Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Boeing Reveals Further Details Of Export-Standard EA-18G

Boeing Reveals Further Details Of Export-Standard EA-18G
By Stephen Trimble
(NSI News Source Info) February 25, 2009: Boeing has revealed further details of the likely configuration for the export-only EA-18G "enhanced awareness" sales concept.
The repackaged EA-18G Growler would be delivered without its ITT ALQ-99 radar jamming pods and interference cancellation system, says Rick Martin, Boeing's EA-18G programme manager.
Instead, it would carry a variety of signals intelligence and surveillance sensors, including Northrop Grumman's ALQ-218(V)2 radio frequency receiver and Raytheon's ALQ-227 communication countermeasures set for electronic surveillance, he says.
The Boeing EA-18G Growler is a carrier-based electronic warfare version of the two-seat F/A-18F Super Hornet. It began production in 2007 and is slated for fleet deployment in 2009. The EA-18G will replace the US Navy's EA-6B Prowler.
Raytheon's APG-79 active electronically scanned array radar, which can be upgraded for jamming against X-band emitters, would also be part of the package, Martin says, and the sensor suite could be used to geo-locate emitters ranging from fire control radars to mobile phones.
"When we've interacted with our international customers, the general sense we get is there's a lot of interest in not so much the electronic attack aspect, but in improving their operational picture in gathering data that's actionable," Martin says. "And actionable can be a lot of different things besides just kinetic weapons on target."
Also sometimes described internally as the "Growler Lite", Boeing's exportable configuration could still be used to destroy air defences. Martin confirms that the repackaged EA-18G could carry weapons such as the Raytheon AGM-88 high-speed anti-radiation missile or the ATK AGM-88E advanced anti-radiation guided missile.
Boeing is not yet aiming the enhanced awareness version of the EA-18G at particular customers, but is targeting several countries, including Australia, Brazil, India and Japan, among others, for further export sales of its F/A-18E/F Super Hornet. "We're not responding to any direct requirements at this time," Martin says. "We think that there is a need for it and there's an interest and we think we've got a solution."

Boeing Statement On United Arab Emirates C-17 Announcement

Boeing Statement On United Arab Emirates C-17 Announcement
(NSI News Source Info) ST. LOUIS - February 25, 2009: On Feb. 24, the Boeing Company is pleased that the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has announced its intent to acquire the C-17 Globemaster III, the world's most advanced airlifter. The C-17 Globemaster III is used for rapid strategic airlift of troops and cargo to main operating bases or forward bases anywhere in the world. It has the ability to rapidly deploy a combat unit to a potential battle area and sustain it with on-going supplies. The C-17 is also capable of performing tactical airlift, medical evacuation and airdrop missions.
The C-17 continues to serve as the backbone of international airlift missions, supporting numerous humanitarian-relief and peacekeeping efforts around the world. We look forward to partnering with the UAE as it strengthens its airlift capabilities with the C-17, which remains unequaled in performance, versatility and reliability.

Bangladesh Border Guards Mutiny Over Pay

Bangladesh Border Guards Mutiny Over Pay
(NSI News Source Info) February 25, 2009: Gun and mortar fire echoed across Bangladesh’s capital this morning as border guards mutinied against their superior officers and seized a shopping mall, apparently over a pay dispute. At least one person was killed and eight more were injured, according to a local hospital official. Flames were seen rising from the headquarters of the Bangladesh Rifles border guards and several loud blasts were heard as army troops entered the complex and surrounded the mall in a bid to crush the mutiny. A military helicopter was also seen hovering over the camp in Dhaka’s Pilkhana district as traffic ground to a halt in the immediate area and panic spread across the entire city. "There has been a huge exchange of gunfire at the headquarters. We have heard mortar fire," said Nabojit Khisa, the local police chief. The sound of gunfire in the capital initially raised fears of a military coup but local television reports said that the border guards had come out of their barracks chanting slogans for better pay and conditions and then seized a shopping mall and a conference hall, where officers were meeting. The television channel ETV reported that several bystanders had been hit by stray bullets. The fighting comes only a day after Sheikh Hasina, the Prime Minister, visited the Bangladesh Rifles headquarters and urged the border guards to become “more disciplined and remain ever-ready to guard the country's frontiers”. A statement from the army said that the Government was urging the border guards to lay down their arms and return to barracks and was offering to hold talks over their demands. "Please end the indiscipline and violent activities immediately, drop your guns and return to the barracks," the statement said. "The Prime Minister will listen to your demands and meet them as much possible. Please resume order and end violence otherwise you will face (punitive) actions." Sajjad Haider, a spokesman for the Bangladesh Rifles, said: “The army has moved in to deal with the situation.” The mutiny is the most serious crisis yet for the newly elected Government, which came to power in December after two years of army-backed emergency rule.

