Commentaries, Opinions, And Editorials -- October 31, 2013

Iraq: With Friends Like These -- The Guardian editorial

Nouri al-Maliki's visit to Washington at the head of a large delegation is a source of some difficulty for Barack Obama

Nothing demonstrates the inability of the United States to finish what it started in the Middle East more than the continuing bloodshed in Iraq. America's combat role may have ended, but the civil war has not. This year is set to be the bloodiest since 2008, with an average of nearly 70 car bombings a month. Almost 1,000 people were killed in September alone.

The latest Iraqis to be targeted are the Sahwa movement or the Awakening Council, a grouping of Sunni militias formed by the US forces to fight the insurgency. Much of the current tension is a direct result of what an influential group of US senators called the authoritarian and sectarian style of the Iraqi prime minister Nouri al-Maliki. He has all but torn up a political powersharing agreement the Americans negotiated with the Sunnis, and driven many of their number into the arms of al-Qaida. This in turn has led to the remobilisation of Shia militias.

Read more ....

Commentaries, Opinions, And Editorials

National security expert: Obama could lose Iraq -- FOX News

The Anti-Surge: How Obama snatched defeat from the jaws of victory in Iraq. -- John McCain and Lindsey Graham, Foreign Policy

Senators: What's the strategy in Syria? -- Pauline Jelinek, AP

City of refugees: Syrians in Amman -- Terry Glavin, Ottawa Citizen

Five Reasons Why US Should Change Its Policies Toward Syria’s Kurds -- Amberin Zaman, Al-Monitor

The Kurds Get a Second Chance in Syria -- Fouad Ajami, Bloomberg

Saudi-Backed Salafists Returning To Iran’s Border? -- Meir Javedanfar, Al-Monitor

Israeli City Divided by Religion After Close Vote -- Aron Heller, AP

Outrage Over NSA Spying Spreads to Asia -- Zachary Keck, The Diplomat

Are China’s Banks Next? -- Simon Johnson, Project Syndicate

Analysis: Aquino's Mr Clean image skewered by Philippine pork barrel politics -- Manuel Mogato, Reuters

Overestimating Putin -- Seth Mandel, Commentary

Russia's Spying Craze -- Andrei Soldatov, Moscow Times

Mexico's Theology of Oil -- Enrique Krauze, New York Times

5 Hints Edward Snowden's New Employer Made a Risky Bet -- Susanna Kim, ABC News

World News Briefs -- October 31, 2013 (Evening Edition)

Syria's Chemical Weapons Production Facilities Destroyed, Says Watchdog

International chemical weapons watchdog OPCW says its team has inspected 21 out of 23 chemical weapons sites in Syria

Syria has destroyed all of its declared chemical weapons production and mixing facilities, meeting a key deadline in an ambitious disarmament programme, the international chemical weapons watchdog said in a document seen by Reuters.

The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons said its teams had inspected 21 out of 23 chemical weapons sites across the country. The other two were too dangerous to inspect but the chemical equipment had already been moved to other sites which experts had visited, it said.

Read more ....

MIDDLE EAST

Syria military base blasts said to be Israeli strike.

Syria destroys chemical weapon capabilities ahead of schedule. Syria chemical weapons facilities 'destroyed'.

Hundreds of Syrian refugees 'denied entry into Jordan'.

Al-Qaeda recruits entering Syria from Turkey safehouses.

Kerry to visit Saudi Arabia amid frayed ties.

Abuse video shocks Saudi Arabia.

Four Turkey MPs wear headscarves in parliament.

Iraqi government complicit in deadly attack at Camp Ashraf on Iranian refugees, report shows.

Iraqi PM Maliki struggles to convince U.S. lawmakers to back more aid.

Ayatollah’s illness raises fear of power struggle.

Salafists 'killed in rocket attack on Yemen mosque'. Death toll in attack on Salafi-held town in Yemen rises to 24.

ASIA

Indonesia summons Australian envoy over embassy spying claims.

China, other Asians angry over embassy spy reports.

Watchdog: $100 billion investment in Afghanistan at risk.

Japan, China territorial tensions rising over unmanned drones.

China accuses Japan of interfering in naval drills.

Tiananmen crash: Xinjiang security tightened.

China patriotism campaign backfires in Tibet.

Top surviving Khmer Rouge leader whose regime oversaw the death of two million people says he was 'doing his duty' in final statement at UN tribunal.

Fukushima Daiichi operator should not handle shutdown, says governing party.

US Treasury: Chinese currency still 'significantly undervalued'.

AFRICA

Kenyan warplanes bomb al-Shabab camp.

Mali coup leader summoned before judge.

Zimbabwe court says Robert Mugabe 'insult law' invalid.

Congo army says hunting rebels deep into mountain bases.

UN mulls additional troops for Somalia.

Niger migrants' bodies found near Algerian border. Niger migrants found dead near Algerian border.

Egyptian Islamists call for daily protests before Mursi trial.

IMF team visits Egypt.

Morocco withdraws ambassador from Algeria.

United States condemns violence in Mozambique.

Somali pirates convicted of attacking Spanish warship.

EUROPE

Defence secretary is stifling debate on British armed forces, says senior Tory.

Hollande defends 75% tax despite football strike threat.

Russia 'collects DNA samples' of Muslim women.

Russia denies Italian reports it spied on G20 leaders.

Insight: Putin targets Dagestan insurgents as Olympics loom.

Exclusive: Russian banks strengthen ties with blacklisted Syrian lenders.

Eurozone unemployment reaches new record high.

Czech left leader defeats rebels, takes control of government talks.

Kosovo withdraws warrant for Serbian minister ahead of vote.

Thousands protest in Greece over planned new tax.

