http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-3135242/Army-reveals-armoured-trucks-fitted-LASERS-blast-mines-ground-explode-stray-bombs.html?ITO=1490&ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490
Army reveals armoured trucks fitted with LASERS to blast mines out of the ground and explode stray bombs. Uses a laser to detonate bombs up to 300 meters away. Interrogator arm and manipulator claw can move 50 pounds of debris. Could be used instead of bomb disposal experts in body armour. Please do not let Iraqi army have any
http://www.cnet.com/news/us-military-strikes-deal-to-develop-hoverbikes/#ftag=CAD590a51e
STAR WARS hover bike coming to a battlefield soon?
http://www.stripes.com/news/us/navy-contending-with-shortage-of-f-a-18-super-hornets-in-service-1.353395
Navy’s fighter jet fleet has been flown hard during nearly 15 years of conflict in the Middle East. And with the next-generation fighter years from being operational, the service’s F/A-18 Super Hornets and legacy Hornets must continue flying far longer than originally planned. Too many jets are down for service-extending upgrades, and not enough are ready to fly. For now, Navy leaders say they can manage the shortfall by ramping up maintenance and putting extra flight hours on airplanes that aren’t down for repairs. The big problem on paper we have a lot but …
AFGHANISTAN
http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/taliban-has-a-major-afghan-city-within-its-grasp-for-the-first-time-since-2001/2015/06/22/b60741b0-18dd-11e5-93b7-5eddc056ad8a_story.html
Taliban now emboldened after deal with Iran
http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/06/22/us-afghanistan-blast-idUSKBN0P20FM20150622
With love from Iran
Taliban suicide bomber and six gunmen attacked the Afghan parliament on Monday as lawmakers met to consider a new defense minister, and another district in the volatile north fell to the militants as they intensified a summer offensive.
Defense minister is butch –didn’t flinch during speech while bomb went off and full auto ak gun fire going off in back ground.
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2015/06/23/world/u-n-envoy-sounds-alarm-taliban-islamic-state-insurgents-massing-afghanistan/#.VYjAnhNViko
new offensive against the Afghan government and people is being compounded by “an unprecedented convergence” of Taliban insurgents, more than 7,000 foreign fighters, ncluding Chechens, Uzbeks, Tajiks and Pakistanis.and violent groups, including the Islamic State, Afghanistan’s U.N. ambassador said Monday. May be hundreds or thousands of people” operating under the black flag of the Islamic State, including some “extreme-oriented Taliban
CHINA
http://www.wantchinatimes.com/news-subclass-cnt.aspx?id=20150618000140&cid=1102&MainCatID=0
Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) Tuesday announced in London that the Bank of China has been approved by the ICE benchmark administration to participate in the gold auction which is used to determine the London Bullion Market Association (LBMA) gold price, a benchmark physical gold price in the world. On the same day, the bank stated it was the first Chinese and Asian bank to directly participate at the gold price auction. THIS IS HUGE – bank will reinforce the connection between the Chinese domestic market and overseas markets, making the international gold price better reflect the supply and demand in China, as well as promoting the internationalization of the Chinese gold market,
http://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/1824483/china-close-its-goal-full-yuan-convertibility-its-capital
China close to its goal of full yuan convertibility on its capital account latest step in the opening of the capital account – which measures inflow and outflow of capital and covers investments such as stocks, bonds and properties – will be the launch of the new qualified domestic institutional investor programme, or QDII2. Yuan to be exchanged for foreign currency without any limits on the amount – a move that will grant greater flexibility to Chinese investment overseas
http://thediplomat.com/2015/06/chinese-high-speed-rail-may-be-coming-to-russia/
China’s state-owned China Railway Group had signed a contract to plan and design a nearly 800 kilometer high-speed rail connection between Moscow and Kazan. The timing of these two developments is yet another indication that as Vladimir Putin finds himself alienated by the West over his actions in Eastern Europe, Russia is looking eastward for new commercial and economic linkages.
CYBER-WAR
http://www.wired.com/2015/06/us-british-spies-targeted-antivirus-companies/
US and Brits not innocent. NSA and its British counterpart, GCHQ, were years ahead of Israel and had engaged in a systematic campaign to target not only Kaspersky software but the software of other antivirus and security firms as far back as 2008. US and Brits not innocent -newly published NSA documents describe a different method for gaining intelligence about Kaspersky and its customers. The spy agencies apparently monitored email traffic coming to Kaspersky and other antivirus companies from their customers in order to uncover reports about new malware attacks. The spy agencies would then examine the malware sent by these customers and determine if it had use to them. A 2010 presentation indicates that the NSA’s signals intelligence would pick out for analysis about ten new “potentially malicious files per day” out of the hundreds of thousands that came into Kaspersky’s network each day. NSA analysts would then check the malicious files against Kaspersky’s antivirus software to make sure they weren’t being detected by the software yet, then the NSA’s hackers would “repurpose the malware” for their own use, checking periodically to determine when Kaspersky had added detection for the malware to its anti-virus software.
