Picture Of The Day

WING WORKERS
U.S. Marines perform maintenance on two CH-53E Sea Stallion helicopters aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima under way in the Atlantic Ocean, April 4, 2012. The Marines are assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 261. The Iwo Jima is deployed as part of the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group in support of maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. 5th and 6th Fleet areas of responsibility. U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Travis J. Kuykendall

Will Iran Compromise On Their Nuclear Program

Will Khamenei Compromise? -- Reza Marashi, Ali Reza Eshraghi, The National Interest

“Iran’s supreme leader does not want political accommodation with the United States. His rule is predicated on sustained enmity with America and flagrant disregard of popular will. A strategic shift in this paradigm will destabilize his regime.” This is the argument proffered by those skeptical of or opposed to sustained U.S.-Iran diplomacy. To be sure, Ayatollah Khamenei’s repression against his own people is well documented, but history contradicts the skeptics of his willingness to bargain. Khamenei is a cunning authoritarian, but he is not opposed to the right deal.

Read more ....

My Comment: They never have compromised on issues that they deemed were important to them ... their nuclear program has been on the top of their "we do not compromise" list.

Riots Breakout In China With The Purge Of Politburo Member Bo Xilai

Crowds faced police in a photo posted to a Chinese microblog and republished on an activist site. It was said to have been taken during protests in Chongqing on Wednesday. The Lede

Thousands Clash With Chinese Police In Chongqing District Of Wansheng -- The Guardian

Officials claim order restored after violence followed news of Bo Xilai's expulsion, though economic problems blamed.

Order was being restored after thousands of people clashed with police in a district of Chongqing that is struggling economically, a local official said.

The incident began at the same time late on Tuesday that state media announced the expulsion of Bo Xilai, former party chief of the city, from the party's ruling circle, and the arrest of his wife, Gu Kailai, who is suspected of involvement in the alleged murder of British businessman Neil Heywood.

Read more ....

More News On the Unrest In Chongqing District Of Wansheng, China

Protests and Clashes Are Seen in Chongqing -- New York Times
After Bo Xilai's Wife Was Arrested Yesterday, Thousands Of People Rioted In Chongqing -- Business Insider
Chongqing Tense After Clashes, Protest -- Radio Free Asia
Order restored after protest in Chongqing -- China.org.cn

My Comment: These riots are a big surprise .... and one that the Chinese authorities will go all out to suppress very quickly.

No North Korean Missile Launch Today, But Expectations Are For A Launch Within 2-3 Days

Regional Forces on Standby as N. Korean Launch Window Opens -- Voice of America

Military forces in South Korea and Japan are standing by Thursday on the first day of a five-day window for a North Korean rocket launch that Pyongyang says will carry a weather satellite into space.

The likelihood that the launch will come Thursday dimmed as midday arrived with no sign of new activity at the launch pad outside a cloud-covered Pyongyang. North Korean officials had said the launch will come between Thursday and Monday, and between the hours of 2200 and 0300 UTC.

Read more ....

More News On North Korea Preparing For It's Missile Launch

No launch from N. Korea; no backing down, either -- AP
Boost for Kim Jong-un as North Korean missile delayed -- The Australian
North Korea insists rocket launch does not flout deal with U.S. -- Washington Post
UN Chief Repeats Warning to North Korea on Rocket Launch -- Voice of America
North Korea rocket cost impoverished country £533 million -- The Telegraph
What to watch for in North Korea rocket launch -- AP

Is Japan Preparing To Go To War?

Japanese Self-Defence Force soldier stands guard near PAC-3 land-to-air missiles at the Defence Ministry in Tokyo (Reuters)

Scent Of War Envelopes Japan -- Real Clear World

Anyone watching the morning news in Tokyo might be forgiven in believing Japan is preparing to go to war. News clips show Aegis missile destroyers steaming out of port, and trucks pulling boxy-looking PAC3 missiles covered with tarpaulin. Some are deployed in Tokyo in order, we’re told, “to defend the capital.”

For the fourth time in 14 years Japan is girding for a major North Korean ballistic missile test. For several weeks Pyongyang has proclaimed its intention of launching a missile and putting a satellite into orbit on or about the 100th birthday on April 15 of North Korea’s founding president Kim Il-sung.

Read more ....

My Comment: I follow Japanese news reports closely .... and yup .... they are giving the impression that Japan is about to get involved in a military confrontation.

But .... is Japan realistically going to war .... hmmm .... of course not. But this non-stop news coverage is serving a purpose (and probably someone's agenda) .... and that is .... in view of the fact that Japan is surrounded by dangerous neighbors, they should maybe expand and grow their military forces.

So Much For The U.S. War Strategy In Afghanistan

U.S. Sgt. Maj. of the Army Ray Chandler and International Security Assistance Force U.S. Army Command Sgt. Maj. Thomas Capel depart from Combat Outpost Bari Alai on a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter near Jalalabad, Afghanistan, April 3, 2012. Chandler presented combat infantryman and action badges to soldiers assigned to the 4th Infantry Division's 1st Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, for their successful suppression of an insurgent attack on their outpost. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Christopher Harper

Broke Afghans Will Cut Their Military — And Obama’s War Plan -- The Danger Room

First the U.S. and its allies super-sized Afghanistan’s Army and police to fight the Taliban. Then they decided that those Afghan troops were their exit strategy. Now they’ve got sticker shock for how much the huge Afghan security sector will cost after they turn over combat duties in 2014 — so the Afghans announced that they’ll cut their own forces, even while they’ll be the only ones fighting the insurgency.