MRAP And Viking (BvS10) Compatible Combatant Vehicles For Terrain In Afghanistan

MRAP And Viking (BvS10) Compatible Combatant Vehicles For Terrain In Afghanistan
(NSI News Source Info) February 25, 2009: Afghanistan is SUV country. Heavier vehicles, like armored ones, run into lots of problems. Afghanistan is generally roadless, and contains numerous deserts, hills and mountains. Most of the roads are dirt, often just tracks across plains and hills. This situation is bad for trucks and wheeled armored vehicles. American and NATO troops have found that the best way to get across this terrain is with tracked vehicles. Canada, for example, first sent it's wheeled LAV armored vehicles along with its troops. The LAVs had a hard time with all the nasty terrain. So Canada sent some Leopard tanks, and suddenly the troops had combat vehicles that could get around quickly and easily. But there still remained the problem of getting supplies moved without vehicles getting stuck or flipping over. The solution, it turned out, was again, tracked vehicles. The British Royal Marines brought with them unarmored Bv206 (which can carry 2.5 tons over any terrain. including snow and most marshland) tracked vehicles.
The larger BvS10 can haul five tons. The BvS10 is actually an articulated vehicle, with a tracked trailer connected by a power transfer and steering linkage. The front part weighs 4.9 tons, the rear part 3.1 tons.
Because of this trailer arrangement, the vehicle has a 47 foot turning radius. Four passengers can be carried in the front car, and eight on the rear one. The vehicle is amphibious and has a top speed in the water of five kilometers an hour (compared to 65 kilometers an hour on land.) The vehicle are Swedish, and built to cope with the marshes and mountains the country is full of, as well as deep snow. The Royal Marines mainly got the Viking for amphibious operations, as well as logistics and carrying troops in combat zones. The Viking is also able to move through swampy terrain, as well as snow. It's well suited for Afghanistan, where they can be lifted by a CH-47 Chinook helicopter, or a C-130 transport. Lifting the two sections of the vehicle separately, the smaller Merlin helicopter can move the vehicle. Last year, the Royal Marines got 108 armored, "Viking" (BvS10) all terrain combat vehicles, at a cost of $890,000 each. They used these vehicles, armored versions of the Bv206, in combat for the first time in Afghanistan, and were well satisfied with the performance, and protection, the vehicles provided. Canadian troops also used Bv206s for moving supplies, and discovered that the light ground pressure created by the wide tracks, tended to go over landmines without detonating them. The light ground pressure was designed for allowing the vehicle to move over snow. Success of the Bv206 in Afghanistan has led to more sales to the Royal Marines, and interest from several other countries. The Bv206 widely employed for civilian uses, from Antarctica to the tropics.

Russia offloading Used Military Hardware To Neighbor Kazakhstan

Russia offloading Used Military Hardware To Neighbor Kazakhstan
(NSI News Source Info) February 25, 2009: Russia is selling Kazakhstan 40 refurbished S-300 surface-to-air missile launchers, and, presumably, the four S-300 missiles that normally go with each launcher. The launcher is mounted on a semi-trailer truck. Each 7 meter long missile, with its sealed container, weighs about a ton. Kazakhstan borders Russia, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and China.
So where does the air threat come from? Nowhere, actually. This deal is a feel-good measure that also provides Russia some protection from a long shot Chinese air attack via Kazak air space. Russia is in the process of buying up to 200 S-400 surface-to-air missile launchers (each with four missiles) over the next six years. It is phasing out the older S-300 and S-200 systems. This would mean deploying at least 18 S-400 battalions in the next six years, and perhaps more than twenty.
The S-400 is sometimes described as an improved version of the S-300. Basically, it is. This is how Russia prefers to develop weapons, making incremental improvements on a basic design, and doing so for decades if the system continues to be successful. Roughly equivalent to the U.S. Patriot, the Russian built S-300 was known as the SA-10 to NATO, when the system first appeared in the early 1980s. S-300 missiles weigh 1.8 tons each and are 26 feet long and about 20 inches in diameter.
The missiles have a range of some 200 kilometers and can hit targets as high as 100,000 feet. The missile has a 320 pound warhead. Price was not mentioned, but since Russia trying to interest Kazakhstan in joining a closer military organization, similar to NATO, but led by Russia, it's doubtful that the Kazakhs are paying much. Probably a few hundred thousand dollars per launcher (with missiles) if that. Every four or so launchers has a radar vehicle and trucks with maintenance and repair equipment.

Israel Killer Drones To Counter Iran S-300?

Israel Killer Drones To Counter Iran S-300? (NSI News Source Info) February 25, 2009: Israel is developing a loitering drone capable of tracking elusive ground targets amid reports that Iran is seeking an anti-aircraft system.
Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) is reportedly developing a killer drone, known as Harop, which can be used against "anti-aircraft systems and mobile or concealed ballistic missile launchers".
The IAI Harop (or IAI Harpy 2) is an unmanned combat air vehicle (UCAV) developed by the Malat (UAV) division of Israel Aerospace Industries. Rather than holding a separate high explosive warhead, the drone itself is also the main munition. This hunter-killer is designed to loiter the battlefield and attack targets by self-destructing onto them. IAI developed the Harop for suppression of enemy air defences (SEAD) missions.
Harop, which is deployed as a "fire and forget" weapon, is designed to travel over 1,000 kilometers to patrol an assigned area and attack any hostile radar activated in its vicinity.
The development comes at a time when the Israeli military is making preliminary preparations for launching a war against Iran to take out the country's nuclear infrastructure -- according to its annual work plannu for 2009.
Despite Western doubts over the success of any military plan against Iran, Israel -- which terms the country as an "existential threat" -- has repeatedly threatened to take out Iranian nuclear infrastructure through aerial strikes.
Officials in Tehran contend that the country's nuclear program is directed at the civilian applications of the technology. Israel, however, accuses Iran, a signatory of the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), of developing nuclear weaponry.
While casting doubt over the possibility of an imminent Israeli attack, Iran has moved to enhance its defensive capabilities against aerial strikes through acquiring a sophisticated Russian-built anti-aircraft missile system, S-300.s
Iran is reportedly negotiating a deal with Russia to obtain the S-300 surface-to-air defense system capable of engaging up to 100 targets at once. The S-300 is a series of Russian long range surface-to-air missile systems produced by the Almaz Scientific Industrial Corporation all based on the initial S-300P version. The S-300 system was developed to defend against aircraft and cruise missiles for the Soviet Air Defence Forces. Subsequent variations were developed to intercept ballistic missiles.
The S-300, dubbed as the "game-changer", is feared by US and Israeli weapons experts as an element that can effectively rule out a successful attack against Iran.
"If Tehran obtained the S-300, it would be a game-changer in military thinking for tackling Iran," says long-time Pentagon advisor Dan Goure. Iran is reportedly negotiating a deal with Russia to obtain the S-300 surface-to-air defense system capable of engaging up to 100 targets at once.The surface-to-air system tracks targets using a mobile radar station, immune to jamming.
The Harop drone, meanwhile, is designed to loiter over suspected locations to spot and attack targets as they are exposed right before activation. Due to its low speed and economical fuel consumption, the drone can sustain a mission of several hours over the targeted area. Harop, an advanced version of the Harpy killer drone, has been optimized to operate against enemy radars and surface-to-air missiles.
The radar killer drone is also capable of detecting suspected ballistic missile sites, where it would target missile silos and shelters as they are opened before firing. With Israeli war threats running hot and cold, Tehran has long been eying the S-300 defense system to ensure the safety of its nuclear infrastructure against a potential Israeli strike.
Tel Aviv, however, expects to surprise Iranian military officials with the loitering weapon as it can target the radar-equipped S-300 before it enters attack mode.

