Picture Of The Day

A paratrooper aims his M240B machine gun during a leaders’ course on Fort Bragg, N.C., Oct. 14, 2011. The paratrooper is an infantryman assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division’s 2nd Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Michael J. MacLeod

A Slight Decline In The U.S. Intel Budget

Slight Drop in U.S. Funding for Intel Programs -- Defense News

The U.S. Congress appropriated $78.6 billion for civilian and military intelligence activities in 2011, a slight decline from spending on these programs in 2010.

In 2011, lawmakers appropriated $54.6 billion for national intelligence programs and $24 billion for military intel programs, down $1.8 billion the previous year, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) and Pentagon announced in separate Oct. 28 statements.

Read more ....

My Comment: Some are calling for even more cuts.

Maj. Gen. Jeffrey Buchanan Talks To A On What To Expect In Iraq After U.S. Troops Leave

WNU Editor: Maj. Gen. Jeffrey Buchanan talks to a KTRH-AM reporter, in Houston, Texas, about what is expected to happen once all U.S. troops leave Iraq.

Hat Tip: Theo Spark

X-47B Flies With Gear Up (Video)

Video: X-47B Flies With Gear Up -- Defense Tech

This is turning out to be quite the day for cool pictures of Navy aircraft. The image above shows the Navy’s X-47 unmanned combat aerial vehicle demonstrator flying with its landing gear up for the first time on Sept. 30.

The stealthy drone is being used by the Navy to test out the concepts for flying a fighter-sized UAVs off aircraft carriers — something the sea service plans to do by the end of the decade with its UCLASS drones.

Read more ....

Lucky Soldier Survives Shot To Head And Suffers Only A Bruise

Saved By The Helmet: Lucky Soldier Survives Shot To Head And Only Suffers A Bruise -- Daily Mail

A soldier survived a shot to the head in Afghanistan thanks to wearing a sturdy helmet.

Private Shane Dixon from 1st Battalion The Princess of Wales' Royal Regiment is being called the 'luckiest soldier in the Army' for getting away unscathed when he was shot in Helmand province.

Pte Dixon was on patrol when a Taliban bullet struck him, throwing him unconscious to the ground.

Read more ....

My Comment: This soldier is super lucky in my book, but he is not the only one to have been saved by the newest helmets in the British Army.

Why Militant Deals In Pakistan Go Sour

Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ) leader Malik Ishaq. File photo

In Pakistan, a Militant Deal Sours -- New York Times/AP

ISLAM NAGAR, Pakistan (AP) — The deal saw one of Pakistan's most feared militants walk from jail apparently in exchange for his commitment to nonviolence, help in reining in other fighters and possibly delivering the votes of his followers.

Supporters showered Malik Ishaq with rose petals when he left the prison in the eastern city of Lahore in July. Days later, he was preaching murderous hatred toward minority Shiites to crowds of cheering Sunnis, energizing a network whose members have joined al-Qaida for terror strikes. That was too much for Pakistani authorities, who arrested him again last month.

Read more ....

Update: Pakistan Extends Detention of Militant Leader -- Voice of America

My Comment: The above article pretty well sums up the problems that Pakistan has in prosecuting spreaders of hate like Maliq Ishaq .... in short .... the Pakistani legal system is not structured to prosecute people like him.

North Korea's Hit Teams

DEFENSE DISCUSSIONS
U.S. Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta, second on left, and U.S. Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, attend a security consultative meeting with South Korean Defense Minister Kim Kwan-jin, second on right, in Seoul, South Korea, Oct. 28, 2011. DOD photo by D. Myles Cullen

North Korea’s Clumsy Assassins -- Bryan Kay, The Diplomat

News last month that an alleged North Korean spy tried to kill an anti-Pyongyang activist is a reminder that Kim Jong-il’s spies are active. But some say the attacks aren’t what they used to be.

To the unsuspecting eye, 71-year-old Kim Shin-jo blends in easily with life in the greater Seoul area – no more conspicuous than the local bank teller, post office clerk or parents dropping off their children at school.With his salt-and-pepper hair neatly folded in a classic comb-over, usually accompanied by freshly pressed cords and an open-collared shirt, he looks every inch the archetypal South Korean grandfather.

Read more....

My Comment: They may look and be "comical" at times .... but there is no doubt about one thing .... North Korea is still a threat.

Cheap Wars Can Become Costly

Al Qaeda flag in benghazi. Photo from Vice.com

The High Cost of Cheap Wars -- Abe Greenwald, Commentary

John Ennis makes a good (and depressing) point:

It seems that al Qaeda is moving into Libya. Their flag is flying in Benghazi. With no American boots on the ground, they should have training camps set up by the end of the year. Part One of the Libyan War is over. Part Two: Attack of the Drones should be coming to theaters next spring!

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My Comment: Oh oh ... I guess that means we must start really worrying about this.