Pope to install 1st batch of new cardinals Feb. 22.

AMERICAS

REPORT: Toronto mayor caught on tape smoking crack.

Peru's Humala swears in fourth prime minister, retains finance minister.

Senate intel committee approves NSA snooping, with restrictions.

Calif. driver gets ticket for wearing Google Glass.

US Fed maintains stimulus measures.

FAA loosens rules for e-devices on airline flights.

ICE uncovers ‘highly sophisticated’ drug tunnel from Tijuana to San Diego.

Mexican tax plan weakened further, on cusp of final approval.

Canadian economy grows more than expected on energy gains.

Russian Tu-160 strategic bombers land in Nicaragua.

Brazil's flamboyant playboy tycoon takes big fall.

TERRORISM/THE LONG WAR

Pakistan criticised over drone victim numbers.

Drone attack survivors take their story to Washington.

NATO, Russia hail joint test to detect bombers in crowds.

ECONOMY/FINANCE/BUSINESS

Update: Google denies NSA cooperation while expanding encryption.

Google, Oracle workers enlisted for Obamacare 'tech surge'.

Google and Yahoo furious at reports NSA secretly taps data centres.

Six leading central banks to share currency supplies.

Facebook revenue surges 60% on strong ad sales.

Has The Health Of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's Taken A 'Turn For The Worse'?

Ayatollah Khamenei has no appointed heir. Caren Firouz/Reuters

Iranian Reports Say Supreme Leader’s Health Worsening -- Times of Israel

As Rouhani’s new government settles in, concern grows over Ayatollah Khamenei, who has withdrawn from the public eye

As experts from Iran and the P5+1 met in Vienna to prepare the next round of high-level nuclear talks in Geneva, reports Thursday suggested that Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s health may have taken a turn for the worse.

Citing Iranian sources, The Times of London reported Thursday that Khamenei, who has served as Supreme Leader since 1989 and who has yet to appoint an heir, may have suffered a relapse of a chronic illness and that he was convalescing after collapsing during a private meeting.

Read more ....

More News On The Health Of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei

Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s health worsening: reports -- Washington Times
News 'not good' on health of Iranian Ayatollah Ali Khamenei -- The Australian
Rumors Circulate of Ayatollah Khamenei’s Impending Demise -- Algemeiner
Ayatollah’s illness raises fear of power struggle -- The Times
Rumours are abound that Iran's Khamenei is chronically ill -- Digital Journal
Mystery of missing ayatollah: Ali Khamenei’s three-week seclusion for work on nuclear deal with US -- Debka Journal

Are Google, Yahoo, And Other American Tech Companies Knowingly Working With The NSA?

Image from Gizmodo

NSA Bombshell Shocks Former Spooks: "Why in The World Would We Burn Google?" -- Shane Harris/Noah Shachtman/John Hudson, The Cable/Foreign Policy

Former intelligence officials and technology industry executives reacted with anger and anxiety over the latest revelations that the National Security Agency is reportedly infiltrating some of the world's biggest technology companies and making off with the private communications of millions of their customers. And if the reports are accurate, it could be very bad news for U.S. technology companies, who have been complaining for months that their government's secretive intelligence operations are threatening their business and driving customers towards their foreign competitors.

"I think they're in an almost impossible situation," Rep. Adam Schiff, a senior member of the Intelligence Committee, told The Cable. Speaking of Silicon Valley firms who are obligated to cooperate with the NSA, Schiff said recent leak revelations threatened to negatively impact their bottom lines. "It's definitely going to hurt their business and I think we ought to do everything we can to mitigate that damage. I'm very sympathetic to what they have to confront."

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My Comment: America's tech companies employ the brightest people on the planet .... the idea that they were blindsided by recent NSA revelations is hard for me to digest. Bottom line .... because they must operate under U.S. law I cannot help but feel that they were "convinced" to cooperate .... and they cooperated by turning a blind-eye to what the NSA was doing.

Is NSA Leaker Edward Snowden A Traitor Or Hero -- Public Opinion Appears To Be Split

Americans Still Can't Decide Whether Edward Snowden Is A 'Traitor' Or A 'Hero,' Poll Finds -- Huffington Post

Americans remain deeply divided in their views of Edward Snowden, and worried by the prospect of widespread government surveillance, according to a recent Angus Reid Global online poll.

The survey, released to The Huffington Post on Wednesday, finds significantly higher support for Snowden in Canada and the U.K.

Fifty-one percent of Americans said the NSA leaker was “something of a hero who should be commended for letting the public know that our governments are running electronic surveillance programs that threaten people’s privacy," while 49 percent labeled him “more of a traitor who should be condemned for publicizing security activities and threatening western intelligence operations." "Neither" and "undecided" weren't offered as options.

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Update #1: Americans Split Over Whether Snowden ‘Hero’ or ‘Traitor’ – Poll -- RIA Novosti
Update #2: Most Canadians And Brits See Edward Snowden As A Hero, Poll Suggests -- Huffington Post

My Comment: As to what is my take .... Edward Snowden did break the law, and he should be punished for it. On the flip side .... the NSA programs that he disclosed and the people who run it have done a great disservice to the American people .... and their actions makes me wonder if they should also be punished. Lets face facts .... these senior intelligence officials have lied about these programs in open Congressional testimony, and they (with their political masters) have also lied about it to the press. There has to be some accountability for this.

NSA Leaker Edward Snowden Lands A Web-Tech Job In Russia

Ex-NSA Contractor Snowden Finds Computer Job In Russia -- RIA Novosti

MOSCOW, October 31 (RIA Novosti) – Fugitive former US security contractor Edward Snowden has found a website maintenance job in Russia, his lawyer said Thursday.

