Peace Like A River » Cables, dispatches and memoranda

Cables, dispatches and memoranda

March 8, 2010 (12:46 am) | Daily Roundup | By: Jeff Kouba

Cables, Dispatches and Memoranda A brief world news roundup for 8 March 2010.

United States & the Americas

Globe and Mail – Officers of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service have played a crucial and long-standing role as interrogators of a vast swath of captured Taliban fighters, The Canadian Press has learned.
Press TV – Iran deplores Canada’s move to vote against a UN-backed resolution extending the deadline for a full and credible probe into Israeli war crimes during its last year assault on Gaza. “During the tenure of [Canadian Prime Minister Stephen] Harper, Canada followed the policy of turning a blind eye to realities and has always given priority to dual and contradictory behaviors,” said Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast on Sunday.
Press TV – Amid US efforts to unite Latin American nations against Iran, the newly sworn-in Uruguayan president expresses willingness to expand ties with the Islamic Republic
Miami Herald – Police in northern Mexico protested Saturday hours after three of their colleagues were shot to death in an ambush and a fourth was wounded.
Expatica – Members of the militant Basque separatist group ETA trained around 100 guerillas from Colombia’s rebel FARC group in camps in Venezuela, the Spanish daily El Pais reported Sunday.
LAHT – The personal nurse who spent four years looking after “Mono Jojoy,” the military chief of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, turned herself in Saturday, the authorities said in a communique.
Columbia Reports – 54 members of neo-paramilitary drug gangs were arrested and six were killed in an armed forces operation in northern Colombia, the Government Secretary of the Antioquia department told Caracol radio on Sunday
ISNA – Bullying powers of the world are angry with the expansion of ties among independent countries, said Iran’s President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Meeting with Ecuador’s First Vice President Lenin Moreno in Tehran on Saturday, he said Iran and Ecuador both consider the current global arrangement unjust and have common views towards global issues.
Prensa Latina – Iran’s Vice President Mohamad Reza Rahimi said Sunday that his country will support Ecuador to seek the necessary funds to preserve the Yasuni Amazonian Park, through the international community joint responsibility. That strategy responds to Ecuador’s policy of preserving about 846 million of heavy oil barrels in the national Yasuni Amazonian Park’s subsoil, in return for an international joint responsibility formula.

Russia, Caucasus & Central Asia

RIA Novosti – The construction of the Russia-China oil pipeline will be finished by the end of this year, Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi said on Sunday. The project is part of the East Siberia – Pacific oil pipeline, which was launched into operation in December 2009 and is designed to pump up to 1.6 million barrels (220,000 tons) of crude per day from Siberia to Russia’s Far East and then on to China and the Asia-Pacific region.
Caucasian Knot – Local residents are afraid that after the special operation conducted by Russian power agencies on March 3 in Ekazhevo village the republic will face new terror acts. During the operation militants suffered losses and in the near future, most likely, they will strike back. If the fact of liquidation of the ideologist of extremism Said Buryatskiy (Alexander Tikhomirov) is confirmed, their response may be even tougher
RFERL – Five years ago, on March 8, 2005, the Russian authorities announced the death in a shootout of Chechen President and resistance commander Aslan Maskhadov. His death was a milestone in Russia’s struggle to preserve control over the North Caucasus.
RIA Novosti – Said Buryatsky, a notorious gang leader in Russia’s North Caucasus, killed in a special operation on Tuesday, was involved in the derailment of a Moscow-St. Petersburg train in November 2009, the head of the Federal Security Service said on Saturday.
Kavkaz Center – The command of the Mujahideen of Ghalghaycho (AKA Ingushetia) Province of the Caucasus Emirate has officially confirmed the information on Martyrdom (inshaAllah) of Sheikh Sayeed al Buryati (AKA Sayeed Buryatsky/Sayeed Abu Saad). The report states that Sayeed Abu Saad was killed during the long-lasted fierce battle in the village of Ekazhevo 17 Rabi al-Awwal 1431 (3 March 2010)
Itar Tass – A gunman from an illegal armed group, who participated in a recent attack against policemen, was killed in a special operation in Derbent on Saturday.

