Putin Commits To A Massive Russian Arms Buildup

Russian president Vladimir Putin inspects a weapon during a visit to an army base in Dagestan in 2008. Photograph: Ria Novosti/Reuters

Is That A Good Idea? Putin Orders Stalinesque Upgrade Of Russia's Military Hardware -- Daily Mail

* Has ordered the overhaul after jibes from the West
* Committed to spending a massive £450 billion
* It would be the first major modernisation programme since Stalin

Vladimir Putin has ordered the modernisation of Russia's armaments on the same scale as achieved by Stalin at the height of his reign of terror.

The Kremlin leader made clear he was tired of Western jibes about the country's outdated firepower as displayed at annual Red Square parades.

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More News On Russia's Massive Military Buildup

Russia's Putin demands Stalin-era armament drive -- AFP
Russia’s £450bn for bombs, planes and subs -- The Sun
Vladimir Putin stirs memories of Joseph Stalin as he urges 'leap forward' -- The Guardian
Moscow aims to update defense -- UPI
Putin sets guidelines for defence industry -- Voice of Russia
Putin wants defense industry to be modernized quickly -- Kyiv Post
Russia's Putin calls for Stalin-style "leap forward" -- Business Times
Putin orders defense industry modernization recalling pre-WWII advances -- RT
Putin: Russia Ready to Draw on Foreign Defense Technology -- RIA Novosti

President Obama Visits Fort Bliss To Mark The Second Year Since The End Of The Iraq War

President Barack Obama addresses service members and their families during a visit to Fort Bliss, Texas, Aug. 31, 2012. DOD photo by U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Chad J. McNeeley

Obama Honors Anniversary of Iraq Pullout -- New York Times

EL PASO, Texas — President Obama came to Fort Bliss on the border with Mexico on Friday to meet privately with service members and their families and to highlight the second anniversary of the end of combat operations in Iraq.

As it happened, Mr. Obama met with the veterans of both the Iraq and the Afghanistan wars, and some soldiers about to be deployed to Afghanistan, the day after Mitt Romney failed to mention either war in his nomination-acceptance address at the Republican National Convention. The omission drew criticism from Democrats and Republicans.

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More News On President Obama's Visit To Fort Bliss

President Obama Speaks to Troops at Fort Bliss -- White House
Obama speaks to soldiers at Fort Bliss to mark two years since end of Iraq war -- FOX News
Obama focuses on veterans, military at Fort Bliss, on anniversary of Iraq combat end -- Washington Post
Obama marks Iraq combat exit -- UPI
President Obama visits Ft. Bliss -- Examiner
President Obama marks end to war in Iraq -- again -- L.A. Times

My Comment: I watched the speech, and the Daily Caller's conservation is right .... Obama speech to soldiers met with silence. Not a good sign with the election only two months away.

Picture Of The Day

Personnel in the National Guard Command Center in Arlington, Va., monitor the progress of Tropical Storm Isaac as it makes its way through the Gulf of Mexico, Aug. 28, 2012. The center, which provides an overall tracking and coordination of National Guard elements, has gone to 24-hour operations to prepare for Isaac making landfall. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. 1st Class Jon Soucy

North Korea's Mineral Wealth

North Korea’s Six Trillion Dollar Question -- Scott Thomas Bruce, The Diplomat

North Korea holds trillions of dollars in mineral resources. Unless it reforms its economy, it may never see much benefit.

Rare earth metals can be a game changing bonanza for North Korea, but, without reform, their claim is likely to pinch out. In the end, the North Korean government must determine if the minerals will be a lever to shift political relations in the region, or if it will continue to sell its most valuable asset at a discount.

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My Comment: Even if North Korea had 60 trillions of dollars in mineral resources .... not 6 trillion .... the political situation in the country makes it impossible to invest and develop these resources. The Pyongyang government is just too unpredictable and unstable for anyone to get involved.

Will Israel Launch An EMP Attack Against Iran?

Report: Possible EMP Strike On Iran? -- Bill Gertz, Washington Free Beacon

U.S. sees signs Israel could use nuclear EMP attack against Iran.

U.S. intelligence agencies recently reported growing concerns that Israel will conduct a strike on Iran using a high-altitude nuclear burst aimed at disrupting all electronics in the country.

The intelligence worries were triggered by recent publication of an article in the Israeli press suggesting the Jewish state should carry out an electromagnetic pulse, or EMP, attack.

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My Comment: It's not going to happen. Conducting an unprovoked EMP strike against Iran will be condemned by almost every nation on the planet. It will also "formally" reveal Israel's nuclear capabilities, and will increase tensions (and a probable nuclear arms race by other countries) in the Middle East. This is one Rubicon that you do not want to cross.

