5 New Messages
Digest #4666
Messages
Thu Mar 28, 2013 5:26 am (PDT) . Posted by:
"Rick Rozoff" rwrozoff
http://www.defense.
[Comparable U.S.-led military training exercises occur annually in nations like Mongolia, Kazakhstan and Cambodia for "peacekeeping&
Department of Defense
March 26, 2013
Multinational Peacekeeping Exercise Kicks Off in Nepal
By Donna Miles
====
Senior leaders from Bangladesh, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mongolia, Nepal, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Vietnam and the United States are attending the four-day senior training seminar...
====
WASHINGTON: U.S. Pacific Command’s deputy commander opened a multinational peacekeeping exercise in Nepal yesterday...
Marine Corps Lt. Gen. Thomas L. Conant joined officials from the Nepalese army and the United Nations to kick off the Shanti Prayas 2 peacekeeping exercise at the Birendra Peace Operations Training Center in Panchkal.
The exercise, the second to be hosted by Nepal, is sponsored by the United States to train the Nepal army and Global Peace Operations Initiative partner nation militaries for U.N. peacekeeping missions. Representatives of 23 nations are participating in this year’s exercise.
Conant, expressing pride for his service as a U.N. peacekeeper in Somalia in 1994, challenged the group to take advantage of the opportunity to “learn and practice and latest in peacekeeping skills in a realistic environment, as well as to learn from each nation’s participants.”
...
Shanti Prayas 2 includes a senior training seminar, staff exercise and field training exercise.
Eleven platoons from 11 nations participating in the FTX are working to enhance their tactical training, organizational tactics, techniques and procedures. Senior leaders from Bangladesh, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mongolia, Nepal, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Vietnam and the United States are attending the four-day senior training seminar, which concludes today.
In addition, 84 officers from 24 nations participating in the staff exercise are focused on improving their operations, logistics and planning capabilities and U.N. civil-military coordination.
Conant and his Nepalese hosts laid a wreath on a Peacekeepers Memorial to honor those killed in the line of duty promoting international peace.
The U.S. State Department’s Global Peace Operations Initiative was established in 2004 to build partner-nation capabilities in peace support operations. The goal, Conant explained, is to increase the pool of military troops and police units trained and available for deployment and to provide the required preparation, logistical and deployment support they may require.
Within six years of its inception, the program trained and equipped 75,000 peacekeepers worldwide, primarily in Africa. The focus now has shifted to the Asia-Pacific region, with an emphasis on humanitarian assistance and disaster response operations, Conant said.
============
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[Comparable U.S.-led military training exercises occur annually in nations like Mongolia, Kazakhstan and Cambodia for "peacekeeping&
Department of Defense
March 26, 2013
Multinational Peacekeeping Exercise Kicks Off in Nepal
By Donna Miles
====
Senior leaders from Bangladesh, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mongolia, Nepal, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Vietnam and the United States are attending the four-day senior training seminar...
====
WASHINGTON: U.S. Pacific Command’s deputy commander opened a multinational peacekeeping exercise in Nepal yesterday...
Marine Corps Lt. Gen. Thomas L. Conant joined officials from the Nepalese army and the United Nations to kick off the Shanti Prayas 2 peacekeeping exercise at the Birendra Peace Operations Training Center in Panchkal.
The exercise, the second to be hosted by Nepal, is sponsored by the United States to train the Nepal army and Global Peace Operations Initiative partner nation militaries for U.N. peacekeeping missions. Representatives of 23 nations are participating in this year’s exercise.
Conant, expressing pride for his service as a U.N. peacekeeper in Somalia in 1994, challenged the group to take advantage of the opportunity to “learn and practice and latest in peacekeeping skills in a realistic environment, as well as to learn from each nation’s participants.”
...
Shanti Prayas 2 includes a senior training seminar, staff exercise and field training exercise.
Eleven platoons from 11 nations participating in the FTX are working to enhance their tactical training, organizational tactics, techniques and procedures. Senior leaders from Bangladesh, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mongolia, Nepal, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Vietnam and the United States are attending the four-day senior training seminar, which concludes today.
In addition, 84 officers from 24 nations participating in the staff exercise are focused on improving their operations, logistics and planning capabilities and U.N. civil-military coordination.
Conant and his Nepalese hosts laid a wreath on a Peacekeepers Memorial to honor those killed in the line of duty promoting international peace.
The U.S. State Department’s Global Peace Operations Initiative was established in 2004 to build partner-nation capabilities in peace support operations. The goal, Conant explained, is to increase the pool of military troops and police units trained and available for deployment and to provide the required preparation, logistical and deployment support they may require.