Middle East

Al Jazeera – Iraqis have begun voting in their second full parliamentary elections since the 2003 US-led invasion against a backdrop of deadly attacks. But even as polls opened on Sunday, attacks across the country left at least 24 people dead and 50 more wounded.
Al Sumaria – Elections in northern Iraq are as competitive as polls in Baghdad. Patriotic Union of Kurdistan led by President Jalal Talabani has allied with Kurdistan Democratic Party headed by Kurdistan leader Massoud Barazani in face of Change Movement led by Neshervan Barazani.
Lieutenant Junior Grade Robert J. Bebber, book review – The Intelligence Wars: Lessons from Baghdad
Haaretz – In a letter to Hamas political chief Khaled Meshal, the group’s senior military commander has admitted losing control in Gaza, the Arabic-language newspaper A-Sharq Al-Awsat reported on Saturday.
Jerusalem Post – Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Sunday continued his verbal assault on Israel, according to Saudi paper Al Wattan, which quoted him as saying that that al Aksa Mosque, the Cave of the Patriarchs and Rachel’s Tomb “were not and never will be Jewish sites, but Islamic sites.” Erdogan was referring to Israel’s recent inclusion of the Cave of the Patriarchs and Rachel’s Tomb on its national heritage list, but it was unclear why he mentioned the Aksa Mosque, since that site was not included.
Asharq Al Awsat – The issue of Palestinian arms in Lebanon, both inside and outside of the Palestinian refugee camps is an issue that has returned to the fore following a statement from the Secretary-General of the Fatah al-Intifada group Colonel Abu Moussa. Abu Moussa announced that Fatah al-Intifada is ready to relocate its military bases that are currently inside the Palestinian refugee camps in Lebanon to other locations outside of these camps to be determined by the Lebanese army.
Daily Star – Hizbullah’s Minister of State for Administrative Reform Mohammad Fneish said Sunday that his party’s weapons would not be “a subject for discussion,” during upcoming National Dialogue sessions on a defense strategy.
SMH – An al-Qaeda militant has killed a police guard and seriously wounded another as he tried to escape from custody in a Yemeni hospital, the defence ministry says. “Guards at Sanaa’s Republican Hospital foiled a bid by an al-Qaeda member involved in several terrorist attacks who was hospitalised for several days,” the ministry’s 26sep.net website said a statement on Sunday.
UPI – The United Arab Emirates aims to build a network of oil and gas pipelines to bypass the Strait of Hormuz, a key waterway controlled in part by Iran.

Iran

Payvand – The Defense Ministry inaugurated on Sunday the production line of a short-range cruise missile dubbed Nasr 1 (Victory 1). The Nasr 1 missile is capable of destroying 3000-ton boats, Defense Minister Ahmad Vahidi told reporters during the inauguration ceremony (with photos)
Defense Update – Massive Construction Visible at Iran’s Missile & Space Center at Semnan; Extensive infrastructure developments are evident in the following satellite imagery, obtained by the Israeli Eros-B satellite. The images are superimposed on an earlier image, available through Google Earth, taken around 2007.
Russia Today – Iran is expelling Russian pilots who work for its civilian airlines in a move that may be connected with Moscow’s willingness to support international sanctions against Tehran
CNN – Two days before his official trip to Afghanistan, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad called the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, a “big lie” intended to pave the way for the invasion of a war-torn nation, according to Iranian state media.
MEMRI – Iranian defense minister Ahmad Vahidi said that his country has signed bilateral mutual defense agreements with Qatar, Oman and Kuwait, which stipulate that the territory of each country will not be used to harm the other. Kuwaiti sources denied this statement, but said that Kuwait has signed non-aggression pacts with friendly countries in the past, and is committed to this principle.
Mehr – Judiciary Chief Ayatollah Sadeq Larijani announced on Sunday that the judicial system has arrested members of a major ring of corrupt employees working for a state organization. In a meeting with senior Judiciary officials in Tehran, he said the members of the ring embezzled millions of dollars by forging government documents.
Uskowi on Iran – These reports over the ID found on Rigi at the time of his arrest tend to dispel conspiracy theories of Pakistan directly turning him over to Iranian authorities

