Today's Headlines and Commentary by Quinta Jurecic Wednesday August 26th, 2015 at 4:02 PM

Today's Headlines and Commentary by Quinta Jurecic

Wednesday August 26th, 2015 at 4:02 PM

Report finds serious defects at Wash. nuclear waste treatment plant

Wednesday August 26^th, 2015 at 4:09 PM

Stars And Stripes

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A team of nuclear waste experts has found hundreds of serious defects at an Energy Department plant designed to turn millions of gallons of highly radioactive sludge into more stable solid glass at the former weapons facility in Hanford, Wash.

     

Wal-Mart to stop selling military-style guns after demand drops

Wednesday August 26^th, 2015 at 4:08 PM

Stars And Stripes

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Wal-Mart Stores Inc. will stop selling military-style weapons such as the AR-15 rifle this fall, citing declining customer demand for the controversial firearms.

     

Pentagon inspector general investigating claims officials skewed ISIS intelligence analyses by Kellan Howell

Wednesday August 26^th, 2015 at 4:08 PM

Www.Washingtontimes.Com Stories: Security

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The Pentagon's inspector general is investigating allegations that military officials skewed intelligence assessments, giving a more optimistic outlook of progress in the U.S.-led campaign against Islamic State militants. 

Citing several officials familiar with the investigation, The New York Times reported Wednesday that intelligence officials may have reworked the ...

Terror group member pleads guilty to holding 3 US hostagesby MICHAEL BIESECKER

Wednesday August 26^th, 2015 at 4:08 PM

Www.Washingtontimes.Com Stories: Security

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WASHINGTON (AP) - A member of the leftist Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia faces a possible life sentence after admitting his role in the 2003 kidnapping of three Americans.

Diego Alfonso Navarrete Beltran pleaded guilty Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Washington to three counts of hostage-taking, which carries a ...

Virginia TV Journalists Killed in On-Air Shooting; Suspect Shoots Self by Reuters

Wednesday August 26^th, 2015 at 4:07 PM

Washington Free Beacon

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(Reuters) – Two television journalists were shot and killed in Virginia on Wednesday in an attack during a live early-morning broadcast, and authorities said the suspected gunman was a former employee of the TV station.

The suspect, 41-year-old Vester Flanagan, shot and wounded himself several hours later as police pursued him on a Virginia highway, police said.

The two journalists who were killed were reporter Alison Parker, 24, and cameraman, Adam Ward, 27, who worked for CBS affiliate WDBJ7 in Roanoke, Virginia. The woman they were interviewing was wounded in the shooting.

Police said Flanagan was in life-threatening condition.

The on-air shooting occurred at about 6:45 a.m. EDT (1045 GMT) during an interview for the morning news program at Bridgewater Plaza, a Smith Mountain Lake recreation site with restaurants, shops, boating and arcades and holiday rentals.

The area is in the south-central part of the state, about 120 miles (190 km) from the capital of Richmond.

The broadcast was abruptly interrupted by the sound of shots as Parker and the woman being interviewing screamed and ducked for cover.

Hours after the shooting, someone claiming to have filmed it posted video online that appeared to be from shooter’s vantage point.

The videos were posted to a Twitter account and on Facebook by a man identifying himself as Bryce Williams, which was Flanagan’s on-air name.

The videos were removed shortly afterward. One video clearly showed a handgun as the person filming approached the woman reporter.

WDBJ7 reported that Flanagan was a former employee who was let go two years ago.

The station reported that Flanagan shot himself as Virginia State Police were closing in on his rental car on Interstate 66 in Fauquier County. He was driving a rental car after leaving his own car at the Roanoke–Blacksburg Regional Airport this morning, the station reported.

VEHICLE RAN OFF THE ROAD

In a statement, Virginia state police said the suspect refused to stop when spotted by a trooper and sped away.

“Minutes later, the suspect’s vehicle ran off the road and crashed. The troopers approached the vehicle and found the male driver suffering from a gunshot wound,” police said in the statement.

“He is being transported to a nearby hospital for treatment of life-threatening injuries. The male driver is believed to be the same male subject who shot three people this morning in Franklin County during a television news interview,” police said.

Asked on CNN if the station had been targeted or had been threatened, WDBJ7 President and General Manager Jeff Marks said, “Every now and then you get a crazy email or something and we’ll look into it. Nothing of this nature than any of us could recall.”

He said the interview was to mark the 50th anniversary of the founding of Smith Mountain Lake, and the woman being interviewed was from the local chamber of commerce. She had been talking about the anniversary and tourism.

There was no word yet from the hospital on the condition of the woman, identified as Vicki Gardner, executive director of the Smith Mountain Lake Regional Chamber of Commerce.

The station’s broadcast showed Parker interviewing Gardner about the lake and tourism development in the area. Gunshots erupted, and as Ward fell his camera hit the ground but kept running. An image caught on camera showed what appeared to be a man in dark clothing facing the camera with a weapon in his right hand.

The station described the two dead journalists as an ambitious reporter-and-cameraman team who often filmed light and breezy feature stories for the morning program.

“I cannot tell you how much they were loved,” Marks said.

Parker grew up in Martinsville and attended Patrick Henry Community College and James Madison University, while Ward graduated from Salem High School and Virginia Tech, the station said.

They were both engaged to be married to other people.

The Committee to Protect Journalists, a New York-based non-profit press freedom group, condemned the on-air killings.

This year, at least 39 journalists have been killed around the world, with the deadliest countries being France, South Sudan and Syria. “We do know that being a journalist is potentially dangerous anywhere in the world,” the group’s senior Americas program coordinator, Carlos Lauria, said in a statement.

(Reporting by Emily Flitter, Laila Kearney and Barbara Goldberg in New York and Ian Simpson in Washington; Writing by Frances Kerry; Editing by Scott Malone and Jeffrey Benkoe)

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Update 2:25 P.M.: The suspect was pronounced dead, the Washington Post reported, citing state police.

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Two Hundred Retired Generals, Flag Officers Call on Congress to Reject Iran Deal by Alana Goodman

Wednesday August 26^th, 2015 at 4:07 PM

Washington Free Beacon

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Nearly two hundred retired generals and admirals sent a letter to Congress asking members to oppose the Iran deal, the Washington Post reported Wednesday.

The retired officers warned in the letter that the nuclear deal was “unverifiable” and would “threaten the national security and vital interests of the United States” by providing Iran a 10-year path to a nuclear bomb and handing the regime $150 billion in sanctions relief:

In summary, this agreement will enable Iran to become far more dangerous, render the Mideast still more unstable and introduce new threats to American interests as well as our allies. In our professional opinion, far from being an alternative to war, the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action makes it likely that the war the Iranian regime has waged against us since 1979 will continue, with far higher risks to our national security interests. Accordingly, we urge the Congress to reject this defective accord.

Earlier this month, a group of 36 flag officers sent a dueling letter to Congress in support of the nuclear deal. The letter was organized with help from the White House, the Washington Free Beaconreported.

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Texas Governor Awards ’American Sniper’ Chris Kyle with Highest Military Decoration by Morgan Chalfant

Wednesday August 26th, 2015 at 4:07 PM

Washington Free Beacon

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Texas Gov. Greg Abbott awarded former Navy SEAL Chris Kyle the highest military decoration the state can give, the Texas Legislative Medal of Honor, on Wednesday.

Kyle, who served in Iraq, was the subject of the 2014 Academy Award-nominated film American Sniper based on his book of the same title. The award will be given to Kyle posthumously, as the former Navy SEAL was shot and killed by another veteran who was battling post-traumatic stress disorder.

Abbott also awarded the medal posthumously to Lt. Col. Ed Dyess, the former World War II pilot and prisoner of war for whom the Dyess Air Force Base located just outside of Abilene, Texas, is named.

“America is the brightest beacon of freedom the world has ever known because of all who have honorably worn the uniform of the mightiest military in the history of the world,” Abbott said Wednesday in Austin.

“For their remarkable valor and selfless service, it is my distinct honor to present the Texas Legislative Medal of Honor to Lt. Col. Ed Dyess and Chief Petty Officer Chris Kyle. We can never repay the debt we owe for the lives these men saved and the freedom they preserved, but today we honor their memory, their patriotism and their sacrifice,” Abbott continued.

Abbott presented the medals to Chris Kyle’s wife Taya and to the family of Ed Dyess.

Thousands of Illegal Immigrant Children Could Be Freed Into U.S. by Adam Kredo

Wednesday August 26th, 2015 at 4:06 PM

Washington Free Beacon

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Up to 2,000 illegal immigrants could be released back into the United States as a result of a federal ruling last week that requires the Department of Homeland Security to free “without unnecessary delay” illegal immigrant children and their mothers from federal detention centers.

A U.S. District Court judge in California issued the ruling, despite protests from the government and warnings that the legal order is misguided.

The judge in the case ignored the government’s arguments against release, calling them “repackaged and reheated.” The ruling finds DHS in violation of a law mandating that immigrant children not be kept in unlicensed facilities, according to Fox News. DHS has until Oct. 23 to comply with the release order.

A DHS spokesman told the Washington Free Beacon that it categorically disagrees with the ruling, but that its hands are tied in the matter.

“While we continue to disagree with the court’s ultimate conclusion, we note that the court has clarified its original order to permit the government to process families apprehended at the border at family residential facilities consistent with congressionally provided authority,” the official said.

“As family residential centers continue to operate consistent with this order, DHS will continue to screen family members’ claims as expeditiously as possible, while ensuring that their due process rights are protected,” the agency added. “We continue to review the decision and consider available options with the Department of Justice.”

At least 68,500 unaccompanied illegal minors were apprehended in fiscal year 2014 trying to cross the border, according to statistics compiled by the U.S. government. Another 22,869 were apprehended during the first eight months of fiscal year 2015.

A majority of those minors have already been released since their initial apprehension, according to U.S. Customs and Border Patrol, which says that only 1,820 illegal immigrants are still being detained.

While DHS argued that the mandated release of these illegal immigrants could encourage another surge of illegal immigration, the judge, Dolly M. Gee, dismissed this argument as “fear mongering” and “speculative at best,” according to Fox.

Just 1,269 illegal immigrants remain in detention at a South Texas facility. Another 474 remain in Texas’ Karnes facility, and 77 are being held at the Berks center in Pennsylvania, according to DHS.

A flood of illegal immigrant children attempted to cross the U.S. border in June of last year, causing DHS to go on high alert as a result of what it dubbed a “mass exodus.”

More than 250 illegal children were being apprehended on a daily basis at the time. A large number went on to petition the U.S. government for asylum.

Most of these illegals were never detained by DHS or Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

“The reality is that ICE was never detaining very many of these cases anyway,” said Jessica Vaughan, director of policy studies at the Center for Immigration Studies.

Of the tens of thousands apprehended between July 2014 and May 2015, just 3,384 cases were brought against family members who had been detained with children, according to data released by immigration courts.

Another 35,700 cases were brought against individuals who had already been released.

“I think it’s fair to say that only about 10 percent have ever been detained, and many of them were detained only a short time before release,” Vaughan explained.

“These family heads have a very poor rate of compliance with the generous due process that they have been given,” she added. “Eight-four percent of those who were released did not show up for their court hearing, and 29 percent of those classified as having been in detention skipped out on their hearing.”

U.S. lawmakers at the time petitioned the Obama administration to send the National Guard to the southwest border to address the problem.

“The president needs to immediately send the National Guard to the southwest border to deal with this crisis,” Rep. Michael McCaul (R., Texas), chair of the House Homeland Security Committee, said in a hearing last June. “Patrol stations are not set up to handle this massive and growing number of detainees. Let alone children.”

“This is a crisis. It’s a crisis that’s been in the making for years,” McCaul said. “One that we should have seen coming. But few concrete actions have been taken. The Department of Homeland Security and the United States government as a whole has been slow to act, turning a blind eye to the warning signs.”

The influx of these illegal immigrant children overwhelmed DHS patrol stations and detention centers, forcing the agency to construct temporary detention centers in Texas and elsewhere.

Meanwhile, local law enforcement agencies disclosed to the Free Beacon late last week that DHS had been hiding the release of illegal immigrants with violent criminal records back into U.S. towns.

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BOOK REVIEW: How the Telegraph Changed the World

Wednesday August 26th, 2015 at 4:05 PM

StrategyPage.Com

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INFORMATION WARFARE: Things Hackers Do Not Like

Wednesday August 26th, 2015 at 4:05 PM

StrategyPage.Com

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Alaskans wonder if their state is exhibit or target for Obama

Wednesday August 26th, 2015 at 4:05 PM

Stars And Stripes

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When President Barack Obama visits Alaska this month, he'll be greeted by politicians eager to show off their state's vast wilderness and stirring scenery — and skeptical of White House plans to protect those resources.

