Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Fears Of War Escalate In South Sudan


South Sudan Braces For Trouble -- Al Jazeera

In the religiously mixed border towns residents fear they will be on the frontline of any post-referendum violence.

The scene after dark in this lively market in the northernmost tip of southern Sudan is more reminiscent of the Middle East than of East Africa, but both regions are represented here. Northern Sudanese men in jalabiyas and skullcaps smoke shisha alongside lanky, dark-skinned southerners. Ethiopians serve roast chicken in an outdoor restaurant next to a tea shop run by Darfuris.

This unique merger of cultures in the southern town of Renk is symbolic of Sudan's immense diversity, and the thriving town benefits from its ties to both the north and the south.

Read more ....



More News On South Sudan

Delay in Ballot Printing for Sudan January Referendum
-- Voice of America
Voter registration extended for January independence vote -- France 24
EU and Africa urge peaceful Sudan referendum -- Reuters
Sudan Conflict Looks to Be Heating Up Ahead of Crucial Vote -- All Voices
ICRC bracing for Sudanese referendum -- UPI
South Sudanese flee border area fearing air raids -- Reuters
S Sudanese 'flee border area' -- Al Jazeera

Interpol Issues Arrest Warrant For The Arrest Of Wikileaks Founder



Interpol Issues "Red Notice" For WikiLeaks Founder -- Radio Free Europe

The international police agency, Interpol, has issue a "red notice" for nations to be on the lookout for Julian Assange, the founder of the whistle-blowing website, WikiLeaks.

Assange is wanted in Sweden on suspicion of sexual crimes.

Assange, whose whereabouts are unknown, denies the charges.

Read more ....

More News On Interpol Looking For Wikileaks Founder Julian Assange

Interpol warrant for WikiLeaks chief as chaos spreads -- Yahoo News/AFP
Interpol posts wanted notice for WikiLeaks founder -- Reuters
Interpol puts Assange on most-wanted list -- CNN
Interpol issues 'Red Notice' for Wikileaks' Assange -- BBC
Assange put on most wanted list -- Press Association
Interpol adds WikiLeaks' Julian Assange to 'Most Wanted' list as new arrest warrant issued for him -- New York Daily News
WikiLeaks: Interpol issues wanted notice for Julian Assange -- The Guardian
Interpol Issues ‘Red Notice’ for Arrest of WikiLeaks’ Julian Assange -- Threat Level
Interpol Puts Out Wanted Notice for Wikileaks' Assange -- PC Magazine
"Don't hunt down my son," says mother of WikiLeaks founder -- Yahoo News/Reuters
Who Is WikiLeaks' Founder Julian Assange? -- CBS News

Hollywood Archery Remix (Video)



Hat Tip: Theo Spark

Restrepo Is A Documentary That You Should See



'Restrepo' Goes Into Afghanistan Trenches -- New York Post

Forget every movie you've ever seen wherein pampered Hollywood actors smudge their faces with dirt, rub on some fake blood and pretend they are soldiers fighting for their country and their lives on a remote and barren outpost.

"Restrepo," a documentary film that follows a 15-month deployment of the 173rd Airborne Brigade in Afghanistan -- which is now the longest war in American history -- is the real thing.

Read more ....

More News On Restrepo

RESTREPO Review (National Geographic) -- Daemon's TV
Junger tells story of U.S. combat troops -- Poughkeepsie
‘Restrepo' views the war through soldiers' eyes -- NewsOK
'Restrepo' Shows Afghan Combat From Soldier's View -- ABC News
"Restrepo" Subject Receives Medal of Honor -- IFC

My Comment: I have been preoccupied with other stories, but I finally got a chance to see Restrepo tonight. In short .... it is a must see documentary. If you have the chance to see it .... see it .... you will not be disappointed.

Will Robot Soldiers Make Better Decisions On A Battle Field?


Swarms of Robot Soldiers Could Make Better Decisions Than Human Leaders on Data-Strewn Battlefields -- Popular Science

Modern warfare relies increasingly on robotics for intelligence gathering and increasingly for strike capabilities, but the decision-making capacity still rests solely in the hands of human commanders. But British defense company BAE systems is testing a way to turn over battlefield decisions over to robot troops as well.

Read more ....

My Comment: The programming for such hypothetical war robots will still be based on human judgment and guidelines. Still .... with the emotional component left out .... such soldiers will probably make better decision than human leaders, especially since they will be able to digest information and data much quicker than their human counterparts.

IED Attacks In Afghanistan (Video). Warning: Explicit Images



Hat Tip: Rantburg

My Comment: I was originally inclined not to post this Al Qaeda/Taliban propaganda video. The images of our soldiers being attacked is painful to watch .... at least for me. But .... we do need to know who our enemy is and what they are doing, and more importantly .... on how dangerous they are.