http://www.businessinsider.com/the-chinese-hack-of-sensitive-us-information-just-got-even-worse-2015-6?utm_content=&utm_medium=email&utm_source=alerts&nr_email_referer=1
Hackers that stole sensitive background and security clearance information from millions federal employees may have also infiltrated another federal agency. hackers reportedly gained administrative access to OPM’s database, which allowed them to mimic the credentials of people who run the agency’s systems. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) reportedly detected “indicators of compromise” on three of its computers when files were found out of place, although there was no evidence that the hackers had obtained administrative access to NARA’s systems. average time Chinese hackers have access to a compromised system is 356 days and the longest recorded was 4 years and 10 months,” Mark Wuergler, a senior cybersecurity researcher at Immunity Inc.,
No Patch For Incompetence: Our Cybersecurity Problem Has Nothing to Do With Cybersecurity
Unfortunately, there is no patch for systematic incompetence. No amount of money, new cybersecurity authorities and organizations, or smart hackers lured away from Silicon Valley firms will compensate for the depressingly obvious realization that our government does not care about technical expertise or cybersecurity outcomes writ large and is not at all interested in accountability. We cannot simply run the policy equivalent of a software update and solve our cybersecurity problems without grappling with the disturbing nature of what Daniel and Archuleta represent — our policy elites’ tendency to cry “cyber Pearl Harbor” and nonetheless tolerate massive, systematic, and completely unacceptable levels of stupidity.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/06/21/us-cybersecurity-usa-deep-panda-idUSKBN0P102320150621
hunt for deep panda, not a kinky porn film-
hacking group The Shell Crew is an extremely efficient and talented group along with Deep Panda . For months Shell Crew had probed the company’s defenses, using software code that makes use of known weaknesses in computer systems to try to unlock a door on its servers. Once Shell Crew found a way in, however, they moved quickly, aware this was the point when they were most likely to be spotted. SPEARPHISHING (e-mail spoofing fraud attempt that targets a specific organization, seeking unauthorized access to confidential data. As with the e-mail messages used in regular phishing expeditions, spear phishing messages appear to come from a trusted source).
For more than five years, American intelligence agencies followed several groups of Chinese hackers who were systematically draining information from defense contractors, energy firms and electronics makers, their targets shifting to fit Beijing’s latest economic priorities.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/06/22/poland-lot-cybercrime-idUSL8N0Z82WT20150622
Polish airline, hit by cyber attack, says all carriers are at risk-problem was most likely caused by what is known as a Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attack — when a hacker deluges an organisation’s system with so many communication requests that it overloads the server, and it can no longer carry out its normal functions. “This was a capacity attack, which overloaded our network,”hackers had acted illegally to interfere with the operation of the system
EPIDEMIC
http://www.breitbart.com/london/2015/06/19/tuberculosis-cover-up-over-80-per-cent-of-western-cases-are-among-migrants/
Over 80 Per Cent of Western Cases Are Among Migrants-
Tuberculosis is now staging a comeback among the continent’s impoverished migrant communities and putting others at risk.
http://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/article23754268.html
No public shows and sales 8/15/15 to 1/15/16 –sorry ffa
State Veterinarian Doug Meckes made the decision to suspend the shows in anticipation of a potential spread of bird flu to North Carolina this fall, when waterfowl migrate south for the winter. Almost 50 million birds have been killed as a result of the virus in the country so far, but it has not yet spread to the
Southeast. North Carolina is the country’s fourth-largest producer of chickens for meat and the third-largest producer of turkeys,
http://www.foodnavigator-usa.com/Markets/Recovering-from-avian-flu-could-take-2-years-says-UEP?utm_source=AddThis_twitter&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=SocialMedia#.VYQ9DLYQ8xg.twitter
1 to 2 years to recover 35 million layers impacted
ECONOMICS
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-06-22/tcw-braces-for-bond-market-collapse-by-piling-the-cash-up-high
TCW isn’t alone: Bond funds are holding about 8 percent of their assets as cash-like securities, the highest proportion since at least 1999, distort markets for long periods of time and then you remove those distortions, you’re subject to unanticipated volatility,” said Cudzil, who traded high-yield bonds at Morgan Stanley and Deutsche Bank AG before joining TCW in 2012. Price swings will also likely be magnified by investors’ inability to quickly trade bonds, he said. New regulations have made it less profitable for banks to grease the wheels of markets that are traded over the counter and, as a result, they’re devoting fewer traders and money to the operations.
