Af/Pak & Other News (11/13/2012)

[dump...@hotmail.com]

Petraeus Scandal Engulfs Afghanistan War Chief:

http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2012/11/allen-scandal/



Afghan faction Haqqanis would consider talks under Taliban:

http://dawn.com/2012/11/13/afghan-faction-haqqanis-would-consider-talks-under-taliban/



Warlords, Inc.:

http://nation.time.com/2012/11/13/warlords-inc/



Afghanistan shortlists 3 companies for oil project:

http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20121112/NATION/211120373/1020/rss09




Integrated Dynamics sells UAVs to Pakistan Armed Forces:

http://www.defenceweb.co.za/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=28471:integrated-dynamics-sells-uavs-to-pakistan-armed-forces&catid=112:ideas-2012&Itemid=249




Dempsey: ‘Measured Response’ to Iran’s firing on Predator:

http://defensetech.org/2012/11/13/dempsey-measured-response-to-irans-firing-on-predator/



Iran Unveils Missile-Launching Hovercraft:

http://www.defencetalk.com/iran-unveils-missile-launching-hovercraft-45471/



Iran unveils new missile systems on second day of drills:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/sns-rt-us-iran-military-missilebre8ac0l9-20121113,0,6377733.story



Fighting grows along Syria's borders, threatening to spread war:

http://www.csmonitor.com/World/terrorism-security/2012/1113/Fighting-grows-along-Syria-s-borders-threatening-to-spread-war



New Syrian opposition chief seeks recognition, arms:

http://www.cnbc.com/id/49805489



Syrian Softies Grounded:

http://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htlead/articles/20121113.aspx



Israel considers resumption of Gaza assassinations:

http://news.msn.com/world/israel-considers-resumption-of-gaza-assassinations



Palestinians Prepare for Arafat Exhumation:

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/14/world/middleeast/palestinians-prepare-for-arafat-exhumation.html?ref=world&_r=0




PRC video claims to show missile strike on IDF jeep:

http://www.jpost.com/Defense/Article.aspx?id=291632



Practice For The Iran Raid:

http://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htairfo/articles/20121113.aspx




Germany Plans Extensive Arms Deal with Algeria:

http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/german-arms-sales-to-algeria-have-increased-dramatically-a-866690.html




Argentina says to sue Ghana over detained naval tall ship:

http://www.defenceweb.co.za/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=28494:argentina-says-to-sue-ghana-over-detained-naval-tall-ship-&catid=51:Sea&Itemid=106




Georgian ex-minister accused of torture:

http://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2012/11/13/Georgian-ex-minister-accused-of-torture/UPI-88051352821170/



Strabane Royal Navy submariner tried to pass information to ‘Russian
agents’:

http://www.derryjournal.com/news/local/around-the-courts/strabane-royal-navy-submariner-tried-to-pass-information-to-russian-agents-1-4472684




Sukhoi to Build Strike, Recon Unmanned Planes:

http://www.defencetalk.com/sukhoi-to-build-strike-recon-unmanned-planes-45468/




Concept Model of China’s Stealth Fighter Debuts at Zhuhai Air Show:

http://www.defense-aerospace.com/articles-view/release/3/140114/china-shows-model-of-f_22-copy-at-zhuhai.html



N.Korea carries out tests for missiles: think tank:

http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/NKorea_carries_out_tests_for_missiles_think_tank_999.html



WZ-10 Attack Helicopter Makes 1st Public Appearance:

http://www.defense-aerospace.com/articles-view/release/3/140121/china-unveils-wz_10-attack-helicopter.html



S Korea urges Russia to send rocket parts swiftly:

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_asiapacific/view/1236930/1/.html



CH-4 MALE UAV Debuts at 9th Zhuhai Air Show:

http://www.defense-aerospace.com/articles-view/release/3/140117/china%E2%80%99s-male-uav-debuts-at-zhuhai-show.html



Saudi man gets life in prison in US bomb plot:

http://www.usnews.com/news/us/articles/2012/11/13/saudi-man-convicted-in-us-bomb-plot-faces-prison



Lockheed says cyber attacks up sharply, suppliers targeted:

