Afghanistan War News Updates -- January 31, 2011

U.S. Marines and Afghan soldiers conduct a census patrol in the Sangin district of Helmand province, Afghanistan, Jan.18, 2011. The Marines, assigned to India Company, 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 2, conduct counterinsurgency operations in partnership with the International Security Assistance Force. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Dexter S. Saulisbury

Uncertain Spring Awaits Violent Afghan South -- Yahoo News/Reuters

ARGHANDAB, Afghanistan (Reuters) – Like the farmers, U.S. soldiers in this fertile river valley of southern Afghanistan are preparing for spring, and the surge in militant violence it usually brings, with the recent killing of a top public official signaling a hard fight ahead.

Between rocky outcrops, a network of combat outposts manned by U.S. and Afghan soldiers has emerged as winter draws to a close at the northern gateway to Kandahar City, to defend gains they say they made in late 2010.

Read more ....

More News On Afghanistan

FACTBOX-Security developments in Afghanistan, Jan 31 -- Alert Net
NATO service member killed in Afghanistan -- Washington Post/AP
31 NATO service members killed in January in Afghanistan -- People's Daily
4 German soldiers killed in Afghanistan -- Press TV (Iran)
Another al Qaeda-linked Taliban commander targeted in Farah -- Long War Journal
UK commanders fear early pull-out as they make gains on Taliban -- London Evening Standard
New British troops aim to beat Taliban on trust -- AFP
French troops help ready Afghan army for handover -- AFP
Taliban 'killing their own' in bid to wrest back control in Sangin -- The Independent
Walking over IEDs in Sangin's 'bomb alley' -- BBC

Afghanistan Moves to Curb Use of Underage Soldiers -- Wall Street Journal
Recruiting of child Afghan fighters to end -- UPI
Agreement to end child recruitment in Afghan police -- AFP

Losses at Afghan Bank Could Be $900 Million -- New York Times
Kabul Bank employees flee amid investigation into lending -- Washington Post
Afghan Officials Shielded Bank From Scrutiny -- Wall Street Journal

Heroin use in UK halves in three months after failure of Afghanistan poppy crop -- The Daily Mail
Opium Wars -- National Geographic
The US is moving on from Afghanistan, but its troops are still dying there -- Gary Younge, The Guardian

World News Briefs

Egypt Protesters Vow To Step Up Pressure -- BBC

Tens of thousands have gathered in central Cairo for a seventh day of protest, calling for a general strike.

Police have been ordered back to the streets, to positions they abandoned on Friday, but it is not clear whether they are returning to central Cairo.

The demonstrators are also planning a huge march to take place on Tuesday.

Protesters want President Hosni Mubarak to step down after 30 years in power. He has promised political reform and has now announced a new cabinet.

The state TV announcement said Interior Minister Habib al-Adly, who correspondents say is widely despised by protesters, had been replaced.

Read more ....

MIDDLE EAST

Israel braces for 'new Middle East'.

Egypt turmoil rattles Middle East stock markets.

Iran to showcase new rockets, satellites: report.

UAE denies Oman’s espionage charges.

ASIA

Uncertain spring awaits violent Afghan south.

Losses at Afghan Bank could be $900 million.

Cyclone roars toward Australia's flooded north.

As Myanmar new parliament opens, junta's shadow looms large.

South Korea rejects North's call for earlier military talks.

AFRICA

Cairo airport a scene of chaos as foreigners flee. Evacuation of Americans from Egypt scheduled to start. Foreigners urged to leave protest-ridden Egypt.

In Tunisia, '500 scenarios' for political future.

Niger to vote after one year of military rule.

Mugabe to call early elections, deploy military, officials say.

Somali pirates could soon face US military action. Somali pirate fleet unchallenged.

EUROPE

EU expected to impose Belarus sanctions. Belarus releases political prisoners.

European stocks drop on Egypt tensions.

Scandals shake Germany's faith in its military.

Albanian police arrest 3 for allegedly conspiring to murder opposition leader during protest.

AMERICAS

U.S. Midwest, Plains brace for massive winter storm.

Clinton in Haiti to mediate political crisis.

'Anti-government' activist arrested after planning to blow up Michigan mosque.

Bolivia flash flood sweeps away bus, truck; 30 die.

TERRORISM/THE LONG WAR

Al-Qaeda announces holy war against Houthis in Yemen.

Governments go online in fight against terrorism.

Lawyer: 'Jihad Jane' plans to plead guilty.

Losing to terrorism in Russia

ECONOMY/FINANCE/BUSINESS

Despite China's might, US factories maintain edge.

Echoes of Egypt swirl around World Economic Forum.

Exxon profit rises 53 percent, tops Street.

Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- January 31, 2011

BF-5 takes off. (Photo: Lockheed Martin)

Steps Forward, Step Back For F-35 -- Aviation Week

Lockheed Martin flew the fifth STOVL F-35B yesterday (Jan 27), taking the number of aircraft in the development flight-test program to 10. The fourth CTOL F-35A, meanwhile, was ferried to Edwards AFB on Jan 22.

