Current Events and Links

See also:
The Israel-Lebanon War
War in Iraq
Mid-East Conflict
New Cold War
The War of Gog and Magog
Terrorism
CyberWar

Current Conflicts - End of 2010

Dec. 31, 2010 - Global Security lists 37 current conflicts in the world at the end of 2010.

Source:Global Security

Next Year's Wars: The 16 brewing conflicts to watch for in 2011 - Foreign Policy

Kremlin hails Senate's approval of nuclear treaty

Dec. 23, 2010 - Russian President Dmitry Medvedev was pleased that the U.S. Senate ratified the START treaty that limits nuclear devices. He said the Russian legislators will now study a resolution from the Senate before they also ratify the treaty.

The New START treaty, signed by Obama and Medvedev in April, would limit each country's strategic nuclear warheads to 1,550, down from the current ceiling of 2,200. It also would re-establish a system for monitoring and verification which ended last year with the expiration of a previous arms control deal.

Source: Fox

North Korea 'ready for sacred war' with the South

Dec. 23, 2010 - Tensions between North and South Korea continue to mount since the North's shelling of a Southern island last month that killed four people. South Korea is conducting the largest military exercise in its history near the border between the two entities, and now North Korea's armed forces minister says it is ready for a "sacred war of justice" using a nuclear deterrent.

Source: BBC

U.S. Senate U.S. Set to Approve Russia Nuclear Arms Pact

Dec. 22, 2010 - Continuing its last-minute rush to approve unpopular bills before a host of defeated legislators leave office, the Senate is expected to approve a nuclear arms pact with Russia.

Several conservative Republicans insist the treaty would restrict U.S. options on a missile defense system to protect America and its allies and argue that the accord has insufficient procedures to verify Russia's adherence.

Source: Fox

North and South Korea move close to war footing

Nov. 29, 2010 - Tensions have escalated between North and South Korea following the North's attack of an island in the Yellow Sea last week. Since then, the North moved SA2 surface-to-air missiles nearer to its Yellow Sea coast, saying that the region is on the "brink of war."

The US and South Korea have begun four days of naval exercises in the area, involving the aircraft carrier George Washington.

The US has also agreed to a South Korean request to deploy the E8-C Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System (JSTARS), used in the 1991 Gulf War.

Source: Telegraph - UK

China seeks emergency meeting on Koreas - L A Times

Somalia’s anti-piracy war triggers UN and US concern

Dec. 6, 2010 - An anonymous Muslim country is backing the anti-piracy militia being created in Somalia semi-autonomous region known as Puntland. The U.S. and U.N. have both expressed concerns that this development may break a U.N. arms embargo on Somalia following the 20 years civil war that has decimated the country.

Source: Afrik-news

Egypt, Libya Leaders in Sudan for Talks - News From Africa

U.S. scrambles to contain WikiLeaks fallout

Nov. 29, 2010 - The WikiLeaks website has released more than 250,000 classified State Department documents. Many of the documents contain critical comments about foreign leaders and sensitive information about terrorism and nuclear proliferation.

The White House condemned the release by WikiLeaks and said the disclosures may endanger U.S. informants abroad.

An example of the potentially damaging information include frequent exhortations by Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah for the U.S. to attack Iran to stop its nuclear development. He said, "Cut off the head of the snake."

Source: MSNBC

Wikileaks Docs Grant Unfiltered Look at Secret Middle East Peace Efforts - In our Middle East Wars section.

WikiLeaks documents shed light on U.S.-Israel talks over Iran - In our Gog and Magog section

Lawmakers Call on Administration to Prosecute WikiLeaks, Designate as Terror Group - Fox

Sarkozy, the emperor with no clothes. Putin is Batman... and Ahmadinejad is like Hitler: What America REALLY thinks of our world leaders - Daily Mail - UK

China Raises 'Concern' Over U.S. Plan to Hold Joint Military Exercises With South Korea

Nov. 26, 2010 - The U.S. and South Korea announced plans to conduct military exercises after North Korea fired artillery at a South Korean island this week.