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/11/13/net-us-lockheed-cyber-idUSBRE8AC02S20121113?feedType=RSS&feedName=everything&virtualBrandChannel=11563



Unwitting Sensors: How DoD is Exploiting Social Media:

http://www.defensenews.com/article/20121113/DEFREG02/311130003/Unwitting-Sensors-How-DoD-Exploiting-Social-Media?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|FRONTPAGE



Patriot Air and Missile Defense System receives US Army stamp of
approval:

http://www.defencetalk.com/patriot-air-and-missile-defense-system-receives-us-army-stamp-of-approval-45463/



Northrop Grumman Begins Full-Rate Production of LITENING SE Targeting
Pods for USAF:

http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/Northrop_Grumman_Begins_Full_Rate_Production_of_LITENING_SE_Targeting_Pods_for_USAF_999.html



BAE Systems Delivers Its 300th F-4 Flying Drone for U.S. Air Force:

http://www.defense-aerospace.com/articles-view/release/3/140104/bae-delivers-its-300th-f_4-drone-for-us-air-force.html



Production Firebird Breaks Cover:

http://www.aviationweek.com/Blogs.aspx?plckBlogId=Blog:27ec4a53-dcc8-42d0-bd3a-01329aef79a7&plckPostId=Blog:27ec4a53-dcc8-42d0-bd3a-01329aef79a7Post:1e7bac9c-c000-4456-8f79-7b3854bad262

[SolomonW]

On Tue, 13 Nov 2012 09:29:36 -0800 (PST), dump...@hotmail.com wrote:

> Argentina says to sue Ghana over detained naval tall ship:
>
> http://www.defenceweb.co.za/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=28494:argentina-says-to-sue-ghana-over-detained-naval-tall-ship-&catid=51:Sea&Itemid=106

It will be interesting to see what happens here. A loss by Argentina if it
goes to the international court would have major ramifications.


Is there are exception for warships in the case of a contractual waiver as
Argentina has already given up its immunity?

Here is what one lawyer said.

http://opiniojuris.org/2012/11/13/argentina-threatens-to-sue-ghana-in-international-tribunal-for-the-law-of-the-sea/

Anyone Ghana has not given up the ship so we may see.

[Bill]

On Wed, 14 Nov 2012 19:20:40 +1100, SolomonW <Solo...@citi.com>
wrote:

>On Tue, 13 Nov 2012 09:29:36 -0800 (PST), dump...@hotmail.com wrote:
>
>> Argentina says to sue Ghana over detained naval tall ship:
>>
>> http://www.defenceweb.co.za/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=28494:argentina-says-to-sue-ghana-over-detained-naval-tall-ship-&catid=51:Sea&Itemid=106
>
>It will be interesting to see what happens here. A loss by Argentina if it
>goes to the international court would have major ramifications.
>

It has some very major ramifications indeed considering that Russia
defaulted on international debt some years ago.

Now I don't expect some tin-pot African state will try and push Russia
about in the way they have tried to push another tin-pot state about
but I can see Argentina arresting a Russian ship in a fit of pique a
some future point if some Russian debt is bought by another gang of
profiteering crooks in New York as this tranche has been.

[SolomonW]

On Wed, 14 Nov 2012 10:16:29 +0000, Bill wrote:

> It has some very major ramifications indeed considering that Russia
> defaulted on international debt some years ago.

Countries that have defaulted recently beside Russia and Argentina would
include Venezuela, Ukraine, Pakistan, Ecuador, Peru, Moldova, Uruguay,
Dominican Republic, Belize, Ecuador, Ivory Coast, Grenada and Seychelles.

Source: Moody's - Sovereign Default and Recovery Rates, 1983-2008

[Bill]

On Fri, 16 Nov 2012 02:24:02 +1100, SolomonW <Solo...@citi.com>
wrote:

>On Wed, 14 Nov 2012 10:16:29 +0000, Bill wrote:
>
>> It has some very major ramifications indeed considering that Russia
>> defaulted on international debt some years ago.
>
>Countries that have defaulted recently beside Russia and Argentina would
>include Venezuela, Ukraine, Pakistan, Ecuador, Peru, Moldova, Uruguay,
>Dominican Republic, Belize, Ecuador, Ivory Coast, Grenada and Seychelles.