This is nothing short of removing a cornerstone of the Obama administration’s entire Afghanistan strategy. It’s an unforced error, costing over $10 billion, and completely foreseeable. In fact, former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld foresaw it.

Read more ....

My Comment: The reality of not having the money to fight a war is now settling in for both Kabul and Washington. And the Taliban .... who rely on little funding and material support .... are now positioned to win the war

The U.S. Army Is Unbroken After 10 Years Of War

U.S. Army soldiers navigate narrow causeways along a river bank in the village of Marzak in Afghanistan's Paktika province, April 4, 2012. The soldiers are assigned to Company A, 2nd Battalion, 28th Infantry Regiment. Marzak has historically been a stronghold for the insurgency over the past decade until the Afghan and U.S Forces took advantage of the winter months to establish a local police force and secure the village. U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Charles Crail

After a Decade of War, U.S. Army Emerges Unbroken -- WPR

A few months ago, I penned an essay for a WPR feature issue on counterinsurgency arguing that the U.S. Army was adrift as it transitioned out of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. In terms of the Army’s direction, that remains the case: While the U.S. Navy and Air Force have already crafted a narrative for how they can help the United States meet the security challenges of the 21st century, the Army is still pining for the days when the Soviet Union and its armies, poised to storm across the Fulda Gap, presented an intellectually simpler problem to solve.

Read more ....

My Comment: An optimistic look at the U.S. military .... and one that I am (somewhat) in agreement with.

World News Briefs -- April 12, 2012

Syria UN-Backed Ceasefire Holding Amid Tensions -- BBC

A ceasefire has come into force in Syria amid doubts expressed by Western countries about the government's willingness to stick to it.

Correspondents say the truce appears to be largely holding, with no reports of casualties or deaths so far.

However there were some reports of shelling and firing in the early hours and troops are still on the streets.

Syria and the armed opposition have said they will abide by the ceasefire, but were ready to respond if attacked.

Neighbouring Turkey said it would be "very happy" if the Annan plan succeeded.

Read more ....

MIDDLE EAST

Syria tense as Annan ceasefire deadline passes - live updates. Opposition: Syria truce deadline passes with no reports of major attacks.

Battle against Qaeda enters fourth day in Yemen, raises death toll to 177. Toll hits 177 in south Yemen battle with Qaeda. US airstrikes take out al Qaeda targets in Yemen.

West to pressure Iran at nuclear talks.

Turkey raids in new crackdown on military. Turkish prosecutors launch new crackdown against military, order arrest of 4 ex-generals.

Bernie Ecclestone: Bahrain Grand Prix will go ahead.

ASIA

North Korea rocket set for imminent lift off. North Korea opens 5-day launch window for rocket. North Korea fuels rocket as nation names Kim Jong Un top political official.

Thousands clash with Chinese police in Chongqing district of Wansheng.

Bo Xilai: Neil Heywood 'stashed Bo's financial secrets with British lawyer as insurance policy before death'.

Hamid Karzai considering early Afghan presidential elections in 2013.

AFRICA

Sudan mobilises army over seizure of oilfield by South Sudan. African Union 'deeply alarmed' at growing Sudan and South Sudan unrest.

Robert Mugabe 'fit as a fiddle' as he jets into Zimbabwe after health rumours.

Mali's Dioncounda Traore takes over from junta.

Coptic Christians fight for place in Egypt's political scene.

Algeria's first president Ahmed Ben Bella dies.

EUROPE

Greece to hold snap general election.

Greece proposes immigrant detention centers.

How the extreme right and left will affect France’s Presidential race.

Iran stops oil exports to Germany.

Bad economic news keeps the pressure on Spain and Italy.

Russian state debt lowest among G8 countries – Putin.

IMF warns of Britain's £750bn pensions time bomb.

AMERICAS

Mexico shaken by two earthquakes in 24 hours.

New drug gang wars blow Colombian city's revival apart.

Chavez says 'doing well' after latest cancer treatment. Chavez, battling cancer, fades from world stage.

Canadians favor taxes to fight inequality: poll.

US budget deficit hits a record high for March.

Argentina 'satisfied' by BP's Falklands rejection letter.

TERRORISM/THE LONG WAR

Guantanamo judge's ruling avoids issue of secret testimony.

New al Qaeda playbook promotes chemical attack.

The brave agent who exposed Hamza only to be betrayed by MI5.

ECONOMY/FINANCE/BUSINESS

Antitrust and Google (commentary).

Apple's Steve Jobs conspired on e-book price-fixing, lawsuits say. How Apple’s Steve Jobs and book publishers cost consumers millions.

Sony sheds 10,000 staff in major reorganisation.

Tributes for Commodore 64 creator Jack Tramiel, who 'could have bought Apple for $100k'.

Sudan Prepares For War Against South Sudan

Sudan Troops Launch Offensive to Retake Oil Field -- Wall Street Journal

KAMPALA Uganda—Sudanese troops, backed by paramilitary forces, have launched an offensive to regain control of the country's largest oil field from South Sudan, marking a dangerous new stage of repeated border clashes.

On Thursday, Sudan's troops attacked South Sudanese positions using ground forces and fighter jets, according to Rabie Abdelaty, the Sudanese government spokesman. The coordinated assault attempted to dislodge South Sudanese fighters from the 60,000 barrels-a-day oil field in Heglig. The oil field was a major battle ground when the two sides-—now separate countries—fought a long-running civil war. South Sudan captured the field earlier this week.