South Asia

Press TV – Afghan police say up to 60 militants and 19 civilians may have been killed in bloody clashes between rival militant groups in the north of the country. The fighting reportedly erupted in Baghlan province between the Taliban and militants loyal to Hezb-e-Islami, Press TV correspondent reported.
CentCom – General Stanley McChrystal, Commander of the NATO International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), has issued a new Tactical Directive providing guidance and intent for the conduct of night raids by all Coalition Forces operating in Afghanistan. A “night raid” is any offensive operation involving entry into a compound, residence, building or structure that occurs in the period between nautical twilight and nautical dawn.
VOA – International troops under the banner of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization are continuing to fight Taliban insurgents in Afghanistan. But, NATO field commanders are hindered by certain restrictions placed on troops by European governments.
UK MoD – It is with great sadness that the Ministry of Defence must confirm the death of Rifleman Liam Maughan of 3rd Battalion The Rifles. Rifleman Liam Maughan died from wounds received as a result of small arms fire which occurred near Sangin, in Helmand Province.
Terrence Smith and Teresita Schaffer, CSIS – Pakistan: In the Cauldron
Dawn – Pakistani security forces along with help of US intelligence arrested Abu Yahya Mujahdeen Al- Adam (Adam Gadahn), who is a close associate of Osama Bin Laden. Abu Yahya was arrested on Sunday from an area surrounding the super highway, on the outskirts of Karachi. [this report may be false]
AP – Al-Qaida’s American-born spokesman on Sunday called on Muslims serving in the U.S. armed forces to emulate the Army major charged with killing 13 people in Fort Hood. In a 25-minute video posted on militant Web sites, Adam Gadahn described Maj. Nidal Hasan as a pioneer who should serve as a role model for other Muslims, especially those serving Western militaries.
The News – Military officials on Friday said there were strong indications that senior Taliban commanders, including Maulvi Faqir Mohammad, Maulvi Abdul Wali, Qari Ziaur Rahman and Omar Rahman alias Fateh, were killed or injured in heavy bombing by the military gunship helicopters in Mohmand Agency’s Pindyali Yehsil.
Dawn – Twelve people, two children and four women among them, were killed and 30 others wounded when a suicide bomber attacked a convoy of civilians, escorted by paramilitary soldiers, in Thall town in Hangu district on Friday
Daily Times – Unidentified motorcyclists gunned down Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Sardar Aziz Umrani and one of his guards in Khuzdar on Saturday
Times of India – Even as BJP and other political parties came down on the government for its alleged assurance to World Bank that it will not seek finance for projects in Arunachal Pradesh, because of pressure from China, foreign minister S M Krishna and the finance ministry categorically denied that there had been any shift in India’s stated position that the state was an integral part of India.
Times of India – At a time when India is still in the planning stage for bringing in High Speed Rail (HSR) network in the country, neighbouring China has embarked upon an ambitious plan to take its HSR length to 28,000 km, two- fold of the total global network, in the next four years.
Colombo Page – Sri Lanka military denied reports that a former head of Sri Lanka Army Intelligence Unit is to be quizzed on the assassination of the Sunday Leader Editor, Lasantha Wickramathunga

A tug boat guides the U.S. 7th Fleet command ship USS Blue Ridge as it arrives in Busan, Republic of Korea. Blue Ridge and U.S. 7th Fleet staff arrived in Busan for Exercise Key Resolve/Foal Eagle 2010. (photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Bobbie Attaway)

Far East & Pacific

Deutsche Welle – A current pipeline project in Myanmar will bring 12 million tonnes of crude oil from Africa and the Middle East through one pipeline and 12 billion cubic meters of Burmese gas through another pipeline each year into China. The nearly 1,000 kilometer long pipelines are said to be the longest in Asia. They will run through Myanmar (also known as Burma) to the south of China.
Manila Times – Seven Islamist militants were killed by Philippine Marines early Sunday in a raid on their remote southern island hideout, the military said. The raid had targeted the group of a man who goes by the alias Abu Benhur, whom he described as a member of the Abu Sayyaf group with active ties to Jemaah Islamiah.
NYT – Eleven soldiers were killed and several others were wounded Saturday in a firefight with Communist guerrillas in a province south of Manila, Philippine Army officials said.
Jakarta Post – Survivors of a counterterrorism police squad ambushed by militants last week pressed on with their village-by-village search Sunday for members of a suspected new terrorist cell in the western Indonesian province of Aceh.
Bangkok Post – The government is investigating whether the theft of war weapons and ammunition from an arms depot in the South is politically motivated amid reports the weapons are already on their way to Bangkok. Army spokesman Sansern Kaewkamnerd yesterday confirmed the theft but would not comment on the number of stolen weapons.

