Security
Rebels repel Misrata attack; Saudis evacuated from Libya
Libyan rebels lick wounds after defeat
Libya scraps taxes to mark ‘victory’ over rebels
UK team released by Libyan rebels
US planners mull military options in Libya: Report
America’s secret plan to arm Libya’s rebels
EU sends mission to Libya to assess humanitarian damage
UN demands access to ‘injured and dying’ in Libyan city
Government backers attack protesters in Yemen
Suspected Al Qaeda attack kills four in Yemen
U.S. warns against travel to Yemen
Playing big brother to Yemen, Saudis breed resentment
Protesters Storm Egypt Security Offices
Egyptian military want people to hand back stolen secret files
Attack on Egypt democracy protest
Egypt appoints three new ministers to key posts
Egypt’s women plan mass march against military rulers
Jailbreak to Gaza fuels fears of post-Mubarak era
Egypt revolt gave us back our lives: Hamas chief
New Egypt foreign minister likely to be tougher on Israel
Egypt considers easing Gaza travel restrictions
Bahrain move to create 20,000 jobs lauded; PM’s office circled
Oman Shuffles Cabinet Again, Amid Unrest
Jordan Islamists demonstrate demanding freedom for jailed relatives
Muslim Brotherhood in Jordan: Reforms Are Crucial for the Regime’s Survival
In Kuwait, a long battle to oust the prime minister
Iran’s supreme leader accused of abducting key opponents
Four Syrians Missing in Lebanon after Calling for Protest against Syrian Regime
The Sturdy House That Assad Built
Turkish Court Jails Journalists
Turkey’s EU Talks Take a Siesta
Senior Hamas Official: The Palestinian People Wants to Put an End to Israel
Israeli airstrikes hit Gaza, no casualties
An Arab world in ruins or a new regional beginning?
Constitutions Matter! Is the Arabs’ Cry
Ivory Coast crisis worsens as police loot homes of new cabinet
UK keeps eyes shut as ISI uses turf to hit India
Al-Qaeda’s Deadly New Nest
The Pakistan killings are not about blasphemy
5-yr-olds enact suicide bombing in video
China spends billions to stem dissent
China acts against protest calls
China detains 15 more foreign journalists
Beijing says stir doomed to fail
N. Korea Wants South to Return Captured Boaters
S. Korea Blames North for GPS, Phone Jamming
Japan’s Foreign Minister Resigns
As food prices soar, Japan braces for pain
Thai company accused of trafficking Vietnamese women to breed
Fiji chief gets life term for rebel plot
Samoa’s 28-year rule rolls on
Portugal hovers on the verge of crisis as eurozone argues over integration
Cyber attack targeted Paris G20
Report urges preparation for large urban disasters

Maritime
U.S. commandos capture 4 suspected pirates in raid

Military
India successfully test-fires ballistic missile interceptor
Navy readies training for end of ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’
Second X-37B Space Plane is Now on Orbit

Economy
Oil prices rise on unrest fears
GIC’s Chief: Americans Too Gloomy on Outlook

Environment
Shifting spring: Arctic plankton blooming up to 50 days earlier now

Politics
$6B budget cut: A ‘limit’ for Democrats, a nick for GOP
Durbin: No more budget cuts in domestic spending
GOP: U.S. Should Offer Support to Libyan Rebels

Religion
Nearly 4000 Muslims Attack Christian Homes in Egypt, Torch Church
Spate of Attacks on Christians Erupts in Orissa, India
Iraqi ambassador criticized for his views on anti-Christian violence
Iran: Details of the arrest of a new Christian in Ahvaz

