NORTH KOREA
North Korea Extends Rocket Launch Window Due to “Technical Problems”
Jack Kim, Reuters – December 10, 2012
North Korea has extended the window for a widely condemned long-range rocket launch by a week after discovering a “technical deficiency”, the isolated state’s news agency said on Monday. The launch, viewed by the United States, Japan and South Korea as a test for developing a ballistic missile capable of delivering a nuclear warhead, had been scheduled for December 10-22 to coincide with the first anniversary of the death of former North Korean ruler Kim Jong-il.
SYRIA
Syria Rebels Overrun Aleppo Military Base
BBC – December 10, 2012
Rebel fighters are reported to have captured large parts of a big military base in northern Syria, the latest in a string of losses by government forces. The attack on Base 111 at Sheikh Suleiman, about 25km (15 miles) west of the city of Aleppo, on Sunday, was said to have been led by Islamist militants.
Russia Stands by Syria President Bashar Assad
Patrick J. McDonnell, LA Times – December 9, 2012
Russia said Sunday that it has no intention of pushing for the ouster of President Bashar Assad, as international negotiators seeking a way out of the escalating Syrian crisis again failed to reach a breakthrough. Meantime, Syria’s turmoil continued to spill over its borders, as four more people were killed in the latest spasm of Syria-related violence in the tense northern Lebanese city of Tripoli.
Israeli Ambassador: Syria Transfer of WMD to Militants Would Be Game Changer
Julian E. Barnes, Wall Street Journal – December 9, 2012
Israel’s ambassador to the U.S. said that if Syria were to transfer chemical weapons to Hezbollah or other militant groups, it would be a “game changer.” Ambassador Michael Oren, appearing on Fox News Sunday, said he could not confirm reports that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s forces had prepared sarin gas for use. But he said Israel was worried that Syria could transfer the weapons to Hezbollah, the Lebanese militant group and political party that receives support from Syria and Iran.
Syria Chemical Weapons Threat: US, Russia Set for Surprise Meeting
Bradley Klapper, Huffington Post – December 6, 2012
Diplomatic efforts to end Syria’s civil war moved forward Thursday with U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton joining Russia’s foreign minister and the U.N. peace envoy to the Arab country for extraordinary three-way talks that suggested Washington and Moscow might finally unite behind a strategy as the Assad regime weakens.
EGYPT
Egypt Gives Military Arrest Powers to Protect Referendum
VOA – December 10, 2012
Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi has given the military authority to arrest civilians as part of a decree to help maintain security for a Saturday constitutional referendum.
The order tasks the military with supporting police to protect “vital institutions.”
MISSILE DEFENSE
Dutch Cabinet Agrees to NATO Request to Send 2 Patriot Missile Defense Systems to Turkey
AP – December 7, 2012
The Dutch government approved a NATO request Friday to send two batteries of Patriot missile defense systems to Turkey, following in Germany’s footsteps, Foreign Minister Frans Timmermans said. Parliament must sign off on the Cabinet decision, but Prime Minister Mark Rutte’s two-party coalition has a comfortable majority in the 150-seat lower house, so the vote is expected to be a formality.
IRAN
UN Nuclear Inspectors to Press Iran On Military Access Site
Fredrik Dahl, Reuters – December 10, 2012
U.N. nuclear inspectors will press Iran this week for a long-sought green light to visit a key military site, although suspected clean-up work may make it difficult to find evidence of any illicit atomic bomb research there. Thursday’s talks in Tehran could provide clues as to whether the Islamic state may now be more willing to start addressing growing international concerns over its disputed atomic activity following U.S. President Barack Obama’s re-election last month.
UN Nuclear Inspectors to Press Iran On Military Access Site
AP – December 10, 2012
A conservative Iranian news website says the number of manufacturing companies in the country facing financial crisis has increased four-fold over the past four years to nearly 1,600.
US Extends Waivers on Iran Sanctions to China and India
Timothy Gardner and Roberta Rampton, Reuters – December 7, 2012
The United States granted 180-day waivers on Iran sanctions to China, India and a number of other countries on Friday in exchange for their cutting purchases of oil from the Islamic Republic. President Barack Obama’s administration has now renewed waivers for all 20 of Iran’s major oil buyers, after granting them to Japan and 10 European Union countries in September.