Within six years of its inception, the program trained and equipped 75,000 peacekeepers worldwide, primarily in Africa. The focus now has shifted to the Asia-Pacific region, with an emphasis on humanitarian assistance and disaster response operations, Conant said.
============
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Thu Mar 28, 2013 5:26 am (PDT) . Posted by:
"Rick Rozoff" rwrozoff
http://en.trend.
Trend News Agency
March 27, 2013
Prospects of relations between Uzbekistan and NATO discussed in Tashkent
D. Azizov
Tashkent: Perspectives of relations between Uzbekistan and NATO are discussed in Tashkent with the NATO Secretary General'
According to the press service of the Uzbek Foreign Ministry, James Appathurai and representatives of the ministry discussed the state and prospects of relations between Uzbekistan and NATO in various fields.
During a meeting at the Foreign Ministry, the sides also exchanged views on certain aspects of international and regional range of problems.
According to the visit's program, the NATO Secretary General'
============
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============
Trend News Agency
March 27, 2013
Prospects of relations between Uzbekistan and NATO discussed in Tashkent
D. Azizov
Tashkent: Perspectives of relations between Uzbekistan and NATO are discussed in Tashkent with the NATO Secretary General'
According to the press service of the Uzbek Foreign Ministry, James Appathurai and representatives of the ministry discussed the state and prospects of relations between Uzbekistan and NATO in various fields.
During a meeting at the Foreign Ministry, the sides also exchanged views on certain aspects of international and regional range of problems.
According to the visit's program, the NATO Secretary General'
============
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Stop NATO website and articles:
http://rickrozoff.
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Thu Mar 28, 2013 9:55 am (PDT) . Posted by:
"Rick Rozoff" rwrozoff
http://www.globalti
Global Times
March 25, 2013
Cyber warfare subject to Western hegemony
According to Reuters, Shanghai Jiao Tong University is the latest "collaborator&
Washington has set up military units to launch cyber warfare, with 13 offensive cyber warfare units. This is way more serious than the "suspected&quo
China has been the focus of finger-pointing by Western media, and the Chinese government has been behaving in a cautious way. It's beyond imagination and China's political reality that the Chinese authorities, under close watch by the West, are vigorously waging a cyber war against the US.
In terms of Internet security, Western public opinion incorrectly thinks that China - which has never been at the forefront of Internet technological development and suffers from much more serious cyber attacks than the US - is the one which should receive supervision. This mirrors the hegemonic situation enjoyed by Western interests.
A widely recognized code of conduct in cyberspace hasn't been established. And yet there are no clear definitions of cyber espionage and cyber warfare. Washington still has the final say in this regard, and other Western countries simply echo the US. The US, while publicly forming cyber war units, pretends to be the defender of cyber justice.
It's hard to change Western dominance in terms of international public opinion. But Chinese should remain cool-headed.
It's a pity that some Chinese netizens follow Western media and criticize so-called unethical cyber conduct by the Chinese government. There are also idealists who believe "global interests" should top "national interests." Today most globalists are in developing countries, because their proposals have long been marginalized in the developed world, especially in the US. Mainstream public opinion in the West always cries out to prioritize their national interests.
Western countries have teamed up on the Internet security issue, which reflects their deeply rooted attitudes toward China. Beijing has little hope of changing this.
A cyber war may erupt one day, but it's possible that there won't be any public announcement beforehand, and such cyber warfare may be waged every day. It's hard to tell how cyber wars will undermine the existing world order and whether they will turn into military clashes between countries.
The Chinese public needs to stay calm and united. We must have the capacity to safeguard national security on the Internet, and launch counterattacks to punish cyber invaders who dare to launch cyber wars against us.
============
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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============
Global Times
March 25, 2013
Cyber warfare subject to Western hegemony
According to Reuters, Shanghai Jiao Tong University is the latest "collaborator&
Washington has set up military units to launch cyber warfare, with 13 offensive cyber warfare units. This is way more serious than the "suspected&quo
China has been the focus of finger-pointing by Western media, and the Chinese government has been behaving in a cautious way. It's beyond imagination and China's political reality that the Chinese authorities, under close watch by the West, are vigorously waging a cyber war against the US.
In terms of Internet security, Western public opinion incorrectly thinks that China - which has never been at the forefront of Internet technological development and suffers from much more serious cyber attacks than the US - is the one which should receive supervision. This mirrors the hegemonic situation enjoyed by Western interests.