To boot, record-low yields have prompted investors to pile into the same types of risky investors — so it may be even more painful to get out with few potential buyers able to absorb mass selling.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/personalfinance/investing/11686199/Its-time-to-hold-physical-cash-says-one-of-Britains-most-senior-fund-managers.html
Ian Spreadbury, who invests more than £4bn of investors’ money across a handful of bond funds for Fidelity, including the flagship Moneybuilder Income fund, is concerned that a “systemic event” could rock markets, possibly similar in magnitude to the financial crisis of 2008, which began in Britain with a run on Northern Rock. “Systemic risk is in the system and as an investor you have to be aware of that,” The message is diversification. Think about holding other assets. That could mean precious metals, it could mean physical currencies.” – CASH IN THE MATTRESS
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-06-19/europe-s-banks-head-to-asia-amid-1-trillion-capital-shortfall
European banks are heading to Asia for capital as new rules at home demand they sell more than $1 trillion of equity and subordinated debt to increase loss buffers. Finding stable pools of liquidity is absolutely critical,” he said. “Banks can’t depend on only one funding avenue anymore.”
http://www.businessinsider.com/r-thousands-march-in-london-against-new-uk-governments-austerity-plan-2015-6
Thousands of protesters marched through central London on Saturday to demonstrate against the newly re-elected Conservative government’s plans for public spending cuts.
No austerity wanted in bloody ole england
EUROPE/UKRAINE
http://sputniknews.com/russia/20150622/1023715125.html
“Make no mistake: we will defend our allies, the rules-based international order, and the positive future it affords us. We will stand up to Russia’s actions and their attempts to re-establish a Soviet-era sphere of influence.” So 40k against 500k? Even with high tech non-fallible weapons, US at a loss.
also encouraged Germany and other NATO members to increase defense spending.
http://www.defensenews.com/story/breaking-news/2015/06/23/pentagon-placing-gear-in-eastern-europe/29163461/
Pentagon will place approximately 250 tanks, Bradley fighting vehicles and self-propelled howitzers throughout six countries that are close to Russia, gear is earmarked for use in “training” exercises, but to be placed right next door to Russia
http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/06/22/us-usa-europe-defense-ashcarter-idUSKBN0P20TK20150622
and the gear is the good stuff which means US boots to operate
http://www.businessinsider.com/nato-jets-intercepted-russian-jets-10-times-over-week-2015-6?utm_content=&utm_medium=email&utm_source=alerts&nr_email_referer=1
Italy needed the practice any way.
Italian and Norwegian jets based in Lithuania have had to react to Russian aircraft flying over the Baltic Sea 10 times over the last week, the highest number over a week in recent months
http://sputniknews.com/military/20150621/1023653590.html
USS Laboon is fitted with two Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense Systems, capable of deploying long-range Tomahawk subsonic cruise missiles. That makes 2 with the Ross
http://sputniknews.com/europe/20150622/1023676186.html
German armed forces are 30 percent underequipped and will need years to bring their lacking arsenals up to speed, Lt. General Bruno Kasdorf, Inspector of the German Army, warned in a radio interview on Sunday.
http://sputniknews.com/politics/20150622/1023677516.html
nato and west bracing for long term stand off
http://sputniknews.com/military/20150613/1023330448.html
US Navy’s worst nightmare is about to come true: new technologies will deal a severe blow to the ability of American stealth submarines to vanish beneath the waters without a trace, Professor of Strategy at the Naval War College James Holmes stressed.
http://www.france24.com/en/20150618-poland-says-europes-peaceful-period-now-over?ns_campaign=reseaux_sociaux&ns_source=twitter&ns_mchannel=social&ns_linkname=editorial&aef_campaign_ref=partage_aef&aef_campaign_date=2015-06-18&dlvrit=65413
NATO member Poland said Thursday that the post-Cold War period of peace is “now over”, as the European Union grapples with various crises including the Ukraine conflict and terrorism.
All U.S./NATO commands and bases are in full swing to prepare the “Trident Juncture 2015” (TJ15), “the biggest NATO exercise by the end of the Cold War” in Italy, Spain and Portugal from September 28 to November 6, with land, air and naval and special forces units of 33 countries (28 NATO plus five allies): More than 35,000 troops, 200 aircraft, and 50 warships. The military industries of 15 countries will also participate to assess what other weapons NATO needs. The purpose of this “high visibility and credibility” exercise is to test the “Response Force” (30,00 troops), especially its “Point Force’s” operational readiness (5,000 troops) – protecting the southern flank
GREECE
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/economics/11691806/Greek-bank-run-fears-escalate-as-eurozone-ministers-openly-discuss-capital-controls.html
Belgium’s finance minister admits eurozone is considering draconian measures to stop banks from going bust as Tsipras swallows austerity. Problem is the cross-collateralized debt and derivatives crash will crash banks already in trouble. Capital controls, such as deposit withdrawal limits, can only be imposed in a country at the request of a member state government in the EU. They were last seen in the eurozone in 2013, during Cyprus’s banking crisis, after the ECB threatened to pull the plug on the country’s financial system.
http://www.businessinsider.com/70-of-greek-mortgages-arent-being-paid-2015-6?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+clusterstock+%28ClusterStock%29
There’s a real issue of moral hazard . . . Around 70 per cent of restructured mortgage loans aren’t being serviced because people think foreclosures will only be applied to big villa owners,” one banker said.
