World News Briefs -- April 2, 2010

Russian President Calls for Tougher Measures to Fight North Caucasus Terrorists -- Voice of America

Experts say the area’s long history of violence is not likely to change.

In Russia this week, a series of suicide bombings increased concerns about terrorism. Russian President Dmitri Medvedev made a surprise visit Thursday to the North Caucasus. He called for more severe measures to fight terrorism. President Medvedev also recognized the importance of Islam and Islamic leaders in the Caucasus.

Read more ....

MIDDLE EAST

Israel warns of new Gaza assault as US urges restraint.

Hamas 'working to curb Gaza rocket attacks'.

Israel, Gaza tensions: Why Egypt helps maintain the blockade.

Iran plays host to delegations after Iraq elections.

ASIA

Karzai calls Clinton after anti-west speech draws administration rebuke.

South Korea ship torpedo 'likely' - defence minister.

China buys air defense systems from Russia.

AFRICA

Nigeria forced to deal with revival of Islamist group Boko Haram.

South Sudan's ruling party pulls out of Presidential race. US envoy trying to salvage Sudan election process.

PM's arrest reinforces need for security reform in Guinea-Bissau.

US Navy ship captures suspected Somali pirates.

Africa looks to nuclear power.

EUROPE

On Good Friday, criticism of pope likened to anti-Semitism.

‘White House team is betraying Britain by staying neutral over Falklands’.

Greek debt crisis: pushing more European integration?

More-secular Poland marks Pope John Paul's death.

AMERICAS

Putin bolsters oil, defense ties with Venezuela.

Mexicans facing drug war violence could seek political asylum in U.S.

Tourists return to Machu Picchu temples.

TERRORISM/THE LONG WAR

Court ruling on wiretap is a challenge for Obama.

FBI warns letters to governors could stir violence.

U.S. changing the way air travelers are screened.

Al Qaeda's terrorism hive stings Yemen.

ECONOMY/FINANCE/BUSINESS

Why the 'recovery' is taking so long.

Daimler agrees to pay $185m after admitting bribery.

Toyota sees its US sales rebound.

Afghanistan War News Updates -- April 2, 2010

VILLAGE VOICES - Afghan National Army Capt. Momand Ashaqullah speaks with a Pirkoti village resident in Paktika province, Afghanistan, March 26, 2010. Afghan and U.S. soldiers assigned to the 1st Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment were in the village to establish relationships with village residents. U.S. Army Photo by Pfc. Christopher McKenna

Three German Soldiers Killed In Series Of Taleban Attacks In Afghanistan -- Times Online

Three German soldiers were killed and up to eight seriously wounded during a series of violent attacks in northern Afghanistan.

The Bundeswehr confirmed that three troops were killed in Char Dara district of Kunduz province, which has grown increasingly violent in recent months.

When German troops first deployed in Afghanistan in 2002 the north was seen as the safest part of the country. But the insurgency has gained pace there as US and Nato forces heap pressure on the Taleban’s traditional heartlands in the east and the south.

Read more ....

More News On Afghanistan

German soldiers killed in Afghanistan clashes -- BBC
Three German soldiers killed in Afghan ambush: official -- AFP
3 German soldiers killed in Afghan fighting -- AP
UK troops suffer in Sangin, the most dangerous place in Afghanistan -- Times Online
British forces seize Taliban boss of 'bomb alley' -- The Independent
U.S. Casualties in Afghanistan in First Quarter of 2010 More Than Double Those for 2009 -- CNS News
Security developments in Afghanistan, April 2 -- Reuters

Afghan parliament rejects Karzai takeover of vote panel -- McClatchy News
Afghan President Rebukes West and U.N. -- New York Times
Karzai Blames Foreigners for Afghan Vote Fraud -- Voice of America
Karzai rails against foreign presence, accuses West of engineering voter fraud -- Washington Post
Afghan president blames Western officials for election fraud -- L.A. Times

"Kandahar offensive to be cornerstone of US effort" -- DAWN
Army moves troops, gear from Iraq to Afghanistan -- USA Today
The Marine 'mayor' v. the Marjah pro-Taliban mawlawi -- McClatchy News
2009 saw increase in opium seizures in Afghanistan -- USA Today
DEA official says Afghan opium seizures soared in '09 -- Washington Times
Pentagon boosting Afghanistan 'eyes in the sky' -- Yahoo News/Reuters

Steady Progress Against The Taliban Reported By The Pakistan Military

Pakistani General: Al Qaida-Taliban Haven To Be Cleared By June -- McClatchy News

PESHAWAR, Pakistan — The Pakistani army has launched a military operation to clear insurgents from North Waziristan — long a haven for al Qaida and the Afghan Taliban — and hopes to wind up offensive actions in all its tribal areas by June, according to the Pakistani general who's in charge of the special paramilitary force for the area.

