Contemporary Wars

Any new war between Pakistan and India will be a limited war or a nuclear war.
In both cases the importance of what and how many fighters each side bought tends to disappear.

Right. More, they are not so happy with russian fiability (*is the proper word?). For theyr Fulcrums they have more than 350 engines... And comparing russian planes with Mirage 2000H, they are not happy at all. Maybe they want F-16 because had superior fiability. Why do you have a lot of capable russian planes, when you cannot use enough of them, because they had malfunctions?


For FC-1, follow this link: http://www.sinodefence.com/airforce/fighter/fc1.asp

Iama

"General: U.S. Seeks Relations With Libyan Armed Forces
NewsMax.com Wires
Thursday, April 21, 2005
WASHINGTON -- The U.S. military would like to establish official ties with Libyan armed forces if Libya can satisfy the Bush administration that it has renounced its sponsorship of terrorism, the second-in-command at U.S. European Command said Thursday.

Gen. Charles Wald said the matter was under consideration by Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld.


"I think it's going to happen," Wald said in an Associated Press interview at the Pentagon. He believes Libya and nearly every other nation in North Africa is interested in closer relations with the United States, in part because they share a concern about Islamic extremism.
"There's obviously discussion going on: What are we going to do with Libya? How do we want to engage? Should they be part of the process? Do you bring them into the fold?" he said, adding that if Libya lives up to its promises on foreswearing weapons of mass destruction and ending its sponsorship of terrorism, then the United States should establish military relations.

"I think it would be hugely beneficial" to U.S. interests in North Africa, the four-star Air Force general said.

It's not clear what sort of military-to-military ties the Pentagon would seek, but they likely would include direct talks between senior military officials and possibly an arrangement for U.S. training with Libyan troops or direct access to Libyan military facilities.

Wald's command, which is based in Germany, has focused increasing attention on North Africa, where it sees a rising danger from transnational terrorists seeking to exploit instability.

Prior to the rise to power of Libyan leader Moammar Ghadafi in 1970, the U.S. military had bases there, including operations at Wheelus air base near Tripoli, the capital. In the 1950s the U.S. Air Force stationed long-range bombers at Wheelus, and for a period it was headquarters for the 17th Air Force of U.S. Air Forces Europe. U.S. intelligence agencies also operated from Wheelus, mainly on missions to monitor activities of Soviet military forces.

But for much of the past quarter century Libya has been viewed by U.S. administrations as an adversary.

In April 1986, President Ronald Reagan ordered the bombing of targets in Tripoli and Benghazi, following U.S. accusations of Libyan involvement in a bomb explosion at a German nightclub frequented by U.S. soldiers.

Last summer President Bush announced that the United States was resuming diplomatic relations with Libya. Bush acted after Ghadafi agreed to give up his nuclear weapons program, revealed secrets about the nuclear black market and accepted responsibility for the 1988 bombing of Pan Am flight 103, promising to pay compensation to relatives of the 270 people killed.

Wald's interest in Libya is shared other elements of the Defense Department. The POW-MIA office at the Pentagon, for example, sent representatives to Libya last year to discuss possible cooperation on accounting for U.S. military personnel shot down over Libya during World War II, as well as the recovery of an Air Force pilot missing from the 1986 bombing raid on Tripoli. "

We see clear? Our eyes is healthy? SUA make diplomacy with Libia? Maybe US soldiers are too tyred to fight? I had a rela surprise reading this. They renunce at force action, or is just an isolated event?

Iama

It's old news. Since Lybia agreed to dismantle its WMD programs and allow any kind of inspection, warmer relationships with the US are IMO normal. Especially since there are many bussiness opportunities.

what about the missed opportunities created by the non-proliferation?

What "missed opportunities"? Missed opportunities for the US to attack Libya, and claim they are doing it because of WMD?

Ghadafi has been moving for many years to end his isolation. The end of the nuclear program is just one step among many others.

I agree with Victor. There was nothing surprising in Gen. Wald's statement. The US tries to have some contact with most militaries. It's always helpful when there is a coup to have somebody who can say, "Hey, that general who is the new president was in my class at Fort Leavenworth 10 years ago". (Not that I am predicting a coup in Libya, it's just an example.)

Another new born child of the Terror War (Against the terror) - US will increase Special Ops with 23000 person to counter terrorism... I remember a joke from our 1989 "revolution", heared from my "unchi" (the brother of my mom), at that time military-student at Campina police school - was in first bus who was not shoot at, on Otopeni: "Hey, were are you mister terrorist?"... because they were killed by "nobody".


"Special Ops to Increase Force Strength to Meet Terror War Demands


(Source: US Department of Defense; issued April 25, 2005)


WASHINGTON --- With the war on terror putting ever-increasing demands on special operations forces, U.S. Special Operations Command is boosting its manpower and increasing its support to theater commands and geographic commanders, according to the general who oversees this elite force.

Since Sept. 11, 2001, the command has become the Defense Department’s lead in fighting terror, Army Gen. Bryan Brown, commander of U.S. Special Operations Command, told the Senate Armed Services Committee’s emerging threats and capabilities subcommittee April 22.

Special operations forces have applied their direct-action capability to capture or kill terrorists far forward, specifically in Afghanistan and Iraq, Brown said.

At the same time, the command is carrying out a wide range of other missions: helping other countries’ militaries become more capable, eliminating the root causes of terrorism through civil affairs activities, and discouraging participation in terrorist groups through psychological operations efforts.

