Thursday, September 03, 2009

DTN News: The U.S. Invades And Occupies Pakistan

DTN News: The U.S. Invades And Occupies Pakistan
*A Pakistani viewpoint ~ Talha Mujaddidi
*Source: DTN News / Global Research.Ca By Talha Mujaddidi
(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - September 3, 2009: We are watching it happen in the streets. The recurring nightmare has become a grim, new reality for the people of Pakistan. After watching the horrors of the U.S. invasions and occupations of Iraq and neighboring Afghanistan for 8 years, the "war on terror" has finally arrived in The Land of the Pure. Obama is fulfilling his campaign promise to Pakistan.
ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN - JANUARY 15: Protesters from Pakistani Islamic parties demonstrate against an alleged American airstrike in Pakistan's northwestern tribal areas in Islamabad, Pakistan. The Pakistani government condemned the Friday attack on a Pakistani village near the Afghan border, reportedly by an American Predator aircraft against Taliban and Al-Qaeda forces.
The sudden arrival of U.S. marines, U.S. military Hummers, the hired killers of Blackwater, houses barricaded for U.S. personnel in Islamabad and the construction of the world's largest U.S. "Embassy" are terrorizing this nation of 180 million people. The U.S. slaughter and destruction in Iraq and neighboring Afghanistan for the last 8 years warn them of what may lie in store for them, their families, their land. The U.S. Marines On 9/21/08 a bomb ripped through the Marriott Hotel in Islamabad killing scores of people and injuring hundreds. Prior to the bombing, U.S. marines off-loaded steel boxes from a truck, by-passed security and took them to the 4th floor of the building. US officials refused to cooperate with the government's attempts to investigate their activities. One year later, U.S. Marines are leading the occupation of Pakistan. Until this landing of U.S. forces, the nation's spokesman for Foreign Affairs had been denying that 1000 U.S. marines were on their way to Islamabad. The thousand marines are now in the capital city of Islamabad. Some of them may be quietly slipping into Balochistan where the presence of JSOC (Joint Special Operations Command) have been reported by foreign journalists. But most are here to defend what will be the largest U.S. embassy/fortress in the world, now under construction and to spearhead the invasion and occupation. Costs to the U.S. Taxpayer The total cost for housing and and general support for the marines alone will be US$112.5 million. US Ambassador Anne W. Patterson said the money is allocated as follows: "$5 million was for Marine quarters, $53.5 for housing infrastructure, $18 million for improvement of general services office area, and $36 million for temporary duty quarters and community support facilities." In Patterson's explanation of the massive expansion of the U.S. Embassy she talked about 4 Billion (that's with a "B") dollars: "The embassy expansion, she said, was a reflection of the long-term commitment that the US intended to have with Pakistan. Moreover, she said, quadrupling of the social, economic and military assistance that would touch $4 billion a year over the next 18 months, necessitated staff increase." Ambassador Patterson did not clarify whether the $4 Billion covers the construction which will make this embassy the largest in the world. When this construction is seen in context and coordination with the new level of U.S. occupation of Pakistan, it looks more like a permanent military base than an embassy for running military and covert operations not only in Pakistan but also in the region. Weapons and Hummers Eye witnesses and informed journalists have been reporting sightings of U.S. personnel in Islamabad for the past week or so, but now they are seen moving freely throughout the capital. The law (Section 144) provides that Pakistanis who own guns are not permitted to carry them in Islamabad. But U.S. personnel are showing Pakistanis that they are above the law as they openly brandish their weapons. It has also been confirmed that 3,000 U.S. military Hummers, locked and loaded are awaiting dispatch in Karachi's Port Qasim. For millions of Pakistanis news of these Hummers conjures up images of U.S. troops charging through the streets of Iraqi cities, armed to the teeth, terrifying and often killing unarmed civilians. On Feb. 23, 2009 the Pentagon revealed that over 70 U.S. military advisers had been secretly working in Pakistan. Blackwater and the CIA Pakistanis have known about the 300 U.S. military "advisers" lodged in Tarbela. But news of the arrival of the notorious Blackwater mercenaries in addition to the thousand U.S. marines are riveting their attention. In Pakistan, Blackwater is trading its tainted name for a telling name "Xe Worldwide", – the name behind which these paid killers are now hiding. Also, last week, Creative Associates