Mercenaries are Unreliable, Useless and Dangerous, Unconfirmed Report : Military Coup Attempt Led by Deputy Chief of Staff Under Way in Libya, the Tribal Support System is Undermined, Libyan Fighter Jets and Helicopters Land at Malta Airport Carrying Political Elite and Business Figures Out of Tripoli, Senior Colonels Defected After Receiving Order to Fire on Protesters
“He who holds his State by means of mercenary troops can never be solidly or securely seated. For such troops are disunited, ambitious, insubordinate, treacherous, insolent among friends, cowardly before foes, and without fear of God or faith with man. Whenever they are attacked defeat follows; so that in peace you are plundered by them, in war by your enemies. And this because they have no tie or motive to keep them in the field beyond their paltry pay.”
Machiavelli, (N.), The Prince, Chicago, The University of Chicago Press, 1985.
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Witnesses Say African Mercenaries Have Been Captured in Libya
Many of our Observers in Libya reported to FRANCE24 that mercenaries from sub-Saharan African countries have been tapped by Muammar Gaddafi’s government to crack down on protesters. Videos currently circulating on the Web show that in some cases these alleged mercenaries have been captured and lynched by Libyan demonstrators.
[...] Sending in mercenaries [to intimidate demonstrators] is a strategic mistake for Gaddafi. The only thing it does is convince police officers and soldiers to turn against the regime.
Continue Reading >> France 24 | February 21, 2011
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Unrest and the Libyan Military
Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi has ordered the Libyan air force to fire on military installations in Libya, according to what the BBC has characterized as a reliable source. Al Jazeera has suggested that air force fighters have opened fire on crowds of protesters.
Though the latter would be particularly draconian, the more important question is whether these signs reflect a split within the regime and Gadhafi using military force to crush opposition to his regime emerging from the military or other security forces. Similar reports of the Libyan navy firing on targets onshore also are emerging, as well as reports that Gadhafi has given execution orders to soldiers who have refused to fire on Libyan protesters.
Continue Reading >> Stratfor | February 21, 2011
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Libya: Unconfirmed Reports on Gaddafi Escape, Military Coup
[...] Libyan sources said that a senior figure in the Libyan army is trying to lead a coup against Gaddafi.
The officer was identified as Deputy Chief of Staff, Al Mahdi Al Arabi. The source said that fierce battles were reported between the remnants of the revolutionary guard committees close to Gaddafi and supporters of al Arabi.
Continue Reading >> Allvoices | February 21, 2011
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Libya Air Force Jets in Malta, Pilots Seek Asylum
Two Libyan air force jets landed in Malta on Monday and their pilots asked for political asylum amid a bloody crackdown on anti-government protesters in Libya, a military source said.
The two Mirage jets landed at Malta International Airport shortly after two civilian helicopters landed carrying seven people who said they were French. A military source familiar with the situation said the passengers had left in such a hurry that only one had a passport.
The source, who insisted he not be identified further, said the jet pilots — both Libyan air force colonels — had communicated from the air that they wanted political asylum. They had left from a base near Tripoli and had flown low over Libyan airspace to avoid detection, the source said.
The aircraft remained at Malta’s airport, away from the commercial area, while the pilots and helicopter passengers were being questioned by airport immigration officials, the source said.
After a week of protests, anti-government unrest spread Monday to the capital Tripoli with clashes in Tripoli’s main square for the first time. European governments and oil and gas companies were evacuating their citizens.
Associated Press | February 21, 2011
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Libyan Fighter Jets, Helicopters Land in Malta. Qaddafi’s Rule May Be Breaking Up
Muammar Qaddafi’s 42-year rule of Libya began falling apart Monday, Feb. 21. Libyan Air force fighter jets and helicopters carrying political elite and business figures out of Tripoli started landing on the Mediterranean island of Malta opposite Libya – so far, two Mirage fighter-bombers and a number of civilian helicopters. Government officials in Valetta said more flights are on their way, but declined to say whether the airmen were defectors or the civilians had asked for political asylum.
