Monday, December 3, 2012
Carney: 'Concern' Over Syria's Chemical Weapons
The White House says it is increasingly concerned that the beleaguered regime in Syria might be considering use of chemical weapons against its own people and warned that doing so would "cross a red line." (Dec. 3) watch video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iZ6Y2Nuh2YA&feature=player_embedded
Russia, China urge North Korea to drop rocket launch plan
Russia and China urged North Korea on Monday
not to go ahead with a plan for its second rocket launch of 2012, with Moscow saying
any such move would violate restrictions imposed by the U.N. Security Council. read full article: Reuters
Israel Asked Jordan for Approval to Bomb Syrian WMD Sites
Anxiety is increasing about the prospect of a desperate Bashar al-Assad using chemical weapons against his rapidly proliferating enemies. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton warned Assad that such chemical weapons use would cross a U.S. red line: "I'm not going to telegraph in any specifics what we would do in the event of credible evidence that the Assad regime has resorted to using chemical weapons against their own people. But suffice to say we are certainly planning to take action."
This new level of anxiety was prompted by reports that Assad's forces have been moving chemical weapons, according to David Sanger and Eric Schmitt in The Times. They report that one American official told them that "the activity we are seeing suggests some potential chemical weapon preparation," though the official "declined to offer more specifics of what those preparations entailed."
The U.S. is not the only country worried about the possible use of chemical weapons. Intelligence officials in two countries told me recently that the Israeli government has twice come to the Jordanian government with a plan to take out many of Syria's chemical weapons sites. According to these two officials, Israel has been seeking Jordan's "permission" to bomb these sites, but the Jordanians have so far declined to grant such permission. read full article:
http://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2012/12/israel-asked-jordan-for-approval-to-bomb-syrian-wmd-sites/265818/
This new level of anxiety was prompted by reports that Assad's forces have been moving chemical weapons, according to David Sanger and Eric Schmitt in The Times. They report that one American official told them that "the activity we are seeing suggests some potential chemical weapon preparation," though the official "declined to offer more specifics of what those preparations entailed."
The U.S. is not the only country worried about the possible use of chemical weapons. Intelligence officials in two countries told me recently that the Israeli government has twice come to the Jordanian government with a plan to take out many of Syria's chemical weapons sites. According to these two officials, Israel has been seeking Jordan's "permission" to bomb these sites, but the Jordanians have so far declined to grant such permission. read full article:
http://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2012/12/israel-asked-jordan-for-approval-to-bomb-syrian-wmd-sites/265818/
Sunday, December 2, 2012
Iranian military agents reportedly in North Korea ahead of ballistic missile test
A group of Iranian military operatives and missile technology experts are taking part in a test launch of a long-range ballistic missile in North Korea Sunday, Reuters reported.
The Iranians have been active in North Korea since late October, the agency reported, citing a Western official quoted by the Kyodo News Agency of Japan.
The group is reportedly based at a military base about 85 kilometers from the Chinese border and is assisting in missile and nuclear technology development for the North Korean military. Iran and North Korea signed a technology and science cooperation agreement in early September, and according to Reuters, US officials believe that Iran acquired ballistic missile parts from North Korea in 2010. read full article: http://www.timesofisrael.com/iranian-military-agents-reportedly-in-north-korea-ahead-of-ballistic-missile-test/
Unusual activity at Syrian chemical weapons sites amid rumors Assad is dead or fled
Western intelligence officers were seeing new signs of activity at Syrian
chemical weapons sites, they told the New York Times Sunday, Dec. 2.
“It’s in some ways similar to what they’ve done before,” a senior U.S.
intelligence official said. “But they’re doing some things that suggest they
intend to use the weapons. It’s not just moving stuff around. These are
different kind of activities.”
read full article: DEBKA file
read full article: DEBKA file
Abbas returns home to hero’s welcome, but faces fresh punishment from Israel
RAMALLAH, West Bank — Returning to a hero’s welcome Sunday after gaining limited recognition of statehood at the United Nations, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas faced fresh punitive action by Israel, which froze the transfer of more than $100 million in tax revenue collected for his cash-strapped government.