International Inc (CAII), a CIA front, has been operating in Peshawar. They have now sealed off a road and set up shop near the houses of senior Pakistani officials in Islamabad, directly across from a school. Dr. Shireen Mazari Dr. Shireen M. Mazari is a scholar and commentator on Strategic Studies and Political Science from Pakistan. She has a Ph.D. from Colombia University and was Director General of Institute of Strategic Studies in Islamabad, Pakistan and former Chairperson of Department of Defense and Strategic Studies at the Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad. She is critical of the relationship the Pakistan government has with the United States and India. Speaking for an opposition political party (Tehreek-e-Insaaf) , Dr. Shireen Mazari speaks about the new arrival of U.S. forces in Pakistan: "Will some of these go to the Pentagon's assassination squads, who may take up residence in some of the barricaded Islamabad houses and with whom the present US commander in Afghanistan was directly associated? Ordinary officials at Pakistani airports have also been muttering their concerns over chartered flights flying in Americans whose entry is not recorded – even the flight crews are not checked for visas and so there is now no record-keeping of exactly how many Americans are coming into or going out of Pakistan. Incidentally the CAII's (CIA/Blackwater) Craig Davis who was deported has now returned to Peshawar! And let us not be fooled by the cry that numbers reflect friendship since we know what numbers meant to Soviet satellites." The Pearl Continental, a luxury hotel in Peshawar was bombed on June 9, 2009. The U.S. routinely blames these attacks on Muslim terrorists. The U.S. has also routinely sabotaged peace agreements between the Pakistan government and various resistance groups in Pakistan. Attacks like this are used to justify the current invasion and occupation by the United States. Given little attention in the corporate media, Peshawar's Pearl Continental Hotel was bombed on June 9, 2009. At the time of the bombing, Pakistani media reported officially that it was housing U.S. personnel at the time but did not mention Blackwater. However, Blackwater's name began to surface in rumours and unofficial reports after the Peshawar bombing. Ahmed Quraishi On August 5, 2009, Ahmed Quraishi, political analyst, columnist and independent owner of a news website reported on the insertion of U.S. Marines, Blackwater, the CIA and military hardware into Pakistan: "Pakistanis ask, `Who rules our streets, the Pakistani government or the Americans? And who let them in?' "Three weeks ago a group of concerned Pakistani citizens in Peshawar wrote to the federal interior ministry to complain about the suspicious activities of a group of shadowy Americans in a rented house in their neighborhood, the upscale University Town area of Peshawar. A NGO calling itself Creative Associates International, Inc. leased the house". According to its Website, CAII describes itself as `a privately-owned non-governmental organization that addresses urgent challenges facing societies today … Creative views change as an opportunity to improve, transform and renew …' The description makes no sense. It is more or less a perfect cover for the American NGO's real work: espionage… "In Peshawar, CAII, opened an office to work on projects in the nearby tribal agencies of Pakistan. All of these projects, interestingly, are linked to the US government. CAII's other projects outside Pakistan are also linked to the US government. In short, this NGO is not an NGO. It is closely linked to the US government. Meanwhile, when asked about the expansion of the embassy, U.S. Ambassador Anne W. Patterson was "visibly shaken" and replied, "I'm speechless. To spy on Pakistan we don't need a big US embassy." Quickly recovering, she added, "And we don't need to spy either." Patterson went on to say that Pakistan could turn into a "family station" – whatever that means to a U.S. colonial bureaucrat. Ahmed further explains the CIA's cover for the Blackwater mercenaries: "In Peshawar, CAII told Pakistani authorities it needed to hire security guards for protection. The security guards, it turns out, were none other than Blackwater's military-trained hired guns. They were used the CAII cover to conduct a range of covert activities in Pakistan's North West Frontier Province. The infamous Blackwater private security firm operates as an extension of the US military and CIA, taking care of dirty jobs that the US government cannot associate itself with in faraway strategic places. Blackwater is anything but a security firm. It is a mercenary army of several thousand hired soldiers. "Pakistani security officials apparently became alarmed by reports that Blackwater was operating from the office of CAII on Chinar Road, University Town in Peshawar. The man in charge of the office, allegedly an American by the name of Craig