The United States has agreed in principle to Japan's
licensed production of US-developed surface-to-air
missiles which will become the core of a joint missile
defence system.
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd., the top Japanese
defence contractor, is expected to start building
Patriot Advanced Capability 3 (PAC-3) missiles on
license from US Lockheed Martin Corp. in the year to
March 2006, the Nihon Keizai Shimbun said.
The PAC-3 is a US army surface-to-air guided missile
capable of intercepting missiles including North Korea's
Rodong, which has a range of about 1,300 kilometers (810
miles).
Japan plans to deploy in the year to March 2008 an
anti-missile shield consisting of the land-based PAC-3
as well as the seaborne Standard Missile 3 (SM-3).
SM-3s intercept ballistic missiles when they reach their
highest point outside of the atmosphere and PAC-3
missiles are used to destroy missiles that evade SM-3
attacks.
Japan and the United States have been engaged in joint
technological research on a missile defence system since
1999, a year after North Korea fired a suspected
ballistic missile over Japan and into the Pacific.
The Tokyo government has asked Washington to allow a
Japanese firm to build the PAC-3 to help the Japanese
defence industry maintain its manufacturing technology,
the leading business daily said.
Relying totally on imports for PAC-3 missiles would have
resulted in substantial losses for the Japanese defence
industry.
The licensed production will enhance technological
cooperation between the US and Japanese defence
industries and help Japanese contractors maintain and
boost their technological levels.
The two countries are also negotiating on joint
development of a next-generation system to replace the
SM-3, it added.
Tokyo is expected to map out by the end of the year a
new defense policy that advocates more investment in
anti-missile and anti-terrorism resources and less
spending on tanks, ships and other conventional
weaponry.
The two governments are expected to sign an official
agreement on the licensed PAC-3 production early in
2005.
In the initial year of deployment, Japan may have to buy
PAC-3 missles produced by Lockeed but Mitsubishi is
expected to replace the major US defence contractor in
supplying the missiles afterwards. Officials at the
Defence Agency or Mitsubishi were not immediately
available to comment on the report.
Wednesday, November 24, 2004
Tuesday, November 23, 2004
Was ITER linked to the Iraq debt by France?
Manipulation or not? Was ITER linked by Paris to the Iraq
debt in a bargain proposed to Washington earlier this
year?
Here is what we were told by an official in Tokyo:
Paris is said to have proposed a deal to the US Bush
administration early this year to win Iter in France in
exchange of a major cancellation of the Iraqi debt that
was talked these last days at the Club de Paris.
Here is what I received last week from one source
(source linked to security and anti proliferation)
quoting a US official.
Quotes:
"The original american source of this information about
ITER and Iraqi debt reduction is a senior official of
the NSC of the Bush administration who has been involved
in this issue.
I am terribly sorry but I cannot give you the name. I
heard about this story first in late March 2004, and
then, in late August 2004.
From what I heard from this official, the French
government made a proposal to the Bush administration
(sometime earlier this year, I think) that the French
government would help Iraq debt reduction if the US
supported the position of France, instead of Japan, to
locate the experiment facility in France.
As you may recall, the US government was desparate, from
last year end through the former part of this year to
get other countries' support for Iraq debt reduction,
while France government was very much eager to push ITER
location in France."
End of quotes.
Later on, a Japanese official I asked his reaction
commented: "I have no information neither confirming it
or denying it. As far as I know, Japan's stance on ITER
has not changed."
No information, confirmation and no...denial?
debt in a bargain proposed to Washington earlier this
year?
Here is what we were told by an official in Tokyo:
Paris is said to have proposed a deal to the US Bush
administration early this year to win Iter in France in
exchange of a major cancellation of the Iraqi debt that
was talked these last days at the Club de Paris.
Here is what I received last week from one source
(source linked to security and anti proliferation)
quoting a US official.
Quotes:
"The original american source of this information about
ITER and Iraqi debt reduction is a senior official of
the NSC of the Bush administration who has been involved
in this issue.
I am terribly sorry but I cannot give you the name. I
heard about this story first in late March 2004, and
then, in late August 2004.