     

Inquiry Weighs Whether ISIS Analysis Was Distortedby By MARK MAZZETTI and MATT APUZZO

Wednesday August 26th, 2015 at 4:04 PM

NYT > United States Defense And Military Forces

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The inspector general is looking into a claim that military officials reworked assessments about the U.S.-led campaign in Iraq against ISIS to be more optimistic, according to several officials.

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Saudi Arabia Said to Arrest Suspect in 1996 Khobar Towers Bombing by By DAVID D. KIRKPATRICK

Wednesday August 26th, 2015 at 4:04 PM

NYT > United States Defense And Military Forces

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The suspect, Ahmed al-Mughassil, was identified in an American federal indictment as a ringleader in the bombing that killed 19 members of the American military.

What We’re Reading by By THE NEW YORK TIMES

Wednesday August 26th, 2015 at 4:03 PM

NYT > Federal Bureau Of Investigation

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Get recommendations from New York Times reporters and editors, highlighting interesting stories from around the web. In this installment, great reads from Steve Erlanger, Jodi Rudoren and others.

The Crisis on the Korean Peninsula and Its Surprising Resolution by Stephan Haggard

Wednesday August 26th, 2015 at 4:03 PM

Lawfare - Hard National Security Choices

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Seoul awoke yesterday to news of the agreement reached early in the morning between North and South Korea to calm down the current tensions. The crisis began with an August 4 mine attack that left two South Korean soliders severely maimed and included the first live-fire exchange across the DMZ in a long time. In an odd role reversal, the South Korean Yonhap news agency posted the English-language version of the agreement released by the North Korean news agency KCNA:

Full Text of the Inter-Korean Agreement as released by the KCNA.

1. The north and the south agreed to hold talks between their authorities in Pyongyang or Seoul at an early date to improve the north-south ties and have multi-faceted dialogue and negotiations in the future.
2. The north side expressed regret over the recent mine explosion that occurred in the south side’s area of the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) along the Military Demarcation Line (MDL), wounding soldiers of the south side.
3. The south side will stop all loudspeaker propaganda broadcasts along the MDL from 12:00, August 25 unless an abnormal case occurs.
4. The north side will lift the semi-war state at that time.
5. The north and the south agreed to arrange reunions of separated families and relatives from the north and the south on the occasion of the Harvest Moon Day this year and continue to hold such reunions in the future, too and to have a Red Cross working contact for it early in September.
6. The north and the south agreed to vitalize NGO exchanges in various fields.

The text comes about as close to a North Korean apology as we are likely ever to see.  John Everard—former British Ambassador to the North and also in Seoul—commented to me that Pyongyang hasn’t issued a statement like this since the 1976 Panmunjom ax murders.

The components of an apology include an acknowledgement that you committed the act in question, a sense of remorse, and a commitment not to do it again. The first element is arguably missing, and it is an important element. It is hard to interpret a statement of remorse if those offering it do not acknowledge the circumstances in the first place. But when placed in the context of the entire package, the formula of “we didn’t do it and we are not going to do it again” pretty clearly acknowledges that the August 4 mine incident was of North Korea’s doing. More importantly, the agreement acknowledges that the South’s propaganda loudspeakers will be turned off only if the North ceases and desists.

Let’s start with a timeline of the events involved in the current crisis:

July 22: ROK Army soldiers on a routine patrol last pass through the gate where the August 4 mine attack incident subsequently occurs. The location is on the southern side of the DMZ near Paju.

August 4: Two South Korean soldiers, both staff sergeants, are maimed after three mines are detonated 440 meters south of the Military Demarcation.

August 9: An investigation team led by Brigadier General Ahn Young-ho takes journalists to the site of the mine attacks. He claimed the mine was placed directly in the areas near the door of a gate and claims it could not have been caused by previously-undiscovered mines becoming dislodged.

August 10: The ROK Ministry of Defense releases a video of the explosion (uploaded on You Tube by the Korea Observer here). A look at the angle of the camera, the distance, terrain and foliage suggest that the mines could have been planted without being captured on tape. Kim Min-Seok, spokesman for the Ministry for National Defense claims that this was “a clear provocation from the North Korean military” and swears “a severe retaliation.” The South announces that it will resume propaganda broadcasts from speakers placed near the border. These had not been used for over a decade.

August 13: North Korea denies the allegations at the highest level. The National Defense Commission issues a statement denying the accusations and claiming that “the puppets stored up some of our military’s mines that it had collected and used them to concoct a slander.”

August 15: President’s Geun-hye Park’s Liberation Day address is devoted largely to North-South relations. She addresses land mine as violation of the armistice, but the tone of the speech is surprisingly conciliatory. She calls for a resumption of the stalled family reunifications, the construction of a peace park within the DMZ, and expanding sports and cultural exchanges between the two Koreas.

August 16: The North Korean Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of the Korean Peninsula (CPRK) rejects President Park’s call for family reunification, a peace park, and more sports and cultural exchanges. The National Defense Commission threatens military retaliation against the Ulchi-Freedom Guardian exercises.

August 17: US-ROK Ulchi-Freedom Guardian drills start and will last until August 28. President Park says “North Korea’s landmine provocation in the DMZ was a clear military provocation in which North Korean forces illegally crossed the military demarcation line and attempted to slaughter South Korean troops.” The KPA launches its own propaganda speaker campaign on the Eastern side of the country.

August 19: A ROK military source claims that the KPA is ratcheting up its combat readiness postureby opening up weapons portholes and intensifying artillery training.

Things really heated up on August 20:

• At 3:53 p.m. ROK army detects what it believes is a 5mm anti-aircraft shell fired from North Korean territory into a mountainous area near the border within the DMZ near Yeoncheon in Gyeonggi Province. Authorities have yet to locate where it landed.
• At 4:12 a second shell attack. This time dozens of 76.2 mm direct fire shells were fired into an area 700 meters inside the South Korean side of the MDL. Soldiers from the ROK Army 28thInfantry Division reported hearing the sound of shells being fired and saw smoke. There were no casualties or damage to property on the South Korean side.
• At 5:00 p.m. the KPA sends a message through a cross-border telephone channel calling on the South Koreans to cease propaganda broadcasts into the North. The message offers an ultimatum to the South calling on the ROK to cease broadcasts within 48 hours starting at 5 p.m. on Thursday or else the North will commence a military operation.
• At 5:04 p.m. in response to the shelling, ROK soldiers launch dozens of rounds of 155mm self-propelled Howitzer shells at a North-controlled area 500 meters north of the MDL. The North Korean Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) claimed that 36 shells were launched near KPA guard towers but that there were no injuries.
• At 5:40 p.m. the ROK military initiates an attack readiness position and issues an evacuation order to residents living in areas of Ganghwa Island and Paju—areas south west of the shelling sites. About 220 people were also evacuated into underground shelters from areas closer to the shelling on the South Korean side.  Other residents of front line villages were also evacuated as a precaution.

Yet after setting this 48-hour ultimatum for the South to stop its propaganda broadcasts, Pyongyang then reached out several times before the deadline to propose talks (Yonhap). This initiative, the first sign that it was the North that was going to back down, occurred in the wake of a statement by the South that it had no intention of stopping the broadcasts.

The forcefulness of the South Korean response appears to have come as a surprise to the North. We still do not know if the South Korean counterstrike sought to do damage and failed or was—like the North Korean shelling—largely a signal. But the counterstrike showed that the South’s effort to toughen up the deterrent in the wake of the Cheonan and Yeonpyeong-do shellings of 2010 had some teeth. To her credit, South Korean President Park also made one crucial decision that clarified the balance of forces: she completely ignored the North Korean threats and had her government state unequivocally that the broadcasts would continue past Pyongyang’s deadline.

This in turn raises interesting questions about the advantages the North purportedly holds with its forward deployment of forces. The standard argument is that the South is deterred by the proximity of Northern artillery to Seoul, permitting Pyongyang room for mischief. The Korea Times broke the story that the North is moving 76.2-millimeter artillery into the DMZ–in obvious violation of the armistice–and perhaps moving forces just beyond the DMZ as well. But in addition to the ROK artillery counterstrike, the US and ROK airforces flew a joint show-of-force mission on Saturday with eight F-15 and F-16 fighters. Which side was really more exposed?

Any North Korean general with enough information on the sequence of events will know that the agreement was a purely face-saving one. In addition to the artillery counterstrike following the initial North Korean shelling and the highly-visible show of South Korean and American airpower, there was the quite public announcement by the ROK Minister of Defense on Monday—with the talks ongoing—that South Korea was consulting with the US over the movement of strategic assets. Kim Min-Seok—the MOD spokesman making the announcement—did not enumerate the possible hardware in question, but others were happy to oblige: B-52 and B-2 bombers and F-22 Raptor advanced stealth fighters from U.S. bases in Guam and Japan and a submarine stationed at the U.S. Navy base at Yokosuka in central Japan.

These leaks put breathy reporting of North Korean force movements in a somewhat different perspective. For example, Yonhap reported intelligence that 50 North Korean submarines—an estimated 70 percent of the fleet—were out to sea. But against the broader backdrop, this is more rightly seen as a defensive, rather than offensive, move: to avoid a Pearl Harbor if escalation were to occur.

I want to stress that however we got here, the larger strategic point is to figure out what this means for the future of diplomacy on the peninsula. And it is precisely here that the overall landscape becomes much murkier and North Korea may have, ironically, come out quite well.

Consider the North’s use of the phase “Republic of Korea” last week (Hankyoreh). Usually, the South is referred to as “south Korea,” or simply as the puppets. But this statement could also be interpreted as a pre-emptive move: to blunt the Park administration’s unification talk by reminding everyone that North Korea does, in fact, exist. In effect, “you—the ROK—stay there; we—the Kim Dynasty—will stay here.”

And beyond the resolution of the current tensions, South Korea is once again back in its perennial bind: the agreement commits North Korea to surprisingly little. The only thing in the agreement with a date-certain is to hold family reunions, an utterly costless move for the North. I strongly believe in civic engagement; let South Korean NGOs and other civil society organizations do whatever they want in the North. But the agenda of wider talks remains highly uncertain. Talks on aid and larger scale projects in the North will only make sense in the long run if the main issues are on the table, even if indirectly: nuclear weapons, the bloated North Korean military, and economic reform.

Important to watch will be what the episode reveals about the internal politics of the North. Although the regime has an array of instruments for controlling the domestic political narrative, the loudspeakers, balloons, leaflets and other Southern efforts to penetrate the regime’s information wall have clearly hit a nerve. But more interesting still is how this incident is viewed among the North Korean political and military elite. Kim Jong Un is always only a step away from an “emperor with no clothes” moment. It may be the domestic, as opposed to the international, miscalculations of this episode that prove the most significant going forward.

Which brings me to the final piece of this puzzle: how China responded. In addition to China’s typical, maddening statements about “both sides remaining calm,” Chad Carroll’s NKNews picked up a remarkable development from the Chinese blogosphere: evidence of large-scale troop movements along the Chinese-North Korean border. Although quickly shut down, according to NKNews the hardware included “PTZ-89 tank destroyers (Type 89), a PGZ-95 self-propelled anti-aircraft guns (Type 95 SPAAA) and 155 mm self-propelled guns.” If China is finally getting serious about North Korea, the best possible outcome of this unfortunate series of events would be not only North-South talks—with their inherent limitations—but to actually get the multilateral Six Party Talks process going again.

This post is adapted from material published on the Witness to Transformation blog.

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Confederation in Israel-Palestine? Principles for Effective Design and the Continuing Challenges by David Lake

Wednesday August 26th, 2015 at 4:02 PM

Lawfare - Hard National Security Choices

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Although many still hold out hope for the two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, a recent set of discussions with Israelis and Palestinians revealed increasing pessimism on both sides that it would transpire any time soon—or was even viable at all. On the Israeli side, some consider the Palestinian Authority to be a failed partner in the peace process. Others are willing to sacrifice any possible agreement in order to solidify Israel’s control and assert sovereignty over the West Bank. Still other Israelis recognize that the continued expansion of the settlements on the West Bank has created “facts on the grounds” that make giving up the area politically impossible.