Under the current plan, two more development aircraft remain to fly, F-35C carrier variants CF-2 and -3. They are expected to ferry to NAS Patuxtent River by June. But construction of a third CV test jet, CF-5, has begun and more aircraft of all three variants will be added to the flight-test program under the replan now being put in place.

Read more ....

MILITARY AND INTELLIGENCE NEWS BRIEFS

JPO on STOVL F-35 Design Issues -- Ares/Aviation Week

AF Worries JSF Costs May Soar -- DoD Buzz

Russia to offer fifth-generation prototype fighter to Brazil? -- RIA Novosti

With own 5G jet plan, India 'rejects' US offer -- Times Of India

Korea seeking early purchase of stealth jets: sources -- Yonhap News Agency

A look at Egyptian military capability -- ELP Defens(c)e Blog

Factbox - Egypt's powerful military -- Reuters

Somali pirates could soon face US military action -- East African

Indian Defence Production Policy: Got the policy, where’s the plan? -- Defpro

Canada has no way to refuel new jets in air -- Ottawa Citizen

Obama Administration Could Adopt EU Space Code -- Global Security Newswire

Corps’ first armed tanker supports grunts -- Marine Times

Northrop's Last Ship Aces Its Sea Trials -- Defense News

War Wounded: Father, Son Suffer TBI -- Military.com

US troops revamp training for foggy battlefields -- AFP

Electronic warfare a new career field -- Army.mil

Sessions Warns on U.S. DoD Spending -- DoD Buzz

Ex-Enterprise Commander: Superiors OK’d Videos -- Military.com

The Way The Military Is Supposed To Work -- Time Magazine

Information Warfare: Stuxnet Autopsy Fascinates And Frightens -- Strategy Page

Major Spy Ring Broken In Oman

Oman Uncovers 'Spy Network But UAE Denies Any Links -- BBC

The authorities in Oman say they have uncovered a network of spies working for the United Arab Emirates, according to the state news agency.

The alleged agents for the UAE are said to have spied on the Omani government and military.

The UAE government denies any knowledge of - or link with - such a network, according to its news agency.

The neighbouring countries are members of the Gulf Co-operation Council and normally enjoy good relations.

Read more ....

More News On Oman Uncovering A Spy Ring From The UAE

Oman says uncovers UAE spy network -- Reuters
Oman says busts UAE spy ring, Abu Dhabi denies -- AFP
Oman breaks up UAE ‘spy ring’ -- Financial Times
Oman accuses UAE of links to spy network targeting military and government -- Canadian Press/AP
Oman uncovers UAE spy network -- International Business Times
UAE spy network busted in Oman --Press TV (Iran)

My Comment: Allies spying on each other .... nothing new there.

Britain's Own Version Of 'The Hurt Locker'

Afghanistan: The Bomb Hunters -- The Telegraph

The 350th British soldier to die in Afghanistan was killed last week by a booby-trapped device. In an extract from his new book, Bomb Hunters, defence correspondent Sean Rayment follows the Army’s explosives disposal team who risk their lives to rescue their comrades.

“If you’re lucky, and I mean really lucky, you will leave Helmand with your team intact – no one killed or injured, no amputees. But you know you are going to get blown up, you know you are going to get shot at. You just have to hope that luck is on your side. But there are only so many rolls of the dice you can have before you get a double six.”

Staff Sergeant Gareth ‘Woody’ Wood, ATO (Ammunition Technical Officer), 11 EOD Regiment, Royal Logistic Corps, serving with JFEOD Group, in Nad e-Ali, Afghanistan, March 2010

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My Comment: A fascinating look at bomb disposal experts from a British perspective.

Niger To Hold Presidential, Parliamentary Elections A Year After Coup

Niger To Hold Presidential, Parliamentary Elections Nearly A Year After Military Coup -- Canadian Press

NIAMEY, Niger — Niger holds elections Monday, almost a year after renegade officers stormed the presidential palace in broad daylight and kidnapped the elderly president — but few believe a vote will bring radical change to the impoverished West African country.

On Monday, the country's 6.7 million registered voters will choose between 10 presidential candidates, including the country's first female presidential hopeful, and vote in 116 legislative races nationwide.

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Update: Niger to vote after one year of military rule -- AFP

My Comment: This is a surprise, and a welcome development that breaks the perceived mold of Africa being a land of despots and dictators.

Pakistan's Nuclear Arsenal Is More Than 100 Deployed Weapons

New Estimates Put Pakistan's Nuclear Arsenal At More Than 100 -- Washington Post

Pakistan's nuclear arsenal now totals more than 100 deployed weapons, a doubling of its stockpile over the past several years in one of the world's most unstable regions, according to estimates by non-government analysts.

The Pakistanis have significantly accelerated production of uranium and plutonium for bombs and developed new weapons to deliver them. After years of approximate weapons parity, experts said, Pakistan has now edged ahead of India, its nuclear-armed rival.

Read more ....

My Comment: India is going to respond .... and it looks like we are now going to be a witness to a nuclear arms race in one of the most unstable regions in the world.