Messages In This Digest (11 Messages)

7.: NATO Signs MOU With Mauritania From: Rick Rozoff

8.: U.S. Global Missile Shield: "Most Advanced Radar World Has Ever Seen From: Rick Rozoff

9.: U.S. Spending Freeze Won't Affect Military Budget: White House From: Rick Rozoff

10.: Russia: West's North Kosovo Moves Violate UN Resolution 1244 From: Rick Rozoff

11.: Report: U.S. Drone Attack Kills 5, Wounds Scores In Pakistan From: Rick Rozoff

View All Topics | Create New Topic

Messages

1.: White House Approves $6 Billion Arms Sales To Taiwan

Posted by: "Rick Rozoff" rwrozoff@yahoo.com rwrozoff

Fri Jan 29, 2010 6:29 pm (PST)

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/30/world/asia/30arms.html

New York Times
January 29, 2010

U.S. Approval of Arms Sales to Taiwan Angers China

-China experts said that Beijing was likely to cut off military-to-military cooperation with the United States in retaliation, and that President Hu Jintao might boycott Mr. Obama's planned nuclear security summit meeting in April.

WASHINGTON: The Obama administration has approved an arms sales package to Taiwan worth more than $6 billion, a move that has enraged China and may complicate President Obama's effort to enlist Beijing's cooperation on Iran.

The administration deferred a decision on selling F-16 fighter planes to Taiwan, administration officials said, but pointedly added that they were not shutting the door to future F-16 sales.

The last time the United States sold F-16s to Taiwan was in 1992 under President George H. W. Bush. In response, China threatened to withdraw from international arms control talks and retaliated, many China experts contend, by selling medium-range missiles to Pakistan.
....
The arms package announced Friday...includes 114 Patriot missiles worth $2.82 billion, 60 Black Hawk helicopters worth $3.1 billion and communications equipment for Taiwan's F-16 fleet. The package also includes Harpoon missiles and mine-hunting ships, the Defense Cooperation Security Agency said in a statement.

The Chinese reaction was swift, and negative. China's vice foreign minister, He Yafei, issued a diplomatic message to the State Department expressing his "indignation" over the pending sale, said Wang Baoding, the spokesman at the Chinese Embassy in Washington.

"We believe this move endangers China's national security and harms China's peaceful reunification efforts," Mr. Wang said in an interview. "It will harm China-U.S. relations and bring about a serious and active impact on bilateral communication and cooperation."

China experts said that Beijing was likely to cut off military-to-military cooperation with the United States in retaliation, and that President Hu Jintao might boycott Mr. Obama's planned nuclear security summit meeting in April.

The relationship between the two countries may deteriorate more if Mr. Obama meets, as he is expected to, with the Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama. Mr. Obama put off meeting with the Dalai Lama last year to avoid angering Beijing before his visit to China in November, a decision that received strong criticism from human rights activists.

Gen. James L. Jones, the national security adviser, said Friday that the announcement should not "come as a surprise to our Chinese friends," adding that the Obama administration was "bent on a new relationship with China that goes beyond arms sales to Taiwan." Speaking at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, General Jones sought to play down the escalating tensions between the United States and China.

Those tensions have been on full display since Mr. Obama traveled to Beijing in November. While Mr. Obama and Mr. Hu promised to conduct regular exchanges and to work together on a number of issues, they did not reach an agreement on how to move forward on Western efforts to rein in Iran's nuclear ambitions. Obama administration officials now say that they view China, not Russia, as the main stumbling block on efforts to get a Security Council resolution that would impose additional sanctions on Iran.
....
Throughout January, Chinese state news media have produced a torrent of articles condemning the expected sale.

China views Taiwan as a breakaway province, separated since the civil war of the 1940s, and sees arms sales as interference in an internal matter. The American relationship with Taiwan is one of the most delicate diplomatic issues between Beijing and Washington.

The deal announced Friday is the second big arms sale to Taiwan in two years. When the Pentagon announced in October 2008, under the Bush administration, that it was selling Taiwan $6.6 billion worth of weapons, China froze military ties with the United States and did not resume the contacts until after Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton visited Beijing in February.
....
===========================
Stop NATO
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/stopnato

Blog site:
http://rickrozoff.wordpress.com/

To subscribe, send an e-mail to:
rwrozoff@yahoo.com
or
stopnato-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

Daily digest option available.
==============================

Back to top
Reply to sender | Reply to group | Reply via web post
Messages in this topic (1)

2.: Pentagon To Test Interceptor Missile Over The Pacific

Posted by: "Rick Rozoff" rwrozoff@yahoo.com rwrozoff

Fri Jan 29, 2010 6:30 pm (PST)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/01/29/AR2010012902730.html

Associated Press
January 29, 2010

US plans missile intercept test over Pacific

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. - The Air Force says a missile-intercept test will be conducted during the weekend with launches from California and a Pacific island.