China made its first official protest over plans by the U.S. and South Korea to hold joint military exercises involving the aircraft carrier USS George Washington in the Yellow Sea on Sunday.

Hong Lei, a Foreign Ministry spokesman, as said, "We oppose any party to take any military actions in our exclusive economic zone without permission."

Observers felt that the statement was more restrained than when the U.S. announced similar plans in July, possibly because Chinese President Hu Jintao is planning to visit Washington in January.

Source: Fox

North Korea Fires On Island in South, 2 Dead

Nov. 23, 2010 - Ignoring the 1953 armistice that halted the Korean War, North Korea bombarded a South Korean island near their disputed western border. At least two marines were killed, 16 others were injured, and buildings were burned. The US has tens of thousands of troops stationed in South Korea. North Korea had warned the South to halt military drills in the area.

The United Nations Security Council could hold an emergency meeting in the next day or two over the attack, saying "It's in the works for either today or tomorrow. We are for it and planning is ongoing," Reuters reports.

South Korea returned fire and scrambled fighter jets in response, and The United States, condemned the attack.

Source: Fox

N.Korea enrichment "worst nightmare" for U.S. intel - Reuters

U.S. aircraft carrier heads for Korean waters - Yahoo

One EMP burst and the world goes dark

The sky erupts. Cities darken, food spoils and homes fall silent. Civilization collapses.

End-of-the-world novel? A video game? Or could such a scenario loom in America's future?

Once again, there is serious discussion about a looming problem that could leave our country, or even the world in turmoil. The issue is an electromagnetic pulse (EMP) burst caused by a high-altitude nuclear blast, or even a huge solar storm of the kind that is predicted in the next couple of years. In either scenario and EMP can induce ground currents strong enough to burn out power lines and electrical equipment across state lines.

Last year former House speaker Newt Gingrich told Heritage Foundation, "We are not today hardened against this... It is an enormous catastrophic threat." The House of Representatives has passed a "Grid Act" bill to address the issue. The Senate will now consider the measure.

Source: USA Today

Text of H.R. 5026, the Grid Reliability and Infrastructure Defense (GRID) Act - GOP.gov

Pakistan's nuclear arms push angers America

Oct. 12, 2010 - Pakistan, already a "fragile ally" in the Afghanistan war, is not ready to participate in talks that will cap its nuclear stockpiles. Consequently, the country is building new reactors and apparently increasing their production of fissile materials (enriched uranium and plutonium).

But Pakistan, which is deepening its nuclear ties to China, has blocked the Conference on Disarmament from starting discussions, saying a cut-off would hurt its national security interests.

Source: Telegraph - UK

Muslim Brotherhood 'declares war' on U.S.

Oct. 12, 2010 - According to Barry Rubin, an expert in Islamic affairs, Muhammad Badi, the recentlyly-elected Supreme Guide of the Muslim Brotherhood, has made a "war declaration" of greater importance than Osama Bin Laden's earlier challenge.

The Brotherhood – the dominant Islamic organization that has spawned most of the major Muslim terrorist groups, including al-Qaida, along with the largest "mainstream" organizations – is giving the signal that it is "ready to move from the era of propaganda and base-building to one of revolutionary action," says Rubin.

Barry Rubin is an author and director of the Global Research in International Affairs Center and editor of the Middle East Review of International Affairs Journal.

Source: WorldNetDaily

North Korea warns of nuclear 'sacred war'

July 24, 2020 - Because a South Korean warship was sunk in March by a North Korean torpedo, the US and South Korea will conduct war games off the coast of the Korean peninsula. The exercises, which begin Sunday, will involve the aircraft carrier USS George Washington and 20 other ships and submarines. It will also include 100 aircraft and 8,000 personnel. North Korea's National Defence Commission warned that North Korea ...

