U.S. Considering Deeper Involvement In The Syrian Civil War

U.S. Weighs Bolder Effort To Intervene In Syria’s Conflict -- New York Times

WASHINGTON — The Obama administration, hoping that the conflict in Syria has reached a turning point, is considering deeper intervention to help push President Bashar al-Assad from power, according to government officials involved in the discussions.

WASHINGTON — The Obama administration, hoping that the conflict in Syria has reached a turning point, is considering deeper intervention to help push President Bashar al-Assad from power, according to government officials involved in the discussions.

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More News On The U.S. Considering Greater Involvement In The Syrian Civil War

Obama's Syria Plan Just Got a Little Less Mysterious -- The Atlantic
AP sources: US preparing to upgrade recognition of Syria’s opposition, offer greater support -- Washington Post/AP
Ambassador to Syria Leaves Door Open to Arming Opposition -- Time
US Rethinks Role in Syria -- Newser
National Security Brief: White House Considering Deeper Involvement In Syria -- Think Progress

My Comment: Republican and Democrat senators are unifying around the idea that the U.S. should get more directly involved. What's my opinion .... stay away from Middle East conflicts.

Syria: Internet Is Shut Down By The Government

Syria: Internet Shut Down By Government -- Christian Science Monitor

Syria's Internet shutdown is unprecedented in the conflict, though Damascus has partially cut off access several times over the past 20 months.

Two US-based Internet-monitoring companies say Syria has shut off the Internet nationwide.

Activists in Syria reached Thursday by satellite telephone confirmed the unprecedented blackout, which comes amid intense fighting in the capital, Damascus.

Renesys, a US-based network security firm that studies Internet disruptions, says Syria effectively disappeared from the Internet at 12:26 p.m. local time.

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More News On The Syrian Government Shutting Down The Internet

Assad regime cuts Internet across Syria -- Haaretz/AP
Syria: Internet and mobile communication 'cut off' -- BBC
Syria shuts off internet access across the country -- The Guardian
Syria has disappeared from the Internet -- FOX News
Web monitor: 100 percent of Syria’s Internet just shut down -- Washington Post
Blackout: Syria vanishes from Internet -- CNet
Damascus fighting cuts off Internet, airport -- Reuters
Syria Has Just Been Taken Offline -- Danger Room
The Day Syria Made Its Internet Disappear -- The Atlantic
Syrian Internet goes dark -- Foreign Policy
Syria Shuts Off Internet: But Can Assad Really Block Information Flow? -- Larry Magid, Forbes
A stunning chart shows Syria’s Internet blackout -- Washington Post

U.S. Closes Forward Operating Base Tillman

FOB Tillman

An Ending In Afghanistan: U.S. Closes Forward Operating Base Tillman -- Washington Post

Just a few short miles from the Pakistani border, on a plateau above the Afghan village of Lawara, sits a small U.S. fire base named after army ranger Pat Tillman. Now, the United States is shutting down the base, according to a report in The Hill.

The former NFL superstar’s life and death have, in a way, followed the twists and turns of America’s war in Afghanistan. Tillman’s decision to leave his NFL career in 2002 to enlist and fight in Afghanistan made him a symbol of America’s sense of duty and national purpose after the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. His shocking 2004 death in a firefight that was only later revealed to be friendly fire, a fact possibly covered up by senior military figures, symbolized for many Americans, at a time when the war in Iraq was rapidly disintegrating, the tragedy and perhaps the folly of those wars. In 2006, the army named Forward Operating Base Tillman in his memory.

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My Comment: The U.S. Afghan withdrawal is beginning to mirror the U.S. departure from Iraq .... not with a bang .... but with a whimper.

Afghanistan War News Updates -- November 29, 2012

U.S. Army Capt. Garrett McAdams, first from right, conducts a brief with fellow members of the Provincial Reconstruction Team at Forward Operating Base Lavaredo in Farah province, Afghanistan, Nov. 27, 2012. McAdams is assigned to Provincial Reconstruction Team Farah. U.S. Navy photo by Chief Petty Officer Josh Ives

At The Mercy Of Afghanistan's Warlords -- Rustam Qobil, BBC

In many areas of Afghanistan it is the warlords who hold sway - not the central government or the Taliban. They are able to exploit villagers with impunity using the threat, or the reality, of violence.