From what I heard from this official, the French
government made a proposal to the Bush administration
(sometime earlier this year, I think) that the French
government would help Iraq debt reduction if the US
supported the position of France, instead of Japan, to
locate the experiment facility in France.
As you may recall, the US government was desparate, from
last year end through the former part of this year to
get other countries' support for Iraq debt reduction,
while France government was very much eager to push ITER
location in France."
End of quotes.
Later on, a Japanese official I asked his reaction
commented: "I have no information neither confirming it
or denying it. As far as I know, Japan's stance on ITER
has not changed."
No information, confirmation and no...denial?
Monday, November 22, 2004
Nakasone Yasuhiro: "At long last, Japan is on the path to becoming normal"
Former Prime Minister Yasuhiro Nakasone reiterated his
support for amending Japan's Constitution before a U.S.
audience, saying Japan is on the path to becoming a
"normal" country as the Liberal Democratic Party has
started drafting the outlines of a new Constitution.
"At long last, Japan is on the path to becoming normal
with constitutional revision on the political agenda in
a couple of years," Nakasone told scholars, experts and
reporters at the John Hopkins University Paul H Nitze
School of Advanced International Studies. More Japanese
are supporting revision of the Constitution because
Japan wants to deal with future matters "from an
independent perspective, autonomous from the influence
of the United States."
support for amending Japan's Constitution before a U.S.
audience, saying Japan is on the path to becoming a
"normal" country as the Liberal Democratic Party has
started drafting the outlines of a new Constitution.
"At long last, Japan is on the path to becoming normal
with constitutional revision on the political agenda in
a couple of years," Nakasone told scholars, experts and
reporters at the John Hopkins University Paul H Nitze
School of Advanced International Studies. More Japanese
are supporting revision of the Constitution because
Japan wants to deal with future matters "from an
independent perspective, autonomous from the influence
of the United States."
Sunday, November 21, 2004
Japan USA towards global role, Japan defense chief says
"The Japan-U.S. relationship is evolving into a global
one," Ono said in summing up his meetings Friday with
Rumsfeld, Vice President Dick Cheney and Deputy
Secretary of State Richard Armitage.
Ono said he told Rumsfeld that Japan is working to
review its arms export ban toward easing it "from the
standpoint of effective implementation of the Japan-U.S.
security alliance," and to upgrade the SDF's
international cooperation.
Rumsfeld described these processes as moving in a good
direction, Ono said.
With Japan and the U.S. expected to bring their current
joint research of a ballistic missile defense system
into the development and production stage, Japan is
acting to ease its ban on exporting weapons. Currently
the only exception to the ban is technology transfers to
the U.S.
As for the global U.S. military realignment, Ono said he
and Rumsfeld agreed that the security situation in Asia
remains tougher than in Europe. Ono said the U.S.
defense chief acknowledged that less troops will be
withdrawn from Asia than Europe among the 70,000 troops
Washington plans to reduce abroad.
one," Ono said in summing up his meetings Friday with
Rumsfeld, Vice President Dick Cheney and Deputy
Secretary of State Richard Armitage.
Ono said he told Rumsfeld that Japan is working to
review its arms export ban toward easing it "from the
standpoint of effective implementation of the Japan-U.S.
security alliance," and to upgrade the SDF's
international cooperation.
Rumsfeld described these processes as moving in a good
direction, Ono said.
With Japan and the U.S. expected to bring their current
joint research of a ballistic missile defense system
into the development and production stage, Japan is
acting to ease its ban on exporting weapons. Currently
the only exception to the ban is technology transfers to
the U.S.
As for the global U.S. military realignment, Ono said he
and Rumsfeld agreed that the security situation in Asia
remains tougher than in Europe. Ono said the U.S.
defense chief acknowledged that less troops will be
withdrawn from Asia than Europe among the 70,000 troops
Washington plans to reduce abroad.
Saturday, November 20, 2004
Rain on Santiago Apec 2004 under the water-canon and tear gas!
Chilean anti-riot forces fired water cannon and tear gas
at stone-throwing protesters in central Santiago
overnight as world leaders flew in for a major
Asia-Pacific summit.
