7 New Messages
Digest #4580
Messages
Wed Dec 19, 2012 6:25 am (PST) . Posted by:
"Rick Rozoff" rwrozoff
http://www.globalti
Global Times
December 19, 2012
US in bed with extremists as new phase in 20-month war begins
By Clifford Kiracofe*
The war against Syria has been underway for over 20 months. Clearly the Syrian people have a right to determine their own future rather than having it imposed by external opposition groups controlled by Western countries and their Sunni Arab allies. But this war from the beginning has been about the geopolitical advantage of NATO and its Arab allies.
The policy of regime change is actively promoted by Britain, France, the US, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Egypt. In recent weeks, the political and military wings of the external opposition were reorganized in an attempt to make them more effective.
Throughout the last 20 months the Free Syrian Army (FSA), the military wing of the external opposition, has been led by the Syrian Muslim Brotherhood. In addition to the FSA, Syria has been flooded with thousands of foreign Islamist terrorists waging what they call a jihad, a holy war. These extremists dream of a global caliphate and their objective in Syria is to create an Islamic government as part of the global caliphate process.
All of these paramilitary forces are financed and supplied by Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and various Islamic non-state actors. The US, Britain, and France also provide assistance, training, and guidance to the FSA.
Reporting from war correspondents shows that real fighting over the past 20 months has been waged by the foreign Islamist terrorist groups. After they clear areas, the FSA forces move in. The FSA commanders and the foreign jihadi forces closely coordinate and are allies in the field of battle.
The foreign jihadi forces reportedly come from such countries as Libya, Tunisia, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Afghanistan, Chechnya, and even from Central Asia.
US President Barack Obama just placed the al-Nusra Front, the leading foreign jihadi group, on the US terrorist blacklist. Washington has delayed doing this for months because al-Nusra has been in effect a key ally in the war against Syria.
Washington's move is designed as a fig leaf to cloak an embarrassing arrangement of convenience. The extremely capable and experienced al-Nusra fighters and others like them will continue their jihad against Syria and continue to coordinate with the FSA. Washington can now better pretend that it is not allied with Al Qaeda in Syria.
But the US is publicly supportive of the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt and its Syrian branch which dominates the political and military wings of the external Syrian opposition. The problem for Washington is that the Muslim Brotherhood'
The Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood'
Some reports from Cairo indicate that the Special Apparatus is the dominant faction within the Muslim Brotherhood and thus exercises decisive influence over its political wing, the Freedom and Justice Party.
Against this background, is another Afghanistan in the making? Time will tell.
*The author is an educator and former senior professional staff member of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations.
============
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============
Global Times
December 19, 2012
US in bed with extremists as new phase in 20-month war begins
By Clifford Kiracofe*
The war against Syria has been underway for over 20 months. Clearly the Syrian people have a right to determine their own future rather than having it imposed by external opposition groups controlled by Western countries and their Sunni Arab allies. But this war from the beginning has been about the geopolitical advantage of NATO and its Arab allies.
The policy of regime change is actively promoted by Britain, France, the US, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Egypt. In recent weeks, the political and military wings of the external opposition were reorganized in an attempt to make them more effective.
Throughout the last 20 months the Free Syrian Army (FSA), the military wing of the external opposition, has been led by the Syrian Muslim Brotherhood. In addition to the FSA, Syria has been flooded with thousands of foreign Islamist terrorists waging what they call a jihad, a holy war. These extremists dream of a global caliphate and their objective in Syria is to create an Islamic government as part of the global caliphate process.
All of these paramilitary forces are financed and supplied by Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and various Islamic non-state actors. The US, Britain, and France also provide assistance, training, and guidance to the FSA.
Reporting from war correspondents shows that real fighting over the past 20 months has been waged by the foreign Islamist terrorist groups. After they clear areas, the FSA forces move in. The FSA commanders and the foreign jihadi forces closely coordinate and are allies in the field of battle.
The foreign jihadi forces reportedly come from such countries as Libya, Tunisia, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Afghanistan, Chechnya, and even from Central Asia.
US President Barack Obama just placed the al-Nusra Front, the leading foreign jihadi group, on the US terrorist blacklist. Washington has delayed doing this for months because al-Nusra has been in effect a key ally in the war against Syria.
Washington's move is designed as a fig leaf to cloak an embarrassing arrangement of convenience. The extremely capable and experienced al-Nusra fighters and others like them will continue their jihad against Syria and continue to coordinate with the FSA. Washington can now better pretend that it is not allied with Al Qaeda in Syria.
But the US is publicly supportive of the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt and its Syrian branch which dominates the political and military wings of the external Syrian opposition. The problem for Washington is that the Muslim Brotherhood'
The Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood'
Some reports from Cairo indicate that the Special Apparatus is the dominant faction within the Muslim Brotherhood and thus exercises decisive influence over its political wing, the Freedom and Justice Party.
Against this background, is another Afghanistan in the making? Time will tell.
*The author is an educator and former senior professional staff member of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations.
============
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http://groups.
Stop NATO website and articles:
http://rickrozoff.