In rural Takhar province, in the remote north-east of Afghanistan, time seems to have stopped in the 19th Century - bumpy roads, mud-built houses, lawless villages and no sign of the Kabul government.

Here, armed commanders and their guns are in charge. Their word is the law.

"Local armed commanders forced three of my elder brothers to fight for them against the insurgents," 26-year-old Najbulla tells me. "They were all killed in wars."

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More News On Afghanistan

Roadside bomb kill at least 12 Afghan civilians in east, south -- AP
Roadside bomb kills 10 civilians in Afghanistan -- Reuters
Afghan, Coalition Forces Arrest Haqqani Leader -- US Department of Defense
Bastion attack may have had Pakistan origins -- Military Times/USA Today
Afghanistan mountain passes full of peril -- al.com
Congress Can't Ignore Afghanistan in Budget Talks -- US News and World Report

Report: Afghan politics hampers Kabul Bank collapse investigation -- AP
Nearly $900M Kabul Bank fraud reportedly included smuggling money out on airline food trays -- FOX News
Report: Probe into Afghan bank scandal plagued by political interference -- Washington Post

Girl, 15, ‘beheaded’ in Afghanistan after her family turned down marriage proposal -- Daily Mail
Men arrested for allegedly beheading girl -- UPI
Afghan women caught between modernity, tradition -- Washington Post

Get Ready For A Bracing Shot Of Reality In Afghanistan -- Business Insider/Economist
Despite Vow to Withdraw, Obama Plans Troops in Afghanistan Past 2014 -- Alex Newman, New American

World News Briefs -- November 29, 2012

Free Syrian Army fighters take up positions and get ready to fire at the regime’s forces in Aleppo’s Al-Amiriya district November 26, 2012. (Reuters)

Syrian Rebels Battling For Airport Amid Internet Shutdown -- USA Today

Opposition members say the attack is a bid to weaken President Bashar Assad's air force.

IDLIB, Syria – Rebel fighters were continuing Thursday to battle Syrian troops holding defensive positions ion roads leading to Damascus' main international airport, a key component of the military's fight against anti-government insurgents nationwide.

"The airport is strategic. It's the only way out by air from Damascus," said Mohamed Ajlouni, the founder of the Syrian opposition satellite channel Syria al-Shaab. "The Free Syrian Army is using a more strategic approach by going in after high-value regime targets."

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MIDDLE EAST

Fighting rages along Damascus airport road. Damascus fighting cuts off airport, Emirates suspends flights.

Syrian rebels turn looted missiles on Assad's aircraft.

Nationwide Internet blackout in Syria.

Bombs kill 30 in Iraq Shi'ite cities. Wave of bomb attacks in Iraq kills 42.

Iran shows new submarines and warships, touts self-sufficiency in defense.

Palestinians to renew UN statehood bid.

ASIA

Japan's new Restoration Party seeks more defense spending.

Sources: North Korea replaces defense minister.

North Korea pushing ahead with new nuclear reactor: IAEA.

Burmese police break up copper mine protest.

Afghan elite ransacked $900m from Kabul Bank, inquiry finds.

'Red Shirt' trial delayed in Thailand .

AFRICA

Mursi to speak as Egypt's Islamists seek way out of crisis.

Egypt speeds vote on draft constitution.

Congo rebels pulling back; fate of Goma uncertain.

U.N. chief recommends "offensive military operation" in Mali.

UN envoy: No settlement in sight for W. Sahara.

Ethiopia promises support to rebuild Somalia.

EUROPE

NATO reassures Russia on missiles as ambassador contacts resume.

Analysis: At peak of powers, Merkel sets sights on third term.

Kosovo ex-premier Haradinaj cleared of war crimes again. Serbs frustrated, Kosovars elated as former Kosovo PM acquitted of war crimes.

Italy bracing for transportation strike.

Watchdog needed to curb British press 'havoc'.

Julian Assange suffering lung problems, says Ecuador.

AMERICAS

Inside the talks: U.S. fiscal framework emerges. Democratic left keeps pressure on Obama.

Largest trial of 'Dirty War' crimes starts in Argentina.

US economic growth rate revised up to 2.7%.

Shifting account of CIA's Libya talking points fuels Rice controversy.

2012 Mayan apocalypse rumors have dark side, NASA warns.

Winning Powerball tickets sold in Arizona, Kansas City area.

TERRORISM/THE LONG WAR

Three accused of plotting to join al Qaeda indicted in California.