The mayhem in the capital provided a violent backdrop to
the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation (APEC) summit,
where President George W Bush's "war on terror" and
nuclear proliferation appeared set to eclipse trade and
the economy. Bush arrived in Santiago Friday evening
making his first international trip since winning a
second term of office on November 2.
Throughout the day, thousands of anti-Bush and
anti-globalization protesters took to the streets of the
city, at times clashing with police who used tear gas
and water cannons to control the crowds.
More protests are expected as APEC meetings get under
way Saturday, although demonstrators are being kept far
from the summit site.
Chilean authorities have launched a massive security
operation, with special guard forces and police on
horseback throughout the city.
While in Chile, Bush will meet the leaders of China,
Japan, South Korea and Russia, which, along with the
United States, have been involved in six-party talks
with North Korea about its nuclear program.
North Korea has walked away from those talks, but South
Korean officials have expressed optimism that North
Korea may return to the negotiating table, now that the
U.S. presidential election is over.
While the top White House goal is to come out of the
summit showing a united front against North Korea, its
negotiating partners are also expected to push Bush to
offer security and other incentives to move along the
negotiations.
Bush's meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin may
also prove particularly noteworthy, given Putin's
comments earlier this week that Russia is developing a
new type of nuclear weapon.
That development, along with Putin's efforts at home to
consolidate power, has left some critics calling for
Bush to take a tougher line against a man with whom the
U.S. leader enjoys a warm personal relationship.
"The Bush administration is going to have to take the
gloves off a little bit and be a little bit more head-on
about where President Putin is leading his country,"
said Wendy Sherman, a former State Department counselor.
The APEC summit, which includes leaders of 21 countries,
is designed to foster economic cooperation, although
security issues have loomed large in the past two years.
This year's event comes at a time when South American
countries are increasingly looking toward Asia for
economic opportunities, with China quickly closing in on
the United States as the region's major trading partner.
Staunch supporters of free trade complain that the
United States has been ignoring South America since the
September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
Chinese President Hu Jintao visited Brazil and Argentina
before arriving in Santiago, where he will also discuss
a free trade agreement with Chile, the world's leading
copper producer.
Other economic issues likely to arise at this year's
summit include rising world oil prices, the weak dollar
and U.S. budget deficits, all of which could impact
international trade.
Junichiro Koizumi, embarked on a fight of words with
China on the issue of a war sanctuary devoted to war
deads including war criminals in Tokyo, plans to meet Hu
on Sunday.
APEC's 21 members, in alphabetical order, are:
Australia; Brunei; Canada; Chile; China; Hong Kong;
Indonesia; Japan; Republic of Korea (South Korea);
Malaysia; Mexico; New Zealand; Papua New Guinea; Peru;
Philippines; Russia; Singapore; Taipei; Thailand; the
United States; Vietnam.
at stone-throwing protesters in central Santiago
overnight as world leaders flew in for a major
Asia-Pacific summit.
The mayhem in the capital provided a violent backdrop to
the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation (APEC) summit,
where President George W Bush's "war on terror" and
nuclear proliferation appeared set to eclipse trade and
the economy. Bush arrived in Santiago Friday evening
making his first international trip since winning a
second term of office on November 2.
Throughout the day, thousands of anti-Bush and
anti-globalization protesters took to the streets of the
city, at times clashing with police who used tear gas
and water cannons to control the crowds.
More protests are expected as APEC meetings get under
way Saturday, although demonstrators are being kept far
from the summit site.
Chilean authorities have launched a massive security
operation, with special guard forces and police on
horseback throughout the city.
While in Chile, Bush will meet the leaders of China,
Japan, South Korea and Russia, which, along with the
United States, have been involved in six-party talks
with North Korea about its nuclear program.
North Korea has walked away from those talks, but South
Korean officials have expressed optimism that North
Korea may return to the negotiating table, now that the
U.S. presidential election is over.
While the top White House goal is to come out of the
summit showing a united front against North Korea, its
negotiating partners are also expected to push Bush to
offer security and other incentives to move along the
negotiations.
Bush's meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin may
also prove particularly noteworthy, given Putin's
comments earlier this week that Russia is developing a
new type of nuclear weapon.
That development, along with Putin's efforts at home to
consolidate power, has left some critics calling for
Bush to take a tougher line against a man with whom the
U.S. leader enjoys a warm personal relationship.