The economy in Greece is so bad that Greeks have stopped paying their personal and consumer debts and are raising cash by selling family heirlooms,
“There’s a real issue of moral hazard . . . Around 70 per cent of restructured mortgage loans aren’t being serviced because people think foreclosures will only be applied to big villa owners,” one banker said.
Greece has become an upside-down world where no one feels ashamed about not paying their debts-because no one can pay their debts: At the same time, consumers are pulling all their cash out of the Greek banks, for fear they will fail. Greece needs to make a €1.5 billion payment to the IMF by the end of June. The 2008 crisis had less than 20% not paying their mortgages, 70% ????
Sign of nation to be no more without major outside help
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-06-23/ecb-said-to-raise-cap-on-emergency-liquidity-for-greek-banks-ib90b95y
ECB increased the cap on emergency liquidity for Greek lenders for the fourth time in less than a week, 1.9 billion euros ($2.1 billion) to 87.8 billion euros. Leaders from Greece’s 18 fellow euro-zone countries agreed that Tsipras’s government was finally getting serious after it submitted a set of reform measures that began to converge with the terms demanded by creditors. They agreed to step up the pace of negotiations to secure a breakthrough on Wednesday that leaders can sign off at the end of the week.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/greece/11692803/Greek-PM-Alexis-Tsipras-pictured-at-G8-demonstration-in-2001.html why its important to elect leaders who are hard core socialists – back at the G8 protest in 2001
http://sputniknews.com/europe/20150623/1023754017.html
TSIPRAS trying to be a bit reasonable but alienating his hard core base- Marxists and communists. Syriza MPs are dissatisfied with tax hikes and cuts in social spending, proposed by Tsipras to the IMF and a pool of European creditors. The Greek lawmakers have taken action to block the Tsipras-proposed initiative, thus possibly undermining the whole deal and ruining the international cheer, triggered by progress in the Greek talks. If the radical left MPs succeed in undermining Tsipras’ efforts in reaching a deal, the prime minister will have to either call for a snap election, a referendum or prepare for a default and reintroduction of the national currency, the drachma.
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/desperate-greeks-turn-to-vladimir-putin-for-help-as-country-teeters-on-edge-of-bankruptcy-10330269.html
Greece is dangling the prospect of an Athens-Moscow alliance in an audacious attempt to pressure its eurozone creditors into watering down austerity demands as the country teeters on the edge of default and bankruptcy. Europe , regardless of Greece’s dysfunctionality, needs Greece if it will ever get gas some where else than Russia
http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/news/world/europe/article4476190.ece?CMP=Spklr-_-Editorial-_-TWITTER-_-thetimes-_-20150622-_-News-_-198939046&linkId=15040083
Merkel wary of handing Athens to Putin-does not want to give any more cards to President Putin in his own attempt to wear down the West’s resolve over the conflict in Ukraine, which he portrays as an operation to assist oppressed Russian-speakers.
“The last thing Mrs Merkel wants is for Mr Putin to be able to bolster his humanitarian credentials in Greece.
http://sputniknews.com/business/20150619/1023595850.html
Greece could become a member of the BRICS New Development Bank (NDB) on an equal footing like its current members. Five major developing economies — Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa — signed an agreement to establish the NDB at a July 2014 summit in Fortaleza, Brazil. The countries also agreed to establish a $100-billion reserve currency pool to ensure the bank’s financial stability. On April 16, Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov said the New Development Bank would be launched prior to the BRICS summit in the Russian city of Ufa on July 9-10
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-06-19/russia-clinches-greece-accord-to-build-gas-pipeline-to-europe
Russia signed a preliminary agreement on building a natural-gas pipeline through Greece, a deal that signals strengthening ties between the countries as the crisis-stricken government in Athens is increasingly isolated from the rest of Europe. Russia’s development bank, known as VEB, will own 50 percent of the 2 billion-euro link and provide all financing, Greek Energy Minister Panagiotis Lafazanis told reporters after the signing in St. Petersburg, Russia, on Friday. Greece will own the rest, Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak said
IRAN/IRAQ
http://www.timesofisrael.com/chanting-death-to-america-iran-mps-vote-to-bar-military-inspectors/
Chanting ‘Death to America,’ Iran MPs vote to bar military inspectors -Overwhelming decision in parliament to keep suspect sites closed to nuke probes has yet to be approved by higher Guardian Council. Does this mean the nuke deal is off -no
http://www.bloombergview.com/articles/2015-06-22/iran-s-forces-and-u-s-share-a-base-in-iraq
.ISIS. soldiers and Shiite militia groups are both using the Taqqadum military base in Anbar, the same Iraqi base where President Obama is sending an additional 450 U.S. military personnel to help train the local forces fighting against the Islamic State. Some of the Iran-backed Shiite militia-Headed by the leader of the Iraqi Hezbollah, Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis. He was sanctioned in 2009 by the Treasury Department for destabilizing Iraq. Al-Muhandis is a close associate of Qassem Suleimani, the Iranian Quds Force commander, who has snapped selfies with the militia leader at key battles.at the base have killed American soldiers in the past. THIS IS AN OUTRAGE FOR ANY AMERICAN WHO HAS A LOVED ONE KILLED BY AN IED OR TRAUMATICALLY WOUNDED.