Davis according to a report in Jang, Pakistan's largest Urdu language daily, was arrested and accused of establishing contacts with `the enemies of Pakistan' in areas adjoining Afghanistan. His visa has been cancelled, the office sealed, and Mr. Davis reportedly expelled back to the United States. "It is not clear when Mr. Davis was deported and whether there are other members of the staff expelled along with him. When I contacted the US Embassy over the weekend, spokesman Richard Snelsire's first reaction was, `No embassy official has been deported'." Keep in mind that Dr. Shireen Mazari who is in a position to know, stated flatly, "CAII's Craig Davis who was deported has now returned to Peshawar!" But Ahmed Quraishi explains the denial by the U.S. embassy: "This defensive answer is similar to the guilt-induced reactions of US embassy staffers in Baghdad and Kabul at the presence of mercenaries working for US military and CIA. I said to Mr. Snelsire that I did not ask about an embassy official being expelled. He said he heard these reports and `checked around' with the embassy officials but no one knew about this. `It's baseless' [he said]. So I asked him, "Is Blackwater operating in Pakistan, in Peshawar?" `Not to my knowledge'. [he answered]. "Fair enough. The US embassies in Baghdad and Kabul never acknowledged Blackwater's operations in Iraq and Afghanistan either. This is part of low-level frictions between the diplomats at the US Department of State and those in Pentagon and CIA. The people at State have reportedly made it clear they will not acknowledge or accept responsibility for the activities of special operations agents operating in friendly countries without the knowledge of those countries and in violation of their sovereignty. Reports have suggested that sometimes even the US ambassador is unaware of what his government's mercenaries do in a target country." Finally, Ahmed discusses a U.S. diplomat met secretly with an Indian diplomat inside Pakistan, knowing full well that India is considered to be an enemy state of Pakistan: "In May, a US woman diplomat was caught arranging a quiet [read 'secret'] meeting between a low-level Indian diplomat and several senior Pakistani government officials. An address in Islamabad – 152 Margalla Road – was identified as a venue where the secret meeting took place. The American diplomat in question knew there was no chance the Indian would get to meet the Pakistanis in normal circumstances. Nor was it possible to do this during a high visibility event. After the incident, Pakistan Foreign Office issued a terse statement warning all government officials to refrain from such direct contact with foreign diplomats in unofficial settings without prior intimation to their departments" . NGOs that are not NGOs In addition, many U.S. sponsored NGO's are working to create news reports in mainstream media which are pro-U.S. For this purpose, many Pakistani analysts, retired generals, businessmen, journalists, and academics are being recruited. As Ahmed Quraishi said, "this NGO is not an NGO", i.e. some Non Governmental Organizations operate under the control and direction of governments who use them for covert operations in foreign countries and fund them surreptitiously. Conclusion It's clear that the current government has given full privileges to the US. They neither know how, nor want to draw a line against U.S. interference in Pakistani affairs. To put it bluntly, they are surrendering the sovereignty of Pakistan to a foreign power. Dr. Shireen Mazari says, "Whatever the US embassy gives out … the terrified Pakistani leadership echoes." The objectives of the U.S. are clear: Deeper U.S. penetration will result in the destabilisation of Pakistan, leading to destabilization of the entire region. These U.S. military installations also strengthening their encirclement of Iran. The Pakistani political opposition parties are lip stuck at all these developments. The main reason for their silence is that they are as corrupt as the ruling PPP. No political party in Pakistan is in the mood to resist US hegemony. The Pakistan Army no longer shows any interest in directly interfering with political decisions. After the disastrous eight years under the military dictatorship of Musharraf, the people are also not ready for the Pakistan military to intervene in the political life of the country. The TTP terrorists have just been brought under control – barely. Now millions of Pakistanis are terrified by their new, unwelcome guests from the west – the U.S. terrorists. We will now have to learn to tolerate and survive under this growing and increasingly dangerous U.S. colonization of Pakistan.
DTN Defense-Technology News accept no responsibility for the opinions and statements of authors. While every effort is made by DTN to avoid any inaccurate or misleading information, DTN accept no liability for the consequences of wrong information.