Snowden, who was granted temporary asylum in Russia this summer, will start work November 1 in maintaining one of Russia’s largest websites, Anatoly Kucherena said.

Kucherena refused to reveal the name of Snowden’s new workplace “for security reasons.”

Snowden, a former employee of the US National Security Agency, fled the United States for Hong Kong and then Moscow after leaking details of several top-secret government surveillance programs to the media.

Read more ....

More News On NSA Leaker Edward Snowden Landing A Web-Tech Job In Russia

Snowden to work for major Russian website - lawyer -- RT
Snowden Hired by a Major Russian Website -- Moscow Times
Snowden studying language, going to work in Russian team – Kucherena -- Voice of America
Snowden’s Lawyer Says He Has a New Job in Russia -- New York Times
Ex-NSA man Edward Snowden gets web job in Russia -- BBC
Snowden lands job with major Russian website -- USA Today
Snowden gets website job in Russia, lawyer says -- CNN
NSA leaker Edward Snowden lands Web job in Russia -- Washington Times
Report: Edward Snowden lands a tech support job in Russia -- Christian Science Monitor
NSA leaker Edward Snowden gets tech support job for large Moscow website and starts tomorrow -- Daily Mail
Russian Lawyer Says Snowden to Start Website Job -- Voice of America
Edward Snowden Has a New Job at Mystery Russian Web Site: Let’s Guess Which One -- Vanity Fair

My Comment: I have been told by my friends in Russia it is the social networking site VKontakte.ru, Russia’s equivalent of Facebook.

Two Special Forces Soldiers Who Fought Benghazi Mission Attackers Honored For Valor

Two Of Eight Commandos In Tripoli Sent To Benghazi Rescue, Honored For Valor -- Washington Times

Two out of eight in Tripoli sent to rescue, honored for valor

Masked from public view, two of the U.S. military’s elite special operations commandos have been awarded medals for bravery for a mission that further undercuts the Obama administration’s original story about the Benghazi tragedy.

For months, administration officials have claimed no special operations forces were dispatched from outside Libya to Benghazi during the Sept. 11, 2012, al Qaeda terrorist attacks on the U.S. diplomatic mission and CIA annex because none was within range.

The Pentagon, under intense public criticism for not coming to the aid of besieged Americans, published an official timeline in November that carefully danced around the issue.

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Update: Two Delta Force soldiers fought Benghazi mission attackers, says report -- Gant Daily

My Comment: The steady drip - drip of information, news and intel continues on what happened on the day that the U.S. consulate was attacked in Benghazi.

Update: The administration continues to block Congress from having access to survivors of the Benghazi attack. Not surprising .... Congress is hitting back.

Growing Outrage In Asia Over NSA - Australia Spying

Spy Expert Says Australia Operating As 'Listening Post' For US Agencies Including The NSA -- ABC News (Australia)

A veteran spy watcher claims Australia is playing a role in America's intelligence networks by monitoring vast swathes of the Asia Pacific region and feeding information to the US.

Intelligence expert Professor Des Ball says the Australian Signals Directorate - formerly known as the Defence Signals Directorate - is sharing information with the National Security Agency (NSA).

The NSA is the agency at the heart of whistleblower Edward Snowden's leaks, and has recently been accused of tapping into millions of phone calls of ordinary citizens in France, Germany and Spain.

Mr Ball says Australia has been monitoring the Asia Pacific region for the US using local listening posts.

Read more ....

More News On Australia Being Accused Of Using It's Embassies To Spy On It's Neighbours

Exposed: Australia's Asia spy network -- Sydney Morning Herald
Australia accused of using embassies to spy on neighbours -- The Guardian
Australian embassies part of US spy network -- New Zealand Herald
NSA, ‘Five Eyes’ use Australian embassies to gather intel on Asia -- RT
Revealed: How Australia spies on its neighbours -- Sydney Morning Herald
Outrage at alleged U.S. spying efforts gathers steam in Asian capitals -- Washington Post
Uproar in China and other Asian nations over ‘US spies through embassies’ report -- RT
China, other Asians angry over embassy spy reports. -- New York Times
China, other Asians angry over embassy spy reports -- Bloomberg Businessweek
China demands U.S. explain spying allegations linked to Australian missions -- Reuters
China demands U.S. explain new spy charges at Australian embassies -- Washington Times
Abbott offers Australian spy assurance -- Sydney Morning Herald
Abbott offers Australian spy assurance -- The Australian
Outrage Over NSA Spying Spreads to Asia -- Zachary Keck, The Diplomat

The Use Of Drones Is Raising Tensions Between China And Japan

FILE - An unidentified plane flies near disputed islands, called Senkaku in Japan and Diaoyu in China, in the air over the East China Sea, in this handout photo taken by Japan Air Self-Defense Force.

Japan, China Territorial Tensions Rising Over Unmanned Drones -- Voice of America

SEOUL — The long-running territorial dispute between China and Japan over a remote group of islands is in the spotlight this week as the two countries conduct massive military exercises. Analysts warn the drills and China’s increased use of drone aircraft in the region raise the risk of an unintended confrontation.

Japan on Friday begins a week of live-fire military drills involving 34,000 troops, navy destroyers, jet fighters and amphibious assault vehicles.

The exercises include operations to defend remote islands from attack and come as Tokyo and Beijing are testing each other in a war of words over the disputed Senkaku islands, known as Diaoyu in China.

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My Comment: When the Japanese threaten to shoot down Chinese drones ....  it is only natural that China will respond and tensions rise.

War Of Words Heats Up Between China And Japan

War Of Words Heats Up China, Japan Tensions -- CNN

Tokyo (CNN) -- Surprise, surprise, Japan and China are still not getting along.

