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Afghan President Hamid Karzai has accused the U-S of refusing to provide his country with fuel and military supplies. He has said in a statement that the move is aimed to put pressure on him to sign a controversial security pact with the U-S. Washington has denied the allegation, and repeated that, unless the deal is signed promptly, it could withdraw most of American forces from Afghanistan. Relations between Kabul and Washington have deteriorated in recent weeks over President Karzai\'s refual to sign the security pact. The deal allows several thousands of U-S troops to remain in Afghanistan after a 20-14 pullout deadline for foreign forces. Karzai has set several conditions to sign the pact which has been approved by the country\'s grand council, Loya Jirga. These include a stop to raids on Afghan civilian homes, among others.

U-S military aircraft fly over the disputed islands in the East China Sea without informing Beijing. The move comes days after China declared an air defense zone in the area. The Pentagon\'s spokesman says two U-S military aircraft have conducted operations over the islands disputed by China and Japan. Steve Warren says U-S aircraft carried out QUOTE normal procedures in the area. Under the rules declared by China, aircraft are expected to provide a flight plan, clearly mark their nationality and maintain two-way radio communication to allow them to respond to identification inquiries from Chinese authorities. The East China Sea includes a cluster of islands controlled by Japan but also claimed by China.

[06 Nov 2012] Israel demands Argentina to provide info on dialogue with Iran - English

Lebanon\\\'s Army commander has warned that the military will respond to any Israeli aggression. The warning was made as General Jean Qahwaji\\\'s visited the headquarters of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon. Qahwaji says the Lebanese military is committed to the implementation of all United Nations Security Council resolutions, in particular 17-01. The resolution, which ended the 2006 war between Israel and Hezbollah, demanded the withdrawal of the Israeli forces from south Lebanon. Earlier this month, Lebanon\\\'s south was the scene of deadly clashes between Israeli and Lebanese forces. The ensuing tensions prompted the Security Council to call for calm and restraint by both sides.

[16 Dec 2012] IED attacks among US military figures in Afghanistan - English

[20 Dec 2012] Merchants of death & Military industrial complex (II) - English

[05 Dec 2014] UK to open new military base in Bahrain - English

[19 Dec 2014] Iraq confirms that deputy, military chief of ISIL leader killed - English

[15 Sept 2013] Egypt military promises to press ahead with Sinai Campaign - English

[02 Oct 2013] US military officials warn of the drastic effects of the government shutdown - English

The U-S and Britain have suspended military assistance to the so-called Free Syrian Army in northern Syria after al-Qaeda-linked insurgents seized the weapons depots belonging to the F-S-A there. The so-called Islamic Front, which is an umbrella group of al-Qaeda-affiliated rings, captured the arms depots of the Western-backed Free Syrian Army. The seizure near the Bab el-Hawa border crossing with Turkey came after the Islamic Front, which is backed by regional allies of the U-S, announced that it rejected the authority of the F-S-A command. The militant group was formed just last month when six insurgent groups merged together to try and create a new Islamic Emirate in the crisis-hit Arab country.

Thousands of Egyptians took to the streets of Cairo and elsewhere around the country to denounce what the protesters label \'the coup\'s constitution. On Tuesday, more than a dozen students were injured as Morsi supporters staged protests against the military backed authorities. Police fired tear gas at students protesting outside Assiut University in Assuit province in Upper Egypt. Students held banners in support of Mohamed Morsi as they shouted anti police and army slogans. Such demonstrations are regarded as illegal, since they do not conform to a new law requiring organizers to give three days notice of a protest and to have it approved by the government. On another front, the Anti Coup Alliance said that the coalition will be boycotting the referendum which is set to take place next month. Many are fearful that Egypt would be gripped by another wave of deadly violence ahead of the referendum on what some call a disputed constitution.

The U-S Secretary of Defense says Washington has no plans to scale back its military presence in the Persian Gulf region despite a diplomatic opening with Iran. Chuck Hagel made the comment at a U-S base in Bahrain. The Pentagon chief is visiting several Arab states in the region. The tour is part of an effort by the White House to soothe the perceived concerns of U-S allies over the deal reached between Iran and the P5+1 on November 24th. The United States has an active presence in the region from Oman and the U-A-E to Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar and Kuwait.