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============
Wed Dec 19, 2012 6:33 pm (PST) . Posted by:
"Rick Rozoff" rwrozoff
http://en.trend.
Trend News Agency
December 11, 2012
Kazakh and US Defense Ministries sign cooperation plan for 2013-2017
E. Kosolapova
Kazakhstan: U.S., NATO Seek Military Outpost Between Russia And China
http://rickrozoff.
Baku: The Kazakh and US Defense Ministries signed a cooperation plan for 2013-2017 in Washington, the Kazakh Defense Ministry reported on Tuesday.
The document envisages cooperation in such areas as peacekeeping, staff training, technical assistance, development of the military education system and assistance in establishing contacts with the US military-industrial complex.
Within the bilateral consultations of the Defense Ministries of the two countries which took place in Washington, special attention was paid to the special forces' trainings.
The parties agreed to develop a program of joint trainings and to exchange experiences.
Within the meeting, Kazakh Deputy Defense Minister Talgat Zhanzhumenov said that the development of the domestic military-industrial complex is one of the main priorities of the Kazakh armed forces.
The US party proposed Kazakhstan to cooperate in this sphere and the Kazakh party expressed interest in such cooperation.
Within the visit to US, the Kazakh military delegation visited U.S. military-industrial complex enterprises.
Within the meeting, the parties emphasized that the US and Kazakhstan aim at strengthening bilateral relations by continuing dialogue and cooperation.
============
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Stop NATO website and articles:
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============
Trend News Agency
December 11, 2012
Kazakh and US Defense Ministries sign cooperation plan for 2013-2017
E. Kosolapova
Kazakhstan: U.S., NATO Seek Military Outpost Between Russia And China
http://rickrozoff.
Baku: The Kazakh and US Defense Ministries signed a cooperation plan for 2013-2017 in Washington, the Kazakh Defense Ministry reported on Tuesday.
The document envisages cooperation in such areas as peacekeeping, staff training, technical assistance, development of the military education system and assistance in establishing contacts with the US military-industrial complex.
Within the bilateral consultations of the Defense Ministries of the two countries which took place in Washington, special attention was paid to the special forces' trainings.
The parties agreed to develop a program of joint trainings and to exchange experiences.
Within the meeting, Kazakh Deputy Defense Minister Talgat Zhanzhumenov said that the development of the domestic military-industrial complex is one of the main priorities of the Kazakh armed forces.
The US party proposed Kazakhstan to cooperate in this sphere and the Kazakh party expressed interest in such cooperation.
Within the visit to US, the Kazakh military delegation visited U.S. military-industrial complex enterprises.
Within the meeting, the parties emphasized that the US and Kazakhstan aim at strengthening bilateral relations by continuing dialogue and cooperation.
============
Stop NATO e-mail list home page with archives and search engine:
http://groups.
Stop NATO website and articles:
http://rickrozoff.
To subscribe for individual e-mails or the daily digest, unsubscribe, and otherwise change subscription status:
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============
Wed Dec 19, 2012 6:33 pm (PST) . Posted by:
"Rick Rozoff" rwrozoff
http://www.stripes.
Stars and Stripes
December 19, 2012
Navy's experimental unmanned drone passes tests aboard USS Truman
By Cristina Silva
====
The Army, Air Force, Marines and Navy all use unmanned aircraft or are developing them, according to a report published earlier this year by the Congressional Research Service. In all, the Pentagon’s unmanned aircraft inventory increased from 167 in 2002 to nearly 7,500 in 2010...
Navy officials plan to land and launch the drone from sea in early 2013 in what would be the first unmanned aircraft flight from a carrier. Its success could launch a new class of automated, unmanned naval planes.
====
NAPLES, Italy: An experimental drone that could change the future of naval aviation has survived its first round of testing aboard an aircraft carrier, Navy officials say.
The X-47B Unmanned Combat Air System went through a series of mechanical and engineering tests designed to evaluate its compatibility with the Navy’s aircraft carriers during a two-week stint aboard the nuclear powered USS Harry S. Truman.
“I’m a believer that this is only the beginning,” Don Blottenberger, program manager for the Navy’s unmanned aircraft program, said in a statement. “There is a lot ahead for our program and a lot of hard work behind us. I look at Truman as the beginning of future unmanned integration with the fleet.”
Similar aircraft could eventually be used to deliver cargo to ships at sea, carry out airstrikes and conduct surveillance, according to Navy officials.
The development of unmanned aircraft has taken up an increasing amount of Department of Defense dollars in recent years, despite budget cuts. The Army, Air Force, Marines and Navy all use unmanned aircraft or are developing them, according to a report published earlier this year by the Congressional Research Service. In all, the Pentagon’s unmanned aircraft inventory increased from 167 in 2002 to nearly 7,500 in 2010, according to the report.
The aircraft “are expected to take on every type of mission currently flown by manned aircraft,” Jeremiah Gertler, a military aviation specialist, wrote in the report.
During the testing exercise aboard the Truman, sailors towed the X-47B across the flight deck using carrier-based tractors and tested how its digital engine controls reacted to electromagnetic fields, according to the Navy. Sailors also taxied the drone on the flight deck using a joystick attached to a remote control.
