Global Security Studies Practicum

The International Criminal Court (ICC) is negotiating the surrender of Saif al-Islam , Moammar Gadhafi's son. Luis Moreno-Campo, Chief of the ICC, says Saif is wanted on charges of crimes against humanity. Moreno-Campo claims the whereabouts of Saif are not known, but guarantees Saif will "have all his rights and be protected" while presenting his defense. The ICC believes Saif al-Islam, Moammar Gadhafi , and Abdulla al-Sansi committed crimes against humanity in Libya . The crimes include murder and persecution beginning in February amid anti-government demonstrations. Moreno-Campo claims al-Sansi was the head of intelligence for Moammar Gadhafi, prior to his capture and killing last week. Accoriding to Moreno-Campo, there will be no deals in exchange for the surrender of Gadhafi's son, Saif. Source: http://www.cnn.com/2011/10/28/world/africa/libya-saif-al-islam/index.html?hpt=wo_c2 Reliability: 8.5

Turkey engaged in full battle with the militant group PKK inside Iraq on Tuesday. The PPK claims over 1,000 Turkish troops with sophisticated weaponry entered the PKK's base area in a full frontal assault. Turkey has denied this assertion and premier Raccip Erdogan also denied news reports of over 1,300 militants casualties. The PKK active in the region where a major earthquake struck on Sunday and has many supporters in the area. However, Raccip Erdogan is working to win support from ordinary Kurds in order to marginalize the PKK's influence in the region. Both sides have exaggerated casualty claims in order to boost morale in their respective camps.Violent clashes between Turkish forces and the PKK is on the increase and dashes any hope for a peaceful resolution. Source: Turkey Hits Group Of Militants Inside Iraq http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204644504576653494115642586.html Reliability (9)

Ukrainian Defense Minister Mykhaylo Yezhel announced that it will allow Russia to modernize its Navy fleet in the Black Sea. However, talks on the details of the deal are still underway between Ukraine and Russian Defense Ministers. Russia’s Black Sea Fleet currently stationed in the Crimea Sevastopol peninsula, is on a lease agreement with the Ukraine until the year 2042. Also according to Russian Black Sea Fleet Adm. Igor Kasatonov Russia will never give up this naval base or the nearby Kuril Islands since it is the only protection to the southwestern border of Russia. The restoration of this fleet according to Russian Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov is because these naval ships have been rusting in anchor since the collapse of the USSR. The current count of operational vessels sums to 40 and only a single diesel-electrical submarine. Some frigates are subject to restoration and decommissioning while 15 of them will be new combat ships and 6-Kilo class diesel-electric submarine

26 October 2011 The fighting in Afghanistan is not just bullet s and bombs, right now U.S. forces are utilizing a different form of fighting back, via Twitter to get out the other side of the story. “The Taliban were just constantly putting out false information and propaganda.” said Lieutenant Colonel Jimmie Cummings. “Some of it was so wrong we finally had to start engaging, and backing up our information with the facts.” In an email exchange with CNN, Cummings stated this form of social media allows them to keep their followers dynamically informed while also keeping the enemy’s statements in check. According to Cummings, he and other members of the public affairs team work in a big room together at the headquarters of the International Security Assistance Force and when one of the tweets comes in from the other side there is a group discussion on how to react, then the two military personnel type a response. Despite the fact Cummings may think there are reaching out to a younger g

26 October 2011 Venezuela soldiers guard prison inmates. Inmates at Tocuyito Prison in northeastern Venezuela held 51 hostages on 14 October to demand better prison conditions and the transfer of inmates to other facilities. The 11-day standoff ended after authorities vowed to transfer hundreds of inmates back to El Rodeo prison in Guatiré , where a violent riot in June left 22 people dead and dozens injured. Prisoners demanded the move back to El Rodeo because it is closer to their families and the courts where their cases are being heard. No deaths or serious injuries were reported by local authorities or media. Source: http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/americas/inmates-free-hostages.html Reliability: 8.0 Comment: Overcrowding in Venezuela prisons is commonplace and inmates periodically seize hostages to press their demands. Offical figures show that Venezuela's 30 prisons are designed to hold about 12,000 prisoners but are currently housing over 47,000

