Daily Summary - Friday, December 9, 2005

[Airbornelawyer]

Iraq: Security incidents in Iraq, Dec 9 (http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/LON926623.htm) (Reuters (http://www.alertnet.org))
Iraq: Ongoing operations (http://www.mnf-iraq.com/releases.htm) – Miscellaneous releases from Multi-National Force Iraq (http://www.mnf-iraq.com/).
Iraq: Busy Day in North-Central Iraq (http://www.centcom.mil/CENTCOMNews/News_Release.asp?NewsRelease=20051224.txt) "Iraqi security forces and U.S. troops continued to make progress in the fight against terrorism in the north central region of Iraq. Raids and patrols throughout the area resulted in 22 suspected terrorists being detained and the discovery of four weapons caches. …" (101st Airborne Division PAO, via U.S. Central Command (http://www.centcom.mil/))
Iraq/Bulgaria: Bulgaria to Keep Non-Combat Unit in Iraq (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/12/09/AR2005120900604_pf.html?) "Bulgaria will "most likely" continue its military involvement in Iraq by sending a 120-member non-combat unit on a guarding mission, the defense minister said Friday. The government will make a final decision after "the necessary coordination talks," Defense Minister Veselin Bliznakov told reporters upon his return from Washington. In May, parliament voted to cut the number of troops in Iraq from 460 to 400 and to continue their mission through the end of 2005. Officials have said Bulgaria will start a pullout after next week's parliamentary elections in Iraq. After the pullout, "Bulgaria will most likely renew its presence in Iraq with a 120-member contingent tasked with guarding the Ashraf refugee camp," Bliznakov said. …" (Washington Post (http://www.washingtonpost.com))
Iraq/Australia: Australian Troops Likely to Stay in Iraq (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/12/08/AR2005120802387_pf.html?) "Australian troops protecting Japanese forces in Iraq likely will extend their mission for as long as the Japanese remain there, Prime Minister John Howard said Friday. Japan said Thursday it would keep about 600 troops in the southern Iraqi city of Samawah on their non-combat mission that is limited to purifying water and other aid tasks. Australia has 450 troops in the region protecting the Japanese and training Iraqi troops.…" (Washington Post (http://www.washingtonpost.com))
Turkey: Four Turkish soldiers killed in Kurd rebel clash (http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L09486533.htm) "Kurdish rebels killed four Turkish soldiers in a clash overnight in a mountainous area on the Iraqi border, security officials said on Friday. F-16 warplanes took off from the main southeastern city of Diyarbakir and bombed the Gabbar mountain area in Sirnak province where the clash began on Thursday evening, they said. Clashes were continuing and helicopters landed troops in the mountain to support an operation in pursuit of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) militants. …" (Reuters Alertnet (http://www.alertnet.org))
Israel: Navy quits sending ships through Suez (http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1132475713712&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FPrinter) "The Israel Navy has decided to cease sending its warships through the Suez Canal, out of concern they will be targeted by global jihad terrorists, The Jerusalem Post has learned. "We don't want to draw terror," said a senior naval officer in explaining the move. The decision was a unilateral one for the navy, affecting its missile ships and patrol boats such as the Dvora. It has no effect on Israeli civilian vessels. Zim, the Israeli-owned shipping line, said its ships continue to sail through the Suez Canal regularly. Analysts downplayed the strategic significance of the decision, saying the navy rarely used the Suez Canal. But it does restrict options for the IDF. …" (Jerusalem Post (http://www.jpost.com))
Middle East and South & Central Asia: Ongoing operations (http://www.mnf-iraq.com/releases.htm) – Miscellaneous releases from U.S. Central Command (http://www.centcom.mil/CENTCOMNews/release_list.asp).
Afghanistan/Sweden: Second Swedish soldier dies from Nov. Afghan attack (http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L09240613.htm) "A second Swedish peacekeeper has died from injuries sustained last month during an attack on a convoy in northern Afghanistan, the army said on Friday. One soldier, serving with the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force, died soon after a remote-controlled mine hit his convoy near the town of Mazar-i-Sharif on Nov. 25. Three other soldiers were wounded. …" (Reuters Alertnet (http://www.alertnet.org)) The soldiers weren't just "Swedish peacekeepers"; they were from the Särskilda Skyddsgruppen (SSG), Sweden's special operations unit. A press release from the Swedish armed forces is here: Ytterligare en av de skadade har avlidit (http://www.mil.se/index.php?lang=S&c=news&id=30568) (Another one of the wounded has died)
South Asia: South Asia Terrorism Update (http://www.satp.org/satporgtp/detailed_news.asp?date1=12/09/2005) (South Asia Terrorism Portal (http://www.satp.org))
Sri Lanka: Security Situation Report (http://www.army.lk/news/index.html). (Sri Lanka Army (http://www.army.lk))

