Af/Pak & Other News (4/25/2013)

[dump...@hotmail.com]

Kerry: Afghan-Pakistani Talks 'Productive':

http://www.rferl.org/content/afghanistan-karzai-meeting-pakistan/24967415.html



Some in Pakistan fear Taliban resurgence with U.S. Afghan withdrawal
looming, others hope for it:

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-202_162-57581332/some-in-pakistan-fear-taliban-resurgence-with-u.s-afghan-withdrawal-looming-others-hope-for-it/



Pakistan's Dream Navy?:

http://www.defensenews.com/article/20130424/DEFREG03/304240019/Pakistan-s-Dream-Navy-




Pentagon Medics Weigh in on the “Signature Scars of a Long War”:

http://nation.time.com/2013/04/25/msmr/






Analysis: Iran's unlikely al-Qaida ties:

http://news.msn.com/world/analysis-irans-unlikely-al-qaida-ties




Operation Praying Mantis April 18, 1988:

http://www.navalhistory.org/2013/04/18/operation-praying-mantis-18-april-1988






Gunmen seize Sunni town in central Iraq:

http://www.boston.com/news/world/middle-east/2013/04/25/gunmen-seize-sunni-town-central-iraq/zW0rBYkvu0Lho0HLOQxooN/story.html






Warplanes Hit Rebels across Syria:

http://www.naharnet.com/stories/en/80847-warplanes-hit-rebels-across-syria



Syrian troops capture key town near Damascus:

http://news.msn.com/world/syrian-troops-capture-key-town-near-damascus






Israeli Air Force intercepts Hezbollah drone off coast of Israel:

http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2013/04/israeli_air_force_in.php





Pro-Kremlin youth hunt down 'spice' pushers:

http://news.msn.com/world/pro-kremlin-youth-hunt-down-spice-pushers




Briton profiled in BBC documentary jailed for plotting attacks:

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/briton-profiled-bbc-documentary-jailed-plotting-attacks-140216408.html#i2ziRdW







The Air War Over Japan:

http://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htairfo/articles/20130425.aspx




Korea: The South Offers China A Deal:

http://www.strategypage.com/qnd/korea/articles/20130425.aspx






U.S. SOCOM Kicks Off Two New Vehicle Programs:

http://www.defensenews.com/article/20130424/DEFREG02/304240014/U-S-SOCOM-Kicks-Off-Two-New-Vehicle-Programs



DARPA's Air Dominance Initiative:

http://www.flightglobal.com/blogs/the-dewline/2013/04/darpas-air-dominance-initiativ.html




Smartphones to satellites: Soldiers use new network to prepare for
advise, assist mission:

http://www.defencetalk.com/smartphones-to-satellites-soldiers-use-new-network-to-prepare-for-advise-assist-mission-47583/



DoJ Secretly Granted Immunity to Companies that Participated in
Monitoring Program:

http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2013/04/immunity-to-internet-providers/



US army seeks new technology to replace GPS:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/10017306/US-army-seeks-new-technology-to-replace-GPS.html



Raytheon contracted for Miniature Air Launched Decoy and Jammer units:

http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/Raytheon_contracted_for_Miniature_Air_Launched_Decoy_and_Jammer_units_999.html



DARPA working on sixth-generation fighter study:

http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/darpa-working-on-sixth-generation-fighter-study-385112/



Welcome to the Age of Big Drone Data:

http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2013/04/drone-sensors-big-data/



Another Installment of ... F-35 Cost Per Flying Hour:

http://www.aviationweek.com/Blogs.aspx?plckBlogId=Blog:27ec4a53-dcc8-42d0-bd3a-01329aef79a7&plckPostId=Blog:27ec4a53-dcc8-42d0-bd3a-01329aef79a7Post:f5843809-1a12-42de-8d48-e4d13eac94d5

[dump...@hotmail.com]

Update:

The Thin Red Line:

"Chemical weapons — the ‘red line’ which President
Obama said he would so resolutely oppose — have
emerged in Syria. Blood tests have confirmed the
exposure of patients in hospitals to these weapons.
Readers will recall that President Obama issued a
stern warning against their use. Now they’ve been
used. The problem is now how ignore them. The
National Journal’s article is headlined: “Obama Is
Looking for Reasons to Delay Response to Syria’s
Chemical Weapons Use.”

See:

http://pjmedia.com/richardfernandez/2013/04/25/the-thin-red-line/


Ok, the Red line's been crossed.

Now what?

[Andrew Swallow]

On 25/04/2013 21:22, dump...@hotmail.com wrote:
> Update:
>
> The Thin Red Line:
>

> "Chemical weapons � the �red line� which President
> Obama said he would so resolutely oppose � have

> emerged in Syria. Blood tests have confirmed the
> exposure of patients in hospitals to these weapons.
> Readers will recall that President Obama issued a

> stern warning against their use. Now they�ve been

> used. The problem is now how ignore them. The

> National Journal�s article is headlined: �Obama Is
> Looking for Reasons to Delay Response to Syria�s
> Chemical Weapons Use.�

>
> See:
>
> http://pjmedia.com/richardfernandez/2013/04/25/the-thin-red-line/
>
>
> Ok, the Red line's been crossed.
>
> Now what?
>

I notice that the Congressional budget meeting for next years NASA
budget was cut short for a defence meeting. Something could be up.


If the US President does want to go to war then he will have to make
threats that deter. My suggestions:

1. Publicly investigate what the procedure is for returning the Nobel
Peace prize. On the grounds that what action may be needed is not peaceful.

2. Publicly ask the lawyers "If the Geneva Convention permits the enemy
head of state to be castrated using attack dogs, dragged naked through
the streets and then killed with maximum pain?". If the answer is no,
does failure of the other side to apply the Geneva Convention mean the
USA can choose not to?

Andrew Swallow