Europe

Deutsche Welle – A few months down the line the Export Import Bank of China (China Eximbank) has granted Belgrade a billion euro ($1.3 billion) loan to upgrade two power plants and build a much-needed bridge over the beautiful blue Danube. The bridge project, which is due to get underway in the spring, is critical both as a means of easing the traffic situation in Belgrade, and as a test of how well China can work with its south-eastern European partner.
Balkan Insight – The energy ministers of Serbia and Bulgaria signed an agreement on Friday in Brussels that will enable the construction of a gas interconnection between the gas grids of the two countries.
Intellibriefs – Germen security forces arrested the ringleader and two senior members of an Iraq-based armed opposition of the Islamic Republic called Party for a Free Life in Kurdistan (PJAK) – an offshoot of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).
Spiegel – With Germany lacking schools of Islamic theology, Muslim congregations have long imported religious leaders. As Germany considers steps to create more homegrown imams, countries like Turkey — which sends state-employed imams to Europe to serve large segments of the Turkish diaspora — are filling the gap.
Iceland News – Official confirmation of huge Iceland ‘no’ vote in Icesave referendum; With final numbers now released in all voting districts, the resounding ‘no’ vote is official. Nationwide, 144,231 people voted of the roughly 230,000 registered voters. 2,599 (1.8 percent) of them voted to accept December’s Icesave repayment plan and 134,397 (93.2 percent) voted to reject it.
Radio Netherlands – The French navy has dealt pirates in Somalia a heavy blow, rounding up 35 in two days. A French frigate captured four mother ships and six skiffs. The French were aided by Spanish colleagues who used an airplane and two helicopters to track down the pirates.

Africa

NYT – The Somali government is preparing a major offensive to take back this capital block by crumbling block, and it takes just a listen to the low growl of a small surveillance plane circling in the night sky overhead to know who is surreptitiously backing that effort. That American assistance could be crucial to the effort by Somalia’s government to finally reassert its control over the capital and bring a semblance of order to a country that has been steeped in anarchy for two decades.
Fars – Vice-Speaker of Somalia’s Parliament Mohamed Omar Dalha asked for the expansion of relations and cooperation with Iran in all the various fields.
Garowe – The leader of Somalia’s Hizbul Islam group, Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys has reiterated that Sheikh Ahmed Mohammed Islam ‘Madobe’ is still part of his group. Sheikh Aweys who was addressing congregation at Bakara Market, directly responded to a claim by one of the group’s top official in Gedo region, who accused Madobe of executing agendas backed by Ethiopia and Kenya.
Shabelle – the Islamic adminstration of Hizbul Islam have said that they formed new adminstration for the district of Banadir region which are the areas under the control of the trnsitional government of Somalia, officials told Shabelle radio on sunday.
UN – Two peacekeepers who were missing after an attack on an African Union-United Nations patrol in Darfur have made a safe return with the assistance of the local population, the joint mission reported today. The two were part of a patrol, which included UNAMID police and military observers, that was ambushed on Friday by unidentified armed men while on its way to Jebel Marra, the scene of recent clashes.
Magharebia – Algerian soldiers killed six terrorists Saturday (March 6th) in an attack on a rebel hideout in Kedara, Boumerdes province, Tout sur l’Algerie reported. The security operation targeted the El Arkam brigade of al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM).
Scott Gration, State Dept – Recent Two-Week Trip to Chad, Sudan, Qatar and Rwanda
Vanguard – Over 200 people, mostly women and children, were killed in three villages near Shen in Du District of Jos South Local Government Area of Plateau State by suspected Fulani herdsmen, on reprisal attacks. At least 45 children, including toddlers, were among those hacked to death, gunned down or roasted in their abodes by the marauders at about 2.30 a.m.

An MH-60S Sea Hawk helicopter from Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 9 flies alongside the Virginia-class attack submarine USS New Mexico with the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush in the distance. HSC-9 is assigned to the George H.W. Bush Strike Group and is underway in the Atlantic Ocean in support of fleet training operations (photo by Seaman Nicholas Hall)

The Global War

RIA Novosti – China and Pakistan will hold joint antiterrorist exercises entitled Friendship-2010 in China in summer, the Renmin Ribao newspaper said on its website on Sunday citing the Chinese National Defense Ministry
US Army – Eighth (Field) Army Soldiers are participating from March 8 – 18 in Key Resolve/Foal Eagle 2010, the first of two annual peninsula-wide exercises in South Korea.
US Navy – USS Dewey (DDG105) was formally commissioned in a ceremony on Naval Weapons Station Seal Beach, marking the first time a warship has been commissioned in the Orange County city. Dewey is the 55th Arleigh Burke-class destroyer.
Times Online – Even Captain Bligh might have blushed. The first woman captain of a US navy guided-missile destroyer was relieved of her command for using language so foul that it amounted to “cruelty and maltreatment”, it emerged yesterday

Sights & Sounds

Africa Today – Sixteen people injured in two grenade attacks in Rwanda’s capital. As elections approach journalists in Sudan complain of intimidation by security forces. Search and rescue efforts continue after landslides in Uganda’s eastern Bududa district. The head of the UN refugee agency visits Cameroon to highlight the security crisis in Central African Republic