[Airbornelawyer]

Spain: Spanish police arrest 7 linked to Islamist militants (http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L09507154.htm) "Spanish police have arrested seven people suspected of funding an Algerian Islamist group linked to al Qaeda, Interior Minister Jose Antonio Alonso said on Friday. The seven, seized on Spain's Costa del Sol, provided money -- obtained from theft, smuggling and credit card fraud -- and logistical support to Algeria's largest outlawed militant organisation, the Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat. …" (Reuters Alertnet (http://www.alertnet.org))
Eritrea-Ethiopia: Senior UN officials to assess border standoff (http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/IRIN/337879784836b80f7e464c1aae7b3c46.htm) "United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan will send two senior UN officials to Eritrea and Ethiopia to assess the volatile border standoff following a decision by the Eritrean government to expel personnel from the UN peacekeeping mission there. …" (Reuters Alertnet (http://www.alertnet.org))
United Kingdom/Sierra Leone: British Army training 'making progress' in Sierra Leone (http://www.news.mod.uk/news_headline_story2.asp?newsItem_id=3840) "Sierra Leone emerged from a decade of civil war in 2002, after 17,000 United Nations troops were sent in to disarm rebels and militia fighters, and maintain the peace. The UN peace-keeping operation in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL) will fully withdraw from the West African country during December 2005, and the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF) will take over many of its tasks. …" (U.K. Ministry of Defence (http://news.mod.gov.ukl/))
Burma: 'Burma attacks' Naga rebels bases (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4512532.stm) "A faction of Naga separatist rebels in north-east India say five of their bases in Burma's Sagaing division have come under attack. A rebel spokesman told the BBC a whole brigade of Burmese troops are closing in on these bases, forcing the rebels to fight a rearguard action. …" (BBC (http://news.bbc.co.uk/))
The Philippines: Soldier killed, 2 wounded in Sulu clashes (http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/net/2005/12/09/soldier.killed.2.wounded.in.sulu.clashes.html) "Fierce fighting between Abu Sayyaf militants and security forces erupted in the island of Jolo, about 950 kilometers south of Manila, leaving one soldier dead and two others seriously wounded, officials said on Thursday. Officials said troops clashed with some 150 militants, backed by Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) forces, in Mt. Tumatangis in Indanan town Wednesday. …" (Sun-Star (http://www.sunstar.com.ph))
The Americas: USSOUTHCOM Headline News (http://www.southcom.mil/pa/News/AOR%20News/Today's%20News.doc) (Microsoft Word format)
Colombia: Mueren terroristas en combates contra el Ejército (http://www.ejercito.mil.co/?idcategoria=89600&PHPSESSID=28fff33f7672358d14fe6e2f1f002eeb) – Terrorists die in combat with the Army "Un nuevo reporte de las acciones ofensivas que desarrollan las unidades de la Cuarta Brigada contra el terrorismo en el departamento de Antioquia, registra la neutralización de un secuestro y la baja en combate de tres integrantes de las cuadrillas 34 y 36 de las Farc. ..." (Ejército Nacional de Colombia (http://www.ejercito.mil.co))
Ecuador: Ministerio de Defensa confirma nuevo plan estratégico de seguridad para petroleras (http://www.ecuadorinmediato.com/espanol/mostrarnoticia.php?id=44&noticiaid=25346&actualizacionID=af70742e4388ed0a473673a98dc7c3e3) – Ministry of Defense confirms new strategic plan for security for the oil industry "El ministro de Defensa, Oswaldo Jarrín, confirmó que luego de tres meses de estudio y trabajo concluyó la elaboración del plan estratégico de seguridad de zonas petrolera a nivel nacional. Según informó, en el plan estratégico participaron técnicos de Petroecuador y del Comando Conjunto de Fuerzas Armadas (FF.AA.) que reestructuraron las áreas estratégicas en donde se incluyen por ejemplo líneas de flujo, refinerías, terminales y ductos. …" (Ecuador Inmediato (http://www.ecuadorinmediato.com))
Mexico: El Personal del Ejército y Fuerza Aérea Mexicanos Continúan Combatiendo Frontalmente al Narcotráfico. (http://www.sedena.gob.mx/comunicados/2005/dic/c3102005.htm) "En esta ocasión se aseguraron y destruyeron 2 toneladas 839 kilos 50 gramos de mariguana y se erradicaron 52 hectáreas 150 metros cuadrados de sembradíos de enervantes; asimismo, se pusieron a disposición de las autoridades correspondientes a 6 civiles. ..." (Secretaría de la Defensa Nacional (http://www.sedena.gob.mx/))

