Foreign Military Studies Office OPERATIONAL ENVIRONMENT WATCH April | 2012 The Journal of the United States Army Volume 2 | Issue 4 for Foreign News & Perspectives For over 25 years, the Foreign IN THIS ISSUE Military Studies Office (FMSO) TURKEY MEXICO at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, 3 Clashes from Syria Spill into 32 Recruitment of Youths by Turkey; Fury over Border Mexican Drug Cartels has conducted open source Violation 35 Changing Financial Strategies 5 Defense Industrial Strategic Plan of Mexican TCOs research on foreign perspectives Unveils Ambitious Range of CENTRAL AMERICA Projects 37 Lights Out for the Shining of defense and security issues, 7 Critical Iran Nuclear Meeting in Path? Istanbul CHINA emphasizing those topics that are IRAN 39 Hidden Tensions between 9 Afghans Highlight Iranian Russia and China understudied or unconsidered. Interference 41 Checkmate?: India FMSO’s Operational Environment 12 Ahmadinejad’s Empty Promises Commentary on China’s Rising 14 Iran Debates, Rejects Talks with Power and Ambition Watch provides translated U.S. BALKANS selections and analysis from a EGYPT, LIBYA, YEMEN 43 Islamic President in Serbia? 17 SCAF Tries to Stay out of CENTRAL ASIA Politics diverse range of foreign articles 45 Veterans Affairs in Kazakhstan 19 Libya: Weak State, Weak Government or Both? 46 The Threat of Terrorism in and other media that our analysts Kazakhstan 21 Restructuring Yemen’s Military: Mission Impossible? 48 Determining the Possibility of and expert contributors believe Conflict in Tajikistan SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA will give military and security 50 Kyrgyz Military Housing and 23 Even if al Shabaab Is the Manas Transit Center Eventually Defeated, Can experts an added dimension to Somalia Govern Itself? RUSSIA their critical thinking about the 25 Groups Rally for Changes in 52 Spring Conscript Round-Up DRC’s Security Sector 54 Female Attraction Operational Environment. 26 Libya Collapse Continues to 56 Lack of Retirement Housing Materials, outside of the original foreign press article, under copyright have Impact Sub-Saharan Africa 58 NATO ‘Invasion’ of Ulyanovsk not been used. All articles published in the Operational Environment Watch are 27 Tehran, Phone Home?: The 60 Russian Super-Weapons not provided in full, and were originally published in foreign (non-US) media. For Fuzzy South-Africa Iran questions or original articles, contact FMSO at usarmy.leavenworth.tradoc.mbx.fmso- 62 Russian Influence in [email protected]. The Operational Environment Watch is archived, and available at Connection Transnistria http://fmso.leavenworth.army.mil. SOUTHEAST ASIA FMSO has provided some editing, format, and graphics to these articles to 29 US Military Presence in conform to organizational standards. Academic conventions, source referencing, and citation style are those of the author. Philippines The views expressed are those of the author and do not represent the official policy or position of the Department of the Army, Department of Defense, or the U.S. government. 2 Regional Analysts and Expert Contributors Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa Robert Feldman, Jason Warner Middle East Lucas Winter, Michael Rubin WL KNO EDGE NCE ISM SA ER Turkey Karen Kaya IS E A TE N K N O K C E China, Korea Cindy Hurst, Youngjun Kim N N T N I S India, Southeast Asia Ivan Welch E S J E N A 3 V H A Mexico Tony Scheidel, Brenda Fiegel, Cynthia Gonzalez A N H Z И O E P South America Geoff Demarest W O I T E D N E Z I A Balkans Sandra King-Savic M I C O N O C C Central Asia Matthew Stein, Chuck Bartles I O T N S H O E L C A I N M Z E N O Russia, Eastern Europe Ray Finch, Scott McIntosh T Layout/Graphics Aaron Perez Editors Ray Finch, Harry Orenstein, Thomas Wilhelm FMSO Contact [email protected] Features 3 Clashes from Syria Spill into Turkey; Fury over Border Violation Sınırımız İhlal Edildi, Gereğini Yapacağız (Our Border has been Violated, we will Take Necessary Action),” Islahhaber.com, 10 April 2012 “What should Turkey do if there is a border violation? Whatever other countries would do in such circumstances, in accordance with international politics and international law. That is what Turkey will eventually do. International laws grant us this right.” . 9 Afghans Highlight Iranian Interference Aval Hamsaye-ha gharamit bipurdazand.” (“First the Neighbors Should Pay Compensation” Hasht-e Sobh (8 a.m.). 