DTN News: China To Unveil 5 New Missiles During October 1 Parade

DTN News: China To Unveil 5 New Missiles During October 1 Parade
*Source: DTN News / Int'l Media
(NSI News Source Info) TAIPEI, Taiwan - September 3, 2009: Amid global concern over China's massive defence modernisation, the People's Liberation Army (PLA) will unveil five new generation of missiles, including intercontinental ballistic nuclear missiles and other weapon systems to mark the 60th National Day parade here on October 1.The three-stage solid-fuel DF-41 is larger than the DF-31 missile, and has a range of up to 12,000 kilometers. While no information has been published concerning the configuration of this missile, the most straightforward path towards its development would be the addition of an enlarged third stage to the DF-31 ICBM. The larger third stage and longer range of the DF-41 is made possible by the fact that, unlike the DF-31, the size of the DF-41 is not constrained by the requirement that it be fitted into a submarine launch tube. The DF-41 strategic weapons system will have a mobile launch capability providing greatly improved survivability compared with previous Chinese intercontinental missiles. It is anticipated that the DF-41 will be delivered to the 2d Artillery around the year 2010. As of March 2001 the US Defense Intelligence Agency reported that China had several new strategic missile systems are under development, including two new road-mobile solid-propellant ICBMs. The 8,000 km DF-31 was successfully flight- tested in 1999 and 2000, and tests of the other longer-range mobile ICBM were anticipated within next several years. In the absence of flight testing, the final operational configuration of this solid fueled missile remains uncertain, particularly with respect to the length of the third stage. However, this derivative of the DF-31 would be unlikely to have a throwweight in excess of 1000 kgs, and most estimates are in the range of 800 kg. Some estimates anticipate that, as with previous Chinese ICBMs, the DF-41 will carry only a single warhead [with a 0.35 - 1.0 MT yield]. In any event, depending on the weapon's yield, it seems unlikely that China would be able to mount more than a few lower-yield [50-100 KT ?] RVs on this ICBM. The American Minuteman III has 3 RVs and a throwweight of 1100 kgs at 12,900 kms, while the MX Peacekeeper carries 10 RVs and has a throwweight of 3950 kgs at 11,000 kms. Both American missiles carry warheads with yields of a few hundred kilotons. The 2.3 million-strong PLA will showcase five new types of domestically designed missiles at the National Day parade, state-run 'Global Times' reported today, quoting a leading missile expert from the Second Artillery Force, China's strategic nuclear force, as saying. A number of advanced weapons of air and sea forces will also be on display at the military parade, to be held for the first time since the National Day in 1999, it said. Five types of missiles, including nuclear intercontinental ballistic missiles, conventional cruise missiles and medium-range and short-range conventional missiles, will be displayed for the first time at the highly anticipated military parade, it quoted the expert as saying. "These missiles are domestically designed and manufactured and have never been officially reported before," he said, adding that they belong to a second generation of missiles that have already been distributed to the military and are ready for operation. "The third generation is still under development and is unlikely to be displayed this time," he said. The parades, held once in a decade, typically showcase new-generation weapons systems developed by the PLA. They are closely scrutinised by foreign military experts for clues about Chinese military development trends. Military experts have been expecting to see the Dongfeng 41, known as the DF-41, and the CSS-X-10, which is said to be a third-generation, solid-fuel, intercontinental ballistic missile. While China is a late starter in the missile development, compared with the US and Russia – countries equipped with fifth-generation missiles and in the process of developing sixth-generation missiles – it has made rapid progress, the expert said.In this photo taken Sunday, Aug. 30, 2009, People's Liberation Army Air force female fighter pilots, wearing newly equipped helmets and flight suits specially designed for female pilots, walk at a PLA air base in Tangshan, in China's Hebei province. Some of the PLA Air force's female fighter jet pilots will participate in the military parade celebrating 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China on Oct. 1. Beijing has said it plans to show off much of its latest-generation weaponry and reports say the military aspect of the parade will feature entirely homegrown weaponry, highlighting China's rising capabilities in designing and manufacturing military hardware. "Our second generation can match their third and fourth generations, and the third generation under development is comparable to their fifth and sixth generations," he said. Progress made by the Second Artillery Force in the decade since 1999 will be highlighted at the October 1 event, with marching soldiers and vehicles carrying missiles, three for every type, the paper, a sister publication of the ruling Communist Party of China, said. The Second Artillery Force is a strategic unit under the direct command and control of the Central Military Commission, China's top military organ. A new submarine-launched ballistic missile, Julang 2, also known as JL-2 and CSS-NX-4, is also highly anticipated to make an appearance at the parade. Li Daguang, a senior military expert at the PLA University of National Defence, emphasised that the military parade is not for saber rattling but aims to promote national pride, confidence and awareness of national defence. "Some countries, observing China's parade with coloured glasses, show off their weapons around the world on the battlefield instead," Li said. Chinese President Hu Jintao will address the huge celebration at Tian'anmen Square on October 1, followed by the military parade and a mass pageant involving 200,000 people, 60 floats and a fireworks display. China's massive defence modernisation and its double digit defence spending have caused global concern.