"The Bush administration is going to have to take the
gloves off a little bit and be a little bit more head-on
about where President Putin is leading his country,"
said Wendy Sherman, a former State Department counselor.
The APEC summit, which includes leaders of 21 countries,
is designed to foster economic cooperation, although
security issues have loomed large in the past two years.
This year's event comes at a time when South American
countries are increasingly looking toward Asia for
economic opportunities, with China quickly closing in on
the United States as the region's major trading partner.
Staunch supporters of free trade complain that the
United States has been ignoring South America since the
September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
Chinese President Hu Jintao visited Brazil and Argentina
before arriving in Santiago, where he will also discuss
a free trade agreement with Chile, the world's leading
copper producer.
Other economic issues likely to arise at this year's
summit include rising world oil prices, the weak dollar
and U.S. budget deficits, all of which could impact
international trade.
Junichiro Koizumi, embarked on a fight of words with
China on the issue of a war sanctuary devoted to war
deads including war criminals in Tokyo, plans to meet Hu
on Sunday.
APEC's 21 members, in alphabetical order, are:
Australia; Brunei; Canada; Chile; China; Hong Kong;
Indonesia; Japan; Republic of Korea (South Korea);
Malaysia; Mexico; New Zealand; Papua New Guinea; Peru;
Philippines; Russia; Singapore; Taipei; Thailand; the
United States; Vietnam.
Japan says yes to arms exports
U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld welcomed Japan's
policy to relax its arms export control when he met with
Japanese Defense Agency Director General Yoshinori Ono.
The Japanese government has worked out a plan which will
break through the longtime three arms export control
principles and strengthen cooperation with the United
States in weapons development and production, the Asahi
Shimbun reported Friday.
Under the plan, Japan will allow weapons development and
production with the United States or such activities in
US-led multinational projects, the major daily said.
Japan can also export equipment under the circumstance
of international operations, including fighting
terrorism or pirates.The items include helmets, body
armors, vehicles, used warships.
Announced in 1967 by then Prime Minister Eisaku Sato,
the three principles stipulate that Japan shall "not
export weapons to communist states, to states to which
arms exports are prohibited by UN resolution, or to
states involved in armed conflicts."
Further, former Prime Minister Takeo Miki announced in
1976 that Japan would not export weapons to any country.
The plan was drawn up in consideration that Japan and
the United States are currently teamed up in developing
ballistic missile defense systems, and the private
sectors are urging for easing controls to maintain
competitiveness technically in the world. In addition,
there are concerns that it is difficult for Japan to
independently develop necessary high-tech arms, the
paper said.
The initiative could be included in a new defense
program outline which is expected to be inked by the
cabinet later this month or early December, it said,
adding that the opposition parties are sure to bring up
argument against it.
policy to relax its arms export control when he met with
Japanese Defense Agency Director General Yoshinori Ono.
The Japanese government has worked out a plan which will
break through the longtime three arms export control
principles and strengthen cooperation with the United
States in weapons development and production, the Asahi
Shimbun reported Friday.
Under the plan, Japan will allow weapons development and
production with the United States or such activities in
US-led multinational projects, the major daily said.
Japan can also export equipment under the circumstance
of international operations, including fighting
terrorism or pirates.The items include helmets, body
armors, vehicles, used warships.
Announced in 1967 by then Prime Minister Eisaku Sato,
the three principles stipulate that Japan shall "not
export weapons to communist states, to states to which
arms exports are prohibited by UN resolution, or to
states involved in armed conflicts."
Further, former Prime Minister Takeo Miki announced in
1976 that Japan would not export weapons to any country.
The plan was drawn up in consideration that Japan and
the United States are currently teamed up in developing
ballistic missile defense systems, and the private
sectors are urging for easing controls to maintain
competitiveness technically in the world. In addition,
there are concerns that it is difficult for Japan to
independently develop necessary high-tech arms, the
paper said.
The initiative could be included in a new defense
program outline which is expected to be inked by the
cabinet later this month or early December, it said,
adding that the opposition parties are sure to bring up
argument against it.
