US, Colombia Sign Pact To Expand US Use Of Bases

Colombia And US Sign Controversial Military Pact -- Colombia Reports

Colombia and the United States on Friday signed a military pact that allows the U.S. to use seven military bases in the Andean country. The treaty will now be sent to U.S. Congress for ratification. Colombia's Congress will not have the possibility to ammend the pact.

The pact is controversial as neighboring countries like Venezuela and Ecuador consider an increase of U.S. military influence in the reion a threat to their countries' sovereignty.

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More News On The Signing Of The U.S. - Colombian Base Agreement

US, Colombia sign pact to expand US use of bases -- AP
Colombia grants US access to military bases -- AFP
Colombia and US sign bases deal -- BBC
Colombia agrees deal to step up US military presence -- The Guardian
U.S., Colombia Sign Military Bases Agreement -- TRR News
Colombia Signs Accord With U.S. for Military Bases -- Bloomberg

According To The Russians, We Are Repeating History In Afghanistan

A scene from the Red Army's withdrawal from Afghanistan through the Uzbek town of Termez.
Photo from Radio Free Europe

Déjà Vu From The Soviet Archives -- Small Wars Journal

Yesterday, Dave cited this op-ed from the New York Times written by a historian who chronicled the collapse of the Soviet Union. He opened with this excerpt:

THE highly decorated general sat opposite his commander in chief and explained the problems his army faced fighting in the hills around Kabul: “There is no piece of land in Afghanistan that has not been occupied by one of our soldiers at some time or another,” he said. “Nevertheless much of the territory stays in the hands of the terrorists. We control the provincial centers, but we cannot maintain political control over the territory we seize.

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Previous Post: What The West Can Learn From The Soviet Experience In Afghanistan

My Comment: A timely commentary from the Small Wars Journal.

Pakistan Civil War News Updates -- October 30, 2009

A soldier kept watch from a Pakistani Army position. The current ground offensive has received wide public support. Tyler Hicks/The New York Times

Pakistani Military Pushes Deeper in Militant Territory -- Voice of America

Pakistani troops fighting militants along the Afghan border have seized passports that may be linked to suspects involved in the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States. The discovery came as visiting U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton chided the Pakistani government for failing to vigorously pursue al-Qaida inside Pakistan. In the latest fighting in the South Waziristan region, government troops reportedly killed two dozen militants while losing two of their own soldiers.

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More News On Pakistan's Civil War

Pakistan’s military braces for a ‘long-drawn haul’ -- MSNBC
Pakistan military closes in on Taliban stronghold -- AP
Pakistan forces gain ground on militants -- UPI
Pakistani troops advance on Uzbek stronghold in South Waziristan -- Long War Journal
Passports of Jihadists Found as the Pakistani Army Moves on South Waziristan -- Time Magazine
Pakistan Finds Passport of Alleged 9/11 Operative -- Wall Street Journal
In Military Campaign, Pakistan Finds Hint of 9/11 -- New York Times
9/11 passport 'found in Pakistan' -- BBC

Clinton Challenges Pakistanis on Al Qaeda -- New York Times
Hillary Clinton says Pakistan does not really want to stop al-Qaeda -- Times Online
Clinton Ends Visit as the Focus of Pakistani Barbs -- New York Times
Clinton ends tough Pakistan trip -- BBC
Clinton: Hard to believe Pakistan can't find Al Qaeda -- Christian Science Monitor
Clinton faces Pakistani anger at Predator attacks -- My Way News

Survivors recount narrow escape from deadly Peshawar market bombing -- CNN
Pakistan’s Death Toll From Peshawar Bomb Rises to 117 -- Bloomberg

Concerns About China's Military Buildup Are Being Voiced By The US

US Admiral Concerned About China Military Buildup -- NPR

A U.S. Navy admiral expressed new concern Friday over China's military buildup and urged Beijing to be clearer about its intentions.

With China's military growing at an "unprecedented rate," the U.S. wants to ensure that expansion doesn't destabilize the region, Rear Adm. Kevin Donegan told reporters on a visit to the Chinese territory of Hong Kong.

Donegan referred to China's expanded weaponry. His remarks echoed the concerns of other U.S. military leaders who have said the growth in China's military spending — up almost 15 percent in the 2009 budget — raises questions about how Beijing plans on deploying its new power.

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Update: US admiral concerned about China military buildup -- AP

My Comment: The U.S. admiral is probably voicing the concerns of what many are now feeling in Asia. From the viewpoint of many in the region there is no reason for China to expand its military to the levels that they are now approaching. For example, countries like India and Vietnam have had wars with China in the past 40 years, and are now pondering what should be there response to this buildup (most likely their own buildup). Taiwan definitely feels targeted, and countries like Malaysia, Indonesia, and Australia are wondering on where this is all going to end.