A statement posted on the Vandenberg Air Force Base Web site says the 30th Space Wing and the U.S. Missile Defense Agency will test a ground-based interceptor system on Sunday.

The test involves the launch of a target missile from Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands and long-range interceptor missile from Vandenberg on California's central coast between 2 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.

The Air Force says the missile from Vandenberg will attempt to intercept the target over the south central Pacific Ocean.
===========================
Stop NATO
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/stopnato

Blog site:
http://rickrozoff.wordpress.com/

To subscribe, send an e-mail to:
rwrozoff@yahoo.com
or
stopnato-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

Daily digest option available.
==============================

Back to top
Reply to sender | Reply to group | Reply via web post
Messages in this topic (1)

3.: Afghanistan: U.S. Military Deaths More Than Double Last January's

Posted by: "Rick Rozoff" rwrozoff@yahoo.com rwrozoff

Fri Jan 29, 2010 6:31 pm (PST)

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,584322,00.html?test=latestnews

Fox News
January 29, 2010

NATO: Investigation Launched After Three Americans Killed in Afghanistan

KABUL: NATO says two U.S. service members and one U.S. employee have been killed in eastern Afghanistan.

A statement says the deaths occurred Friday but gives no more details. It says the incident is under investigation and no further information is available at this time.

At least 29 American deaths have been reported in Afghanistan so far this month. That's double the 14 in all of January last year.
===========================
Stop NATO
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/stopnato

Blog site:
http://rickrozoff.wordpress.com/

To subscribe, send an e-mail to:
rwrozoff@yahoo.com
or
stopnato-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

Daily digest option available.
==============================

Back to top
Reply to sender | Reply to group | Reply via web post
Messages in this topic (1)

4.: Afghan War: Global NATO's New Supply Deals In Caucasus, C. Asia

Posted by: "Rick Rozoff" rwrozoff@yahoo.com rwrozoff

Fri Jan 29, 2010 6:33 pm (PST)

http://www.panarmenian.net/news/eng/?nid=42268

PanArmenian.net
January 29, 2010

Armenia allowed to supply products and equipment to NATO and US troops

Armenia was allowed to supply products and equipment to NATO and US troops stationed in Afghanistan. The Pentagon allowed Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Pakistan to provide NATO and U.S. troops that are stationed in Afghanistan with products, equipment and services.

Consequently, according to the U.S. news agency CA-NEWS, the above-mentioned countries are eligible to participate in tenders announced by the Pentagon.

According to the Law "On Trade Agreement", adopted in 1999, and Memorandum dated July 9th, 2009, the Pentagon was obliged to buy only American products.

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization, also called "the (North) Atlantic Alliance", is an intergovernmental military alliance based on the North Atlantic Treaty which was signed on April 4, 1949. The NATO headquarters are in Brussels, Belgium, and the organization constitutes a system of collective defense whereby its member states agree to mutual defense in response to an attack by any external party.

NATO has added new members seven times since first forming in 1949 (the last 2 in 2009). NATO comprises 28 members: Albania, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Turkey, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

New membership in the alliance has been largely from Eastern Europe and the Balkans, including former members of the Warsaw Pact. At the 2008 summit in Bucharest, three countries were promised future invitations: the Republic of Macedonia, Georgia and Ukraine.

Other potential candidate countries include Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina, which joined the Adriatic Charter of potential members in 2008.
===========================
Stop NATO
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/stopnato

Blog site:
http://rickrozoff.wordpress.com/

To subscribe, send an e-mail to:
rwrozoff@yahoo.com
or
stopnato-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

Daily digest option available.
==============================

Back to top
Reply to sender | Reply to group | Reply via web post
Messages in this topic (1)

5.: Russia "Won't Just Watch" U.S. Patriot Missile Deployent In Poland

Posted by: "Rick Rozoff" rwrozoff@yahoo.com rwrozoff

Fri Jan 29, 2010 6:37 pm (PST)

http://www.thenews.pl/international/artykul124661_russia-will-not-just-watch-patriot-missiles-deployed.html

Radio Poland
January 29, 2010

Russia will not just watch Patriot missiles deployed

Russia's ambassador to NATO Dmitry Rogozin, warned on Friday that his country will not passively watch the deployment of a U.S. Patriot missile battery in Poland.