DTN News: Lockheed Martin’s Orion Program Is "Go For CDR"

DTN News: Lockheed Martin’s Orion Program Is "Go For CDR"
*Source: DTN News / Lockheed Martin
(NSI News Source Info) HOUSTON, USA - September 3, 2009: With a unanimous vote by NASA’s Constellation and Orion Project managers, the Lockheed Martin-led industry team building the Orion crew exploration vehicle successfully passed a significant milestone in the new spacecraft’s development phase – the preliminary design review (PDR). The Orion crew exploration vehicle (CEV) program will provide a state-of-the-art human space flight system capable of safely transferring astronauts to and from the International Space Station (ISS), the moon, Mars and other destinations beyond low earth orbit (LEO). Human exploration requires going beyond Low Earth Orbit. It requires a destination beyond our own making, such as the Moon, asteroids or Mars. Exploration is discovering the unexpected, exploring the unknown and expanding the range of human endeavors. The Orion spacecraft provides the ability to stay in space for 210 days and to re-enter at the velocities typical of lunar or asteroid missions. Orion is a highly mass efficient, safe spacecraft configured for trans-LEO missions and also capable of transporting humans to the ISS. In addition to human exploration missions, Orion can do the LEO human missions envisioned by the commercial community and other LEO missions as well. Learn more about Multiple Mission Capabilites. Utilizing a safe, affordable, staged approach to accomplishing these missions, the Lockheed Martin Orion Team is focused on providing NASA the capability to return to the Moon by the middle of the next decade with a low risk, high confidence program plan. Lockheed Martin was awarded the contract to build Orion on Aug. 31, 2006. Lockheed Martin Orion Project partners include Aerojet, ATK, Hamilton Sundstrand, Honeywell, Orbital Sciences Corporation and United Space Alliance. Successful completion of the PDR stage allows the team to enter Orion’s critical design review (CDR) phase, a vital milestone that must be met before hardware manufacturing begins. During the review process, detailed components and subsystems of the vehicle design are assessed to ensure the overall system will meet all NASA requirements for safe and reliable flight. “We were very pleased with the positive feedback we received from NASA leadership, particularly in regards to the tremendous progress we have made in crew and vehicle safety enhancements and our manufacturing preparedness,” said Cleon Lacefield, Lockheed Martin vice president and Orion program manager. “As we move from PDR to CDR, we will continue to enhance the vehicle’s safety and life support system designs to ensure we move forward to build the safest and most reliable spacecraft possible.” Other significant milestones the Orion program achieved this year included renovation and certification of the Operations & Checkout Facility at Kennedy Space Center in Florida, Orion ground test article fabrication at the Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans, final delivery of the launch abort system’s abort and jettison motors, and a series of component and subsystem tests at facilities across the country. The next major milestone will be the inaugural flight test for Orion’s launch abort system, called Pad Abort 1, which will take place at White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico early next year. Several flight tests are scheduled over the next few years, leading up to Orion’s first crewed flight to the International Space Station in 2015. As the prime contractor to NASA for the Orion Project, Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] is responsible for designing and building this state-of-the-art spacecraft that will have more flexible space exploration capability than any previous human space flight vehicle. The Orion spacecraft will be the flagship of the Constellation Program’s plan to return humans to the moon and prepare for future voyages to other destinations in our solar system. Lockheed Martin Orion PDR - 2The Lockheed Martin Orion Project office is based in Houston, Texas, near NASA’s Johnson Space Center. The team includes major subcontractors Aerojet, Alliant Techsystems (ATK), Hamilton Sundstrand, Honeywell, Orbital Sciences Corporation and United Space Alliance; and a network of 60 minor subcontractors and small businesses in 22 states across the country. Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin is a global security company that employs about 140,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. The corporation reported 2008 sales of $42.7 billion.

DTN News: British Forces Testing The Latest PANTHER Armoured Vehicles For Afghanistan

