CIA official looks to free 'captive' data - FCW.com
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 FCW.com |
CIA official looks to free 'captive' data
FCW.com His directorate, which was officially unveiled Oct. 1, is intended to provide CIA analysts with a "wide range of cyber options in the initial trade space" to help them solve problems earlier in the intelligence cycle, DDI Deputy Director Sean Roche ... |
U.S. and Russian aircraft intentionally flew within close proximity to each other in skies over Syria on Tuesday to test communications established in a recent agreement between the two nations, a Pentagon spokeswoman said.
By Glynn Cosker
Managing Editor, In Homeland Security
Managing Editor, In Homeland Security
The House Homeland Security Committee has released its Terror Threat Snapshot for November,and it paints an increasingly alarming picture.
The November snapshot focuses on homegrown Islamist extremism, terror attack plots against the West, foreign fighters, foreign Jihadist networks and terrorists’ exploitation of Syrian refugee flows.
Here are some of the key points from this month’s report:
- ISIS-related homegrown terror threats are increasing at an unprecedented rate with a majority of the 900+ homegrown extremist investigations linked to ISIS.
NEW YORK (AP) — Investigators are still trying to determine what led to the sudden and catastrophic breakup of a Metrojet plane Saturday over Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula, just 23 minutes after the Russian-operated jetliner took off from the resort of Sharm el-Sheikh.
The Airbus A321-200 was flying at 31,000 feet when the disaster occurred, killing all 224 people aboard, the vast majority of them Russians.
CBS Local |
According To FBI Statistics, Chicago Lags Behind National Murder Decreases
CBS Local The FBI's latest Uniform Crime Report revealed that Chicago was far from the “murder capital” label it sometimes receives. Still, when you look at 10 years of FBI violent crime statistics for Chicago, the Windy City continues to lag behind the nation ... |
His most successful rally attracted six people
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 International Business Times |
US Working With Russia In Syria? Air Forces Hold Joint Training Exercises
International Business Times U.S. and Russian air forces held a joint training exercise in Syria Tuesday as part of a larger effort to share intelligence and work together to combat terror groups amid a four-year-long civil war. Russian news media also reported Tuesday that Russia ... US, Russia hold joint training exercise in SyriaThe Globe and Mail Russia, U.S. air forces held joint training exercise in Syria - Russian agenciesThomson Reuters Foundation Russia says bombed Syria targets after 'opposition' gave coordinatesYahoo News UK Russia Beyond the Headlines all 25 news articles » |
 Российская Газета |
В Генштабе подвели промежуточные итоги сирийской кампании
Российская Газета Российская авиация в Сирии продолжает уничтожение объектов запрещенных в РФ террористических организаций "Исламское государство" и "Джибхат ан-Нусра". Всего с начала операции самолеты ВВС РФ выполнили 1631 боевой вылет и нанесли удары по 2084 объектам военной ... Пентагон: тренировка в Сирии поможет избежать неожиданностей в боюРИА Новости Минобороны России и оппозиция Сирии создали координационные группы по борьбе с ИГКоммерсантъ Сирийская оппозиция предоставила России координаты для авиаударов по ИГРБК Комсомольская правда -Газета.Ru -ИА REGNUM Все похожие статьи: 192 » |
 Haaretz |
Russia says holds air space cooperation exercise with US in Syria
Yahoo News MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian and U.S. air forces held a joint training exercise in Syria on Tuesday meant to prevent dangerous encounters between their aircraft, Russia's defense ministry said. Syria's skies have become increasingly crowded since Russia ... Russia, US Air Forces Held Joint 'Training Exercise' Over SyriaHaaretz Syria war: A turning point in Russia-West relations?Russia Direct US Working With Russia In Syria? Air Forces Hold Joint Training ExercisesInternational Business Times Al-Arabiya -Russia Beyond the Headlines -RT all 28 news articles » |
CBS News |
US, Russia warplanes conduct communications test over Syria
CBS News Pilots from the United States and Russia conducted a communications test over Syria, the Pentagon said Tuesday, downplaying Moscow's assertion that the two nations had carried out a joint military training exercise. "One US Fighter aircraft conducted a ... DoD: No US-Russia Joint Exercise; Russia Opens New Syrian BaseNBCNews.com Pentagon says US, Russia flights over Syria were no 'exercise'Reuters Russia's 'Global Ambitions': Pentagon Making Mountains Out of MolehillsSputnik International all 16 news articles » |
 Правда.Ру |
Путин назвал главной целью России борьбу с терроризмом
РБК Главной целью России в Сирии «и где бы то ни было» еще является борьба с терроризмом, заявил президент России Владимир Путин, сообщается на сайте Кремля. Соответствующее заявление президент сделал 3 ноября на встрече с представителями научных, культурных, ... Путин: Запугать Россию никому не удастсяРоссийская Газета Путин: РФ готова сотрудничать в борьбе с терроризмом со всеми силамиРИА Новости Путин: российский народ запугать никогда никому не удавалосьТАСС Коммерсантъ -Газета.Ru -Правда.Ру Все похожие статьи: 94 » |
NBCNews.com |
DoD: No US-Russia Joint Exercise; Russia Opens New Syrian Base
NBCNews.com Pentagon spokesperson Capt. Jeff Davis denied Russian media reports that the U.S. andRussia conducted a joint training exercise over Syria today, saying that they did do a communications test but there was no exercise. Davis said that at roughly noon ... Russia and US planes 'test safety protocols' in SyriaBBC News US, Russia warplanes conduct communications test over SyriaCBS News US, Russia aircraft test safety protocols in skies over SyriaThomson Reuters Foundation Fox News -Sputnik International all 22 news articles » |
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Previous histories have focused on the KGB, leaving Military Intelligence and the special service--which focused on codes and ciphers--lurking in the shadows. Drawing on previously neglected Russian sources, Haslam reveals how both were in fact crucial to the survival of the Soviet state.
