AFCEA Global Intelligence Update: 1/15/09
About this post: The post below is my edited summary of John McCreary’s immensely informative and valuable, unclassified NightWatch Global Intelligence Update. NightWatch is published nightly by AFCEA, the Armed Forces Communications & Electronics Assn. of which I am a member. Past editions of NightWatch are archived here in their entirety on AFCEA’s site.
Highlights, by country:
Japan
- Prime Minister Taro Aso will authorize a plan within the month for a destroyer to head to the waters off the coast of Somalia, to fight piracy.
- Its official mission will be defending Japanese ships, with the destroyer’s use of force to be limited to self-defense and emergency evacuations.
Source: Nikkei business daily
North Korea
- Report: DPRK/North Korean leader Kim Chong-il has designated his third son, Kim Jong-un, as his successor and delivered a directive on the nomination to the Workers’ Party leadership
- Kim Jong-un is in his mid-20s, was educated in Switzerland and is thought to be the favorite of the three sons, although the least experienced. Jong-un has no position in the Party or the government.
- The most important constituency is the senior officers of the DPRK armed forces. Kim Jong-un has no history of ties with the military establishment. His father has to ensure military loyalty to the dynastic succession before he dies.
Source: Yonhap news agency(ROK/South Korea)
India
- The Hindu published comments by the General Officer Commanding in Chief, Northern Command, Lieutenant General P.C. Bhardwaij: “About 600 to 800 militants are active in Jammu and Kashmir as per the assessment of various security agencies,” but are said to be under severe pressure due to the elimination of their top cadres.
- Bhardwaij claimed 335 militants have been killed in joint operations during the last year.
- Chief of Army Staff General Deepak Kapoor said the Indian Army’s “patience [with neighboring Pakistan] is being tested” after the Mumbai attacks.
- In diplomacy today, India dropped its demand that Pakistan turn over all individuals involved in the 26 November Mumbai attacks
- External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee said India would accept a “fair trial” in Pakistan of anybody involved in the attack. Trial must be “transparent and demonstrated,” he said.
- What it may mean: Today’s statements are important for several reasons. Bhardwaij provided the most recent estimate of Kashmiri terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir State and confirmed that the camps on the Pakistan side of the Line of Control remain active, despite promises to fight terror. He and General Kapoor are now leading the public charge that explicitly blames Pakistan for India’s security problems. That frees the Prime Minister and the External Affairs Minister to appear more flexible.
Israel
- At least 20 rockets were fired into southern Israel from the Gaza Strip early today, as cease-fire discussions were occurring in Cairo, according to the Jerusalem Post.
- USA Today, The Media Line and al Jazeera, among other services, reported that the ceasefire agreement under discussion is likely to include a provision for a commitment of US technology to Egypt and Israel to help close down the hundreds of tunnels used to supply arms to Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
Venezuela
- The National Assembly approved President Chavez’s proposal for abolishing presidential term limits, paving the way for a national referendum that’s set for 15 February. Chavez persists.
PDF 