Is Syria Becoming A Breeding Ground For Future Terrorism In Europe?

Photo from Views of the Occident

As Syrian Conflict Rages, France Examines Potential Terror Risks -- Bruce Crumley, Time

French security officials reveal to TIME evidence of aspiring militants leaving France for Syria to join Islamists battling the Assad regime — and warn this conflict risks joining Afghanistan, Iraq, and Yemen as a training ground for future terrorists.

As the civil war grinds on between loyalists of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and rebel forces fighting to depose him, concerns are rising the conflict may become a magnet for aspiring jihadists in Europe. Those apprehensions were expressed to TIME this week by French counter-terrorism officials, who outlined reliable intelligence information and one established case of French youths travelling to Syria to fight with Islamist militants. That nub of evidence, they say, has them monitoring the rebellion for signs of it becoming a destination for budding radicals in Europe seeking a quick route to jihad.

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My Comment: The Syrian civil war has all the makings of a conflict that will continue fora year (if not longer). If that is the case .... many of these traveling Jihadists from Europe will probably be killed or maimed. As for those who do survive ....some will probably still want to pursue Jihad in Europe, but their numbers will probably be small and they will be watched.

Navy SEAL Author On The Bin laden Raid Will Ignore Legal Threats From The Pentagon

Navy SEAL Author Rejects The Pentagon's Legal Threat -- Atlantic Wire

Former Navy SEAL Matt Bissonnette is going to tell his version of events surrounding the death of Osama bin Laden, even if the Pentagon sues him for every last penny.

Last night, the Defense Department's top attorney wrote a letter to Bissonnette threatening to use "all remedies legally available" against him for the publication of No Easy Day, his firsthand account of the mission to kill bin Laden in Pakistan. "You are in material breach and violation of the nondisclosure agreements you signed," wrote Pentagon general counsel Jeh Charles Johnson.

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My Comment: He is prepared to be a martyr .... the question that needs to be answered now is .... will the prosecutors from the Pentagon accommodate him.

Anti-American Afghan Radio Is Chinese Funded

China Funding Anti-American Afghan Radio -- Washington Free Beacon

China government funding anti-U.S., anti-NATO radio broadcasts in Afghanistan

A popular radio station in Afghanistan is funded by China’s international propaganda outlet and is broadcasting news with an anti-U.S. and anti-NATO bent, according to U.S. officials.

The Pashto-language Spogmai radio was set up recently as an FM station in Afghanistan, and U.S. officials say it admits to receiving funds from China Radio International (CRI), Beijing’s state-run propaganda outlet formerly known as Radio Beijing.

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My Comment: Who gave this radio station the license to broadcast in Afghanistan?

Will China's Communist Party Continue To Survive?

China's Long History Of Defying The Doomsayers -- Stephen Platt & Jeffrey Wasserstrom, The Atlantic

Losing legitimacy might not mean the end of the Communist Party. Past Chinese governments have survived worse.

Thirty-six years after "Great Helmsman" Mao Zedong died of a heart attack, leaving his country briefly rudderless during a time of crisis and uncertainty, the Chinese ship of state is still sailing. But is it still seaworthy? Observers are energetically debating whether the legitimacy of the Chinese Communist Party, which has endured so much, can endure. After all, the government today bases its legitimacy on economic growth, which may well be slowing. We can't predict the future, but we can examine the past, and Chinese history suggests that, even if the Communist Party does face a legitimacy crisis, it would not be out of character for it to survive this particular storm.

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My Comment: What's my take .... being one who lived in China in the 1980s and who has been a China watcher ever since .... the Chinese government will survive. The dissent and unrest that I saw in China in the 1980s are absent this time around. The focus is on the economy .... getting a job .... a home .... etc.. Changing the government is definitely not on the radar screen for most Chinese.

Update: How China's Leaders Steer a Massive Nation -- Spiegel Online

After The NAMSummit, Is Iran Still Isolated?

NAM Summit: Iran Attempts To Prove Western Efforts To Isolate It Have Failed -- Scott Peterson, Christian Science Monitor

Though Iran pulled out all the stops this week as host of the Non-Aligned Movement summit, it was met with some heavy international criticism.

The news anchor on Iran's state-run PressTV did not mince his words: The summit of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) wrapping up today in Tehran was the "most important" political event in the 33-year history of the Islamic Republic.

Iran certainly mounted an extravagant show for the high-ranking delegations from 120 nations as it sought to demonstrate it was engaged with the world, not isolated from it.

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Update: Iranian Hopes Dashed at Non-Aligned Summit -- Voice of America

My Comment: The Iranians did not expect any criticism .... and they did not receive the public support that they had expected from fellow members. In this regards .... for Iran the NAM was a bust.