[Airbornelawyer]

From the RFE/RL Newsline (http://www.rferl.org/newsline/):

Russia
FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE CHIEF SAYS NGOS EMPLOY SPIES
Foreign Intelligence Service head Sergei Lebedev has claimed that nongovernmental organizations employ spies, the official government newspaper "Rossiiskaya gazeta" reported on 8 December. "We do have this information," Lebedev said. "But don't be surprised, this is nothing extraordinary. Humanitarian missions and NGOs are very attractive for all intelligence services worldwide. Intelligence officers need a cover, a mask and a screen. This is the characteristic of our work." Lebedev said Russia is defending its national interests when it restricts the activities of NGOs. "These organizations have felt free and at ease in Russia, so even the tiniest attempts to streamline their work are now perceived as an encroachment on their rights," Lebedev said. A controversial law restricting the financing and activities of NGOs passed its first reading in the State Duma on 23 November. It has been sharply criticized by Western governments and human-rights groups. A second reading is expected to take place on 16 December.
FOREIGN MINISTER PUSHES NATO-CSTO COOPERATION...
Sergei Lavrov said on 8 December that cooperation between NATO and the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) could yield positive results for both sides, RIA-Novosti reported the same day. "By pooling their potentials, NATO and CSTO could significantly increase the positive results [of their activities]," Lavrov said at a meeting of the NATO-Russia Council in Brussels. Lavrov said one such benefit could be in the battle against drug trafficking in Afghanistan. "It is necessary to find a mutual understanding between NATO, which operates within Afghanistan, and organizations that operate outside of its borders," Lavrov said. Likewise, CSTO Secretary-General Nikolai Bordyuzha said in Moscow the same day that the organization plans to work closely with NATO, Interfax reported. "We are now planning to implement a political resolution approved by CSTO leaders to begin official relations with NATO," Bordyuzha said. "The aims of both organizations, though of different weight, are close in essence, and those are countering contemporary challenges and security threats: terrorism, drug trafficking, and others."
RUSSIA REPORTEDLY SEEKS NEW TYPE OF RELATIONSHIP WITH NATO
Citing anonymous sources in the Security Council, "Kommersant-Daily" reported on 8 December that Russia will seek to change its relationship with NATO to something akin to affiliate membership. "While facing the threat of drastic weakening positions of Russia in the post-Soviet space, the Kremlin decided to change the quality of the relationship with the alliance," "Kommersant-Daily" wrote. "The Russian Security Council is discussing the possibility of affiliate membership of Russia in NATO. The essence of this idea is to officially establish an alliance relationship with NATO," the newspaper continued. According to the newspaper's Security Council sources, the plan is to seek a relationship with NATO along "the French model" under which "Moscow will participate in all alliance activities" other than military action. "It is still not clear how NATO will react to this Russian initiative," "Kommersant-Daily" wrote.