The Wikileaks Intelligence Disaster Will Probably Undo Post-9/11 Intelligence Reforms

Newspaper fronts reporting on the documents released by the whistle-blowing website WikiLeaks are seen in New York, on Nov. 29. Shannon Stapleton/Reuters

How WikiLeaks Could Undo Post-9/11 Intelligence Reforms -- Christian Science Monitor

A former US diplomat who helped push for the intelligence-sharing reforms aimed at preventing another 9/11 says the WikiLeaks fiasco could prompt a reversal.

Governments are already using the WikiLeaks release of a trove of US diplomatic traffic to bolster their own international agendas, from Israel's push for military action against Iran, to Iran's effort to paint US engagement as insincere.

But the WikiLeaks intelligence fiasco could have far-reaching implications for US diplomacy, well after the initial shock waves subside. By sending a message to America's counterparts and confidential informants around the world that the US can't keep conversations private, the controversy could severely compromise the quality of information US policymakers receive, and America's own ability to coordinate its diplomatic and antiterror efforts.

Read more ....

My Comment: Unfortunately, undoing post-9/11 intelligence reforms will probably be the end result from the Wikileaks intelligence disaster. Intelligence information will now be compartmentalized, with only those with a need to know being the only ones who will have access to intelligence data. As for the State Department .... this disaster will take years to recover, and unfortunately for Sec. of State Clinton she will be remembered (unjustly) as the person who had this happen on her watch.

The Hunt For Al Qaeda's Number Two Leader Continues

Ayman al-Zawahiri

US Targeted Zawahiri During Past Raids In Pakistan -- Threat Matrix

The Associated Press reports on three US attempts to kill or capture Ayman al Zawahiri, al Qaeda's second-in-command. All three near-misses took place in northwestern Pakistan: the first in the city of Peshawar in 2003, the second in the tribal agencies of South Waziristan in 2004, and the third in Bajaur in 2006. Note that there hasn't been a report of a near-miss since January 2006. Here are the details from the AP report on the raids:

Read more
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More News On the Hunt For Ayman al Zawahiri

AP Exclusive: Close calls for al-Qaida's No. 2 -- AP
Close Calls for Al Qaeda's No. 2 -- ABC News/AP
U.S. came close to al Qaeda's number 2 -- CNN
AP Exclusive: Close calls for al-Qaida's No. 2 -- Jawa Report

My Comment: One day he will be in someone's cross-hairs .... and that will be the end of him.

What Does Wikileaks Expose In The Global Arms Trade

AH 64 Apache gunships conduct a live Hellfire missile range. Photo US Army

WikiLeaks: The Must-Have Weapons And The Countries That Want Them -- CNN

Washington (CNN) -- The world's military shopping list is being exposed through the WikiLeaks publications. State-of-the-art missiles and American military helicopters are a frequent topic of discussion in the diplomatic cables posted online Sunday by WikiLeaks.

The documents show a keen interest in what weaponry Iran has and how to defend against it.

One cable found that the United States' planned missile defense system gives the public in Europe "a false sense of security."

Read more ....

My Comment: Wikileaks has released an an enormous amount of information on what weapon systems governments are looking for (at least this is what the diplomats have been told). Not surprisingly, the hottest product that governments and their arm forces want right now are drones, with Russia even pressuring Israel to get some of their drone fleet. Expect more revelations to come forward as more time is given for reporters (and bloggers like myself) to read the details within many of these cables.

Wikileaks: US Special Forces Are Working In Pakistan

WikiLeaks Cables: US Special Forces Working Inside Pakistan -- The Guardian

US embassy cables reveal elite American troops secretly embedded with Pakistan military to hunt down militants.

Small teams of US special forces soldiers have been secretly embedded with Pakistani military forces in the tribal belt, helping to hunt down Taliban and al-Qaida fighters and co-ordinate drone strikes, the embassy cables reveal.

The numbers involved are small – just 16 soldiers in October 2009 – but the deployment is of immense political significance, described in a cable that provides an unprecedented glimpse into covert American operations in the world's most violent al-Qaida hotbed.

Read more ....

My Comment: So much for U.S. denials that their ground forces are in Pakistan. This is also explosive for the Pakistani government, in that they have always denied the presence of these forces.

Is Afghan President Hamid Karzai Releasing Taliban Commanders For Personal Gain?

Canadian soldiers guard suspected Taliban prisoners in Northern Kandahar, May 10, 2006. The suspects were subsequently handed over to the Afghan National Police. Photograph by: John D. McHugh/AFP/Getty Images

EXCLUSIVE - Afghan Officials Free Top Taliban Fighters -- Vancouver Sun/Reuters

KABUL (Reuters) – Afghan security forces are freeing captured senior Taliban for payment or political motives, with President Hamid Karzai and his powerful brother among those authorizing and requesting releases.

The practice is so systemic that the Taliban have a committee focused on getting their fighters out of jail. It undermines the deterrent effect of arrest and the potential of the prisoner population as a card to play in peace talks, analysts say.

Read more ....

My Comment: The U.S. cables that Wikileaks released this week clearly reveals U.S. Government concerns on the corruption within the Afghan Government. Kudos to Reuters for taking this information and doing the investigative work to examine how this corruption works.

