Af/Pak & Other News (2/15/2012)

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Former Taliban leader dies in prison:

http://www.spacewar.com/reports/Former_Taliban_leader_dies_in_prison_999.html



US general: Taliban use of child suicide bombers 'utterly despicable':

http://worldnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/02/15/10411931-us-general-taliban-use-of-child-suicide-bombers-utterly-despicable



Afghan teens were armed when bombed: NATO:

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hrp_4WjxxhTImZaOlm-bNNRbIAkg?docId=CNG.2f6aef10791fbe30fc095a843402452e.41



US, Afghans near deal on post-2014 mission: Panetta:

http://www.spacewar.com/reports/US_Afghans_near_deal_on_post-2014_mission_Panetta_999.html



ISAF confirms 2011 Global Hawk crash:

http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/isaf-confirms-2011-global-hawk-crash-368257/



Iran claims two major steps toward nuclear self-sufficiency:

http://worldnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/02/15/10413421-iran-claims-two-major-steps-toward-nuclear-self-sufficiency



The Hidden Death-Match:

http://www.strategypage.com/qnd/iran/articles/20120215.aspx



Stratfor: Disparity in the covert war between Iran and the West:

http://www.defenceweb.co.za/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=23539:stratfor-disparity-in-the-covert-war-between-iran-and-the-west&catid=49:National%20Security&Itemid=115



Azerbaijan in row with Iran over 'Israeli spies':

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-17015238




In Thailand, Evidence Suggests Bombings Tied to Larger Plot:

http://globalspin.blogs.time.com/2012/02/15/in-thailand-evidence-suggests-bombings-tied-to-larger-plot/



Saudi F-15SA will have Weapon Station 1 & 9 activated:

http://alert5.com/2012/02/15/saudi-f-15sa-will-have-weapon-station-1-9-activated/



Over 120 hurt in Bahrain clashes, dialogue sought:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/sns-rt-us-bahrain-proteststre81e0q0-20120215,0,4677219.story



Assad sets referendum date as his forces attack Syria rebels:

http://worldnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/02/15/10412595-assad-sets-referendum-date-as-his-forces-attack-syria-rebels




With Syria's Rebels: A Visit to a Bombmaker's Factory:

http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,2106824,00.html?xid=gonewsedit



Algerian Arms Deal Brings Russia $7.5 billion, Gas Market Leverage:

http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/algerian-arms-deal-brings-russia-75-billion-gas-market-leverage-02024/



Canadian commander of Libya mission says West should lower
expectations:

http://www.weyburnreview.com/article/GB/20120213/CP02/302139803/-1/weyburn/canadian-commander-of-libya-mission-says-west-should-lower&template=cpart




China defence budget to double over 5 years:

http://www.defencetalk.com/china-defence-budget-to-double-over-5-years-40502/



Anti-Chinese Sonobuoys:

http://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htairw/articles/20120215.aspx



Report: Russia faced major nuclear disaster in 2011:

http://worldnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/02/14/10408881-report-russia-faced-major-nuclear-disaster-in-2011



Stratfor Special Report - Hamas In Transition:

http://www.defenceweb.co.za/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=23507:stratfor-special-report-hamas-in-transition-&catid=49:National%20Security&Itemid=115




Airbus Military Signs Contract with Indonesia for Nine C295 Aircraft:

http://www.defencetalk.com/airbus-c295-military-transport-aircraft-indonesia-40521/



Army Makes Big Bets On Small Programs; Train, Advise Mission May
Spread Beyond SOF:

http://defense.aol.com/2012/02/14/army-makes-big-bets-on-small-programs-train-advise-mission-may/



FBI Purges Hundreds of Terrorism Documents in Islamophobia Probe:

http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2012/02/hundreds-fbi-documents-muslims/



Rafael Unveils a New Member of the Spike Missile Family:

http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/blogs/defense/index.jsp?plckController=Blog&plckBlogPage=BlogViewPost&newspaperUserId=27ec4a53-dcc8-42d0-bd3a-01329aef79a7&plckPostId=Blog%3a27ec4a53-dcc8-42d0-bd3a-01329aef79a7Post%3ab659904e-670f-4e3f-8dbf-63da6a2ac248&plckScript=blogScript&plckElementId=blogDest




Lockheed Martin’s Fighting Falcon Evolves With New F-16V:

http://www.defencetalk.com/lockheed-martins-fighting-falcon-evolves-with-new-f-16v-40532/



Video: Inside a KC-130J Harvest Hawk Gunship:

http://defensetech.org/2012/02/14/video-inside-a-kc-130j-harvest-hawk-gunship/



Raytheon Restarts Production of Maverick for USAF and US Navy:

http://www.spacewar.com/reports/Raytheon_Restarts_Production_of_Maverick_for_USAF_and_US_Navy_999.html



Italy scales back its F-35 order:

http://www.dodbuzz.com/2012/02/15/italy-scales-back-its-f35-order/



More FMV and UAV issues raised by French commander:

http://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/singapore-air-show/2012-02-15/more-fmv-and-uav-issues-raised-french-commander



The Border Budget Battle:

http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/blogs/defense/index.jsp?plckController=Blog&plckBlogPage=BlogViewPost&newspaperUserId=27ec4a53-dcc8-42d0-bd3a-01329aef79a7&plckPostId=Blog%3a27ec4a53-dcc8-42d0-bd3a-01329aef79a7Post%3a76db6824-d8ca-4497-b31d-52f1872a267e&plckScript=blogScript&plckElementId=blogDest



Navy Whacks 'Gator Navy'; Caps Amphib Fleet At 30 Ships:

http://defense.aol.com/2012/02/14/navy-whacks-amhib-fleet-30-ship-cap-set-for-fiscal-2013/



Problems With Motor Slow U.S. AMRAAM Buys:

http://www.defensenews.com/article/20120214/DEFREG02/302140011/Problems-Motor-Slow-U-S-AMRAAM-Buys?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|FRONTPAGE



See for Yourself: The Pentagon’s $51 Billion ‘Black’ Budget:

http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2012/02/pentagons-black-budget/



USAF cancels AMRAAM replacement:

http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/usaf-cancels-amraam-replacement-368249/



UAVs Need To Adapt For Contested Airspace:

http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story.jsp?id=news/dti/2012/02/01/DT_02_01_2012_p39-416413.xml&headline=UAVsNeedToAdaptForContestedAirspace&channel=defense



Is Boeing Proposing a P-8-Lite?:

http://defensetech.org/2012/02/14/is-boeing-proposing-a-p-8-lite/



Darpa’s Magic Plan: ‘Battlefield Illusions’ to Mess With Enemy Minds:

http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2012/02/darpa-magic/