Turkey, Singapore Join Efforts To Combat Piracy In Gulf Of Aden

Turkey, Singapore Join Efforts To Combat Piracy In Gulf Of Aden
(NSI News Source Info) February 25, 2009: Turkey and Singapore recently committed forces to join Combined Task Force 151, a naval coalition dedicated to conducting counter-piracy operations in the Gulf of Aden. Turkey and Singapore will join other nations -- including the United States, the United Kingdom and Denmark -- that have conducted operations as part of the task force. Republic of Singapore Navy - Frigates; The Formidable class multi-role stealth frigates are the latest platforms to enter into service with the RSN, and are multi-mission derivatives of the French Navy’s La Fayette class frigate. The frigates are key information nodes and fighting units, and are “by far the most advanced surface combatants in Southeast Asia". The frigates will be equipped with Sikorsky S-70B naval helicopters, an international derivative of the United States Navy SH-60B Seahawk. The MINDEF signed a contract with Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation in January 2005 to acquire six of these helicopters, which will be organic to the frigates. These naval helicopters are equipped with anti-surface and anti-submarine combat systems, extending the ship’s own surveillance and over-the-horizon targeting and anti-submarine warfare capabilities. The naval helicopters will be raised as a squadron in the Republic of Singapore Air Force and piloted by air force pilots, but the system operators will be from the RSN. The naval helicopters are projected for delivery in late 2009. The frigates have a special surface-to-air missile configuration, combining the Thales Herakles radar with the Sylver A50 launcher and a mix of MBDA Aster 15 and 30 missiles. The lead ship of the class, RSS Formidable was commissioned on 5 May 2007, marking the 40th year of the RSN. "Coalition ships are a critical part of our mission," U.S. Navy Rear Adm. Terry McKnight, commander of CTF 151, said. "The very nature of some of our operations, as well as the success of those operations, is often predicated on our ability to work effectively with our partners and allies." International law obligates all nations to cooperate to the fullest extent in the repression of piracy. Coalition forces have taken action necessary to repress piracy in the region in accordance with international law to ensure free and secure use of the world's oceans by legitimate mariners, task force officials said. "The presence of international navy vessels in the region demonstrates our commitment to regional security and stability," McKnight said. "To continue to counter and deter destabilizing activities successfully, coalition efforts must be complemented by proactive measures by commercial shippers, regional governments and the international community." The task force has worked with and emphasized the important role merchants can play by taking proactive measures to prevent boardings, such as traveling at speeds greater than 15 knots, reporting suspicious activity and pulling their ladders up to prevent access to the ships. Even with increased naval forces in the region, coalition vessels have not always been close enough to a help a ship that was being attacked. "The bottom line is that piracy is an international problem that requires an international solution," McKnight said. "We are committed to continuing operations that counter and deter piracy and other destabilizing activities in the maritime arena to create a lawful maritime order."

U.S. Given Six Months To Vacate Base In Kyrgyzstan, Talks Continue / May Be The Entire Episode Was A Shenanigan By Kyrgyzstan For More Dollars!!!!

U.S. Given Six Months To Vacate Base In Kyrgyzstan, Talks Continue / May Be The Entire Episode Was A Shenanigan By Kyrgyzstan For More Dollars!!!! Kyrgyz villagers are despair as U.S. air base closes. People were shocked to hear that Kyrgyzstan's government had decided to shut the Manas air base -- a vital hub for troops and supplies for the U.S. and NATO campaign in neigbouring Afghanistan and also a main source of income for many local villagers .
(NSI News Source Info) WASHINGTON - February 25, 2009: Kyrgyzstan has given the United States six months to leave Manas Air Base, but discussions continue for a longer U.S. presence there, a Pentagon official said today. The Kyrgyz foreign ministry today officially notified the U.S. Embassy in Bishkek that a 180-day withdrawal process is under way, Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman said. Men talk on a street of Manas village near the U.S. military air base outside Bishkek February 20, 2009. Populated by descendants of nomadic tribes that once roamed the steppes of Eurasia, Kyrgyzstan sprang into the centre of global geopolitics this month when it announced its decision to close Manas, home to about 1,000 military personnel.
But U.S. officials don’t consider the military’s future at Manas, a key logistics hub for military forces in Afghanistan, a “closed matter,” and will continue discussions with Kyrgyzstan about remaining at the base, he said.
“We will continue our discussions with the government for possible continued future use of the base. But we will certainly abide by the agreement that we have with them,” he said. The Kyrgyz order became effective today when President Kurmanbek Bakiyev reportedly signed legislation that the parliament in Bishkek backed yesterday.
The United States pays $17.4 million a year to use Manas Air Base, a major logistical and refueling center that supports troops in Afghanistan. Officials in Washington and Bishkek signed a deal three years ago allowing the United States to renew the arrangement annually through July 2011.
About 15,000 troops and 500 tons of cargo reportedly move through Manas monthly. But Whitman, echoing remarks yesterday by Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates, said the base is “not irreplaceable,” and that the United States will seek alternate supply routes. “This is an important facility, it has been an important facility, but it’s not irreplaceable and, if necessary, we will find other options,” he said.