Commentaries, Opinions, And Editorials -- November 30, 2010


Has WikiLeaks Finally Gone Too Far? -- Blake Hounshell, Foreign Policy

Roy Greenslade, a journalism professor and commentator for the Guardian, castigates British editors for their critical coverage of WikiLeaks, the self-proclaimed whistleblower site that is about to release some 250,000 U.S. diplomatic cables into the wild:

Aren't we in the job of ferreting out secrets so that our readers - the voters - can know what their elected governments are doing in their name? Isn't it therefore better that we can, at last, get at them?

Read more ....

Commentaries, Opinions, And Editorials

Where in the World Is Julian Assange? -- Deborah Hastings, Aol News
WikiLeaks: Do they have a right to privacy? -- Malcolm Rifkind, The Telegraph
Attack by WikiLeaks: Assange is an enemy of the U.S., but the U.S. keeps too many secrets. -- Wall Street Journal editorial
WikiLeaks and the Diplomats -- New York Times editoral
Digital security problem is bigger than Assange and PFC Manning -- Robert Haddick, Small Wars Journal

Beijing's Pyongyang fatigue -- Charles Homans, Foreign Policy
Analyst View N.Korea's diplomatic gesture and "rational policy" -- Reuters
S. Korea's Fine Line: Talk Tough, Keep Finger Off Trigger -- Time Magazine
Consequences on the Korean Peninsula -- Rep. Ed Royce, The Washington Times
Hitting the North -- Sung-Yoon Lee, L.A. Times

Taliban Imposter: The U.S. Doesn't Know Its Enemy -- Robert Baer, Time Magazine

Is the Mossad Targeting Iran's Nuclear Scientists? -- Time Magazine

Spooking the Terrorists—and Ourselves -- Christopher Dickey, Newsweek

A Little Perspective on Stuxnet -- J. E. Dyer, Commentary Magazine

Tough Times for a Superpower -- Eugene Robinson, Real Clear Politics

World News Briefs -- November 30. 2010 (Evening Edition)



Interpol Issues ‘Red Notice’ For Arrest Of WikiLeaks’ Julian Assange -- Threat Level

The international police organization Interpol has issued a Red Notice for the arrest of WikiLeaks’ founder Julian Assange, in connection with a sex crime investigation in Sweden.

A Red Notice is kind of international wanted poster seeking the provisional arrest of a fugitive, with an eye towards extradition to the nation that issued the underlying arrest warrant. Interpol transmits the notices to its 188 member countries, though it has no authority to compel a subject’s arrest. Interpol issued 5,020 such notices last year for a variety of crimes.

Read more ....

MIDDLE EAST

Iraq foils plot to bomb French embassy in Baghdad.

Egyptian election results a shutout for Islamists.

Iran nuclear talks back on, in Geneva next week.

Iran blames Israel, US in death of nuclear scientist.

Baghdad needs $100 billion for new homes: mayor.

Israel's eased blockade 'still crippling' Gaza.

Hezbollah hoping Syria, Saudi can defuse Lebanon tensions.

WikiLeaks disclosures undermine Egypt's role as neutral Mideast mediator.

ASIA

US: China 'obligated' to press North Korea to end 'belligerence'.

US deploys carrier strike group, US Air Force to western Pacific. U.S. and South Korea balk at talks With North. Yeonpyeong attack uniting South Korean public around harsher policy toward North.

Now North Korea boasts advances in nuclear program.

Kyrgyzstan parliament agrees coalition government.

Suspected bomb explodes in Kyrgyzstan before Clinton visit.

Taiwan elections put pro-China party in lead for Presidency.

Bangladesh protesters and police clash in mass strike.

AFRICA

Nigeria summons Shell, Halliburton over graft cases.

Kenya calls US 'swamp of graft' cable 'malicious'.

Gadhafi lashes out at organizations at AU summit.

Congo army behind instability, smuggling: U.N.. DR Congo army denies UN report that rebels regrouping. UN says Congo armed groups forming criminal gangs.

US 'dismayed' by Egypt poll problems.

I.Coast fears fresh violence amid vote results.

EUROPE

Sweden braces for record freeze. Heavy snowfall closes roads in Spain, Portugal.

Medvedev warns West of new arms race.

Pro-West parties lead in Moldova, but impasse is likely to continue.

Four European states host US nuclear bombs, WikiLeaks reveals.

Russian president warns missile talks failure will provoke new arms race.

Euro zone periphery hammered as default fears rise.

British students protest again against fee hikes.

WikiLeaks: Duke of York's 'candid' attack on British Government.

Retired electrician astonishes art world by producing 271 works by Picasso never seen before.

AMERICAS

Troops to occupy Brazilian slum through October.

Pentagon study: Gays could serve with no harm.

US escapes major hurricanes for 5th straight year.

Monitors say Haiti vote fraud not massive.

20 bodies found in northern Mexico mass grave.

TERRORISM/THE LONG WAR

Al Qaeda's sarcastic new American mouthpiece.