Read more ....

More News On The Escalating War Between Sudan And South Sudan

Sudan warplanes launch first attack on South Sudan town -- Times of India/AFP
Sudan Warplanes Bomb South Sudan -- Voice of America
Sudan vows swift response to south's oilfield grab -- Reuters
Sudan Cuts Off Talks With South Sudan -- Voice of America
Sudan says talks off as border fighting with S. Sudan worsens -- Christian Science Monitor

South Sudan says it has seized disputed oil-rich area -- CNN
South Sudan troops move into disputed oil town -- Bloomberg Businessweek/AP
South Sudan Says It Has Taken Over Disputed Town -- New York Times
South Sudan says won't withdraw troops -- Boston.com/AP
South Sudan refuses to withdraw troops from oilfield -- BBC
South Sudan says won't withdraw from disputed area -- Reuters
South Sudan's Kiir rejects calls to withdraw troops -- AFP

UN Calls on South Sudan to Withdraw From Sudanese Town -- Voice of America
British MPs issue bleak report on South Sudan's prospects -- The Guardian

What Happened After The Afghan Massacre

(Click on Image to Enlarge)

Confusion Reigned In Aftermath Of Afghanistan Massacre -- McClatchy News

NAJIBAN, Afghanistan — One month after Army Staff Sgt. Robert Bales allegedly went on a killing spree here in southern Afghanistan, the saying that "the first casualty of war is truth" continues to hold true in the deaths of eight adults and nine children in the villages of Najiban and Alkozai.

In the days following the attack, in the Panjway district of Kandahar province, confusion reigned as villagers, local officials and officials from the U.S.-led coalition sorted through the grim details of the killings. The conflicting accounts of what happened in the early hours of March 11 are still being pieced together as Bales — whom U.S. officials have called the sole suspect — sits in a U.S. military prison at Fort Leavenworth, Kan., awaiting his first court appearance.

Read more ....

My Comment: An accurate account on the fog of war and the lack of trust that exists in Afghanistan.

Putin: NATO Is A Cold War Relic

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin. © RIA Novosti. Grigoriy Sysoev

Putin Calls NATO 'Cold War-Era Relic' -- UPI

MOSCOW, April 11 (UPI) -- Russian President-elect Vladimir Putin Wednesday called NATO a "Cold War-era relic" but said he supported the alliance's role in Afghanistan.

Putin's comments came in his final address to Parliament before his inauguration as president in May, RIA Novosti reported.

"NATO is a Cold War-era relic," Putin, the current prime minister, told State Duma lawmakers. "It was created in times of a bi-polar system of international relations.

"But today's situation is different and it's not clear what an organization like NATO is for."

Read more ....

More News On Putin Calling NATO A Cold War Relic And Explaining Why Russia Must Support NATO In Afghanistan

Vladimir Putin defends decision to offer Nato a logistics facility in Russia -- The Guardian
Putin calls NATO ‘relic of the Cold War,’ but promises support on Afghanistan cooperation -- Washington Post/AP
Putin Finds NATO 'A Cold War Era Relic' -- RTT
Putin calls NATO 'relic' but backs Afghan presence -- Daily Star/AFP

My Comment: Europe's debt crisis coupled with massive cuts in government programs .... defense included .... will all but insure that NATO (as we use to know it) will become a relic.

Civil War In Syria -- News Updates April 12, 2012

Protesters Take To Streets Amid Syria's Fragile Truce -- CNN

(CNN) -- Guns largely fell silent in Syria Thursday after an early morning cease-fire took effect and cast an eerie calm over restive cities and towns that had been pounded by government forces in recent days.

Amid the fragile truce, opposition groups called for peaceful demonstrations as though to test whether the government would stick to its word.

Read more ....

More News On Syria's Civil War

Syria: Overview -- Yahoo News
Syria tense as Annan ceasefire deadline passes - live updates -- The Guardian
Syria Live Blog -- Al Jazeera
Syria ceasefire: latest -- The Telegraph

Syrian ceasefire lasts just six hours before civilian is shot dead and roadside bomb kills officer dashing hopes that regime would stop slaughter -- Daily Mail
Syria mostly calm as tenuous truce takes hold -- CBS/AP
Syrian opposition says ceasefire only partly observed -- Reuters
Syrian truce fragile as troops, tanks deploy in cities -- Jerusalem Post
Syria calm after UN truce deadline, but troops defy some of Annan's demands -- FOX News/AP
Syrians Take to Streets in Test of Annan Cease-Fire Plan -- Bloomberg Businessweek
New Syria bloodshed tests UN peace plan -- AFP
Protests in Syria as truce 'partly observed' -- Al Jazeera

Syrians cower in Turkish camp as bullets and fear draw closer -- Reuters
Syrian refugees call on Turks to return their dead -- AFP
Syria refugees ridicule Assad’s commitment to peace -- Euronews

Turkey says NATO is option to defend Syrian border -- Reuters
Turkey says it could seek NATO’s help if Syrian troops violate its borders again -- Washington Post/AP
Turkey steps up pressure on Damascus after border crisis -- AFP

U.N.'s Ban says onus on Syria to match words and deeds -- Reuters
UN chief says Syria must prove it wants peace -- AJC/AP

