[RNANEWS] In a special report delivered to the U.N. Security Council, Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon toned down his criticism of Rwanda over accusations it is supporting M23 rebels in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, ...formerly the Congo Free State, Belgian Congo, Zaire, and who knows what else, not to be confused with the Brazzaville Congo or Republic of Congo, which is much smaller and much more (for Africa) stable. DRC gave the world Patrice Lumumba and Joseph Mobutu, followed by years of tedious civil war. Its principle industry seems to be the production of corpses. With a population of about 74 million it has lots of raw material... the Rwanda News Agency has learned.
Rooters reported that a draft of Ban's report applauded countries that suspended aid to Rwanda after U.N. experts responsible for monitoring compliance with sanctions and arms embargoes in the Congo, accused Rwanda of supporting the rebels.
According to Rooters the draft report read: "Actions taken by some bilateral donors to suspend aid and funds to those countries reportedly supporting in particular the M23 send a strong message that such practices must cease immediately."
While the above paragraph appeared in a draft viewed by Reuters on Monday, it was removed from the final report sent to the Security Council on Wednesday.
Posted by: Fred ||
03/03/2013 00:00 ||
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When will they awaken? Picking winners and losers or supporting one over the other is a fool's errand. African genocidal madness and tribal butchery is not incubated from a name or political group, it is firmly lodged in the DNA.
[News24] Residents say that the Congolese army has taken control of a town that was run by M23 rebels for more than six months.
Jacques Kambale said early Saturday that lines of military entered the town of Kiwanja Friday afternoon.
Doctors Without Borders said late Friday that more than 55 civilians have been killed in fighting in another town in Congo's east, Kitchanga, where 135 people have been maimed.
Thousands have fled the renewed violence.
Fighting began again in eastern Congo after the M23 divided into two groups on Wednesday.
The new splinter group attacked positions held by M23 near the border with Uganda Thursday into Friday.
Posted by: Fred ||
03/03/2013 00:00 ||
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[USATODAY] President Hugo Chavez has received more embalming fluid chemotherapy since a December operation in Cuba, the country's vice president revealed late Friday night.
Vice President Nicolas Maduro said Chavez "continues his battle for life." The ailing 58-year-old has not been seen or heard from since he returned to the country on Feb. 18.
The vice president quoted Chavez as saying he decided to return to Venezuela because he was entering "a new phase" of "more intense and tough" treatments and wanted to be in Caracas for them.
Maduro's disclosure came after members of the government held a Mass on Friday at a new chapel built inside the military hospital in Caracas where Chavez is reportedly staying. At the Mass, hymns were sung while images flashed across television screens of an angelic, glowing Chavez in his younger days. The Mass was broadcast live on state television. ... and if you can't believe state television who can you believe?
Posted by: Fred ||
03/03/2013 00:00 ||
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Brazil is set to join the select group of countries that have nuclear-powered submarines, President Dilma Rousseff said Friday.
Rousseff stressed Brazil was committed to peace but also needed its defense deterrent, as she inaugurated a naval shipyard in Rio de Janeiro state where the country's first nuclear-powered sub is set to be built in partnership with France.
"We can say that with these installations we are entering the select club of countries with nuclear submarines: The United States, Russia, France, Britain and China," said Rousseff.
Under the scheme, France will supply Brazil with four conventional submarines and help develop the non-nuclear components of the South American powerhouse's first nuclear-powered attack submarine.
Brazil already has the uranium enrichment technology required for producing nuclear fuel and wants to use it to power the submarine.
The 7.8 billion reais ($3.95 billion) ProSub program aims to protect the country's 8,500-kilometer (5,280-mile) coastline and huge deep-water oil reserves.
The defense ministry said the first of the four conventional Scorpene-class subs will be delivered to the Brazilian Navy in 2017, while the nuclear-powered vessel will be commissioned in 2023.
No commentary on whether Brazil will develop the power plant itself or whether France will provide it; I assume given the statement about 'uranium enrichment technology' that Brazil will provide the fuel.