All US-bound airlines to get info for watch lists

Defense, friends say Ore. bomb plot suspect set up. Mohamed Mohamud, Portland bomber suspect: Young radical?

Al-Qaeda's Yemen affiliate widens search for recruits and targets.

Pakistan drone victim to sue US for $500m.

ECONOMY/FINANCE/BUSINESS

BofA may be next WikiLeaks target.

GM rolls out long-anticipated Chevrolet Volt plug-in hybrid.

Signs of a double dip? U.S. home prices fall 2%.

European interest rates soar; could it happen to us one day?

EU probes allegations of Google antitrust violations.

The disastrous consequences of a return to the Deutsche Mark.

Wikileaks On Turkey -- News Roundup November 30, 2010

Leaked Cables Point To Vital, Volatile U.S. Relationship With Turkey -- CNN

(CNN) -- Dozens of diplomatic cables released by the website WikiLeaks reveal a complex and often difficult relationship between the United States and Turkey in recent years, with persistent anxieties among U.S. officials that long-time Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan is prodding the country in a more Islamist direction.

The cables were published as U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton met Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu in Washington on Monday. They describe the two countries' relationship as one of the most important in the world.

Read more ....

More News On Wikileaks And Turkey

WikiLeak Documents Question Turkey's Relationship with US -- Voice of America
US cables claim Turkish PM ErdoÄŸan has eight Swiss bank accounts -- Hurriyet News
Diplomatic Cables Reveal US Doubts about Turkey's Government -- Spiegel Online
'Souring' Israel-Turkey relationship seen in WikiLeaks trove -- L.A. Times
Turkish PM 'hates' Israel: US cables -- AFP
Turkish PM on WikiLeaks' documents -- World Bulletin
Turkish FM: We don't hate Israel -- Ynet News
Turkish foreign minister pokes fun at leak -- Sydney Morning Herald/AFP
Israelis allege Turkey allowed arms into Iran -- Hurriyet News
'Some fire' behind Ergenekon smoke, US official says -- Hurriyet News
WikiLeaks: ex-US envoy believes Turkish military has coup plans -- World Bulletin
Clinton discusses leaked documents with Turkish FM -- AFP
Turkey says leaked reports not to change foreign policy -- World Bulletin
WikiLeaks: ‘Political Firestorm’ if Genocide Recognized -- Armenian Weekly
Turkish experts not surprised by WikiLeaks revelations -- Today's Zaman
The long twilight of the U.S.-Turkey alliance -- David Kenner, Foreign Policy
WikiLeaks becomes a WikiFlood in Turkey -- Hurriyet Daily News
WikiLeaks cables expected to hurt US-Turkey relations -- Iason Athanasiadis, Global Post

A Palestinian State By August?

The acting Palestinian Authority (PA) Chief, Mahmoud Abbas. Press TV

PM Says Palestinians Ready For Statehood By August --Washington Post

BANI HASSAN, West Bank -- Palestinians will be ready for statehood by August, as promised in a two-year action plan, Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad said in an interview Tuesday, dismissing a host of steep obstacles to independence.

The former World Bank economist visited rural West Bank road destroyed by Israel to demonstrate his belief that independence is inevitable as long as Palestinians don't lose faith.

Read more ....

More News On The Israeli - Palestinian Conflict

Palestinians have other options if talks fail: Abbas -- AFP
Abbas to UN: Settlement construction is a 'time bomb' -- Jerusalem Post
Palestinians Protest East Jerusalem Home Teardown -- Voice of America
Palestinians Stone Police After East Jerusalem Home Demolished -- Bloomberg
Protests after Israel demolishes E.Jerusalem home -- AFP
Israel accused over 'cruel' Gaza blockade -- The Guardian
Aid groups: Plight of Gaza civilians still dire -- Washington Post
Int'l groups say Israel not living up to Gaza promises -- Jerusalem Post
Israel's eased blockade 'still crippling' Gaza -- BBC
Blair: Israel must do more to ease Gaza blockade -- AP

Wikileaks And Pakistan's Nuclear Program -- News Roundup November 30, 2010

A long-range, nuclear-capable ballistic missile at a parade in Islamabad. WikiLeaks cables show diplomats are concerned about the buildup of Pakistan's nuclear stockpile. Photograph: Aziz Haidari/Reuters

WikiLeaks Cables Expose Pakistan Nuclear Fears -- The Guardian

US and UK diplomats warn of terrorists getting hold of fissile material and of Pakistan-India nuclear exchange

American and British diplomats fear Pakistan's nuclear weapons programme could lead to fissile material falling into the hands of terrorists or a devastating nuclear exchange with India.

The latest cache of US embassy cables released by WikiLeaks contains warnings that Pakistan is rapidly building its nuclear stockpile despite the country's growing instability and "pending economic catastrophe".

Read more ....

