IRAN
Panetta: Iranian weapons used to attack Americans in Iraq
David S. Cloud, Los Angeles Times- July 11, 2011
Supplies from Iran have ‘really hurt us’ in Iraq, says Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta, making an unannounced visit to Baghdad. The U.S. may be pushing Iraqi leader Nouri Maliki to request that some troops remain after the withdrawal deadline.
Dozen killed as Iran arms explode at Cyprus naval base
Patrick Baz, AFP- July 11, 2011
Huge blasts in a seized Iranian weapons cache at a Greek Cypriot naval base in the south of the Mediterranean island killed at least 12 people on Monday, state media said.
Pakistan
In Pakistan, analysts say US aid cuts harm American efforts against al-Qaida, lessen US power
Associated Press- July 11, 2011
The decision to suspend more than one-third of American military aid to Pakistan could end up hurting Washington more than Islamabad as the U.S. seeks to navigate an end to the Afghan war and defeat al-Qaida, former Pakistani officials and analysts warned Monday.
Tensions rise along Afghan-Pakistan border
Karin Brulliard and Joshua Partlow,Washington Post- July 10, 2011
Weeks of deadly cross-border shelling from Pakistan and militant attacks from Afghanistan are threatening a fragile thaw between the long-wary nations, raising alarm on both sides about the potential for expanded regional conflict as the U.S. presence in Afghanistan shrinks.
Pakistan’s nuclear-bomb maker says North Korea paid bribes for know-how
R. Jeffrey Smith, Washington Post- July 6, 2011
The founder of Pakistan’s nuclear bomb program asserts that the government of North Korea bribed top military officials in Islamabad to obtain access to sensitive nuclear technology in the late 1990s.
AFGHANISTAN
Patraeus, Leaving Afghan War behind, finds promise in mission
Carlotta Gall, New York Times- July 10, 2011
Just days away from the end of his tour as the supreme military commander in Afghanistan, and the end of a 37-year military career, Gen. David H. Petraeus said he was leaving in the belief that his plan to turn around the war and hand over security to the Afghans could be achieved.
NORTH KOREA
Baird to announce boycott of UN conference over North Korea appointment
Carolynne Burkholder and Tobi Cohen, National Post- July 10, 2011
Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird is set to announce Monday that Canada is boycotting the United Nations Conference on Disarmament over North Korea’s involvement, a senior government source told Postmedia News.
DEFENSE SPENDING
U.S. willing to leave 10,000 troops in Iraq past year’s end, officials say
Donna Cassata,Associated Press- July 9, 2011
The House overwhelmingly passed a $649 billion defense spending bill yesterday that boosts the Pentagon budget by $17 billion and covers the costs of wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
China says US spends too much money on military
Alexa Olesen, Associated Press- July 11, 2011
he United States is spending too much on its military in light of its recent economic troubles, China’s top general said Monday while playing down his country’s own military capabilities.
