Open Source Daily INTSUM: Friday, Oct. 28, 2005

[Airbornelawyer]

From Various Sources:

Middle East

• Security incidents in Iraq, Oct 28 (Source: Reuters Alertnet)

• US has 161,000 troops in Iraq, highest of the war. "The United States has increased its forces in Iraq to the highest total of the war at 161,000 troops, and the Pentagon said on Thursday it expected a similar number in place for the December elections. …"(Source: Reuters Alertnet)

• Western Anbar Roundup "Military operations continue along the Euphrates River basin as Coalition forces look to consolidate their gains after Operations Iron Fist and River Strike. Several terrorists were killed and a large weapons cache was uncovered during raids on safe houses in the city of Hit.…" (Source: Bill Roggio's blog, The Fourth Rail)

Asia

• Death sentences for Manila bomb. "A Philippine court has sentenced three Islamic militants to death for a bomb attack on a bus that killed four people in Manila in February. The blast was part of a co-ordinated attack that also hit two cities on the southern island of Mindanao, killing a dozen people and wounding about 100. …" (Source: BBC)

• Japan charter reform proposed. "Japan's ruling party has proposed revising the country's constitution to formalise the role of its military. The Liberal Democratic Party proposal, published on Friday, seeks to update the post-World War II constitution to reflect present realities. If endorsed, it would formally legalise the activities of Japan's Self-Defence Force (SDF), at home and abroad. The plan is likely to concern China and the Koreas, watchful of any signs of rising militarism in Japan. …" (Source: BBC). See also: Self-defense right guaranteed by draft

• China, Vietnam agree on joint military patrols in Gulf of Tonkin "China has signed an agreement with Vietnam to engage in joint military patrols off the Gulf of Tonkin where the two nations have been involved in a border dispute for years…." (Source: Australia Broadcasting Corp.)

• Sri Lanka: Security Situation Report. (Source: Sri Lanka Army)

• South Asia Terrorism Update (Source: South Asia Terrorism Portal)

Africa

• Ivory Coast recruiting Liberians. "The government of Ivory Coast is recruiting Liberians into its armed forces, says the international pressure group Human Rights Watch. The group says it interviewed a number of Liberians, including three children, who said Ivorian army officers had offered them up to $400 to enlist. Ivory Coast has been divided since a failed rebellion in 2002. …" (Source: BBC)

Europe

• Denmark holds Muslims over 'plot' "Four men have been arrested in the Danish capital Copenhagen on suspicion of planning a suicide attack in Europe. A court ordered the men - all Muslims aged 16 to 20 - to be remanded in custody until 16 November while investigations continue. The arrests were linked to a recent inquiry in the Balkans in which arrests were made and large quantities of explosives were found, police said. No details were given of the intended target of the group's alleged plot. …"(Source: BBC)

• US hopes for Bulgarian military base deal in 2006 "The United States hopes to reach a deal on using Bulgarian military bases next year after it closes similar talks with the Balkan state's neighbour Romania, the U.S. ambassador to Sofia said on Friday.…" (Source: Reuters Alertnet)