Fortunately, the battles have been strictly rhetorical, although both nations' military vessels and aircraft have navigated and scrambled ominously in the vicinity of the disputed islets in the East China Sea known as the Diaoyu islands in China and the Senkakus in Japan. But the bilateral spat could easily escalate over a miscalculation by officers on the scene.

It's easy to forget that last week the two nations marked the 35th anniversary of the Treaty of Peace and Friendship. Under the circumstances, the lack of fanfare is understandable but it does seem a timely reminder of what might be possible. While diplomacy has not been effective yet in reviving that spirit of amity, damping down tensions, or in securing a meeting between President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, finding a formula to execute a mutually acceptable climb down is essential to jump-start dialogue. Leaders of nations can help by shelving the bombast. Dialogue continues behind the scenes but this is against the backdrop of frosty admonitions and dangerous posturing.

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More News On The Growing Conflict Between China And Japan

China Intensifies Press on Japan in East China Sea Dispute -- Voice of America
China slams 'dangerous provocation' by Japan by shadowing sea drill -- Reuters
China criticizes 'self-deceiving' Japanese politicians -- Reuters
China warns Japan against hyping external threats -- Want China Times
China coastguard keeps heat on Japan in Diaoyus row -- South China Morning Post/AFP
Japan accuses China of threatening peace in island row -- Arirang News
Japan vs. China: Clash of the Asian Titans -- FX Street.com
China media: Territorial dispute with Japan -- BBC

OPCW: Syria Has Destroyed Chemical Weapons Facilities

Syria Meets Deadline To Destroy Chemical Production Facilities -- Reuters

* OPCW says it inspected 21 of 23 chemical weapons sites
* Met deadline of Nov. 1 to destroy production facilities
* By mid-2014 must have destroyed all chemical weapons
* Nov. 15 next deadline to agree destruction plan with Syria
* Agreement to destroy follows deadly Aug 21 sarin attack

BEIRUT, Oct 31 (Reuters) - Syria has destroyed or rendered inoperable all of its declared chemical weapons production and mixing facilities, meeting a major deadline in an ambitious disarmament programme, the international chemical weapons watchdog said Thursday.

The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), which won the Nobel Peace prize this month, said its teams had inspected 21 out of 23 chemical weapons sites across the country. The other two were too dangerous to inspect, but the chemical equipment had already been moved to other sites that experts had visited, it said.

Read more ....

More News On Syria Destroying It's Chemical Production Facilities

Syria's chemical weapons plants destroyed – but actual weapons remain -- Christian Science Monitor
Syria destroys chemical production facilities, meeting disarmament deadline -- Haaretz/AP
Syria Is Said to Destroy All Chemical Arms Production Sites -- New York Times
Syria crisis: Chemical weapons equipment destroyed - OPCW -- BBC
Syria's chemical weapons 'placed under seal' -- AFP
Syria has destroyed chemical weapons facilities, international inspectors say -- Washington Post
OPCW: Syria Has Destroyed Chemical Weapons Production Equipment -- Voice of America
Syria Destroys Chemical-Weapons Facilities Within Deadline -- Bloomberg Businessweek
Destruction of Syrian chemical weapon production equipment is complete, says watchdog -- Daily Mail
Syrian Chemical Weapons Plants Are Inoperable – Arms Watchdog -- RIA Novosti

Iraq's Prime Minister Presses For Military Aid From Washington

Iraqi PM Maliki Struggles To Convince U.S. Lawmakers To Back More Aid -- Reuters

* "Situation is unraveling," McCain says
* Maliki seeking attack helicopters to fight militants
* To meet with Obama on Friday

WASHINGTON, Oct 30 (Reuters) - U.S. lawmakers had tough criticism for Iraq's government after meeting with Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki on Wednesday, saying they were open to meeting his request for military assistance only if Baghdad made significant changes.

Maliki is on his first visit to Washington in two years, urgently seeking U.S. Apache attack helicopters and other military supplies to fight militant groups such as al Qaeda in Iraq as sectarian violence spills over the border from Syria.

But U.S. officials, particularly members of Congress who take a harder line on many foreign policy issues than the Obama administration, have watched in dismay as Maliki has ignored Washington's calls to give Iraq's Sunni and Kurdish minorities a greater role in his Shi'ite-led government, and moved closer to Iran since U.S. troops left Iraq two years ago.

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More News On U.S. Security Concerns Over Iraq

Seeking US aid, Iraqi leader says fighting terror is a worldwide responsibility -- Washington Post/AP
Iraqi prime minister: U.S. aid needed to battle al Qaeda -- Washington Times
Iraqi PM Presses for US Military Aid -- Voice of America
US renews vow to help Iraq combat terror attacks -- AFP
F-16 jet delivery to Iraq on track for next fall: U.S. official -- Reuters
US Reiterates Commitment to Iraq, Hints Help on the Way -- Voice of America
On Maliki trip, U.S. seeks to address security fears while pushing for inclusive governance -- Washington Post
U.S. Warns of Downward Iraqi Spiral -- Wall Street Journal
Security Concerns Drown Out Maliki Critiques -- Paul D. Shinkman, US News and World Report
National security expert: Obama could lose Iraq -- FOX News

World News Briefs -- October 31, 2013

Iraqi PM Presses for US Military Aid -- Voice of America

Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki is continuing his appeal for more U.S. help to fight a surge of violence in his country as he meets on Thursday with U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel.

Following the talks, Maliki is scheduled to give an address at an event focusing on U.S.-Iraq relations and the challenges facing post-war Iraq, where growing sectarian fighting has led to more than 7,500 deaths this year.

Read more ....

MIDDLE EAST

Syria destroys chemical weapon capabilities ahead of schedule. Syria chemical weapons facilities 'destroyed'.