France reconstruction of Iraq
Visiting French Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin said
Friday that France is prepared to collaborate in the
reconstruction of Iraq, but that country must advance
towards the "political" solution of its crisis.
"France along with its partners, and in particular
within the European Union (EU), is prepared to
contribute to the political and economic reconstruction
of Iraq," he told a press conference in Mexico.
France will participate along with the Group of Eight,
the Arab League and Iraq's neighbors, in the Sharm el
Sheik (Egypt) Conference, scheduled for Nov. 22-23, to
discuss the economic reconstruction of Iraq and its
security situation.
"We participate in Sharm el Sheik with a positive mind,
wishingfor this event to contribute to the transition
process considered in Resolution 1546 of the United
Nations Security Council, and that it be supported by
the region's countries," he said.
Raffarin insisted the problem of Iraq is "political" and
that the terms established by the Security Council for
the transition -which includes elections in January-
must be respected.
Friday that France is prepared to collaborate in the
reconstruction of Iraq, but that country must advance
towards the "political" solution of its crisis.
"France along with its partners, and in particular
within the European Union (EU), is prepared to
contribute to the political and economic reconstruction
of Iraq," he told a press conference in Mexico.
France will participate along with the Group of Eight,
the Arab League and Iraq's neighbors, in the Sharm el
Sheik (Egypt) Conference, scheduled for Nov. 22-23, to
discuss the economic reconstruction of Iraq and its
security situation.
"We participate in Sharm el Sheik with a positive mind,
wishingfor this event to contribute to the transition
process considered in Resolution 1546 of the United
Nations Security Council, and that it be supported by
the region's countries," he said.
Raffarin insisted the problem of Iraq is "political" and
that the terms established by the Security Council for
the transition -which includes elections in January-
must be respected.
Thursday, November 18, 2004
Chirac questions US-led Iraq war
French President Jacques Chirac says he is "not at all
sure" the world has become safer with the removal from
power of Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein.
In a BBC interview, Mr Chirac suggested the situation in
Iraq had helped to prompt an increase in terrorism.
The interview, aired on BBC Two's Newsnight programme on
Wednesday, came ahead of his visit to the UK this week.
President Chirac also maintained that any intervention
in Iraq should have been through the United Nations.
" History will tell who is wrong and who is right "
Jacques Chirac
"To a certain extent, Saddam Hussein's departure was a
positive thing," Mr Chirac said when asked if the world
was safer now, as US President George W Bush has
repeatedly stated.
"But it also provoked reactions, such as the
mobilisation in a number of countries, of men and women
of Islam, which has made the world more dangerous," he
added.
"There's no doubt that there has been an increase in
terrorism and one of the origins of that has been the
situation in Iraq.
"I'm not at all sure that one can say that the world is
safer."
American culture
When asked if his position on troops in Iraq remained
the same, he said: "The way things are now I can't
imagine that there will be French troops in Iraq."
He defended the use of French troops in Ivory Coast,
whose attack on the Ivorian air force sparked mass
anti-French protests in the West African nation.
" America and Europe have to take it upon themselves to
understand each other " Jacques Chirac
"The situation there is altogether different. The French
in Cote d'Ivoire act under the mandate of the UN and
also under a unanimous mandate of the African Union."
He said he understood that Mr Bush would not change his
mind on Iraq - but, he added, nor would France.
"This is not disrespect towards each other," he said.
"We have two distinct analyses and we draw two different
conclusions. History will tell who is wrong and who is
right."
When asked his views on American culture, Mr Chirac
said: "We can't have a world where there's only one
culture."
He said the loss of any language, civilisation or
culture was a "great loss for humanity, because humanity
should preserve its rich diversity, it must not allow it
to perish".
'Strong ties'
But he dismissed as "an absurd idea" that Europe would
build itself against the US.
He described China, India, Asia, Europe and North
America as the "great poles of tomorrow's world and
their requirements must be compatible with peace and, I
hope, democracy".
"America and Europe have to take it upon themselves to
understand each other, not turning against the other
great poles of tomorrow's worlds, but side by side.
"So that when tensions mount and problems arise, there
will be strong ties between these two powers and one of
these ties should be the transatlantic one."
