FT.com / UK - Yemeni threat pushed up US agenda: "The risk posed by al-Qaeda in Yemen has long been of concern to western intelligence services. In 2000 Yemeni suicide bombers killed 17 people when they struck the USS Cole. The US waged a largely successful counter-terrorism campaign over the next three years, using unmanned drones to kill key operatives. But in the past three years AQAP has been thriving again in eastern Yemen, amid the ravages of its civil war.
Today western intelligence chiefs believe the risk posed by Yemeni jihadism has become especially serious."
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
China News: China Willing to Spend Big on Afghan Commerce | China Digital Times (CDT)
China News: China Willing to Spend Big on Afghan Commerce China Digital Times (CDT): "S. Frederick Starr, the chairman of the Central Asia-Caucasus Institute, an independent research organization in Washington, said that skeptics might wonder whether Washington and NATO had conducted “an unacknowledged preparatory phase for the Chinese economic penetration of Afghanistan.”
“We do the heavy lifting,” he said. “And they pick the fruit.”"
“We do the heavy lifting,” he said. “And they pick the fruit.”"
Jihadism and the Cold War -- latimes.com
Jihadism and the Cold War -- latimes.com: "The West won the Cold War; we can use some of the same tactics to defeat Islamic extremism."
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
USAFE Airmen retool to enhance tradition of Building Partnerships
USAFE Airmen retool to enhance tradition of Building Partnerships: "The Airmen of U.S. Air Forces in Europe are charting new territory in tackling one of the Air Force's newest core functions: Building Partnerships.
The lesson that international partnerships are essential to success in war and peace is not new. The Office of the Secretary of Defense directed U.S. European Command to develop a theater campaign plan which explicitly places Building Partnerships at the forefront of U.S. military strategy.
To support the combatant commander, USAFE also developed a strategy that includes building partner capacity and cooperative relationships as priority focus areas on par with combating terrorism and force modernization."
The lesson that international partnerships are essential to success in war and peace is not new. The Office of the Secretary of Defense directed U.S. European Command to develop a theater campaign plan which explicitly places Building Partnerships at the forefront of U.S. military strategy.
To support the combatant commander, USAFE also developed a strategy that includes building partner capacity and cooperative relationships as priority focus areas on par with combating terrorism and force modernization."
Aircraft Ramp Opens at Camp Lemonnier
Aircraft Ramp Opens at Camp Lemonnier: "After more than nine months of work and $12 million in funding, a U.S. Air Force C-130 Hercules became the first aircraft to utilize a new apron at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti (CLDJ), Dec. 22, marking the beginning of operational missions on the apron known as 'Enduring Ramp'.
'Initially, Camp Lemonnier was built as an expeditionary base with expeditionary hardware,' said Lt. j.g. John Woods, the air operations officer at CLDJ. 'The opening of this concrete ramp confirms that Camp Lemonnier is transitioning into an enduring role, thus naming the ramp Enduring.'
The apron is 219 meters by 126 meters and is designed to provide three parking spaces for C-130 Hercules aircraft as well as a parking pad for the CV-22 Osprey aircraft. Enduring Ramp will also support parking for aircraft as large as the C-17 Globemaster III and C-5 Galaxy."
'Initially, Camp Lemonnier was built as an expeditionary base with expeditionary hardware,' said Lt. j.g. John Woods, the air operations officer at CLDJ. 'The opening of this concrete ramp confirms that Camp Lemonnier is transitioning into an enduring role, thus naming the ramp Enduring.'
The apron is 219 meters by 126 meters and is designed to provide three parking spaces for C-130 Hercules aircraft as well as a parking pad for the CV-22 Osprey aircraft. Enduring Ramp will also support parking for aircraft as large as the C-17 Globemaster III and C-5 Galaxy."
US steps up anti-terror campaign in Yemen: report
US steps up anti-terror campaign in Yemen: report: "The United States has quietly opened a third, largely covert front against the Al-Qaeda terror network in Yemen, The New York Times reported late Sunday.
Citing an unnamed former top CIA official, the newspaper said that a year ago the Central Intelligence Agency sent many field operatives with counterterrorism experience to the country.
At the same time, some of the most secretive special operations commandos have begun training Yemeni security forces in counterterrorism tactics, the report said.
The Pentagon will be spending more than 70 million dollars over the next 18 months"
Citing an unnamed former top CIA official, the newspaper said that a year ago the Central Intelligence Agency sent many field operatives with counterterrorism experience to the country.
At the same time, some of the most secretive special operations commandos have begun training Yemeni security forces in counterterrorism tactics, the report said.
The Pentagon will be spending more than 70 million dollars over the next 18 months"
Monday, December 28, 2009
MC-12 arrives, heralds activation of 4th ERS
MC-12 arrives, heralds activation of 4th ERS: "The newest aircraft to the Air Force's inventory arrived Dec. 27, 2009, to Bagram Airfield. The MC-12 aircraft, tail number 090623, was the first of an undisclosed number of aircraft for the new 4th Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron here.
Following the MC-12's arrival, the 4th Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron was activated to carry out MC-12 operations in the Afghan theater of operations."
Following the MC-12's arrival, the 4th Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron was activated to carry out MC-12 operations in the Afghan theater of operations."
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