Security
Muslim suspected in fatal shooting of 2 U.S. airmen
Bradley Manning may face death penalty
Gaddafi forces seize rebel held town
Muammar Gaddafi offers rebels an amnesty
Gaddafi vows to ‘unleash bloody war’ against West
Report: Sons urge Gaddafi to seek asylum in Nicaragua
Arab League calls on Libya to stop violence
UK to airlift 6,000 Egyptians stranded fleeing Libya
U.S. supports war crimes tribunal on Libya
Fighting in Libya: The Military Balance
Should the U.S. Move Against Qadaffi? First, Define the Goals
Endgame for Saleh?
Radical Cleric Demands Ouster of Yemen Leader
Bahraini opposition continues protests to press demands
More strife in store for Egypt
Egyptian Armed Forces Supreme Council Head: We’ll Tighten Egypt-PA Ties
Oman’s Renaissance Man
Iraqis get the Tahrir spirit
Demonstration in Jordan for jailed Islamists
Clashes on Facebook Over Calls for Revolution in Qatar
Iran: 200 protesters ‘arrested’
Ahmadinejad: Current World Order ‘Worn Out’; Iran, China Can Play Major Roles In Forming New One
Iran contacting Arab opposition: Clinton
Iran opposition group seeks US legitimacy
Clinton still supports military aid to Lebanon
In Syria, Discussions On Peace Process, With Turkish Ambassador’s Participation
‘IAEA inspectors to visit Syria acid plant’
Tshuva: Gas will reach Israel’s shores by 2013
Housing For Jews approved in east Jerusalem
White House Official: In Wake Of Events, We’re Reexamining Middle East Policy
Still Long Odds in Mideast
Stolen revolution? [Tunisia]
Mercenaries, Exodus Reported in Ivory Coast
Power cut from north Ivory Coast
Nine Ivory Coast papers close as staff fear for their lives
More clashes in Southern Sudan
Ex-Pentagon adviser: U.S. should cut Afghan aid
Shahbaz Bhatti’s assassination is a bleak counterpoint to Cairo
Oil Crisis May Spark Chinese Unrest
Crackdowns Display Beijing’s Fears
U.S. Has No South Korea Nuke Plans
Korean tensions reach new heights
Russian plan to deploy missiles on disputed islands ‘regrettable’ – Japan
UK cuts expose defence weakness
Mexican soldiers find 17 bodies in mass graves
Can Data Predict Political Revolutions?

Military
U.S. Air Force to Wring 5 Percent From Buying Plans
Keeping an Eye on the Long Game: Part XXXV [China]

Maritime
Bosphorus Naval News: Evacuation of Turkish Citizens from Libya by Turkey
2 Norfolk-based ships move closer to Libya via Suez Canal
U.S. Sea Power & the Arab Spring
Naval Assets & Libya
The Decline of U.S. Naval Power
’2 Iranian warships to return to Red Sea via Suez Canal’
Pirated yacht, family anchor near Somalia
Why the Indian Ocean Matters

Economy
Arab Turmoil Hits Markets
US municipalities could default on $100bn of debt, warns Nouriel Roubini’s thinktank
Dollar loses safety aura
China proposes to cut income tax
Hong Kong Offers Cash Handouts
Brazil interest rates hit 11.75%

Environment
Benefits of Biofuels and Electric Vehicles Questionable

Politics
Poll: Support Lacking for Entitlement Cuts
Debt-limit woes could top shutdown
Rand Paul Introduces “Read the Bills” Resolution
Jobs Created by Stimulus Cost Hundreds of Thousands Each
Obama repeating Carter’s mistakes
Supreme Court Rules in Favor of Westboro Baptist Protests
Lawmaker: Bonds could help pay for wars
Ohio Senate OKs bill that would restrict public unions

Religion & Society
Christian Pakistan minister shot dead by gunmen
Vatican Condemns Killing of Christian Minister in Pakistan
Sherry Rehman next on Pakistan militants’ hitlist, friends fear
Killing over blasphemy law deepens misery of Pakistani Christians
Bomb Thrown at Christian Doctor’s Car in Gaza
Pope exonerates Jews for Jesus’ death in new book
Indonesia’s Lessons for Egypt
Daily Star: Christian Minorities seek their first-ever portfolio in new Cabinet [Lebanon]
Archbishop Resists Gov’t Attempt to Force Churches to Hold Homosexual Ceremonies
Calif. attorney general seeks resumption of gay marriages
Abortion Doctor Could Face Death Penalty
Facebook Linked To One In Five Divorces In US
Tennessean: Faith leaders call for stop to anti-Shariah bill
The Confucian Comeback
Korea Herald: Protestants scupper Islamic bond bill

Ospreys head to Iraq for combat deployment

The first MV-22 Ospreys to make a combat deployment are on an amphibious assault ship heading for Iraq, according to a Marine Corps headquarters spokesman.

Ten Ospreys and roughly 200 leathernecks and sailors with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 263 flew out of Marine Corps Air Station New River, N.C., and landed aboard the Wasp on Monday, Maj. Eric Dent said.

He did not know where the Norfolk, Va.-based ship was when the Ospreys boarded. The ship was diverted from an international exercise in Panama on Sept. 5 to the Nicaraguan coast to assist with disaster-relief efforts in areas affected by Hurricane Felix.