Hundreds of Syrian refugees 'denied entry into Jordan'.

Al-Qaeda recruits entering Syria from Turkey safehouses.

Iraqi government complicit in deadly attack at Camp Ashraf on Iranian refugees, report shows.

Iraqi PM Maliki struggles to convince U.S. lawmakers to back more aid.

Ayatollah’s illness raises fear of power struggle.

Salafists 'killed in rocket attack on Yemen mosque'. Death toll in attack on Salafi-held town in Yemen rises to 24.

ASIA

China, other Asians angry over embassy spy reports.

Watchdog: $100 billion investment in Afghanistan at risk.

Japan, China territorial tensions rising over unmanned drones.

China accuses Japan of interfering in naval drills.

Tiananmen crash: Xinjiang security tightened.

China patriotism campaign backfires in Tibet.

Top surviving Khmer Rouge leader whose regime oversaw the death of two million people says he was 'doing his duty' in final statement at UN tribunal.

Fukushima Daiichi operator should not handle shutdown, says governing party.

US Treasury: Chinese currency still 'significantly undervalued'.

AFRICA

Congo army says hunting rebels deep into mountain bases.

UN mulls additional troops for Somalia.

Niger migrants' bodies found near Algerian border. Niger migrants found dead near Algerian border.

Egyptian Islamists call for daily protests before Mursi trial.

IMF team visits Egypt.

Morocco withdraws ambassador from Algeria.

United States condemns violence in Mozambique.

Somali pirates convicted of attacking Spanish warship.

EUROPE

Russia denies Italian reports it spied on G20 leaders.

Insight: Putin targets Dagestan insurgents as Olympics loom.

Exclusive: Russian banks strengthen ties with blacklisted Syrian lenders.

Eurozone unemployment reaches new record high.

Czech left leader defeats rebels, takes control of government talks.

Kosovo withdraws warrant for Serbian minister ahead of vote.

Thousands protest in Greece over planned new tax.

Pope to install 1st batch of new cardinals Feb. 22.

AMERICAS

Calif. driver gets ticket for wearing Google Glass.

US Fed maintains stimulus measures.

FAA loosens rules for e-devices on airline flights.

ICE uncovers ‘highly sophisticated’ drug tunnel from Tijuana to San Diego.

Mexican tax plan weakened further, on cusp of final approval.

Canadian economy grows more than expected on energy gains.

Russian Tu-160 strategic bombers land in Nicaragua.

Brazil's flamboyant playboy tycoon takes big fall.

TERRORISM/THE LONG WAR

Pakistan criticised over drone victim numbers.

Drone attack survivors take their story to Washington.

NATO, Russia hail joint test to detect bombers in crowds.

ECONOMY/FINANCE/BUSINESS

Google and Yahoo furious at reports NSA secretly taps data centres.

Six leading central banks to share currency supplies.

Facebook revenue surges 60% on strong ad sales.

Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- October 31, 2013

Tap On Merkel Provides Peek At Vast Spy Net -- New York Times

WASHINGTON — It was not obvious to the National Security Agency a dozen years ago that Angela Merkel, a rising star as the leader of the Christian Democratic Union, was a future chancellor of Germany.

But that did not matter.

The N.S.A., in a practice that dates back to the depths of the Cold War and that has never ended, was recording her conversations and those of a range of leaders in Germany and elsewhere, storing them in databases that could be searched later, if the need arose. It is unclear how often they searched the databases for her conversations, if at all.

But once she became the country’s leader, everything she talked about on her personal cellphone — like her support of the Afghan war, the efforts of European allies to halt Iran’s nuclear program, and Germany’s central role in quelling the European financial crisis — took on greater importance for the American eavesdroppers.

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MILITARY AND INTELLIGENCE NEWS BRIEFS

Google and Yahoo furious at reports NSA secretly taps data centres -- The Guardian

NSA Director Alexander: Defending Against Cyberattacks Requires Collaboration -- US Department of Defense

NSA denials are ‘implausible,’ France says -- Washington Post

China, Other Asians Angry Over Embassy Spy Reports -- New York Times/AP

China is spying on you through your KETTLE: Bugs that scan wi-fi devices found in imported kitchen gadgets -- Daily Mail

Russia Denies Italian Reports it Spied on G20 Leaders -- Voice of America

Edward Snowden to start work at Russian website -- The Guardian

Type 091 and what it tells us about China's nuclear submarine program -- Information Dissemination

Putin oversees maneuvers of Russian nuclear forces -- AP

Russia Test-Fires Range Of Nuclear-capable Missiles -- Defense News/AFP

Russia to Question US-Japan Missile Defense Plans -- RIA Novosti

Russia's Epic Nuclear Bomber Mission -- AP

Eurofighter Announces Typhoon Upgrades -- Defense News

This South Korean Jet Is a Bargain Dogfighter -- War Is Boring

India develops new tactical missile 'Pragati' -- NDTV

INS Vikramaditya to set sail for India on November 30 -- Economic Times

Turkey to renew F-35 order by mid-January -- Hurriyet Daily News

US Congress Plans Series of Asia Pacific Oversight Hearings -- Defense News

Talks break down on sharing costs of U.S. troops in Korea -- Stars and Stripes

U.S. military commandos fought in Benghazi -- Washington Times

Navy: We Never Said We Were Buying More Super Hornets -- Breaking Defense

U.S. F-35 fighter drops first guided bomb against ground target -- Reuters

C-17 Undergoes Upgrades to Extend Life in Pacific -- DOD Buzz

Contracts Awarded to Develop Laser Pods that Shoot Down Missiles -- Defense Tech

U.S. nuclear arms overhaul needed to ensure reliability - officials -- Reuters

US Modernizing Key Nuclear Bomb Amid Funding Concerns -- RIA Novosti

US Tested Soviet MiG Fighters at Mysterious Area 51 -- RIA Novosti

U.S. military wants to create 'Iron Man suit' -- L.A. Times

The US Military Wants an Iron Man Suit? Who Can Make It? -- International Business Times