"... will start a retaliatory sacred war of their own style based on nuclear deterrent any time necessary in order to counter the US imperialists and the South Korean puppet forces deliberately pushing the situation to the brink of a war."

China is opposed to the exercises, fearing that if North Korea is squeezed too hard they might do something rash.

Source: BBC

Report: US Vulnerable to Nuclear Attack

July 22, 2010 - A Pentagon defense advisory panel issued a negative report on the nation's ability to respond to and survive a nuclear attack. They concluded that the expertise needed to survive a nuclear attack has atrophied since the end of the Cold War.

The reports authors say the conclusions of the study should serve as a "wake-up call" to the Pentagon, and they urge the Defense Department's leadership to take steps to enhance nuclear survivability.

Source: AOL

N. Korea Warns U.S., Threatens to Turn S. Korea Into 'Sea of Fire'

July 22, 2010 -

North Korea warned the United States and South Korea on Thursday to call off military exercises scheduled for this weekend and to back off any new sanctions against the communist country or, as sources quoted leader Kim Jong Il, he would personally turn Seoul into a sea of fire.

Source: Fox

Clinton announces new US sanctions against NKorea after symbolic visit to DMZ with Gates

July 21, 2010 - Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and Defense Secretary Robert Gates toured the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) between North and South Korea before announcing new sanctions against the North.

Clinton announced the new measures — targeting the sale or purchase of arms and related goods used to fund the communist regime's nuclear activities, and the acquisition of luxury items to reward its elite.

Four months ago the North Koreans were blamed for the sinking of a South Korean warship.

Source: Fox

New Axis of Evil? Venezuela, Syria and North Korea - AP

North Korea faces anger over sinking of South's warship

May 20, 2010 - A report released about the sinking of a South Korean warship in March found that a North Korean submarine's torpedo sank the ship, causing the deaths of 46 sailors. Government officials worldwide are upset with North Korea, but China urged restraint.

South Korean President Lee Myung-bak pledged to take "stern action".

Source: BBC

North Korea warns of war if punished for ship sinking - Boston Herald

EMP could leave '9 out of 10 Americans dead'

May 4, 2010 - Joseph Farah's G2 Bulletin sounds a renewed alarm about the possibility of an EMP attack – electromagnetic pulse – on the United States because of Iran's work on a multi-stage Space Launch Vehicle. Iran recently conducted a sucessful launch of their multi-stage SLV, the Simorgh. This rocket could be equipped with a nuclear warhead and detonated at high altitude over the U.S. The resulting radiation could destroy computers all over the nation, leading to a loss of electrical power and other necessary utilities.

"Within a year of that attack, nine out of 10 Americans would be dead, because we can't support a population of the present size in urban centers and the like without electricity," said Frank Gaffney, president of the Center for Security Policy.

Source: WorldNetDaily

Air Force's X-37B Space Plane Takes Off For Mystery Mission

Apr. 23, 2010 - An unmanned military Orbital Test Vehicle 1 (OTV-1) – also known as the X-37B began a long secret mission today. It is a reusable robotic space plane built by Boeing Phantom Works that is supposed to be able stay in orbit for up to 270 days and perform an autonomous re-entry and landing at California's Vandenberg Air Force Base or neighboring Edwards Air Force Base.

Source: Fox

Obama Hosts Global Leaders at Nuclear Summit

Apr. 12, 2010 - President Obama is convening leaders from 47 nations today in Washington, D.C. on Monday for a two-day summit on nuclear security. It will be the largest assembly of foreign leaders gathered by an American president since 1945. The threat of nuclear destruction by responsible nations has declined, but terrorist groups like al Qaeda pose a growing problem.

"The single biggest threat to U.S. security, both short-term, medium term and long term would be the possibility of a terrorist organization obtaining a nuclear weapon," President Obama said Monday.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu does not plan to attend the summit since he has been told that Muslim nations led by turkey will probably use the meeting to slam Israel over its nuclear program.