Iran\'s President Hassan Rouhani says Tehran wants to enrich uranium on its soil within the framework of the recent nuclear deal with the P-five-plus-one countries. He says Iran is committed to its peaceful nuclear program. During a meeting with visiting Russian Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov, President Rouhani also said the Geneva agreement recognizes all Iran\'s rights including the right to enrich uranium. He added efforts by some countries to interpret the agreeement in other ways would damage efforts aimed at building mutual trust. The Iranian president also discussed Tehran\'s cooperation with Moscow on a range of issues, mainly regional peace and security, fight against terrorism, and the Syrian crisis. Lavrov, in turn, said that under international law all countries should have access to a peaceful nuclear program including uranium enrichment. He said Iran and Russia have a similar take on the nuclear deal struch in Geneva. Earlier, the top Russian diplomat held separate talks with his Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif over the conflict in Syria and Iran\'s nuclear program.

The European Union\\\'s envoy to the Middle East has warned Israel against the failure of the so-called peace talks with the Palestinian Authority. Andreas Reinicke says support in Europe for sanctioning Israel over its settlement policies is growing and could intensify IF the talks with Palestinians fail. Reinicke, who is leaving his post next week, said he has been in touch with US mediators. The campaign of boycott, divestment and sanctions against Israel has been gaining momentum for some time. The EU envoy says over a dozen of states are now in support of the idea of labeling the Israeli goods from the occupied territories. This over Israeli violations - including its settlement expansions. Several academic bodies in the US have already decided to boycott Israeli academia over Tel Aviv\\\'s violation of international law.

Pakistan Army launched its offensive against Pro-Taliban militants targeting their hideouts in the troubled North Waziristan tribal areas. The operation that started on December 18th targeted Pro-Taliban militant hideouts in Mir Ali, resulting in death of at least 70 people. The tribal locals say, all killed, were civilians. The military attack on the tribal areas was followed by a drone attack on Wednesday in North Waziristan, killing at least 3 suspected militants.

In the capital Tehran, people have gathered in one of the city\'s oldest mosques to mark the event. Kazem Sediqqi, Tehran\'s interim Friday prayers leader, delivered a speech there. Hundreds of thousands of people attended massive rallies on December 30, 2009, in response to months of political unrest that followed the presidential election held the same year. At the time, supporters of the defeated candidate claimed vote fraud and protested in the streets of Tehran and a few other cities. Dozens were killed and more injured in those riots.

The shocking killing of Lee Rigby earlier this year by people believing themselves to be Muslims was predictably followed by weeks of media coverage. Although such extremism is contradictory to Islam, Muslims felt it necessary to again denounce this extremism. However, there was another victim of extremism shortly after, 82-year old Mohammed Saleem. He was stabbed three times until he died on his way home from prayers. The extremist was Ukrainian student Pavlo Lapshyn, a man who also bombed several mosques in Britain. British media has been comparably quiet. Was it because his beliefs were not expressed as Islamic? This week\'s Islam and Life asks: Which victim of extremism will Britain remember: Lee Rigby or Mohammed Saleem?

The Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons has opened its Conference of the States Parties in The Hague. Top on the agenda is the organization\'s mission to get Syrian chemical stockpiles out of the country by the year-end for final destruction. Meanwhile, Iran\'s Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Marzieh Afkham has said that Iran will actively participate in the conference. She added that as a victim of chemical weapons used by former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein, Iran will be influential in the decisions made by the O-P-C-W. Iran\'s Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi will also make a speech at the conference on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement. Press TV\'s Nargess Moballeghi who is currently at the venue of the conference, has sent us this update.

The deadliest attack took place on Baqubah where a bomb blast left eleven people dead. The explosion also left 19 people injured. Earlier, gunmen shot dead seven shepherds northeast of the city. Nearly a thousand people were killed in terrorist attacks countrywide in November alone. Iraqi officials blame the attacks on al-Qaeda and the remnants of the former Ba\'athist regime.