To help meet these challenges, U.S. Special Operations Command plans to increase its force strength by more than 23,000 troops in the next four years, Brown said.

This increase will affect Special Forces, civil affairs, psychological operations, aviation, and Navy special warfare forces, and will include the equivalent of two SEAL teams and about 500 Special Forces troops, he explained.

While boosting force levels, the command is also counting on retention initiatives to help decrease attrition from the ranks, Brown said. These incentives include targeted bonuses for specific specialties and educational benefits.

Thomas O’Connell, assistant secretary of defense for special operations and low-intensity conflict, told the subcommittee these initiatives underscore a basic tenet within the special operations community: that humans are more important than hardware. This mindset is particularly evident in the command’s efforts “to equip the man rather than man the equipment,” O’Connell said.

The specialized capabilities special operations forces bring to the fight are proving invaluable as they take the lead in almost every aspect of the war on terror, he said.

“We are emphasizing training, education and equipment systems that will ensure our (special operations forces) warriors have the technical and tactical skill, regional expertise, language proficiency and specialized equipment necessary to win this war,” Brown told the subcommittee.

The war on terror is a long-term conflict that’s worldwide in scope and won’t end with al Qaeda, he said. “The enemy is patient, tenacious and dedicated in this fight, and we must be the same,” Brown said. “U.S. SOCOM is preparing for the long term.” "


Iama

And another byte from old North Koreean Dog. A small one, from the momment, but who knows when he may byte from flesh of one of his neighbours with radioactive teeths...

US: North Korea Apparently Fires Missile into Sea of Japan


Source : Voice of America news


"WASHINGTON --- A top U.S. official says it appears North Korea has launched a short-range missile into the Sea of Japan.

A few hours after the first reports surfaced of a possible North Korean missile test, White House Chief of Staff Andrew Card was interviewed on American television. He told CNN's Late Edition there is reason to believe the initial Japanese reports are true.

"It appears that there was a test of a short-range missile by the North Koreans, and it landed in the Sea of Japan," he said. Mr. Card made clear the Bush administration is monitoring the situation closely, and said North Korea has taken similar action in the past.

"We are not surprised by this," he said. "The North Koreans have tested their missiles before."

Earlier, on the Fox New Sunday television program, the White House chief of staff said Washington is aware of North Korea's intentions. "Well, I think, they are looking to kind of be bullies in the world," said Mr. Card. "And they are causing others to stand up and take notice."

Mr. Card stressed that the United States remains committed to multi-national diplomacy to deal with Pyongyang's nuclear ambitions. Echoing comments made by President Bush at a news conference Thursday, he said North Korean leader Kim Jong Il has not kept his word, and the United States has no confidence that he ever will.

"We have the Russians and the Chinese and the South Koreans and the Japanese working very closely with us to try to have them [North Koreans] recognize that, first of all, they [North Koreans] have to keep their word," he added. "Second of all, they must not have any program that could lead to nuclear weapons."

Appearing on CNN, Senator Carl Levin, the top Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, said multi-party negotiations are important. But he stressed, they are not enough.

"We also ought to do what our ally, the South Koreans, want us to do, which is also, in addition to the multi-lateral talks, talk directly to the North Koreans," he said. "That is what has been missing."

North Korea walked away from the six-nation negotiations in February. "


Iama

Iamandi, i know you will get man on me, but for the love of GOD, do you actually belive that anyone reads the things you copy paste? now don't get upset, but, man, a link would be a better way to attract attention than posting a huge text. hardly anyone wastes time to read these....

we are supposed to engage in ideas here, not in footnotes and references.....

Indrid, you are ill by criticism! AH! I know, that will start your turn to say something... But, if you don't like it, don't read it! (look, now i'm mad! ) I hope this will not start a debate on what some thinks about others. Ok?
Now, you think about a new missile test of North Koree is just a "footnote" ? This had impact in many aspects of the region, and you know this. Is so ... un-important thing? Ok, sorry. In future i will have more attention when i make posts/copy pastes. (to not hurt your eyes when you pay attention to my actions)

Anyway,
Have a nice day!

Iama

see, i knew you would take it bad.
it was just a advice, nothing more, to make your post actually readable. and if i remember correctly, i am not the only one that criticized your style. the best example that illustrates the fact that people do not read long articles is the military tradings thread, where you hold almost 90 percent of the posts, which tells a story. we are not morons, we can read articles by ourselves, a link would suffice.

a forum is supposed to be a place of discussion of ideas, not of reproducing them.

Let's stop this at the start level.

Iama

why?

why?

Because today i don't have enough time to "fight" with you. But, if you insist (?*)... tomorrow will start. And maybe this will be the end of another topic, no? I dye from happybess when i see "Topic Closed" because some guys goes off topic with their personal crusades!
So, what you say?

Iama

i has nothing to do with personal crusades? do you want me to amkea poll in general discussion to see how many people like your way of copy-pasting information? i am sure many people will vote for you just to spite me, but i am telling the truth here. it is not about fighting, i have better things to do that to fight on the net, i only told you my opinion. and of course, in the clear and unmistakeble style of the members of this forum, i got a quite violent reply. i even wonder, why the hell do i bother anymore? this should be a forum of monologues ( like military tradings thread is), becasue interaction seems impossible in a environment where everuone thinks of himself as the master of all human intelligence.