...
Digital messages, instead of verbal instructions, from shipboard controllers are used to control the aircraft.
“We followed the aircraft director’s signals to move the aircraft left or right, over the arresting wire, to and from the catapults and to various spotting positions,” said Gerrit Everson, one of the operators who controlled the X-47B aboard the Truman, in a statement. “These tests proved that we can taxi the X-47B with the precision that an aircraft carrier’s flight deck requires.”
Navy officials plan to land and launch the drone from sea in early 2013 in what would be the first unmanned aircraft flight from a carrier. Its success could launch a new class of automated, unmanned naval planes.
The X-47B made its first test flight in February 2011 at Edwards Air Force Base in California. It completed its first land-based catapult launch from Naval Air Station Patuxent River in Maryland in late November. It was then shipped to Norfolk, Va., where a crane moved it onto the Truman.
“Nobody has ever done this before,” said Lt. Cmdr. Larry Tarver, Truman’s aircraft handling officer, said in a statement. “Unmanned aerial vehicles have flown all over the world, but an X-47B has never operated on an aircraft carrier.”
The drone, developed by Northrop Grumman, a Virginia-based aerospace contractor, has a 62-foot wingspan and is 38 feet long. It’s slightly smaller than the aircraft now used aboard Navy aircraft carriers and its wingtips fold, allowing for easier storage, according to the Navy.
After leaving the Truman, it will undergo further testing at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Navy officials said.
“We are planning to get it back on a carrier to complete catapult launches, arrested landings and aerial refueling tests,” Blottenberger said.
============
Stop NATO e-mail list home page with archives and search engine:
http://groups.
Stop NATO website and articles:
http://rickrozoff.
To subscribe for individual e-mails or the daily digest, unsubscribe, and otherwise change subscription status:
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============
Stars and Stripes
December 19, 2012
Navy's experimental unmanned drone passes tests aboard USS Truman
By Cristina Silva
====
The Army, Air Force, Marines and Navy all use unmanned aircraft or are developing them, according to a report published earlier this year by the Congressional Research Service. In all, the Pentagon’s unmanned aircraft inventory increased from 167 in 2002 to nearly 7,500 in 2010...
Navy officials plan to land and launch the drone from sea in early 2013 in what would be the first unmanned aircraft flight from a carrier. Its success could launch a new class of automated, unmanned naval planes.
====
NAPLES, Italy: An experimental drone that could change the future of naval aviation has survived its first round of testing aboard an aircraft carrier, Navy officials say.
The X-47B Unmanned Combat Air System went through a series of mechanical and engineering tests designed to evaluate its compatibility with the Navy’s aircraft carriers during a two-week stint aboard the nuclear powered USS Harry S. Truman.
“I’m a believer that this is only the beginning,” Don Blottenberger, program manager for the Navy’s unmanned aircraft program, said in a statement. “There is a lot ahead for our program and a lot of hard work behind us. I look at Truman as the beginning of future unmanned integration with the fleet.”
Similar aircraft could eventually be used to deliver cargo to ships at sea, carry out airstrikes and conduct surveillance, according to Navy officials.
The development of unmanned aircraft has taken up an increasing amount of Department of Defense dollars in recent years, despite budget cuts. The Army, Air Force, Marines and Navy all use unmanned aircraft or are developing them, according to a report published earlier this year by the Congressional Research Service. In all, the Pentagon’s unmanned aircraft inventory increased from 167 in 2002 to nearly 7,500 in 2010, according to the report.
The aircraft “are expected to take on every type of mission currently flown by manned aircraft,” Jeremiah Gertler, a military aviation specialist, wrote in the report.
During the testing exercise aboard the Truman, sailors towed the X-47B across the flight deck using carrier-based tractors and tested how its digital engine controls reacted to electromagnetic fields, according to the Navy. Sailors also taxied the drone on the flight deck using a joystick attached to a remote control.
...
Digital messages, instead of verbal instructions, from shipboard controllers are used to control the aircraft.
“We followed the aircraft director’s signals to move the aircraft left or right, over the arresting wire, to and from the catapults and to various spotting positions,” said Gerrit Everson, one of the operators who controlled the X-47B aboard the Truman, in a statement. “These tests proved that we can taxi the X-47B with the precision that an aircraft carrier’s flight deck requires.”
Navy officials plan to land and launch the drone from sea in early 2013 in what would be the first unmanned aircraft flight from a carrier. Its success could launch a new class of automated, unmanned naval planes.
The X-47B made its first test flight in February 2011 at Edwards Air Force Base in California. It completed its first land-based catapult launch from Naval Air Station Patuxent River in Maryland in late November. It was then shipped to Norfolk, Va., where a crane moved it onto the Truman.
“Nobody has ever done this before,” said Lt. Cmdr. Larry Tarver, Truman’s aircraft handling officer, said in a statement. “Unmanned aerial vehicles have flown all over the world, but an X-47B has never operated on an aircraft carrier.”