I heard similar, if reciprocal, fears from Palestinians. They complained that the government of Benyamin Netanyahu government is not interested in a permanent status agreement, and that the right-wing coalition now in power is quite happy with the status quo. The growth of the settlements on the West Bank has made promises of a future state ring ever more hollow to Palestinian ears.One alternative, presented in an impassioned pitch by a former Israeli intelligence officer and negotiator, was for a confederation between Israel and the Palestinian Authority. The idea of confederation has been floating around the edges of the peace process for years, but it appears to be gaining new currency, at least in certain circles, as the two-state option recedes from the political horizon. The idea, as this officer pitched it, is that the two-state solution—even at its best—involves one viable state and one less-than-viable state that would be unstable and is thus insuffiently attractive to Palestinians and a dubious promise to Israelis of a true end of the conflict. By thinking about what the relationship between these states might look like after the deal, he argued, the parties might be able to create a better pot of goods to distribute in negotiations.Color me skeptical that confederation offers much of an opportunity here. The attraction of the idea is that each unit retains its sovereignty, thus fulfilling the aspirations of the Palestinian people to a state of their own. At the same time, a confederation arrangement might regularize or legitimate some degree of Israeli authority over Palestine, particularly with respect to sensitive issues such as water, the movement of workers, and above all security.

The trouble is that constructing a confederation presents many of the same problems as negotiating and implementing a two-state solution itself. Four simple design principles are central to all confederations, and for this reason would be key to any Israel-Palestine confederation as well. In working through these design principles, it becomes obvious that far from being a panacea or an “easier” alternative to the two-state solution, building a confederation might pose even a greater challenge.

To put the matter bluntly, despite its increasingly tenuous hold on the political imaginations of all parties to the conflict, it appears we may be stuck with the two-state solution--or no solution at all.

What is a Confederation?

Before turning to the design principles and their difficulties, a brief word on confederations is in order. Confederations are polities created by constituent units that transfer authority for a limited number of policy areas to a central government. The “states” retain all other powers. Under the general principle of subsidiarity, as it is known in the context of the European Union, policy areas with large externalities or spillovers across otherwise “national” borders should be allocated to the joint decision-making body at the center, and issues with few or no externalities should be decided by the states. An Israeli-Palestine confederation might be granted rights, say, to make policy on water and security and the governance of Jerusalem, which affect both Israel and Palestine, while other, more local policy areas such as infrastructure, social welfare, and education could be reserved to the two states.

The closest analog to a confederation is a federal state. Confederations and federations differ mostly in degree, defined by the increasing number of policy areas allocated to the center. Precisely where a polity transitions from a confederation to a federation is not entirely clear; counting the number of policy issues possessed by states and the center is never easy, and no standard metric applies. One key difference, however, is where the “residual rights of decision-making” are allocated, a bit of technical language that is necessary to explain before considering the design challenges below. When policy areas overlap and jurisdictions become unclear, as is inevitable in any confederation, the member states must have some mechanism for resolving disagreements. If security requires new roads to the border to better deploy troops against attack, is this a matter for the center (under its responsibility for security) or an area reserved to the states (under their individual responsibilities for infrastructure)? And when there are disputes over jurisdiction, who has the residual rights to decide whether the disagreement is appropriately decided by the center or the units? This is one of the thorniest issues in any multilevel governance structure. In a confederation, the residual rights are reserved to the states, which then decide their own powers, whereas in a federation, the residual rights are vested in the center. Thus, the difference between a confederation and federation is not just the number of issues controlled by the center, but whether the residual rights of decision-making are lodged in the states or the center.

Confederations are, however, unstable governance structures. Historically, most confederations fail quickly, either separating into their constituent units or, more rarely, evolving into more centralized federations—which do appear more enduring. Whether confederations survive depends, at least in part, on how they design the structure of their central government.

Design Challenges

To create successful confederations requires solutions to at least four design challenges. First, and most straightforwardly, the central authority must possess sufficient power to solve the collective action problems that otherwise plague the separate units. The center, in other words, must be able to facilitate cooperation that would not occur if the units were sovereign. In practice, this means that the center must be able to tax the states sufficiently to meet the fiscal demands placed upon it, and it must be able to punish any state that does not contribute its mandated share or implement other lawful actions. This was the key issue that led to the failure of the Articles of Confederation in the United States; the 13 states refused to provide the required revenues to the Continental Congress, which in turn lacked any means of enforcing their compliance. As a result, the early United States was not able to provide adequate defense against the Indian tribes to the West and Europeans in the East. Whether Israelis would allow a decision-making body composed in part of Palestinians to make binding revenue and policy decisions is uncertain. This might be even more problematic for the Palestinians, especially given the higher security needs of the Israelis and the Palestinian’s fear of domination. In requiring some mandatory taxing and spending powers, a confederation is asking considerably more of Israel and Palestine than a two-state model in which each makes such decisions on their own. The policy outcomes in a confederation will, in theory, be more effective in addressing the joint policy problems the states face, but there should be no illusion that legislated joint actions are any easier to enact than negotiated separate actions.

Second, the units must devise some means of limiting aggrandizement by the center. In confederations with externalities large enough to justify high levels of cooperation between the constituent units, the residual rights of decision-making almost inevitably gravitate to the center, eventually flipping the union into a federation. The Articles of Confederation were ambiguous on this score, ultimately leading to the more centralized and federal Constitution. Yet, even then the Constitution was unclear on the residual rights. The tenth amendment reserved all rights not explicitly specified in the Constitution to the states, creating a presumption—but only a presumption—that the residual rights were vested in the several states. The problem of where residual authority resided was not solved until the Supreme Court in Marbury v. Madison successfully claimed this power for itself. Even then, it ultimately took the Civil War to put the question to rest.

Once residual rights are vested in the center, in turn, the center almost inevitably expands the scope of its powers at the expense of the states. Even in Switzerland, the most successful confederation in history, the center eventually became supreme, and authority gradually shifted in its direction, creating today a state that is more federal than confederal in structure. Whether Israel and Palestine can agree on a division of decision-making authority by policy area and, more importantly, specify the residual rights of authority in ways that retain their sovereignty over time is unclear. The tendency for the center to aggrandize its rights again asks more of the members of a confederation than would a two-state solution. Somehow, the two states need to devise some mechanism to promote cooperation that does not then undermine their sovereignty over time.

A third design issue is how to prevent domination of the weaker state by the stronger one. In other words, to succeed, there can be no permanent losers within a confederation. Otherwise, the dominated state would be better off exiting the confederation and bargaining with the other member(s) outside any established rules. Domination is typically prevented by giving the weaker state disproportionate influence within the central decision-making body. Indeed, the weaker unit must possess more influence over policy within the confederation than it would retain by complete independence and unrestricted bargaining, otherwise it will leave—the most common result. The stakes of the game here are high precisely because the rules adopted for the central governing body influence all policy decisions of the confederation into the indefinite future.

In the case of the United States, once again, this problem was solved in the great compromise that allocated seats in the House of Representatives by population, disadvantaging the smaller states, but gave each state two seats in the Senate, magnifying their voice. Whether Israel, as the stronger partner, would permit such disproportionate influence by a Palestinian state within any confederation is doubtful. The Palestinians, for their part, would likely consider any confederation that risked their domination by the Israelis as a merely a face-saving form of permanent occupation. Because its rules would be enduring, negotiating a confederation acceptable to both sides is far more challenging than the ad hoc bargaining that would recur between two sovereign states.

Finally, to avoid centrifugal pressures, politicians within the states must have a career path that takes them to “higher” offices at the center. If the highest offices politicians can aspire to are within the constituent states—say, as Governor—they will inevitably develop narrow support coalitions and “localist” platforms that challenge the center and its authority. Appealing to their narrow constituencies, in turn, these politicians will pull at the center through an emphasis on “states rights.” On the other hand, if the highest offices in the land are in the center, politicians will be forced to develop bases of support that span the constituent states and develop political platforms that connect local issues to the confederal level, and vice versa. “National” political parties are typical and, indeed, the most successful vehicles for integrating the local and the confederal levels. With highly fragmented parties in both Israel and Palestine, and little history of national parties in either, the task of developing parties able to overcome the localism that follows from a weak center is perhaps an overwhelming barrier to confederation. As above, at least at the moment of creation, a confederation asks more of the politicians who already have established political bases within states than does a two-state solution. A confederation with a path to central leadership positions might encourage politicians to think beyond their immediate self-interest, but if they can do that, they can also resolve the issues blocking the two-state solution.

All of these design principles become especially acute in the area of security policy, which has bedeviled all prior negotiations between Israel and Palestine. Virtually every other confederal state in history has lodged external security policy at the center, and Israel would likely insist on unilateral control over external security throughout the entire confederation territory. Indeed, one of the attractions of confederation for Israel is that it may help legitimate this control. A similar problem arises with internal security within the confederation. Would Israel insist upon a right to intervene in Palestinian areas, similar to the current rules governing Areas A, B, and C on the West Bank? If internal security were a state rather than confederation responsibility, as the Palestinians would likely demand, would Palestine have its own parallel security forces? Would “local” police forces, if they exist, be responsible for geographic areas or populations? Most important, when the inevitable disagreements arose over who has jurisdiction over what and where, how will these disagreements be resolved-- and by whom? Unless Israel were to give some control over both external and internal security forces to the center, it is not at all clear why the Palestinians would agree to a division of authority that would leave them vulnerable to permanent domination and coercion.

One can, of course, debate the justice and efficacy of the two-state versus one-state solutions on other grounds. In the interests of full disclosure, my own instincts incline me to support a full two-state solution. This is not, however, the purpose of this post. Rather, if the parties are going to consider a possible confederal solution to the Israel-Palestine conflict, these design issues will loom large and will have to be resolved by the states early on. Whether they can do so at all is very much an open question. It would be unwise to pin hopes for a solution to the Israel-Palestinian conflict on confederation.

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Today's Headlines and Commentary by Quinta Jurecic

Wednesday August 26th, 2015 at 4:02 PM

Lawfare - Hard National Security Choices

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A senior Hezbollah operative suspected of involvement in the 1996 bombing of a U.S. military complex in Saudi Arabia has been arrested and is currently in Saudi custody. A U.S. court indicted Ahmad Ibrahim al Mughassil in 2001 for his role in the bombing of Khobar Towers, which wounded over 500 people and killed 19 U.S. servicemembers. As Mughassil is a Saudi citizen, the United States will likely not seek to extradite him from Saudi Arabia, and it is unclear if U.S. intelligence officials will be allowed to interview him. The Washington Post has the story.

There’s a war on against ISIS, but even the Pentagon might not have a sense of whether it's succeeding. So says the New York Times, which brings usnews that military officials may have reworked intelligence assessments of the anti-ISIS campaign to cast U.S. efforts in a more positive light. An investigation is currently underway by the Pentagon’s inspector general. The Timessuggests that the alleged skewing of assessments may be responsible for mixed or even contradictory reports on the success of anti-ISIS activities from within the Obama administration.

Turkey and the United States have ironed out the final details in their agreement to jointly conduct an air campaign against ISIS, the Wall Street Journal reports. Turkish forces will be integrated into the current U.S. campaign, though it may take several days for joint airstrikes to begin. Al Jazeeradescribes the “diplomatic saga” of mixed messages that finally led to the agreement, pointing to the apparent lack of communication between the allies over what the deal included and even whether it had been reached. Even though Turkish and U.S. forces will be working together, the question remains “what a joint military operation would entail and even what its goals should be.”

Within Turkey, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s political troubles continue. In what many see as a move to bolster his own political fortunes, Erdogan has seized the anti-ISIS momentum to spearhead a renewed military campaign against the Kurdish PKK, but now angry Turks have begun protesting the campaign at funerals for slain Turkish soldiers.Politico has the story.

Doctors Without Borders and a Syrian medical and aid organization have both accused ISIS of using chemical weapons in an attack on a northern Syrian village last week. Testimony from doctors affiliated with the organizations appears to confirm reports of ISIS’s use of mustard gas and possibly other chemical agents as well, the Post writes.

Airstrikes conducted near Damascus by the government of Syrian President Bashar al Assad---from whom ISIS might have obtained its chemical weapons---have killed nearly 250 people over the last 10 days, Reuters tells us. The strikes may be part of an intensified campaign on the part of the Assad government, which many feel may be nearing its hour of reckoning. Nevertheless, the regime isdoing its best to maintain a sense of normalcy within the cities it still controls. And an interview yesterday with Hezbollah’s television network, President Assad stated that he has “strong confidence” that the Kremlin will continue to support him.