More News On Wikileaks And Pakistan's Nuclear Program

Leaks expose US and UK fears over Pakistan nuclear arms -- BBC
US standoff with Pakistan over nuclear fuel: leaks -- AFP
Pakistan Blocks U.S. Access to Nuclear Fuel -- Global Security Newswire
Pakistan confirms Wikileaks claim of US nuclear appeals -- BBC
Pakistan defends nuclear stance revealed by WikiLeaks -- Reuters
Pakistan defends nuclear policy after US leaks -- AFP
Pakistan criticizes release of secret US cables -- AP
Pakistan Condemns WikiLeaks Disclosure of US Diplomatic Communications -- Voice of America
Pakistan criticizes release of secret US cables -- Washington Post
Pakistanis dismiss criticisms of nuclear security released by WikiLeaks -- Globe And Mail
WikiLeaks Fuels Anti-U.S. Sentiment in Pakistan -- Time Magazine
Wikileaks report stokes anti-US hardliners in Pakistan -- Christian Science Monitor

Russian President Medvedev Warns Of A New Arms Race



Russian President Medvedev Sees New Arms Race If Cooperation Fails -- Washington Post

MOSCOW - In a state-of-the-nation speech Tuesday that dwelled on overcoming the persistent weaknesses sapping Russia, President Dmitry Medvedev suggested that failure to reach agreement on missile defense cooperation could set off a new arms race in the decade ahead.

Those dark remarks appeared aimed as much at his own generals as at the West. Medvedev has indicated that he wants to bend the nation's resources toward diversifying the economy rather than restoring the military-industrial complex of old, and the Kremlin has come to see arms control as in its own interests.

Read more ....

More News On The Possibility Of A New Arms Race If Missile Defense Cooperation Fails

Medvedev Warns of New Arms Race -- New York Times
Dmitry Medvedev warns of Cold War-style arms race -- The Telegraph
Medvedev: Russia, NATO must reach missile deal -- Yahoo News/AP
Medvedev warns West of new arms race -- AFP
Russian president warns missile talks failure will provoke new arms race -- The Guardian
Failure of Antimissile Talks Would Spark "Arms Race," Medvedev Warns -- Global Security Newswire
Medvedev Warns Of Arms Race If No Missile Shield -- RTT News
Russia ready to cooperate on countering missile threats -- Xinhuanet
Russia's Medvedev warns of new arms race (Roundup) -- M&C
Russia, West have 10 years for full accord on missile defense - Medvedev (Update 1) -- RIA Novosti

The Failure And Corruption Of The DR Congo Military


Congo Army Behind Instability, Smuggling - U.N. -- Reuters

KINSHASA (Reuters) - Extensive criminal networks within Congo's army are deliberately fostering insecurity to profit from illegal mining, smuggling and poaching, a report from United Nations experts said on Monday.

Insecurity in Congo's east has continued despite the end of a 1998-2003 war, displacing more than 1.27 million people and spurred on by competition for natural resources that has had a "devastating impact on security," according to the report.

Read more
....

More News On The Corruption Of Congo's Military

DR Congo gang offered uranium: UN report -- AFP
DR Congo's resources being traded by military -- BBC
Democratic Republic of Congo: Army Is Accused of Exploiting Mineral Wealth -- New York Tines/AP
Soldiers in Congo forming gangs to exploit minerals, says UN -- The Guardian
UN Says Congo Armed Groups Forming Criminal Gangs -- Angola Press
Congo's Army Is Pillaging Country's Natural Resources, United Nations Says -- Bloomberg
UN Security Council Extends Congo Sanctions -- Wall Street Journal
DR Congo army denies UN report that rebels regrouping -- BBC

Who Is Killing Iran's Nuclear Scientists?

Two car bomb blasts killed one Iranian nuclear scientist and wounded another in Tehran , al Alam TV reported [Reuters]

Who Is Killing Iran's Nuclear Scientists? -- The Guardian

One senior physicist killed and another wounded in coordinated attacks in Tehran, raising the question of whether there is a nuclear hit-team at work

Assassins on motorbikes have killed an Iranian nuclear scientist and wounded another in identical attacks this morning. They drove up to the scientists' cars as they were leaving for work and attached a bomb to each vehicle which detonated seconds later.

The man who was killed was Majid Shahriari, a member of the engineering faculty at the Shahid Beheshti in Tehran. His wife was wounded. The second attack wounded Fereidoun Abbasi, who is also a professor at Shahid Besheshti University, and his wife.

Read more ....

More News On Iranian Nuclear Scientists Being Assassinated

Iranian scientists targeted in car bombings -- Washington Post
Iranian nuclear scientist killed in motorbike attack -- BBC
Iran nuclear scientists targeted in Tehran blasts -- Christian Science Monitor
Iranian nuclear scientist assassinated -- Nature
In Iran, anger over strikes on scientists -- CNN
Student rally condemns Iran bombings -- Press TV
Iran: West behind scientist's death -- Al Jazeera
West behind latest attacks, Iran says -- UPI
Iran Blames U.S. For Nuclear Scientist's Death -- NPR (Audio)
UK complicity in Iran terrors 'undeniable' -- Press TV
Iran blames Israel after nuclear scientist killed -- THOnline/AP
Iran 'behind scientist killings': analysts -- The Australian opinion
The mysterious attacks on Iran's nuclear scientists -- The Week
Whether or not Israel took out Iran nuclear scientist, Tehran will get the bomb -- Haaretz

China Has Blocked Access To Wikileaks -- News Roundup On China And Wikileaks November 30, 2010

The Chinese government is losing patience with North Korea Photo: GETTY

WikiLeaks Row: China Wants Korean Reunification, Officials Confirm -- The Guardian

Chinese officials speak after Guardian US embassy cables reveal Beijing is leaning towards acceptance of reunification under Seoul's control

China supports the "independent and peaceful reunification of the Korean peninsula" and cannot afford to give the North Korean regime the impression it has a blank cheque to act any way it wants, Chinese officials based in Europe said today.

