June 30th Weekly Update

SHIP LOCATIONS:

Ship & Group Locations Checked / Updated (6/24-30)

• CARRIER OPS EX: Exercise with US and ROK naval units in the Yellow Sea ends (June 25)
• FRUKUS 2012: Interoperability EX with France, Russia, UK and US ships begins Sunday (June 24)
• RIMPAC 2012: International Naval Exercise begins (June 29)

SHIP LOGS:

June 22

• RFS N. Filchenkov (LST) arrives in Novorossiysk, Russia. Western media claim the ship was delivering hardware to Syria. Russia claims the ship was carrying equipment for overhaul, and will return to Sevestopol next week.
  

June 25

• USS Stennis (CVN-74): enroute to San Diego for Fleet Replenishment Squadron carrier qualifications and month of training
  

June 26

• HMS Protestor (Survey): returns to UK after Antartica patrol
  
• HMS Vigilant (SSBN): returns to operational status after 3-year long refit
  
• USS Elrod (FFG-55): rescued four people from sinking vessel in Caribbean while on patrol
  
• USS New York (LPD-21): rescues jet skier about 15 miles off coast of Kuwait
  
• USS Swift (HSV-2): Arrived in Dar Es Salam, Tanzania on (June 23)
  

June 27

• HMS Illustrious (CVH): exercises and drills with French Navy in Bay of Biscay
  
• USS George Washington (CVN-73): visits Busan, SK for 3-days
  
• USS Pittsburg (SSN-720): returns from CENTCOM deployment (remove from log)
  

June 28

• FS Forbin (DDG) & HMS Diamond (DDG): condunct exercises in Mediterranean
  
• USS Underwood (FFG-36): visits Panama on (June 25)
  

June 29

• USS Chicago (SSN-721): visits Yokosuka, Japan
  

June 30

• PLAAN Zheng He (Training): visiting Halifax, Canada
  
• RFS Adm Panteleyev (DDG): joins RIMPAC 2012 @ Hawaii
  

GROUND UNITS LOGS:

Ground units locations updated per DOD reports, up to (June 23-30)

• US 1^st Armored Division, 3^rd BCT – KIA @ Maiden Shahr, Afghanistan (June 27)
• US 1^st Marine Division, 7^th Regiment – KIA @ Helmand Province, Afghanistan (June 23)
• US 2^nd Marine Division, 8^th Regiment – KIA @ Helmand Province, Afghanistan (June 22, 23)
• US 3^rd Infantry Division, 2^nd Heavy Brigade – KIA @ Mazar E. Sharif, Afghanistan (June 22)
• US 173^rd Airborne Brigade – KIA @ Maiden Shahr, Afghanistan (June 27)

NOTEWORTHY NEWS:

June 25

• AFGHANISTAN: Pakistan lodges a protest against Afghanistan and the US after 100 militants cross the border and attack a Pakistani army patrol. (...I'm sorry, I can't stop laughing, Maybe we should reply by saying there aren't any militant bases in Afghanistan)
• EGYPT: Muslim Brotherhood presidential candidate Morsi declared winner of Egyptian elections ...the current cabinet and prime minister submits their resignation to the Supreme Military Council today. (...let's see if Morsi and the SMC can get along)
• INDIA: India reports that once their indigenous program matures, they plan to operate two aircraft carriers at all times (...expect China to follow suit). India also states that after their successful test of an indigenous BM interceptor in February, 2012, they plan to set up ABM systems protecting New Delhi and Mumbai (...also expect China to protest and follow suit)
• ISRAEL: Russian President Putin visits Israel for 2-days, discuss Iran and continuing talks with Palestinians.
• RUSSIA: The MV Alaed, the freighter that returned to Murmansk with a load of refurb'ed attack helicopters bound for Syria, has been reflagged as a russian ship and set back out for Syria. The company says the destination of the cargo is Vladivostok (Pacific Fleet main base) and it carries disassembled helicopters, not gunships. (...Lets see what happens when it enters the Mediterranean)
• SYRIA: Syria and Russia warn NATO and Turkey against taking retalitory actions after Syria downs a Turkish F-4 near Latakia. The feeling in the media is that Turkey MIGHT invoke NATO to defend it, but that position is unlikely to materialize. In the meantime, it was reported that a Syrian Brigadier General defected to Turkey in the past couple days.