The US will supply the Patriots and 100 troops in Poland this year, to be stationed not far from the Russian Kaliningrad border.

"Do they really think that we will calmly watch the location of a rocket system, at a distance of 60 km from Kaliningrad?", the Russian diplomat said Friday.

Rogozin refused to clarify what the response of the Russian side would be to the deployment. "It is a matter for the military," is all he would say.

According to the ambassador, the decision to deploy Patriots in Poland is "reckless".

Rogozin said that Moscow is consulting with Warsaw and Washington on the matter, using both diplomatic and military channels. "We hope that the decision will be reviewed," he stressed.

Last Friday Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that he did not understand the plan to deploy Patriot missiles in Poland. "Why create the impression that Poland is strengthening [its defences] against Russia?"

Earlier, a Russian Navy spokesperson announced that Russia's Baltic Fleet would be strengthened although this was not confirmed by the Kremlin.
===========================
Stop NATO
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/stopnato

Blog site:
http://rickrozoff.wordpress.com/

To subscribe, send an e-mail to:
rwrozoff@yahoo.com
or
stopnato-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

Daily digest option available.
==============================

Back to top
Reply to sender | Reply to group | Reply via web post
Messages in this topic (1)

6.: Afghan War: Bulgaria Offers NATO More Troops Indefinitely

Posted by: "Rick Rozoff" rwrozoff@yahoo.com rwrozoff

Fri Jan 29, 2010 6:38 pm (PST)

http://www.novinite.com/view_news.php?id=112534

Sofia News Agency
January 29, 2010

Bulgaria Confirms Sending of 70 More Troops to Afghanistan

Bulgaria's newly appointed Foreign Minister and former Defense Minister Nikolay Mladenov has confirmed the country would send 70 more troops to Afghanistan.

Thus, Bulgaria's 500-strong contingent as part of ISAF is going to grow by 100 troops in 2010 as in the very beginning of the year the cabinet decided to send 30 more Bulgarian soldiers.

"Bulgaria is performing well as part of the international operation in Afghanistan. We currently have a contingent of 500 soldiers in Kabul and Kandahar, and medical units in Kabul and heart," Mladenov said speaking for Deutche Welle.

"The international operation for stabilizing Afghanistan needs not only the increase of the US forces there by 30,000, it also necessitates the other participating countries to increase their forces according to their own capabilities. We saw, for example, that Romania doubled its contingent from 800 to 1 600 men. Germany has doubled its financial assistance," Mladenov stated.

The new Foreign Minister made it clear that the government is not considering a gradual pullout of the Bulgarian forces, and that their mandate is until the end of the ISAF mission.

He made it clear that in addition to military efforts Bulgaria is going to participate in the training of the Afghan police.
....
===========================
Stop NATO
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/stopnato

Blog site:
http://rickrozoff.wordpress.com/

To subscribe, send an e-mail to:
rwrozoff@yahoo.com
or
stopnato-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

Daily digest option available.
==============================

Back to top
Reply to sender | Reply to group | Reply via web post
Messages in this topic (1)

7.: NATO Signs MOU With Mauritania

Posted by: "Rick Rozoff" rwrozoff@yahoo.com rwrozoff

Fri Jan 29, 2010 6:38 pm (PST)

http://www.nato.int/cps/en/SID-2F897834-307C9B4F/natolive/news_61134.htm?

North Atlantic Treaty Organization
January 25, 2010

Mauritania: another Mediterranean Dialogue nation to use NAMSA's services

On 25 January 2010, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed between NAMSA [NATO Maintenance and Supply Agency] and the Islamic Republic of Mauritania.

The MOU provides a framework agreement for future cooperative logistic support activities related to Trust Fund Projects for which NAMSA is the Executing Agent. The MOU also allows for the provision of logistic services related to NAMSA's purchase of defence equipment that is not available in NATO states, in response to urgent operational requirements. This MOU represents an important development in further cooperation between NATO and Mauritania.

Mauritania is a NATO Mediterranean Dialogue country. The Mediterranean Dialogue is a forum for political consultations and practical cooperation which includes a bilateral and a multilateral component and involves countries of the Mediterranean area and to which participate Algeria, Egypt, Mauritania, Morocco, Jordan, Israel and Tunisia.