[...] DEBKAfile’s military sources report protesters stormed army bases and seized large quantities of missiles, mortars, heavy machine guns and armored vehicles – and used them. The important Fadil Ben Omar Brigade command base in Benghazi was burnt to the ground.
Continue Reading >> DEBKAfile | February 21, 2011
Hugo Chavez and the U.S. Intelligence Community
An array of covert operations devised during G. Bush’s presidency are being actively implemented in Latin America.The plans include a color revolution in Cuba, the toppling of the populist regime in Venezuela, a smear campaign against Evo Morales in Bolivia, a flare up of divisions within the populist ALBA bloc, the geopolitical weakening of Brazil, an expansion of the regional network of US military bases, etc. “Neutralizing” the region’s defiant leaders is a predictable part of the program. Recently, Ecuador’s president Rafael Correa narrowly escaped an attempt on his life, and at the moment Nicaragua’s Daniel Ortega who stands in the way of forming a pro-US alliance in Central America seems to be the next figure on the hit list. In any case, Hugo Chavez, the leader who, from Washington’s perspective, represents the most serious geopolitical problem in Latin America, remains the prime target for the US intelligence community.
Continue Reading >> Strategic Culture | February 15, 2011
U.S. Backs Brazil in Currency War with China, China Plans Colombian Rail Link to Challenge Panama Canal, U.S. to Let Colombia Trade Benefits Expire, Turns Up the Heat on Colombian Drug Gangs, Colombian Army Discovers Drugs-Smuggling Submarine “Capable of Reaching the Coast of Mexico”, Ecuador Judge Orders Chevron to Pay $9 Billion Fine, Ecuador Urges Strong Iran Ties, Russian Military Choppers Delivered to Ecuador, Argentina Accuses U.S. of Weapons Smuggling, Argentina’s Economy Gets a Bad Grade, “Does Not Deserve to Be a Member of the G20″, Obama to Travel for the First Time to South America
U.S. Backs Brazil in Currency War with China
Timothy Geithner, the US Treasury Secretary, has voiced tacit support for Brazil in its “currency war” with China in a sign that the two giants of the Americas will work together to tackle the issue.
[...] His comments suggest that the US and Brazilian governments are ready to forge closer links which could see them jointly pressure China on the value of the yuan.
Continue Reading >> The Daily Telegraph | February 7, 2011
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China Plans Colombian Rail Link to Challenge Panama Canal
[...] China is envisaging a new link between the seas: a rail link through Colombia – a potential rival to the canal that would crown China’s economic push into Latin America.
Beijing on Monday confirmed an announcement by the Colombian president, Juan Manuel Santos, that both governments are considering a rail connection from Cartagena, in the Caribbean, to the country’s Pacific coast 280 miles (450km) away. The president’s office refused to say which Pacific site was being considered.
The railway would facilitate the export of raw materials such as coal, as well as opening the way for Chinese imports.
Continue Reading >> The Guardian | February 14, 2011
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U.S. to Let Colombia Trade Benefits Expire
The U.S. Congress will allow the expiration of a the Andean Trade Preference Act, which allows many Colombian goods into the country duty-free.
[...] Colombia’s ambassador to Washington, Gabriel Silva, stated “without action by Congress, many of the Colombian industries that have been devastated by the aftermath of the epic floods stand to suffer further economic harm,” as a result of the act’s expiration.
Although House and Ways Committee Chairman, Republican Dave Camp, has drafted a bill to extend the act through to June, Republican leaders cancelled a vote on the measure.
Continue Reading >> Colombia Reports | February 10, 2011
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U.S. Turns Up the Heat on Colombian Drug Gangs
U.S. authorities are increasing efforts to crack down on criminal gangs in Colombia that are running cocaine to Mexican drug kingpins who are at war with Mexico’s security forces.
Continue Reading >> Reuters | February 10, 2011
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Colombians Seize Drugs-Smuggling Submarine
A fully-submersible drug submarine capable of reaching the coast of Mexico has been found in Colombia.
While another such submarine was seized last July just across the border in Ecuador, this is the first time the Colombian authorities have seized a fully-submersible sub.