June 26

• SYRIA: unconfirmed reports say British SAS units have entered northern Syria in what appears to be an effort to establish a northern safe zone (...air cover not needed so much because Syria grounded it's fighter-bomber fleet to prevent more defections)

June 27

• SYRIA: Turkey appeals to the US to lead a military operation into N. Syria again ...and Obama says no again. In the meantime, Turkey mobilizes several armor and artillery units in the eastern part of the country and moves them to the Syrian border.

June 29

• JAPAN: US and Japanese military leaders decide to move forward with deploying MV-22 Osprey's to III MEF in Japan

June 23rd Weekly Update

SHIP LOCATIONS:

• Ship & Group Locations Checked / Updated (6/16-23)
• CARAT 2012 begins Malaysia Phase June 17
• TRILATERAL EXERCISE Begins June 21 (GWCSG group composition updated)
• CARRIER OPS EXERCISE Begins June 23 (US Navy and ROK, GWCSG participating)

SHIP LOGS:

June 16

• USS Underwood (FFG-36): PASSEX with Chilean Navy
  

June 17

• USS Swift (HSV-2): @ Nacala, Mozambique
  
• CARAT ESG: @ Beraus, Malaysia
  

June 18

• FS Guepratte (FFG): anti-piracy patrol in Gulf of Aden (June 1-14), heads to Oman afterwards
  
• USNS Mercy (T-AH-19): @ Samar, Philippines
  
• USS Blue Ridge (LCC-19): @ Tokyo, WESTPAC Patrol ENDS, on Friends & Family Cruise
  

June 19

• USS Makin Island (LHD-8): begin Tiger Cruise to San Diego
  

June 20

• FS Mistral (LHD): at Toulon, France, received award “Croix de la Valeur Militaire” for service in the Libya conflict
  
• HMS Daring (DDG) and HMS Triumph (SSN): conducted EX in Arabian Sea
  
• USS Eisenhower (CVN-69): CSG begins EUCOM / CENTCOM Deployment
  
• USS Kearsarge (LHD-3): @ Norfolk, conducting Amphibious Familiarization EX
  
• USS Normandy (CG-60): @ Karlskrona, Sweden
  

June 21

• FS Cmdt L'Herminier (FFG): conducted exercises with Benin (June 11-15)
  
• (FS Tonnerre (LHD) must be returning home, it must have been fully relieved of duty by Herminier since June 1, all Corymbe activities are now being conducted by Herminier)
  
• HMS Diamond (DDG): Visits Gibraltar
  
• USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72): visits Jebel Ali, UAE
  

June 22

• HMS St. Albans (FFG): visited Kiel, Germany for one week on (June 17)
  
• USS Makin Island (LHD-8): ARG returns to San Diego, WESTPAC / CENTCOM deployment ends
  

GROUND UNITS LOGS:

• Ground units locations updated per DOD reports, up to (June 15-23)
• UK Welsh Guards, 1^st Battalion – Flush insurgents out of Pulpazay, Afghanistan with 90-afghan police on (June 19)
• US 2^nd Infantry Division, 3^rd Stryker Brigade – KIA @ Panjwa'l, Afghanistan (June 12)
• US 82^nd Airborne Division, 1^st Brigade – KIA @ Spedar, Afghanistan (June 15)
• US 82^nd Airborne Division, 4^th Brigade – KIA @ Zharay, Afghanistan (June 18)

NOTEWORTHY NEWS:

June 18

• EGYPT: The Muslim Brotherhood claims victory in the Presidential election, but the military council is taking action to solidify it's independence and supremacy
• ISRAEL: IDF Armor units appear to be moving closer to Egyptian Sinai border after attack kills several civilians working on border fence
• SYRIA: Russia says it's sending a couple warships, one being an LST with Marines, to fortify the port of Tartus and assist in the evacuation of Russians. Meanwhile, rumors abound that Russia, Iran and China are lining up a huge military exercise in Syria, possibly involving a major naval contingent from China and 90,000 troops.

June 19

• RUSSIA: Russia denies the LST Kaliningrad was being sent to Syria with marines and equipment (however, the Russian's haven't denied the Ukrainian reports about the LST Nikolai Filchenkov being sent from the Black Sea Fleet with weapons and marines)
• SYRIA: Syria denies reports of Russian attack helicopters were being shipped to Syria, or that a major exercise with Russia, China and Iran was in the works.