Commentaries, Opinions, And Editorials -- October 28, 2011

A Greek Default In All But Name -- Robert J. Samuelson, Washington Post

There’s an Orwellian quality to Europe’s latest financial rescue. Words lose their ordinary meaning. Greece, for example, has clearly defaulted, but no one says so. In July, private lenders agreed “voluntarily” to accept an estimated 21 percent reduction in their loans to Greece. Now that’s been pushed to 50 percent, and private lenders’ consent is still described as “voluntary.” Well, it’s about as “voluntary as when one hands over one’s wallet in response to the choice of, ‘Your money or your life,’ ” notes Douglas Elliott of the Brookings Institution.

Read more ....

Commentaries, Opinions, And Editorials

Europe’s rescue plan: This week’s summit was supposed to put an end to the euro crisis. It hasn’t -- The Economist

Euro deal reached, but crisis far from over -- Thomas Kleine-Brockhoff, CNN

Europe kowtows to the Chinese dragon -- Jeremy Warner, The Telegraph

Iceland Loses Its Banks, Finds Its Wealth -- Tim Cavanaugh, Reason

Libyan ‘crossfire’ -- Charles Krauthammer, Washington Post

What Libya has inherited from Moammar Gaddafi -- Anne Applebaum, Washington Post

After the retreat from Iraq -- Frederick W. Kagan, The American

The Realist Prism: U.S. Must Put Words Into Action in Asia-Pacific -- Nikolas Gvosdev, World Politics Review

Apocalypse Redux? U.S. Natural Gas Find off Vietnam Could Raise Tensions with China -- John Daly, Oil Price

The continuing need for a strong NATO -- Tom Donilon, Washington Post

In Famine, Vouchers Can Be Tickets to Survival -- Tina Rosenberg, New York Times

World News Briefs -- October 28, 2011 (Evening Edition)

Saif al-Islam gestures as he talks to reporters in Tripoli on 23 August, 2011. Photograph: Paul Hackett/Reuters

International Criminal Court Confirms That Saif al-Islam Gaddafi Has Made Contact -- The Guardian

The court has established an indirect link with Gaddafi's son, who is believed to be attempting to reach Niger or Mali

Muammar Gaddafi's fugitive son Saif al-Islam has been in contact with the international criminal court in the Hague about surrendering to face charges of inciting the murder of thousands of Libyans.

The judicial body confirmed establishing an indirect link with the elder Gaddafi scion, who is believed to be in southern Libya where he is attempting to reach either Niger or Mali.

Read more ....

MIDDLE EAST

Billions in Iraqi reconstruction money finally accounted for.

Amid Syria protests, businessmen remain loyal to President Assad.

Syrian protesters renew call for protection, 20 killed.

Deadly bombings rip through Shiite neighborhood in Baghdad. Death toll in Baghdad's twin bombings rises to 32.

Yemen's military kills six militants in south - official. Car bomb kills anti-terror chief in south Yemen.

Prince Naif named Saudi crown prince.

Iranian actress spared 90 lashes over role in Australian film.

Israel ready to submit borders proposal to Quartet.

ASIA

NATO: 30 insurgents killed in eastern Afghanistan.

Bangkok facing 'perfect storm'.

North Korea is talking, but Panetta is skeptical.

Situation in S. Philippines worsens as military steps up offensive against Moro rebels.

Australia calls for tougher anti-piracy action in Indian Ocean.

AFRICA

New US drone base operational in Ethiopia.

Sidi Bouzid under curfew as violence erupts following Tunisian election.

Libyans want back property confiscated by Gadhafi.

Int'l Court in indirect talks with Gadhafi son. Court contacts Kadhafi son as NATO ends mission.

Kenyans in first al-Shabab battle in Somalia.

Protesters in Egypt call on military to leave power.

Egypt saves face in swap of alleged Israeli spy Ilan Grapel.

EUROPE

Italy at heart of crisis as borrowing costs climb.

Terrorist attack outside US Embassy in Bosnia.

Judgment due next week in Assange extradition case.

Michael D. Higgins wins Irish presidential election.

Europe plan raises hope but will need to prove itself in practice.

Eurozone crisis: Sarkozy says Greece was not ready to join euro.

After 18 years, Russia on verge of WTO membership.

If Kate and William have a girl, she'll be queen! Commonwealth realms agree to historic change that gives sex equality in Royal succession.

AMERICAS

Brazil is the latest country to get angry about corruption.

Zetas drug cartel 'accountant' detained.

‘El Chapo,’ wanted drug lord, grows stronger in Mexico’s Sierra Madre.

New rules for dictatorship crimes in South America.

Hundreds occupy dam construction site in Brazil.

Ash cloud rises above restive Chilean volcano.

TERRORISM/THE LONG WAR

Leon Panetta to toast Osama bin Laden's death with $10,000 bottle of wine.

Lithuania to be investigated for CIA rendition links.

Drone attack in Pakistan kills key Taliban leaders, say officials.

G.O.P. pushes military custody for terror suspects.

Global nature of terrorism drives biosurveillance.

ECONOMY/FINANCE/BUSINESS

China says emerging economies will not play 'Good Samaritans' to Europe.

Netflix takes up 32.7% of Internet bandwidth.

Samsung overtakes Apple in smartphone shipments.

Eurozone seeks bailout funds from China.