 6:33 pm (PST) . Posted by:
"Rick Rozoff" rwrozoff
http://www.civil.
Civil Georgia
December 20, 2012
MoD: Georgian Soldier 'Missing' in Afghanistan
Tbilisi: A Georgian soldier serving in NATO-led operations in Afghanistan “is missing” since December 19, the Georgian Ministry of Defense said on Thursday.
“Circumstances are not known yet,” the MoD said in a brief statement on its website.
It said that Regional Command Southwest, whose area of responsibility is Helmand and Nimroz provinces, “is conducting a search and rescue operation”.
“All Georgian units in theater are moved to the highest security alert posture,” MoD said, adding that it was not appropriate to give more details due to the ongoing search and rescue operation.
Georgia currently has two battalions in the Helmand province of Afghanistan – the 12th battalion of the first infantry brigade and 32nd battalion of the third infantry brigade; for the latter it is a second tour of duty in Afghanistan.
Georgia has lost a total of eighteen soldiers in Afghanistan since joining ISAF mission in November, 2009, seven of them this year.
------------
http://rustavi2.
Rustavi 2
December 20, 2012
Statement by Ministry of Defense
The Ministry of Defense of Georgia has released a special statement regarding the missing Georgian soldier in Afghanistan.
"A Georgian soldier from the Georgian peacekeeping contingent of the ISAF mission is missing since December 19, 2012. Circumstances are not known yet. Currently, RCT Southwest Command is conducting a search and rescue operation. Family members of the lost soldier are notified about the incident. All Georgian units in theater are moved to the highest security alert posture.
"Due to the search and rescue operation no other details are given at this moment,` the statement says.
============
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Stop NATO website and articles:
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============
Civil Georgia
December 20, 2012
MoD: Georgian Soldier 'Missing' in Afghanistan
Tbilisi: A Georgian soldier serving in NATO-led operations in Afghanistan “is missing” since December 19, the Georgian Ministry of Defense said on Thursday.
“Circumstances are not known yet,” the MoD said in a brief statement on its website.
It said that Regional Command Southwest, whose area of responsibility is Helmand and Nimroz provinces, “is conducting a search and rescue operation”.
“All Georgian units in theater are moved to the highest security alert posture,” MoD said, adding that it was not appropriate to give more details due to the ongoing search and rescue operation.
Georgia currently has two battalions in the Helmand province of Afghanistan – the 12th battalion of the first infantry brigade and 32nd battalion of the third infantry brigade; for the latter it is a second tour of duty in Afghanistan.
Georgia has lost a total of eighteen soldiers in Afghanistan since joining ISAF mission in November, 2009, seven of them this year.
------------
http://rustavi2.
Rustavi 2
December 20, 2012
Statement by Ministry of Defense
The Ministry of Defense of Georgia has released a special statement regarding the missing Georgian soldier in Afghanistan.
"A Georgian soldier from the Georgian peacekeeping contingent of the ISAF mission is missing since December 19, 2012. Circumstances are not known yet. Currently, RCT Southwest Command is conducting a search and rescue operation. Family members of the lost soldier are notified about the incident. All Georgian units in theater are moved to the highest security alert posture.
"Due to the search and rescue operation no other details are given at this moment,` the statement says.
============
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Stop NATO website and articles:
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Thu Dec 20, 2012 7:14 pm (PST) . Posted by:
"Rick Rozoff" rwrozoff
http://en.trend.
Trend News Agency
December 20, 2012
Kazakh ambassador presents his credentials to NATO Secretary General
D. Mukhtarov
Astana: A ceremony to present the new ambassador of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Almaz Khamzayev's credentials to NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen took place at NATO headquarters in Brussels on Thursday, the Kazakh Foreign Ministry press service said on Thursday.
"During the meeting the newly appointed head of the Kazakh mission and organisation'
------------
http://engnews.
Kazinform
December 20, 2012
Kazakh ambassador Khamzayev presents credentials to NATO Sec Gen
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Kazakhstan Almaz Khamzayev has presented his credentials on 17 December to NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen, the Kazakh MFA's press service reports.
During the meeting, the head of the Kazakh mission now posted in Brussels and the Secretary General discussed the state and prospects of partnership between Kazakhstan and the organization, including military cooperation, civil emergency planning and research collaboration.
============
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============
Trend News Agency
December 20, 2012
Kazakh ambassador presents his credentials to NATO Secretary General
D. Mukhtarov
Astana: A ceremony to present the new ambassador of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Almaz Khamzayev's credentials to NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen took place at NATO headquarters in Brussels on Thursday, the Kazakh Foreign Ministry press service said on Thursday.
"During the meeting the newly appointed head of the Kazakh mission and organisation'
------------
http://engnews.
Kazinform
December 20, 2012
Kazakh ambassador Khamzayev presents credentials to NATO Sec Gen
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Kazakhstan Almaz Khamzayev has presented his credentials on 17 December to NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen, the Kazakh MFA's press service reports.
During the meeting, the head of the Kazakh mission now posted in Brussels and the Secretary General discussed the state and prospects of partnership between Kazakhstan and the organization, including military cooperation, civil emergency planning and research collaboration.