Report into F-16 crash cites spatial disorientation by pilot -- Stars and Stripes

Four female Marines pass key benchmark at infantry training -- Stars and Stripes/USA Today

Report: Uneven training for guards at US buildings, like Navy Yard -- Stars and Stripes/AP

Replacing the Boomers & Naval Soul-Searching: II -- War On the Rocks

Military spots where spirits are said to roam -- Military Times

A Rare Look At A B-2 Bomber And A U.S. 30,000lb Bunker Buster

WNU Editor: A rare look at a B-2 Bomber and a U.S. 30,000lb Bunker Buster can be viewed here.

A Look At The U.S. Air Force’s Top-Secret Spy Agency Big Safari

The Colonel and His Labyrinth -- Vocativ

Inside Big Safari, the Air Force’s top-secret spy agency

The man on the other line didn’t seem happy. “We are a secretive and shadowy organization that has been in existence for over 60 years,” he said.

The man’s name is Col. Edward Topps. He’s the leader of a mysterious Air Force agency known as “Big Safari.” Last month, he called me out of the blue, after I’d written a story about a top-secret spy plane mission. Topps’ unit had paid Sierra Nevada Corporation—a major private defense firm—tens of millions of dollars to gather intel on Mexico’s most notorious drug cartels.

There had been no bidding process for the contract, which is a red flag, given the Pentagon’s history of how it spends taxpayer money. So I decided to take a closer look.

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My Comment: I suspect that there are some in the U.S. Air Force (and also in the intelligence community) who are not happy with this story and the exposure that it is causing.

Fracking Is A Game Changer In The World's Energy Markets

Shale Gas Boom At 'Tip Of Iceberg' -- Ken Silverstein, Forbes

Despite warnings that the shale gas boom would wither, industry is getting pumped in certain areas as their numbers are only headed higher. That’s according to government analysts, who are drawing special attention to the Marcellus Shale region in the eastern states where production is skyrocketing.

The region is beating its forecasts, which is made possible by the advancement in drilling technologies. In fact, the U.S. Energy Information Administration is saying in a new report that breaks down productivity levels according to region that the gains in new gas wells are more than offsetting the declines from the existing ones. The Marcellus Shale, it adds, accounts for three-fourths of growth in the nation’s production.

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My Comment: The dream has always been to undermine the power of OPEC .... that is now becoming possible through developments of technology and engineering.

Are Diversity And Inclusion Critical To U.S. Military Mission Success?

Photo: Jessica L. Wright. Acting Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness (U.S. Department of Defense)

Pentagon’s Chief Personnel and Readiness Officer: Diversity and Inclusion Critical to Mission Success -- Sterling Beard, NRO

Jessica L. Wright, the acting under secretary of defense for personnel and readiness, said today that the Defense Department must maintain its commitment to diversity and inclusion, which contribute to mission success.

She asserted that diversity helps civilian and military employees perform well because they “represent the nation in our workforce.”

The Defense Department not only talks “about diversity in terms of race and gender, and ethnicity, but it is much more than that in my mind,” Wright said. She declared that diversity included “your thought process, how you grew up, [and] what you can add to the greater good because of your background.”

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My Comment: I am speechless .... but I am not alone .... there are over 1000 comments in the above NRO piece from many equally shocked and angry readers.

How Rushing An Aircraft To War Led To The Deaths Of Four Americans

Air Force MC-12W spy planes like this have played a key role in capturing or killing more than 700 high-value insurgents in Afghanistan, the Air Force says. Senior Airman Elizabeth Rissmill / Air Force photo

The Crash of Independence 08 -- Mark Thompson, Time

How rushing an aircraft to war led to corner-cutting that killed four Americans

Sometimes, a 99.96% success rate isn’t good enough. That’s how often the Air Force’s MC-12W Liberty spy planes arrive overhead when needed by U.S. troops on the ground in Afghanistan.

The twin-turboprop planes are modified versions of the Hawker Beechcraft Super King Air 350. Their crew of four includes a pair of pilots and a pair of backseat sensor operators, who funnel video to ground-pounders down below. The fleet has played a key role in the killing or capture of more than 700 high-value insurgents in Afghanistan over the past four years, the Air Force says.

You might think that a mission aboard an unarmed propeller-driven plane, flying lazy orbits and trying to locate and video troublemakers far below, is a relatively simple task in skies filled with bomb-laden jet fighters and missile-firing helicopters.

But you would be wrong.

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My Comment: You go to war with what you have .... something to ponder about as even more U.S. defense budget cuts take hold.

Special Forces Were Poised To Capture Benghazi Suspect But The Mission Was Scrubbed

Special Forces Were Poised To Capture Benghazi Suspect When They Swooped On Terrorist Behind 1998 Attack In Kenya -- Daily Mail

* Publicity surrounding capture of al-Libi jeopardized mission
* Officials feared two high-profile U.S. raids would destabilize Libya's fragile government

U.S. commandos were just hours away from launching a raid this month to capture a militiaman wanted in the deadly Benghazi terror attack, according to officials.

Special forces were waiting for orders to capture Ahmed Abu Khattalah, part of the Ansar Al-Sharia militia, but the mission failed to materialize according to CNN.

The order never came after a terrorist wanted over the 1998 attack on the U.S. Embassy in Kenya was seized in the Libyan capital Tripoli.