They had previously only found semi-submersible boats, where part of the structure always remains above the surface.
The vessel was discovered in a rural area of Cauca province on the Timgiqui River, about 275 miles southwest of the capital, Bogota.
[...] The boat was discovered following intelligence reports and tips from informants.
Continue Reading >> Sky News | February 15, 2011
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Chevron Fined for Amazon Pollution By Ecuador Court
A court in Ecuador has fined US oil giant Chevron $8.6bn (£5.3bn) for polluting a large part of the country’s Amazon region.
The oil firm Texaco, which merged with Chevron in 2001, was accused of dumping billions of gallons of toxic materials into unlined pits and Amazon rivers.
Campaigners say crops were damaged and farm animals killed, and that local cancer rates increased.
Condemning the ruling as fraudulent, Chevron said it would appeal.
The company will also have to pay a 10% legally mandated reparations fee, bringing the total penalty to $9.5bn (£5.9bn).
Continue Reading >> BBC News | February 15, 2011
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Ecuador Urges Strong Iran Ties
Ecuador’s Foreign Minister Ricardo Patino says his country attaches special significance to enhanced relations with Iran, saying that Tehran and Quito enjoy amicable ties in the international scene.
In a telephone conversation with Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi on Wednesday, Patino called on Iranian and Ecuadorian officials to implement agreements that have already been signed following expressed commitments by presidents of both countries to the expansion of bilateral ties.
Continue Reading >> Press TV | February 10, 2011
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Russia Delivers Two Military Choppers to Ecuador
Interfax quotes a military-diplomatic source in Moscow as saying that Russia supplied two military-transport helicopters Mi-171 to Ecuador late last week.
According to the source, Russia and Ecuador signed a 22 billion dollar contract in autumn 2009, with Ecuador planning to purchase another four such choppers. Quito has already started talks to that end.
It is the first time that Russia has supplied helicopters to that Latin American nation.
Voice of Russia | January 24, 2011
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Argentina Accuses U.S. of Trying to Smuggle Weapons into Country
Relations between the US and Argentina have deteriorated after Buenos Aires lodged a formal complaint over a US military plane that landed late last week carrying guns, drugs and satellite phones.
The Argentinian government claimed the US was trying to sneak the weapons into the country, though it didn’t offer an explanation of why Washington might want to do this.
The US state department said the consignment was intended for a police training programme in Argentina.
[...] The relationship between the two countries has been poor since Barack Obama released details of a Latin American tour next month that includes Brazil, Chile and El Salvador but not Argentina.
Continue Reading >> The Guardian | February 15, 2011
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Argentina: Economy Gets a Bad Grade
Argentina does not deserve to be a member of the G20 and President Barack Obama is right not to stop in Buenos Aires on his first state visit to South America. That is the stark view of James Roberts, a former US diplomat and research fellow at The Heritage Foundation, a conservative US think tank.
The Foundation’s annual ranking of economic freedom, compiled in conjunction with The Wall Street Journal, ranks Argentina a lamentable 138th out of 179 countries in an annual classification of economic freedom.
Continue Reading >> The Financial Times | February 8, 2011
Iraq’s Largest Gas Field Discovered in Kurdistan, Syria and Turkey Agree on Cooperation Against Kurdish Separatist PKK, Turkish Intelligence Warns Against Attacks Ahead of Elections, Turkish Intelligence Chief in Azerbaijan, Turkish Interior Minister in Moscow, Iran to Tighten Security Along Eastern and Northwestern Borders
Iraq’s Largest Gas Field Discovered in Kurdistan
[...] The UK-based Heritage Oil Company announced that it has made a huge discovery of natural gas in the Miran area west of Suleimaniya. The statement reads that the field has between 6.8- and 9.1-trillion cubic feet (approximately between 192- and 257-billion cubic meters) of natural gas.
[...] Those could see the company bringing gas into Turkey and Europe through the planned U.S. and EU-backed Nabucco pipeline, which aims to bring gas from the Middle East and Caspian Sea region to Europe via Turkey and Bulgaria.