Meanwhile in Iraq,Peshmerga fighters have launched an aggressive campaign against ISIS’s presence in the northern province of Kirkuk. Rudaw reports that, aided by U.S. airstrikes, the Peshmerga have pushed ISIS forces into retreat across the province.

Gunmen killed two police officers in Egypt’s northeastern Sinai Peninsula, the AP writes. In recent months the peninsula has increasingly become the site of an insurgency headed by the ISIS-affiliated group Sinai Province, many of whose attacks have been directed against the Egyptian police.

ISIS has acquired its first known Ghanaian recruit. Though nearby Nigeria has been plagued by the extremist Boko Haram insurgency, which is now associated with ISIS, Ghana had previously been relatively unscathed by Islamist extremism. The BBC has more.

This morning, South Sudanese President Salva Kiir finally signed an internationally-sponsored peace agreement that negotiators hope may finally bring calm to the wartorn, young country. Al Jazeerareports that Kiir had previously delayed signing the deal for a week after it was agreed to by his rebel counterpart. The U.N. recently promised to implement harsh sanctions on South Sudanese officials if Kiir declined to support the agreement.

Hezbollah has aligned itself with mass protests in Beirut against the Lebanese government’s failure to provide trash cleanup and other basic services. The “You Stink” protests have led to police clashes in recent days as Lebanon’s paralyzed government has repeatedly failed to solve the growing trash crisis. While “You Stink” has drawn wide support, the AP writes that Hezbollah’s announcement may “fuel concerns the Iranian-backed group will try to hijack a rare, non-political movement for its own political gain.”

On Monday, U.A.E. forces rescued a U.K. oil worker held hostage in Yemen by al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula. Now, according to AFP, AQAP is saying that it had nothing to do with the hostage. Who was holding him instead remains anyone’s guess.

An armed raid on a Red Cross office has led the organization to suspend its humanitarian operation in the Yemeni port city of Aden, the Times tells us. Though the Yemeni government recently recovered control of the city, the area remains unstable, with militants retaining pockets of control. The Red Cross’s temporary withdrawal from Aden may affect up to a million people in the surrounding region, worsening Yemen’s already dire humanitarian crisis.

With Yemen being only one of many humanitarian crises roiling the region, Europe continues its struggle to figure out what to do with the flood of asylum-seekers entering its borders. A new U.N. report indicates that roughly 3,000 migrants a day will pass through the Balkans while attempting to enter Europe over the next few months. Yet anti-immigrant violence is also on the rise, particularly within Germany. The Times has more.

French prosecutors have levied charges of “attempted murder with terrorist intent” against the would-be attacker who was subdued on a French train this past Friday. Ayoub El Khazzani, a Moroccan citizen, reportedly maintained that he discovered his cache of weapons in a park and had only intended to rob the train. But Al Jazeera tells us that prosecutors pointed to evidence of the terroristic nature of his planned attack, including Khazzani’s earlier trip to Syria and an extremist video that he watched on his phone shortly before the attack.

Internal battles over the Taliban’s leadership appear not to have quieted down in recent weeks. TheExpress Tribune brings us news that, according to the brother of the deceased Mullah Omar, Mullah Mansour may be on the point of issuing an edict against those who have declined to support his leadership---an action that would surely only deepen the cracks in the Taliban's upper ranks. Instead, Omar’s brother suggested that Mansour would do well to listen to the advice of the religious leaders who have gathered to discuss the Taliban succession crisis.

It’s a busy day for brothers of noted Afghan extremists. According to Radio Free Europe,the United States has added the brother of the Haqqani Network’s leader to the list of “specially designated global terrorists."The leader himself was already listed.

A pair of men wearing Afghan security force uniforms shot and killed two NATO service members in an Afghan military base, before being killed themselves. The AP writes that this may be the third “insider attack” by Afghan soldiers on international forces this year. The attack, which occurred in Helmand province, took place at the same time as the Taliban successfully recaptured another district within the province.

Rallies in the Indian state of Gujarat turned violent on Wednesday, as members of the Gujarati Patel community protested government policies aimed at benefiting historically disadvantaged groups. Patels are typically prosperous but are now complaining that they are disproportionately shut out from college placement and government jobs. The BBC tells us that Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the former leader of Gujarat, has called for calm.

Politico takes a look at the new face of agitprop in Putin’s Russia. Russia Today (or RT, as it’s known) “mixes and matches straight news with flippant falsehood, keeping viewers off-balance, keeping audiences muddled and confused and unsure of their footing”---all in all, an unsettlingly effective method of disseminating state propaganda.

Fresh on the heels of the recent standoff between North and South Korea, theJournal examines a recent report on the political situation in Pyongyang. According to North Korean refugees, Kim Jong Un has likely maintained a high level of political support despite the isolated country’s economic woes.

Amidst concerns over China’s island-building projects in the South China Sea, U.S. regional allies are calling for greater military cooperation with the Pentagon. According to the AP, the Philippines nowseeks the presence of U.S. patrol plans to prevent Chinese incursion on resupply missions to Filipino reefs in the disputed territory. Meanwhile, the Australian military will soon release a strategic plan to “broaden and deepen” its U.S. alliance to offset Chinese aggressiveness, the Journalreports.

The Journal also writes that Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has asked the United States to investigate claims of NSA spying on Japanese officials and companies. Wikileaks documents recently posted online pointed to past NSA activity in Japan, though President Obama reportedly reassured Abe that no such operations are currently taking place. Nevertheless, Abe stated that Japan’s close relationship with the United States might be damaged if the allegations prove to be true.

The bill is in for damage control over the OPM hack, and Defense One explains that it’s not going to be cheap. Under OPM procedure, federal agencies must submit proposals and pay out of pocket for protection services to victims of the data breach. The Pentagon’s plan required a payment of $132 million, a whopping 40% of which will be drawn from the Army’s budget.

Finally, Foreign Policy studies the United Nation’s failing oversight process, which has recently come into the crosshairs with reports of rape and other abuses conducted by U.N. peacekeepers in the Central African Republic. The U.N. Investigations Division is a “disgruntled and disillusioned” organization plagued by mismanagement, incompetence, and a fatal lack of independence from the very same U.N. programs that it’s meant to be monitoring. The head of the division will leave her post in early September, in what may---or may not---be an opportunity for much-needed reform.

Parting shot: As water recedes in drought-scorched Poland, long-buried remnants of World War II are resurfacing across the country. Take a look at this video of firefightersexcavating a Soviet fighter jet---and the remains of its two crewmembers---from the bottom of a riverbed.

ICYMI:Yesterday, onLawfare

Thomas Grant examined the role that international law should play in responding to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Cody argued against suggestions that Congress should bolster the nuclear deal with a conditional AUMF against Iran.

Steve Slick considered why Congress should hold back from legislating on the proposed Cyber Threat Intelligence Integration Center (CTIIC).

Email the Roundup Team noteworthy law and security-related articles to include, and follow us onTwitter and Facebook for additional commentary on these issues. Sign up to receive Lawfare in your inbox. Visit our Events Calendar to learn about upcoming national security events, and check out relevant job openings on our Job Board.

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Captured: Mastermind behind the 1996 Khobar Towers attackby Bruce Riedel

Wednesday August 26th, 2015 at 4:01 PM

Lawfare - Hard National Security Choices

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Editor's Note: This post originally appeared on Markaz.

Ahmed al-Mughassil, a Saudi Shiite who masterminded the June 25, 1996, attack on an American military base in Khobar, Saudi Arabia, has been captured by Saudi intelligence. According to Saudi and Pakistani press accounts, al-Mughassil was found in Beirut and has been transferred to the kingdom. Nineteen United States Air Force personnel were killed at Khobar and 372 wounded by the attack. The timing of the capture will raise questions about how it might impact the Iran nuclear deal debate.

The press accounts do not provide details on when and how the Saudis apprehended al-Mughassil, and the Saudi government has provided no comment or confirmation as yet. Some accounts say al-Mughassil was caught just two weeks ago in Beirut. Saudi authorities have been unwilling to comment publicly on the Khobar attack since it occurred in 1996, but they privately have long pointed to al-Mughassil and his Iranian handlers as the perpetrators.

Born in 1967 in Qatif in Saudi Arabia's Eastern province, al-Mughassil joined Saudi Hezbollah and became its military commander. Saudi Hezbollah, also called Hezbollah al-Hejaz, was close to Lebanon's Hezbollah and the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in the 1990s. Saudi Hezbollah operatives were trained in camps in Lebanon and Iran by Hezbollah and IRGC experts.

In the 1990s, al-Mughassil operated from the Sayyida Zainab mosque in Damascus, Syria. As a Shiite pilgrimage site, the mosque is a stronghold of the Iranian presence in Syria. Beginning in 1994, al-Mughassil began surveilling the Khobar Towers facility and the Dhahran air base nearby. It was then the main U.S. Air Force base for ‘no fly zone’ operations over Iraq. According to a 2001 Department of Justice (DOJ) indictment, al-Mughassil made periodic visits to Dhahran to oversee the surveillance and recruit local Saudi Shiites for the attack.

As deputy assistant secretary of defense at the time, I arrived at the Khobar bomb site a few hours after the attack. The scene was devastating. Al-Mughassil had driven a truck containing the bomb up to a protective wall near the barracks. He then remotely detonated the bomb. It was the equivalent of 20,000 pounds of TNT—larger than the bomb used by Hezbollah to blow up the U.S. Marine barracks in Beirut in 1983. In addition to the Americans killed and wounded, dozens of Saudis and South Asian guest workers were injured. Al-Mughassil allegedly fled to Iran after the attack.

The 2001 DOJ indictment indicates the bomb was built by a member of Lebanese Hezbollah. The indictment also says al-Mughassil was in close contact with Iranian officials throughout the planning and execution of the attack. In his memoirs, President Bill Clinton wrote that Iran's involvement raised "difficult and dangerous questions."

The news of al-Mughassil's apprehension will also raise questions about how the 20-year-old manhunt broke now. The timing is suspicious. Is the news intended to remind Americans about Iran's long history of involvement in terrorism, just as the Congressional debate on the Iran nuclear deal reaches its peak? The Saudis are very concerned that the deal will end Iran's isolation and strengthen its capacity for regional mischief. Riyadh has been fairly quiet about its concerns, but it is deeply engaged in a proxy war with Iran in Yemen. Even if the timing of al-Mughassil's arrest is a coincidence, the decision to leak the news is probably intended to influence the debate.

Saudi sources also say King Salman bin Abdul-Aziz Al Saud Salman, the Saudi leader, will visit Washington early next month. Al-Mughassil's arrest is certain to be a major issue for the visit and raise questions about U.S. access to his interrogation in the kingdom and possible extradition to the United States.

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Why Islamic State prefers US servers for its online propaganda - Yahoo News UK

Wednesday August 26th, 2015 at 4:01 PM

James B. Comey - Google News

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Why Islamic State prefers US servers for its online propaganda Yahoo News UK ... referred instead to recent statements to Congress made by FBI Director James B. Comeywarning that “changing forms of Internet communication are quickly outpacing laws and technology designed to allow for the lawful intercept of communication content.

Have US laws created an online haven for Islamic State propaganda? - Christian Science Monitor

Wednesday August 26th, 2015 at 4:01 PM

James B. Comey - Google News

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Have US laws created an online haven for Islamic State propaganda? Christian Science Monitor  FBI officials declined to discuss the agency's alleged cooperation with hacker-activists, citing the sensitivity surrounding ongoing operations. The officials

 referred instead to recent statements to Congress made by FBI Director James B. Comey warning ...

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Russia Is Sending Jihadis to Join ISIS - Daily Beast

Wednesday August 26th, 2015 at 4:01 PM

James B. Comey - Google News

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Daily Beast

Russia Is Sending Jihadis to Join ISIS Daily Beast Not only was Bortnikov not sanctioned, he was invited by the White House last February as a guest to President Obama's three-day conference on “countering violent extremism,” whereas the current FBI director, James Comey, was not. ..... “They also ... and more »

Hezbollah operative indicted in US for attack on Khobar Towers captured - Washington Post

Wednesday August 26th, 2015 at 4:00 PM

James B. Comey - Google News

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Hezbollah operative indicted in US for attack on Khobar Towers captured Washington Post The Khobar case was investigated by current FBI Director James B. Comey when he was a prosecutor with the Justice Department in the Eastern District of Virginia. Comey was praised for resurrecting the case after it had stalled for years in another U.S. ... and more »

The Spy’s Son by fredslibrary

Wednesday August 26th, 2015 at 3:59 PM

Intelligence Analysis And Reporting

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Title:                      The Spy’s Son

Author:                 Bryan Denson

Denson, Bryan (2015). The Spy’s Son: The True Story of the Highest Ranking CIA Officer Ever Convicted of Espionage and the Son He Trained to Spy for Russia. New York: Atlantic Monthly Press

OCLC:    890615409

Subjects

Nicholson, Jim. Nicholson, Nathan. United States. — Central Intelligence Agency — Biography. View all subjects

Date Posted:      August 25, 2015

Of the American intelligence and military officers who spied for the Soviet Union and successor Russia, who deserves the most scorn for odious conduct? Topping any list would be Aldrich Ames of the CIA, whose treachery cost the lives of sources working for the United States, followed closely by Robert Hanssen of the FBI, who gave the KGB the bureau’s “game plan” for tracking spies.