28 March 2012 Rather than work constructively to help secure Afghanistan’s future, Afghans resented how Iran’s firebrand president seemed intent to use Afghanistan as a chess piece in his proxy battle with the United States 19 Libya: Weak State, Weak Government or Both? Libya: Fall Comes Early,” al-Ahram (Egypt). & Libya and the Army’s Dilemma,” al-Bayan (UAE) The Tibu, who were marginalized and oppressed under Qaddafi, claim they are being targeted in the new Libya despite having sided with the uprising. Those fighting them claim they are backed by fighters from neighboring countries 23 Even if al Shabaab Is Eventually Defeated, Can Somalia Govern Itself? Somalia’s ‘Newly Liberated Areas’ – What Comes Next?” African Arguments (hosted by the Royal African Society and the Social Science Research Council) 11 Apr 2012 Filling the power vacuum left behind by al Shabaab unearths a new set of problems underscored by one key factor – a willing, capable and legitimate alternative remains elusive 32 Recruitment of Youths by Mexican Drug Cartels Recluta narco a adolescents [Recruitment of Youths by Mexican Drug Cartels]”, Reforma The immediate response [to Drug trafficking] has been implemented, but this immediate response has failed to encompass the new and growing problem regarding an expanding cartel work force and a new generation of drug abusers 50 Kyrgyz Military Housing and the Manas Transit Center China to build two 9-storey houses for officers of Kyrgyz Defense Ministry, AKI Press (Kyrgyzstan), 05 April 2012 Discussions of military reform typically revolve around the issues of technology, doctrine, and force structure, but in the post-Soviet Union armed forces one of the most important, and unglamorous, military reform issues is the availability of military housing for troops and their families TURKEY 3 FMSO Commentary: With the ongoing crisis in Syria, the number of Clashes from Syria Spill into Turkey; Fury Syrians seeking shelter in the refugee over Border Violation camps on the Turkish side of the border has reached 25,000. Until now, clashes Source: “Sınırımız İhlal Edildi, Gereğini Yapacağız (Our Border has 10 April 2012 been Violated, we will Take Necessary Action),” Islahhaber.com, 10 between Syrian Army forces and April 2012, http://www.islahhaber.com/lookat.php?No=15971 opposition groups had stopped short of reaching the Turkish border. The Kilis refugee camp where the clashes On April 9th Syrian forces attacked spilled into Turkey, via a refugee camp on the Turkish side of Worldbulletin.net the border, killing two Syrian refugees and wounding two Turks. In another incident two Syrian refugees and a Turkish interpreter were wounded inside a refugee camp after being hit by stray bullets from clashes between Syrian rebels and troops. So far the border violation incidents appear to be accidental. However, it has heightened realization in Turkey of how easily the humanitarian crisis in Syria may turn into a national security crisis for Turkey. The Turkish Prime Minister has even brought up invoking the collective self- defense article (Article 5) of the NATO alliance, which says that an attack on Sınırımız İhlal Edildi, Gereğini Yapacağız one member shall be considered an attack on all. (Our Border has been Violated, we will The Prime Minister has so far made Take Necessary Action) vague statements such as ‘taking necessary steps’ and ‘tough measures’ to respond to a border violation, leaving peaking at a press conference in Beijing, Prime Minister Erdoğan sent harsh it unclear whether that would mean messages to Syria regarding events taking place in Syria and at the Syrian border. military action, a buffer zone or a SPrime Minister Erdoğan claimed that the actions that Turkey will take against humanitarian corridor. But he has also Syria are very important and said, “What should Turkey do if there is a border violation? claimed that Turkey does not want to take Whatever other countries would do in such circumstances, in accordance with international military action in Syria. Turkey’s main politics and international law. That is what Turkey will eventually do. International laws message to the international community grant us this right.” appears to be that it is working for a A journalist asked, “There is concern that Turkey is being pushed in a certain direction peaceful solution; that it will act if the on the issue of Syria. With the most recent development of your border being violated, do situation threatens its national security you have such a concern?” In response, Erdoğan said the following: “Should we think of and would like international backing. It this as Turkey is being pushed in a certain direction; or fulfilling a humanitarian duty that also expresses the possibility that the Turkey has, due to the events at its border? Sometimes unexpected things happen, they are number of refugees (and the cost to host not planned, they are handed to you and you still have to deal with them. This is how I view them) may go up significantly, and claims the issue of Syria; not in the way that you framed it.” that the international community should “TURKEY WILL FULFILL ITS DUTY” share the burden. The article below details Prime Minister Erdoğan’s stance “What are the primary and secondary things that Turkey needs to do right now? We will on the issue. End FMSO Commentary do whatever other countries would do in such a situation, according to international laws (Kaya) and relations.