Terrorism Fear Could Create Psychosomatic Epidemic, Feds Warn http://blog.wired.com/27bstroke6/2008/09/terrorism-fear.html
Americans' fear of a terrorism could create a mass outbreak of a psychosomatic illness -- even in the absence of any real attack -- -- creating a fake epidemic that could overwhelm hospitals attempting to treat real victims.
Adding to the confusion, the symptoms of a mass pyschogenic illness look much like symptoms of an anthrax attack, avian flu outbreak or chemical attack.
At least that's what the feds warned hospitals in a nonpublic 2006 communique recently published by the government sunshine site Wikileaks.
Call it a contagious psychosomatic illness -- though the feds preferred to label the phenomenon "psychogenic illness," defining that as: (cont...)
U.K. Report Finds Emerging Threats In Space
http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story_channel.jsp?channel=space&id=news/DIS09158.xml&headline=U.K.%20Report%20Finds%20Emerging%20Threats%20In%20Space
Disruptive technologies such as directed energy weapons and the use of electro-magnetic pulse are being identified as "emerging issues" for space security in a key U.K. industry report.British space industry lobby group U.K. Space will formally launch its "Space Secures Prosperity" report Sept. 16. The study is intended to highlight the extent to which the U.K. is dependent on space systems to support its military and security capabilities. Many of these systems, the report stresses, are foreign. U.K. industry wants to see the government step up its investment in military space.
In examining potential emerging threats to space infrastructure the report notes: "Disruptive technologies -- including electromagnetic pulse and directed energy weapons -- will continue to be developed and proliferate, with implications for the protection of vehicles, ground stations, and data-streams."
It goes on to add: "It is feasible that illegal organizations will seek to disrupt states ability to exploitýýý the use of space by threatening not only the ground stations themselves, but also the communications links between them and their satellites."
7 countries plan Black Sea naval exercises
http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/09/15/europe/EU-Romania-US-Naval-Exercises.php
CONSTANTA, Romania:
A Romanian military official says seven countries including the United States will participate in naval exercises beginning this week in the Black Sea.Lt. Col. Florin Jipa says a total of 1,300 service members will take part from the U.S., Ukraine, Hungary, Lithuania, Romania, Latvia and Sweden. All countries but Ukraine are NATO members.
Jipa says the exercises, called "Jackal Stone," run eight days from Sept. 16 to Sept. 24.
Russia's Baltic Fleet starts week-long exercise
http://en.rian.ru/russia/20080915/116813333.html
Russia's Pacific Fleet holds live firing drills in Far East
http://en.rian.ru/russia/20080915/116784299.html
VLADIVOSTOK, September 15 (RIA Novosti) - A naval task force from Russia's Pacific Fleet has started scheduled exercises involving live firing in the Sea of Japan, a fleet spokesman said on Monday. (Russian Navy modernized - Image gallery)
"For the next few days the warships will conduct a series of training exercises, which mainly involve live firing at simulated targets," the source said.
He said the Admiral Vinogradov and Marshal Shaposhnikov large ASW ships will practice on Monday AA artillery and SAM firing at a target drone.
"During the next stage of the exercise, the ships will fire anti-ship missiles at a surface target," the source said.
The current drills are the third in a series of combat training exercises conducted by the Pacific Fleet in the past month. Two previous exercises off Russia's Far East coast involved over 50 warships and submarines, along with naval aircraft and naval infantry.
Russia also announced last week that strategic submarines from the Russian Pacific Fleet would conduct test launches of ballistic missiles at the Kura test site in Kamchatka on September 15-20.
Iran Air Force Holds Extensive Drill
http://www.alalam.ir/english/en-NewsPage.asp?newsid=031030120080915172700
TEHRAN, Sept 15--Iran's air force and defense units staged air defense exercises on Monday aimed at testing equipment and boosting readiness, news agencies reported.Dozens of aircraft took part in the maneuvers which was held in half of Iran's 30 provinces, and fought an imaginary enemy attacking Iran's air defenses.Military analysts say Iran's real ability to respond any attack could be with more unconventional tactics.The commander of Iran's aerial defense, Brigadier General Ahmad Mighani, said the exercise was staged to increase military readiness, Fars news agency said.Mighani emphasized that the enemies would receive a serious response for any aggression and we would surprise them and make them regretful.
"Steppe Eagle 2008"
Kazakhstan, NATO hold joint military exercises
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-09/16/content_10023946.htm
Lockheed Martin Looks To Nanotechnology
http://www.defensenews.com/story.php?i=3719888&c=AME&s=TOP
Materials that could regenerate when they are damaged and sensors that could be applied like spray-paint are two of the futuristic technologies Lockheed Martin is looking at in nanotechnology, said Sharon Lee Smith, director of advanced technology for Lockheed's electronic systems business and for corporate engineering and technology.
Lockheed's nanotechnology work is in the research and development phase, but advances in the molecular-level science are important to all of Lockheed's business segments, whether for providing stronger, lighter materials for the company's aeronautics division or sensors for its electronics systems division, Smith said during a presentation at the Emerging Tech Forum. The forum focuses on nanotechnology and networking opportunities to commercialize nanotechnology.
As an example of a need for the potential of materials to "self-heal" that could come from developments in nanotechnology, Smith pointed to the high-altitude airships Lockheed builds that are used for surveillance on the U.S.-Mexico border. The ships are often shot at, and Lockheed has to periodically take them down to patch holes, Smith said. .....
FEMA to help fund emergency ops centers
http://www.washingtontechnology.com/online/1_1/33502-1.html
Homeland Security to direct cybersecurity initiative
http://www.nextgov.com/nextgov/ng_20080915_3583.php
Officials to discuss flu pandemic preparedness (VT)
http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080915/NEWS/80915019/-1/NEWS05
`Flu Fatigue' Poses Public Health Threat, WHO Says (Update1)
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601124&sid=at0oOdQTLVE0&refer=home
In Defense of SAIC
http://seekingalpha.com/article/93416-in-defense-of-saic
"EM: SAIC was founded in 1969 and in many ways enables the United States to actually have a modern military. If a modern military force is about command, control and intelligence, then SAIC helps build the systems that allow all of that to function well and in real-time. Just looking at recent contract wins gives you a sense of the breadth of what they do..." Like mastermind 9/11's
CSC pulls in Missile Defense Agency work
http://www.washingtontechnology.com/online/1_1/33508-1.html
CSC will provide technical and program support to site of the Missile Defense Agency around the globe under a $22.2 million contract.
Under the contract, CSC will provide specialized technical and programmatic, advisory and assistance services, the Defense Department said Sept. 12.
The Falls Church, Va., systems integrator will conduct the work at various agency sites in the United States and abroad, DOD said. The work is expected to be finished by Sept. 30, 2009. The Missile Defense Agency office in Huntsville, Ala., is the contracting authority.
GVSU to take part in disaster drill today (MI)
http://www.wzzm13.com/news/news_story.aspx?storyid=98476
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