Eyewitnesses say security forces have attacked students at the dormitory of Cairo\\\'s al-Azhar University. Several were injured. The security forces also used tear gas and birdshot at students at Zaqaziq University in Sharqiyah province. Egypt has recently started a crackdown against university students protesting what they call an army coup against former president Mohamed Morsi. A large number of people have been detained for taking part in the protests following Morsi\\\'s ouster in July. The detainees include Muslim Brotherhood figures and supporters. The son of one of the Brotherhood\\\'s leaders were arrested on Monday for alleged incitement to violence.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai has accused the U-S of refusing to provide his country with fuel and military supplies. He has said in a statement that the move is aimed to put pressure on him to sign a controversial security pact with the U-S. Washington has denied the allegation, and repeated that, unless the deal is signed promptly, it could withdraw most of American forces from Afghanistan. Relations between Kabul and Washington have deteriorated in recent weeks over President Karzai\'s refual to sign the security pact. The deal allows several thousands of U-S troops to remain in Afghanistan after a 20-14 pullout deadline for foreign forces. Karzai has set several conditions to sign the pact which has been approved by the country\'s grand council, Loya Jirga. These include a stop to raids on Afghan civilian homes, among others.

Tension between Kabul and Washington continues to build as Afghan President Hamid Karzai delays signing a security pact with the United States. Washington issues a new warning, while Karzai sets new conditions for the deal. The US says it will pull all troops out of Afghanistan if Karzai does not promptly sign the agreement. The warning came during a meeting between Karzai and U-S National Security Advisor Susan Rice. Washington has repeatedly said that it cannot wait until after the April election, with Rice now calling it quote-not viable. However, Karzai has said that he will not back down from his refusal to sign the pact and will leave the decision to his successor. He has asked the US for a guarantee that it will halt all military operations targeting civilian homes. Karzai\'s spokesman says he has also called for a clear commitment to starting the peace process before the crucial security pact is signed.

A new report has revealed the reality of a power struggle in Saudi Arabia. The country\\\'s spy chief is pushing to expand his power in the Persian Gulf Kingdom. The report says Bandar Bin Sultan is doing all he can to remove Saudi King Malek Abdullah\\\'s successor crown prince Salman Bin Abdulaziz from power. Bandar has apparently spread rumors of Salman\\\'s bad health condition and his inability to conduct his official duties. According to the report, Bandar and his lobby are campaigning to persuade the king to remove Salman from power and replace him with House member Muqrin bin Abdulaziz al Saud. The issue has been rejected by the Allegiance Council, which is from now on in charge of selecting the king\\\'s successor. Bandar is accused of being behind numerous deadly terrorist acts in Syria, Egypt, Lebanon and Iraq.

As if the Syrian talks in Geneva did not face enough challenges, a new one came into the picture, when US Congress approved continued support for what it called moderate Syrian rebels, raising the question again about a good and a bad terrorist. It also upped the bar on what type of aid: previously from non-lethal like night goggles, to small arms, as well as some more powerful weapons, such as anti-tank rockets. In this edition of the debate, we\'ll ask doesn\'t this contradict the United States\' role as a sponsor of the peace talks? Guests: - National Coordinator, A.N.S.W.E.R. Coalition, Brian Becker (WASHINGTON). - Senior Fellow, Center for American Progress, Lawrence Korb (WASHINGTON). Subjects: 1. From non-lethal aid, like nigh vision goggles and army uniforms, to a variety of small arms, as well as some more powerful weapons, such as anti-tank rockets. - Funded by the U-S Congress, in votes behind closed doors, through the end of government fiscal year 2014, which ends on September 30: THAT MEANS FOR THE NEXT 8 MONTHS. - Also the issue that arms may fall into the hands of \"bad terrorists\", something US experienced in Afghanistan, Iraq and in Syria. 2. What about the good terrorist/bad terrorist scenario: this differentiation just can\'t apply, especially to the terrorists inside Syria, which the US calls the moderate Syrian rebels? 3. American military aid, now with explicit congressional approval: Doesn\'t it contradict the United States\' role as a sponsor of the peace talks? Whatever happened to US Sec. of State John Kerry saying repeatedly that there is no military solution? - Russia is working with the US to find a political solution, and suddenly US arms supplies, which contradicts the initiative 4. On terrorists: John Kerry said during opening of Geneva talks: in reference to the Syrian president, Bashar al-Assad: \"The Assad regime is a magnet for terrorists. The regime\'s brutality is the source of the violent extremism in Syria today: Is the US completely turning a blind eye to Saudi Arabia\'s support for terrorists? 5. Timeline: Beg. Dec.: the US and Britain announced that they had suspended non-lethal aid: Why? Reports that their aid supplies could end up in hostile hands. Then in late December, reversed that decision: Yet US Congress \"secretly\" approved sending small arms, as well as some more powerful weapons, such as anti-tank rockets, also in Dec.: the US was not telling the truth, or given that this was done in secret, did not want it to be made public? 6. On the Syrian talks in Geneva: According to the divided opposition: the Syrian delegation has accepted the establishment of a transitional government body for the first time: Were it true, how what are the chances for the divided opposition to accept the govt. red line: Assad\'s departure? 7. Syria\'s divided opposition criticized a document presented by the Syrian govt which presented a statement of principles, calling for Syria \'s sovereignty to be respected, rejecting \"foreign interference\" and \"terrorism.\"? 8. Are we looking at u-turn from Turkey on Syria: AS we speak, PM Erodogan is in Iran holding talks with Ian\'s leader, its pres. and FM? 9. What may have happened if Iran was present?

