Afghanistan War News Updates -- December 1, 2012

U.S. Marines, village elders and local Afghan government officials enjoy a traditional Afghan meal after meeting to discuss governance, security and stability in Musa Qal’ah, Afghanistan, Nov. 29, 2012. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Mark Garcia

Army Commanders Warn On Afghan Withdrawal: Forces At 'Bare Minimum' -- Aol Defense

ARMY AND NAVY CLUB, WASHINGTON: "The biggest concern of my great Afghan security force partners is abandonment," said Maj. Gen. James Huggins. "We have invested a great deal [in Afghanistan] for a long time," he said, "[but] the Afghans have done it three times longer than us."

Speaking at an event this morning organized by the Institute for the Study of War (click here for video), Huggins recalled a conversation over chai with a veteran of the 1980s war against the Soviets, now a local governor. "Do you know why the Taliban come into power?" the old warrior asked him. "Because you left us too quickly after the Soviets withdrew."

Not long after, Huggins said, the governor was killed by insurgents.

Read more ....

More News On Afghanistan

ISAF Joint Command operational update, Dec 01 -- ISAF
Officials say suicide car bomber kills 3 civilians in southern Afghanistan -- Washington Post/AP
Al Qaeda battle in Afghanistan to stretch for years: U.S. -- Reuters
Pakistan 'walking the talk' on peace in Afghanistan -- The Guardian
The Bank Bust That Nearly Took Down Afghanistan -- Time
Afghanistan: the Mad Max war -- Andrew Rule, Herald Sun
Meet the Think Tankers Advising the U.S. Military in Kabul -- Gant Daily
How to fight in Afghanistan with fewer U.S. troops -- David Barno and Matthew Irvine, Washington Post
Why the United States Might Never Leave Afghanistan -- Malou Innocent, Cato & Liberty

World News Briefs -- December 1, 2012

Egyptian Islamists Rally For Morsi -- Voice of America

Thousands of supporters of Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi are holding a rally outside Cairo University.

The Muslim Brotherhood has called for rallies across Egypt Saturday in support of Morsi and a draft constitution set for a national referendum.

Meanwhile, thousands of protesters continue to demonstrate in Cairo's Tahrir Square for a ninth straight day against the president and the draft constitution.

Read more ....

MIDDLE EAST

Syrian jets bomb rebels, Internet down for third day. Syrian army shells Damascus suburbs.

Heavy clashes around Syrian capital; tensions running high in neighboring Lebanon.

Iran sacks cyber police chief over blogger's death.

Opposition boycott, protests hit Kuwaiti election.

US slams Israel's decision to expand settlements.

Thousands rally in southern Yemen for self-rule.

ASIA

N.Korea may test missile next week: US think tank. North Korea plans second rocket launch in December.

South China Sea maritime dispute escalates.

India and China can rule the seas together: Chinese daily.

Calls grow for probe into police violence at Myanmar mine.

Japan’s Space Agency says rocket information was stolen by computer virus.

India set for lowest growth in 10 years.

China faces HIV/AIDS epidemic.

AFRICA

Islamists rally behind Morsi as Egypt's rifts widen. Egyptians fear decades of Muslim Brotherhood rule, warn Morsi is no friend to US.

DR Congo rebels hand back control of Goma. Congo M23 rebels quit Goma in boost for peace hopes.

Tunisian leader fears that clashes could spread. Tunisia's president calls for new cabinet.

At least 32 killed as plane hits houses in Congo.

Nigeria: Boko Haram - tallying casualties of the insurgency.

South Sudan official visits Sudan to try to resolve border dispute.

In northern Mali, music silenced as Islamists drive out artists.

EUROPE

Eurozone won't begin recovery until late 2013, Mario Draghi says.

Eurozone unemployment hits record high.

Putin aide denies Russian president has health problems. Russia forced to deny Vladimir Putin's health is preventing him from working.

Putin strikes a pose against 'thieves and traitors'.

Slovenia protesters clash with police over budget cuts.

As its leaders fight, France's conservative party suffers.

AMERICAS

Mexico's Pena Nieto takes power, begins new era for old ruling party.

Stakes are high as Mexico's new President bids to end the bloodshed caused by drug conflict.

Venezuela's Chavez doing well in Cuba: vice president.

Don't cry for Argentina, the world's worst sovereign deadbeat.

San Onofre nuclear plant generator might have been tampered with, utility says.

Oh no, Canada! Are we watching another North American financial crisis unfold?

TERRORISM/THE LONG WAR

Suspected US drone strike kills 3 in Pakistan.

US drone appears to miss Pakistan target: officials.

Yemen says it has arrested an Al-Qaida leader.

US official points to end of 'war on terror'.

ECONOMY/FINANCE/BUSINESS

Just explain it: Why the fiscal cliff may trigger a recession.

Warehouse worker lawsuit targets Wal-Mart.

Yahoo 'ordered to pay $2.7bn' by Mexican court.

Twitter in legal spat over data clampdown.

Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- December 1, 2012

A Boeing concept image of an aircraft design for the U.S. Navy's "F/A-XX" sixth-generation fighter. (Boeing)

U.S. Air Combat Command Chief Hints At 6th Gen Fighter -- Defense News

Even as the F-35, America’s first 5th generation fighter, struggles to achieve liftoff, the U.S. Air Force is starting to plan on how to get the 6th generation of jets off the ground.