After reading Bryan Denson’s superbly entertaining and informative book, my own choice is James Nicholson, a CIA officer who not only spied for the Russians, but dragged his young son into the messy vortex of treachery—and prison.

Nicholson began his career as a case officer who did exemplary work in the Far East. He then served as an instructor at the agency’s training center in Virginia (“the Farm”) and as a deputy branch chief in the counterintelligence center.

Concurrently, however, Nicholson had another master: Russia’s Sluzhba Vneshney Razvedld[Слу́жба вне́шней разве́дки], or SVR, successor to the KGB. Beset by financial troubles stemming from a divorce (and carefree spending) Nicholson entered the Russian embassy in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, in 1994, and volunteered his services.

After establishing his bona fides as a CIA officer, Nicholson was blunt. “I need twenty-five thousand dollars,” he said. “That should not be a problem,” the SVR officer replied. Nicholson received the $25,000 at a subsequent meeting, with the promise that $75,000 more was being held for him.

Nicholson’s assignment to the Farm was of inestimable value to the Russians. He gave the SVR the true identities of hundreds of career trainees, or CTs, “many of whom would be sent overseas on their first tours—some to Russia.”

Nicholson’s betrayal doomed these young peo¬ple’s careers from the outset. One shudders at the con-sequences: brave women and men enter on hazardous duty for their country, only to have their lives blighted by Nicholson. To be sure, they could continue to work for CIA, but not in the covert positions for which they were trained. And although the CIA does not supply statistics, appearances are that case officers progress faster than those in analytical positions.

But Nicholson’s days as a spy were numbered. In the wake of the Ames scandal, President Clinton ordered the FBI to work with the CIA to search out other bad apples. The forced partnership worked. A Russian source meanwhile gave information that cast suspicion on Nicholson.

And here Mr. Benson goes into a recitation of counterintelligence tradecraft that will please any buff. (He obviously benefited from “official” cooperation.) CIA officer Paul Redmond and FBI agent Ed Curran teamed to put Nicholson under a· tight surveillance—electronic and physical—that ended with his arrest at Washington Dulles International Airport as he was about to board a plane for Europe. He was carrying 74 classified documents, including some “top secret,” and access information for a Swiss bank account.

In plea-bargaining with prosecutors, Nicholson admitted taking $300,000 from SVR (his agency salary netted him $2,900 monthly). His sentence: 23 years and seven months. The agreement called for imprisonment in Oregon, so he could be near his three children.

Nicholson used this well-meaning gesture, however, to bring ruin to his youngest son, Nathan, who was just 12 years old when his father went to prison. Not unlike other case officers, Nicholson’s work schedule and travel meant that he gave his children scant attention when they were growing up. Perhaps seeking family redemption, Nathan entered the Army hoping to be a ranger. A spinal injury in a parachute jump dashed this ambition. Perpetually broke, deeply depressed, he fell victim to his father’s entreaties to continue spy work for the Russians,

During prison visits, Nicholson gave his son crudely coded messages on how to renew contact with SVR handlers, and thoughts on how such spies as Ames were detected. Nathan met SVR contacts in Cyprus and Mexico City, each time receiving stacks of $100 bills. Somehow Nicholson convinced the lad he was doing nothing illegal.

Counterintelligence prevailed once again, and soon a sobbing Nathan was asking, “What have I done? I love my country!” As Mr. Benson writes, he “failed to grasp that his principle betrayer was his own dad.” An understanding judge gave him probation.

Nicholson received a further eight years. In court, he thanked the Russians for trying to “help my children,” and concluded with a stunning statement, “I regret the embarrassment that this has caused them [the Russians] as well.”

Mr. Benson used interviews with Nathan, and voluminous letters between father and son, to write a novelistic account of an American tragedy—and what is easily the best intelligence book of the year.

 

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Can American Democracy Survive Cold War? by fredslibrary

Wednesday August 26th, 2015 at 3:59 PM

Intelligence Analysis And Reporting

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Title:                      Can American Democracy Survive Cold War?

Author:                 Harry Howe Ransom

Ransom, Harry Howe (1963). Can American Democracy Survive Cold War? Garden City, NY: Doubleday

LCCN:    63017279

E743 .R3

Subjects

• Intelligence service–United States.
• United States–Politics and government–1945-1989.
• United States–Military policy.

Date Posted:      August 25, 2015

Reviewed by Paul W. Blackstock and Frank L. Schaf[1]

In chapters 6 and 7 Ransom deals with strategic intelligence and some of the basic problems of an intelligence system in a democratic society. He also gives a case history of intelligence in the Korean War.

[1] Blackstock, Paul W. (1978) and Frank L. Schaf, Jr. Intelligence, Espionage, Counterespionage, And Covert Operations: A Guide to Information Sources. Detroit: Gale Research Co., p. 1`7

 

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» The Latest: Slain reporter's father: 'grief is unbearable'
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euronews Fresh negotiations ongoing for partial truce in Syria Xinhua DAMASCUS, Aug. 26 (Xinhua) -- Fresh negotiations are currently taking place for re-establishing a cease-fire in the city of Zabadani, close to the Lebanese borders, an...

» What We Know About Suspect in On-Air Shooting
26/08/15 15:54 from ABC News: ABCNews
Vester Flanagan had been a reporter at the TV station where the victims worked.

» Population growth slowing for all; on sex ratio, Muslims better than Hindus - The Indian Express
26/08/15 15:54 from Google News - World
The Indian Express Population growth slowing for all; on sex ratio, Muslims better than Hindus The Indian Express The Census 2011 data on Population by Religious Communities, released by the Registrar General and Census Commissioner of I...

» Fired reporter kills 2 former co-workers on live TV
26/08/15 15:53 from AP Top Headlines At 7:05 a.m. EDT
MONETA, Va. (AP) -- A TV reporter and cameraman were shot to death on live television Wednesday by their former colleague, a journalist who also recorded himself carrying out the killings and then posted the video on social media....

» The most popular baby names are ....
26/08/15 15:53 from CNN.com

» Mexico Airlifts Big Cats, Coyote to US Wildlife Sanctuary
26/08/15 15:53 from ABC News: ABCNews
Mexico airlifts big cats, coyote to Colorado wildlife sanctuary

» Rick Perry Shrugs off Fundraising Woes in Return to Texas
26/08/15 15:53 from ABC News: ABCNews
Rick Perry: 'My whole life I've been short of money' as lagging campaign resumes paying staff

» Attorney for Officer in Shooting Case: Don't Seek Retrial
26/08/15 15:52 from ABC News: ABCNews
Attorney for officer in shooting case says North Carolina attorney general should skip retrial

» Walker Talks Tough on China While Campaigning in Iowa
26/08/15 15:52 from ABC News: ABCNews
GOP presidential candidate Walker talks tough on China while campaigning in Iowa

» Well-funded, organized and massive: Who's behind Hardik's war machine? - Times of India
26/08/15 15:51 from Google News - World
Times of India Well-funded, organized and massive: Who's behind Hardik's war machine? Times of India AHMEDABAD: The stunning success of the Kranti Rally organized here by Patidar bodies to demand OBC quota, and the violence that ...

» Ukraine Negotiators Call for School-Start Truce
26/08/15 15:51 from ABC News: ABCNews
Ukraine negotiators call for cease-fire when school year starts

» Baby panda at National Zoo dies
26/08/15 15:50 from CNN.com
One of the two panda cubs born this weekend at the National Zoo has died, according to the zoo's official Twitter account.

» US soldiers killed in Afghanistan, Taliban grab district - Reuters
26/08/15 15:50 from Google News - World
Reuters US soldiers killed in Afghanistan, Taliban grab district Reuters LASHKAR GAH, Afghanistan Taliban fighters seized a district headquarters in Afghanistan's Helmand province on Monday despite repeated U.S. air strikes to repel ...

» US Stocks Surge in Afternoon Trading, Rebounding From Slump
26/08/15 15:49 from ABC News: ABCNews
US stocks surge in afternoon trading, rebounding from six-day slump

» 9/11 survivor seen in iconic photo covered in dust dies - seattlepi.com
26/08/15 15:49 from World - Google News
seattlepi.com 9/11 survivor seen in iconic photo covered in dust dies seattlepi.com In this Nov. 26, 2014 photo, Marcy Borders shows her shaved head, the result of in her chemotherapy treatment for stomach cancer, at her home in Bayonne,...

» Two Journalists Shot Dead During Live Report
26/08/15 15:48 from Sky News | World News | First For Breaking News
The suspect posts a horrifying video of himself shooting his former Virginia news station colleagues.

» Smaller panda cub twin dies in US
26/08/15 15:48 from BBC News - World
One of the panda cubs recently born at the National Zoo in Washington, DC has died, the zoo confirmed on Twitter.

» Tsipras softens stand on Greek debt relief before election
26/08/15 15:46 from Reuters: Top News
ATHENS (Reuters) - Outgoing Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras signaled on Wednesday he would accept an easing of Greece's huge debt burden if he wins elections expected next month without any of the write-offs he has long demanded.

» Tsipras softens stand on Greek debt relief before election - Reuters
26/08/15 15:46 from World - Google News
Reuters Tsipras softens stand on Greek debt relief before election Reuters ATHENS Outgoing Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras signaled on Wednesday he would accept an easing of Greece's huge debt burden if he wins elections expected next ...

» U.S. to Support Sri Lankan Plan on War Crimes Inquiry
26/08/15 15:44 from NYT > International
The announcement signals a reversal of Washington’s longstanding insistence on an international inquiry into possible war crimes during the final stages of the island’s civil war.

» Psychologist talks workplace warning signs
26/08/15 15:44 from Latest News
Insight from Dr. Jude Miller Burke

» License plate reader identifies news crew attacker's vehicle
26/08/15 15:44 from Latest News
State trooper describes events

» Babies love their backpacks
26/08/15 15:41 from CNN.com
Back to school means back to lugging around unwieldy backpacks for schoolkids, but many little ones who want to be just like their older siblings and role models love the idea of carrying their prized possessions on their backs.

» 9/11 Survivor Seen in Iconic Photo Covered in Dust Dies - ABC News
26/08/15 15:40 from Google News - Top Stories
CNN 9/11 Survivor Seen in Iconic Photo Covered in Dust Dies ABC News A New Jersey woman shown covered in dust in an iconic photo taken after the 2001 terrorist attacks in New York City has died. Marcy Borders died Monday night after a ba...

» Virginia shooting: Bryce Williams claims Charleston attack was 'tipping point' after which he bought a gun
26/08/15 15:39 from World news breaking world news latest world news from the US Europe Asia Australia Africa
Suspect who killed two television journalists reportedly said in fax to ABC News Charleston church shooting of nine black people 'sent him over the top'

» CBS journalists shot and killed during live broadcast in Virginia; suspect dead
26/08/15 15:38 from Yahoo! News - Latest News & Headlines
A pair of television journalists at a CBS affiliate in Virginia were shot and killed during a live broadcast Wednesday morning.

» Retired generals and admirals urge Congress to reject Iran nuclear
26/08/15 15:38 from - The Washington Post
Retired generals and admirals urge Congress to reject Iran nuclear deal How a 6,000-year-old tomb in Spain was ruined by a picnic table A Japanese campaign wants to rewrite the global rules of escalator etiquette Donald Trump feuds with ...

» Panda twins' survival rate has skyrocketed, but some cubs still don't thrive - Washington Post
26/08/15 15:37 from Google News - Top Stories
Washington Post Panda twins' survival rate has skyrocketed, but some cubs still don't thrive Washington Post The smaller of the two cubs born Saturday at the National Zoo died four days after birth and a day after zoo veterinaria...