June 20

• IRAN: Iran says it's planning to build 10 new destroyers and frigates this year
• 1-Mowj-2 Class Destroyer (1,420 tons, more of a Corvette sized ship)
• 9(?)-Sina Class Frigates
• June 21
• SYRIA: Russian ship MV Alaed carrying a cargo of overhauled Mil MI-25 helicopter gunships to Syria returns to Murmansk
• RUSSIA: Russian president Putin submits a bill to parliament establishing the “Russian Foundation for Advanced Research Projects in the Defense Industry”, which will fund high-risk advanced technology projects for the military (similar to US's DARPA)

June 22

• SYRIA: Syrian air defense forces shoot down a Turkish AF fighter (F-4 Phantom) after it intrudes Syrian airspace in Hatay Province. Eye witnesses report it flying low before heading back out to sea where it was shot down about 8 miles out. Turkish navy and CG ships are searching for the wreck, and the two pilots are missing. The government promises a response once it determines what happened.

June 23

• ISRAEL: IDF aircraft strike HAMAS targets in Gaza while rocket teams pound southern Israel after Sinai border attack
• SYRIA: It's been confirmed a Russian Buk-M2 (AKA SA-11) was used to shoot down the Turkish F-4 Super Phantom over Latakia
• Latakia = Port of Tartus = main Russian Naval Base in the Mediterranean = Turkish Reconn mission to figure out what's going on with reports of ships, Marines and equipment arriving ...but wouldn't satellites do as well? I guess they know SA-11's are on site now.
• NO WAIT! Now they're saying it was a Pantsyr-1 that downed the F-4. That's even worse. The US, UK, France and Israel can deal with Pantsyr's, but not Turkey. The Pantsyr would seriously threaten any attempt to achieve air supremacy over Syria, and only very advanced systems can defeat it ...and the Turks don't have it yet. That changes things. Expect the Turks to stall on them spearheading limited action (because only a direct multi-faceted invasion of Syria can ensure Turkish victory now), and attempt to change the momentum to the US doing something, or going full force into the unconventional option, and offering arms and even more support to the FSA. The Turkish endevour to establish a safe zone in N. Syria is over without superior support.

June 16th Update

SHIP LOCATIONS:

• Ship & Group Locations Checked / Updated (6/13-15)
• US / ROK / Japan Trilateral Exercise (June 21-22) South of Korean Peninsula
• US / ROK Bilateral Carrier Operations Exercise / (June 23-25) in the Yellow Sea with the USS George Washington CSG

SHIP LOGS:

June 9

• USS Makin Island (LHD-8): visiting Pearl Harbor, Hawaii; returning home
  June 10
  
• USS Nitze (DDG-94) patrolling in Gulf of Aden (part of Enterprise CSG)
  June 12
  
• USS Nimitz (CVN-68): in Pacific conducting drills and damage control exercises, planning to participate in RIMPAC 2012
  June 13
  
• USNS Mercy (T-AH-19): Siau MEDCAP phase ended June 10, currently at N. Sulawesi, Indonesia
  
• USS Annapolis (SSN-760): visiting Souda Bay, Greece
  
• USS George Washington (CVN-73): joint patrol with HMAS Ballarat (FFG)
  
• USS McCampbell (DDG-85): patrolling in E. China Sea
  
• USS Normandy (CG-60): participating in BALTOPS 2012, exercise ends June 16
  

June 14

• FS C. de Gaulle (CVN): Air Defense / Exocet training in Mediterranean with FS Forbin (DDG), Montcalm (DDG), La Fayette (FFG), Courbet (FFG), Surcouf (FFG) and Var (Support) on May 30
  
• HMS Daring (DDG): visited Muscat, Oman, preparing to return home
  
• RFA Ft. Rosalie (Support): visited Havana, Cuba during British Culture Week, strengthens counter-narcotics cooperation
  
• USS George Washington (CVN-73): celebrated it's 150,000^th safe arrested landing; deployed for it's 2012 patrol on May 26
  
• USS Iwo Jima ARG: It was announced today that the ARG will transfer it's homeport from Norfolk to Mayport, FL in 2014
  
