Open Source Daily INTSUM: Friday, Nov. 4, 2005

[Airbornelawyer]

From Various Sources:

Middle East

• Security incidents in Iraq, Nov 4 (Source: Reuters Alertnet)

• On new tour, Marines to get big boost from Iraqi battalions "When the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force resumes responsibility for volatile Anbar province in Iraq in February, the Marines will be bolstered by 18 battalions from the new Iraqi army, plus a large number of Iraqi police and border security forces, Lt. Gen. John Sattler said." (Source: Copley News Service, via The San Diego Union-Tribune)

• Iraq: Al-Sadr Militia Taking Law Into Own Hands "Militiamen loyal to Shi'ite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr have increasingly adopted a policing role in recent months. In both Baghdad and Al-Basrah, al-Sadr's Imam Al-Mahdi Army has claimed to have fought alongside police forces against terrorists, and has carried out its own operations to free hostages from terrorist safe houses. …" (Source: RFE/RL)

Asia-Pacific

• French Finish Coalition Flying Mission "After three months of flying support and combat sorties, the French Air Force successfully fulfills its mission here Friday. The French Air Force flew Operation Enduring Freedom close air support, armed reconnaissance and convoy escort missions in support of the parliamentary elections in Afghanistan Sept. 18…." (Source: U.S. Central Command)

• Quake-hit Pakistan to postpone buying F-16s "Pakistan will postpone the purchase of F-16 fighter jets from the United States in order to provide more relief to victims of the Oct. 8 earthquake, President Pervez Musharraf said on Friday…." (Source: Reuters Alertnet)

• India-US air force drill faces communist protests "India said on Friday it would step up security at an air base after communist parties threatened that thousands of activists would protest against exercises between the Indian and U.S. air forces. …"(Source: Reuters Alertnet)

• RSN Acquires Västergötland-Class Submarines "MINDEF has accepted an offer to purchase two Vastergotland-class submarines from Sweden. It has evaluated these submarines to be a cost-effective opportunity buy to enhance the submarine capabilities of the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN). The two submarines are expected to enter service from 2010 and will replace some of the RSN's Challenger-class submarines. …" (Source: Ministry of Defence of Singapore)

• India to buy 50 drones from Israel "India has renewed interest in buying unmanned spy planes from Israel for deployment on its borders with Pakistan and China. A deal with Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI) for the purchase of 50 Heron aircraft that can mount a remote surveillance of the ground from a height of 20,000 feet is in advanced stage of negotiation…. " (Source: Daily Times (Pakistan))

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

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

Africa

• Ethiopia-Eritrea tension may turn to war-AU "The African Union (AU) urged former foes Ethiopia and Eritrea on Friday to exercise restraint following military movements near their disputed border, saying tensions created by the manoeuvres could escalate into war. … In the last two weeks, U.N. soldiers say they have observed military movements involving tanks, air defence missiles and troops near their unmarked 1,000 km (600 mile) long frontier…."(Source: Reuters Alertnet)

• Ethiopia unrest spreads beyond capital "Gunfire echoed sporadically around Addis Ababa for a fourth day on Friday as reports emerged that unrest had spread beyond the capital, a development likely to deepen international concern for Ethiopia's stability.…"(Source: Reuters Alertnet)

• HORN OF AFRICA: Weekly Round-up for 29 October-4 November 2005 (Source: Reuters Alertnet)

The Americas

• USSOUTHCOM Headline News (Microsoft Word format)