Maj. Gen. Tariq Khan said the main Pakistani army was leading the assault in North Waziristan with a series of small operations, while his Frontier Corps was leading a major offensive in Orakzai, to which insurgents have fled after operations in other tribal areas.

The Pakistani army hadn't previously announced a North Waziristan operation.

Read more ....

More News On Pakistan's War Against The Taliban

Enduring army role in Swat spurs questions about Pakistan's civilian government -- Washington Post
Air strikes in Orakzai kill 20 militants -- DAWN
Pakistani troops kill 28 militants in northwest -- AP
Pakistan raids kill six soldiers, dozens of militants -- AFP
22 militants killed in Pakistan -- Sify News
SW tribes ready to return after Taliban offensive -- DAWN
Pakistan tribes ready to return after Taliban offensive -- Yahoo News/AFP
Pakistan's President Zardari closer to losing powers -- Christian Science Monitor
Pakistan President Zardari backs measure that would weaken his power -- L.A. Times
Pakistan submits landmark reforms to parliament -- Yahoo News/AFP
Pakistan tables long-awaited constitutional reforms -- Washington Reuters

Why Is The U.S. Army Shipping Sand To Iraq .... And Shipping It Out?

Iraq: The Wrong Type of Sand -- New York Times

CAMP ARIFJAN, Kuwait — On the very long and expensive list of materials that the American military had to ship to Iraq since 2003, and is now shipping out many of them again, one might not have expected to find sand.

Yet there it is.

This might seem strange for a country that is 10 parts sand to 1 part water, 1 part oil and 0.1 parts electricity. Counterintuitive. Absurd, even.

Read more ....

My Comment: Who would have known that sand had such properties .... and why it is expensive .... and why the military needs it.

Sighhhh .... I am definitely in the wrong business.

A U.S. China Meeting Of Minds On Nuclear Issues?

Despite Strains, China Leader to Attend Nuclear Meeting in U.S. -- New York Times

BEIJING — President Hu Jintao of China will attend a nuclear security summit meeting in Washington this month, an indication that strained relations between the United States and China may be easing.

Until the announcement on Thursday by the Chinese Foreign Ministry, American officials feared that Mr. Hu would boycott the talks to express China’s displeasure over a series of recent diplomatic clashes, including a White House decision to sell arms to Taiwan and President Obama’s meeting with the Dalai Lama, the exiled Tibetan leader.

Read more ....

More News On U.S. - China Nuclear Cooperation

China's Hu to attend nuclear summit in Washington -- AP
Chinese Leader to Participate in Nuclear Security Meeting -- Global Security Newswire
Chinese leader to attend nuclear summit in U.S. -- L.A. Times
Chinese President Hu to Attend Nuclear Security Summit in Washington -- Voice of America
Nuclear summit -- UPI
News Analysis: China embraces summit diplomacy -- Xinhuanet

My Comment: Both sides are looking for common ground.

Editor's Note

Big family reunion is going to put a crimp in my blogging this Easter weekend. I will blog when I can, but normal blogging will return on Tuesday, April 6.

The Logistics In Moving An Army

When Military Moves A War, There Are No Shortcuts -- New York Times

JOINT BASE BALAD, Iraq — Early this year a “fob in a box” — military slang for 80 shipping containers with all the tents, showers and construction material needed to set up a remote forward operating base — was put on trucks here for the trip from one war to another.

Left over and never used in Iraq, the fob rumbled north to Turkey, east through Georgia and Azerbaijan, by ship across the Caspian Sea to Kazakhstan, then south on the old Soviet rail lines of Uzbekistan into northern Afghanistan. There — the end of a seven-nation, 2,300-mile, two-and-a-half-month odyssey — it was assembled just weeks ago as home for several hundred of the thousands of American forces entering the country.

Read more ....

My Comment: Napoleon was right .... an army moves "on its stomach". The logistics of moving armies has been a part of mankind's history since the begging of time .... but the logistics of moving today's armies is even greater because of the "extra" equipment that needs to be moved. The New York Times does an adequate job in covering this story.