http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/security/2015/06/turkey-syria-pyd-more-dangerous-isis.html?utm_source=Al-Monitor+Newsletter+[English]&utm_campaign=26cefe95be-June_23_2015&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_28264b27a0-26cefe95be-102350069#
Why does Turkey say PYD is more dangerous than IS? Age old animosity rearing its head – problem is Kurds are validating the concern – purging the Turkmen and sunnis
http://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2015/06/22/416947/Syria-UN-envoy-Bashar-Jaafari-terrorists-Turkey-Jordan-Israel
80k foreign-backed terrorists have infiltrated into Syria from Turkey and Jordan to date.
ISIS
http://www.breitbart.com/national-security/2015/06/20/turkish-media-praises-isis-condemns-kurdish-resistance-fighters/
Headlines in pro-government Turkish media Friday praised the Islamic State while criticizing the Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG), which, with the help of US-led air strikes, consolidated their hold over the 400-kilometer region next to Turkey’s border earlier this week.
http://dailycaller.com/2015/06/18/mcsally-we-shouldnt-be-so-afraid-of-hitting-civilians-that-we-miss-isis-targets/
Republican Rep. Martha McSally, former warthog pilot, argued commanders are hampering strikes against the Islamic State because of excessive caution over civilian casualties- approval process for airstrikes is so arduous and time-consuming that pilots often end up returning to base because of low fuel
http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2015/06/over-100-jihadist-training-camps-identified-in-iraq-and-syria.php?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_term=*Situation%20Report&utm_campaign=2014_Situation%20Report
Since the beginning of 2012, a total of 117 camps have been identified as being operational at one point in time. Of those, 85 have been found in Syria, and 32 in Iraq; 11 are used to indoctrinate and train children.
http://www.worldbulletin.net/middle-east/161038/us-to-pay-wages-to-syrian-fighters-against-isil
unemployment down in Syria – fight ISIS get paid
confirm that Syrian train and equip members will receive stipends while members of the program,” said Elissa Smith. “The trainees are currently receiving a stipend of between $250 and $400 per month, per soldier, depending on skill set, performance and leadership position
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3135913/Sickening-new-ISIS-video-shows-caged-prisoners-lowered-swimming-pool-drowned-shot-RPG-blown-explosive-filled-necklaces.html
we know where ISIS training camps are but we do not them, when we trained the FSA we trained the metamorphis of ISIS today. Brutality we can’t imagine unless you deal with Mexican cartels.
http://www.businessinsider.com/obama-is-making-a-big-change-to-one-of-the-most-fundamental-us-approaches-to-terrorists-2015-6
families can now pay ransom without being charged but who can pay $132mm- is unlikely that the government will loosen its policy of not paying terrorist organizations ransom directly, however. It is an open secret that many European governments pay for their hostages’ release, but they continue to deny it due to condemnation from the international community.
http://dailycaller.com/2015/06/18/isis-jihadi-captured-his-own-death-on-gopro/
islamic State jihadi captured the moment he was shot and presumably killed by an Iraqi soldier on GoPro
http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/06/22/us-mideast-crisis-syria-kurds-idUSKBN0P21HV20150622
Kurdish-led forces said on Monday that they had captured a military base from Islamic State in Syria’s Raqqa province, advancing deeper into territory held by the group and showing new momentum after they seized a border crossing from the jihadists last week. The Kurds, aided by U.S.-led air strikes and smaller Syrian rebel groups, pushed on Monday to within 7 km (4 miles) of Ain Issa, a town 50 km (30 miles) north of Islamic State’s de facto capital Raqqa city, said Redur Xelil, a spokesman for the Kurdish forces
ISRAEL
http://www.wsj.com/articles/saudi-arabia-reluctantly-finds-common-cause-with-israel-in-suspicions-about-iran-1434627043
Years of sectarian carnage in Syria and Iraq have turned public opinion in Saudi Arabia solidly against Iran – Sectarian carnage usually does it for what ever the faith
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/196925#.VYnnv0aqG8C
Jordan is preparing for invasions by Islamic terror groups by arming Bedouins in Syria and Iraq to prevent incursions, reports say. June 15, Abdullah stated that it was Jordan’s obligation “to assist Arab tribes in Iraq and Syria,” hinting that he would rely on the tribes as a first line of defense against incursions by ISIS and Al-Nusra.