• USS Tucson (SSN-770): returns to Pearl Harbor, WESTPAC patrol ends
  

June 15

• USS Eisenhower (CVN-69): CSG-8 plans to deploy to 5^th and 6^th Fleet AOR on June 20 for 9-months, group composition updated (Spanish FFG removed from escort list)
  

GROUND UNITS LOGS:

• Ground units locations updated per DOD reports, up to (June 15)
• UK The Royal Anglian Regiment, 1^st Battalion – KIA @ Nad' Ali District of Helmand Province, Afghanistan
• US 1^st Marine Division, 7^th Marine Regiment, 1^st Battalion – KIA @ Helmand Province, Afghanistan

NOTEWORTHY NEWS:

• EGYPT: The Egyptian Supreme Court declared 1/3 of the parliamentary seats were elected illegally, dissolved parliament, and set a new general election to occur two days before te next presidential runoff election. In the meantime, the military council assumes legislative powers.
• SYRIA: Syrian governmental sources confirmed that the army is gearing up for a major offensive against the opposition in the next couple days due to a warning by Russia that if the counterinsurgency isn't successful within 4-6 weeks, then Syria should prepare for war. It wasn't stated with whom the war would be with (either the West or Israel), but in recent days Russia has shipped attack helicopters to the Syrian military.
• Rumors abound that the US and Russia are reaching an agreement to divide up Syria and take military action ...but current observations disagree. It's thought that Russia would seize the port of Tartus (where the Russian naval base is) and some WMD facilities. The US and it's allies would achieve air supremacy, and establish safe zones for the civilians.

June 8th Update

SHIP LOCATIONS:

• Ship & Group Locations Checked / Updated (6/5-8)
• CARAT Indonesia at-sea phase concluded June 6

SHIP LOGS:

June 4

• FS Cmdt Herminier (FFG) @ Ivory Coast, conducted exfiltration exercise
  
• USS America (LHA-6): America was launched, being outfit for commissioning, Sea Trials begin soon
  
• USS Peleliu (LHA-5): assists the Coast guard with the medical evacuation of a merchant marine sailor from the Horizon Spirit, currently conducting Amphibious Squadron Integration Training for upcoming deployment (...ARG composition updated)
  

June 5

• USS Greenville (SSN-772): departs Hawaii for WESTPAC deployment
  
• USNS Mercy (T-AH-19): visits Siau, Indonesia
  

June 6

• FS Mistral (LHD): conducts amphibious planning exercise with 9^th Marine Infantry Brigade (May 28 to June 1st), and testing interoperability with UK 3 Commando, Royal Marines; Exercise is part of the training and development of a joint French-UK Expeditionary Force that will become active in November, 2012, and be tested in October, 2012 during the Corsican Lion 2012 exercise.
  
• HMS Argyll (FFG): celebrates it's 21^st anniversary as oldest Type-23 FFG in the Royal Navy; planning to be On-Call this summer, in August to undergo FOST, and deploy to S. Atlantic in fall
  
• USS Annapolis (SSN-760): visits Souda Bay, Crete
  June 7
  
• HMS Ocean (LHA): Family Day off Plymouth, UK
  
• RS Yuri Dolgoruky (Project 955 Borei SSBN): takes to sea performing checks, planning to test Bulava ICBM and be commissioned this year
  June 8
  
• HMS Dauntless (DDG): visited Sassandra, Ivory Coast
  
• INS Vikramaditya (CV): begins sea trials in White Sea, planned to take 4-months
  

GROUND UNITS LOGS:

• Ground units locations updated per DOD reports, up to (June 8)
• France Task Force La Fayette – in Afghanistan, conducted “HUNTING SPEAR 7” security sweep with 3^rd Brigade, Afghan Army, in Tagab Valley
• France 3^rd Marine Infantry Regiment – in CHAD conduct urban warfare training with unit of Chadian troops
• UK Royal Welsh Regiment, 1^st Battalion – KIA @ Observation Post 'Tir”, Nahr-e Saraj, Afghanistan
• UK Yorkshire Regiment, 3^rd Battalion – KIA @ Helmand Province, Afghanistan
• US 1^st Marine Division, 5^th Regiment, 2^nd Battalion – KIA @ Helmand Province, Afghanistan
• US 2^nd Infantry Division, 2^nd Stryker Brigade, 23^rd Infantry Regiment, 4^th Battalion – KIA @ Maiwand, Afghanistan
• US 25^th Infantry Division, 4^th Brigade, 40^th Cavalry Regiment, 1^st Squadron – KIA @ FOB Salerno, Afghanistan