26 October 2011 China proposed a new legislation with the goal to define terrorism in better terms. The new definition is broad and will include explicit legal terms such as: violence, sabotage, threats, coercing, incitement, funding, and any other kind of support for terrorist acts. It will also enforce the present rules regarding seizing domestic assets for terrorism purposes. China’s current terrorism threat comes from radical Muslim groups that reside in the northwestern region of Xinjiang . The new law will help prosecute those that decide to violate any given term in the new definition. Jiang Yu , the Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, declared that China is learning from other countries that have dealt with terrorism, and will now help cooperate with regional and international organizations to prevent terrorist acts. Source: http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/china-considers-defining-terrorism-14807269 Reliability: 9

25 OCTOBER 2011 Reuters (Washington)-- The United States is increasing food aid to drought-hit and strife-torn Horn of Africa nations. U.S. Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton stated that the U.S. is providing $100 million for food and humanitarian assistance in addition to the $650 million that has already been donated. According to Clinton, tens of thousands of people, most being children, have already died, and as many as 750,000 people are currently experiencing famine-level conditions. In addition, she stated that al-Shabaab continues to curtail access for relief workers and denying people food and medical aid in Somalia. She believes the additional U.S. support will help relief workers reach more people well into next year. RELIABILITY: 9 SOURCE: U.S. Increases Food Aid To Horn Of Africa http://af.reuters.com/article/topNews/idAFJOE79O00F20111025

26 October 2011 On Sunday, Turkey experienced a devastating 7.2 magnitude earthquake that killed over 400 people and left thousands destitute.   Despite the severed ties between Israel and Turkey , Israel is sending humanitarian aid to the distraught country.   They will be providing the country with prefabricated homes to give shelter to those who lost their homes.   According to Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman , Israel will provide all possible aid as long as political-diplomatic relations do not hinder humanitarian relief efforts.   The strained relationship has not affected their ability to aid each other in times of natural disasters.   Turkey provided aid to Israel in December during the Carmel forest fire .   Turkey originally declined Israel ’s aid, but later decided their aid was necessary.   The changes in regional strategy could likely brink the countries back together, finding common interests.   Reliability:   9 Source:   Israel , Turkey play down quake aid

25 October 2011 SOMALIA- With Kenya's operation against Al-Shabaab being in its tenth day, President Sharif Ahmed of Somalia has said the operation began without him fully informed. According to the president, "Somalia's government and its people will not allow forces entering its soil without prior agreement". These comments came about while at least 2,000 Kenya soldiers are hunting Al-Shabaab extremists in Somalia. Demonstrations in favor of Kenya's intervention and against President Sharid Ahmed's comments stirred up in a border town of Somalia. Gadi Farah, an elder from Dhobley said, "We want Kenya and Somalia to fight al-Shabaab in every corner. We do not have any other hope for life." Source: Somalia's president questions Kenya's al-Shabaab mission http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/kenya/8848537/Somalias-president-questions-Kenyas-al-Shabaab-mission.html Reliability: 8

26 October 2011 THAILAND – Despite advanced efforts to combat potential flooding, Bangkok is now seeing several of its districts succumb to powerful flood waters. Thailand’s Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra , recanted earlier statements made regarding the certainty that the capitol city would indeed be safe from flooding. Thai officials went to great lengths to impose barriers and water gates, but the powerful force of the flood waters have proved to be too much for the barriers in place. Thai officials are maintaining a close watch on the Chao Phraya River , which snakes through Bangkok and has begun to overflow into neighborhoods in the capitol city. Reports have been made of about 4 inches of water around the inner city in the Lak Si district of Bangkok, where several government buildings are located. The Thai government has declared a public holiday to go on through next week in order to encourage residents who have not properly gathered supplies and set up defenses