Syria's minorities unite against Assad -- Deutsche Welle
Syria cease-fire takes hold, but could be tested by Friday protests -- Ariel Zirulnick, Christian Science Monitor
Will Annan's Syria peace plan succeed? -- Al Jazeera
The Victims of Assad: Photographs by Peter Hapak -- Time
Photos: Faces of Syrians Fleeing Violence -- Danger Room

Why Is The Pentagon Trying To Shield Testimony At Guantanamo That Is Already In The Public Domain

It's Ridiculous For Pentagon To Try To Shield Testimony At Guantanamo That's Already In Public Domain -- McClatchy News Editorial

The Pentagon has long claimed that it can infringe on the public's right to know what takes place at the island prison in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, under the guise of protecting national security. Now it's going to absurd lengths to justify a secret hearing involving a Saudi captive's account of how CIA agents interrogated him while shackled in custody.

The government has played the national security card repeatedly for more than 10 years, relying on post-9/11 paranoia and fear of terrorism to win public support for the kind of odious policies that have no place in a democracy. Secret interrogations, secret custody, secret jails. Even the Red Cross was kept in the dark at one time about who was in captivity, and where - a violation of fundamental Geneva Conventions rules.

Read more ....

My Comment: 9/11 terrorists, Guantanamo, CIA renditions, torture .... you betcha they want to keep this under the rug as much as possible .... even when a good chunk of it is in the public domain.

The Euro Debt Crisis Is Coming Back

Euro-Armageddon Is Still Coming, And It's The Result Of Europe's Insane, One-Size-Fits-None Economic Policy -- Daniel Knowles, The Telegraph

Oh, it's happening again: yesterday, bond yields on Spanish debt passed 6 per cent for the first time this year. This morning, Italian one-year bond yields are rising again for the first time since November. The European Central Bank's policy of pumping ever more money into the banking system is stalling. A new bailout approaches. You can tell this because the Spanish Prime Minister, Mariano Rajoy, says it's not. He's speaking this afternoon to try to reassure investors that his government is fiscally sound. “Without a doubt, a good part of Spain’s future is at stake," he told senators yesterday, as he called for more spending cuts.

Read more ....

My Comment: Toronto's Globe and Mail newspaper has an even better explanation on why Spain's/Euro's debt crisis is going to get worse. It seems that one has to be an outsider to give a cold analysis on what is happening on the mainland in Europe. That Globe and Mail article is here.

Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- April 12, 2012

This Is Why Russia's New T-50 Fighter Will Never Compete With The F-35 -- Business Insider

Of the jets in production that promise to take military fighters deep into the 21st century and beyond, the U.S. F-35, the Chinese J-20, and the Russian Sukhoi T-50 PAK FA are at the top of the heap.

Much like the F-35 is being sold to American allies, the Russians' T-50 will be offered to countries looking for an alternative to Lockheed Martin's fifth generation fighter.

Read more ....

Hat Tip: Eric Palmer Blog

MILITARY AND INTELLIGENCE NEWS BRIEFS

UAV Market to Total $89 Billion Over Next Ten Years -- Defpro

Pakistan rapidly developing its nuclear arsenal: Report -- The Hindu

Russian Planes Spotted over Japanese Destroyer -- RIA Novosti

Iran to conduct joint military maneuvers -- Jerusalem Post

Siemens Allegedly Sold Surveillance Gear to Syria -- Spiegel Online

Russian Warship to Join Anti-Piracy Mission in May -- RIA Novosti

Russia to Admit Foreign Investors to Defense Asset Sales - Putin -- RIA Novosti

Polish Navy To Acquire Vessels, Submarines: MoD Report -- Defense News

Israeli navy seeks ship-launched UAS -- Flight Global

IAF looks to buy precision rockets for helicopters -- Jerusalem Post

IDF weighs interceptors for offshore gas platforms -- Jerusalem Post

Netherlands makes final trim to F-16 fleet size -- Flight Global

Nigeria: Military Tackles HIV Spread Among Soldiers -- AllAfrica

Don't Push China: Vice-Chief of Joint Staff Says "We Can All Get Along" -- Aol Defense

Get Ready for a New Air Force One -- Defense Tech

Drones to Increase 45% in Pentagon 30-Year Aviation Plan -- Bloomberg

Navy Investigates Unmanned Helicopter Mishaps -- Navy.mil

‘Operation Chimichanga’ Tests Pentagon’s Stealth Strike Force -- Danger Room

U.S. Congress Cybersecurity Bill Attacked Over Privacy Issues -- Defense News

Sequestration Looms And Few Plans Are Afoot To Avert Or Cope -- Aol News

Pentagon Weapon Programs: Delivering Less, Later, for More Money -- Defpro

The Army’s new golden age of testing -- DoD Buzz

CIA’s Secret Fear: High-Tech Border Checks Will Blow Spies’ Cover -- Danger Room

US military offers millions for the first humanoid robot -- MSNBC

Afghanistan War News Updates -- April 12, 2012

Coalition special operations forces and Afghan soldiers patrol though a valley near near Nawa Garay village in the Kajran district of Afghanistan's Daykundi province, April 3, 2012. The coalition and Afghan forces partnered to conduct operations throughout Daykundi, Uruzgan and Zabul provinces. U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Jacob Dillon

Hamid Karzai Considering Early Afghan Presidential Elections In 2013 -- The Telegraph

President Hamid Karzai said on Thursday he is considering calling presidential elections a year early to lessen the strain that could be caused by foreign combat troops leaving Afghanistan.