http://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/isis-sanctuary-june-19-2015 kurds expanding but not in drivers seat yet, where did they get the extra ammo
http://www.janes.com/article/52424/kbm-says-verba-manpads-now-being-sold-internationally#.VYR3LvAAXn8.twitter
state of the art – shoulder fired aa missile- “Verba has a fire range of 6 km and the range of target acquisition is increased by two-and-a-half times. [It’s] jamming resistance against flares is increased by 10 times,” he said.
http://www.jpost.com/Middle-East/As-minorities-come-under-attack-Hezbollah-portrays-itself-as-their-defender-406548?utm_campaign=shareaholic&utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=socialnetwork
Hezbollah, a Shi’ite organization, is presenting itself as the defender of the multi-ethnic Lebanese state and minorities against Sunni jihadists. This danger does not recognize Shi’ites, Sunnis, Muslims, Christians or Druse or Yazidis or Arabs or Kurds. This monster is growing and getting bigger,” said Nasrallah
http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/.premium-1.662317?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter
two countries are continuing to provide Syrian regime with advice, intelligence and weapons, but not boots on the ground. it seems that Iran and Russia – each working separately – are both determined to ensure the regime’s survival. However if Russia is truly getting chummy with Saudi Arabia , Assad will go down.
LATIN AMERICA
http://bigstory.ap.org/urn:publicid:ap.org:10dd0914d99e4fe7b64f46713055db7c
Bloodshed in El Salvador reaching levels of 1980s civil war. Police officials and others blame the worsening insecurity on the breakdown of a truce made between the gangs and the government in 2013. While the homicide rate plunged, critics say the truce gave the gangs time to strengthen, train and acquire heavier arms than they had in the past. Now the former rebel movement is the governing party and it is the gangs who control territories where 90 percent of El Salvador’s people live, noted Miguel Fortin Magana, the chief forensics officer for the country’s Supreme Court.
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2015/jun/21/migrants-traveling-in-mexico-attacked-by-armed-gan/
Hundreds of migrants have been attacked by armed gangs wearing military-style uniforms as they’ve tried to cross through Mexico. Amnesty intl asking US for help because Mexico doesn’t care.
http://sputniknews.com/business/20150622/1023711981.html
Global forces such as the rising economic strength of China and the expanding number of mega-ships that can’t cross through the Panama Canal are in favor of the construction of the Nicaraguan 170-mile inter-oceanic canal.
The Nicaraguan canal, being built by a Chinese firm, will connect the Atlantic and Pacific oceans and would rival the century-old Panama Canal. Nicaragua began building the $50-billion dollar canal on December 22, 2014. The private Hong Kong Nicaragua Canal Development (HKCD) Group was commissioned to complete the ambitious project within five years.
RUSSIA
http://www.businessinsider.com/a-new-look-at-how-russians-view-russia-and-the-west-2015-6
Pew Research recently did some digging around in Russia to find out how Russians view their own country and their place in the world at large
Russians don’t feel great about their economy
Many Russians believe Western powers are to blame for the bad economy
Russians love Putin
Russians do not like the US-don’t like NATO, the EU, or Germany much either
Russians also want to keep Ukraine out of NATO and the EU
Russians have little faith in Barack Obama and Angela Merkel
Russians miss the Soviet Union
Russians do not believe Russia is big enough (Remember Hitler and Lebensraum? Yeah, same concept here only in reverse…now it is the Russians who want more living space!!)
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/politics/unite-against-moscow-aggression-us-nuclear-missile-commander-says-vladimir-putins-actions-echo-those-of-nazi-germany-in-the-1930s-10337983.html
US commander in charge, Lieutenant General Stephen Wilson, commander of US Global Air Strike Command- warned that too much power is concentrated in the hands of Russian President Vladimir Putin, and drawn parallels between Russia’s recent behaviour and that of Nazi Germany. Last year, Allied aircraft intercepted Russian planes more than 400 times. Over 150 of these intercepts were conducted by Nato’s Baltic Air Policing Mission. That’s about four times as many as in 2013.”
http://blogs.reuters.com/great-debate/2015/06/22/how-vladimir-putin-learned-to-stop-worrying-and-love-the-bomb/
central question is the obvious one: Is it likely that Russia would launch a nuclear strike against a NATO country? The answer, presently, must be no, it is not likely, as a deliberate decision. The terror inspired by the reality of a nuclear exchange, the certainty of millions of deaths even if it were “contained,” the utter unpredictability of the outcome and of the nature of what parts of the world and humanity would survive would stay any rational hand.
