February 1, 2012                            
Dossier: Farid Ghadry


Secularist Syrian rebel forces pressed by Turkey to yield to Islamists


BACKGROUNDER
Compiled by Miles Yu

New U.S. strategy for China challenged by chairman of Joint Chiefs

The newly established Air Sea Battle Concept, which heavily favors the Air Force, Navy and Marines, is facing a new challenge that has the potential of replacing it. It's called Joint Operational Access Concept, or JOAC, and was unveiled at the Pentagon on Jan. 17 by Army Gen. Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Since its introduction in the 2010 Defense Review, and especially with the recent establishment of the Air Sea Battle Office within the Pentagon, the Air Sea Battle Concept has received mixed reviews.

Designed to deal with anti-access and area-denial challenges posed primarily by China, the strategy emphasizes the role of air and sea powers but, as some have alleged, at the expense of land forces.



Israeli intel tracking Syrian WMD in preparation for regime collapse
TEL AVIV — Israel's intelligence community has increased surveillance of Syria's weapons of mass destruction stockpile amid the revolt against President Bashar Assad. Officials said the intelligence community enhanced surveillance of Syria's biological and chemical weapons amid an assessment that the Assad regime would fall in 2012. They said the Syrian WMD, including ballistic missiles, could be captured either by the Iranian-sponsored Hizbullah or Islamic rebels supported by Qatar and Turkey.
Northeast Asia Report
China for first time condemns Iran's nuke program, explores options   


'China adamantly opposes Iran developing and possessing nuclear weapons.'



Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao arrives for the China-Arab Business Conference in Sharjah, UAE, on Jan. 18. Reuters/Jumana El Heloueh

Focus on Terrorism
Report: Hizbullah has expanded operations to Southeast Asia
Focus on Iran
Iran said conducting attacks, sparking uprisings in Gulf states, Yemen
Military Technology
Israel cancels arms deal with Turkey over its warming ties with Iran
Focus on the Persian Gulf States
UAE only Arab League state that has combat forces in Afghanistan
East-Asia-Intel.com
Russian experts: N. Korea 'historically doomed'; Kim Jong-Un a 'temporary figure'
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