The next presidential elections are scheduled for 2014 and the majority of Nato combat forces will leave Afghanistan by the end of that same year. At that time, Karzai will be at the end of his second five-year term and the constitution bars him from running for a third term.

Read more ....

More News On Afghanistan

ISAF Joint Command morning operational update - April 11, 2012 -- ISAF
War In Afghanistan News 12 April 2012 -- War On Terror News

Two foreign troops killed by insurgents in Afghanistan -- New York Post
Insurgent attack threatens Defence Minister Stephen Smith's plane in Afghanistan -- Adelaide Now
US to conduct its last 'clearing' operation of the Afghan war -- Long War Journal
Wraps come off special operations Afghan war plan -- AP
Afghan elite raiders say they are US equals -- DAWN/Reuters
Elite female night raiders break down barriers in Afghanistan -- Reuters
Analysis: Afghan Night-Raid Deal Largely Symbolic -- Military.com/Stars and Stripes
US-Afghan talks face tough hurdle over troops -- AFP
US Official: Progress on US-Afghan Partnership -- Voice of America
Afghanistan prepares for withdrawal of foreign troops -- ABC News (Australia)

NATO chief says Afghan 'road map' on track -- Al Jazeera
NATO commitment to Afghanistan stability unchanged says Anders Fogh Rasmussen -- The Australian/AFP
No Afghan 'security vacuum' after 2014: NATO chief Rasmussen -- Times of India/AFP
Nato confirms deadline for Afghanistan troop withdrawal -- Irish Examiner
NATO Chief Pledges To Meet Afghan Handover Goal -- Radio Free Europe

NATO Dismisses 'Russian Base' Talk -- RIA Novosti
Putin signals support for Nato Afghan supply hub -- Business Recorder

Afghan president Hamid Karzai may hold elections early -- CTV/AP
Afghanistan’s Karzai Considers Early Elections -- Voice of America
Afghanistan's Karzai considers change in election timetable -- Reuters

Airman honored with military's 2nd-highest honor for 'battle of survival' in Afghanistan -- Star Tribune/AP
In poppy war, the Taliban aim to protect a cash crop -- Mercury News/New York Times
Afghan women's struggles detailed -- Winnipeg Free Press
Afghanistan to sell scandal-hit bank in June: Official -- Asia One

Contractors Beginning To See End of Afghan Mission -- Defense News
Broke Afghans Will Cut Their Military — And Obama’s War Plan -- Danger Room
5 steps to better politics in Afghanistan -- Paul D. Miller, Foreign Policy
In Afghanistan, who follows Hamid Karzai? -- David Ignatius, Washington Post

Has Afghanistan Been Worth It?

U.S. Command Sgt. Maj. Michael Boom greets an Afghan boy while on a foot patrol in the Marzak Basin in Afghanistan's Paktika province, April 4, 2012. Boom is assigned to the 172nd Infantry Brigade. Members of the brigade were on their way to inspect the construction progress of Afghan police checkpoints in the area. U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Charles Crail

Taking The Long View On Afghanistan -- DoD Buzz

A panel of senior ex-military and defense experts had no easy answers Wednesday for the near-term challenges of sequestration, world financial crisis, the U.S. military build-down or dealing with the future of Afghanistan. Over the long-term, however, they said things might turn out all right.

In a session convened by the Center for Strategic and International Studies, retired Air Force Gen. Ronald Fogleman acknowledged that the next few years might not be so pleasant for the U.S. and Afghanistan — “The outlook is not all that good,” he said. But he urged the audience to open its aperture.

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My Comment: The best part of this article is the last paragraph ....

.... Still, Fogleman is right, as far as it goes: If the Afghanistan of the future is a place where girls can go to school without being scarred or murdered; where a majority of the adult population can read; and which can deny the use of its territory by terrorists who hate civilization — it will have been an improvement. Whether that outcome will have been worth the price is one we can’t yet answer.

What do you think?

In my opinion .... we should have left after Karzai was installed as the leader of Afghanistan in 2002. And no .... our presence since then has not been worth the cost.

V-22 Osprey Crash In Morocco Kills 2 Marines

An MV-22 Osprey with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 261 (Reinforced) lands aboard the Wasp-class amphibious assault ship Iwo Jima on Dec. 2. An Osprey from the unit crashed April 11 in Morocco, according to Corps officials. Lance Cpl. Michael Petersheim / Marine Corps

2 Marines Killed In Morocco Osprey Crash -- Marine Times

Two U.S. Marines were killed and two severely injured in the crash of an MV-22 Osprey during a training mission in southern Morocco, the Marine Corps confirmed Wednesday.

The Osprey reportedly crashed in a military training area southwest of Agadir, Morocco, after taking off from aboard the amphibious assault ship Iwo Jima, said Capt. Kevin Schultz, a Marine spokesman at the Pentagon in Washington.

Read more ....

More News On Today's Osprey Crash In Morocco

Marine Osprey Crashes During Exercise in Africa -- Military.com
V-22 Osprey Crash In Morocco Kills Two -- Aol Defense
Two U.S. soldiers die in helicopter crash in Morocco -- Reuters
2 Marines Killed, 2 Injured In Osprey Crash In Morocco -- NPR
2 US Marines killed, 2 injured in Morocco -- AP
Two US soldiers dead in Morocco crash -- BBC

How Can The Navy Stop Sexual Assaults?