Putin is rational, and he is using the threat rationally. He has decided that, since the beginning of his third presidential term in 2012, he must portray the West as a menacing force on Russia’s borders, a force that seeks to weaken the country’s government by encouraging a “fascist” revolution in Ukraine and by supporting antipatriotic nongovernmental organizations, which work against the national interest within Russia itself. The strategy is not only rational; it works. Russians now believe the West is once more their enemy, and seem to believe it more fervently than they did in the last decades of the Soviet Union. But the key word is deliberate. The Strangelove option – the bomb that gets away from control of one side or the other – is much more likely in a period of tension. Russian command and control has been sloppy in the past. It is better now, as the country’s forces are modernized. But in a country keyed up by insistent propaganda prefiguring Western attack, a rogue decision is possible.
http://www.ibtimes.com/russia-mig-31-fighters-arctic-navigation-system-can-operate-extreme-weather-without-1980132
Russia MiG-31 Fighter’s Arctic Navigation System Can Operate In Extreme Weather Without Satellites, Official Says- fighters’ new navigation system was specifically designed to function in the Arctic’s extreme weather conditions. The technology allows pilots to navigate without ground communication or a satellite feed and remains operational in the event of a partial electronics failure. unnamed official from Russia’s Defense Ministry confirmed in April that the Kremlin planned to build a “self-sufficient” military force in the Arctic by 2018.
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/russian-ambassador-sweden-joins-nato-173132264.html;_ylt=AwrBT.PJuIlVSyAA3exXNyoA;_ylu=X3oDMTExcjZhcGFzBGNvbG8DYmYxBHBvcwMxBHZ0aWQDVUlDMV8xBHNlYwNzcg–#
Russia’s ambassador to Sweden has warned the country of the potential military “consequences” associated with joining NATO in an interview with the Swedish newspaper- Russia will have to resort to a response of the military kind and reorientate our troops and missiles,” the ambassador said. “The country that joins NATO needs to be aware of the risks it is exposing itself to.” Sounds like the Russian mob, of that is right, the Russian mob is former kgb
http://sputniknews.com/military/20150620/1023614034.html
US Department of Defense is stepping up its military capabilities for increased activities in the Arctic Ocean region but real late to the game
http://sputniknews.com/science/20150619/1023557318.html
DARK SIDE OF THE MOON -2019, not really, just going to polar region in 2019
SAUDIS
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2015-06-22/whos-allied-whom-putin-saudi-caravan
In principle, there could not be a more spectacular game-changer-in-waiting – higher oil prices)? No one knows, yet, how this will play out in the New Great Game in Eurasia, of which a major spin-off is Cold War 2.0 between the US and Russia. Russian intelligence is fully aware that the House of Saud has been tremendously “disappointed” Obama administration, geopolitical/geoeconomic bonanza for Putin with the Saudis testing the new wind coming 21st century Silk Road Eurasian caravan. Putin’s move also carries the potential of isolating Qatar – which is indirectly, but very effectively, subsidizing al-Qaeda in Syria to facilitate its ultimate geoeconomic aim; a natural gas pipeline from South Pars through Saudi Arabia and Jordan to the Mediterranean coast.
http://www.middleeasteye.net/news/saudi-arabia-and-russia-agreed-trade-votes-unhrc-1048897869
leaked diplomatic cable has revealed that Russia and Saudi Arabia agreed to trade votes for spots on the UN Human Rights Council.
http://english.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13940402001435
Saudi foreign ministry cable gained in the May cyberattack by the Yemen Cyber Army clearly shows that Riyadh, Washington, Paris, London, Ankara, Doha, Amman, Kuwait and Abu Dhabi are running joint efforts to back up and finance terrorists in Syria to overthrow the Damascus government. Yemen Cyber Army gained access to the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) network and have full control over more than 3000 computers and servers, and thousands of users.
http://russia-insider.com/en/politics/about-face-saudi-arabia-and-russia-ink-six-new-deals-embark-new-petroleum-alliance-progress#.VYXLo6AjDdY.twitter
two sides signed a total of six new cooperation agreements that included the nuclear and military spheres – bilateral cooperation-this, in turn, will lead to creating a petroleum alliance between the two countries for the benefit of the international oil market as well as producing countries and stabilizing and improving the market.”