The drone, developed by Northrop Grumman, a Virginia-based aerospace contractor, has a 62-foot wingspan and is 38 feet long. It’s slightly smaller than the aircraft now used aboard Navy aircraft carriers and its wingtips fold, allowing for easier storage, according to the Navy.
After leaving the Truman, it will undergo further testing at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Navy officials said.
“We are planning to get it back on a carrier to complete catapult launches, arrested landings and aerial refueling tests,” Blottenberger said.
============
Stop NATO e-mail list home page with archives and search engine:
http://groups.
Stop NATO website and articles:
http://rickrozoff.
To subscribe for individual e-mails or the daily digest, unsubscribe, and otherwise change subscription status:
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============
Wed Dec 19, 2012 6:33 pm (PST) . Posted by:
"Rick Rozoff" rwrozoff
http://www.interfax
Interfax
December 19, 2012
CSTO intensifies work, considerably increases military component
MOSCOW: The Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) intends to increase its military component.
"The next session of the CSTO is over, and I would like to say that very serious decisions intensifying the work of the organization and considerably increasing the military component of the CSTO have been made," Kyrgyz President Almazbek Atambayev said, summing up the results of the CSTO summit held in Moscow on Wednesday.
Kyrgyzstan now chairs the CSTO.
An agreement has been reached to hold the next session of the CSTO in Bishkek in May, Atambayev said.
------------
http://www.interfax
Interfax
December 19, 2012
CSTO will increase its military component - Lukashenko
MOSCOW: Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has called for an increase of the military component of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), and his call was backed by all members of CSTO.
"Belarus wants gradual strengthening and improvement of the military potential of our organization. It's a very good time to approve the main areas of military cooperation envisioning the joining of the military components of the Organization to form a unified functioning bloc," Lukashenko said at the meeting of the CSTO Collective Security Council on Wednesday.
"All CSTO members who are present here have definitely backed the draft decision, in which we definitely increase the military component," Lukashenko said.
Lukashenko spoke in favor of increasing military-technical cooperation and the creation of scientific research centers to develop and create new types of weapons. The president also believes "the trainings conducted in CSTO should be focused on real military scenarios."
------------
http://news.
Belarusian Telegraph Agency
December 19, 2012
Lukashenko: Complicated period ahead of CSTO
MOSCOW: The Collective Security Treaty Organization will have to live through a complicated period, President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko told the session of the CSTO Collective Security Council in Moscow on 19 December.
“There is no doubt that the forthcoming period will be anything but simple,” said the Belarusian head of state.
“Unfortunately, we have to state that the conflict potential in international relations is still on the rise. It rises on the back of several objective factors like the escalation of violence in the Middle East and the deterioration of interstate contradictions in the energy sphere. Apart from that, the current system of international security is distorted by the eagerness of individual countries to play the leading role while disregarding the interests of others,” remarked the Belarus President.
In his words, the practice of putting economic and political pressure on sovereign nations thrives as a result. Alexander Lukashenko believes that the degradation of the existing system of control over conventional weapons in Europe plays its part, too, giving hints of a new arms race.
The Belarus president pointed out that the protection against threats originating from Afghanistan is a particularly sensitive issue for the Collective Security Treaty Organization. “Thus, the CSTO mission of ensuring national collective security and coordinating foreign policy views on international regional matters has never been more important,” the Belarusian head of state said. “All in all, we are satisfied with the performance of these interaction mechanisms,” he said.
Alexander Lukashenko added that collective guidelines have to be adapted to modern threats and challenges. Alexander Lukashenko remarked that between the sessions work had been done with assistance of the Russian Federation and Belarus had submitted proposals to update the guidelines. “Despite different foreign policy intentions of our countries regarding individual issues we have managed to determine the areas of joint actions to render mutual assistance,” said the Belarusian leader.
“The evolution of the Collective Security Treaty Organization envisages enabling security and safety not only in the organization’s responsibility area but along its perimeter, too,” said Alexander Lukashenko.
He recalled that during the Belarusian presidency in the CSTO the initiative to create the partnership institution was meant to expand the influence of the organization along its border.
The president pointed out the factor of the year 2014 when a large part of the coalition troops withdraws from Afghanistan had been taken into account. Alexander Lukashenko remarked that at the private conference all the heads of state had spoken in this manner. “I am convinced the idea is still topical, particularly in view of Mongolia’s efforts to get integrated into the existing structure of European security. The country has joined the OSCE recently. Mongolia may be interested in establishing cooperation with the CSTO in the spheres both the sides are interested in,” believes the Belarusian head of state.
------------
http://news.
Belarusian Telegraph Agency
December 19, 2012
Belarus in favor of stronger CSTO
MOSCOW: Belarus is in favor of the systematic enhancement and improvement of the military potential of the Collective Security Treaty Organization. President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko made the statement at the session of the CSTO Collective Security Council in Moscow on 19 December, BelTA has learned.
Alexander Lukashenko remarked that the adoption of the major guidelines for military cooperation was a timely move meant to encourage further amalgamation of all the military components of the organization into one smoothly operating body. The President pointed out that all the present CSTO members had backed the draft resolution on strengthening the military component of the organization.