How Can Navy Stop Sexual Assaults? First, Admit They Happen, Admiral Says. -- Christian Science Monitor

Two to three sexual assaults were reported daily in the Navy in 2010, and alcohol was a key factor in most cases, the admiral says, adding that the attacks erode trust and readiness in the force.

On the heels of a boozy pool party that led to the firing of a US Navy captain for skinny dipping with subordinates, top Navy officials say that they need to take a tougher look at the “command climate” that could contribute to sexual assaults, saying they erode trust and readiness throughout the force.

The key, says Adm. John Harvey, Jr., head of US Fleet Forces Command, is that commanders simply acknowledge that such events are not “a remote possibility but a likely possibility” and recognize those situations that can lead to their taking place.

Read more ....

My Comment: Many of today's officers started in the Navy when there were few if any women serving aboard ships. Times of changed .... and these officers must change with it.

U.S. Support For The Afghan War Hits A New Low

Fading Support For Afghanistan War -- Washington Post

Negative assessments of the war in Afghanistan reached a record high this month. Most Americans say the military should be doing more to monitor service members' mental health and limit deployment time in the wake of the recent shooting incident in which a U.S. soldier has been accused of killing Afghan civilians. Read related article.

My Comment: Only two-thirds? I expected this number to be in the mid 80%.

U.S. Congress Will Question Defense Officials Over Afghan Night-Raids Deal

'Tough Questions' Await Defense Officials Over Afghan Night-Raids Deal -- The Hill

Lawmakers plan to grill Pentagon officials behind closed doors over the Defense Department's (DOD) new deal with Afghanistan governing U.S. special operations in the country.

DOD plans to brief House and Senate defense staff over the next few weeks on the agreement, which hands oversight of controversial night raids to the Afghan government.

Read more ....

My Comment: With this being an election year .... and support for the Afghan war at an all time low .... I will not be surprised to see public hearings on this Afghan deal and other Afghan issues coming soon.

Spain's Debt Crisis Is Worst Than Greece's

Protesters shout slogans during a general strike in Madrid, Spain in March 2012 Photo: REUTERS

Spain Accused Of 'Draconian' Plans To Clamp Down On Protests -- The Telegraph

Spain has been accused of planning “draconian” new laws against street protests by curbing the use of social networking.

Jorge Fernandez Diaz, the Spanish interior minister announced in Congress on Wednesday that a reform of the penal code was planned to criminalize those involved in organising street protests that "seriously disturb the public peace".

Under the laws, a minimum jail term of two years could be imposed on those found guilty of instigating and carrying out violent acts of protest under a new package of measures unveiled on Wednesday.

Read more ....

My Comment: And the situation in Spain is heading towards even harder times.

Cofer Black Is Mitt Romney's Intelligence Advisor

Meet Mitt Romney’s Trusted Envoy to the Dark Side, Cofer Black -- Eli Black, The Daily Beast

Romney’s intel guy delivers briefings from former CIA agents and analysis from foreign spies. He comes with a lot of experience, and a bit of baggage.

Every president needs one: a trusted envoy to the murky world of the U.S. intelligence community who is also treated like a close political aide. For President Obama that person is John Brennan, a career CIA officer who is so powerful that many senior spies complain that Brennan is the de facto CIA chief. For President Reagan, the envoy was William Casey, who helped wage a secret war against Soviet proxies from his perch as CIA director at Langley, Va., after he managed his friend's presidential campaign in 1980. President George W. Bush often relied on Dick Cheney for counsel about the dark side, particularly after 9/11. If Mitt Romney wins the presidency, his trusted man inside the intel community will almost certainly be Cofer Black, a retired CIA officer best known for running the agency’s counterterrorism center on 9/11.

Read more ....

My Comment: Obama's supporters will probably point out Cofer Black's Blackwater links .... but beyond that .... there is not much that they can use against Romney on his choice of this intelligence adviser for input on national security issues.

A Victoria Cross Is Expected To Fetch £130,000 At Auction

Photo: Corporal Arthur Cross produly displays his Victoria Cross medal awarded to him for gallantry in the First World War

Victoria Cross Medal Given To WWI Corporal And Worn By Actor David Niven Expected To Fetch £130,000 -- Daily Mail

A Victoria Cross medal awarded to a hero soldier and later worn by the actor David Niven is expected to fetch up to £130,000 when it is sold at auction.

The VC medal, the highest award for gallantry, was given to Arthur Cross after a courageous assault on enemy forces in the First World War.

Incredibly, the same medal was then used by David Niven who needed a real one when starring in the film Carrington, VC.

Now the VC, together with his Military Medal and a welter of memorabilia, is to surface at auction for the first time. It is to be offered at Spink’s in London by his family on April 19, when it is expected to fetch £110,000 - £130,000.

Read more ....

My Comment: I guess the family needs the money .... but I suspect that the new owner will appreciate and respect it's incredible history.

Commentaries, Opinions, And Editorials -- April 11, 2012

With Syria Peace Plan In Disarray, What Next? -- Carol J. Williams, Los Angeles Times

To the surprise of hardly anyone, the peace plan for Syria brokered by U.N. special envoy Kofi Annan is collapsing in a hail of bullets and artillery. The question is whether anyone has the stomach for tougher action.

Despite low expectations that Annan's plan for averting all-out civil war would have much influence with Syrian President Bashar Assad, it was the only one on offer — a necessary first step, according to veteran diplomats and security experts.

Read more ....