"This alliance (with France) must be carefully watched by all those who are taking part because our mission is to ensure that this technology is transferred to us in line with the contract," Rousseff said.
The 75-meter-long (246-foot) Scorpene is a diesel-electric attack submarine built by France's DCNS naval defense firm for a variety of missions, including anti-submarine warfare, special operations and intelligence collection.
France is also vying to win a contract valued at between $4 and $7 billion for 36 multi-purpose combat aircraft to modernize the Brazilian air force. The Rafale fighter, built by French firm Dassault Aviation, is up against US aviation giant Boeing's F/A-18 Super Hornet and Swedish manufacturer Saab's Gripen.
The winner will be the company that allows Brazil to set up a co-production agreement.
Posted by: Steve White ||
03/03/2013 00:00 ||
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Politics, pure and simple. Someone owed the French a favor.
Strategically and tactically speaking, they would have been far better off going with one of the AIP based conventional boats that are being built. Something like the Japanese "Dragon" series (Soryu was the lead boat of the class). The newer construction un that series may give even US nuc boats and surface ships some problems if properly crewed and commanded. 84m, 4200 ton displacement, so hardly a small coastal bot - and the air indep drive gives them a lot of submerged time compared to a normal DE boat, and they are probably deadly queit when silent runnings, since they dont have to run any pumps to keep a nuclear teakettle cooled. Add to that the modern Japanese materials engineering, design expertise, and of course Japanese electronics and you probably have a pretty formidable attack boat. Certainly one suited to the task of patrolling the waters in and around Brazil and its maritime interests. So gotta be politics to waste all that money learning to build and operate a a nuc boat.
#2
Then again, OS, that modern-style AI boat demands a lot: Japanese engineering, technology, etc. We could build one, so could the Brits, but the Brazilians? Even with technology transfers such a boat would have to built in Japan for the most part and delivered to Brazil.
Whereas what I think they want is an indigenous submarine industry at some point. Going nuclear is paradoxically easier: the technology has been around longer and it's more straightforward than the latest AI design.
So they buy some Scorpenes up front and start building their own submarine industry. This models what they did with their aircraft industry.
Posted by: Steve White ||
03/03/2013 11:17 Comments ||
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The Scorpenes I understand. The question is why a nuke boat instead of conventional DEs? Are they planning on running it against somewho in particular? Or are they looking to get nuke tech for other purposes besides subs?
#4
The question is why a nuke boat instead of conventional DEs?
They want to deploy, project, be not seen in places unforeseen.
AIP is fine for coastal work, but to get where you want to be a long ways away requires power, nukes are pretty much the only way to make high speed transits. Altho the Brits had this weird K Class design which had a whole-hawg steam plant. Say what you will, it would move along at 24 knots, bring your own broom stick.
#5
SteveS: They could be looking to become the Nuclear Power in SA the same way Iran is in the ME. It would make sense, largest country, most resources, I think largest Population. Brazil is making a move towards a first-class country and nuclear-military may be required in their eyes.
I also remember some hunky-dory talk between Iran and Venezuala. This could be a pushback against that.
Posted by: Charles ||
03/03/2013 18:25 Comments ||
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That's kind of an abnormally long long lead time, isn't it - can't Brazil find its own equivalent of ADM. Rickover or similar???
Iff Brazil = USA back in the day, I have no doubts Rickover would be having a serious fit.
#7
why on earth does Brazil need a nuclear-powered sub? this stretches credulity beyond all limits. some Brazilian admiral has been mixing too much rum with his lime juice.
#8
...The Scorpenes will be used mostly to give the Brazilians experience with modern SS ops. The SSN they eventually get will be a Barracuda class SSN with an export sensor rig built in France. The Brazilians have run a thoroughly above-board nuclear program for many years, and they're perfectly within their rights to set one up.