Northrop Grumman Successfully Redelivers USS Toledo (SSN 769)

Northrop Grumman Successfully Redelivers USS Toledo (SSN 769)
(NSI News Source Info) NEWPORT NEWS, Va. - February 25, 2009: Northrop Grumman Corporation has successfully redelivered the Los Angeles-class submarine USS Toledo (SSN 769) to the U.S. Navy. The redelivery took place Feb. 21 following successful sea trials. The ship began its Depot Modernization Period in 2007 at the company's Shipbuilding sector in Newport News, Va. The work included upgrades to the submarine's sonar, combat and weapons systems and maintenance work on the propulsion, auxiliary and habitability systems.
Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding located in Newport News, Va., successfully redelivered the Los Angeles-class submarine USS Toledo (SSN 769) to the U.S. Navy on Feb. 21 following successful sea trials. Additionally, preservation work was performed on all ballast and internal tanks. ``We have a great shipbuilding and Navy team who have worked on just about every inch of Toledo since her arrival,'' said Becky Stewart, vice president of Submarines and Fleet Support at Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding-Newport News. ``Their hard work, dedication and spirit of cooperation have resulted in the successful return of a highly complex and capable submarine to the Navy's fleet.'' USS Toledo is the 26th Los Angeles-class submarine built by Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding. It was christened on Aug. 28, 1993 and commissioned into service Feb. 24, 1995. Northrop Grumman Corporation is a leading global security company whose 120,000 employees provide innovative systems, products, and solutions in aerospace, electronics, information systems, shipbuilding and technical services to government and commercial customers worldwide.

Malaysia PM Inspecting Guard Of Honour

Malaysia PM Inspecting Guard Of Honour
(NSI News Source Info) February 24, 2009: Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi is escorted by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief commissioner Ahmad Said Hamdan as he inspects their guard of honour during MACC's launch in Kuala Lumpur February 24, 2009.

Japan: JMSDF Newest And Largest Combatant Ship "Hyuga" Class, Is It A Helicopter Destroyer Or A Helicopter Carrier?

Japan: JMSDF Newest And Largest Combatant Ship "Hyuga" Class, Is It A Helicopter Destroyer Or A Helicopter Carrier?
(NSI News Source Info) February 24, 2009: The Hyūga-class helicopter destroyers are a type of helicopter carrier being built for the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF). They are planned to replace the 7,000-ton Haruna-class destroyers currently in use. The new ships will be the largest combatant ship operated by Japan since the Imperial Japanese Navy was superseded by the JMSDF. The first Hyūga class vessel resembles a light aircraft carrier or amphibious assault ship such as the Italian Navy's 13,850-ton Giuseppe Garibaldi, the Spanish Navy's 17,000-ton Principe de Asturias or the Royal Navy's 21,000-ton Invincible-class carriers. According to a records documentary, JS Hyūga will be, "The first Japanese aircraft carrier built since WWII."
The ships' primary mission will be anti-submarine warfare, using the helicopters on board. They will also have enhanced command-and-control capabilities, allowing them to serve as flagships for the MSDF.
The Hyuga class helicopter carrier is named after the Imperial Japanese Navy Ise class battleship Hyuga. At least two ships of this class are planned. Construction of the first ship was started in 2006 and it will be commissioned in 2009. This class will provide the Maritime Self-Defense Force with greater force projection capability. The Hyuga class warships will be the largest combatant ships, operated by JMSDF and built since the World War II. They will replace the Haruna class ASW destroyers. Primary mission for these new helicopter carriers will be anti-submarine warfare. The Hyuga class ships are called as helicopter destroyers in Japan, for political reasons. It is against constitution to operate what is referred as offensive weapons and exceeds necessary level of self-defense. The helicopter destroyer classification is not correct, as these ships are significantly larger than destroyers, have a full-length flight deck and relatively large air wing. These ships resemble light aircraft carriers, such as the Royal Navy's Invincible class. There are two elevators and enclosed hangar. Japan claims that usual air wing will consists of three SH-60K for ASW and one MCH-101 for mine warfare. However ships can carry up to 11 Chinooks or quite a few more smaller helicopters. Currently these warships are not capable of operating fixed-wing aircraft, as they lack a ski-jump bow and other equipment. Nevertheless they may be outfitted with V/STOL aircraft in the future. The Hyuga helicopter carrier is armed with a single 16-cell Mk.41 vertical launch system with a mix of ESSM surface-to-air missiles and ASROC anti-submarine missiles. Several missiles can be guided simultaneously to various incoming threats. Other weapons include two Phalanx CIWS for self-defense and two triple 324-mm torpedo tubes. Ships have enhanced command and control capabilities. They can serve as flagships of the JMSDF. The Hyuga class has no provision for amphibious assault, however it is clear that these ships could carry far more that 350 naval crew. Marine troop capabilities are not being published for political reasons. These helicopter carriers are powered by combined gas turbine and gas (COGAG) propulsion. It is fitted with four General Electric LM2500 gas turbines, developing 25 000 hp each. These drive two shafts.