» Report With Tally of 'Russian War Casualties' Causes Stir
26/08/15 15:37 from Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty
A Russian-language website has caused a stir with a report asserting that more than 2,000 Russian soldiers have been killed in the conflict in eastern Ukraine.

» Alleged Virginia gunman posted video of shooting on social media
26/08/15 15:37 from Home - CBSNews.com
Man who allegedly shot television reporter and cameraman to death on live television posted video, apparent comments about victims

» "Disturbed' Va. gunman angered by Charleston shootings - USA TODAY
26/08/15 15:36 from World - Google News
USA TODAY "Disturbed' Va. gunman angered by Charleston shootings USA TODAY Vester Flanagan, the former TV newsman accused of killing two fellow journalists in Virginia, had a history of anger over race issues in the workplace, w...

» PM: Ukraine Storing Natural Gas at Slower Rate
26/08/15 15:35 from Voice of America
Ukraine's efforts to store natural gas for winter are running 1 billion cubic meters behind their pace last year, Prime Minister Arseny Yatseniuk said Wednesday. Ukraine has 14.1 billion cubic meters (bcm) of gas in underground storage, ...

» Newborn Panda Twin Cub Dies At Washington Zoo
26/08/15 15:35 from Sky News | World News | First For Breaking News
The mother, Mei Xiang, had rejected attempts by keepers to swap the cubs so she could nurse and bond with each of them in turn.

» Terror Group Member Pleads Guilty to Holding 3 US Hostages
26/08/15 15:35 from ABC News: ABCNews
Colombian man pleads guilty in US court to holding 3 American hostages captured by rebel group

» Trump and Fox's Ailes strike a truce, again
26/08/15 15:34 from Top Stories
"I mean, Roger Ailes is a great guy and no, I have no problem," the candidate says.

» Biden to Meet With Jewish Leaders to Make Case for Iran Nuclear Deal
26/08/15 15:33 from WSJ.com: World News
Vice President Joe Biden plans to meet with American Jewish leaders next week in Florida to make the case for the Iran nuclear deal, with hopes of winning support from a key lawmaker who remains undecided.

» Bryce Williams: profile of Virginia news gunman
26/08/15 15:33 from World news breaking world news latest world news from the US Europe Asia Australia Africa
The gunman, whose real name is Vester Lee Flanagan, shot reporter Alison Parker and photojournalist Adam Ward before posting the film online

» India, Pakistan Border Chiefs to Meet After Peace Talks Collapse
26/08/15 15:33 from Voice of America
India and Pakistan border security force chiefs will meet in New Delhi next month, Pakistani officials said on Wednesday, days after the first high-level peace talks in years between the arch rivals collapsed. The chiefs of the Pakistan ...

» TruthaboutIsis: Mystery site fighting Isis run by British ex-jihadi too scared to go public
26/08/15 15:33 from The Independent - World RSS Feed
As multi-media campaigns go, it is slick, professional – and  above all – secretive.

» Josh Duggar in Rehab After Admitting to Pornography Habit
26/08/15 15:33 from ABC News: ABCNews
Ex-reality star Josh Duggar enters rehab after admitting to pornography addiction and adultery

» Ukraine, separatists to strive for full ceasefire from September 1
26/08/15 15:32 from Reuters: Top News
MINSK (Reuters) - Ukraine and pro-Russian separatists, in a gesture to shore up a tenuous ceasefire, agreed on Wednesday to strive for an end to all truce violations from next Tuesday, the OSCE and rebel representatives said.

» Gunman Wearing Afghan Military Uniform Kills 2 American Troops - ABC News
26/08/15 15:32 from World - Google News
ABC News Gunman Wearing Afghan Military Uniform Kills 2 American Troops ABC News Two American service members were killed after an attacker wearing an Afghan National Defense and Security Force uniform opened fire on their vehicle in Hel...

» Gunman in Afghan Uniform Kills 2 American Troops
26/08/15 15:32 from ABC News: ABCNews
An attacker wearing an Afghan military uniform killed two US troops today.

» Civil Rights Activist Amelia Boynton Robinson Dies at 104
26/08/15 15:31 from ABC News: ABCNews
Civil rights activist Amelia Boynton Robinson dead at 104 after suffering multiple strokes

» The 'peepee ladies' of Paris fight back: Female toilet attendants in court battle to save their jobs from creeping modernity
26/08/15 15:30 from The Independent - World RSS Feed
The survivors of a once numerous and feared profession – the dames pipi or "peepee ladies" who preside over public toilets in Paris – have been to court to defend their jobs from tourist-friendly modernity.

» Despite Risk, Live Shots a Staple of TV News
26/08/15 15:29 from ABC News: ABCNews
Virginia incident not likely to change practice of television live shots

» Danica Patrick: I'll never race F1
26/08/15 15:28 from CNN.com
She was once courted by Formula One's most powerful man, but U.S. motorsport star Danica Patrick says she is no longer interested in changing careers.

» AP Source: Ford Planning for New Small Pickup in US
26/08/15 15:28 from ABC News: ABCNews
AP Source: Ford planning for new Ranger small pickup truck in US, could be made near Detroit

» Slain Reporter and Cameraman 'Did Great Work Every Day'
26/08/15 15:28 from ABC News: ABCNews
Alison Parker, 24, and Adam Ward, 27, remembered this morning by co-workers.

» Photos: This Week in Pictures: Top Photos from Around the Globe
26/08/15 15:27 from ABC News: ABCNews
Find this week's top photos from around the globe in ABC News' This Week in Pictures slideshow

» A group clamoring for opportunity in India also owns 40 percent of U.S. motels
26/08/15 15:27 from WorldViews
If a tired traveler pulls off a highway in Texas or Michigan or Virginia, looking for a cheap but clean room for the night, the odds are that he or she will end up in a motel owned by someone whose last name is Patel, an immigrant from I...

» In defense of wage subsidies for low-income workers
26/08/15 15:26 from AEI » Latest Content
AEI's Mike Strain has written favorably about expanding the Earned Income Tax Credit, as well as the idea of new wage subsidy for the long-term unemployed to make them more employable and provide them with a decent paycheck. Over at the ...

» Gunman Vester Flanagan said he acted in response to Charleston church shooting
26/08/15 15:26 from The Independent - World RSS Feed
The man blamed by police for the shooting dead of two journalists in Virginia sent a lengthy “manifesto” to a new network in which he claimed he had been inspired to act by the shooting of nine church members in Virginia.

» Life sentence for US cinema gunman
26/08/15 15:25 from BBC News - World
James Holmes - who was convicted of killing 12 people and wounding 70 others inside Colorado cinema - has been sentenced to life in prison without chance of parole.

» Venice mayor seeks to ban gay pride parade
26/08/15 15:24 from Deutsche Welle: DW-WORLD.DE - Europe
The mayor of Venice has angered Italy's gay community by announcing that he would seek to ban "pride parades" from the city. This came after he had previously got into a public spat with British pop star Elton John.

» What a shot! Amazing sports photos
26/08/15 15:23 from CNN.com

» Brazil court gives another 15 days for Rousseff to explain accounts
26/08/15 15:23 from Reuters: International
BRASILIA (Reuters) - Brazil's highest accounting court gave another 15 days for President Dilma Rousseff to respond to accusations she doctored the government accounts last year to hide the deterioration of the country's finances.

» Police: Virginia gunman dead from self-inflicted gunshot wound – video
26/08/15 15:22 from World news: World news + Video | guardian.co.uk
The Virginia gunman who shot and killed two journalists has died as the result of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, Franklin County sheriff Bill Overton confirmed at a press conference on Wednesday afternoon. Vester Lee Flanagan, a 41-year...

» UN Refugee Chief Seeks Better EU Cooperation on Migrants
26/08/15 15:22 from ABC News: ABCNews
UN refugee chief: 'Hotspot' triage sites could help EU countries better manage migrant flows

» Hungary to send more police to secure borders from migrants - CNN
26/08/15 15:22 from World - Google News
NBCNews.com Hungary to send more police to secure borders from migrants CNN (CNN) — Hungary is set to send up to 2,000 extra police to help secure its borders, its Interior Ministry said Wednesday (August 26), amid concern over increased...

» The Latest on TV Shooting: ABC News Describes Fax Man Sent
26/08/15 15:21 from ABC News: ABCNews
The Latest: ABC News says fax sent under TV suspect's name invokes several mass shootings

» Stolen Weapon on Display in San Francisco Pier Murder Case
26/08/15 15:21 from ABC News: ABCNews
Stolen weapon on display in San Francisco murder case that sparked national immigration debate

» US National Zoo says smaller of twin panda cubs has died
26/08/15 15:21 from World news breaking world news latest world news from the US Europe Asia Australia Africa
Smaller of two pandas dies after being born at just 86 grams, or one 1,256th the weight of its 17-year-old mother

» Stock markets diverge, crude falls as China jitters persist
26/08/15 15:21 from Reuters: Top News
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Wall Street was sharply higher on Wednesday while European shares and commodities prices fell as investors balanced strong U.S. economic data and interest rate comments with fears about China's slowing economy.

» Colorado movie gunman sentenced to 12 lifetimes and 3,318 years
26/08/15 15:20 from Reuters: Top News
CENTENNIAL, Colo. (Reuters) - Condemning movie massacre gunman James Holmes to 12 life sentences and the maximum 3,318 years in prison for his rampage in a midnight screening of a Batman film, a Colorado judge said on Wednesday that evil...

» This robot could save your life
26/08/15 15:20 from CNN.com
Robots with cameras, microphones and sensors searched for victims stranded in flooded homes and on rooftops. They assessed damage and sent back images from places rescuers couldn't get.

» Bush on Jorge Ramos: Reporters Deserve 'A Little More Respect' - NBCNews.com
26/08/15 15:20 from Google News - Top Stories
NBCNews.com Bush on Jorge Ramos: Reporters Deserve 'A Little More Respect' NBCNews.com Jeb Bush says that Univision anchor Jorge Ramos, who was escorted out of a press conference held by Donald Trump on Tuesday night, should have...

» Last season's finalists share advice for 'Idol' hopefuls
26/08/15 15:19 from Latest News
Summer tour is wrapping up

» Suspect in On-Air Shooting Dies From Self-Inflicted Wound
26/08/15 15:18 from ABC News: ABCNews
The two victims were reporting on a tourism story at the time.

» National Zoo Says Smaller of Twin Panda Cubs Has Died
26/08/15 15:18 from ABC News: ABCNews
National Zoo says smaller panda cub has died; larger of twin cubs survives

» Ohio to Investigate Jail Where Woman Found Dead in Cell
26/08/15 15:18 from ABC News: ABCNews
Ohio corrections department to investigate jail where woman found dead in cell last month

» Construction Worker Plunges to Death at Vikings Stadium Site
26/08/15 15:18 from ABC News: ABCNews
Construction worker plunges 50 feet to his death in mishap at Minnesota Vikings' stadium site

» South Sudan president signs peace deal despite concerns
26/08/15 15:17 from Reuters: Top News
JUBA (Reuters) - South Sudan's president signed a peace deal on Wednesday to end a 20-month conflict with rebels, but he told regional African leaders at the ceremony that he had "serious reservations".

» New Orleans: 'Hollywood South'
26/08/15 15:17 from CNN.com
With its historic architecture, lush greenery and dedication to open-air entertainment, New Orleans often seems like a real-life movie set.

» Federal Appeals Court: Tyson Foods Doesn't Underpay Workers
26/08/15 15:17 from ABC News: ABCNews
Federal appeals court says Tyson Foods didn't underpay workers while they put on safety gear

» As War Closes In, Syria's Assad Puts Emphasis on Normal
26/08/15 15:16 from WSJ.com: World News
In areas of Syria still under government control, projecting life as usual has become indispensable to President Bashar al-Assad’s political survival.

» Police: Gunman dead in Virginia TV news shooting
26/08/15 15:13 from Latest News
Officials update investigation

» U.S. markets rise after wild seesaw trading in China
26/08/15 15:13 from World: World News, International News, Foreign Reporting - The Washington Post
U.S. stock markets seemed poised to end a multi-day losing streak Wednesday afternoon as investors were calmed by positive economic reports in the U.S., news that China increased market stimulus and predictions that the market turmoil ma...

» 50 migrants die in hold of boat off coast of Libya - Irish Times
26/08/15 15:13 from Google News - World
Irish Times 50 migrants die in hold of boat off coast of Libya Irish Times Some 50 migrants were found dead in the hold of a boat off the coast of Libya on Wednesday during a rescue operation which saved 430 other people, the Italian coa...