The Israeli step was the second response to the vote last week at the UN General Assembly, which granted the Palestinians the status of a “non-member observer state.” On Friday, Israel said it would build 3,000 homes in West Bank settlements and in East Jerusalem, and would advance controversial settlement plans near the city in an area deemed critical for the territorial contiguity of a future Palestinian state. read full article: Washington Post
The Israeli step was the second response to the vote last week at the UN General Assembly, which granted the Palestinians the status of a “non-member observer state.” On Friday, Israel said it would build 3,000 homes in West Bank settlements and in East Jerusalem, and would advance controversial settlement plans near the city in an area deemed critical for the territorial contiguity of a future Palestinian state. read full article: Washington Post
Saturday, December 1, 2012
North Korean Missile Launch Set
Posting two articles, the first is from Reuters: North Korea plans second rocket launch in December
Second article: by Washington Times: Inside the Ring: North Korean missile launch set
The Pentagon is preparing to activate global missile defenses for an expected test launch of another long-range missile by North Korea, U.S. defense officials said.
Intelligence agencies are closely watching a North Korean missile launch site amid signs a test-firing will take place in the next two months, U.S. officials said, echoing reports from South Korea and Japan.
U.S. missile defenses are being prepared to counter the test-firing, should the missile threaten U.S. allies such as Japan or U.S. military forces in the region. The defenses include Aegis warships equipped with SM-3 anti-missile interceptors. Ground-based long-range interceptors based in Alaska and California also are being readied.
Other components of the missile-defense network include ground-, sea- and space-based sensors and radar used to detect missile launches and help guide interceptors to make high-speed hits on warheads.
Read more: http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/nov/28/inside-the-ring-north-korean-missile-launch-set/#ixzz2DqWrsMQ9
Follow us: @washtimes on Twitter
SEOUL (Reuters) - North Korea is to carry
out its second rocket launch this year in December as South Korea holds its presidential election in
a move that will likely trigger diplomatic tensions between the two Koreas and
censure from the United States and Japan.
State news agency KCNA said on Saturday
that the launch of a rocket carrying a satellite would take place between
December 10 and December 22.
North Korea says its launches are for
peaceful purposes, although Washington and Seoul believe the isolated,
impoverished state is testing long-range missile technology with the aim of
developing an intercontinental ballistic missile capable
of carrying a nuclear warhead.
North Korea undertook a similar launch in
April that was aborted a few minutes into its mission. The North is banned from
conducting missile or nuclear-related activities under United Nations
resolutions.
The coming launch will take place around
the time of South Korea's presidential polls on December 19 and close to the
first anniversary of the death of former leader Kim Jong-il.
Kim died on December 17 last year and was
succeeded by his son, Kim Jong-un.
(Reporting by David Chance and John
Ruwitch; Editing by Ron Popeski)http://news.yahoo.com/north-korea-launch-satellite-december-kcna-083131616.html
Second article: by Washington Times: Inside the Ring: North Korean missile launch set
The Pentagon is preparing to activate global missile defenses for an expected test launch of another long-range missile by North Korea, U.S. defense officials said.
Intelligence agencies are closely watching a North Korean missile launch site amid signs a test-firing will take place in the next two months, U.S. officials said, echoing reports from South Korea and Japan.
U.S. missile defenses are being prepared to counter the test-firing, should the missile threaten U.S. allies such as Japan or U.S. military forces in the region. The defenses include Aegis warships equipped with SM-3 anti-missile interceptors. Ground-based long-range interceptors based in Alaska and California also are being readied.
Other components of the missile-defense network include ground-, sea- and space-based sensors and radar used to detect missile launches and help guide interceptors to make high-speed hits on warheads.
Read more: http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/nov/28/inside-the-ring-north-korean-missile-launch-set/#ixzz2DqWrsMQ9
Follow us: @washtimes on Twitter
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)