Source: CBN

Absence of key U.S. allies at summit amplifies doubts about Obama’s foreign policy - Daily Caller

US and Russian leaders hail nuclear arms treaty

Apr. 8, 2010 - President Barack Obama and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev signed a nuclear arms treaty that will reduce the number of deployed strategic warheads in each country to appoximately 1,550. This level is 30% lower than the previous ceiling.

Mr Obama said it was an important milestone, but "just one step on a longer journey" of nuclear disarmament.

Mr Medvedev said the deal would create safer conditions throughout the world.

The treaty still needs to be ratified by lawmakers in both countries. It is intended to replace the expired Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START) of 1991.

Source: BBC

Obama's New Nuke Strategy Raises Fears of Bolstering Rogue States - Fox

Obama Calls Nuke Terrorism the Top Threat to U.S.

Apr. 7, 2010 - The Obama administration has announced a new strategy on the use of nuclear weapons.

President Barack Obama said his administration would narrow the circumstances in which the U.S. might launch a nuclear strike, that it would forgo the development of new nuclear warheads and would seek even deeper reductions in American and Russian arsenals.

The new defensive strategy will focus on the spread of atomic weapons to rogue states or terrorists, downplaying the old Cold War fear of a nuclear exchange with Russia.

Source: NewsMax

Attack on US consulate in Peshawar, Pakistan

Apr. 5, 2010 - The US consulate in the Pakistani city of Peshawar was attacked with explosions and gunfire. At least seven people have died in the attack.

Pakistan's main Taliban faction said it had carried out the attack, and that the US consulate was the target.

Source: BBC

US and Russia announce deal to cut nuclear weapons

Mar. 26, 2010 - A new nuclear arms reduction treaty will be signed on April 8 between the US and Russia. US President Barack Obama and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev have just agreed to cut back 30% on nuclear weapons during the next 10 years.

The US is said to have more than 2,000 deployed strategic nuclear weapons, while Russia is believed to have more than 2,500.

Both sides agreed in July to reduce that number to between 1,500 and 1,675 each.

Source: BBC

Mogadishu residents told to leave Somali capital

Mar.12, 2010 - A government offensive against Islamist insurgents may start soon in the Somali capital of Mogadishu. The mayor has warned residents to move at least 1.25 miles from the city's war zones.

About half of Mogadishu's residents have already fled the city after two decades of conflict

Source: BBC

US to engage in 'hit and run' war in Somalia

Mar. 7, 2010 - According to a US newspaper, Somali military chief General Mohamed Gelle said that Americans will help the Somalia government launch a major assault on what US government dubs the 'al-Qaeda' branch in Somalia within 'a few' weeks.

Source: PressTV

N Korea threatens force ahead of US-S Korea drills

Mar. 9, 2010 - As South Korea and the U.S. prepare for annual military drills, North Korea sent a bold threat to South Korea.

“The revolutionary armed forces of (North Korea) will be left with no option but to exercise merciless physical force as the rival is set to do harm to the (North).”

The North also said that it will no longer be bound to the armistice agreement that ended the 1950-53 Korean War. They want sanctions against them lifted and peace talks with the U.S. Such negotiations were suspended when North Korea put an end to talks about ending their nuclear programs.

Source: Pakistan Observer

See: Iran building potential ICBM launch facility with help from North Korea in our "Gog and Magog" section.

US Defense Chief Warns Al-Qaida Intends to Provoke India-Pakistan War

Jan. 21, 2010 - U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates is in India for talks with Indian government leaders, including Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. He told reporters there that a syndication of terrorist groups under the al-Qaida umbrella plans to destabilize the region with further attacks in Afghanistan, Pakistan and India.

Gates praised New Delhi's statesmanship and restraint following the Mumbai attack, which is blamed on Pakistani-based insurgents. But the defense chief is cautioning that such restraint cannot be expected again, if India suffers a similar assault.

Source: Voice of America