“The discovery of a major gas field of up to 12.3-trillion cubic feet (348-billion cubic meters) in place with exceptional flow rates makes this one of the largest gas fields to be discovered in Iraq,” the statement said.
[...] However, the ‘never-ending’ dispute between the KRG and the central government of Iraq regarding the region’s oil and gas production sharing contracts signed with international oil and gas companies since mid 2007 is still an obstacle to future prospects from which the region would benefit and the destiny of the oil companies working in the region.
Iraqi government’s ex-Oil Minister was firmly against any oil activities done in Kurdistan without his control, and labeled all its oil deals illegal. Moreover, refusing the KRGs request from Baghdad to pay the international oil companies’ fees led to a stoppage of Kurdistan’s oil exports in 2009.
Nevertheless, hopes are back on again with the new government’s promises to solve these disagreements, especially the new Iraqi Oil Minister’s statement that his new government will recognize the KRG’s PSCs and that the region’s 150- to 200-barrel-per-day exports would resume shortly.
Continue Reading >> Kurdish Globe | January 30, 2011
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Syrian-Turkish Agreement to Collaborate Against PKK
The Turkish daily Milliyet reports that a comprehensive Turkish-Syrian agreement for counterterrorism cooperation, aimed especially at coordinating efforts against the Kurdish organization PKK, is being considered by the Turkish parliament. According to the agreement, both countries will undertake to prevent all military, cultural, economic and propaganda activity by the PKK in their territory; a direct communications system (hot line) will be installed between the Syrian and Turkish chiefs of staff; joint military operations will be conducted, as needed, and procedures will be established for the rapid extradition of PKK members between the two countries.
The MEMRI Blog | February 12, 2011
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Turkish Intelligence Warns Against Attacks Ahead of Elections
[...] Intelligence units from the National Police Department and the National Intelligence Organization (MİT) have this past week issued warnings against a possible increase in attacks intending to create unrest ahead of the June 12 national elections.
The National Police Department says that potential provocative attacks seeking to influence voter opinion ahead of the national election will target Turkey’s metropolitan areas. They say that even the terrorist Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).
[...] Attacks on security forces are also expected, particularly in the spring months.
[...] There is also intelligence signaling the possibility of mass anti-government rallies, not unlike the ones led by the Atatürkist Thought Association (ADD) and the Support for Contemporary Life Association (ÇYDD), where hundreds of thousands marched on the streets of İzmir, İstanbul and Ankara.
[...] The police department also emphasizes a threat based on intelligence indicating that there are groups planning to assassinate Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahçeli and MHP parliamentary group chairman Oktay Vural.
Continue Reading >> World Bulletin | February 12, 2011
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Turkish Intelligence Chief in Azerbaijan for Talks
President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has today met head of the Turkish National Intelligence Organization (MIT), Hakan Fidan.
[...] President Ilham Aliyev stressed the necessity of strengthening security issues in the region, adding development of Azerbaijan-Turkey relations in this field has positive impact on the whole region.
Continue Reading >> News.az | February 7, 2011
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Turkish Interior Minister in Moscow
[...] Turkish Interior Minister Besir Atalay arrived in Moscow on Thursday upon an invitation by Russian Interior Minister Rashid Nurgaliyev.
During meetings between Turkish and Russian delegations, cooperation in security and fight against illicit drug trafficking as well as deepening the cooperation between Turkish and Russian interior ministries were discussed.
The officials also took up fight against terrorism, prevention of extremism, exchange of intelligence, training of police officers and student exchange in police academies.
Continue Reading >> Turkish Daily Mail | February 11, 2011
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Iran to Tighten Border Security
Iran’s interior minister says the government has devised a new comprehensive plan for enhancing control and security along the country’s borders.
Mostafa Mohammad-Najjar told IRNA late on Sunday that the new plan has been implemented along the eastern and northwestern borders of the country, and will be put in practice along the entire borders of the Islamic Republic in the near future.