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More News On The Scrubbed Mission To Capture The Militant Wanted In The U.S. Consulate Attack At Benghazi

First on CNN: US commandos were poised for raid to capture Benghazi suspect -- CNN
The White House Reportedly Passed On The Chance To Nab A Benghazi Terror Suspect -- Business Insider
US Scrubbed Military Raid to Snatch Benghazi Suspect in Libya -- ABC News
Why top Benghazi suspect wasn't apprehended -- Aaron Klein, WND

My Comment: I am surprised that these two missions were not coordinated to occur together. Either this was not possible .... there was a failure to communicate .... or just too much turmoil in Libya itself. Either way .... one cannot help but feel that this was a missed opportunity.

For Israel All Bets Are Off Once Iran's Arak Heavy-Water Reactor Goes Online

Heavy-water reactor in Arak (Photo: Google Maps)

If Iran Can Get This Reactor Online, Israel May Not Be Able to Bomb It -- Karl Vick, Time

In the foreground of the nuclear talks between Iran and Western powers that got under way in Geneva this month were centrifuges, yellowcake and enriched uranium — all elements of what Iran calls a peaceful nuclear-energy program and what the West worries is a route to a nuclear weapon. But Iran has also charted a second route, one that could produce fuel for a possible bomb not from highly enriched uranium but out of plutonium, a product of the heavy-water reactor nearing completion in the hills outside the city of Arak, 300 km (190 miles) southwest of Tehran. Heavy water is water with an extra neutron, useful in moderating a nuclear reaction.

Because it is not yet up and running, the Arak heavy-water reactor has remained in the background of the nuclear controversy. But it looms larger every day. The reason: once Arak goes online, the option of destroying Iran’s nuclear program with air strikes becomes moot. The reactor is essentially invulnerable to military attack, because bombing one risks a catastrophic release of radioactivity. In the words of Israel’s last chief of military intelligence, Amos Yadlin, who piloted one of the F-16A’s that cratered Iraq’s Osirak heavy-water reactor in 1981 before it was due to become operational: “Whoever considers attacking an active reactor is willing to invite another Chernobyl, and no one wants to do that.”

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My Comment: Bombing an operational atomic reactor will leave a legacy that will last hundreds if not thousands of years .... a situation that I am sure that no one in Israel wants.

Picture Of The Day

U.S. Marines post security while an MV-22 Osprey aircraft takes off during an embassy reinforcement exercise at the Arta Range training area near Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, Oct. 26, 2013. U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Erik Cardenas

The Next Global Security Threat: Small Drones With Explosives

The Next Global Security Threat: Explosive Devices On Small Drones -- The Atlantic

A recent drone prank at an event where Angela Merkel was speaking underlines the threat these aircraft pose if they fall into the hands of terrorists.

Recently Angela Merkel has found herself in two complex situations. The first, as we all know, has stirred a bitter global debate about American spying. The second, though largely ignored, deserves at least as much attention because it may have even larger implications for international security. It’s about a prank using a drone.

Let’s start with the first: The chancellor is furious with Barack Obama. She called to berate him for U.S. snooping. “We need to have trust in our allies, and this trust must now be established once again,” she said a few days later.

Merkel is not the only head of government who is upset at the U.S. Dilma Rousseff, her Brazilian counterpart, abruptly cancelled a state visit to Washington when it became public that the United States was spying on her. President Francois Hollande of France is also indignant, as is Italian Prime Minister Enrico Letta. Upon learning that the U.S. and U.K. intelligence services had been monitoring Italy’s telecommunication networks, Letta said, "It is inconceivable and unacceptable that there should be acts of espionage of this type."

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My Comment: Instead of an assassin's bullet .... why not an armed drone .... or what I would like to call .... an airborne IED. I would wager that after what had happened with Angela Merkel .... the U.S. Secret Service and the Secret Service agencies of other governments are now going to be on the lookout for such drones and what they may be carrying.

Where Does The Buck Stop In The White House?

Opposition lawmakers and pundits have seized on the White House's explanations that Mr. Obama was unaware of problems to accuse him of being a “bystander president.” Doug Mills/The New York Times

Where The Buck Stops, Some See A Bystander -- Peter Baker, New York Times

WASHINGTON — President Obama finds himself under fire on two disparate fronts these days, both for the botched rollout of his signature health care program and for the secret spying on allied heads of state. In both instances, his explanation roughly boils down to this: I didn’t know.

As a practical matter, no president can be aware of everything going on in the sprawling government he theoretically manages. But as a matter of politics, Mr. Obama’s plea of ignorance may do less to deflect blame than to prompt new questions about just how much in charge he really is.

In recent days, the president’s health and human services secretary said that despite internal concerns and a failed test run Mr. Obama was not told about serious problems with the new program’s website until it was rolled out this month. Other officials said the president was not aware that the National Security Agency was tapping the phone of Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany and other friendly leaders until this summer, although intelligence officials said Tuesday that others in the White House had known.

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My Comment: A Russian diplomat that I know told me three years back that the perception among his Russian colleagues is that President Obama prefers to "do the President" rather than "being the President". At the time I defended President Obama on the grounds that I am sure that he knows the difference between the two mindsets .... and that he will be the President because .... after all .... that is what he is.

Now .... I am not too sure. He preference to demonize opponents rather than position himself to engage with them is now becoming all too predictable and (in Washington) unworkable. His influence and the prestige of his office is now being ignored on the international scene .... or in some cases treated with contempt, anger, and derision. And in the eyes of the American public .... the perception that many are now having is that he is not committed to his job .... and are now justifiably feeling negative on his job performance.

President Obama still has three more years in his term .... there is a lot of time for him to reverse this situation .... but one has to wonder .... does he have the energy and will power to change .... or are we going to get the same-old same-old for the next three years .... someone who does the President rather than being the President. Only he can answer that question.