[The interview with President Chirac was broadcast on
Newsnight on BBC Two at 2230 GMT on Wednesday 17
November, and is on the Newsnight website]
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/newsnight/4020663.stm
sure" the world has become safer with the removal from
power of Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein.
In a BBC interview, Mr Chirac suggested the situation in
Iraq had helped to prompt an increase in terrorism.
The interview, aired on BBC Two's Newsnight programme on
Wednesday, came ahead of his visit to the UK this week.
President Chirac also maintained that any intervention
in Iraq should have been through the United Nations.
" History will tell who is wrong and who is right "
Jacques Chirac
"To a certain extent, Saddam Hussein's departure was a
positive thing," Mr Chirac said when asked if the world
was safer now, as US President George W Bush has
repeatedly stated.
"But it also provoked reactions, such as the
mobilisation in a number of countries, of men and women
of Islam, which has made the world more dangerous," he
added.
"There's no doubt that there has been an increase in
terrorism and one of the origins of that has been the
situation in Iraq.
"I'm not at all sure that one can say that the world is
safer."
American culture
When asked if his position on troops in Iraq remained
the same, he said: "The way things are now I can't
imagine that there will be French troops in Iraq."
He defended the use of French troops in Ivory Coast,
whose attack on the Ivorian air force sparked mass
anti-French protests in the West African nation.
" America and Europe have to take it upon themselves to
understand each other " Jacques Chirac
"The situation there is altogether different. The French
in Cote d'Ivoire act under the mandate of the UN and
also under a unanimous mandate of the African Union."
He said he understood that Mr Bush would not change his
mind on Iraq - but, he added, nor would France.
"This is not disrespect towards each other," he said.
"We have two distinct analyses and we draw two different
conclusions. History will tell who is wrong and who is
right."
When asked his views on American culture, Mr Chirac
said: "We can't have a world where there's only one
culture."
He said the loss of any language, civilisation or
culture was a "great loss for humanity, because humanity
should preserve its rich diversity, it must not allow it
to perish".
'Strong ties'
But he dismissed as "an absurd idea" that Europe would
build itself against the US.
He described China, India, Asia, Europe and North
America as the "great poles of tomorrow's world and
their requirements must be compatible with peace and, I
hope, democracy".
"America and Europe have to take it upon themselves to
understand each other, not turning against the other
great poles of tomorrow's worlds, but side by side.
"So that when tensions mount and problems arise, there
will be strong ties between these two powers and one of
these ties should be the transatlantic one."
[The interview with President Chirac was broadcast on
Newsnight on BBC Two at 2230 GMT on Wednesday 17
November, and is on the Newsnight website]
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/newsnight/4020663.stm
CIA critic: "Why the West Is Losing the War on Terror"
A CIA analyst who wrote a book that criticized the U.S.
war on terror has resigned from the spy agency after it
effectively banned him from publicly discussing his
views, his publicist said on Thursday.
Michael Scheuer, whose book "Imperial Hubris: Why the
West Is Losing the War on Terror" was signed as
"anonymous" and published this summer, will resign
effective Friday after 22 years at the Central
Intelligence Agency.
In a statement, Scheuer said the CIA had not forced him
to resign, "but I have concluded that there has not been
adequate national debate over the nature of the threat
posed by Osama bin Laden and the forces he leads and
inspires, and the nature and dimensions of intelligence
reform needed to address that threat."
He intends to speak to the media over the next several
weeks, including an appearance on the CBS show "60
Minutes" on Sunday.
Scheuer's statement said senior leadership had allowed
the intelligence officers working against al Qaeda
leader Osama bin Laden to be made scapegoats for
pre-Sept. 11 failures.
Scheuer was chief of the CIA Counterterrorist Center's
unit which focused on bin Laden from 1996 to 1999 and
remained a CIA analyst after that.
"The Atlantic Monthly" in its December issue published a
letter sent by Scheuer to U.S. congressional
intelligence committees that said the key pre-Sept. 11
intelligence failures were mainly the result of bad
decisions by senior officials.
"While the 11 September attacks probably were
unstoppable, it was decisions by human beings --
featuring arrogance, bad judgment, disdain for
expertise, and bureaucratic cowardice -- that made sure
the Intelligence Community did not operate optimally to
defend America," Scheuer said in the letter.