1. From non-lethal aid, like nigh vision goggles and army uniforms, to a variety of small arms, as well as some more powerful weapons, such as anti-tank rockets. - Funded by the U-S Congress, in votes behind closed doors, through the end of government fiscal year 2014, which ends on September 30: THAT MEANS FOR THE NEXT 8 MONTHS. - Also the issue that arms may fall into the hands of \"bad terrorists\", something US experienced in Afghanistan, Iraq and in Syria. 2. What about the good terrorist/bad terrorist scenario: this differentiation just can\'t apply, especially to the terrorists inside Syria, which the US calls the moderate Syrian rebels? 3. American military aid, now with explicit congressional approval: Doesn\'t it contradict the United States\' role as a sponsor of the peace talks? Whatever happened to US Sec. of State John Kerry saying repeatedly that there is no military solution? - Russia is working with the US to find a political solution, and suddenly US arms supplies, which contradicts the initiative 4. On terrorists: John Kerry said during opening of Geneva talks: in reference to the Syrian president, Bashar al-Assad: \"The Assad regime is a magnet for terrorists. The regime\'s brutality is the source of the violent extremism in Syria today: Is the US completely turning a blind eye to Saudi Arabia\'s support for terrorists? 5. Timeline: Beg. Dec.: the US and Britain announced that they had suspended non-lethal aid: Why? Reports that their aid supplies could end up in hostile hands. Then in late December, reversed that decision: Yet US Congress \"secretly\" approved sending small arms, as well as some more powerful weapons, such as anti-tank rockets, also in Dec.: the US was not telling the truth, or given that this was done in secret, did not want it to be made public? 6. On the Syrian talks in Geneva: According to the divided opposition: the Syrian delegation has accepted the establishment of a transitional government body for the first time: Were it true, how what are the chances for the divided opposition to accept the govt. red line: Assad\'s departure? 7. Syria\'s divided opposition criticized a document presented by the Syrian govt which presented a statement of principles, calling for Syria \'s sovereignty to be respected, rejecting \"foreign interference\" and \"terrorism.\"? 8. Are we looking at u-turn from Turkey on Syria: AS we speak, PM Erodogan is in Iran holding talks with Ian\'s leader, its pres. and FM? 9. What may have happened if Iran was present?

Egypt\'s 50-member committee tasked with writing the country\'s new constitution finishes voting on the amended national charter. Egypt\'s former foreign minister Amr Mussa-- who heads the constitution panel-- says the draft will be given to interim president Adly Mansour on Tuesday. The approval comes despite nationwide protests by supporters of ousted president Mohamed Morsi. Among many others, the panel has approved a controversial article that allows civilians to be tried in military courts. The new draft also bans the formation of parties based on religious grounds. It also specifies that the defense minister must be appointed in agreement with the military. Based on the new charter, procedures for the first election, either presidential or parliamentary, must begin between 30 to 90 days after the adoption of the constitution. Egypt\'s interim authorities suspended the previous constitution written during Morsi after his removal from power on July 3.

The Syrian foreign minister has accused foreign supporters of insurgents of leaking information about the locations of the country\'s chemical weapons. Walid Moallem slammed the countries that help militants locate Syria\'s chemical weapons, saying Damascus holds such states responsible for the consequences of their actions. The Syrian foreign ministry also called on international organizations to take action and help stop these acts. It also noted that government forces have foiled two insurgent attacks on the locations of chemical weapons in central and southern Syria. Earlier this week, militants tried to storm two facilities that stored the countries\' chemical arms. They attempted to break into the facilities with an armored vehicle loaded with explosives.