Putting A Face On The Syria Conflict (Photo Gallery)

Photographer Aims To Put A Face On The Syria Conflict -- CBS

Eleven-year-old Huda was injured by a bomb blast near her home in Syria. Her family had to hide after the attack, and couldn't get to a hospital for nearly two days. Now a refugee in Jordan, Huda's message is simple: "I want the life I had back."

Huda is one of more than 120,000 Syrian refugees currently living in Jordan's Zaatari refugee camp. Last month, photographer Robert Fogarty traveled to the camp armed with felt-tip markers and a camera, aiming to make the refugees' voices heard. Fogarty asked them to write a message on their arms: something they wanted the world to know about their situation. Then he photographed them.

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WNU Editor: Robert Fogarty's photo gallery starts here.

Cameraman Captures The Terrifing Moment That A Syrian Tank Shell Is Fired At Him

Syrian Army Tank Video: Camera Captures Terrifying Reality In Line Of Fire -- Huffington Post

God forbid anyone should ever experience the firing of an army tank shell in real life. But this video, captured by a Syrian rebel's camera, gives a rare glimpse into the reality of being in a tank's line of fire.

The footage reportedly comes from Damascus' Jobar district, according to The Daily Caller, though it remains unclear whether any casualties resulted from the blast. The shell just missed the camera, leaving the following footage in tact.

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My Comment: This is unbelievable footage .... but my gut tells me that while the footage survived .... the cameraman probably did not.

Starvation Is Now The Weapon Of Choice For The Syrian Regime

INSIGHT-Starvation In Syria: A War Tactic -- Reuters

* Food, medicine, people blocked from areas of Syria
* One million Syrians trapped in areas where aid is stalled - UN
* Residents of besieged town eating leaves and grass
* Doctors say children dying of malnutrition
* Evacuees of besieged town fired on - state media

DAMASCUS, Oct 30 (Reuters) - One Syrian security official called it the "Starvation Until Submission Campaign", blocking food and medicine from entering and people from leaving besieged areas of Syria.

Forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad have used partial sieges to root out rebel forces from residential areas during the civil war. But a recent tightening of blockades around areas near the capital is causing starvation and death, residents and medical staff say.

At an army checkpoint that separates government-held central Damascus from eastern suburban towns earlier this month, a thin, teenage boy on a bicycle circled a soldier and begged to be allowed to take a bag of pita bread, a staple food, into the eastern suburbs. The soldier refused but the boy kept begging for "just one loaf".

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More News On Starvation Being Used As The Weapon of Choice For The Syrian Government

Hunger the weapon of choice for Syria's Assad regime -- The Independent
Fears for Syrians 'still trapped' in Damascus suburb -- BBC
Starved Syria civilians flee besieged Damascus suburb -- BBC
Starved Syrians flee besieged Damascus suburb -- Euronews
Hunger consumes life in suburb of Damascus, Syria -- L.A. Times
Thousands flee Syrian town after rare cease-fire deal -- Al Jazeera

Did Israel Just Launch A Missile Strike On A Key Syrian Air Base?

Huge Explosion Reported At Syrian Air Defense Base -- Times of Israel

Unconfirmed reports suggest a missile strike from Mediterranean Sea; social media explodes with posts blaming Israel

A Syrian air defense base near the coastal city of Latakia was reportedly destroyed Wednesday night, with multiple Syrian and Lebanese sources speculating that an Israeli strike from the Mediterranean was to blame.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported a loud explosion in a Syrian army base, and Twitter users quoted eyewitnesses who said the blast occurred near Snobar Jableh, just south of the city.

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Update: Reports huge blast 'destroys Syrian air defence base' at Latakia; Israel blamed -- News.com.au

My Comment: This is a breaking news story. We will update it when more information becomes available.

Is The NSA A Rogue Agency?

Image from FOX News

Has The NSA Gone Rogue? -- Christopher Slobogin, CNN

(CNN) -- The National Security Agency scandal keeps getting juicier. Recent revelations, triggered by ex-NSA employee Eric Snowden's earlier disclosures, indicate that the National Security Agency not only collects volumes of metadata about the phone numbers people use, it routinely stores the contents of phone conversations, text messages, e-mails and Internet activity.

Former Vice President Dick Cheney explains that the collection of all of this information is crucial, because NSA staffers cannot know what bits of it will turn out to be relevant to a counterterrorist investigation.

In fact, the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court has agreed with that argument in approving bulk collection of American as well as foreign metadata for the past seven years. And if metadata must be stored for this purpose, it is an easy step from there to conclude that the contents of communications must be stored as well.

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My Comment: The NSA'a political masters know how powerful such an agency can be if there are no safeguards .... that is why (I am sure) they are keeping a tight leash to make sure that the people who run the NSA do not start thinking of "other possibilities".

China To Beef Up It's Cyber Defenses After Recent NSA Revelations

China To Step Up Own Security After New NSA Allegations -- Reuters

(Reuters) - China will step up its security following allegations that the U.S. National Security Agency (NSA) collected data on millions of phone calls in Europe and snooped on leaders of major U.S. allies, the government said on Wednesday.

"Like many other countries, we have been paying close attention to these reports," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying told a daily news briefing.

"China is concerned about the continued revelations of eavesdropping and surveillance and is paying attention to how the situation develops," she added.

"We will take the necessary steps to resolutely maintain the security of our own information," Hua said, without elaborating.

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Update #1: China to beef up defenses against NSA spying -- Voice of Russia
Update #2: China to maintain security: FM -- Global Times

My Comment: I am surprised that they are doing this only now .... not a few months ago when these revelations first broke out.