The Belarusian head of state mentioned several top-priority issues that require discussion. In particular, speaking about military technical cooperation the President remarked that the creation of joint R&D groups and design bureaus able to make new armaments and materiel should become an inalienable part of the cooperation in addition to existing efforts.
Speaking about military exercises, Alexander Lukashenko said that they should use modern real scenarios. “Frontline warfare that we have seen in the past is no more. Nobody attacks anyone head-on,” remarked the Belarusian leader. He believes that military representatives of the Collective Security Treaty Organization, who take part in international exercises as observers, should infuse the best practices into the CSTO operation.
The Belarus President believes that the CSTO should constantly improve methods used to counteract new threats and challenges. “In the last few years we have created a system for the member states to respond to emergencies virtually from the ground up. Classic prevention measures are effective, but still there are reserves to tap into,” said the head of state.
As the number of CSTO mechanisms increases, their coordinated operation becomes more important. “It is the coordinated actions of all the components of the collective security system that will allow the CSTO to stay in the mainstream of international politics,” stressed Alexander Lukashenko.
“The year 2012 has been rather intense for all of us. There have been successes and rather serious problems inside the largest organization due to views of individual member states. Practice indicates that our opinions about the international situation and development trends generally coincide,” remarked the Belarusian head of state. He underlined that reaching the same kind of accord regarding measures to counter existing challenges was the most important task now.
“Apart from that, we should coordinate actions for the sake of future development of the organization. However, not all the situations that we face now can be settled using the existing legal base,” remarked the Belarusian leader. In particular, such collisions were witnessed following Uzbekistan’s desire to suspend its CSTO membership.
Alexander Lukashenko believes that the CSTO's success will be secured through the balanced development of the main branches of the organization’s activities.
============
Stop NATO e-mail list home page with archives and search engine:
http://groups.
Stop NATO website and articles:
http://rickrozoff.
To subscribe for individual e-mails or the daily digest, unsubscribe, and otherwise change subscription status:
stopnato-subscribe@
============
Interfax
December 19, 2012
CSTO intensifies work, considerably increases military component
MOSCOW: The Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) intends to increase its military component.
"The next session of the CSTO is over, and I would like to say that very serious decisions intensifying the work of the organization and considerably increasing the military component of the CSTO have been made," Kyrgyz President Almazbek Atambayev said, summing up the results of the CSTO summit held in Moscow on Wednesday.
Kyrgyzstan now chairs the CSTO.
An agreement has been reached to hold the next session of the CSTO in Bishkek in May, Atambayev said.
------------
http://www.interfax
Interfax
December 19, 2012
CSTO will increase its military component - Lukashenko
MOSCOW: Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has called for an increase of the military component of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), and his call was backed by all members of CSTO.
"Belarus wants gradual strengthening and improvement of the military potential of our organization. It's a very good time to approve the main areas of military cooperation envisioning the joining of the military components of the Organization to form a unified functioning bloc," Lukashenko said at the meeting of the CSTO Collective Security Council on Wednesday.
"All CSTO members who are present here have definitely backed the draft decision, in which we definitely increase the military component," Lukashenko said.
Lukashenko spoke in favor of increasing military-technical cooperation and the creation of scientific research centers to develop and create new types of weapons. The president also believes "the trainings conducted in CSTO should be focused on real military scenarios."
------------
http://news.
Belarusian Telegraph Agency
December 19, 2012
Lukashenko: Complicated period ahead of CSTO
MOSCOW: The Collective Security Treaty Organization will have to live through a complicated period, President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko told the session of the CSTO Collective Security Council in Moscow on 19 December.
“There is no doubt that the forthcoming period will be anything but simple,” said the Belarusian head of state.
“Unfortunately, we have to state that the conflict potential in international relations is still on the rise. It rises on the back of several objective factors like the escalation of violence in the Middle East and the deterioration of interstate contradictions in the energy sphere. Apart from that, the current system of international security is distorted by the eagerness of individual countries to play the leading role while disregarding the interests of others,” remarked the Belarus President.
In his words, the practice of putting economic and political pressure on sovereign nations thrives as a result. Alexander Lukashenko believes that the degradation of the existing system of control over conventional weapons in Europe plays its part, too, giving hints of a new arms race.
The Belarus president pointed out that the protection against threats originating from Afghanistan is a particularly sensitive issue for the Collective Security Treaty Organization. “Thus, the CSTO mission of ensuring national collective security and coordinating foreign policy views on international regional matters has never been more important,” the Belarusian head of state said. “All in all, we are satisfied with the performance of these interaction mechanisms,” he said.
Alexander Lukashenko added that collective guidelines have to be adapted to modern threats and challenges. Alexander Lukashenko remarked that between the sessions work had been done with assistance of the Russian Federation and Belarus had submitted proposals to update the guidelines. “Despite different foreign policy intentions of our countries regarding individual issues we have managed to determine the areas of joint actions to render mutual assistance,” said the Belarusian leader.