GAO: Military Aid For Pakistan Short Of Money

GAO: Military Aid For Pakistan Short Of Money Report says budget shortfall could slow down operations against Taliban
(NSI News Source Info) WASHINGTON - February 24, 2009: The Defense Department effort to help Pakistan secure its border with Afghanistan and root out Taliban fighters is underfunded by as much as 73 percent — a budget shortfall so severe that it could slow down operations next month, according to a report released Monday. The conclusion, included in an assessment by the Government Accountability Office, highlights the stark challenges facing the Obama administration as it tries to salvage the war effort. Major-General Athar Abbas, a military spokesman, speaks to Reuters in Rawalpindi February 23, 2009. The Pakistan army said on Monday it had ceased operations against Taliban militants in the northwestern valley of Swat, and an Islamist cleric asked for troops to be shifted to "safer places" to give peace a chance. The Defense Department's "Security Development Program" is aimed at training and equipping more than 10,000 Pakistani "Frontier Corps" fighters for counterinsurgency tasks and is considered a top priority among U.S. officials.
The program received $62.5 million so far this budget year, which began Oct. 1. But defense officials say $167.5 million more is needed before the next budget year begins this fall, according to GAO. GAO does not say why the program's budget is in trouble. The report states only that as of the end of 2008, "no existing security assistance funds have been redirected" to the program and that without "dedicated long-term funding" the training and equipping of Pakistani forces could slow down by March. The Defense Department did not immediately provide comment. Uptick in violenceAfter the U.S. invasion in Afghanistan in 2001, Taliban and al-Qaida fighters retreated across the mountainous 373-mile border into Pakistan's unpoliced tribal areas. Intelligence officials have said they believe if another terrorist attack were to be launched against Americans like Sept. 11, it would almost certainly originate from that region. More recently, military officials have cited an uptick in violence in Afghanistan, which they attribute in part to the lack of security along the border with Pakistan.

Japan To Pay 80,000 Afghanistan Police Salaries

Japan To Pay 80,000 Afghanistan Police Salaries
(NSI News Source Info) TOKYO - February 24, 2009: Japan will pay the salaries of Afghanistan's 80,000 police officers for six months as part of its ongoing financial support for the country, a government official said Tuesday. Tokyo will also fund the building of 200 schools and 100 hospitals, and train thousands of teachers in Afghanistan, said Foreign Ministry official Miyako Watanabe. The projects will be funded out of the $520 million remaining in the funds pledged by Tokyo to help rebuild the country's infrastructure, Watanabe said. Japan has already spent $1.48 billion of the $2 billion it has pledged since 2002. News of Japan's latest assistance in the region comes as Tokyo and Washington continue to strengthen their long-standing alliance. Prime Minister Taro Aso, who has said building better ties with the U.S. is one of his administration's goals, is in Washington, where he will become the first foreign leader to meet President Barack Obama in the White House. Last week, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton made Tokyo the first stop on her Asian tour. Obama has made stabilizing Afghanistan a priority, approving a troop surge of 17,000 troops in the conflict-ridden country. Japan's pacifist constitution, along with the public's strong aversion to sending troops into combat, prohibits it from taking direct military action. But the country has a large military, and despite political gridlock and a deepening recession, remains the world's second-largest economy, often using its wealth to influence affairs on the world stage. Last year, the country approved legislation to extend through January 2010 a refueling mission in support of U.S.-led operations in the Indian Ocean. The mission, which began in 2001 and has been briefly suspended due to political opposition, partially supports U.S. forces in Afghanistan.

Analysis: Kyrgyz Base Closure Risky For Moscow

Analysis: Kyrgyz Base Closure Risky For Moscow
By DOUGLAS BIRCH Associated Press Writer
(NSI News Source Info) MOSCOW - February 24, 2009: When the United States was served an eviction notice from its only military base in former Soviet Central Asia last week, Russia scored a tactical victory in its quest to restore military and diplomatic dominance over the energy-rich region. The move would not just kick the U.S. out of a military installation in a volatile area with major gas and oil fields. It also promises to help Russia gain a choke hold over a critical transit corridor for troops and materiel needed to support of the Obama administration's expanded war in Afghanistan. But by pushing the U.S. out, some experts say, Russia may be inviting trouble in a volatile region that could be ripped apart by surging poverty and rising Islamic militancy. The sudden disappearance of American muscle could have a deeply destabilizing effect - and, if chaos follows, the Kremlin will find itself alone in dealing with the mess. Up to now, the deeply unpopular Kyrgyz regime has been linked in its people's minds both to Moscow - due to long-standing ties of patronage - and to Washington - because of the base. If Russia becomes the Kyrgyz government's sole benefactor, popular anger might increasingly focus on Moscow alone instead of falling equally on the U.S. The threatened eviction from the critical U.S. air base near the Kyrgyz capital of Bishkek "underscores, of course, that Russia wants to ensure its sphere of influence in Central Asia," said Alexander Cooley, an expert on international U.S. military bases at Columbia University. "But I think that more interestingly, it sets up this Kyrgyz regime as being more firmly aligned with Russia. And this is an unpopular Kyrgyz regime." The Kremlin also needs to proceed with caution because successful American prosecution of the war in Afghanistan is firmly in Russia's interest. So far, the conflict has kept the Taliban isolated in Afghanistan and Pakistan - and away from the territory of the former Soviet Union. Afghanistan shares borders with the other Central Asian nations of Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan. As Kyrgyzstan moved to oust the U.S. base, the Kremlin reached an agreement with Washington to permit the shipment by rail of non-lethal military cargo - to be routed through Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan - headed for Afghanistan. By allowing the shipments, Moscow lent critical aid to the U.S. effort, especially given increased militant attacks on military supply convoys in Pakistan - the transit country for 75 percent of supplies serving U.S. forces in Afghanistan. Ultimately, Russia appears to be calculating its control of a critical military supply corridor gives it crucial leverage in other disputes with Washington, including NATO membership for Ukraine and Georgia and plans for a missile defense system in Poland and the Czech Republic. Russian President Dmitry Medvedev on Feb. 4 said Moscow and its allies "are ready for full-fledged, comprehensive cooperation" in Afghanistan. But he implied that Moscow's help was contingent on U.S. concessions on a proposed missile defense system for Central Europe and on a halt to NATO expansion into the former Soviet Union. Increasingly, it looks like Washington is the one going with cap in hand in the region. Uzbek President Islam Karimov expelled the U.S. air base at the Karshi-Khanabad base in 2005, after Washington criticized the government forces' brutal crackdown of protesters in the eastern city of Andijan. Hundreds are thought to have died. Now, human rights advocates allege, Washington has muted its criticism toward the Uzbek ruler in an apparent bid to curry favor with his regime. Karimov, who appears firmly in control, has recently indicated a desire to end the rift with the West. U.S. Vice President Joe Biden on Feb. 7 called on the United States and Russia to "press the reset button" on relations following the change of administrations in Washington. But so far, the Kremlin shows few signs of altering the competitive, and occasionally confrontational, approach it adopted during former President Vladimir Putin's second term. Washington has said it will continue to try to prevent the closure of the airbase at Manas airport outside Bishkek, but any reversal now could prove deeply embarrassing to the Kyrgyz government. During Kyrgyz President Kurmanbek Bakiyev's Feb. 3 visit to Moscow, the Kremlin announced a $2.15 billion aid and loan package for Krygyzstan, an impoverished patch of the Tien Shan mountains. Minutes later, Bakiyev said his government had decided to evict the U.S. from Manas. Russia and Kyrgyzstan both insist that Moscow's aid package had nothing to do the move to expel the U.S. military from Manas. The Pentagon publicly also said it saw no link between the two announcements. But U.S. Secretary of Defense William Gates on Feb. 19 confirmed that Russia played a role. "I think that the Russians are trying to have it both ways with respect to Afghanistan in terms of Manas," Gates said. "On one hand you're making positive noises about working with us in Afghanistan and on the other hand you're working against us in terms of that airfield, which is clearly important to us."