Russia Is Losing Its War In The Caucasus

Map of the Caucasus

In Russia, An Intensifying Insurgency -- Washington Post

Under crackdown, Chechen separatism turns into a regional Islamist revolt.

SUNZHENSKY, RUSSIA -- Her face wet with tears and framed by a black shawl, Madina Albakova sat in her ransacked living room and described how she had become another teenage widow here in Ingushetia, the most volatile of Russia's Muslim republics.

The details emerged between sobs: the arrival of the security forces earlier in the day, her husband's panicked attempt to flee, the gunfire that erupted without warning. He was a law student, barely 20 and "so beautiful," she said, but the soldiers planted a rifle next to his body and called him an Islamist rebel. Then they took everything of value -- the family's savings, a set of dishes, even baby clothes, she said.

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My Comment: This is Russia's dirty war, and it is growing worse. After years of repression, Russia is no closer to a solution in this conflict than when it first started. What is worse, is that the insurrection in the region is getting worse, and Russia is now realizing that they may be in a conflict that can go on for decades.

Iran Rejects Deal to Ship Out Uranium, Officials Report

From The New York Times:

WASHINGTON — Iran told the United Nations nuclear watchdog on Thursday that it would not accept a plan its negotiators agreed to last week to send its stockpile of uranium out of the country, according to diplomats in Europe and American officials briefed on Iran’s response.

The apparent rejection of the deal could unwind President Obama’s effort to buy time to resolve the nuclear standoff.

In public, neither the Iranians nor the watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency, revealed the details of Iran’s objections, which came only hours after Iran’s president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, insisted that “we are ready to cooperate” with the West.

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More News On Iran And Its Nuclear Program

Iran Seeks to Alter Agreement -- Wall Street Journal
Iran Demands Changes to Deal with the West on Nuclear Ambitions -- Times Online
Iran Adds Caveat to Nuclear Cooperation Deal -- Voice of America
Iran Reply on Nuclear Deal Called 'Inadequate' -- L.A. Times
Clinton says U.S. to let Iran nuclear talks play out -- Reuters
U.S. Senate Panel Authorizes Stronger Iran Sanctions -- New York Times

Afghanistan War News Updates -- October 30, 2009

A group of Taliban in Herat, Afghanistan, on Oct. 14, hand over weapons in a government amnesty program. European Pressphoto Agency

Support Grows for Pursuit of Peace Deals With the Taliban -- Wall Street Journal

KABUL -- The idea of talking to the Taliban -- a strategy advocated by Afghan officials -- has become increasingly seductive as the Western death toll in the conflict mounts.

Obama administration officials openly ponder an outreach to the leadership of Islamist militants, something that has been long advocated by European allies. Gen. Stanley McChrystal has already told the U.S.-led forces under his command here that "reintegrating" lower-level Taliban gunmen into Afghan society is as desirable as killing or capturing them.

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More News On Afghanistan

Obama, Joint Chiefs to discuss Afghanistan plans -- CNN
Obama to meet military brass on Afghanistan -- AFP
Obama Consults Military Leaders, Nears Afghan Troop Decision -- Voice of America
Obama considers 'McChrystal Light' Afghan war plan -- AP
Obama's review of Afghan war strategy nears end -- Reuters
SCENARIOS - Obama's options in Afghan war -- Reuters

Simple Afghan mission turns deadly for U.S. soldiers -- Yahoo News/Reuters
French families sue commanders who ate VIP dinner as soldiers died in ambush -- Times Online
Special Forces for Special Afghan Rescues -- Washington Times
US Seeks to Counter Enemy’s ‘Weapon of Choice’ -- U.S. Department of Defense

UN Reviews Security After Deadly Kabul Assault -- Reuters
UN Evacuates Non-essential Staff After Deadly Attack on Kabul Guesthouse -- Times Online
U.N. chief urges more security for staff in Afghanistan -- CNN

Afghanistan Increases Polling Stations for Election -- Voice of America
Afghanistan Adds Poll Sites Despite Fraud Fears -- Wall Street Journal
Afghan Officials Unveil Plans for Runoff -- L.A. Times
Afghan Panel Overrides Warnings -- Washington Post

Afghan girls burn themselves to escape marriage -- NBC
Obama Honors Americans Killed in Afghanistan -- Voice of America

Commentaries And Analysis

What We Can Achieve in Afghanistan -- Robert B. Zoellick, Washington Post
On the War's Front Lines -- David Ignatius, Washington Post opinion.
A Familiar War in Afghanistan - Eugene Robinson, Washington Post opinion
The Commander’s Duty Done -- New York Times editorial
Muddled Thinking on Afghanistan -- Washington Times editorial