Al-Qaeda urges Mali to reject foreign troops.

Guantanamo inmates could be moved to US jails.

ECONOMY/FINANCE/BUSINESS

Concorde crash: Continental Airlines cleared by France court.

RIM stock soars after Goldman Sachs upgrade.

US piracy crackdown delayed until 2013.

Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- November 29, 2012

Defense Fades From U.S. Fiscal Cliff Debate -- DoD Buzz

Defense has fallen further out of the sequestration and fiscal cliff conversation on Capitol Hill since lawmakers and the White House rush to beat the Dec. 31 deadline to avoid massive cuts across the federal budget.

Pentagon leaders and defense industry executives have raised their voices and banged their fists to try and grab the attention of anyone who would listen to describe the devastation that sequester cuts would bring to the defense budget. Generals cringe at the idea of an across-the-board 10 percent cut to the Defense Department should Congress not agree to a deficit reduction plan in time.

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MILITARY AND INTELLIGENCE NEWS BRIEFS

U.S. House Leaders Don’t Rule Out More Defense Cuts -- Defense News

Top Pentagon official believes sequestration can be averted -- Flight Global

REPORT: North Korea Replaces Defense Chief With Hawk -- Business Insider/AFP

Israel pips US in anti-tank guided missile supply to India -- Times of India

Pakistan Test-Fires Medium-Range Ballistic Missile -- Defense News

Israel working on low-observable UAV -- Flight Global

Russian Army Firms ‘Embezzled’ $257 Mln in 2012 -- RIA Novosti

Pilots & Cosmonauts: Russia’s Sidelined Elites -- RIA Novosti

Canada: HMCS Windsor passes critical dive test -- CTV News

China's new fighter jet J-15 has range of 3,000 km -- Zee News

China Starts Operating J-15 Fighter From Liaoning Experimental Carrier -- Asian Week

Chinese Military Displays Unexpected Aircraft Capabilities -- Heritage Foundation

Inside China: Five pilots in carrier ops -- Washington Times

China considering attending U.S.-hosted military exercise -- Reuters

U.S. Corps to build Israeli military complex -- Seattle Times/Washington Post

Costliest Jet, Years in Making, Sees the Enemy: Budget Cuts -- New York Times

Air Forces React To JSF Delays -- Aviation Week

Pentagon Cries Poor, Starts $10 Billion Nuclear Weapon Upgrade -- Danger Room

Drill Reveals U.S. Antimissile Shortcomings -- Global Security Newswire

Special Operators Try Again To Get More Dough, Control; Battles Likely With Hill And JCS -- Aol Defense

Study: Keep Investing in Spec Ops, Cyber -- Defense News

Contractors move to save cybersecurity funding -- Politico

Pentagon Leaders Testing New Decision-Making Process -- Defense News

U.S. Senate Votes to Save the Navy’s ‘Great Green Fleet’ -- Danger Room

Pentagon, Lockheed "getting close" on next F-35 contract: Kendall -- Reuters

Sikorsky sees vibrant military helicopter market -- Reuters

Pentagon Vows to Better Align Profit With Performance -- Bloomberg

Military creates brain repository to study wounds -- USA Today

Robocod: Homeland Security adds underwater drones to their arsenal with robots based on fish -- Daily Mail

CIA Accused of Coverup in Military Scientist’s 1953 Fatal Fall -- SFGate/Bloomberg

WikiLeaks suspect Manning mistreated by military, psychiatrist says -- The Guardian

Google Launches “VetNet” To Help Military Veterans Re-Enter The Civilian Life, With Google+ As The “Plumbing” -- Tech Crunch

Iron Dome Creator Joins the Ranks of Military Innovators -- Max Boot, Commentary

The commander in chief -- Harlan Ullman, UPI

Pentagon: "Lot Of Money" Can Still Be Made In The Arms Business

Pentagon Says "Lot Of Money" Still To Be Made In Arms Business -- Reuters

(Reuters) - The Pentagon's chief weapons buyer on Wednesday reassured industry executives and investors that there was still "a lot of money" to be made in the defense business, despite mounting budget pressures that will limit spending on new arms programs.

Frank Kendall, defense undersecretary for acquisition, technology and logistics, said the budget outlook had clearly changed after a decade of continuous increases in U.S. military spending.