Transcaucasia And Central Asia
ARMENIAN PARLIAMENT PROLONGS MANDATE OF IRAQ PEACEKEEPERS
Parliament deputies approved on 8 December by a vote of 73 in favor, 12 against, and one abstention, to prolong for a further year the mandate of Armenia's peacekeeping force currently deployed in south-central Iraq as part of a Polish-led international division, RFE/RL's Armenian Service reported. The opposition Artarutiun faction, which voted against the peacekeepers' initial deployment one year ago, was not present in parliament for the vote. The 45 Armenian peacekeepers are almost all doctors, demining experts, or drivers of military vehicles.
JUSTICE MINISTER DENIES SECRET PRISONS LOCATED ON AZERBAIJANI TERRITORY
Reports of a secret CIA prison on Azerbaijani territory are "an invention," Azerbaijani Justice Minister Fikret Mamedov told journalists in Baku on 8 December, day.az reported. Mamedov added that the investigation launched by the Council of Europe last month following the publication in "The Washington Times" of a report that the CIA transfers maintains a network of secret prisons in Europe and elsewhere where suspected terrorists are detained and questioned has nothing to do with Azerbaijan.
GEORGIA DENIES HOSTING SECRET CIA PRISON
Georgian Justice Minister Kote Kemularia and his deputy, Givi Mikanadze, separately denied on 8 December that there are one or more secret U.S. detention facilities in Georgia, Caucasus Press reported. Dmitrii Medoev, who is the permanent representative in Moscow of the unrecognized Republic of South Ossetia, told regnum.ru in a telephone interview on 7 December that in light of what he termed Tbilisi's subservience to the CIA, he is certain that such prisons exist on Georgian territory, and he called on the international community to set about locating them.

Southeastern Europe
NATO CALLS ON RUSSIA TO WITHDRAW TROOPS FROM TRANSDNIESTER
NATO's North Atlantic Council on 8 December called on Russia to withdraw its troops from Moldova's breakaway Transdniester region, according to the text of the council's communique posted on the alliance's website (http://www.nato.int). "We note with regret the lack of progress on withdrawal of Russian military forces from the Republic of Moldova and we call upon Russia to resume and complete its withdrawal as soon as possible," it says. Russian Ambassador to Moldova Nikolai Ryabov has said the troops will remain in Transdniester until a final settlement. The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe's conference in Ljubljana, Slovenia, ended on 6 December without a formal declaration, primarily due to Russian objections to a statement in the draft calling on it to pull its troops out of the breakaway province.

Southwestern Asia And The Middle East
AFGHAN LEADER URGES MUSLIMS TO FIGHT TERRORISM
Addressing the Organization of the Islamic Conference summit of heads of state in Mecca on 7 December, President Karzai said that unfortunately among the Muslims a small group of people are abusing the religion of Islam for their own gains, Bakhtar News Agency reported on 8 December. However, without confronting terrorism, which in Afghanistan is causing death and destruction, Muslim countries cannot solve this problem, he said. "We should show the true face of Islam, which insists on friendship, peace, and living together, to the world," Karzai told the summit, Pajhwak Afghan News reported on 7 December.
ISLAMIC ARMY IN IRAQ CLAIMS KILLING OF CONTRACTOR
The militant group Islamic Army in Iraq has reportedly claimed that it has killed hostage Ronald Alan Shultz, a U.S. contractor working in Iraq, international media reported on 9 December. The group announced it was holding Shultz, a contractor for the Ministry of Housing and Construction, on 6 December and demanded the immediate release of all detainees in U.S. and Iraqi prisons and compensation for the families in the Al-Anbar Governorate for damage incurred as a result of military operations there. Shultz's killing has not been independently confirmed; the 9 December statement claimed that a videotape of the killing will soon be released. Meanwhile, the French Foreign Ministry said on 8 December that it has no news on the abduction of French national Bernard Planche, AFP reported the same day. Ministry spokesman Jean-Baptiste Mattei said no group has claimed responsibility for the kidnapping and no demands have been made by the abductors.

[aricbcool]

From the RFE/RL Newsline (http://www.rferl.org/newsline/):

RUSSIA REPORTEDLY SEEKS NEW TYPE OF RELATIONSHIP WITH NATO
Citing anonymous sources in the Security Council, "Kommersant-Daily" reported on 8 December that Russia will seek to change its relationship with NATO to something akin to affiliate membership. "While facing the threat of drastic weakening positions of Russia in the post-Soviet space, the Kremlin decided to change the quality of the relationship with the alliance," "Kommersant-Daily" wrote. "The Russian Security Council is discussing the possibility of affiliate membership of Russia in NATO. The essence of this idea is to officially establish an alliance relationship with NATO," the newspaper continued. According to the newspaper's Security Council sources, the plan is to seek a relationship with NATO along "the French model" under which "Moscow will participate in all alliance activities" other than military action. "It is still not clear how NATO will react to this Russian initiative," "Kommersant-Daily" wrote.


Correct me if I'm wrong, but this is a big deal. From the Googling I did, it looks like this would be the first time Russia will be actually recognized as part of NATO rather than just "cooperating with".