VMM-263 is heading for Al Asad Air Base for a seven-month deployment; the Ospreys will provide tactical assault support for Marines and soldiers.

USAF flying deathbot power-grab rebuffed

The US Air Force (USAF)’s plan to seize control of almost all American flying killbots has been rebuffed, according to reports.

At present, a wide variety of remote-controlled and/or autonomous aircraft are operated by all four branches of the US military*. The USAF has been pointing out for some time that this can lead to inefficiencies, as it might be possible to buy fewer types in larger numbers.

Strangely enough, the USAF’s plan for a more efficient future involved an air force takeover of all drones/robots etc operating above an arbitrary ceiling of 3,500 feet. This could have given the men in light blue control of the navy’s future carrier wings and maritime patrol planes, not to mention the many aerial flesh-harvesters so beloved of Army and Marine grunts and special ops types.

In effect, it would have been a massive skybot power grab, by a service which is institutionally far from sympathetic to aerial drones.

Black Sea Partnership international naval exercises over

The Black Sea Partnership 2007 international naval exercises that were held beginning April 24 ended on Saturday, May 5, the Russian Black Sea Fleet information service told Itar-Tass.

The Russian, Turkish, Romanian and Georgian navies participated in the manoeuvres. The warship Kasimov from the Novorossiisk naval base represented Russia in the exercises.

Naval forces of the four countries carried out tasks to lead ships following a mine-sweeper from a bay, fire at sea targets and repulse air attacks and conducted an operation to detain a suspicious vessel, with a group getting aboard the vessel for examination.

All the operations were planned in accordance with cooperation to maintain peace and stability in the Black Sea, prevent terrorist attacks, ensure shipping security, conduct search and rescue operation in the sea and provide aid in case of natural disasters, the information service said.

Defence analysts say we do what we do do well [New Zealand]

This is the real essence of New Zealand’s defence strategy: finding ways to make ourselves useful. And Mr Rolfe’s analysis of the NZDF for the Australian Strategic Policy Institute has found that by and large we are managing to do it, despite distance, size, and lingering tensions with our two major security partners, Australia and the United States.
…
The Navy, with its two frigates and soon-to-be-delivered multi-role ship and offshore and inshore patrol vessels, will soon be a more flexible and much more versatile force, although it is having trouble finding and keeping enough sailors and coping with the rapid introduction of the new fleet.

The Air Force, although losing its combat role, will have a fleet of almost new aircraft when upgrades and purchases are completed. Its Orions, for example, will be as capable as any in the world for watching the surface of the ocean, although they will be of little use in tracking the growing number of submarines in our region.

Intelligence management systems are limited, and major units cannot defend themselves. The Navy’s torpedoes are almost obsolete – with no replacement in sight before 2015 – and the frigates are becoming more vulnerable to attack from both air and sea.

Court sides with Navy over contractors

Federal court Friday upheld the U.S. Navy in a 16-year legal battle with two defense contractors over a contract for stealth attack jets.

Barring an appeal, the decision from the U.S. Court of Federal Claims means McDonnell Douglas and General Dynamics will have to repay the government $1.35 billion plus interest exceeding $2.6 billion, the U.S. Department of Justice said in a news release.

The case involved a 1988, $4 billion contract to develop the A-12 stealth attack aircraft. In 1991, then-Secretary of Defense Dick Cheney canceled the A-12 program because it was over budget and behind schedule, and the Navy eventually terminated the contract for default, the Justice Department release said.

Air Force not keen on joint base plan

Defense officials are refereeing a control-and-culture clash between the Air Force and its sister services over a requirement to create 12 joint bases out of 25.
…
The mandate for joint bases is part of the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure plan which became law in November of that year. The Air Force is to manage six joint base sites, the Navy four and the Army two.

But the Air Force, which for decades has spent more proportionally on quality of life programs and facilities, is wringing its hands and, critics contend, dragging its feet over the prospect of giving the Army control of McChord Air Force Base in the Tacoma area and the Navy control of Hickham AFB, Hawaii; Bolling AFB, Washington D.C.; and Anderson Air Base in Guam.

Air Force officials argue, at every opportunity, that their bases alone are fighting platforms for their aircraft and thus must be maintained in top form as the Navy strives to maintain its ships and the Army and Marine Corps sustain their deployed ground forces.

The Army, Navy and Marine Corps, on the other hand, are known to defer base maintenance from time to time when dollars are needed for other priorities. The Air Force fears that might occur under joint basing arrangements, reducing the quality of life and harming readiness at bases where the Air Force has lost control