The officials, who asked not to be identified, spoke after the Guardian revealed that senior figures in Beijing, exasperated with North Korea behaving like a "spoiled child", had told their South Korean counterparts that China was leaning towards acceptance of reunification under Seoul's control.

Read more ....

More News On What Wikileaks Exposes On China

China Blocks Access to WikiLeaks -- PC World
China censors itself in WikiLeaks -- Financial Times
China Trying to Plug Wikileak? -- Wall Street Journal
China blocks WikiLeaks -- Tech Eye
WikiLeaks: Great firewall of China blocks access to latest revelations -- Tech Digest

Wikileaks release 'shows China thinking on Korea' -- BBC
China frustrated with North Korea: WikiLeaks -- CBC
WikiLeaks: China Is Frustrated With North Korea -- NPR (Audio)
China preparing for collapse of N. Korea regime, cables say -- Sydney Morning Herald
China would allow a united Korea, claims WikiLeaks -- Scotsman
WikiLeaks: China 'would back one Korea run by South' -- The Telegraph
Wikileaks cables reveal China 'ready to abandon North Korea' -- The Guardian
At-loss China accepts unified Korea: WikiLeaks -- AFP
WikiLeaks: China doubtful of N Korea as ally -- Financial Times/Reuters
Analysis: WikiLeaks reveals China, N. Korea tensions -- CNN
Daily View: Wikileaks on China's attitude to North Korea -- BBC

China pressed over Iran and North Korea's nuclear trade -- The Guardian
U.S. tackled China over North Korea nuclear trade: media -- Reuters
Secret documents show Chinese role on Iran -- CNN

WikiLeaks: China Behind Google Hack
-- CBS News
Wikileaks: Chinese Govt Helped Coordinate Google Attack -- PC Magazine
Wikileaks in China: was the Politburo behind Google attacks? -- Financial Times
WikiLeaks: Chinese contact claimed Beijing hacked Google as part of coordinated computer sabotage campaign -- The Daily Mail
Wikileaks: China's Politburo directed Google hack -- ZDNet
Leaked U.S. document links China to Google attack -- Computer World

China urges US action over WikiLeaks revelations -- AFP
China urges U.S. to resolve issues on leaked U.S. cables -- Reuters
China Hopes WikiLeaks Will Not Harm Relations With US -- Voice of America

ANALYSIS: North Korea standoff, WikiLeaks test China's diplomacy -- M&C
Why China hasn't abandoned North Korea – and why Wikileaks is a work of flawed genius -- Richard Spencer, The Telegraph
WikiLeaks files may put ideas in heads of Chinese hackers: analysis -- The Telegraph
China, As Rendered by WikiLeaks -- New Yorker

Wikileaks And Afghanistan -- News Roundup November 30, 2010


WikiLeaks Fallout Reveals More Cracks In Afghan War Strategy -- Christian Science Monitor

The continued political survival of US Ambassador to Afghanistan Karl Eikenberry suggests the doubts he expressed about the war strategy have deepened in American government circles.

The latest WikiLeaks revelations once again put the US ambassador to Afghanistan on record as a blunt critic of President Hamid Karzai’s government, highlighting the war’s corrupt and complicated dynamics.

Ambassador Karl Eikenberry's name sits as a signature at the end of an October 2009 cable marked “confidential” that concluded, “one of our major challenges in Afghanistan [is] how to fight corruption and connect the people to their government, when the key government officials are themselves corrupt.”

Read more ....
What Wikileaks Exposes On Afghanistan

WikiLeaks: bereaved families' fury at US 'insult' over Afghanistan -- The Telegraph
Afghanistan reacts mildly to scathing criticisms revealed by WikiLeaks -- L.A. Times
WikiLeaks: Karzai pardoned drug dealers -- AP
Karzai 'freed connected suspects' -- Press Association
Karzai's brother 'corrupt drugs baron' US says: WikiLeaks -- AFP
Karzai's brother corrupt drugs baron, WikiLeaks cables say -- RFI
WikiLeaks: Karzai's brother denies drug dealing, remembers Chicago -- CNN
WikiLeaks: Ahmed Wali Karzai wanted polygraph -- Washington Post
Karzai pardons criminals: WikiLeaks -- AFP
Kandahar kingpins at odds with Canada, U.S. over democracy: Wikileaks -- Winnipeg Free Press/Canadian Press
Pak captured Mulla Baradar to stop him from reconciling with Afghan govt: Wali Karzai -- Sify News
Karzai’s brother lobbied for role in Canada’s major aid project -- Globe And Mail
WikiLeaks' Afghan Revelations: Way Too Familiar -- Time Magazine
Kabul says US relations unaffected by diplomatic leaks -- AFP