But he said the Pentagon's annual budget remained quite large -- and even a worst case scenario that would cut defense spending by an additional $50 billion or around 10 percent in fiscal year 2013 -- was "not the end of the world."

"We're going to work our way through this," Kendall told an investor conference hosted by Credit Suisse. "There's a lot of money still to be made."

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My Comment: I admit that the Reuters headline caught my attention .... but it is true .... even with huge cuts forecast to hit the defense budget .... if you have the right product and price point and the Pentagon needs it .... you will have sales and you will make money.

It's Too Late To Stop U.S. Budget Sequestration

Rep. Randy Forbes

It's Too Late To Stop Sequester: HASC Rep. Randy Forbes EXCLUSIVE -- Aol Defense

WASHINGTON: "I am fully expecting to see sequestration in some form beginning in January," Rep. Randy Forbes told AOL Defense in an exclusive interview. And those automatic cuts -- or even the more targeted cuts likely in any deal to avoid a sequester -- would undermine the nation's new Pacific-focused strategy and the military's AirSea Battle concept to win future ocean wars, said Forbes, who chairs the readiness panel of the House Armed Services Committee.

Congress could strike a deal in 2013 to stop the sequestration cuts before they take full effect -- presumably as part of a larger deal on the "fiscal cliff" to raise the debt ceiling and extend Bush-era tax cuts -- but "I think it will be sometime early spring before we see that," Forbes sighed. "It's going to be very, very difficult to reach that deal before January."

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My Comment: I am still sticking to my position that before sequestration hits, taxes will be raised, the defense budget will be cut (drastically), and entitlement reform will not happen. In short .... delaying the hard decisions to curb government spending to a later date.

Pakistani Doctor Who Helped The U.S. Find Bin Laden On Hunger Strike In Jail

Shakil Afridi talks with people outside a building at an unknown location in Pakistan. Reuters

Pakistan Doctor In Bin Laden Case Starts Hunger Strike -- Reuters

(Reuters) - The Pakistani doctor who helped the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) hunt down Osama bin Laden started a hunger strike in his jail cell this week to protest against his living conditions, prison officials said on Thursday.

Shakil Afridi was sentenced in May to 33 years in jail for his links to a banned militant group. The decision was widely seen as punishment for helping the CIA find the al Qaeda leader, and has led to strained ties between Washington and Islamabad.

Prison officials in the northwestern city of Peshawar said they are keeping Afridi in solitary confinement and will not allow him to have visitors nor speak to anyone by telephone as punishment for a media interview he gave in September.

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My Comment: Faced with spending the next 33 years in jail because of his assistance to the CIA in finding Bin Laden .... and all but ignored by the U.S. .... this is the only way it appears that he can get attention to his case. Unfortunately .... with the exception of a few international news outlets .... his case is being ignored in the U.S.

Update: Pakistan is saying that he is not on a hunger strike.

Laying The Groundwork To Close Guantanamo Prison

Feinstein Commissions Report On Housing Gitmo Detainees In US, Calls It Viable Option -- FOX News

The Democratic chairwoman of the Senate Intelligence committee commissioned a federal report to identify prison facilities in the U.S. that are suitable for housing Guantanamo detainees, concluding the option is viable -- despite congressional opposition to such a plan when the Obama administration proposed it.

Sen. Dianne Feinstein's renewed interest in the proposal first came to light Wednesday after Fox News turned up an internal Government Accountability Office document that refers to “Source of Work: Ms. Dianne Feinstein, Chair, Select Committee on Intelligence, U.S. Senate” and lists the “Gist of Work” as an investigation into whether domestic facilities could house the approximately 170 detainees remaining at the controversial facility in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

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More News On The GAO Report That Gitmo Detainees Can Be Put In U.S. Prisons

Guantanamo Detainees Could Be Moved To U.S. Jails, Government Report Says -- Huffington Post/AP
With changes, U.S.-based prisons could handle Gitmo detainees, GAO finds -- CNN
Sen. Dianne Feinstein: GAO report shows Gitmo can be closed without jeopardizing national security -- Daily Caller
Report: Closing Gitmo would be complicated -- UPI
Close Guantanamo, top US senator on intelligence says -- Khaleej Times/AFP
Feinstein Releases GAO Report on U.S. Alternatives to Guantanamo Bay Prison -- Political News
John McCain protests new Gitmo report -- Politico
Here Are The 104 Places in America to Put Gitmo Detainees -- Danger Room