Continue Reading >> Press TV | February 14, 2011
Moscow Airport Bombing Linked to North Caucasus, Suicide Bombers Reportedly Trained in Pakistan, Series of Bomb Blasts Rock Chechnya’s Capital, Russian Policemen Targeted, Car Bomb in Dagestan, Risk of Armenian, Azeri War on the Rise, Georgian Intelligence Chief “Advances Skills” in United States
Russia Says Moscow Airport Bomber from North Caucasus
The suicide bomber who killed at least 35 people at Moscow’s main airport Monday was a 20-year-old native of the North Caucasus.
Continue Reading >> Reuters | January 29, 2011
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Moscow Airport Bomb: Suicide Bombers Were Part of Squad Trained in Pakistan
[...] A newspaper close to Russia’s FSB security service published what it claimed was a warning to Moscow police issued in December that said there was credible intelligence that a suicide squad made up of three women and one man from Chechnya was headed to Moscow.
The memo said the team had spent time in Pakistan and Iran and that one of the women had a relative with a flat in Moscow that might be used as a bomb making factory.
Continue Reading >> The Daily Telegraph | January 26, 2011
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Series of Bomb Blasts Rock Chechnya’s Grozny
Four policemen and one local resident were injured in a series of blasts that rocked Chechnya’s capital on Tuesday, the republic’s investigation department told Itar-Tass on Wednesday.
Continue Reading >> Itar Tass | February 9, 2011
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Four Policemen Shot Dead in North Caucasus
Two masked gunmen have shot dead four traffic policemen in one of Russia’s restive North Caucasus republics, reports say.
The four policemen were sitting in a cafe on their lunch break when the attack happened in Kabardino-Balkaria.
Continue Reading >> BBC News | February 2, 2011
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Four Dead in Dagestan Car Bomb
Four people have been killed and six wounded in a car bomb explosion outside a cafe in the Russian region of Dagestan.
The attack is the deadliest to hit the Northern Caucasus region since Monday’s suicide bombing on a Moscow airport that killed 35 people and been blamed on fighters from the overwhelmingly Muslim area.
Continue Reading >> Al Jazeera English | January 27, 2011
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Risk of Armenian, Azeri War on the Rise
Escalating violence, a spiralling arms race and a slowdown in peace talks have increased the risk of war between South Caucasus enemies Armenia and Azerbaijan, a leading think tank said on Tuesday.
The International Crisis Group (ICG) said in a report that skirmishes between Armenia and Azerbaijan could easily spiral out of control, causing “devastating regional consequences.”
Continue Reading >> Reuters | February 8, 2011
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Obama Meets with Georgian President in US
[...] “They also discussed security challenges in the Caucasus and the work of (international) forces in Afghanistan, where brave Georgians stand shoulder to shoulder with American forces,” the White House said.
Continue Reading >> AFP | January 14, 2011
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Georgian Intelligence Service Head Advances Skills in United States
Georgian intelligence service head Gela Bezhuashvili has temporarily left his post, Georgian Presidential Spokesperson Manana Manjgaladze said at a briefing.
According to her, in six months, Bezhuashvili will return from the United States and again hold his post.
Continue Reading >> Trend | February 2, 2011
Iran, Oman Continue Joint Military Talks, Iran’s Supreme Leader Praises Egyptian Protesters, Despite Turmoil Egyptian Navy to Exercise with United Arab Emirates
Iran and Oman held the second round of joint military talks, an Iranian military official Brigadier General Mostafa Salami said on Monday.
[...] “Iran and Oman aerial and naval commanders held second round joint talks on military and defense cooperation. The talks aimed at strengthening bilateral interests, developing potentials, expanding military ties and making close cooperation to provide relief and stable security in Persian Gulf and Oman Sea.”
Continue Reading >> ISNA | February 7, 2011
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Iran Glories In Egypt’s Unrest, Perhaps Too Soon
The leaders of Iran have been watching the offense unfold in Egypt with unconcealed delight. They have embraced the protestors proclaiming that an Islamic awakening is underway there. And they characterize the turmoil as defeat for the United States and Israel and a victory for Iran. But Iran’s opposition is also taking heart in the Egyptian uprising.