Commentaries, Opinions, And Editorials

Arm the rebels to end strife in Syria -- Mustafa Alani, Gulf News

The Options in Syria: Bashar al-Assad said he'd stop shooting on April 10. He lied. So what now? -- Bruce Jones, Foreign Policy

To Stop the Killing, Deal With Assad -- Asli U. Bali and Aziz F. Rana, New York Times

Squandered leverage over Iran -- Michael Singh, Washington Post

Saudi Arabia: The Man Who Would Be King -- Simon Henderson, Foreign Policy

Bush Was Right -- Gary C. Gambill, Foreign Policy

The U.S. has little leverage to stop North Korea’s missile test -- Washington Post editorial

Why India needs an ICBM -- Radhakrishna Rao, DNA India

A tsunami-warning system makes waves -- Christian Science Monitor editorial

Spain’s 'lose-lose' struggle reignites euro crisis -- Ambrose Evans-Pritchard, The Telegraph

World News Briefs -- April 11, 2012

Tsunami Alert Partly Lifted After Aceh Quake -- BBC

A tsunami watch declared after two major earthquakes off the coast of Indonesia's Aceh province has now been partly lifted, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (PWTC) says.

A quake with a magnitude of 8.6 triggered the initial warning, which was renewed after another quake a few hours later measuring 8.3.

Alerts remain in place for Indonesia, India and the islands.

There have been no immediate reports of damage or casualties.

The region is regularly hit by earthquakes. The Indian Ocean tsunami of 2004 killed 170,000 people in Aceh alone and some 250,000 around the region.

Read more ....

MIDDLE EAST

Kofi Annan calls on Iran's help in Syria crisis.

Syria: refugees living in fear as the fighting moves closer.

Third day of Yemen fighting in south kills 31.

Kuwaiti sentenced to 7 years for offending Shiites on Twitter.

Israel warns Egypt about militants in the Sinai.

ASIA

Quake off Indonesia triggers tsunami alert. Powerful earthquakes trigger tsunami warnings in Indonesia, but watch eased for Indian Ocean.

North Korea says fuel being injected into rocket.

China, Philippines dispute raises tensions in South China Sea.

Chinese general: Philippines faces ‘last chance’.

China People’s Daily urges cadres to support Bo Xilai suspension. Bo Xilai's wife suspected over 'murder' of Briton.

China asks Russia to stay away from South China Sea.

China says it was 'correct decision' to arrest Bo Xilai's wife over Neil Heywood's murder.

Foreigners eye Indonesia's 'vast' business potential.

AFRICA

Sudan halts S.Sudan talks after fresh border fighting. Sudan declares general mobilization.

New north Mali Arab force seeks to "defend" Timbuktu.

Iranian sailors take pirate ‘king’ captive: Report.

Zimbabwe regime dismisses Mugabe deathbed reports.

EUROPE

European stock markets rocked by panic selling as debt crisis reignites.

Putin rejects constitutional limits on right to fourth term.

Putin calls NATO 'relic of the Cold War'.

Greek PM Lucas Papademos set to announce election.

Bellwether French town disenchanted with Sarkozy.

AMERICAS

Korean Air says jet diverted in Canada after threat.

Latin American countries pursue alternatives to U.S. drug war.

Mexico's Pena Nieto plans new police to fight drug gangs.

San Pedro Sula's violence mirrors Honduras' pain.

Trapped Peruvian miners rescued.

TERRORISM/THE LONG WAR

Court date set for accused 9/11 plotters. Next step in 9/11 terrorism trial set for May 5.

CIA and FBI win blackout on rendition claims.

Guantánamo judge to rule on allowing al-Qaeda suspect to testify about CIA torture.

Clinton says those watching Bin Laden death 'couldn't breathe for 35 minutes'.

ECONOMY/FINANCE/BUSINESS

BMW sees record sales thanks to China demand.

Lucas empire strikes back in Calif. studio battle.

World Bank candidate Ocampo calls for shake up.

Heavy Fighting Reported Between Sudan And South Sudan Forces

Sudan Vows To Retake Heglig Oil Fields From South Sudan -- BBC

Sudan has vowed to use "all legitimate means" to repulse South Sudan from its largest oil field, a statement on the official Suna news agency says.

South Sudanese troops seized control of Heglig on Tuesday, as heavy fighting raged for a second day.

Both sides blame each other for the latest conflicts along the undemarcated and disputed oil-rich border area.

Fierce clashes over the past two weeks have fuelled fears of a return to outright war.

Oil-rich Heglig is usually recognised as being part of the north, although South Sudan disputes this.

Read more ....

More News On The Conflict Between Sudan - South Sudan

South Sudan troops move into disputed oil town -- AP
South Sudan captures Sudan oil town -- UPI
Fighting Breaks Out Between Sudans -- Wall Street Journal
Sudan says South Sudan controls largest oil field -- BBC
Sudan says battles raging on border with S. Sudan -- CBS
Sudan cuts off talks with South Sudan after new fighting -- Euronews/Reuters
Sudan Official: No Talks With South Sudan -- Voice of America
African Union tells S. Sudan to withdraw from Heglig oilfield -- Reuters
African Union urges South Sudan withdrawal -- BBC
Sudan says border fighting will affect oil production -- Reuters
Sudan, South Sudan mobilise as border violence intensifies -- France24
Sudan, South Sudan war fears loom -- News24
Sudan, S. Sudan march toward war -- UPI

Yemen's War Against Al Qaeda Militants Intensifies In The South Of The Country

Yemen Air Force, Troops Kill 62 Militants -- Chicago Tribune/Reuters

* Official says Lawdar fight a turning point against
militants
* Defence Ministry says militant checkpoints destroyed
* Ministry says Saudi, Pakistani and Somalis among dead

ADEN, April 11 (Reuters) - Yemen's air force and ground
troops killed at least 62 suspected al Qaeda-linked fighters on
Wednesday, officials and tribal sources said, in the
government's latest drive to contain an increasingly fierce
Islamist insurgency.