Who Will Rein In The War In Afghanistan?

Who Will Rein In The War In Afghanistan?
By: ZP Heller
(NSI News Source Info) February 24, 2009: "We are asking here in Washington for some action, action from the Congress of the United States of America which has the power to raise and maintain armies, and which by the Constitution also has the power to declare war. We have come here, not to the President, because we believe that this body can be responsive to the will of the people, and we believe that the will of the people says that we should be out of Vietnam now." President Obama plans to send an additional 17,000 American troops to Afghanistan this spring and summer to join the 36,000 currently in the country. The United States Army 1-6 Field Artillery division conducted a joint military exercise with the Afghan National Army in the Shemgal Valley in Nuristan Province, Afghanistan. Those were the emotional words of a 27-year-old John Kerry, dressed in green fatigues, Silver Star, and Purple Heart ribbons as he shocked the country with his antiwar testimony before a crowded Senate Foreign Relations committee in 1971. Kerry's fiery thirty-minute condemnation of the war became instantly legendary for questioning the reasons our military was in Vietnam; revealing the fact that the nation had turned its back on veterans; and slamming President Nixon for refusing to pull out. It was a definitive moment for the antiwar movement made possible because chairman William Fulbright called Kerry to testify. Thirty-eight years later, Senator Kerry now sits in Fulbright's seat. Along with Rep. Howard Berman, Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Kerry has the power to focus the national spotlight on a similar quagmire, the war in Afghanistan. And as the Obama administration just committed an additional 17,000 troops to Afghanistan at a cost of $775,000 per soldier every year, oversight hearings can't come soon enough. Congressional oversight has historically been essential to government accountability in wartime. It dates back to 1792, when the House used hearings to investigate the War Department for a military fiasco in Indian territory that left 600 soldiers dead. During the Civil War, a joint congressional committee forced the resignation of President Lincoln's first Secretary of War by exposing corruption and mismanagement. In World War II, Senator Truman's Committee to Investigate the National Defense Program held hundreds of hearings that eventually saved the country $15 billion (roughly $200 billion today). Senator Lyndon Johnson used oversight during the Korean War to question the efficiency and waste of military agencies. And the Fulbright Hearings were followed by decades of vigorous oversight hearings that included the Church committee investigations into CIA covert operations and intelligence gathering, the joint committees that placed the Iran-contra affair under the microscope, and the hearings used to review US military operations in Kosovo. In all of these instances, Congress upheld its responsibility to investigate military spending, expose scandal, hear expert testimony, and challenge policymakers and the implementation of foreign policy. And as The American Prospect's Robert Kuttner noted, "the most effective oversight has been bipartisan, often with the President's own party challenging his policies." Of course, our country's proud history of congressional oversight came crashing down during the majority of President Bush's time in office. From 2000-2006, the administration largely eluded oversight, as Congress failed to confront the executive branch on the invasion of Afghanistan, the erroneous prewar intelligence that led us into Iraq, and the conduct of both wars, not to mention the torture of detainees and the administration's reliance on mercenary contractors who have made hundreds of billions from these wars. But the Bush administration's years of blatant disregard for our legal system have ended. Though Congress remains deeply polarized, we have a Democratic majority in both houses, and an administration that presumably is more amenable to congressional oversight. It now falls to Congress to restore this system of checks and balances, and they can start by examining the policies and proposed military spending for Afghanistan, enlightening the American public about the true costs of a drawn-out war. As Andrew Bacevich, professor of International Relations and History at Boston University, told me, "The purpose of congressional oversight hearings ought to be an educational one. We're not playing a game of 'gotcha' or trying to embarrass anyone. Congress should inform the public about the reality of policy, soliciting a wide variety of views in order to assemble as complete a picture as possible." Bacevich, a vocal critic of the war in Afghanistan, said it appeared President Obama put the cart before the horse, making his decision to send more troops without having completed the policy analysis various institutions have been working on. He remains skeptical that we will see oversight in Afghanistan, considering there has not been any institutionalized or concerted effort to monitor how the global war on terror--what Robert Gates has called the "Long War"--has been conducted and what it aims to achieve. That said, Bacevich agreed that if any one Senator could bring about oversight, it would be John Kerry. Kerry is in the perfect position to call for hearings, not only because he chairs the Senate Foreign Relations committee, but also because he has nothing to lose in terms of political standing. Chances are he will not be President, nor will he serve as Secretary of State in the Obama administration, so if Kerry wants to leave a lasting mark, it could be through hearings and investigations that rein in the Long War. Recently, when Kerry compared Afghanistan to Vietnam during Hillary Clinton's Secretary of State confirmation hearings, we saw a glimpse of that passionate 27 year old who once brought President Nixon and the nation to their knees: "I am deeply concerned that, at least thus far, our policy in Afghanistan has kind of been on automatic....Our original goal was to go in there and take on Al Qaeda. It was to capture or kill Osama bin Laden. It was not to adopt the 51st state of the United States. It was not to try to impose a form of government, no matter how much we believe in it and support it, but that is -- that is the mission, at least, as it is being defined today."Now, if we could only urge Kerry to act boldly on that rhetoric, and, with his counterpart Berman in the House, let the hearings begin.