[...] Iran’s Islamic leaders have been at odds with Mubarak for more than 30 years, and so when street protests broke out in Egypt, Iran was quick to spin them their way.
[...] There was trouble between Cairo and Tehran from the earliest days of Iran’s Islamic revolution, when the shah of Iran abdicated and left the country, it was Egypt, under the leadership of Anwar Sadat, who gave him sanctuary. The shah died in Egypt in 1980 and Sadat was assassinated in 1981.
[...] Iran embraced Sadat’s killers in a way that has poisoned relations with Egypt ever since.
[...] At the very least, it’s probably fair to say that Iran may have some room to maneuver politically no matter what government emerges after Mubarak but there’s no certainty at this point Tehran will have anything more than minor influence on events in Egypt.
Continue Reading >> NPR | February 5, 2011
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Despite Turmoil, Egyptian Navy to Exercise with UAE
In the midst of the turmoil in Egypt with protesters demanding the removal of President Hosni Mubarak, the country’s navy is to hold a joint military exercise with the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
General Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces Monday welcomed a delegation from the Egyptian naval forces headed by Commodore Ashraf Ibrahim Atwa Mujahid.
Sheikh Mohammed underlining the depth of relationship between the two countries, said such exercises are vital for the development of military capability to cope with various threats.
Continue Reading >> Egypt News | February 7, 2011
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Emirati Spy Ring Dismantled in Oman, Iran “Pursues Mossad Moves in Muslim and Neighboring Countries”
Turkey, Iran Discussing “Closer Cooperation” Turkish President to Visit Tehran, Leaked Cable Questioning Turkish Government’s Control Over the Army, Turkey’s Main Opposition Leader Meets NATO Secretary General Discusses Recent Developments in Tunisia and Egypt
Iran, Turkey Discuss Closer Cooperation
Iran and Turkey discuss the promotion of mutual relations in different fields, stressing that closer cooperation will benefit both nations as well as other regional countries.
Officials and experts from both countries, who took part in the 22nd meeting of the Iran-Turkey Joint Economic Cooperation Commission underscored the need to boost economic, trade, transportation, energy, industrial, agricultural, environmental, tourism and healthcare ties among other things.
Continue Reading >> Press TV | February 6, 2011
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Turkey’s Gül to visit Iran
President Abdullah Gül will pay an official visit to Tehran on Feb. 14-16 at the invitation of his Iranian counterpart, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, only weeks after İstanbul hosted the second round of nuclear talks between world powers and Iran.
Continue Reading >> World Bulletin | January 30, 2011
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Turkish PM not Pilot in Dogfight Policy, Says Leaked Cable
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has allegedly admitted to being unable to control Turkish military flights that frequently caused tension in the Aegean region between neighbors Turkey and Greece, according to a leaked U.S. Embassy cable from 2004.
[...] Relations between the secular Turkish military and the ruling Justice and Development Party, or AKP, have been problematic since Erdoğan came to power in late 2002. Apart from disagreements over interpretations of secularism, the military has also opposed the government’s foreign policy, especially on Cypriot and Aegean issues.
Continue Reading >> Hurriyet Daily News | January 25, 2011
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Turkey’s Main Opposition Leader Meets NATO Secretary General
The main opposition leader held meetings with officials on the sidelines of the 47th Munich Security Conference in Germany on Saturday.
Republican People’s Party (CHP) chairman Kemal Kilicdaroglu had meetings with several officials including NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen. Kilicdaroglu said that they discussed the recent developments in Tunisia and Egypt during meetings.
Cumhuriyet | February 6, 2011
Unconfirmed Report : Israel Sent Crowd Dispersal Weapons to the Egyptian Regime
[...] The International Network for Rights and Development said that three Israeli planes landed at Cairo’s Mina International Airport on Saturday, carrying equipment for use in dispersing and suppressing large crowds.
According to the report, Egyptian security forces received the cargo on three Israeli planes, which were allegedly carrying a large supply of internationally proscribed gas to disperse crowds.