U.S. Military Report On The Repeal of DADT To Be Released Today

FILE - In this Nov. 15, 2010, file photo Lt. Dan Choi, center, and others handcuff themselves to the White House fence in Washington to protest that President Obama keep his promise to repeal the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy for gays in the military. The Defense Department survey on the policy is due out Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2010, and is expected to set the stage for a showdown in the Senate between advocates of repealing it and a small but powerful group of foes in the final days of the lame-duck Congress. Pablo Martinez Monsivais, File

Pentagon's Review of 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' to Be Released -- ABC News

Review of 1993 Law Banning Open Military Service by Gays and Lesbians

The Pentagon's review of the "don't ask, don't tell" policy that has banned gays and lesbians from serving openly in the military will be released today.

Defense Secretary Gates convened the Comprehensive Review Working Group earlier this year to determine how the Defense Department might implement a repeal of the 1993 law.

Read more ....

More News On The Release Of The U.S. Military's Report On DADT

Pentagon study: Gays could serve with no harm -- Yahoo News/AP
Report on military gay ban could press Congress -- Yahoo News/AFP
Military's 'Don't ask' report to released -- UPI
'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' Pentagon study: Soldiers say gays in military would do no harm -- New York Daily News
Don't Ask, Don't Tell Pentagon study shows 70% think gays in military is harmless -- The Daily Mail
US military backs repeal of gay 'don't ask, don't tell' policy -- The Guardian
Gaga urges repeal of US ban on gays in military -- AFP
Source: Most service members surveyed don't care about DADT repeal -- CNN
What to expect in the 'don't ask, don't tell' Senate hearings -- CNN
McCain leads GOP skeptics of Pentagon 'Don't Ask' report -- MSNBC

Wikileaks Will Now Target Wall Street

WHO WILL IT BE? Big bank chiefs, shown here when they testified about the financial crisis before Congress, include Goldman Sachs' Lloyd Blankfein, JPMorgan Chase's Jamie Dimon, John Mack of Morgan Stanley and Brian Moynihan of Bank of America

Now WikiLeaks Sets Its Sights On Top U.S. Bank: Website Boss Pledges To Release Explosive New Dossier -- The Daily Mail

* Assange: Major financial institution will be target of next WikiLeaks
* Bank executives use 'unethical practices' and will be exposed as corrupt
* Pressure grows on authorities to charge Assange with espionage

The financial system is today bracing itself for a fresh scandal after WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange revealed the next target of his whistle-blowing website will be a major U.S. bank.

Assange - the man behind the diplomatic dossier which this week rocked the Obama administration - did not say which bank will be exposed or when it will happen, but compared the information contained in the documents with the Enron scandal.

'It will give a true and representative insight into how banks behave at the executive level in a way that will stimulate investigations and reforms, I presume,' he told Forbes magazine.

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More News On Wikileaks Targeting Wall Street

WikiLeaks' Next Target: Wall Street -- CBS News
Wall Street Can Start Panicking About WikiLeaks Now -- Wall Street Journal
US bank implicated in WikiLeaks trove -- Financial Times
WikiLeaks to reveal ‘flagrant violations’ at major U.S. bank -- Financial Post
WikiLeaks: Julian Assange plans to turn his attention to US banks -- The Telegraph
WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange: Our next leak will expose secrets of a major financial institution -- New York Daily News
WikiLeaks plans to release a U.S. bank's documents -- Reuters
US bank is next target for major leak, says Assange -- The Independent
Exclusive: WikiLeaks Will Unveil Major Bank Scandal -- Forbes
Wikileaks plans megaleak of documents of major US bank -- Jerusalem Post

Wikileaks Reveals Location Of European Nuclear Weapons

Soviet nuclear warheads under inspection. The US bombs in Europe are thought to date back to Cold War times (Photo: jenspie3)

Leaked Cables Reveal Location of European Nukes -- CBS News

Nuclear weapons residing in Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium in late 2009 were a crucial chess piece in international disarmament negotiations, according to leaked U.S. diplomatic cables from the website Wikileaks.

In a conversation between U.S. Ambassador Philip D. Murphy and German National Security Advisor Christoph Heusgen reprinted in one cable, the two statesmen discussed German concerns about taking nuclear weapons out of the country.