In coordination with NATO HQ and several donor nations, NAMSA currently is engaged in the development of a Trust Fund Project in Mauritania. Mauritania is the second Mediterranean Dialogue Nation in which NAMSA has been asked to undertake activities related to NATO Trust Fund Projects.
===========================
Stop NATO
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/stopnato

Blog site:
http://rickrozoff.wordpress.com/

To subscribe, send an e-mail to:
rwrozoff@yahoo.com
or
stopnato-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

Daily digest option available.
==============================

Back to top
Reply to sender | Reply to group | Reply via web post
Messages in this topic (1)

8.: U.S. Global Missile Shield: "Most Advanced Radar World Has Ever Seen

Posted by: "Rick Rozoff" rwrozoff@yahoo.com rwrozoff

Fri Jan 29, 2010 6:43 pm (PST)

http://www.globalsecuritynewswire.org/gsn/nw_20100122_6886.php

Global Security Newswire
January 25, 2010

Construction Begins on New Radar Lab

-"This facility will be the birthplace for the most advanced radar the world has ever seen in the most capable Navy the world has ever seen. It will fulfill missile defense requirements recently identified by President [Barack] Obama."

The U.S. Navy announced last week that construction of a laboratory intended to support development of radar technology had started at the Pacific Missile Range Facility in Hawaii (see GSN, Nov. 3, 2008).

Once completed, the new Advanced Radar Detection Laboratory would assess the new Air and Missile Defense Radar and other systems. The system improves information on Naval missile detection by allowing ballistic missiles to participate in longer range targets.

The Air and Missile Defense Radar would be deployed on Navy surface vessels and provide a new tool against ballistic missiles and other surface-to-surface or air-to-surface weapons. It would "provide information required to engage ballistic missiles at greater distances than current systems in use," according to a Navy release.

"This facility will be the birthplace for the most advanced radar the world has ever seen in the most capable Navy the world has ever seen," said Program Manager Capt. Larry Creevy in the release. "It will fulfill missile defense requirements recently identified by President [Barack] Obama."

The new facility is expected to be ready for operations by August 2011 (U.S. Navy release/GlobalSecurity.org, Jan. 20).
===========================
Stop NATO
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/stopnato

Blog site:
http://rickrozoff.wordpress.com/

To subscribe, send an e-mail to:
rwrozoff@yahoo.com
or
stopnato-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

Daily digest option available.
==============================

Back to top
Reply to sender | Reply to group | Reply via web post
Messages in this topic (1)

9.: U.S. Spending Freeze Won't Affect Military Budget: White House

Posted by: "Rick Rozoff" rwrozoff@yahoo.com rwrozoff

Fri Jan 29, 2010 7:31 pm (PST)

http://www.defense.gov/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=57768

U.S. Department of Defense
American Forces Press Service
January 28, 2010

Obama: Spending Freeze Won't Affect National Security
By Donna Miles

WASHINGTON: Though President Barack Obama announced a three-year discretionary federal spending freeze during his State of the Union Message last night, it won't apply to defense spending.

The initiative, to begin next year, won't affect national security programs, the president told a joint session of Congress gathered at the Capitol for the address.

While not revealing specifics about the fiscal 2011 budget request he'll send to Congress on Feb. 1, the president made clear he will ensure warfighters have what they need to succeed. He also emphasized his continuing support for veterans programs.
....
The president urged Congress last night to brush aside bipartisan differences to address the fundamental values all Americans share. "Throughout our history, no issue has united this country more than our security," he said.

"I know that all of us love this county. All of us are committed to its defense," he said. "Let's reject the false choice between protecting our people and upholding our values. Let's leave behind the fear and division, and do what it takes to defend our nation and forge a more hopeful future – for America and the world."

Obama cited strengthened U.S. partnerships from the Pacific to South Asia to the Arabian Peninsula, and stepped-up efforts he credited with capturing or killing hundreds of extremists, including many of their senior leaders.

The president noted the troop surge under way in Afghanistan to build on this effort, and said he is "absolutely confident we will succeed."
....
===========================
Stop NATO
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/stopnato

Blog site:
http://rickrozoff.wordpress.com/

To subscribe, send an e-mail to:
rwrozoff@yahoo.com
or
stopnato-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

Daily digest option available.
==============================

Back to top
Reply to sender | Reply to group | Reply via web post
Messages in this topic (1)

10.: Russia: West's North Kosovo Moves Violate UN Resolution 1244

Posted by: "Rick Rozoff" rwrozoff@yahoo.com rwrozoff

Fri Jan 29, 2010 7:41 pm (PST)

http://www.b92.net/eng/news/politics-article.php?yyyy=2010&mm=01&dd=29&nav_id=64853

FoNet/Tanjug News Agency
January 29, 2010

Russia: Strategy for north violates 1244

MOSCOW, PRISTINA: Official Moscow believes that the so-called strategy for northern Kosovo violates Resolution 1244 of the UN Security Council.