NOTEWORTHY NEWS:

• AZERBAIJAN: An Azeri commando group was spotted and engaged by Armenian border forces as they attempted to cross into Nagorno-Karabakh. The two sides have been staging cross border raids on each other for the past couple days. Russia has assets on both sides and has been mediating the conflict for nearly 20 years. Azeri Army later says their units are “ready to flush Armenians out of Karabakh”
• RUSSIA: Deputy Prime Minister Rogozin says they have no plans to develope and purchase a 5^th Gen strategic bomber for Russia's AF, citing the current state of air defense systems and stating “...these aircraft will not get anywhere. Not ours, not theirs...”, and prefers the modernization of current airframes. However, Chief of the Russian General Staff Gen. Makarov says the development will continue unabated, and the planned deployment date of 2025 continues on schedule.
• SYRIA: France condemns a Syrian Army incursion into Lebanon near Arsal on June 7; Lebanese Army units deploy to Arsal to guard and stabilize it.

• UK: Defense Secretary says the Army may loose 20,000 personnel by 2020, forcing it to merge units and rely more on reservists and contractors
• USA: USAF panel approves a document articulating the need for a replacement for the Minuteman III ICBM, and eyes cooperation with the Navy
• USA: US Army identifies units for the next OEF rotation into Afghanistan
• 1^st Infantry Division, 4^th Brigade (Late Spring, 2012)
• 3^rd Infantry Division, Combat Aviation Brigade (Winter, 2012)
• 101^st Airborne Division, 3^rd Brigade (Fall, 2012)
• 101^st Airborne Division, Combat Aviation Brigade (Fall, 2012)

June 4th Update

SHIP LOCATIONS:

• Ship & Group Locations Checked / Updated (6/1-4)

SHIP LOGS:

June 1

• HMS Westminster (FFG): @ Dubai, soldier goes missing
  
• USNS Mercy (T-AH-19): @ North Sulawesi, Indonesia, begin PACIFIC PARTNERSHIP 2012
• USS Ponce (LPD-15): Deploys to CENTCOM, reconfigured as Sea Base (helicopter / patrol boat mother ship)

June 2

• PLAAN Zhenghe (FFG): Chinese training ship arrives at Taranto, Italy
  

June 4

• FS Cmdt Herminier (FFG): @ Tema, Ghana on four day official visit
  

June 5

• HMS Dauntless (DDG): @ Ghana for 8-days
  

GROUND UNITS LOGS:

• Ground units locations updated per DOD reports, up to (June 2)
• KFOR: NATO troops clash with Serbs in Kosovo after barricades were removed, 6-injured

• US 1^st Armored Division, 3^rd Brigade, 5^th Infantry Regiment, 2^nd Battalion, HQ – KIA @ Charkh, Logar Province, Afghanistan
• US 1^st Armored Division, 3^rd Brigade, 5^th Infantry Regiment, 2^nd Battalion – KIA @ Charkh, Logar Province, Afghanistan
• US 1^st Armored Division, 3^rd Brigade, 41^st Infantry Regiment, 1^st Battalion – KIA @ Charkh, Logar Province, Afghanistan

NOTEWORTHY NEWS:

• ISRAEL: Der Spiegel reports that Israel has been quietly arming it's submarines with nuclear-armed cruise missiles

• LEBANON: Army troops have been deployed to Tripoli after 15-people died from clashes between supporters of Assad and those of the uprising
• US: The US Navy is planning to rebalance it's fleet by 2020 so that 60% is in the Pacific

June 1st Update

SHIP LOCATIONS:

• Ship & Group Locations Checked / Updated (6/1)
• BALTOPS 2012: NATO Naval exercise begins (June 1), Russian LST Kaliningrad participating

SHIP LOGS:

May 27

• USS Nimitz (CVN-68): arrives at San Fransisco to celebrate the 75^th anniversary of the Golden Gate Bridge
  

May 28

• FS Marne (Supply): visited Dar es Salaam, Tanzania (May 22)
  

May 29

• RS Kuznetsov (CV): The russian hockey league (VHL) is planning to hold a match onboard the country's only active carrier, date not yet determined, but one of the teams will be the navy team from St. Petersburg, Russia
  