============
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Thu Dec 20, 2012 7:14 pm (PST) . Posted by:
"Rick Rozoff" rwrozoff
http://www.stripes.
Stars and Stripes
December 18, 2012
AFRICOM announces it will have rapid reaction force
By John Vandiver
====
While AFRICOM says the unit will be based in Fort Carson — home to the 10th Special Forces Group — it is more likely that the team of operators will spend most of its time forward-deployed in Africa, according to a recently retired Green Beret who served on multiple Commander’s in-Extremis units.
====
STUTTGART, Germany: In the politically charged aftermath of the Sept. 11 attacks in Benghazi, in which the U.S. ambassador to Libya and three other Americans were killed, it emerged that something crucial was missing from the structure of U.S. Africa Command: a rapid reaction force.
Not anymore. In response to a question during a recent speech at George Washington University, AFRICOM boss Gen. Carter Ham said his command is now outfitted with a new capability.
“With regard to a response force, when the command was initially formed there was a sharing arrangement with what’s called the Commander’s in-Extremis Force with European Command. That was a good relationship that up until the 1st of October of this year was a shared arrangement,” Ham said. “And now we have our own.”
[W]hen it comes to rapid response, location is key. Particularly in Africa, where AFRICOM is responsible for U.S. military interests in a territory roughly three times larger than the United States. So where will AFRICOM’s new Commander’s in-Extremis Force be located? In Fort Carson, Colo., according to an AFRICOM spokesman.
“Distance is a major factor for doing anything in Africa, and we regularly work with EUCOM,” which has its own Commander’s in-Extremis Force, said AFRICOM spokesman Benjamin Benson when asked whether it would make more sense to have the Special Forces unit located in Europe or Africa. AFRICOM declined to comment further about the placement of its elite Special Forces team, whose movements are generally shrouded in secrecy.
For AFRICOM, the stationing of troops on the African continent has long been a sensitive issue, which could explain the command’s reluctance to discuss the idea of a forward presence of Special Forces troops in Africa. However, former special operators say they don’t expect the new rapid reaction force to spend much time in the U.S., as the long travel times to Africa would make the team ineffective as crisis responders.
While AFRICOM says the unit will be based in Fort Carson — home to the 10th Special Forces Group — it is more likely that the team of operators will spend most of its time forward-deployed in Africa, according to a recently retired Green Beret who served on multiple Commander’s in-Extremis units.
“The capability we bring to a COCOM (Combatant Command) is that it is a certified counterterrorism unit at his (the commander’s) disposal on short notice. That’s the reason why we exist, and we are forward-deployed for that reason,” said the former special operator, who asked not to be identified.
Stars and Stripes
December 18, 2012
AFRICOM announces it will have rapid reaction force
By John Vandiver
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While AFRICOM says the unit will be based in Fort Carson — home to the 10th Special Forces Group — it is more likely that the team of operators will spend most of its time forward-deployed in Africa, according to a recently retired Green Beret who served on multiple Commander’s in-Extremis units.
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STUTTGART, Germany: In the politically charged aftermath of the Sept. 11 attacks in Benghazi, in which the U.S. ambassador to Libya and three other Americans were killed, it emerged that something crucial was missing from the structure of U.S. Africa Command: a rapid reaction force.
Not anymore. In response to a question during a recent speech at George Washington University, AFRICOM boss Gen. Carter Ham said his command is now outfitted with a new capability.
“With regard to a response force, when the command was initially formed there was a sharing arrangement with what’s called the Commander’s in-Extremis Force with European Command. That was a good relationship that up until the 1st of October of this year was a shared arrangement,” Ham said. “And now we have our own.”
[W]hen it comes to rapid response, location is key. Particularly in Africa, where AFRICOM is responsible for U.S. military interests in a territory roughly three times larger than the United States. So where will AFRICOM’s new Commander’s in-Extremis Force be located? In Fort Carson, Colo., according to an AFRICOM spokesman.
“Distance is a major factor for doing anything in Africa, and we regularly work with EUCOM,” which has its own Commander’s in-Extremis Force, said AFRICOM spokesman Benjamin Benson when asked whether it would make more sense to have the Special Forces unit located in Europe or Africa. AFRICOM declined to comment further about the placement of its elite Special Forces team, whose movements are generally shrouded in secrecy.
For AFRICOM, the stationing of troops on the African continent has long been a sensitive issue, which could explain the command’s reluctance to discuss the idea of a forward presence of Special Forces troops in Africa. However, former special operators say they don’t expect the new rapid reaction force to spend much time in the U.S., as the long travel times to Africa would make the team ineffective as crisis responders.
While AFRICOM says the unit will be based in Fort Carson — home to the 10th Special Forces Group — it is more likely that the team of operators will spend most of its time forward-deployed in Africa, according to a recently retired Green Beret who served on multiple Commander’s in-Extremis units.
“The capability we bring to a COCOM (Combatant Command) is that it is a certified counterterrorism unit at his (the commander’s) disposal on short notice. That’s the reason why we exist, and we are forward-deployed for that reason,” said the former special operator, who asked not to be identified.
