Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez at presidential palace
January 8, 2009 1900 GMT
The Venezuelan government is trying to rally support ahead of an important referendum in the midst of questionable economic stability. [more]
Smoke billows after an Israeli strike in Gaza City on Jan. 8
Ongoing operations in Gaza were overshadowed briefly on Jan. 8 by a small salvo of artillery rockets from southern Lebanon. (With Stratfor map) [more]
MSDF members wave to their families April 15, 2008, in Tokyo
Two developments in Japan demonstrate the East Asian country's continued intent to expand its maritime activity. [more]
Situation Reports
January 8, 2009 2331 GMT
Colombian drug lord Leonidas Vargas was shot dead on Jan. 8 in a hospital in Madrid, Spain, media reported, citing Spanish police. Vargas, who was convicted of drug trafficking and sentenced to 19 years in prison, had been transferred to the hospital on Jan. 2 to receive treatment for lung disease.
Today's Podcast
Lebanon - U.N. peacekeeper
Tensions between Israel and Lebanon spiked when three Katyusha rockets were lobbed across the border — an apparent attempt to widen the conflict now playing out in Gaza. Hezbollah, the prime suspect, denies responsibility. Both logic and intelligence reports tend to support its claims. [more]
Security Weekly
Global Security and Intelligence Report
January 7, 2009 2206 GMT
The year's end provides a good opportunity to re-evaluate our forecast for al Qaeda and the jihadist movement in 2008 as we look ahead to 2009. [more]
Geopolitical Weekly
Graphic for Geopolitical Intelligence Report
January 7, 2009 1541 GMT
Security Weekly
Global Security and Intelligence Report
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