DTN News: British Forces Testing The Latest PANTHER Armoured Vehicles For Afghanistan
*Source: DTN News / MoD
(NSI News Source Info) BOVINGTON CAMP, Afghanistan - September 3, 2009: Bovington Camp, established in 1916, is the home of the Royal Armoured Corps and an ideal location to trial and test the latest armoured equipment in use on operations worldwide. Surrounded by 10,000 acres of undulating Dorset countryside, it is here that the Army's Armoured Trials and Development Unit (ATDU) gets its hands on the latest vehicles for the armoured soldier, and some of the specialist vehicles like Panther. The Defence Procurement Agency of the UK Ministry of Defence announced in July 2003 that the BAE Systems Land Systems (formerly Alvis) multirole light vehicle (MLV) has been selected as the British Army's future command and liaison vehicle (FCLV). The first procurement contract was signed in November 2003 for an initial 401 vehicles, with an option for up to 400 more. The vehicle has been named the Panther command and liaison vehicle (CLV). The vehicles are being built during the period 2006 to 2009 and will replace a range of vehicles which are reaching the end of their operational lives, for example the Land Rover, Saxon, FV432 and a number of combat vehicle (reconnaissance) tracked. The vehicles will also enter service with the Royal Air Force Regiment. Following a series of trials Panther is being delivered to the front line for use in the force protection role by the Royal Engineers, Royal Logistic Corps and RAF Regiment. Changes to bring it up to 'theatre entry standard' include adding a rear view camera for improved situational awareness, and protection for the engine compartment. The ATDU's Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Colonel Chris Borneman, said: "Our number one priority is support to current operations. The unit is very much part of a wider team involving DE and S [Defence Equipment and Support], industry and the Army, and is aiming to produce the best for soldiers on the front line. Lance Corporal Charlie Manchester of the ATDU added: "At the end of the day it's me and my friends that use the kit, so we need to make sure it's the best it can be." Lance Corporal of Horse Martin Privett, also now working at the ATDU, has recently returned from Afghanistan. He said: "When I was there we were stopping twice a day to clear out the engine air filters on our Scimitar reconnaissance vehicles. A new system was developed here and that changed it to once a week. Now we've developed a new filter system, and they've done between eight and ten thousand miles without needing to change the filter once." Trials are not just done on vehicles though, they can include the clothing, food and fuel used by the crews: "What is right for the infantry is not necessarily right for armoured troops," said Lieutenant Colonel Borneman. "For example, the new infantry helmet is great, but not suitable for wearing in a Scimitar because it won't fit easily with the sighting systems in the turret. We work closely with DE and S project teams to get the kit right for operations." "We look at the armoured soldier as a system," said Major Ian Simpson. "Everything to do with the soldier is dealt with here; clothing, eye-wear, helmets, boots. Boots for example can be great out in the field, but are they suitable for wearing inside a tank with its cramped working environment? Are they going to be comfortable when you're sitting down for a long time? Will they slip on the pedals? These are all areas that must be looked at. "We've done a lot of development work on body armour, integrating it with particular platforms. It may do an excellent job, but can you get in and out of the turret while wearing it? Can we reduce the bulk without degrading the protection? "We've also trialled a body armour system that can be integrated with the cooling system in the vehicle." Trial lengths vary depending on what is being trialled, but they can range from five days to six months depending on the question being asked. Often trials replicate what the vehicle actually does on operations; if a Panther is driven on patrol for 14-hours-a-day, seven-days-a-week, then ATDU do so too. Although ATDU can replicate a lot of what is being done on operations, when performing driving trials they can't replicate the heat: "We can send a vehicle away for 'cooking' in a specialist unit, but that can only be for static trials," said Lieutenant Colonel Borneman. "So we can replicate the increased engine workload caused by the heat by adding weight to the vehicles." A major part of the work at ATDU involves Urgent Operational Requirements (UORs): "UORs are a very exciting part of our work," said Lieutenant Colonel Borneman, "because they are the 'here and now'. Both military and civilian staff love it because they can see the results and benefits of their hard work." Military equipment has evolved over time: "Twenty years ago we didn't know we'd be in Afghanistan, and much of our equipment was designed for a European battlefield," said Lieutenant Colonel Borneman. "Requirements will change, and along with DE and S, industry and feedback from the front line, we will strive to improve what we have in service to deal with those changes." Armoured Trials and Development Unit+ ATDU, in its present form, dates back to the mid-1950s, but can trace its lineage to the Great War. + There are seven trials and development units within the Army. ATDU is one of the largest and staffed by a mixture of around 60 soldiers and civilians. Soldiers come to the unit for between two and three years, and must have had recent front line experience, bringing all the latest tactical awareness and experience. + Commanding Officer Lieutenent Colonel Chris Borneman goes to Afghanistan every six months to see for himself how equipment is currently being used on operations. + Coming into service soon is the Warthog, which will be undergoing trials with the ATDU. + The team is also looking ahead to the Future Rapid Effects System (FRES). When it is introduced it will also undergo trials at Bovington.

DTN News: Japan TODAY September 3, 2009 ~ Change Of Power In Japan Presents New U.S. Diplomatic Concern

