NightWatch
For the Night of 17 December 2007
Japan: An interceptor missile fired from the Maritime Self Defense Force destroyer JS Kongo destroyed a ballistic missile target in flight about 160km above the Pacific Ocean, near Hawaii. said the US Missile Defense Agency, which carried out the test together with the Japanese and US navies. This is the first time Japanese forces have intercepted and destroyed a ballistic missile.
The JS Kongo is the first of four Japanese destroyers
due to be outfitted to counter missiles. The test target reportedly resembled
the SCUD or the RODONG (NODONG) missile fielded by The implications of the test are far greater than the
technical proficiency of an American ally. For the first time, a neighbor
of
. 
JS Kongo (DDG-173)
After the Aegis equipment is fully operational on all four destroyers and PAC-3
Patriot missile defense systems are fully deployed, North Korean will be unable
to hold
The Associated Press reported that technicians have begun
removing fuel rods from the reactor at Yongbyon but the country will not meet
the deadline for disabling its declared nuclear facilities, according to the
report. The Associated Press also reported that the Chinese Vice Foreign
Minister intends to discuss
With South Korean elections a day off, the two communist
states might be coordinating tactics for coping with a less cooperative,
conservative South Korean government after 19 December. This is not shaping up
as a good week for
This attack is worth noting because Kohat has not been in the news for months. It is not part of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas, but east, roughly due south of Swat. Unlike Swat, Kohat is a military garrison town. Like the Swat rebellion, attacks east of the tribal agencies means Islamist militarism is spilling out of the core areas along the border. Second, the militants are not intimidated by the Pakistan Army; are targeting it and are taking the time to scout its peacetime routines to inflict losses.
After the administration ended the standoff at the Red Mosque in July, Islamic and anti-government tribal militants vowed to attack the security forces. They continue to keep that promise, avoiding civilians and civilian government officials for the most part.
In an update on the escaped terrorist, Rashid Rauf, authorities confirmed that the man’s two police guards assisted his escape. They remain in custody.
Iran:
STRATFOR reported today a senior Iranian intelligence officer
arrived in Lebanon during the week of 9 December, The purpose of the visit is
not clear but his escort is said to be Imad Mughniyye, the Hezbollah official
in charge of foreign operations. STRATFOR sources reported the two have held
continuous talks with Hezbollah foreign operations officers in meetings
attended by Hezbollah security chief Wafiq Safa, one of the top three Hezbollah
leaders. They later traveled to the northern
No
other sources have reported the visit or the itinerary. However, the activity
is consistent with the reporting last week that
Iran-Turkey:
The Turkish-Iranian Frontier Commission has signed an agreement for the
two countries to cooperate in fighting militants, specifically the Kurdistan
Workers' Party, the Turkish Daily News reported today. The agreement also calls
for cooperation in fighting drug traffickers and other criminals along the
shared border.
Aside
from the protests by the government in
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