A widely recognized code of conduct in cyberspace hasn't been established. And yet there are no clear definitions of cyber espionage and cyber warfare. Washington still has the final say in this regard, and other Western countries simply echo the US. The US, while publicly forming cyber war units, pretends to be the defender of cyber justice.
It's hard to change Western dominance in terms of international public opinion. But Chinese should remain cool-headed.
It's a pity that some Chinese netizens follow Western media and criticize so-called unethical cyber conduct by the Chinese government. There are also idealists who believe "global interests" should top "national interests." Today most globalists are in developing countries, because their proposals have long been marginalized in the developed world, especially in the US. Mainstream public opinion in the West always cries out to prioritize their national interests.
Western countries have teamed up on the Internet security issue, which reflects their deeply rooted attitudes toward China. Beijing has little hope of changing this.
A cyber war may erupt one day, but it's possible that there won't be any public announcement beforehand, and such cyber warfare may be waged every day. It's hard to tell how cyber wars will undermine the existing world order and whether they will turn into military clashes between countries.
The Chinese public needs to stay calm and united. We must have the capacity to safeguard national security on the Internet, and launch counterattacks to punish cyber invaders who dare to launch cyber wars against us.
============
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 Mar 28, 2013 9:55 am (PDT) . Posted by:
"Rick Rozoff" rwrozoff
http://en.rian.
Russian Information Agency Novosti
March 28, 2013
Nuclear-Capable US Bombers Fly Over S. Korea
WASHINGTON: The US military said Thursday it had sent two nuclear-capable B-2 stealth bombers on an “extended deterrence” practice run over South Korea, dropping dummy bombs as part of a bilateral training exercise.
“This mission… demonstrates the United States’ ability to conduct long range, precision strikes quickly and at will,” said a statement from the United States Forces Korea, a division of the US Strategic Command under the Department of Defense.
While it is unclear if US stealth bombers had been used in previous military drills with South Korea, this was the first time the military announced their use, the Associated Press reported.
The two bombers, capable of carrying both conventional and nuclear weapons, left the Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri and flew more than 6,500 miles (10,461 km) to the Korean Peninsula where they dropped the inert munitions on an island range facility off the western coast of South Korea, and then returned to the United States “in a single, continuous mission,” according to the statement.
The flight was "intended to demonstrate very clearly the resolve of the United States to deter against aggression on the Korean Peninsula, and our strong commitment to the US alliance with South Korea," a senior defense official told CBS News.
The point was underscored in a phone call Wednesday night between US Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel and South Korean Defense Minister Kim Kwan-jin.
"Secretary Hagel and Minister Kim reaffirmed the strength of the alliance, which has been, and continues to be, instrumental in maintaining stability on the Korean Peninsula,” Pentagon Press Secretary George Little said in a statement.
The bombing mission comes in the midst of escalating tensions between the United States and North Korea.
Earlier this month a spokesman for the North Korean Foreign Ministry threatened a pre-emptive nuclear strike against the United States after the United Nations Security Council approved sanctions in response to a third nuclear test by North Korea in February.
The US military announced earlier this month that it would strengthen its missile defenses in response to threats from North Korea.
“The United States is steadfast in its alliance commitment to the defense of the Republic of Korea, to deterring aggression, and to ensuring peace and stability in the region,” said the statement from the United States Forces Korea released Thursday.
The bombing run was part of a training exercise between US and South Korean forces that started March 1 and continues through the end of April.
------------
http://www.stripes.
Stars and Stripes
March 28, 2013
B-2s fly nonstop from US to Korea for exercise mission
USAFOSAN AIR BASE, South Korea: A pair of Air Force B-2 stealth bombers flew a mission from Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo., to South Korea on Thursday as part of the annual Foal Eagle joint exercise, making the long round trip without stopping.
“This mission by two B-2 Spirit bombers assigned to 509th Bomb Wing, which demonstrates the United States’ ability to conduct long-range, precision strikes quickly and at will, involved flying more than 6,500 miles to the Korean Peninsula, dropping inert munitions on the Jik Do Range, and returning to the continental U.S. in a single, continuous mission,” according to a U.S. Forces Korea statement.
The B-2 is a nuclear-capable intercontinental bomber that can fly long non-stop missions by using in-flight refueling.
At least one of the two B-2s was seen flying with an F-16 escort over Osan Air Base on Thursday.
“The United States is steadfast in its alliance commitment to the defense of the Republic of Korea, to deterring aggression, and to ensuring peace and stability in the region. The B-2 bomber is an important element of America’s enduring and robust extended deterrence capability in the Asia-Pacific,” USFK said.