Now, why do they want one? Quite simple: the USN is going away. The Brazilians have been a regional level superpower for decades now. Their navy is well equipped and trained, and though we diverge pretty widely in political terms, strategically both nations have pretty much the same goals. They know that the USN will not be there the way it has been in the past, and somebody has to take up the slack. If a few SSNs make them the Big Kids On The Block, then so much the better.
Mike
Posted by: Mike Kozlowski ||
03/03/2013 20:04 Comments ||
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They want to deploy, project, be not seen in places unforeseen.
Posted by Shipman
Brazil is making a move towards a first-class country...
Posted by Charles
I've been pondering the comments above (thanks, guys!) and finally came to the same conclusion as Mike: the USN is going away.
Once upon a time, America provided security guarantees and safety of the sea lanes. Nobody believes that anymore. You may not like the cop on the beat, but without him, the neighborhood becomes a more dangerous place.
The mayor of Moscow says there are no plans to build a new mosque in the city, and says the "excessive" number of economic migrants was a "harmful thing".
Sergey Sobyanin said, "It has turned out that the praying Muslims are not all Russian citizens and they are not Moscow residents. They are labor migrants. There are only 10 percent of Moscow residents among them and building mosques for everyone who wants it - I think this will be over the top."
The mayor continued, "Muscovites now get irritated by people who speak a different language, have different manners, with aggressive behavior. This is not purely ethnic, but this is connected with some ethnic traits."
At the same time, Sobyanin explained that there are no ethnic enclaves in the city and expressed the hope that such enclaves would not ever appear as closed districts like that those that usually have a very high crime rate.
Russian Muslims did not welcome the Mayor Sobyanins statement. Co-chairman of the Councils of Muftis of Russia, Nafigulla Ashirov said that Muslims did not agree with Sobyanins plans and that they would, should the need arise, address President Putin with a request for help.
#1
The mayor of Moscow says there are no plans to build a new mosque in the city, and says the "excessive" number of economic migrants was a "harmful thing".
#2
Yes. When "economic migrant" = "comes to leech off the existing economy, rather than contribute to its growth," they should be unwelcome regardless of where or how or who / what they worship...
Posted by: M. Murcek ||
03/03/2013 10:21 Comments ||
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Yep. Like those Americans coming up to Canada to find work...
#3
This would indicate somewhere between March to May by 1936 standards. The irony was that the Fascists backed Franco who turned out to be an anti-socialist. If you want real deep irony, the Spanish Blue Division of volunteers fought along side the National Socialist Germans against the Communist Soviet Socialists who had support from capitalists like Churchill. File under YJCMTSU.
#4
"We have backed the wrong horse in Spain. We would have done better to back the Republicans. They represent the people. We could always have converted these socialists into good National Socialists later. The people around Franco are all reactionary clerics, aristocrats, and moneybags they've nothing in common with us Nazis at all!"
-- Adolf Hitler, April 1938
[BBC.CO.UK] Philippine President Benigno Aquino has called on members of a clan occupying a Malaysian village to surrender to avoid further bloodshed.
He told the group to "surrender now without conditions", a day after 12 members of the clan and two Malaysian coppers were killed in festivities.
The Moslem clan from the Philippines is demanding recognition as the rightful owners of Sabah province.
Malaysia threatened to take "drastic action" unless the group surrender.
The clan, which calls itself the Royal Army of Sulu, has occupied the village of Lahad Datu since early February.
Hamza Taib, police chief of the Sabah region, told AFP news agency, "We want them to surrender immediately. If they don't, they will face drastic action".
He declined to provide details, but his comments show Malaysia's growing impatience with the situation.
According to the police, Friday morning's shoot-out happened when members of the clan opened fire as security forces were tightening a security cordon around the village.
The group of at least 100 were led into the region in early February by Agbimuddin Kiram, who is the younger brother of the self-proclaimed Sultan of Sulu Jamalul Kiram III.