26 October 2011 NATO forces have killed and captured nearly 200 Taliban fighters. During the military operation, NATO troops aimed to root out the Taliban fighters and the Haqqani terrorist network. Gen. Carsten Jacobson told a press conference in Kabul that ISAF forces have killed and detained 20 members of the Haqqani terrorist network, the network believed to be behind the deadly attacks in Afghanistan. NATO forces have confiscated 400 kilograms of homemade explosives, weapons, munitions, and computers which would disrupt the network to carry out attacks. NATO has also recently launched operations in eastern region of the country and alongside the border with Pakistan to wipe out the Taliban bases and secure the capital Kabul from terroristic threats. Source: http://www.laspecula.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2533&Itemid=1 Reliability: 8

25 October 2011 Sana, Yemen – On Tuesday Yemen ’s government announced a cease-fire in the capital Sana to stop the fighting between antigovernment demonstrators and security forces. The Associated Press also reported that President Ali Abdullah Saleh met with the United States ambassador to discuss him leaving office. However, bombs and gunfire persisted in Sana and Taiz, a city in central Yemen, and at least nine protesters died. Sheik Sagheer bin Aziz, a tribal leader from northern Yemen, joined forces with Saleh in mid-September to fight against the opposition and made the following comment, “we will fight them until they return to the right path.” According to Ali Obeid, director of the strategic research center at the Ministry of Defense , neither side can actually win but tensions are increasing which could lead to a civil war. The Yemeni government has asked everyone to abide by this agreed plan and if violated they will take necessary action. Source: “ Yemen’s Embattled G

NAIROBI, KENYA- One killed and over a dozen injured in two separate attacks Monday in Nairobi Kenya. The first attack, an explosion at a blue-collar bar happened at 1:15 a.m. where a dozen people were wounded, three seriously injured. The second explosion was near a crowded bus stop, at least one person was killed and eight other wounded. The dual attacks happened two days after the United States warned that the militant Somali group Al-Shabab would carry out reprisal attacks in response to Kenyan troops' invasion of Somalia in mid-October. Al-Shabab promised to unleash terror attacks in Nairobi in retaliation. Al-Shabab is loosely affiliated with Al Qaeda and counts militant veterans of the Afghanistan and Iraq wars among its ranks. The militant group carried out twin attacks in Kampala, Uganda in July 2010 that killed 76 people. It has not been confirmed that Al-Shabab is responsible for the Nairobi attacks. Many of the injured were wounded in the legs, suggestin

Upon the request of Pakistan’s intelligence service, the Haqqani terrorist network and the United States met once this summer to start a negotiating process. U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton announced efforts to reach out to the Taliban and Haqqani network to “test their willingness and their sincerity” to initiate a negotiation between Afghanistan, Pakistan, and the U.S. The U.S delivered a reconciliation message to the Haqqanis in the meeting which included an offer to meet guidelines set by the Afghans and Americans for peace. This offer to the Haqqanis also included accepting the Afghan constitutions guarantees for the rule of law and women’s rights. Although the Haqqani network did show up for the preliminary meeting, Clinton does not promise any guarantee of a quick peaceful resolution. The U.S. has decided to keep fighting to establish guideline agreements between Afghanistan and Pakistan. Source: "Official: U.S Met with Haqqani Terror Network" http://article

Egypt -Thousands of low-ranking policemen are on strike in Egypt in response to the current Interior Minister Mansour al-Essawy ’s corrupted reputation. These policemen are demanding the resignation of al-Essawy, the removal of corrupt officers affiliated with the former regime, and to end military trials for policemen. The strike has occurred in Cairo , Red Sea , Daqahliyyah , Monofyia , and Upper Egypt . In Cairo, protesting police officers were joined by ministry employees whom declare similar demands. Protest organizers claim to be threatened with arrest and physical harm by officials from inside the ministry, but they will continue their strike. Protesters complain of corruption and favoritism within the ministry towards high-ranking officers. They demand that Essawy to be replaced with a civilian minister and equal health care for all policemen, not just high ranking officers. Source: Police begin open-ended strike, call for interior minister to resign