South china – wag the dog before its Gen Tsos?
http://www.businessinsider.com/china-has-reached-a-now-what-point-2015-6?utm_content=&utm_medium=email&utm_source=alerts&nr_email_referer=1
Chinese economy has reached a “now what?” point slowing, but not fast enough for authorities to exercise the nuclear option of a full-on stimulus that would add more debt to a highly levered nation – still slowing faster than authorities would like as they expand globally being the nice sugar dragon – guns and butter are still basic economics.
http://www.wantchinatimes.com/news-subclass-cnt.aspx?id=20150619000037&cid=1101
PLA recalls retired NCOs for S China Sea contingency: Duowei – a dramatic move considering the US is kow towing – THIS IS WHAT YOU DO BEFORE A WAR STARTS
http://www.wantchinatimes.com/news-subclass-cnt.aspx?id=20150612000010&cid=1101
Admitting that Japan has the capability to project its naval force to the South China Sea, Admiral Li Jie of China’s People’s Liberation Army said Chinese warships also have the right to ram Japanese ships in the disputed region, according to the nationalistic Chinese tabloid Global Times.
http://www.theage.com.au/world/how-beijing-may-use-south-china-sea-to-create-submarine-haven-20150622-ghuwzm.html
South China Sea – bounded by Vietnam, China, Taiwan, Japan, the Philippines and Malaysia – is one of the world’s most important shipping lanes. China asserts it holds maritime rights to 90 per cent of the sea, a claim that other countries have vigorously contested – guards China’s southern flank, including a submarine base in Sanya, on China’s Hainan island. The People’s Liberation Army Navy has built underwater tunnels there to quietly dock some of its submarines, including those that carry ballistic missiles. – some of the “reclaimed” islands already have tunnel docks. Soon to have su-35s there too
http://www.wantchinatimes.com/news-subclass-cnt.aspx?id=20150622000091&cid=1101&MainCatID=0
Vietnamese military is preparing to attack the Chinese facilities in the region with special forces, according to Moscow-based Kommersant – To stop China’s land reclamation activities in the disputed South China. People’s Navy of Vietnam will carry out an amphibious landing against the islands and reefs currently under Chinese occupation. The landing vessels are to be covered by aircraft, torpedo boats and corvettes. The Beijing-based Sina Military Network reports that the Vietnamese Navy’s four Tarantul-class corvettes are equipped with Russian-built Kh-35 anti-ship missiles which are extremely dangerous for PLA surface combat vessels. Vietnam is just the second nation in the world to have Kh-35 anti-ship missiles. It has an attacking range of 130 kilometers.
http://article.wn.com/view/2015/06/23/News24com_China_aims_to_challenge_US_air_dominance/
China is mounting a serious effort to challenge US military superiority in air and space, forcing the Pentagon to seek new technologies and systems to stay ahead of its rapidly developing rival, Deputy Defence Secretary Robert Work said on Monday. The Pentagon’s chief operating officer, speaking to a group of military and civilian aerospace experts, said China was “quickly closing the technological gaps”, developing radar-evading aircraft, advanced reconnaissance planes, sophisticated missiles and top-notch electronic warfare equipment.
http://defensetech.org/2015/06/19/russia-to-ink-deal-to-supply-china-with-24-su-35-fighter-jets/#.VYQ8Nob1RrU.twitter
hangar space in the Spratlys –su35- beats F-15, F-16 and F/A-18 aircraft — even the new F-35 fifth-generation stealth fighter, according to a fact-sheet. “Thus, it is a potent rival to the F-22A aircraft
http://townhall.com/news/politics-elections/2015/06/21/philippines-steps-up-drills-with-us-japan-forces-near-south-china-sea-n2015520
Philippines will hold separate naval exercises with U.S. and Japanese forces this week on a Philippine island that is not far from the disputed Spratly archipelago, where China’s rapid creation of seven island outposts is stoking regional tensions.
http://freebeacon.com/national-security/flashcritic-china-gets-pass-from-obama-on-devastating-opm-hack-to-preserve-strategic-dialogue-and-summit/
Obama administration continues to play down one of the nation’s most damaging Chinese cyber espionage operations in order to maintain a dialogue with China and host a summit for its leader this fall.
YEMEN
http://english.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?
nn=13940331000897
Ansarullah & Yemen army fired 70 missiles into the Southwestern city of Jizan on Sunday, targeting several military bases. 88 days now – Houthi far from being broken
http://english.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13940402001568
Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian warned against the tragic humanitarian situation in Yemen due to the continued Saudi aggressions against the Arab country, and said Iran and the UN are in consultation to find ways to put an end to the calamity of the Yemeni people.
http://english.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13940331000385
Yemeni forces destroyed two military bases in Dhahran al-Janoub and Jizan. fired 36 missiles at Borj al-Moin military base in Jizan province and another one in Southern Dhahran.
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