Posted by: Fred ||
03/03/2013 00:00 ||
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Ima rooting for the Malaysians to wipe this nest out quick
Posted by: Frank G ||
03/03/2013 10:41 Comments ||
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Death toll repor now up to 27, wid four persons repor also taken hostage - standoff between Malay Govt-Police + Royal Army of Sulu continues despite the latter having more knives, etc. than guns compared to the former.
* CHINESE MILITARY FORUM [Old = FRI 03/1/13]> [AP = Sunstar.com/PH] TWELVE FILIPINOS, TWO MALAYSIAN COPS KILLED IN SABAH
* DEFENCE.PK/FORUMS > FIVE MORE MALAYSIAN FORCES KILLED IN FIREFIGHT WITH FILIPINOS IN SABAH | GMA NEWS ONLINE.
* SAME > MALAYSIA THREATENS DRASTIC "STEPS" IN BORNEO SIEGE.
Lest we fergit, the PHIL-BASED MNLF has threatened to militarily intervene iff lives on the Sultanate of Sulu side are lost in any action undertaken by the Malay Govt
VERSUS
* CHINA DAILY FORUM > WILL US DEFEND PHILIPPINES AGZ MALAYSIA? | [Reuters] VERSIONS DIFFER ON MALAYSIA, PHILIPPINES STANDOFF.
It would appear that the PHIL = JAPAN in whether the Debt-n-Deficit-now-Sequestration-ridden USA = POTUS OBAMA will arrive like John Wayne + US Cavalry/Marines oer the Hill???
[BBC] Work on a gas pipeline between Iran and Pakistain will begin on 11 March, Pak officials say.
The project has led US officials to warn that it may fall foul of sanctions on Iran's nuclear programme.
The long-delayed project is seen in Pakistain as a way of combating the country's chronic energy shortages with supplies of Iranian gas.
Officials told Pak media they hoped the presidents of both countries would attend a ceremony on 11 March.
President Asif Ali Ten Percent Zardari ... husband of the late Benazir Bhutto, who has been singularly lacking in curiosity about who done her in ... visited Iran earlier this week, meeting his Iranian counterpart Mahmoud Ahmedinejad, and finalised the multi-billion dollar deal.
Officials say the pipeline on the Iranian side of the border has been completed, and that this month will see the start of work on the project in Pakistain.
On Wednesday, the US warned Pakistain to "avoid any sanctionable activity" in connection with the project.
"We think that we provide and are providing the Pak government and people a better way to meet their energy needs," State Department front man Patrick Ventrell told news hounds on Wednesday.
Last year Pak Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar insisted the pipeline was "in Pakistain's national interest and will be pursued and completed irrespective of any extraneous considerations".
Power shortages have become a major issue in Pakistain, with the government ordering an investigation into a nation-wide power cut on Sunday blamed on a technical fault in a plant in south-western Balochistan ...the Pak province bordering Kandahar and Uruzgun provinces in Afghanistan and Sistan Baluchistan in Iran. Its native Baloch propulation is being displaced by Pashtuns and Punjabis and they aren't happy about it... province.
A multi-volume chronology and reference guide set detailing three years of the Mexican Drug War between 2010 and 2012.
Rantburg.com and borderlandbeat.com correspondent and author Chris Covert presents his first non-fiction work detailing
the drug and gang related violence in Mexico.
Chris gives us Mexican press dispatches of drug and gang war violence
over three years, presented in a multi volume set intended to chronicle the death, violence and mayhem which has
dominated Mexico for six years.
Rantburg was assembled from recycled algorithms in the United States of America. No
trees were destroyed in the production of this weblog. We did hurt some, though. Sorry.
[RNANEWS] In a special report delivered to the U.N. Security Council, Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon toned down his criticism of Rwanda over accusations it is supporting M23 rebels in the 
[News24] Residents say that the Congolese army has taken control of a town that was run by M23 rebels for more than six months.
[USATODAY] President Hugo Chavez has received more 
President Asif Ali 
