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Generational Dynamics Web Log for 7-Oct-2014
7-Oct-14 World View -- U.S. military expands war in Iraq with Apache Helicopters

Web Log - October, 2014

7-Oct-14 World View -- U.S. military expands war in Iraq with Apache Helicopters

Ebola expected to reach France and Britain within three weeks

This morning's key headlines from GenerationalDynamics.com

U.S. military expands war in Iraq with Apache Helicopters
Thousands of villagers in Kashmir flee India-Pakistan clashes
Ebola expected to reach France and Britain within three weeks
Liberia and Sierra Leone introduce School by Radio

U.S. military expands war in Iraq with Apache Helicopters

An Apache helicopter flying over Iraq in 2008 (Army)

An Apache helicopter flying over Iraq in 2008 (Army)

The U.S. military has begun using Apache AH-64 attack helicopters to strike targets of the Islamic State / of Iraq and Syria (IS or ISIS or ISIL) in Iraq. In addition, the number 1,200 of US military personal on the ground in Iraq is expected to increase to 1,600 within the coming weeks, although the U.S. administration does not refer to these as "ground forces."

Up until now, U.S. bombing strikes were all performed by high-flying warplanes, out of reach of small arms fire and missiles from ISIS fighters. Military analysts have generally pointed out that warplane bombing and missile strikes have very limited effectiveness. Apache helicopters have the advantage that they can be much more effective in providing close air support for "ground troops," but unlike warplanes they're vulnerable to enemy small arms and missile fire. During the previous Iraq war, several Apaches were shot down by enemy fire. Defense News and ABC News

Thousands of villagers in Kashmir flee India-Pakistan clashes

Tens of thousands of villagers were fleeing their homes in Kashmir on Monday as Indian and Pakistani troops bombarded each other with gunfire and mortar shells over the international border known as the "Line of Control" (LoC), separating the Pakistani-government and Indian-government regions of Kashmir. Kashmir was a major battleground for the 1947 Partition war that following the partitioning of the Indian subcontinent into India and Pakistan, one of the bloodiest wars of the last century, and there have been two more wars fought across the LoC since then. Monday's fighting was the worst since a 2003 cease-fire agreement, and took place at a number of points along the LoC.

According to Pakistan's government, the fighting started when Indian forces resorted to "unprovoked firing" along the boundary.

An Indian statement blamed Pakistani forces for violating the ceasefire, and promised "effective retaliation." In a departure from past practice, India said they would neither speak to Pakistan, nor seek a flag meeting to lower tensions. AP and Dawn (Pakistan) and Indian Express

Ebola expected to reach France and Britain within three weeks

In Spain, a nurse's assistant contracted Ebola, after treating a Spanish missionary and Spanish priest who had returned from West Africa with Ebola. Scientists have used Ebola disease spread patterns and airline traffic data to predict a 75% chance the virus could be imported to France by October 24, and a 50% chance it could hit Britain by that date. Belgium has a 40% chance. The cases are expected to be the result of air travel from West Africa.

However, these are expected to be isolated cases that will be controlled by using techniques like "contact tracing," as I described a few days ago. ( "3-Oct-14 World View -- Five new Ebola patients become infected every hour in Sierra Leone")

However, West Africa is being overwhelmed by Ebola, and contact tracing is not possible. Some reports indicate that eastern Guinea and eastern Liberia, which had remained free of Ebola, are now seeing it spread to those regions. This means that it will probably next spread into Cote d'Ivoire.

Countries around the world are ramping up their preparations for Ebola coming to their countries. As I've said before, Ebola is most likely to spread out of control in large megacities and in war zones, such as Syria and Iraq. CNN and Reuters

Liberia and Sierra Leone introduce School by Radio

Schools in Liberia and Sierra Leone remain closed with no announced date for reopening. The purpose of closing the schools is to inhibit the spread of Ebola among schoolchildren, but closing the schools doesn't remove the danger, according to one community leader:

"Children are always playing outside. They're touching each other, they're hugging each other. Even if you say to them: don't touch, they're playing football. You see them every day doing such things, so it is about telling them and educating them."

The solution in both countries is to provide educational courses by radio. It's hoped that this will keep the kids indoors, and that they'll be able to continue their education. All Africa and SBS World News (Australia)

(Comments: For reader comments, questions and discussion, see the 7-Oct-14 World View -- U.S. military expands war in Iraq with Apache Helicopters thread of the Generational Dynamics forum. Comments may be posted anonymously.) (7-Oct-2014) Permanent Link
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Generational Dynamics Web Log for 7-Oct-2014 7-Oct-14 World View -- U.S. military expands war in Iraq with Apache Helicopters

U.S. military expands war in Iraq with Apache Helicopters

Thousands of villagers in Kashmir flee India-Pakistan clashes

Ebola expected to reach France and Britain within three weeks

Liberia and Sierra Leone introduce School by Radio

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Generational Dynamics Web Log for 7-Oct-2014
7-Oct-14 World View -- U.S. military expands war in Iraq with Apache Helicopters