None of those, except Russia, have the capacity to empty a bucket of
instant sunshine over people who attack their naval vessels.

The Russian state has the reputation for using very violent forms of
retaliation against people who don't behave in a manner they consider
'reasonable'.

I doubt they'd nuke someone, but I imagine they're quite capable of
launching the sort of military action that the US would take in
similar circumstances, and the Russians don't have the same
reputation for restraint and the avoidance of dead innocents the US
has.

[Jim Wilkins]

"Bill" <black...@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:bb5aa89bqoesofh6g...@4ax.com...
> ...>

> The Russian state has the reputation for using very violent forms of
> retaliation against people who don't behave in a manner they
> consider
> 'reasonable'.
>
> I doubt they'd nuke someone, but I imagine they're quite capable of
> launching the sort of military action that the US would take in
> similar circumstances, and the Russians don't have the same
> reputation for restraint and the avoidance of dead innocents the US
> has.

Are they capable of military ground action anywhere they can't drive
to?

[Bill]

Well they certainly were in Lebanon in about 1985...

The 'Alpha Group' has had its fangs drawn some years ago but I imagine
that there's still a force somewhere in Russia that is housed in cages
and fed on vodka and raw meat.

Everybody's got one...

[Jim Wilkins]

"Bill" <black...@gmail.com> wrote in message

news:657aa8d2ldg8m4k8n...@4ax.com...

There is a limit to what an unsupported small unit can accomplish with
the equipment they can carry, look at the history of parachute
operations or cavalry/Jeep raids. At best they can surprise and kill
people and briefly defend a small perimeter against police or light
infantry weapons.

Some masters of small-unit raiding:
http://www.amazon.com/Popskis-Private-Cassell-Military-Paperbacks/dp/0304361437
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_von_Lettow-Vorbeck
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T._E._Lawrence
http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/efcarlson.htm
http://www.sasspecialairservice.com/david-stirling.html

Can Russia deliver heavy equipment by sea or air without local
cooperation?

[Bill]

On Thu, 15 Nov 2012 13:30:48 -0500, "Jim Wilkins"

Not if what they're doing is springing a ship...

Launch platform is a submarine or three, target is the ship, which
will, if the current case is anything to go by, still have the
original crew on board.

Get on the ship, place a perimeter on the quayside, brief the
captain and hand over his written orders, cast off, sail out of
territorial waters with the 'Alpha Team' there to fend off any
unwanted locals, rendezvous with naval force sailing just off the
coast...

[dott.Piergiorgio]

Il 15/11/2012 19:30, Jim Wilkins ha scritto:

>
> There is a limit to what an unsupported small unit can accomplish with
> the equipment they can carry, look at the history of parachute
> operations or cavalry/Jeep raids. At best they can surprise and kill
> people and briefly defend a small perimeter against police or light
> infantry weapons.
>
> Some masters of small-unit raiding:
> http://www.amazon.com/Popskis-Private-Cassell-Military-Paperbacks/dp/0304361437
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_von_Lettow-Vorbeck
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T._E._Lawrence
> http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/efcarlson.htm
> http://www.sasspecialairservice.com/david-stirling.html
>
> Can Russia deliver heavy equipment by sea or air without local
> cooperation?

well, my armchair generalship (lieutenantship ?) is 100% on the exact
opposite (that is, outposts & similia) and I'm studying what looks like
a lingering "frontier mindset" in late 800s-first half of 20th C. US
military doctrine (all FSRs and not few 100-5's and WWII/korea FM's has
sizeable sections on outposts & static screening/vanguard in general...)

An outpost can be maintained indefinitively, provided there's a logistic
line, so, IMVHO isolated outpost (or forces) can be mantained more or
less indefinitively thru an air logistic line (and meh.... this put
Mahanian doctrines squarely into air, let's cut out r.a.m. lest we risk
bringing out _another_ Revolt of the Admirals...)

Best regards from Italy,
dott. Piergiorgio.