• USS Pearl Harbor (LSD-52): at Cebu, Philippines
  
• USS Underwood (FFG-36): ends UNITAS on May 25 at Callao, Peru; begins 3-day US / Peru SIFOREX 2012 (May 25-28)
  
• ESG Forward Group (CARAT): group arrives @ Surabaya, Indonesia for the CARAT Indonesian phase
  

May 30

• HMS Illustrious (CV): at Portsmouth, UK; celebrates it's 30^th Anniversay
  
• USS Blue Ridge (LCC-19): departs Pattaya, Thailand after 5-day port visit
  
• USS Columbus (SSN-762): Arrives at Guam (...on WESTPAC Deployment)
  
• USS Nimtz (CVN-68): Leaves San Fransisco, CA
  
• USS Topeka (SSN-754): arrives at Guam (...on WESTPAC Deployment)
  
• USS Tripoli (LHA-7): contract awarded to HII
  
• USS Tucson (SSN-770): arrives at Guam
  

May 31

• RFA Fort Rosali (Support): visits Havana, Cuba
  
• HMS Dauntless (DDG): visited Freetown, Sierra Leone
  
• HNLMS Evertsen (FFG): preparing for deployment with NATO-SNMG-1
  
• RS Kaliningrad (LST): leaves Baltiisk, Kalinigrad for NATO naval exercise BALTOPS
  

June 1

• RS Smetlivy (DDG): returns to Black Sea Fleet homeport Sevastopol (was deployed in E. Mediterranean)
  
• USS Curts (FFG-38): departs for final deployment to 4^th Fleet AOR
  
• USS New Orleans (LPD-18): arrives at Sasebo, Japan
  
• USS Taylor (FFG-50): assist Yemeni dhow in Arabian Sea (May19-21)
  

GROUND UNITS LOGS:

• Ground units locations updated per DOD reports, up to (May 31)
• JOINT ANTI-TERROR EXERCISE: in Colorado ends, Russian contingent returns home
• French Army BG Steel in Afghanistan assists Afghan Army in security sweep of Joybar and Surobi (May 19-21)
• UK 40 Commando – training for upcoming Afghanistan deployment
• UK The Royal Anglian Regiment, 1^st Battalion – seizes large cache of insurgent drugs and explosives in Nad Ali' District, Helmand Province, Afghanistan
• US III MEF, 5^th Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Co. - KIA @ Helmand Province, Afghanistan
• US 1^st Marine Division (Forward), RCT-6, 8^th Regiment, 1^st Battalion – KIA @ Sangin District, Helmand Prov, Afghanistan
• US 2^nd Infantry Division, 2^nd Stryker Brigade, 23^rd Regiment – KIA @ Zharay, Afghanistan
• US 2^nd Marine Division, 8^th Marine Regiment, 1^st Battalion – KIA @ Helmand Province, Afghanistan
• US 4^th Infantry Division, 4^th Brigade, 61^st Cavalry Regiment – KIA @ Bati Kot, Afghanistan
• US 12^th Aviation Brigade (Forward: Germany) – KIA @ Kabul, Afghanistan
• US 82^nd Airborne Division, 4^th Brigade, 4^th Squadron – KIA @ Zharay, Afghanistan

NOTEWORTHY NEWS:

• RUSSIA: Teikovo Ballistic Missile Site is planning to install devices on their mobile ICBM vehicles to erase their tracks, making detection more difficult
• RUSSIA: Russia is planning on reactivating and expanding various air and army assets in the artic
• Novaya Zemlya AB will reopen this summer
• Natyan-Mar AB will reopen this summer
• Graham Bell Island AB will reopen next year
• Two Army Artic Brigades will be stationed at Murmansk or Archangelsk, the first Motor Rifle Artic Brigade is planned to deploy in 2015
• A Combined-Arms Force, including Military, Border and Coast Guard units, will deploy by 2020

• SYRIA: US and Turkey expel Syrian diplomats, but US remains opposed to military action, warnings continue to be sounded that Syria is approaching a full blown civil war; US State Department continues to pressure Russia to end it's support and/or take action (...French President Hollande is also resistant to military action. Rumors of various plans to deal with Syria include the stationing of 5,000 troops, mostly Russian, at Syria's NBC bases to prevent their pillaging by Al Qaeda.)