Thoughts, comments?

--Aric

PS Thanks for the continued daily INTSUMs AL. :lifter

[Doc]

The French Model in Nato is not a very friendly one to the U.S. but I will leave it to others to further explain. France pulled out of NATO in 1964 and it's alliance with NATO has been a source of contention.

For Russia to say it will use said model isn't a good thing.

JMOYMV

Doc

[Airbornelawyer]

The French Model in Nato is not a very friendly one to the U.S. but I will leave it to others to further explain. France pulled out of NATO in 1964 and it's alliance with NATO has been a source of contention.

For Russia to say it will use said model isn't a good thing.

JMOYMV

Doc
France did not withdraw from NATO, but from its Military Committee. It was still a member of the Alliance, and thus subject to the treaty's collective defense requirements, but it did not participate in joint military planning or place its armed forces under NATO command. It returned to the Military Committee a few years ago, and French officers are in various command and staff positions in various NATO headquarters. And at least since NATO formed its QRF in Bosnia, before going in full-force after the Dayton Peace Agreement in December 1995, France has participated in every NATO military mission, and not just peacekeeping missions like SFOR, KFOR and ISAF. In Kosovo, France provided 25% of non-U.S. allied aircraft (8% of total aircraft, since the US provided the biggest chunk, as always), and flew 2,414 sorties, again the most of any non-U.S. ally (and again dwarfed by the U.S.). The French Air Force and Naval Aviation also participated in combat missions in Afghanistan (again the largest Allied contribution but again dwarfed by the United States).

Whatever Russia is conceiving of isn't really the French model.

[Sweetbriar]

It certainly puts NATO in an interesting position for a response. If Russia isn't really the "evil empire" anymore, but just another European nation, how can they refuse? And if Russia is in, who else is in? The foxes can take over the hen house just like they did at the UN. NATO, meaning the US, had better have a very good and clear vision of what they want NATO to be, because passivity and the intimidation of 'goodwill' can quickly neutralize it and effectively lock it up. I realise it has changed quite a bit from its Cold War character, but it still has some genuine usefulness left in it.

[Airbornelawyer]

It certainly puts NATO in an interesting position for a response. If Russia isn't really the "evil empire" anymore, but just another European nation, how can they refuse? And if Russia is in, who else is in? The foxes can take over the hen house just like they did at the UN. NATO, meaning the US, had better have a very good and clear vision of what they want NATO to be, because passivity and the intimidation of 'goodwill' can quickly neutralize it and effectively lock it up. I realise it has changed quite a bit from its Cold War character, but it still has some genuine usefulness left in it.
Having bowed to the inevitability of NATO expansion eastwards, Russia's primary goal is NATO emasculation. A NATO that is little more than another OSCE or the OAS, a political forum with no real power to do anything, would be a satisfactory outcome for Moscow.

As for the state of the henhouse, most of the new members are in fact more in favor of a NATO that aggressively defends Western interests and advances Western values than the many older members, derisively (and inaccurately) called "Old Europe", who tend to favor "soft" power solutions or are ambivalent about NATO. France and Germany are the most commonly cited examples, but Canada, Greece, Belgium and Luxembourg also belong in this category. The reason I say "inaccurate" is that many so-called "Old Europe" members like Denmark, the Netherlands and Norway have been there with so-called "New Europe" states like Poland and Romania.

From Russia's perspective, it isn't just that there are NATO members closer and closer to its borders (Russia, and before that the USSR, has been bordered by a NATO member - Norway - since the alliance formed). It is that these new members - especially Poland, Romania and the three Baltic states - are some of the most reliably pro-U.S. and proactive NATO members. And a number of the other NATO wannabes, such as Georgia, Ukraine and Albania, are also more reliably pro-U.S. and proactive. And in the case of Georgia, you have a country that is not only strongly pro-U.S., but is also quite hostile to Russia (which supports several separatist movements in Georgia, in Abkhazia and South Ossetia).

Russia also is worried about NATO's long-term presence in Central Asia as a result of Afghanistan. NATO is increasing its role in Afghanistan and continues to be in Kyrgyzstan. Russia and Uzbekistan have gotten comfy with each other again, though, as Western nations distance themselves from Tashkent.

Against this, of course, is Russia's concern about China, which gives it an incentive to seek a more secure western flank.