In June, just before Scheuer's book was published, he
did a series of media interviews, appearing on TV in
silhouette and was identified in print as "Mike."
In the first week of August, CIA officials told him that
he had to ask for permission in advance for media
interviews and provide summaries of what would be
discussed ahead of time, Scheuer's editor and publicist
Christina Davidson said.
"They rejected every single request," she said. "It was
effectively a ban."
His book said the United States was losing the war
against terrorism and that sticking to current policies
would only make its enemies in the Islamic world grow
stronger.
The statement released by his publicist about Scheuer's
resignation said that "after a cordial meeting with
senior CIA officials on Tuesday, Scheuer decided that it
would be in the best interests of the intelligence
community and the country for him to resign in order to
continue speaking publicly with regard to Osama Bin
Laden, al Qaeda, and the 9-11 Commission Report." A CIA
spokeswoman had no immediate comment.
war on terror has resigned from the spy agency after it
effectively banned him from publicly discussing his
views, his publicist said on Thursday.
Michael Scheuer, whose book "Imperial Hubris: Why the
West Is Losing the War on Terror" was signed as
"anonymous" and published this summer, will resign
effective Friday after 22 years at the Central
Intelligence Agency.
In a statement, Scheuer said the CIA had not forced him
to resign, "but I have concluded that there has not been
adequate national debate over the nature of the threat
posed by Osama bin Laden and the forces he leads and
inspires, and the nature and dimensions of intelligence
reform needed to address that threat."
He intends to speak to the media over the next several
weeks, including an appearance on the CBS show "60
Minutes" on Sunday.
Scheuer's statement said senior leadership had allowed
the intelligence officers working against al Qaeda
leader Osama bin Laden to be made scapegoats for
pre-Sept. 11 failures.
Scheuer was chief of the CIA Counterterrorist Center's
unit which focused on bin Laden from 1996 to 1999 and
remained a CIA analyst after that.
"The Atlantic Monthly" in its December issue published a
letter sent by Scheuer to U.S. congressional
intelligence committees that said the key pre-Sept. 11
intelligence failures were mainly the result of bad
decisions by senior officials.
"While the 11 September attacks probably were
unstoppable, it was decisions by human beings --
featuring arrogance, bad judgment, disdain for
expertise, and bureaucratic cowardice -- that made sure
the Intelligence Community did not operate optimally to
defend America," Scheuer said in the letter.
In June, just before Scheuer's book was published, he
did a series of media interviews, appearing on TV in
silhouette and was identified in print as "Mike."
In the first week of August, CIA officials told him that
he had to ask for permission in advance for media
interviews and provide summaries of what would be
discussed ahead of time, Scheuer's editor and publicist
Christina Davidson said.
"They rejected every single request," she said. "It was
effectively a ban."
His book said the United States was losing the war
against terrorism and that sticking to current policies
would only make its enemies in the Islamic world grow
stronger.
The statement released by his publicist about Scheuer's
resignation said that "after a cordial meeting with
senior CIA officials on Tuesday, Scheuer decided that it
would be in the best interests of the intelligence
community and the country for him to resign in order to
continue speaking publicly with regard to Osama Bin
Laden, al Qaeda, and the 9-11 Commission Report." A CIA
spokeswoman had no immediate comment.
Wednesday, November 17, 2004
NASA X-43A, a new Jet engine to fly at Mach 10
A tiny unmanned NASA "scramjet" soared over the Pacific
Ocean Tuesday to demonstrate a radical new engine
technology by attempting to fly at a record speed of
about 7,000 mph, almost 10 times the speed of sound.
The 12-foot-long X-43A supersonic combustion ramjet was
to fly under its own power at Mach 10 for about 10
seconds after separating from a booster rocket at
110,000 feet, then glide to a splash landing.
The flight was an apparent success, and confirmation of
the speed achieved was expected to be announced later by
officials at NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center at
Edwards Air Force Base.
"The research vehicle was absolutely rock-solid stable,"
said Griff Corpening, chief engineer on two previous
X-43A flights. "All indications (are) we had a
successful experiment."