Press TV | February 1, 2011
U.S. Special Envoy to Egypt Held Secret Meeting with Senior Leader of the Muslim Brotherhood
[...] The Egyptian intelligence official told WND his government has information of a meeting that took place yesterday between Issam El-Erian, a senior leader of the Muslim Brotherhood, and Frank Wisner, a former U.S. ambassador to Egypt.
The Obama administration dispatched Wisner to Egypt this past weekend to report to the State Department and White House a general sense of the situation in the embattled country.
The Egyptian intelligence official speaking to WND said the meeting took place inside the American embassy in Cairo.
The U.S. State Department would neither confirm nor deny the report.
[...] The latest information is not the first charge by the Egyptian government that the Obama administration has been working with or encouraging the opposition to Mubarak.
WorldNetDaily | February 1, 2011
Emirati Spy Ring Dismantled in Oman, Iran “Pursues Mossad Moves in Muslim and Neighboring Countries”
Oman Says Busts UAE Spy Network, UAE Denies Role
[...] “Security forces (of Oman) were able to discover a spy ring belonging to the state security forces of the United Arab Emirates targeting the regime in Oman and the mechanism of governmental and military work there,” said the official, quoted by the official ONA news agency.
[...] The cell “gathered information on the Sultanate’s military, security and economy, in return for large sums of money from Emirati security services,” the same official added requesting anonymity.
The cell “was interested in the issue of the succession of Sultan Qaboos, in the absence of an heir to the throne,” a security official said.
[...] Oman has very good relations with Iran, while the UAE is a staunch ally of the United States. The UAE also has a long-lasting dispute with Tehran over three Iran-controlled islands in the Gulf.
Qaboos, known for rarely travelling out of Oman, was the first foreign leader to travel to Iran since President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was re-elected in a disputed 2009 vote.
Oman has always had close relations with Iran and remained neutral during the war between the Islamic Republic and Iraq that lasted from 1980 to 1988, unlike most of its Arab neighbours who had supported the regime of the toppled Iraqi President Saddam Hussein.
Continue Reading >> Reuters | January 30, 2011
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Iran Closely Monitors Mossad Moves
[...] “Iran’s Intelligence Ministry not only closely monitors various Mossad measures inside the country but it also pursues moves by this intelligence service in Muslim and neighboring countries,” IRNA quoted Iranian Intelligence Minister Heidar Moslehi as speaking to reporters.
[...] Iranian forces penetrated into the depth of the Mossad information system and recognized and dismantled its different networks.
Continue Reading >> Press TV | January 31, 2011
“Day of Rage” in the Middle East, Egyptian Chief of Staff Leaves for Washington, Egypt President’s Son, Family Rumored to Be in Britain
Analyst Reva Bhalla outlines the issues at stake in the protests that have embroiled Lebanon and Egypt.
Stratfor | January 25, 2011
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Egyptian Chief of Staff Leaves for Washington
Egyptian Chief of Staff Lt.Gen. Sami Annan left Cairo for Washington on Monday heading a high ranking military delegation for a several days official visit to the United States.
Qatar News Agency | January 24, 2011
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Egypt President’s Son, Family Flee to Britain
Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak’s son, who is considered as his successor, has fled to Britain along with his family, a US-based Arabic website reported.
The plane with Gamal Mubarak, his wife and daughter on board left for London Tuesday from an airport in western Cairo, the website Akhbar al-Arab said.
Times of India | January 26, 2011
Syria-Hezbollah-Backed Candidate Named Prime Minister in Lebanon, Destabilization Reports Unfold
Syria’s Assad rocked by four bombings in Aleppo
The Syrian opposition reported that the regime of President Bashar Assad has been shaken by four suicide attacks in one day. The opposition said the bombings took place in the northern city of Aleppo on Jan. 17, and at least seven people were killed.