American B-52s and a nuclear attack submarine earlier were brought in for the annual U.S.-South Korean exercise this month.
============
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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============
Russian Information Agency Novosti
March 28, 2013
Nuclear-Capable US Bombers Fly Over S. Korea
WASHINGTON: The US military said Thursday it had sent two nuclear-capable B-2 stealth bombers on an “extended deterrence” practice run over South Korea, dropping dummy bombs as part of a bilateral training exercise.
“This mission… demonstrates the United States’ ability to conduct long range, precision strikes quickly and at will,” said a statement from the United States Forces Korea, a division of the US Strategic Command under the Department of Defense.
While it is unclear if US stealth bombers had been used in previous military drills with South Korea, this was the first time the military announced their use, the Associated Press reported.
The two bombers, capable of carrying both conventional and nuclear weapons, left the Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri and flew more than 6,500 miles (10,461 km) to the Korean Peninsula where they dropped the inert munitions on an island range facility off the western coast of South Korea, and then returned to the United States “in a single, continuous mission,” according to the statement.
The flight was "intended to demonstrate very clearly the resolve of the United States to deter against aggression on the Korean Peninsula, and our strong commitment to the US alliance with South Korea," a senior defense official told CBS News.
The point was underscored in a phone call Wednesday night between US Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel and South Korean Defense Minister Kim Kwan-jin.
"Secretary Hagel and Minister Kim reaffirmed the strength of the alliance, which has been, and continues to be, instrumental in maintaining stability on the Korean Peninsula,” Pentagon Press Secretary George Little said in a statement.
The bombing mission comes in the midst of escalating tensions between the United States and North Korea.
Earlier this month a spokesman for the North Korean Foreign Ministry threatened a pre-emptive nuclear strike against the United States after the United Nations Security Council approved sanctions in response to a third nuclear test by North Korea in February.
The US military announced earlier this month that it would strengthen its missile defenses in response to threats from North Korea.
“The United States is steadfast in its alliance commitment to the defense of the Republic of Korea, to deterring aggression, and to ensuring peace and stability in the region,” said the statement from the United States Forces Korea released Thursday.
The bombing run was part of a training exercise between US and South Korean forces that started March 1 and continues through the end of April.
------------
http://www.stripes.
Stars and Stripes
March 28, 2013
B-2s fly nonstop from US to Korea for exercise mission
USAFOSAN AIR BASE, South Korea: A pair of Air Force B-2 stealth bombers flew a mission from Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo., to South Korea on Thursday as part of the annual Foal Eagle joint exercise, making the long round trip without stopping.
“This mission by two B-2 Spirit bombers assigned to 509th Bomb Wing, which demonstrates the United States’ ability to conduct long-range, precision strikes quickly and at will, involved flying more than 6,500 miles to the Korean Peninsula, dropping inert munitions on the Jik Do Range, and returning to the continental U.S. in a single, continuous mission,” according to a U.S. Forces Korea statement.
The B-2 is a nuclear-capable intercontinental bomber that can fly long non-stop missions by using in-flight refueling.
At least one of the two B-2s was seen flying with an F-16 escort over Osan Air Base on Thursday.
“The United States is steadfast in its alliance commitment to the defense of the Republic of Korea, to deterring aggression, and to ensuring peace and stability in the region. The B-2 bomber is an important element of America’s enduring and robust extended deterrence capability in the Asia-Pacific,” USFK said.
American B-52s and a nuclear attack submarine earlier were brought in for the annual U.S.-South Korean exercise this month.
============
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@
============
Thu Mar 28, 2013 12:10 pm (PDT) . Posted by:
"Rick Rozoff" rwrozoff
http://www.eucom.
United States European Command
March 28, 2013
Minnesotan, Norwegian Soldiers Celebrate 40 Years of Partnership
Spc. Linsey Williams, Minnesota National Guard
====
"Our troop exchange began in 1974, and is the longest-running military exchange partnership between any two nations," spoke Maj. Gen. Richard Nash, adjutant general of the Minnesota National Guard. "This yearly exchange promotes goodwill and sharpens military readiness between our two nations."
====
After two action-packed weeks, the 40th Anniversary of the Norwegian Reciprocal Troop Exchange (NOREX) has come an end. The longest partnership-
Together, Norwegian and Minnesotan troops have braved the cold and snow, skied up mountains, and slept in shelters created with bare, or rather gloved, hands. Not only have the two military groups worked hard together, they have also played well together. No event demonstrated that better than the evening of NOREX's Viking Feast.