UAE to Buy Boeing C-17, Lockheed C-130J Airlifters

UAE to Buy Boeing C-17, Lockheed C-130J Airlifters
(NSI News Source Info) February 24, 2009: The United Arab Emirates has confirmed it is to purchase Boeing C-17 and Lockheed Martin C-130J airlifters. Sheik Mohammed is congratulated by executives from Lockheed Martin and Boeing after signing an agreement for C-130J and C-17 airlifters at IDEX 2009 in the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Center in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, on Feb. 23. (SHEILA VEMMER / STAFF) The confirmation came not with an official announcement, but with a simple ceremony involving the removal of shrouds covering models of the two aircraft in the presence of Sheikh Mohammed, Abu Dhabi's Crown Prince and deputy supreme commander. Nothing was said officially, but the smiles on the faces of the Boeing and Lockheed executives crowding behind the models on the stand of the state-owned investment house Mubadala told the story well enough. An official announcement is expected within 24 hours detailing the purchase. However, yesterday Defense News quoted industry sources saying that Lockheed would be supplying 12 C-130J and Boeing would be building a handful of their giant C-17 airlifters. It is thought there are options for further C-130Js in the yet-to-be signed agreement. The agreements are the second success for the Boeing/Lockheed combination in the region in the last few months. Last year, Qatar signed a deal covering four C-130Js and a clutch of C-17s. The number of Boeing aircraft has never been officially confirmed but is said by analysts to be two aircraft.

US Military Role In Pakistan No Secret: Pentagon / U.S. Military Advisers Preparing Pakistani Troops For War Against al-Qaida

US Military Role In Pakistan No Secret: Pentagon / U.S. Military Advisers Preparing Pakistani Troops For War Against al-Qaida
(NSI News Source Info) WASHINGTON - February 24, 2009: The US Defense Department on Monday confirmed it has a team of military advisers training the Pakistani army in counter-insurgency operations but said the program has been openly discussed for months, rejecting a newspaper report suggesting it was a "secret" project. "The training effort with the (Pakistan) Frontier Corps is not a secret," said Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman, referring to a New York Times report. "We've talked about it on the record for several months," he told reporters. EQUIPMENT TRAINING – Pakistani army soldiers listen to U.S. Army, an interpreter with Task Force Wright, as he explains a checklist to U.S. Army Sgt., also with Task Force Wright, during training on rapid refuel point equipment in Muzaffarabad, Pakistan. U.S. Air Force photo Whitman spoke after The New York Times posted a report late on Sunday that a team of 70 advisers were secretly helping the Pakistani army with training and intelligence against Taliban and Al-Qaeda militants in western tribal areas. He said there were about 30 advisers involved in a "train the trainer" program with the Frontier Corps, in which Pakistani soldiers undergo instruction from US officers and then go on to train their own troops operating in the restive border area. The program was designed to "help the Frontiers Corps develop its own training program in counter-insurgency techniques." He would not confirm or deny that the advisers were mainly from US Army Special Forces, as reported by the newspaper. "We've never really talked about the composition (of the US military team)," he said. There were fewer than 100 military personnel in total stationed in Pakistan, including the training contingent, he said. He added the United States "shares information" with the Pakistani authorities on militants. The Times wrote that a unit within the Frontier Corps has used information from the Central Intelligence Agency and other sources to kill or capture as many as 60 militants in the past seven months, including at least five high-ranking rebel commanders.

Iraq: No Dollars....No Walk And No Talk!