DTN News: Japan TODAY September 3, 2009 ~ Change Of Power In Japan Presents New U.S. Diplomatic Concern
*Source: DTN News / Int'l Media
(NSI News Source Info) TOKYO, Japan - September 3, 2009: Japan’s landmark shift in administration added diplomatic headaches for the U.S. government, raising concerns that Tokyo may distance itself from key U.S. policies like the war in Afghanistan, the New York Times reported on Wednesday in its online edition. Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) leader Yukio Hatoyama leaves his office at the DPJ headquarters in Tokyo on September 2, 2009. Japan's incoming leaders met the outgoing government to start a power transition after their landslide election win, as a poll showed three-quarters of people have high expectations of them.
‘‘Inside the administration, the historic change in Tokyo is raising concerns that Japan may back away from supporting key American priorities like the war in Afghanistan or the redeployment of American troops in Asia,’’ the newspaper reported, citing U.S. senior officials.
The victory of the Democratic Party of Japan in Sunday’s lower house election ‘‘means the White House must deal, for the first time in decades, with a Japanese government that is a complete stranger, and one that has expressed blunt criticism of the United States.’’
‘‘The party’s leader and presumptive prime minister, Yukio Hatoyama, recently spoke out against U.S.-led globalization and called for a greater Japanese focus on Asia,’’ the New York Times said of the DPJ head’s recent essay carried by U.S. media.
The election results in Japan create ‘‘a new set of imponderables for a White House already burdened by foreign policy headaches in Afghanistan, Iran and North Korea,’’ it said, referring to a possible end to a mission to refuel U.S. warships near Afghanistan under a DPJ-led government.

DTN News: Pakistan TODAY September 3, 2009 ~ New Pakistani Taliban Commander Hakimullah Mehsud Also Dead

DTN News: Pakistan TODAY September 3, 2009 ~ New Pakistani Taliban Commander Hakimullah Mehsud Also Dead
*Source: DTN News / Int'l Media
(NSI News Source Info) PESHAWAR, Pakistan - September 3, 2009: Pakistani security forces have alleged that the new leader of Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) insurgent group, Hakimullah Mehsud, died soon after the death of his brother and former commander. Citing intelligence sources, unofficial intermediaries said that the interview given to the BBC some days ago had actually been the voice of Hakimullah's brother and not that of the top militant commander, according to the September 1 issue of the mass-circulation English-language daily, the Dawn. (Image of Hakimullah Mehsud ~ 'New Pakistani pro-Taliban chief also dead')
The report noted that the motive behind concealing the news of Hakimullah's death was to save the image of the outlawed Pakistani pro-Taliban faction by creating the impression that he is alive.
Pakistani news channels reported on August 8 that Hakimullah Mehsud was killed after shooting erupted between his camp and that of Wali-ur-Rehman during a shura (local council) to determine the successor to the slain Baitullah Mehsud.
Two days later, however, a man claiming to be Hakimullah Mehsud called a Reuters reporter declaring that he and Baitullah were still alive.
A paramilitary soldier inspects burnt vehicles along the Chaman Pakistan-Afghanistan border August 31, 2009. Suspected Taliban militants set fire to 18 container trucks carrying supplies for Western forces in neighboring Afghanistan in the Pakistani border town of Chaman, police said on Monday. Some 300 trucks were parked near the border crossing in the country's southwest, as the border had been closed by Pakistani authorities since Friday in a row with their Afghan counterparts over the checking of trucks coming from landlocked Afghanistan.
Pakistani officials nonetheless conducted voice analysis and stated that intercepted phone calls led to the conclusion that Hakimullah was dead. Pakistani intelligence officials believe that the younger brother of the 28-year-old commander returned from fighting in war-stricken Afghanistan in a bid to assume the elder brother's identity.
This would assist him to take command of the extremist Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan on a temporary basis until a decision is made by Taliban leader Mullah Omar regarding the appointment of a new chief.

DTN News: Narco News Bulletin TODAY September 3, 2009 ~ Opium Production Falls In 'Narco State' (Afghanistan)

DTN News: Narco News Bulletin TODAY September 3, 2009 ~ Opium Production Falls In 'Narco State' (Afghanistan)
*Source: DTN News / Int'l Media
(NSI News Source Info) KABUL, Afghanistan - September 3, 2009: A new UN report says opium production in Afghanistan has fallen, while prices for the illicit crop drop to their lowest level in a decade.
In this July 16, 2009 file photo, police officers from the district of Argu, swing away with long sticks to eradicate a patch of illegally grown poppies in the Badakhshan province of Afghanistan. Two years ago, opium the raw ingredient used to make heroine was grown on nearly half a million acres in Afghanistan, the largest illegal narcotics crop ever produced by a modern nation. A government crackdown on poppy cultivation has spelled economic disaster for many communities throughout the country.
The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) said in a Wednesday report that out of the narco state's 34 provinces, 20 are currently poppy-free. Opium production consequently fell 22 percent to reach 123,000 hectares from 157,000 hectares in 2008.
"The bottom is starting to fall out of the Afghan opium market," UNODC executive director Antonio Maria Costa said in the report.
"For the second year in a row, cultivation, production, workforce, prices, revenues, exports and its GDP share are all down, while the number of poppy-free provinces and drug seizures continue to rise," the report added.
The drop has also affected the country's southern province of Helmand. From 103,590 hectares in 2008, only 69,833 hectares were still devoted to poppy growing in Helmand, which accounts for nearly 60 percent of all opium production in Afghanistan.
The current drop in production will mostly affect neighboring Iran, which has the world's highest drug-seizure rates but also suffers from drug crime and abuse problems.
ADVANCE FOR AUG. 2; graphic shows opium cultivation in Afghanistan. A government crackdown on poppy cultivation has spelled economic disaster for many communities throughout the country.
Iran has dug huge trenches on its border to slow down the drug smugglers, who have killed more than 3,600 Iranian law enforcement officers in the past two decades.
While being credited by the UN for the seizure of 84 percent of the opium netted around the world in 2008, Iran has also taken action to impart its experiences in fighting drugs to Afghanistan.