The X-43A, mounted on a Pegasus rocket used to boost it
to flight speed, was carried under the wing of a B-52
aircraft and released at an altitude of 40,000 feet over
a test range off the Southern California coast. The
rocket motor then fired for a 90-second ascent.
Like its predecessors, the X-43A will not be recovered
from the ocean.
The flight was the last in a $230 million-plus effort to
test technology most likely to be initially used in
military aircraft, such as a bomber that could reach any
target on Earth within two hours of takeoff from the
United States, or to power missiles.
Scramjets may also provide an alternative to rockets for
space launches.
Unlike conventional jet engines which use rotating fan
blades to compress air for combustion, the X-43A has no
rotating engine parts. Instead it uses the underside of
the aircraft's forebody to "scoop" up and compress air
for mixing with hydrogen fuel.
The X-43A launched Tuesday was the last of three built
for NASA's Hyper-X program.
The first X-43A flight failed in 2001 when the booster
rocket veered off course and was destroyed.
The second X-43A successfully flew in March, reaching
Mach 6.83 - nearly 5,000 mph - and setting a world speed
record for a plane powered by an air-breathing engine.
That was more than double the top speed of the
jet-powered SR-71 Blackbird spyplane, which at slightly
more than Mach 3 is the fastest air-breathing, manned
aircraft.
The old X-15 was the fastest rocket-powered manned
airplane, hitting Mach 6.7. Rockets do not "breathe"
air, but instead carry oxidizers that are combined with
fuel to allow combustion.
Not having to carry oxygen is one of the advantages
scramjets hold over rockets. Rockets can also achieve
high speeds, but the weight of oxygen tanks or other
oxidizers reduces the amount of payload they can carry.
Tuesday's launch was expected to be the last research
flight for NASA's B-52, which is being retired after
some 40 years of service.
Ocean Tuesday to demonstrate a radical new engine
technology by attempting to fly at a record speed of
about 7,000 mph, almost 10 times the speed of sound.
The 12-foot-long X-43A supersonic combustion ramjet was
to fly under its own power at Mach 10 for about 10
seconds after separating from a booster rocket at
110,000 feet, then glide to a splash landing.
The flight was an apparent success, and confirmation of
the speed achieved was expected to be announced later by
officials at NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center at
Edwards Air Force Base.
"The research vehicle was absolutely rock-solid stable,"
said Griff Corpening, chief engineer on two previous
X-43A flights. "All indications (are) we had a
successful experiment."
The X-43A, mounted on a Pegasus rocket used to boost it
to flight speed, was carried under the wing of a B-52
aircraft and released at an altitude of 40,000 feet over
a test range off the Southern California coast. The
rocket motor then fired for a 90-second ascent.
Like its predecessors, the X-43A will not be recovered
from the ocean.
The flight was the last in a $230 million-plus effort to
test technology most likely to be initially used in
military aircraft, such as a bomber that could reach any
target on Earth within two hours of takeoff from the
United States, or to power missiles.
Scramjets may also provide an alternative to rockets for
space launches.
Unlike conventional jet engines which use rotating fan
blades to compress air for combustion, the X-43A has no
rotating engine parts. Instead it uses the underside of
the aircraft's forebody to "scoop" up and compress air
for mixing with hydrogen fuel.
The X-43A launched Tuesday was the last of three built
for NASA's Hyper-X program.
The first X-43A flight failed in 2001 when the booster
rocket veered off course and was destroyed.
The second X-43A successfully flew in March, reaching
Mach 6.83 - nearly 5,000 mph - and setting a world speed
record for a plane powered by an air-breathing engine.
That was more than double the top speed of the
jet-powered SR-71 Blackbird spyplane, which at slightly
more than Mach 3 is the fastest air-breathing, manned
aircraft.
The old X-15 was the fastest rocket-powered manned
airplane, hitting Mach 6.7. Rockets do not "breathe"
air, but instead carry oxidizers that are combined with
fuel to allow combustion.
Not having to carry oxygen is one of the advantages
scramjets hold over rockets. Rockets can also achieve
high speeds, but the weight of oxygen tanks or other
oxidizers reduces the amount of payload they can carry.
Tuesday's launch was expected to be the last research
flight for NASA's B-52, which is being retired after
some 40 years of service.
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