“The evolution of the Collective Security Treaty Organization envisages enabling security and safety not only in the organization’s responsibility area but along its perimeter, too,” said Alexander Lukashenko.
He recalled that during the Belarusian presidency in the CSTO the initiative to create the partnership institution was meant to expand the influence of the organization along its border.
The president pointed out the factor of the year 2014 when a large part of the coalition troops withdraws from Afghanistan had been taken into account. Alexander Lukashenko remarked that at the private conference all the heads of state had spoken in this manner. “I am convinced the idea is still topical, particularly in view of Mongolia’s efforts to get integrated into the existing structure of European security. The country has joined the OSCE recently. Mongolia may be interested in establishing cooperation with the CSTO in the spheres both the sides are interested in,” believes the Belarusian head of state.
------------
http://news.
Belarusian Telegraph Agency
December 19, 2012
Belarus in favor of stronger CSTO
MOSCOW: Belarus is in favor of the systematic enhancement and improvement of the military potential of the Collective Security Treaty Organization. President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko made the statement at the session of the CSTO Collective Security Council in Moscow on 19 December, BelTA has learned.
Alexander Lukashenko remarked that the adoption of the major guidelines for military cooperation was a timely move meant to encourage further amalgamation of all the military components of the organization into one smoothly operating body. The President pointed out that all the present CSTO members had backed the draft resolution on strengthening the military component of the organization.
The Belarusian head of state mentioned several top-priority issues that require discussion. In particular, speaking about military technical cooperation the President remarked that the creation of joint R&D groups and design bureaus able to make new armaments and materiel should become an inalienable part of the cooperation in addition to existing efforts.
Speaking about military exercises, Alexander Lukashenko said that they should use modern real scenarios. “Frontline warfare that we have seen in the past is no more. Nobody attacks anyone head-on,” remarked the Belarusian leader. He believes that military representatives of the Collective Security Treaty Organization, who take part in international exercises as observers, should infuse the best practices into the CSTO operation.
The Belarus President believes that the CSTO should constantly improve methods used to counteract new threats and challenges. “In the last few years we have created a system for the member states to respond to emergencies virtually from the ground up. Classic prevention measures are effective, but still there are reserves to tap into,” said the head of state.
As the number of CSTO mechanisms increases, their coordinated operation becomes more important. “It is the coordinated actions of all the components of the collective security system that will allow the CSTO to stay in the mainstream of international politics,” stressed Alexander Lukashenko.
“The year 2012 has been rather intense for all of us. There have been successes and rather serious problems inside the largest organization due to views of individual member states. Practice indicates that our opinions about the international situation and development trends generally coincide,” remarked the Belarusian head of state. He underlined that reaching the same kind of accord regarding measures to counter existing challenges was the most important task now.
“Apart from that, we should coordinate actions for the sake of future development of the organization. However, not all the situations that we face now can be settled using the existing legal base,” remarked the Belarusian leader. In particular, such collisions were witnessed following Uzbekistan’s desire to suspend its CSTO membership.
Alexander Lukashenko believes that the CSTO's success will be secured through the balanced development of the main branches of the organization’s activities.
============
Stop NATO e-mail list home page with archives and search engine:
http://groups.
Stop NATO website and articles:
http://rickrozoff.
To subscribe for individual e-mails or the daily digest, unsubscribe, and otherwise change subscription status:
stopnato-subscribe@
============
Wed Dec 19, 2012 6:41 pm (PST) . Posted by:
"Rick Rozoff" rwrozoff
http://www.mod.
Ministry of Defence of Georgia
December 19, 2012
NDC Commandant’s Meeting with Georgian Defence Minister
====
Head of NATO Liaison Office William Lahue talked about NATO-Georgia relations...
====
A NATO Defence College Delegation paid a study trip to the Georgian Defence Ministry. The head of the delegation, NDC Commandant Lieutenant General Arne Bard Dalhaug. held meeting with Defence Minister of Georgia Irakli Alasania. Deputy Defence Minister Tamar Karosanidze also attended the meeting. She coordinates the fields of education and human resources of the MOD.
The sides talked about the importance of THE NATO Defence College and professional development issues for military and civilian personnel. The Defence Minister briefed on the reforms ongoing in the military education sphere of Georgia as well.
The visit of the NDC students is to get acquainted with Georgia’s foreign policy directions, defence reforms, Georgia’s way towards NATO and regional security issues. Deputy Minister of MFA Nikoloz Vashakidze, First Deputy Defence Minister Levan Dolidze, Deputy State Minister of Georgia on European and Euro-Atlantic Integration David Dondua and President of GFSIS Alexander Rondeli informed the NDC students about the mentioned issues. Head of NATO Liaison Office William Lahue talked about NATO-Georgia relations, the role of the NLO and future cooperation to the College students.
Within the study trip, 80 students of NDC had been to Turkey and Azerbaijan. The six week course envisages raising qualification of the high ranking military and civilian personnel of defence and security sector.
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Ministry of Defence of Georgia
December 19, 2012
NDC Commandant’s Meeting with Georgian Defence Minister
====
Head of NATO Liaison Office William Lahue talked about NATO-Georgia relations...