Militant group Ansar al-Sharia said however only two of its
fighters had been killed in Wednesday's clashes.

Read more ....

More News On Yemen's War Against Al Qaeda Militants

Yemen unrest: Militants killed near Lawdar -- BBC
Fighting in Yemen Kills 31 -- Wall Street Journal
Yemeni Army Kills 10 Al-Qaeda Suspects in Fighting in Abyan -- Bloomberg Businessweek
Islamists fight army in central, south Yemen, 21 killed -- Reuters
Third day of fighting in Yemen's south kills 31 -- Houston Chronicle/AP
At least 32 killed as Yemen battles Qaeda for key town -- AFP

My Comment: Casualty totals are only coming from the government .... which probably explains the wide variation in casualty numbers. But there is no question on one thing .... there is a lot of fighting in the region.

World News Briefs -- April 11, 2012 (Evening Edition)

Huge Quakes Off Indonesia Stir Panic, But No Big Tsunami -- Reuters

BANDA ACEH, Indonesia (Reuters) - A powerful 8.6 magnitude earthquake and a series of strong aftershocks struck off Indonesia on Wednesday, sending people scurrying from buildings as far away as southern India, but there seemed little risk of a disastrous tsunami as in 2004.

Indonesia said it was checking for damage and casualties but remarkably, no such reports had been received for several hours after the quakes, including in Aceh, the closest province and the area decimated by the disaster eight years ago.

Read more ....

MIDDLE EAST

Syria regime promises Thursday ceasefire. Syria says it will stop fighting by UN deadline. EXCLUSIVE: Syrian opposition group says Annan plan 'doomed,' offers alternative.

Kofi Annan calls on Iran's help in Syria crisis.

Syria: refugees living in fear as the fighting moves closer.

Iran to offer new proposals at nuclear talks.

Netanyahu to offer Abbas return to direct Mideast peace talks, sources say.

Third day of Yemen fighting in south kills 31.

Kuwaiti sentenced to 7 years for offending Shiites on Twitter.

Israel warns Egypt about militants in the Sinai.

ASIA

South Korea's conservatives headed for a surprise parliamentary win.

Panic but no tsunami from strong Indonesia quakes. Quake off Indonesia triggers tsunami alert. Powerful earthquakes trigger tsunami warnings in Indonesia, but watch eased for Indian Ocean.

North Korea says fuel being injected into rocket.

Philippines, China locked in maritime standoff. China, Philippines dispute raises tensions in South China Sea.

Chinese general: Philippines faces ‘last chance’.

China asks Russia to stay away from South China Sea.

China People’s Daily urges cadres to support Bo Xilai suspension. Bo Xilai's wife suspected over 'murder' of Briton.

Demise of Chinese 'rock star' is a surprise to no one. China web censors fight flood of Bo commentary. China says it was 'correct decision' to arrest Bo Xilai's wife over Neil Heywood's murder.

Foreigners eye Indonesia's 'vast' business potential.

AFRICA

Row over Egypt's new constitution reflects wider tensions.

Sudan mobilises army over seizure of oilfield by South Sudan.

Sudan halts S.Sudan talks after fresh border fighting. Sudan declares general mobilization.

New north Mali Arab force seeks to "defend" Timbuktu.

Iranian sailors take pirate ‘king’ captive: Report.

Zimbabwe regime dismisses Mugabe deathbed reports.

EUROPE

French centrist Bayrou possible PM under Sarkozy: Juppe.

European stock markets rocked by panic selling as debt crisis reignites.

Putin: Russia must support NATO Afghan mission.

Russia's Putin calls for two-term limit on presidency for those who follow him. Putin rejects constitutional limits on right to fourth term.

Putin calls NATO 'relic of the Cold War'.

Greek PM Lucas Papademos set to announce election.

Bellwether French town disenchanted with Sarkozy.

AMERICAS

Korean Air says jet diverted in Canada after threat.

Latin American countries pursue alternatives to U.S. drug war.

Mexico's Pena Nieto plans new police to fight drug gangs.

San Pedro Sula's violence mirrors Honduras' pain.

Peruvian miners tell of anguish, hope inside mine. Trapped Peruvian miners rescued.

TERRORISM/THE LONG WAR

Foreign fighters among those killed in clashes in Yemeni south.

Court date set for accused 9/11 plotters. Next step in 9/11 terrorism trial set for May 5.

CIA and FBI win blackout on rendition claims.

Guantánamo judge to rule on allowing al-Qaeda suspect to testify about CIA torture.

Clinton says those watching Bin Laden death 'couldn't breathe for 35 minutes'.

ECONOMY/FINANCE/BUSINESS

Sony revises expected loss to $6.4 billion.

US sues Apple and publishers over e-book prices.

BMW sees record sales thanks to China demand.

Lucas empire strikes back in Calif. studio battle.

World Bank candidate Ocampo calls for shake up.