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Retired Army Gen. David Petraeus complimented the Ukrainian military for a long-awaited counteroffensive that has disappointed some Western allies, saying the Ukrainian army has “adapted very impressively” to defenses that were more formidable than expected. “No plan survives contact with the enemy and that has been true in this case,” Petraeus said in a CNN interview Tuesday. “Certainly there were hopes… that they might be able to mount combined arms operations that could penetrate the Russian defenses, but that was before we all learned about the depth of these defenses, about the sophistication of them.”

Inside Mosul: Satellite imagery reveals ISIS defences By Rudaw 15 hours ago ISIS has erected barriers in the city, satellite imagery reveals. Image: Stratfor ERBIL, Kurdistan Region ? Satellite imagery of Mosul has revealed ISIS preparations in the city, including razing an entire area and erecting barriers in the city. Around Mosul airport, ISIS appears to have cleared all structures and erected a string of barriers to the north, according to satellite imagery published by Stratfor. The geopolitical intelligence company theorized that the area had been cleared “to ensure clear visibility of approaching forces.” The imagery published by Stratfor shows...

As Republicans continue to hammer Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor for a 2001 assertion that’s become known as the “wise Latina” remark, her backers are struggling to come up with a single coherent line of defense. In the past few days, supporters confronted with the remark have offered a range of divergent tactics and tones, offering explanations that span from apologetic to defiant to suggesting Sotomayor may have been joking. President Obama himself addressed the bubbling controversy, which is emerging as among the leading GOP lines of attack against Sotomayor, asserting on Friday Sotomayor “would have restated” the comment if...

WASHINGTON, Nov. 5, 2008 – Russian President Dmitriy Medvedev’s threat today to deploy missiles targeting proposed U.S. missile defenses in Eastern Europe misses the point that the system will be purely defensive and will pose no threat to Russia, a Pentagon spokesman said today. “These are interceptors,” Bryan Whitman said of the system that will include 10 missile silos in Poland and a radar station in the Czech Republic. “And they are designed to protect our European allies as well as the … United States from an emerging ballistic missile threat from the Middle East.” Medvedev made headlines during...

A top Russian general said Friday that Poland's agreement to accept a US missile defense battery exposes the country to attack, pointing out that Russian military doctrine permits the use of nuclear weapons in such a situation, the Interfax news agency reported. *** Interfax said he added, in clear reference to the agreement, that Russia's military doctrine sanctions the use of nuclear weapons "against the allies of countries having nuclear weapons if they in some way help them." Nogovitsyn said that would include elements of strategic deterrence systems, according to Interfax.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GPelLduhWC0&NR Animated war scenario between an enemy and Iran

In total the Russian Federation deployed two generations of national missile defenses, consisting of 18 large radars and 12.000 SAM/ABM interceptors at 280 complexes. Moscow itself is protected by several thousands SAM/ABM interceptors. In 1992 and 1995 the Kremlin upgraded its SA-10s, including retrofitting them with new missiles and electronics with improved performance against strategic missiles. One SA-10 variant has been credited with a 0.9 kill factor against ballistic missiles...

The Sulaminiyah province is the last province in Iraq to complete the $161 million border fort construction project funded by Coalition forces. Story by U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt Lucia NewmanMulti-National Security Transition Command - Iraq BAGHDAD -- Iraqi forces believe that in order to secure whatÂ’s on the inside, you have to secure whatÂ’s on the outside. IraqÂ’s border forts have been constructed to do just that. According to the Department of Border Enforcement, the forts are in place to deter, disrupt and interdict cross-border movement of contraband, illegal aliens and insurgent support. U.S. Army Lt. Col. Theodore...

WASHINGTON, Feb. 3, 2006 – Reinforced defenses within the United States, coupled with extensive antiterrorism operations overseas, have hampered terrorists' ambitions to launch a follow-up attack against the country since Sept. 11, 2001, according to the Pentagon's homeland defense chief. Paul McHale, the Defense Department's first assistant secretary for homeland security, acknowledged to civilian leaders visiting the Pentagon recently that he's surprised terrorists haven't attempted such an attack. But luck has nothing to do with it, he said. "Our power projection overseas to attack and degrade the capabilities of al Qaeda, combined with domestic security measures we have put in...

ALERT: FLORIDA GOV. JEB BUSH WILL BE ON FOX NEWS CHANNEL TODAY AT 4:00 PM EST. I wonder if he's going to be asked questions about Terri Schiavo! If so, it's about time.

On March 29, 2005 the London Arab daily Al-Hayat published a report on Iran’s current preparedness for an American or Israeli attack. The report was translated by www.memri.org (Middle East Media Research Institute). MEMRI introduced the report as follows: “In recent months, commanders of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards and armed forces have announced their complete preparedness for a possible military attack on Iran’s nuclear installations and other sensitive sites. Iranian spokesmen have declared that Iran’s response would be formidable.” The interview indicates the hostility, confidence, determination and intractability of the Iranian leadership. Following are excerpts from that article: “Iranian military sources...

Doubts over America's northern pincer may give Saddam a chance to strengthen his defences By Patrick Cockburn 04 March 2003 The failure of America to persuade Turkey to allow its bases to be used by troops for an attack on Iraq has complicated Washington's plans to open a northern front against Saddam Hussein. The United States had hoped to attack Iraq from the north and south. Now the existence of the northern pincer is in doubt. About 62,000 US soldiers and 310 military aircraft were to be deployed in Turkey, enabling the 4th Infantry Division to push south. The prizes...

<p>Iranian military forces recently moved additional air defense missiles to a key nuclear facility in what U.S. officials view as a sign that Tehran is preparing for an attack.</p> <p>Several batteries of Iran's U.S. made improved Hawk missles, known as I-Hawks, were added to defenses ringing Iran's Bushehr nuclear faciilty and were photographed last month by a U.S. spy satellite. Iran has about 150 I-Hawks.The Bushehr nuclear power plant is located 10 miles south of the city of Bushehr and has been under construction since the 1970's.</p>