====
A NATO Defence College Delegation paid a study trip to the Georgian Defence Ministry. The head of the delegation, NDC Commandant Lieutenant General Arne Bard Dalhaug. held meeting with Defence Minister of Georgia Irakli Alasania. Deputy Defence Minister Tamar Karosanidze also attended the meeting. She coordinates the fields of education and human resources of the MOD.
The sides talked about the importance of THE NATO Defence College and professional development issues for military and civilian personnel. The Defence Minister briefed on the reforms ongoing in the military education sphere of Georgia as well.
The visit of the NDC students is to get acquainted with Georgia’s foreign policy directions, defence reforms, Georgia’s way towards NATO and regional security issues. Deputy Minister of MFA Nikoloz Vashakidze, First Deputy Defence Minister Levan Dolidze, Deputy State Minister of Georgia on European and Euro-Atlantic Integration David Dondua and President of GFSIS Alexander Rondeli informed the NDC students about the mentioned issues. Head of NATO Liaison Office William Lahue talked about NATO-Georgia relations, the role of the NLO and future cooperation to the College students.
Within the study trip, 80 students of NDC had been to Turkey and Azerbaijan. The six week course envisages raising qualification of the high ranking military and civilian personnel of defence and security sector.
============
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Stop NATO website and articles:
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Wed Dec 19, 2012 6:48 pm (PST) . Posted by:
"Rick Rozoff" rwrozoff
http://english.
Voice of Russia
December 19, 2012
Libya-style terrorism in store for Syria
Andrei Ontikov
Unveiling the latest State Department report on terrorism in Washington this week, the Department’s counter-terror coordinator Daniel Benjamin said the killing of the US Ambassador to Libya in an attack on the US Benghazi consulate in September became possible after the fall of the Gaddafi regime created conditions for a proliferation of terror groups.
He also said he feared a similar pattern in Syria might emerge.
Dr. Konstantin Sivkov is Vice President of Russia’s Geopolitics Academy:
"Indeed, blaming people other than terrorists for the Benghazi attack would be awkward and illogical. But this said, why on earth did the US and their NATO allies throw their weight behind the rebels who toppled the legitimate government of Muammar Gaddafi and created conditions for a rise of terrorism?
"It is also true that Syria is becoming another Libya. The insurgency there is dominated by radical groups affiliated to Al Qaeda. This, however, does not prevent the US from backing the rebels. Double standards are apparently at work: terrorists who blow in the sails of the West are treated by Western countries very favourably."
At the same time, Washington cannot afford to turn a blind eye to the atrocities committed by the Syrian rebels, including the recent killing of dozens of school students by rebel mortar shells in a village near Damascus. For this reason, it has started to differentiate between ‘the opposition’ and ‘the terrorists’ in rebel ranks. For instance, the US has already included the Al Qaeda-affiliated Al-Nusra Front group in its list of terror groups.
The Syrian opposition didn’t like this.
This is what opposition activist Muheddin Lazkani, who attended the Morocco meeting of The Friends of Syria, had to say in his recent interview with an Arabic-language American television network:
"We can’t see any difference between people who shoot their guns at regime soldiers. We are convinced that they are all patriots and defenders of the fundamental interests of Syria."
This means that supporting even a small faction of the Syrian opposition spells supporting terrorists.
============
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Stop NATO website and articles:
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Voice of Russia
December 19, 2012
Libya-style terrorism in store for Syria
Andrei Ontikov
Unveiling the latest State Department report on terrorism in Washington this week, the Department’s counter-terror coordinator Daniel Benjamin said the killing of the US Ambassador to Libya in an attack on the US Benghazi consulate in September became possible after the fall of the Gaddafi regime created conditions for a proliferation of terror groups.
He also said he feared a similar pattern in Syria might emerge.
Dr. Konstantin Sivkov is Vice President of Russia’s Geopolitics Academy:
"Indeed, blaming people other than terrorists for the Benghazi attack would be awkward and illogical. But this said, why on earth did the US and their NATO allies throw their weight behind the rebels who toppled the legitimate government of Muammar Gaddafi and created conditions for a rise of terrorism?
"It is also true that Syria is becoming another Libya. The insurgency there is dominated by radical groups affiliated to Al Qaeda. This, however, does not prevent the US from backing the rebels. Double standards are apparently at work: terrorists who blow in the sails of the West are treated by Western countries very favourably."
At the same time, Washington cannot afford to turn a blind eye to the atrocities committed by the Syrian rebels, including the recent killing of dozens of school students by rebel mortar shells in a village near Damascus. For this reason, it has started to differentiate between ‘the opposition’ and ‘the terrorists’ in rebel ranks. For instance, the US has already included the Al Qaeda-affiliated Al-Nusra Front group in its list of terror groups.
The Syrian opposition didn’t like this.
This is what opposition activist Muheddin Lazkani, who attended the Morocco meeting of The Friends of Syria, had to say in his recent interview with an Arabic-language American television network:
"We can’t see any difference between people who shoot their guns at regime soldiers. We are convinced that they are all patriots and defenders of the fundamental interests of Syria."