World Tribune | January 19, 2011
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Intelligence Services in Syria try to avert Ben Ali effect
The intelligence services in Syria are doing everything possible to prevent a copycat uprising in the country, following the overthrow of Ben Ali in Tunisia.President Bashar Al Assad held a meeting with the principal as well as regional heads of Syria’s security services on January 16. On the agenda was how to ensure that the current wave of opposition in Tunisia, Algeria and Egypt does not spread to Syria’s streets. In a bid to preempt unrest, Assad ordered a crack-down on corrupt officials. He also told the security services to position their officers in meeting places throughout the country, in the souks and in town centres, ready to deal swiftly with any demonstrations of opposition. Military security was also told to increase the pace with which it takes down satellite TV dishes. The various units in charge of phone tapping are going to increase their presence in call centres, and they are going to set up an emergency plan that, in case of trouble, will isolate a village, a town or even a region from the rest of the fixed and mobile telephony network. On January 17, Assad took a highly rare meeting with Interior Minister Saed Samour, police officials from the different regions and the heads of Criminal Security branches: usually, the president only takes meetings with the interior minister and the head of Political Security.
Intelligence Online | January 20, 2011
Webster Tarpley On The Moscow Airport Bombing
Recent causes of US-UK animus towards Russia include the Khodorkhovsky verdict (the US position being that a finance oligarch that rich should of course be above the law), the inability of NATO to foment a gas crisis this winter, President Medvedev’s endorsement of a Palestinian state (re-affirming the 1988 decision by the USSR), and Afghan President Karzai’s visit to Moscow, where he created the premises for a long-term post-NATO strategic relationship with Russia including the Salang tunnel, hydroelectric plants, and a Turkmenistan-India gas pipeline the US has been seeking to block. Also worth noting is that, in a recent Wikileaks document dump, the impotent gaggle of marginal Russia opposition figures assembled by Obama’s lightweight NSC Russia director Michael McFaul demonstrated a special desire to oust Chechen President Razman Kadyrov, a Putin ally. Are their alleged human rights concerns only a cover story for their fear that Kadyrov is actually suppressing NATO-backed terrorism in Chechnya?
Tarpley | January 25, 2011
British MI6 Proposed “Direct Lines” to Israeli Intelligence For Crackdown On Iran-Backed Hamas in The Gaza Strip
British intelligence helped draw up a secret plan for a wide-ranging crackdown on the Islamist movement Hamas which became a security blueprint for the Palestinian Authority, leaked documents reveal. The plan asked for the internment of leaders and activists, the closure of radio stations and the replacement of imams in mosques.
The disclosure of the British plan, drawn up by the intelligence service in conjunction with Whitehall officials in 2004, and passed by a Jerusalem-based MI6 officer to the senior PA security official at the time, Jibril Rajoub, is contained in the cache of confidential documents obtained by al-Jazeera TV and shared with the Guardian. The documents also highlight the intimate level of military and security cooperation between Palestinian and Israeli forces.
The Guardian | January 25, 2011
Anti-Drug Training For Mexico’s Army and Police Forces in Colombia
Long experienced in fighting cocaine cartels and Marxist guerrillas, Colombia is training thousands of Mexican policemen as well as soldiers and court officers to help contain drug gangs that have turned parts of Mexico into virtual combat zones.
Most of the training has taken place in Mexico, Colombian and American officials say. But in a sign of how serious the threat posed by the Mexican cartels has become, an increasing number of Mexican soldiers and policemen are traveling here to train with Colombia’s battle-tested police commandos.
The Washington Post | January 22, 2011
Moscow Airport Blasts: FSB False Flag Operation, Anti-Putin Campaign or Separatist Attack?
A bomb blast killing at least 35 people at Moscow’s Domodedovo airport and leaving hundreds injured is officially being blamed by authorities on one or more suicide bombers, but previous instances of terrorism in Russia were proven to be the work of the FSB security service itself.
The attack is the second in less than a year, following the detonation of two devices aboard metro trains in Moscow last March, an attack that killed a similar amount of innocent people.
The immediate speculation, being promulgated unquestioningly by the media, is once again that the blasts are related to the deterioration in relations between the Kremlin and the volatile Islamist North Caucasus region.
Infowars | January 24, 2011
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