Dressed in costumes, designed themselves out of potato sacks, Minnesota troops were treated to an elaborate production re-enacting events which would have taken place in the home of a Viking chieftain. Following the production, each troop was given their own Viking helmet (though made of plastic) and brought to feast on a traditional Norwegian meal.
The following evening also held its traditions, but this time looking a bit more formal than the ancient Vikings. Military leaders from the Minnesota National Guard traveled to Norway to dine with their Norwegian counterparts and the other NOREX participants at a farewell banquet.
"Our troop exchange began in 1974, and is the longest-running military exchange partnership between any two nations," spoke Maj. Gen. Richard Nash, adjutant general of the Minnesota National Guard. "This yearly exchange promotes goodwill and sharpens military readiness between our two nations."
In his address to the gathering at the Camp Vaernes dining facility, Nash shared a brief history of the close military bond between Minnesota and Norway. Afterwards, he presented Maj. Gen. Kristin Lund, Chief of Staff of the Norwegian Home Guard, with a unique gift.
"After the invasion of Norway from Nazi Germany, the 99th Infantry Battalion was created at Camp Ripley, Minn.," explained Nash. "All members of this unit were of Norwegian decent, and more than half were from Minnesota. Their mission was to assist in the Norwegian Resistance in efforts against the Nazis. Lund, in recognition of the 40th anniversary of the exchange program, we present you with an intact, historically correct uniform from a Minnesota Soldier who served in the 99th Infantry Battalion."
...
Having demonstrated the purpose of the Norwegian Exchange; training and friendship building; and seeing it cumulate to one evening, members of the Minnesota National Guard shared one more meal with their Norwegian friends. For many, this certainly won't be the last.
"Even though I had my first exchange forty years ago, I still keep contact with people," shared Lund. "I hope that you will come back to Norway again."
United States European Command
March 28, 2013
Minnesotan, Norwegian Soldiers Celebrate 40 Years of Partnership
Spc. Linsey Williams, Minnesota National Guard
====
"Our troop exchange began in 1974, and is the longest-running military exchange partnership between any two nations," spoke Maj. Gen. Richard Nash, adjutant general of the Minnesota National Guard. "This yearly exchange promotes goodwill and sharpens military readiness between our two nations."
====
After two action-packed weeks, the 40th Anniversary of the Norwegian Reciprocal Troop Exchange (NOREX) has come an end. The longest partnership-
Together, Norwegian and Minnesotan troops have braved the cold and snow, skied up mountains, and slept in shelters created with bare, or rather gloved, hands. Not only have the two military groups worked hard together, they have also played well together. No event demonstrated that better than the evening of NOREX's Viking Feast.
Dressed in costumes, designed themselves out of potato sacks, Minnesota troops were treated to an elaborate production re-enacting events which would have taken place in the home of a Viking chieftain. Following the production, each troop was given their own Viking helmet (though made of plastic) and brought to feast on a traditional Norwegian meal.
The following evening also held its traditions, but this time looking a bit more formal than the ancient Vikings. Military leaders from the Minnesota National Guard traveled to Norway to dine with their Norwegian counterparts and the other NOREX participants at a farewell banquet.
"Our troop exchange began in 1974, and is the longest-running military exchange partnership between any two nations," spoke Maj. Gen. Richard Nash, adjutant general of the Minnesota National Guard. "This yearly exchange promotes goodwill and sharpens military readiness between our two nations."
In his address to the gathering at the Camp Vaernes dining facility, Nash shared a brief history of the close military bond between Minnesota and Norway. Afterwards, he presented Maj. Gen. Kristin Lund, Chief of Staff of the Norwegian Home Guard, with a unique gift.
"After the invasion of Norway from Nazi Germany, the 99th Infantry Battalion was created at Camp Ripley, Minn.," explained Nash. "All members of this unit were of Norwegian decent, and more than half were from Minnesota. Their mission was to assist in the Norwegian Resistance in efforts against the Nazis. Lund, in recognition of the 40th anniversary of the exchange program, we present you with an intact, historically correct uniform from a Minnesota Soldier who served in the 99th Infantry Battalion."
...
Having demonstrated the purpose of the Norwegian Exchange; training and friendship building; and seeing it cumulate to one evening, members of the Minnesota National Guard shared one more meal with their Norwegian friends. For many, this certainly won't be the last.
"Even though I had my first exchange forty years ago, I still keep contact with people," shared Lund. "I hope that you will come back to Norway again."