Iraq: No Dollars....No Walk And No Talk!
(NSI News Source Info) February 24, 2009:The U.S. Army got a crash course in dealing with massive corruption due to their six years of experience in Iraq. By the end of 2003, it was clear that bribery, and corruption in general, were going to be the biggest threat to stability and the introduction of democracy in Iraq.
Massive dishonesty is a problem throughout the region, which is major reason why democracy, or good government in general, has never been able to take hold. Captured Iraqi oil ministry documents revealed a pattern of international bribery, from the 1991 Gulf War until the 2003 invasion, involving millions of barrels of Iraqi oil (worth over $100 million). This was paid, in return for support for Saddam Hussein, to 46 organizations and individuals.
The recipients included prominent Arab families, religious organizations, politicians and political parties in Egypt, Jordan, Syria, the United Arab Emirates, Turkey, Sudan, China, Austria, France and several other countries.
Some of the organizations named, included the Russian Orthodox Church, the Russian Communist Party, India's Congress Party and the Palestinian Liberation Organization. Buying kind words is nothing new, but in a democracy, you're expected to be open about it. In the United States, lobbyists have to register with the government, and payments from foreign governments reported. In the Middle East, you give, or take, the money, do the job, and keep quiet about it. Within Iraq, American civil affairs troops, and soldiers in general, constantly come up against Iraqis who offered to bribe them for special treatment. It's unnerving for Americans to encounter such a pervasively corrupt atmosphere.
The Iraqis take it for granted that the rules are for fools and that you buy your way to success, and screw those who can't. This attitude, it was feared, would extend to elections and dealings with elected officials. Since 2003, the elections have been largely fair, but the officials elected have been as corrupt as ever. There were also problems with corruption among Kuwaiti government officials, who apparently demanded, and got, kickbacks from the American firms doing reconstruction work in Iraq. The corruption was not only pervasive, but often a major obstruction to getting anything done. This was especially true in Kuwait, which was a U.S. ally, and not under the control of the American military, as was the case in Iraq.
Thus Kuwaiti suppliers could sometimes threaten to hold up vital military operations unless a bribe was paid, The only choice was to pay, or delay (and have the State Department or senior U.S. military officials go through the Kuwaiti government to apply pressure to the obstructive supplier.) There was a body of knowledge in military contracting that U.S. Army officials could use to get around a lot of these problem. But the army didn't have it. So, following the example of the U.S. Air Force, the U.S. Army established a "Contracting Command" and staffed it with contracting professionals, to handle the larger volumes of contract personnel and organizations hired for the war on terror.
Iraq, in particular, was a struggle. There were nearly 200,000 contractor personnel in Iraq (including Kuwait) and Afghanistan, during peak operations. This was an unprecedented contracting situation for the American military. Iraq was what broke the army's existing contracting capability. Before the 2003 invasion of Iraq, the army had one base in Kuwait (through which most army troops pass, on their way to Iraq), and contracting officers there handled $150 million worth of business a year. By 2007, there were eight bases in Kuwait, and a billion dollars a year in contracts to deal with. Since 2003, over 700,000 U.S. Army troops have passed through Kuwait, on their way to Iraq, where tens of billions in contracts have been issued, and often not administered well. The army got help from the air force, which sent many of its contracting officers to help out. In the air force, contracting is a career path, and the air force people really knew their stuff. The army could see that after a few years, when they measured rate of problems with contracts handled by air force personnel, and found it was much lower than that for army contracting officers. The new (officially activated in March, 2008) Army Contracting Command has a strength of over 4,000 personnel, including 400 military and 1,100 civilian personnel specializing in contracting. The rest are existing acquisition people, who will benefit from having their own command and career path. The command is led by a Major (two stars) General, and will take 5-10 years to come near the level of effectiveness the air force already enjoys in this area.

Democratically Elected Society Are Not Normal in Arab World

Democratically Elected Society Are Not Normal in Arab World
(NSI News Source Info) February 24, 2009: While Islamic terrorism gets most of the headlines, there's also a growing "Arab Reform Movement" in the Middle East, that believes the problems in the Arab world are internal, not external. The fact that an increasing number of Arabs support this movement, and that governments are not trying to exterminate it, is encouraging. Participants at the latest Doha Debate have strongly defended Islam"s image after repeated accusations that it had been damaged by the Sunni-Shia conflict in Iraq. In a series of robust exchanges, there was strong disagreement about the effects of violence between Islam's two largest denominations.
But the reform movement is pushing against centuries of conservatism, and opposition to the kinds of things that Westerners take for granted. Meanwhile, Most Arabs still prefer to believe in conspiracies and fantasies, rather than deal with the reality of their situation. One concrete example of reform is the Doha Debates. Eight times a year, for the last five years, a debate is held on some subject of great interest to the Arab world. Set up in cooperation with BBC (which broadcasts them worldwide to an audience of some 300 million), one of the recent debates posed the question that, after the recent Gaza war (which split the Arab world in a very public way, because many Arabs believed Hamas was being stupid, and a pawn of Iran), Arab unity was "dead and buried."
Two notable Arabs debated for each side of the argument. Then the audience of Arabs (mostly college students from all over the Arab world) voted, 77 percent for the proposition (that Arab unity was dead) and 23 percent against. The Doha Debates have been unique for the willingness to confront important issues in the Arab world, that are often only whispered about. Things like Israel and the Palestinians, the lack of democracy, education and economic progress and the role of religion in public life. Foreigners, including prominent Americans and Israelis, have been invited to argue their side of debates. Unlike a decade ago, important issues are being openly discussed.
Public attitudes are changing, and change, in general, is creeping into the Arab world. This is what will ultimately defeat Islamic terrorism.

Dakota C-47: Reliable Workhorse Chalks Up Almost 70 Years' Service

Dakota C-47: Reliable Workhorse Chalks Up Almost 70 Years' Service
(NSI News Source Info) February 24, 2009: Colombia recently lost one of its AC-47 gunships, apparently to mechanical malfunction. The aircraft carried a five man crew to handle the sensors and weapons. Over the last five years, Colombia paid about $20 million to convert five World War II era C-47 (DC-3) transports to gunships (armed with night vision sensors and a three barrel .50 caliber machine-gun, and some bombs). Such gunships first appeared, using World War II era C-47 transports, in the 1960s over Vietnam. The troops called the gunships, which liked to operate at night, "Spooky." Before the C-47 became the AC-47, it was given the short-lived designation FC-47, standing for fighter-cargo. Only four FC-47's came equipped with ten M-2 Browing WWII-era .30 calibre machine guns, with four mounted to fire through holes in the aft cargo door, two in the open doorway, and two in each of the last two windows forward of the cargo doorway. (US Air Force photo.) The DC 3 (or C-47 or "Dakota" in military usage) continues to fly in commercial service into the 21st century. Several hundred DC 3s are still flying worldwide, mostly owned by small domestic carriers in the U.S. and by some Third World air transport companies. A state of the art aircraft in the mid-1930s (during which only 500 were built), over 35,000 DC 3's were produced for use during World War II.
The DC-3 was, in fact, the most widely manufactured aircraft of the war. When allied paratroopers jumped, it was usually from a DC 3 (which could carry 28 troops, but over sixty people were squeezed in during emergencies). With a maximum range of 3,400 kilometers and a top speed of 296 kilometers per hour, the DC 3 was the common cargo carrier (up to 3.5 tons) and general purpose "flying truck." It still is.