» 'Dust Lady' Marcy Borders, featured in haunting Sept. 11 photo, dies of cancer - Toronto Star
26/08/15 15:12 from World - Google News
Toronto Star 'Dust Lady' Marcy Borders, featured in haunting Sept. 11 photo, dies of cancer Toronto Star When the World Trade Center's South Tower collapsed, just before 10 a.m. on Sept. 11, 2001, photographer Stan Honda was ...

» Heads up, Florida: Tropical storm Erika is on its way, could become hurricane - Christian Science Monitor
26/08/15 15:12 from World - Google News
Christian Science Monitor Heads up, Florida: Tropical storm Erika is on its way, could become hurricane Christian Science Monitor Erika's maximum sustained winds increased Wednesday morning to near 45 mph. While experts remain uncert...

» 9/11 'Dust Lady' Marcy Borders dies of cancer at age 42 - Kansas City Star
26/08/15 15:12 from Google News - Top Stories
Kansas City Star 9/11 'Dust Lady' Marcy Borders dies of cancer at age 42 Kansas City Star A photo of Marcy Borders covered head to toe with the dusty fallout of the World Trade Center devastation became an iconic photograph on 9/...

» Judge Sentences Holmes to Life, Orders Him out of Courtroom
26/08/15 15:09 from ABC News: ABCNews
Judge sentences Colorado theater shooter to life in prison, then orders him out of courtroom

» Egypt in Talks to Buy Mistral Warships From France
26/08/15 15:09 from WSJ.com: World News
Egypt is negotiating to buy a pair of powerful warships that France originally built for Russia but refused to deliver because of the war in Ukraine, French officials said.

» China slide belies consumer market health
26/08/15 15:08 from FT.com - World
Nimble companies maintain profits as spending habits evolve

» TV journalists' murderer kills himself
26/08/15 15:08 from BBC News - World
A man who shot two US journalists on live TV in the US state of Virginia has died after shooting himself some seven hours after the attack, police say.

» South Florida remains in cone as Tropical Storm Erika moves west - Local 10
26/08/15 15:07 from Google News - Top Stories
Local 10 South Florida remains in cone as Tropical Storm Erika moves west Local 10 FROM LOCAL 10 NEWS, THIS IS BREAKING NEWS. GOOD AFTERNOON. SOUTH FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS, I'M METEOROLOGIST JULY, WE ARE TRACKING EVERY MOVE...

» Aurora cinema shooter receives nine life sentences - video
26/08/15 15:07 from World news: World news + Video | guardian.co.uk
James Holmes receives nine life sentences, consecutive to 3,318 years in prison, as he is sentenced for killing 12 and injuring 70 in a Colorado cinema in 2012. The judge says he is aware this is the maximum sentence, but says he believe...

» Eastern Caribbean Awaits Tropical Storm Erika - CBS Local
26/08/15 15:07 from World - Google News
CBS Local Eastern Caribbean Awaits Tropical Storm Erika CBS Local MIAMI (CBSMiami) – Tropical Storm Erika continues to head westward toward the Leeward Islands after strengthening slightly earlier Wednesday morning. At 2 p.m. the center ...

» Stephen Hawking's Black Hole Breakthrough
26/08/15 15:06 from ABC News: ABCNews
If you feel you are in a black hole, Stephen Hawking believes all hope is not lost.

» Viriginia television shooting: timeline of journalists murdered in the US
26/08/15 15:06 from World news breaking world news latest world news from the US Europe Asia Australia Africa
WDBJ7 reporters Alison Parker and Adam Ward are latest in series of journalists to be murdered in America

» Hungary Considers Using Army to Secure Border
26/08/15 15:04 from WSJ.com: World News
With the number of asylum seekers entering Hungary hitting record daily highs, the country is considering using its army as police prepare special border forces to reduce the influx of migrants.

» Trump takes potshot at Chinese leader
26/08/15 15:04 from FT.com - World
Presidential contenders talk tough ahead of Xi Jinping’s state visit to Washington

» Wal-Mart to stop selling AR-15, other semi-automatic rifles
26/08/15 15:03 from Reuters: Top News
(Reuters) - Wal-Mart Stores Inc , the top seller of guns and ammunition in the United States, said on Wednesday it will stop carrying the AR-15 and other semi-automatic rifles at its stores due to sluggish demand.

» Bowfishing Tournament in Mississippi River Draws Complaints
26/08/15 15:03 from ABC News: ABCNews
Bowfishing tournament in Mississippi River refuge draws complaints, calls for tighter rules

» Hungary's Border Fence Proves Futile in Slowing Migrant Flow
26/08/15 15:03 from ABC News: ABCNews
Hungary's razor-wire fence on Serbian border proves futile in stemming torrent of migrants

» Iraqi Kurds Wage Anti-IS Offensive Near Oil Hub
26/08/15 15:03 from ABC News: ABCNews
Iraqi Kurdish forces attack IS positions near oil city of Kirkuk, say 25 militants killed

» State Department Officials Routinely Sent Secrets Over Email
26/08/15 15:01 from ABC News: ABCNews
Classified information in Clinton emails is consistent with State Department's recent pattern

» New details on gunman's manifesto in murder of TV news crew
26/08/15 15:01 from Latest News
Suspect praised past massacres

» Merkel travels to far-right heartland to defend refugees
26/08/15 15:01 from AP Top Headlines At 7:05 a.m. EDT
HEIDENAU, Germany (AP) -- Chancellor Angela Merkel was met with jeers Wednesday as she traveled to a German town at the center of a recent wave of far-right anti-foreigner violence, delivering a message of support for refugees as many lo...

» New Hampshire rape trial defendant says sexual encounter was consensual
26/08/15 15:00 from Yahoo! News - Latest News & Headlines
A former student on trial for rape in a case that has cast a harsh light on the culture of an elite New Hampshire prep school testified on Wednesday that he had a consensual sexual encounter with his 15-year-old accuser that stopped shor...

» Scott Kelly Will Be Taking Russian Spacecraft for a Spin
26/08/15 15:00 from ABC News: ABCNews
Astronaut Scott Kelly is spending one year in space but he'll get to briefly leave the International Space Station this week.

» Colorado movie gunman sentenced to 12 lifetimes and 3318 years - Reuters
26/08/15 14:59 from Google News - Top Stories
Reuters Colorado movie gunman sentenced to 12 lifetimes and 3318 years Reuters CENTENNIAL, Colo. Condemning movie massacre gunman James Holmes to 12 life sentences and the maximum 3,318 years in prison for his rampage in a midnight scree...

» A Bicycle That Cannot Be Stolen
26/08/15 14:59 from Voice of America
A Bicycle That Cannot Be Stolen

» Marc Morial, Mitch Landrieu reflect on plight of post-Katrina black New ... - NOLA.com
26/08/15 14:58 from Top Stories - Google News
NOLA.com Marc Morial, Mitch Landrieu reflect on plight of post-Katrina black New ... NOLA.com President of the National Urban League, Marc Morial (left) and New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu discuss the state of the city's African Ame...

» About 50 Bodies Found in Hull of Migrant Ship off Libya - ABC News
26/08/15 14:58 from World - Google News
NDTV About 50 Bodies Found in Hull of Migrant Ship off Libya ABC News A Swedish rescue crew cut up the deck of a migrant boat north of Libya to find a grisly discovery Wednesday in the hull: Dozens of corpses of migrants who died making ...

» The Latest on TV shooting: 3rd victim is in stable condition
26/08/15 14:58 from AP Top Headlines At 7:05 a.m. EDT
MONETA, Va. (AP) -- The latest on the fatal on-air shooting of two TV station employees in Virginia (all times local):...

» Closing the Planned Parenthood loophole
26/08/15 14:56 from AEI » Latest Content
Whatever your stance on abortion, it's clear the laws governing fetal tissue don't work -- and should be fixed.

» Barriers throughout history to keep people out _ and in
26/08/15 14:55 from AP Top Headlines At 7:05 a.m. EDT
BERLIN (AP) -- As migrants by the thousands pour daily into Hungary, the government is hastily building a barrier along its 174-kilometer (109-mile) border with Serbia: three layers of razor wire and a 4-meter (13-foot) high fence. The m...

» Former colleague: Alison Parker was an all-American girl
26/08/15 14:55 from Latest News
Shooting victim remembered

» Florida firefighters save two lucky kittens
26/08/15 14:55 from Latest News
Both kitties are going into foster care

» 'No escape' for Owen Wilson
26/08/15 14:55 from Latest News
Actor returns to the silver screen

» Virginia TV journalists killed in on-air shooting; suspect fatally shoots self
26/08/15 14:53 from Reuters: Top News
MONETA, Virginia (Reuters) - A television reporter and a cameraman were shot and killed during a live broadcast in Virginia on Wednesday in an attack authorities said was carried out by a former employee of the TV station.

» Single Cholera Vaccine Dose May Slow Cholera Epidemics
26/08/15 14:52 from Voice of America
When it comes to a vaccine to prevent cholera, one dose may be as good as two. That is the finding of a new study whose authors say the strategy would make a new vaccine that is in short supply go further. The World Health Organization i...

» Turkish government invites pro-Kurdish party into cabinet ahead of elections
26/08/15 14:52 from Deutsche Welle: DW-WORLD.DE - Top Stories
For the first time in Turkey's history, pro-Kurdish lawmakers could be part of an interim government ahead of elections in November. After failure to form a coalition, a caretaker cabinet is a constitutional obligation.

» FTC: Vemma Temporarily Shut Down for Running Pyramid Scheme
26/08/15 14:50 from ABC News: ABCNews
FTC: Nutritional drink maker Vemma has been temporarily shut down for running pyramid scheme

» Will South Sudan peace deal be worth the wait? - BBC News
26/08/15 14:50 from World - Google News
BBC News Will South Sudan peace deal be worth the wait? BBC News They waited and they waited in the big tent adorned with chandeliers and fairy lights as the temperature gradually rose. They have been waiting a while for peace in South S...

» Mormons to keep Boy Scouts link
26/08/15 14:50 from CNN.com
The Mormon church will remain affiliated with the Boy Scouts of America despite the organization's decision to allow gay troop leaders, church officials announced Wednesday.

» Hardik Patel: The 22-year-old at the forefront of the OBC quota stir - Livemint
26/08/15 14:50 from World - Google News
Livemint Hardik Patel: The 22-year-old at the forefront of the OBC quota stir Livemint Hardik Patel, convenor of the Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti, with supporters near a statue of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel during the Patidar community ...

» Virginia shootings: Gunman Vester Flanagan confirmed dead after shooting two journalists live on air
26/08/15 14:49 from The Independent - World RSS Feed
A community in Virginia is confronting horror and bewilderment after two journalists were shot and killed during a live broadcast – an act apparently carried out by a disgruntled former colleague.

» Details on WDBJ, 2 Slain Journalists
26/08/15 14:49 from ABC News: ABCNews
Details on WDBJ, 2 journalists killed by gunman while on air

» Simmering tensions between cops and Patels makes Gujarat burn - Hindustan Times
26/08/15 14:49 from World - Google News
Hindustan Times Simmering tensions between cops and Patels makes Gujarat burn Hindustan Times Simmering tensions and lack of trust between police and young activists of the Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (Paas) is at the root of the ongoi...

» South Sudan leader signs peace deal
26/08/15 14:48 from BBC News - World
South Sudan's President Kiir signs a long-awaited peace deal with rebels, despite voicing his reservations, after a UN threat of sanctions.

» Photos: Seeing Red at Spain's Tomato Festival
26/08/15 14:47 from WSJ.com: World News
Revelers in the village of Bunol, outside Valencia, are awash in pulp at the annual Tomatina fiesta, which this year drew 22,000 participants, many of them from abroad.

» Pentagon Probing Alleged Distorting of War Intelligence
26/08/15 14:46 from ABC News: ABCNews
Pentagon inspector general probing alleged skewing of intelligence about anti-IS progress

» The Latest: Authorities Unsure of Motive in on-Air Shooting
26/08/15 14:46 from ABC News: ABCNews
The Latest: Authorities say they're unsure of motive in fatal on-air shooting in Virginia

» Brawl at Israel Hospital Treating Palestinian Hunger Striker
26/08/15 14:46 from ABC News: ABCNews
Israelis, Palestinians brawl at hospital treating former Palestinian hunger striker

» Serbia may hold early elections, decision by end-September: PM Vucic
26/08/15 14:46 from Reuters: International
VIENNA (Reuters) - Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic said on Wednesday there was a 50/50 chance his government would call an early election, but he declined to give his reasons.