This means that supporting even a small faction of the Syrian opposition spells supporting terrorists.
============
Stop NATO e-mail list home page with archives and search engine:
http://groups.
Stop NATO website and articles:
http://rickrozoff.
To subscribe for individual e-mails or the daily digest, unsubscribe, and otherwise change subscription status:
stopnato-subscribe@
============
Wed Dec 19, 2012 7:11 pm (PST) . Posted by:
"Rick Rozoff" rwrozoff
http://usa.chinadai
China Daily
December 19, 2012
End violence in Iraq
====
To pursue their own interests in the region, the US-led Western countries have never given up their attempt to maneuver a regime change similar to Iraq and Libya. What is happening in Iraq today should provide enough lessons about the consequences of military intervention in a sovereign state. Any attempt to enforce another regime change in the Middle East would only plunge the region into deeper turbulence and instability.
====
It is not enough to feel pity after a wave of deadly attacks hit a dozen Iraqi cities and towns on Monday, killing at least 47 people and leaving more than 110 wounded. More should be done to dig into the root cause of the Iraqi people's plight today, and prevent the violent reality in Iraq from repeating itself elsewhere.
Monday's heavy casualties were the result of high tensions between Iraq's central government and the Kurdish minority over contested areas and of violence between the country's Sunni and Shiite Muslims. The tragedy is a miniature of the Middle East country's everyday life.
In fact, since the US withdrawal on Dec 18, 2011, hardly a day has passed in Iraq without clashes and bloodshed. Despite the promises by US officials of self-governance, peace and stability, the country has been mired deeper in political crisis, ethnic violence and sectarian rifts.
The US has unshirkable responsibilities in the worsening security situation in Iraq. It owes the Iraqi people a convincing explanation of why their country is left as chaotic as ever after it claimed victory over the war against terror one year ago and why it has yet to deliver its promises to the country.
However, there is enough evidence to show the US has yet to learn a lesson from Iraq, and there has been no soul-searching about its policy in the region. NATO's decision to deploy Patriot missiles in Turkey this month and the US' recognition of Syria's main opposition group last week are widely seen as steps paving the way for military intervention in Syria.
Bearing every emblem of a civil war, the crisis in Syria has been dragging on for 21 months. The escalation of clashes between the Syrian government and opposition forces has taken the lives of more than 40,000 Syrians.
However, international efforts to stop the violence and push for dialogue and negotiations between the belligerent parties in Syria have so far achieved little result.
To pursue their own interests in the region, the US-led Western countries have never given up their attempt to maneuver a regime change similar to Iraq and Libya. What is happening in Iraq today should provide enough lessons about the consequences of military intervention in a sovereign state. Any attempt to enforce another regime change in the Middle East would only plunge the region into deeper turbulence and instability.
China Daily
December 19, 2012
End violence in Iraq
====
To pursue their own interests in the region, the US-led Western countries have never given up their attempt to maneuver a regime change similar to Iraq and Libya. What is happening in Iraq today should provide enough lessons about the consequences of military intervention in a sovereign state. Any attempt to enforce another regime change in the Middle East would only plunge the region into deeper turbulence and instability.
====
It is not enough to feel pity after a wave of deadly attacks hit a dozen Iraqi cities and towns on Monday, killing at least 47 people and leaving more than 110 wounded. More should be done to dig into the root cause of the Iraqi people's plight today, and prevent the violent reality in Iraq from repeating itself elsewhere.
Monday's heavy casualties were the result of high tensions between Iraq's central government and the Kurdish minority over contested areas and of violence between the country's Sunni and Shiite Muslims. The tragedy is a miniature of the Middle East country's everyday life.
In fact, since the US withdrawal on Dec 18, 2011, hardly a day has passed in Iraq without clashes and bloodshed. Despite the promises by US officials of self-governance, peace and stability, the country has been mired deeper in political crisis, ethnic violence and sectarian rifts.
The US has unshirkable responsibilities in the worsening security situation in Iraq. It owes the Iraqi people a convincing explanation of why their country is left as chaotic as ever after it claimed victory over the war against terror one year ago and why it has yet to deliver its promises to the country.
However, there is enough evidence to show the US has yet to learn a lesson from Iraq, and there has been no soul-searching about its policy in the region. NATO's decision to deploy Patriot missiles in Turkey this month and the US' recognition of Syria's main opposition group last week are widely seen as steps paving the way for military intervention in Syria.
Bearing every emblem of a civil war, the crisis in Syria has been dragging on for 21 months. The escalation of clashes between the Syrian government and opposition forces has taken the lives of more than 40,000 Syrians.
However, international efforts to stop the violence and push for dialogue and negotiations between the belligerent parties in Syria have so far achieved little result.
To pursue their own interests in the region, the US-led Western countries have never given up their attempt to maneuver a regime change similar to Iraq and Libya. What is happening in Iraq today should provide enough lessons about the consequences of military intervention in a sovereign state. Any attempt to enforce another regime change in the Middle East would only plunge the region into deeper turbulence and instability.