It also generates tensions in the province, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Andrei Nesterenko stated on Friday.

"We believe that, under the existing circumstances, we should effectively prevent any attempt to implement decisions that may harm Kosovo," Nesterenko said. "By this I refer to the so-called strategy for northern Kosovo, which violates UN SC Resolution 1244 and generates tensions in the province."

The Russian official also said that Moscow insists on the UN mission in Kosovo, UNMIK, fulfilling its obligations in representing Kosovo in regional and international institutions.

"There must be no changes in this respect," Nesterenko underlined at a regular briefing at the Russian Foreign Ministry.

"We believe that the reduction of UNMIK staff is unacceptable as this would undoubtedly limit the body's capacities in implementing the authorizations granted by the UN Security Council," Nesterenko also said.

According to him, Russia is confident that no one has the right to prevent UNMIK from fulfilling its tasks, including those referring to enforcement of democratic standards established by the international community.

Strategy neutral

The European Union will take a neutral position on the International Civilian Office (ICO) strategy to bring northern, Serb areas of Kosovo under control of the Kosovo Albanian government in Pristina, says an Albanian language daily.

Koha Ditore writes that, due to the refusal of five EU members to recognize Kosovo, "it is impossible for Brussels to support the strategy".

"Attempts to change the position of these five countries could strengthen the differences and jeopardize the strategy itself," writes the newspaper.

Meanwhile, it was reported that Pieter Feith, who holds two international positions in Kosovo – that of ICO chief, and EU's special representative – and EU mission in the province, EULEX, chief Yves de Kermabon, would visit the NATO headquarters in Brussels on Friday.

This was reported by the media in Pristina, that quoted their NATO diplomatic sources.

According to this, they would take part in an informal meeting with the NATO Council and will focus on cooperation between the EU and NATO in the field, and the situation in the north of Kosovo.

The visit comes after the meeting of the NATO military leadership, who discussed Kosovo.
....
===========================
Stop NATO
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/stopnato

Blog site:
http://rickrozoff.wordpress.com/

To subscribe, send an e-mail to:
rwrozoff@yahoo.com
or
stopnato-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

Daily digest option available.
==============================

Back to top
Reply to sender | Reply to group | Reply via web post
Messages in this topic (1)

11.: Report: U.S. Drone Attack Kills 5, Wounds Scores In Pakistan

Posted by: "Rick Rozoff" rwrozoff@yahoo.com rwrozoff

Fri Jan 29, 2010 7:47 pm (PST)

http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=117376&sectionid=351020401

Press TV
January 29, 2010

US drone strike kills 5 civilians in Pakistan

A US drone attack killed five people on Friday and injured scores of others in Pakistan's north Waziristan tribal area near the Afghan border.

The number of casualties is expected to rise, a Press TV correspondent quoted a government official as saying late Friday. A security official, who also confirmed the toll, said the drone fired three missiles.

The US has launched numerous drone attacks on Pakistan in the past. The Pakistani government has voiced its anger at the growing number of victims — mainly civilians.

Criticism is mounting over Washington's refusal to comment on the missile strikes, which are said to be aimed at eliminating Taliban and al-Qaeda militants in Pakistan's northwest. The silence has prompted even the supporters of the controversial attacks to argue that US needs to be more transparent.

Reports say that missiles launched by the unmanned drones have killed hundreds of civilians so far. The civilian fatalities have made the US drone attacks deeply unpopular in Pakistan, and have resulted in anti-US sentiments in the country.

A poll conducted by Gallup Pakistan for Al-Jazeera in July 2009, found that only nine percent of Pakistanis supported the drone strikes. The poll was based on face-to-face interviews with more than 2,500 Pakistanis throughout the country and had a margin of error of plus or minus 2 to 3 percentage points.
===========================
Stop NATO
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/stopnato

Blog site:
http://rickrozoff.wordpress.com/

To subscribe, send an e-mail to:
rwrozoff@yahoo.com
or
stopnato-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

Daily digest option available.
==============================

Back to top
Reply to sender | Reply to group | Reply via web post
Messages in this topic (1)