» No Improvement: ACT Says College Exam Scores Are Stagnant
26/08/15 14:46 from ABC News: ABCNews
ACT officials say college exam results stagnant, high schools aren't preparing enough students

» In Iowa, Clinton backs ethanol as part of rural aid plan - Washington Post
26/08/15 14:45 from Google News - Top Stories
CNN In Iowa, Clinton backs ethanol as part of rural aid plan Washington Post Hillary Rodham Clinton proposed banking and tax changes Wednesday that she said would encourage investment in agriculture and rural businesses, along with expan...

» Ashley Madison Faces Suits Seeking a Half-Billion Dollars
26/08/15 14:45 from World news
At least five suits have been filed over the hack of adultery website Ashley Madison, seeking more than a half-billion dollars.

» Leaders sign deal to end South Sudan’s civil war, but challenges loom
26/08/15 14:45 from World: World News, International News, Foreign Reporting - The Washington Post
NAIROBI — South Sudan’s president signed a peace deal Wednesday intended to end a 20-month-old civil war that has killed thousands in the wake of the country’s historic independence in 2011.President Salva Kiir signed the accord under in...

» Merkel Travels to Far-Right Heartland to Defend Refugees - New York Times
26/08/15 14:45 from World - Google News
Business Recorder Merkel Travels to Far-Right Heartland to Defend Refugees New York Times HEIDENAU, Germany — Chancellor Angela Merkel was met with jeers Wednesday as she traveled to a German town at the center of a recent wave of far-ri...

» SALLY ZELIKOVSKY: Donald Trump: What's it all about? - Washington Times
26/08/15 14:44 from Google News - Top Stories
Washington Times SALLY ZELIKOVSKY: Donald Trump: What's it all about? Washington Times Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump waves to supporters during a campaign rally in Mobile, Ala., on Friday, Aug. 21, 2015. (AP Photo/Br...

» Virginia TV journalists killed in on-air shooting; suspect fatally shoots self - Reuters
26/08/15 14:44 from Google News - Top Stories
Reuters Virginia TV journalists killed in on-air shooting; suspect fatally shoots self Reuters MONETA, Virginia A television reporter and a cameraman were shot and killed during a live broadcast in Virginia on Wednesday in an attack auth...

» Does Warren regret not running?
26/08/15 14:43 from CNN.com
So much for Elizabeth Warren taking a pass on 2016.

» It's National Dog Day!
26/08/15 14:43 from CNN.com
It's National Dog Day on August 26, a time to appreciate the pooch in your life or admire the hound next door. Honestly, it's just an excuse to look at photos of cute dogs online, though, right?

» Wal-Mart to Stop Selling AR-15s and Similar Weapons
26/08/15 14:42 from ABC News: ABCNews
Citing low demand, Wal-Mart to stop selling AR-15s and other semi-automatic weapons

» Hungary scrambles to confront migrant influx, Merkel heckled
26/08/15 14:42 from Reuters: Top News
ROSZKE, Hungary (Reuters) - Hungary made plans on Wednesday to reinforce its southern border with helicopters, mounted police and dogs, and was also considering using the army as record numbers of migrants, many of them Syrian refugees, ...

» Greece's Tsipras Struggles to Keep Party Intact
26/08/15 14:42 from WSJ.com: World News
Even before Greece’s September election is officially called, outgoing Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras is facing the growing challenge of warding off the disintegration of his Syriza party.

» India Stands to Benefit From China Slowdown
26/08/15 14:42 from WSJ.com: World News
India’s resilient consumer spending is an advantage as demand decelerates almost everywhere else. It is luring companies to produce in India and, the government hopes, can help spark a belated industrial revolution in the country of 1.2 ...

» Spurs in Korea striker Son talks
26/08/15 14:41 from BBC News - World
Spurs are in talks to sign £22m-rated Bayer Leverkusen striker Son Heung-min and consider ending Saido Berahino interest.

» Rape Suspect Says He Chose to Stop Escalating Sexual Contact
26/08/15 14:40 from ABC News: ABCNews
Prep school student accused of raping girl says he, not she, ended escalating sexual contact

» Waitress replies to cheapskate
26/08/15 14:40 from CNN.com
Have you ever decided to not leave a tip at a restaurant because you felt your food took too long?

» New Orleans is 'Hollywood South'
26/08/15 14:39 from CNN.com
With its historic architecture, lush greenery and dedication to open-air entertainment, New Orleans often seems like a real-life movie set.

» In Jorge Ramos, Donald Trump may have picked the wrong media star to tussle with - Los Angeles Times
26/08/15 14:38 from Google News - Top Stories
Los Angeles Times In Jorge Ramos, Donald Trump may have picked the wrong media star to tussle with Los Angeles Times Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump fields a question from Univision and Fusion anchor Jorge Ramos during a n...

» US shooting suspect pronounced dead in hospital
26/08/15 14:38 from Deutsche Welle: DW-WORLD.DE - Top Stories
The main suspect in the shooting of two TV journalists in the US town of Moneta, Virginia has been pronounced dead in hospital. The alleged gunman carried out the attack live on air.

» Reporter, cameraman killed on air; gunman dies
26/08/15 14:37 from AP Top Headlines At 7:05 a.m. EDT
MONETA, Va. (AP) -- A TV reporter and cameraman were shot to death during a live television interview Wednesday by a gunman who recorded himself carrying out the killings and posted the video on social media after fleeing the scene....

» Is the economy of China really so different?
26/08/15 14:36 from AEI » Latest Content
Prior to most country financial market crises, one finds a whole slew of supposed experts assuring us that this particular country is different. They tell us to disregard the clear flashing of early warning signals, since this country is...

» Fed up moms create own clothing
26/08/15 14:36 from CNN.com
Frustrated with the clothing choices for girls at major retailers, ten mom-preneuers have banded together, offering more options for what it means to be a girl.

» Ex-station employee killed TV crew during live broadcast
26/08/15 14:36 from CNN.com

» Virginia television shooting: Gunman kills himself after 'race-motivated' murder of journalists on live TV - latest news
26/08/15 14:35 from World news breaking world news latest world news from the US Europe Asia Australia Africa
Vester Flanagan, known as Bryce Williams, posts film on Facebook of him killing Alison Parker and cameraman Adam Ward live on air in Moneta, Virginia before shooting himself

» Court Tosses Lawsuit Over Alleged Abuse of Young Prisoners
26/08/15 14:35 from ABC News: ABCNews
Michigan court dismisses class-action lawsuit over alleged sexual abuse of young prisoners

» The Latest: Rape Suspect Says He Asked About Birth Control
26/08/15 14:34 from ABC News: ABCNews
The Latest: Rape suspect says he asked accuser if she was on birth control for 'peace of mind'

» Suspect in On-Air Shooting Dies From Self-Inflicted Wound - ABC News
26/08/15 14:34 from World - Google News
ABC News Suspect in On-Air Shooting Dies From Self-Inflicted Wound ABC News A former reporter who was named as the suspect in an on-air TV shooting this morning has died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, authorities said today. Vester...

» Suspected gunman kills self after killing journalists on air, police say - CNN International
26/08/15 14:33 from Google News - World
TIME Suspected gunman kills self after killing journalists on air, police say CNN International (CNN) Vester Flanagan, the suspect in the slayings of two WDBJ-TV journalists, died at a hospital Wednesday afternoon of a self-inflicted gun...

» Danny Cipriani excluded from England's Rugby World Cup squad - The Guardian
26/08/15 14:33 from world - Google News
The Guardian Danny Cipriani excluded from England's Rugby World Cup squad The Guardian England have omitted Danny Cipriani from their World Cup squad. Cipriani mounted a late challenge for inclusion in the 31-man party that will be a...

» Owen Wilson the action star in 'No Escape'?
26/08/15 14:30 from Latest News
Movie review: 'No Escape'

» Owen Wilson the action star in 'No Escape'
26/08/15 14:30 from Latest News
Movie review: 'No Escape'

» Josh Duggar goes to rehab
26/08/15 14:29 from CNN.com
Josh Duggar, the eldest of the Duggar children, is going into rehab, the family said in a statement Wednesday.

» Potarazu: Big threat to health care gains
26/08/15 14:29 from CNN.com
According to a recent report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Center for Health Statistics, an unprecedented 90.8% of Americans now have health insurance.

» Manning: Why ISIS wants to erase history
26/08/15 14:29 from CNN.com
In "The Art of War," Sun Tzu notes that "the whole secret lies in confusing the enemy, so that he cannot fathom our real intent." ISIS is developing this logic in an obscene and seductive way, using the world's media to cultivate its bar...

» Obeidallah: What Curt Schilling learned
26/08/15 14:29 from CNN.com
Curt Schilling is right. No, I'm not talking about his horribly anti-Muslim tweet in which he shared an image of Adolph Hitler that featured the text: "It's said that only 5-10% of Muslims are extremists. In 1940, only 7% of Germans were...

» Is Trump a bullying bigot?
26/08/15 14:29 from CNN.com

» Ashley Madison hack: Costly end of affair?
26/08/15 14:29 from CNN.com

» Suspect in on-air murder of journalists kills himself - USA TODAY
26/08/15 14:27 from Google News - Top Stories
USA TODAY Suspect in on-air murder of journalists kills himself USA TODAY Two members of a local TV station's news team were fatally shot Wednesday during a live TV broadcast near Roanoke, Va., setting off an intense manhunt that end...

» Trains Cancelled After Reports of Violence in Parts of Gujarat - NDTV
26/08/15 14:25 from Google News - World
NDTV Trains Cancelled After Reports of Violence in Parts of Gujarat NDTV Police personnel in action as Patel community supporters go on rampage in Surat. (Press Trust of India photo). Ahmedabad: Several trains to and from Gujarat have be...

» North Caribbean Braces for Rain, Wind as Erika Approaches
26/08/15 14:25 from ABC News: ABCNews
Tropical storm warnings issued for Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, Leeward Islands as Erika nears

» Suspect In Virginia Journalist Killings Dies Of Self-Inflicted Gunshot ... - CBS Local
26/08/15 14:25 from World - Google News
CBS Local Suspect In Virginia Journalist Killings Dies Of Self-Inflicted Gunshot ... CBS Local (CBS SF) — The suspected gunman who allegedly killed a reporter and cameraman while they were doing a live news report in Franklin County, Vir...

» White House hits back at Charles Koch
26/08/15 14:24 from Top Stories
Josh Earnest says Koch's comments do not match with reality.

» Colorado shooting: James Holmes handed 12 life sentences and maximum 3,318 years in prison without parole over movie theatre massacre
26/08/15 14:24 from The Independent - World RSS Feed
A gunman who murdered 12 people and injured 70 others when he carried out a carefully planned shooting at a movie theatre in Colorado has been handed life sentences for each fatality and the maximum 3,318 years in prison. 

» South Sudan leader signs peace deal amid sanctions threat
26/08/15 14:23 from AP Top Headlines At 7:05 a.m. EDT
JUBA, South Sudan (AP) -- South Sudan President Salva Kiir on Wednesday signed a peace deal with rebels, more than 20 months after the start of fighting between the army and rebels led by his former deputy....

» South Sudan's President Signs Long-Awaited Peace Accord - Wall Street Journal
26/08/15 14:22 from Google News - World
Wall Street Journal South Sudan's President Signs Long-Awaited Peace Accord Wall Street Journal NAIROBI, Kenya—South Sudan's president signed a long-awaited peace deal with the country's rebel leader, but cautioned that he ha...

» Suspect in On-Air Shooting Dead After Self-Inflicted Wound
26/08/15 14:22 from ABC News: ABCNews
The two victims were reporting on a tourism story at the time.

» South Sudan's President Signs Long-Awaited Peace Accord
26/08/15 14:22 from WSJ.com: World News
South Sudan President Salva Kiir signed a long-awaited peace deal with the country’s rebel leader, but cautioned that he had serious reservations with the document and suggested it would need major changes.

» Trump apes Asian negotiators
26/08/15 14:22 from CNN.com
In a speech in Iowa on Tuesday night, Republican presidential frontrunner Donald Trump -- who has regularly promoted his negotiating skills as a selling point for his presidency -- used broken English to briefly impersonate Asian negotia...

» Next to Iran, Climate at Forefront of Obama Agenda
26/08/15 14:21 from Voice of America
Geoff Mirkin climbs up to the top of a small, unassuming building in Elkridge, Maryland – about 50 kilometers outside of Washington – and points to the solar panels that line the roof. “We get 70 percent of our electricity from these pan...