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More News On Wikileaks Revealing The Location Of European Nuclear Weapons

Four European states host US nuclear bombs, WikiLeaks reveals -- EU Observer
NATO Nukes -- Arms Control Wonk
Wikileaks: nuclear weapons owned by U.S. stationed in the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany and Turkey -- News KF
NATO condemns WikiLeaks release on tactical nukes -- Jerusalem Post/AP
Wikileaks memo confirms US nuclear weapons are in Holland -- Dutch News
WikiLeaks confirms presence of US nuclear arms in Netherlands -- Radio Free Europe
Wikileaks embarrasses the Netherlands too -- Radio Free Europe

Crisis On The Korean Peninsula -- News Roundup November 30, 2010



US, Japan, South Korea To Meet Soon Over Crisis -- CNN

Seoul, South Korea (CNN) -- Government ministers from the United States, Japan and South Korea will sit down in Washington early next month to grapple with the tensions in the Koreas, South Korea's Foreign Affairs Ministry said Tuesday.

The ministry did not provide further details about the date of the meeting, but it comes as China continues to call for an emergency meeting of the six major powers involved in talks about the Korean peninsula.

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More News On The Crisis On The Korean Peninsula

U.S. and South Korea Balk at Talks With North -- New York Times
Japan rebuffs China on 6-party N.Korea talks - Kyodo -- Reuters
US and South Korea reject talks with North -- Boston.com
China Urges Dialogue to Resolve Korea Tensions -- Voice of America

N.Korea touts nuclear prowess as China urges talks -- Yahoo News/AFP
North Korea says it has thousands of nuclear centrifuges -- CNN
Now North Korea Boasts Advances In Nuclear Programme -- New York Times/Reuters
North Korea Confirms Uranium Program Amid Tensions Over Shelling -- Bloomberg Businessweek
Analysis: Did smugglers help North Korea's nuclear drive? -- Reuters

US Deploys Carrier Strike Group, US Air Force to Western Pacific
-- Information Dissemination
Japan to send envoy to China for North Korea talks -- Washington Post/AP
North Korea Sends Aide to Beijing as Report Shows China Weighs Unification -- Bloomberg
President Lee declares a 'sense of crisis' -- Korea Times
Denial of "sunshine policy" caused provocation by DPRK: S Korean opposition leader -- Xinhuanet
S. Korean Media Fans Frustration With China -- Wall Street Journal
Attack may close S. Korea's generation gap -- Washington Post
Yeonpyeong attack uniting South Korean public around harsher policy toward North -- Washington Post
Patience with North has run out, warns South Korea -- Vancouver Sun/Daily Telegraph
Analyst View N.Korea's diplomatic gesture and "rational policy" -- Reuters
S. Korea's Fine Line: Talk Tough, Keep Finger Off Trigger -- Time Magazine
Consequences on the Korean Peninsula -- Rep. Ed Royce, The Washington Times
Hitting the North -- Sung-Yoon Lee, L.A. Times

Afghanistan War News Updates -- November 30, 2010

Pvt. Edwin Laplaunt, 19, probes for a mine in the Arghandab District of Kandahar Province. The troops can never be sure who is laying the traps or aiding the Taliban. Joao Silva for The New York Times

Hoping To Avoid Bombs And Win Afghan Minds -- New York Times

DEH-E KUCHAY, Afghanistan — For the American soldiers charged with bringing security to southern Afghanistan, heavily mined villages like this one are a most dangerous challenge.

Patrolling alongside Afghan soldiers and police officers, they scale 10-foot walls to avoid going through gateways, where insurgents are more likely to place booby traps. They cut through cornfields and pomegranate orchards instead of taking the paths, for the same reason.

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More News On Afghanistan

9 Afghan guards kidnapped in Kabul province -- Washington Post
Gunmen Take 9 Hostages in Afghanistan Attack -- Voice of America
Nine Afghan security guards kidnapped -- AFP
Gunmen Kidnap 9 Guards In Afghanistan -- Radio Free Europe

'Policeman' kills six NATO troops in Afghanistan -- Yahoo News/AFP
Afghan policeman kills six U.S. troops -- Washington Post
Afghan policeman kills six Nato soldiers -- Financial Times
6 Americans killed by gunman in Afghanistan -- CNN
6 U.S. soliders in Afghanistan killed by turncoat Afghan Border Police officer -- New York Daily News

WikiLeaks fallout reveals more cracks in Afghan war strategy -- Christian Science Monitor
Afghanistan reacts mildly to scathing criticisms revealed by WikiLeaks -- L.A. Times
WikiLeaks: Karzai pardoned drug dealers -- AP
Karzai 'freed connected suspects' -- Press Association
Karzai's brother 'corrupt drugs baron' US says: WikiLeaks -- AFP
WikiLeaks: Karzai's brother denies drug dealing, remembers Chicago -- CNN
Karzai pardons criminals: WikiLeaks -- AFP
WikiLeaks' Afghan Revelations: Way Too Familiar -- Time Magazine
Kabul says US relations unaffected by diplomatic leaks -- AFP

DoD: 2011 'Not The End' In Afghanistan For U.S. -- Defense News
Canada slammed for Afghan child prisoner handover -- Reuters
US Army takes on Taliban with 'smart' bullets -- Tech World
Taliban Imposter: The U.S. Doesn't Know Its Enemy -- Robert Baer, Time Magazine