What capabilities a 6th generation jet will possess remains unclear, but Gen. Mike Hostage, the head of Air Combat Command, dropped some hints at an event hosted this morning by the Center for Strategic and Informational Studies.

Read more ....

MILITARY AND INTELLIGENCE NEWS BRIEFS

ACC chief hints at 6th gen fighter -- Air Force Times

One Landing Does Not Make a Carrier -- The Diplomat

Russia and China Close to SU-35 Deal…Again -- The Diplomat

The Chinese School For Aces -- Strategy Page

Air Defense: China Does It Cheaper Again -- Strategy Page

N.Korea may test missile next week: US think tank -- AFP

North Korea plans second rocket launch in December -- Reuters

Increasing Europe’s Strategic Tanker Capability By 2020 -- Defence Talk

Russia, U.S. Press Toward Full Chemical Arms Elimination -- Global Security Newswire

UN Palestine vote unlikely to change US ops -- DoD Buzz

Lockheed, DoD Agree on F-35 Fifth Block Purchase -- Defense News

The real F-35 LRIP-5 costs -- Eric Palmer Blog

Pentagon eyes project to preserve helicopter design capabilities -- Reuters

Exclusive: U.S. Army officials said to back new scout helicopter -- Reuters

Fire Scout Problems Delay Full Fielding -- AIN Online

U.S. Senate Leaves East Coast Shield’s Fate to Conference Panel -- Defense News

Senate Republicans back East Coast ICBM missile defense -- Foreign Policy

Obama SecDef Pick Might Come Sooner than Expected -- Military.com/AP

Pentagon: Autonomy in Weapon Systems -- Defence Talk

No Spy Software Scandal Here, Army Claims -- Danger Room

Military fathers want Pentagon to allow daughters into combat -- Boston.com

Sanctions Against BP Won’t Impede U.S. Military -- Defense News

The Most Basic Weapons Could Knock Out The US Power Grid -- Business Insider/Oilprice.com

West Point chapel to host first same-sex marriage -- USA Today

Making Military Families Whole Again Takes Time -- Military.com/News Tribune

Yes, You Can Buy A 50-Caliber Sniper Rifle Online -- Business Insider

Sucking Up to the Military Brass -- William Astore, Huffington Post

Defense Budget: Military “Experts” Seem to Have Short Memories -- Steven Bucci, Heritage Foundation

What Is Site 911? And Why Is The U.S. Building It For Israel At A Cost Of $100 Million?

U.S. Army

U.S. Overseeing Mysterious Construction Project In Israel -- Walter Pincus, Washington Post

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers plans to supervise construction of a five-story underground facility for an Israel Defense Forces complex, oddly named “Site 911,” at an Israeli Air Force base near Tel Aviv.

Expected to take more than two years to build, at a cost of up to $100 million, the facility is to have classrooms on Level 1, an auditorium on Level 3, a laboratory, shock-resistant doors, protection from nonionizing radiation and very tight security. Clearances will be required for all construction workers, guards will be at the fence and barriers will separate it from the rest of the base.

Read more ....

Update #1: Why Is The US Building A Secret $100 Million Underground Facility Outside Tel Aviv? -- Business Insider
Update #2: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers taking bids to build complex for Israeli Air Force -- CNN

My Comment: Any predictions that  there will be American personal at this installation once this it is completed,?

A New Approach Towards Mine Clearing?

The Mine Kafon is a low-cost wind-powered mine detonator with the appearance of a giant, spiky-armed tumbleweed.

Mine Kafon: The Low-Tech, High-Design Tumbleweed Minesweeper -- CNN

(CNN) -- An Afghan designer and former refugee has developed a low-cost, wind-powered mine detonating device inspired by the toys he played with as a child.

Massoud Hassani's Mine Kafon is composed almost entirely from bamboo and biodegradable plastics, with a skeletal structure of spiky plungers that resembles a giant spherical tumbleweed from another planet.

At 70 kilograms, Hassani says his invention is light enough to be propelled by a normal breeze, while still being heavy and big enough - 190cm in diameter - to activate mines as it rolls over them.

Read more ....

My Comment: I look forward to seeing it operate in the field, but because it does not check every square inch of territory it will probably be used in areas where mines are not that prevalent.

Buyers For Israel's Iron Dome?

Israel’s Antimissile System Attracts Potential Buyers -- New York Times

WASHINGTON — The success cited by Israel for its Iron Dome antimissile system in its confrontation with Hamas has re-energized American missile defense advocates and generated new interest in the global arms bazaar from nations like South Korea that face short-range rocket threats from hostile neighbors.

But even ardent supporters of a continent-size missile shield to guard the United States and other NATO members acknowledge the limitations of Iron Dome, which is a tactical system designed to shoot down unsophisticated rockets — basically flying pipe bombs — with a range of less than 50 miles.

Read more ....

My Comment: Too early to state unequivocally that Iron Dome is a success .... but it does look promising.

Picture Of The Day

VENTURA FLIGHT

The crews of two E-2C Hawkeye aircraft assigned to Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron117 fly over the Pacific Ocean near Ventura, Calif., Nov. 20, 2012. VAW-117 is a command and control and airborne early warning squadron dedicated to deliver time critical situational awareness to warfare commanders and coalition partners. U.S. Navy photo by Command Master Chief Spike Call