DTN News: Technology TODAY September 3, 2009 ~ Iran Unveils Its Two-Seat Electric Car

DTN News: Technology TODAY September 3, 2009 ~ Iran Unveils Its Two-Seat Electric Car
*Source: DTN News / Int'l Media
(NSI News Source Info) TEHRAN, Iran - September 3, 2009: Iranian experts have developed a two-seat plug-in car, which has the necessary standards to be mass-produced for use in urban areas.
A fourteen-member group of students in Tehran's Khaje Nasir Toosi University, who have developed the new car, initially planned to manufacture the car to participate in a competition at Sharif University but they later decided to design it in a way that could be used in cities' streets, Mehr news agency reported.
The car named Qasedak-e-Nasir (Dandelion of Nasir) will be unveiled in a ceremony in Tehran on Thursday.
The car weighs 700 kg and it could reach a velocity of 80 kph, which is acceptable for an urban vehicle.
"Once Qasedak-e-Nasir is charged, it could cover a 50 km distance in a city and if its speed does not surpass 25 kph, the distance could increase to 80 km," Asghar-Mohammadi, a member of the team said.

DTN News: Afghanistan TODAY September 3, 2009 ~ President Hamid Karzai Extends Lead In Afghan Vote

DTN News: Afghanistan TODAY September 3, 2009 ~ President Hamid Karzai Extends Lead In Afghan Vote *Source: DTN News / Int'l Media (NSI News Source Info) KABUL, Afghanistan - September 3, 2009: Latest Afghan vote count shows incumbent President Hamid Karzai strengthening the lead over his main rival Abdullah Abdullah in the recent presidential election. Figures released by the Independent Election Commission (IEC) on Wednesday showed Karzai getting 47.3 per cent of the vote. But the incumbent president was still just shy of the 50 percent needed to avoid a run-off in October. This is while his main challenger and former foreign minister Abdullah has gained over 32 percent of the ballots. More than 60 percent of the ballots have been counted so far from Afghanistan's August 20 presidential election. Results are being released daily; however, it can take several weeks before the official results are announced. Abdullah has accused Karzai of a massive vote rigging and warned he would reject the result if fraud played a part in the outcome. Tribal leaders in the troubled southern provinces have accused officials of stuffing election boxes with thousands of ballots marked for incumbent Karzai, according to western press reports. Abdullah said he would examine all legal avenues to counter 'state-engineered fraud'. Abdullah has been favored by the US and other western countries to win the election and seem to be bent on questioning the elections outcome if he does not win. A similar approach was adopted when presidential elections in Iran did not turn our their way. The election in Afghanistan marks the second direct presidential vote held since US-led troops invaded the country eight years ago.

DTN News: U.S. Resumes Training Of Georgian Armed Forces

DTN News: U.S. Resumes Training Of Georgian Armed Forces *Source: DTN News / Int'l Media
(NSI News Source Info) WASHINGTON, USA - September 3, 2009: A year ago, the Georgia's brief, disastrous war with Russia froze American training operations. Georgian soldiers participate in NATO training exercises at Vaziani military base outside Tbilisi, Georgia. Russia has sharply criticized the war games, saying they raise the threat of renewed conflict in the country 13 months after the Russia-Georgia war. The United States is resuming a combat training mission in the former Soviet republic of Georgia to prepare its army for counterinsurgency operations in Afghanistan, despite the risks of angering Russia, senior Defense Department officials said Thursday. The training effort is intended to prepare Georgian troops to fight at NATO standards alongside American and allied forces in Afghanistan, the Pentagon officials said. Russian officials have been informed, American officials said. The training should not worry the Kremlin, they said, because it would not involve skills that would be useful against a large conventional force like Russia’s.