Directions:
Fed and Treasury officials were concerned that U.S. dollars were ending up at sanctioned Iranian banks and possibly being funneled to Islamic State militants. The currency is flowing again and with better oversight.
Russia trying for Syria talks in Moscow by Associated Press
A senior Russian diplomat says Moscow is aiming to host a round of talks between Syrian officials and opposition leaders next week.
A British judge has ruled in favor of a woman who says she was the “secret wife” of the late King Fahd of Saudi Arabia.
Iranian state television on Tuesday claimed that a Washington-based Lebanese citizen missing in Tehran since September is actually an American spy now in the custody of authorities.
Palestinian-born Janan Harb said the family of King Fahd had promised her £15m and two London flats in 2003.
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Group of men donned white robes and lit a bonfire as part of their Halloween celebrations
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Retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson is first Republican to overhaul Donald Trump in a national poll in five months
Read the whole story
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 Wall Street Journal |
Russia Says It Doesn't Mind If Assad Stays or Steps Down
ABC News A Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman said on Tuesday that Moscow does not consider it a matter of principle that Syrian President Bashar Assad should stay in power, stepping back from its previous position of strong support for him. Asked whether it ... Obama's catastrophic Syria follyThe Week Magazine Syria conflict: Russia softens support for AssadBBC News Syrian working groups to be launched soonXinhua Wall Street Journal -Washington Post -New York Times all 792 news articles » |
 Reuters |
Russia steps up push for Syria peace deal, proposes talks
Reuters MOSCOW Syrian government officials and members of the country's splintered opposition could meet in Moscow next week as Russia pushes to broker a political solution to the crisis, a senior official said on Tuesday. "Next week, we will invite opposition ... Syria conflict: Russia says keeping Assad 'not critical'BBC News Russia says it doesn't mind if Assad stays or steps downWBAY Russia in Syria defined by timingThe Daily Times GlobalPost all 96 news articles » |
 Fox News |
Stronghold for terror: Russian plane crash puts spotlight on lawless Sinai
Fox News ISIS in the Sinai Peninsula has boasted of its weaponry, including the above photo showing a fighter with a Man Portable Air Defense System. But US authorities have ruled out the possibility a missile strike brought down the Russian airliner. (TRAC). and more » |
Russia: Keeping Syria's Assad in Power Not Crucialby webdesk@voanews.com (VOA News)
The Kremlin is one of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's strongest supporters, but a Russian spokeswoman said Moscow's policy does not depend, as a matter of principle, on Assad remaining in power. "We have never said Assad's staying in power is a principled aspect" of Russian policy on Syria, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told Ehko Moskvy ("echo of Moscow") radio Tuesday. However, Zakharova also argued strongly against the idea that...
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Russian officials, including President Vladimir Putin, say everything will be done to determine the cause of Saturday's plane crash in Egypt that killed all 224 people on board, most of them Russian tourists returning to St. Petersburg from an Egyptian Red Sea resort. More than half of the bodies have been found at the crash site on the Sinai Peninsula, and Egyptian authorities have expanded the search area in an effort to find others. VOA's Zlatica Hoke reports.
Originally published at - http://www.voanews.com/media/video/investigation-into-cause-of-russian-plane-crash-in-egypt/3034278.html
Originally published at - http://www.voanews.com/media/video/investigation-into-cause-of-russian-plane-crash-in-egypt/3034278.html
 Washington Post |
Obama in New York: Forget Putin. GOP candidates 'can't handle a bunch of CNBC ...
Washington Post NEW YORK -- President Obama on Monday gleefully mocked the Republican presidential candidates who have called him weak on the world stage, suggesting the would-be tough guys "can't handle a bunch of CNBC moderators." "Let me tell you, if you can't ... Obama rips into 2016 GOP field, mocks their debate complaintsCNN Obama Chides Republican Field, Saying CNBC Is No PutinNew York Times President Obama Makes Fun of GOP Candidates' Debate ComplaintsABC News Politico- The Hill-NBCNews.com all 109 news articles » |
BEIJING (Reuters) - China's ruling Communist Party will speed up reform of the military, state media reported on Tuesday, adding it aimed to reach its reform target by 2020.
MOSCOW (Reuters) - Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told journalists on Tuesday that it was inappropriate to link Russia's military strategy in Syria with the results of an investigation into an airplane crash in Egypt over the weekend in which over 200 people died.
MOSCOW (Reuters) - Syrian government officials and members of the country's splintered opposition could meet in Moscow next week as Russia pushes to broker a political solution to the crisis, a senior official said on Tuesday.
Russia Claims Cooperation With Opposition On Syria Air Strikes by support@pangea-cms.com (RFE/RL)
Russia’s military claims it has carried out air strikes against “terrorist positions” in Syria, for the first time, based on information obtained from moderate Syrian opposition fighters.
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Iran Says It May Quit Talks on Syria Over Saudis’ Roleby RICK GLADSTONE and DAVID E. SANGER
Iran and Russia support President Bashar al-Assad of Syria, while the United States and Saudi Arabia support an array of Mr. Assad’s opponents.
“Merchants in the Temple,” a new book by Gianluigi Nuzzi, describes a nest of greed, cronyism and mismanagement at the Vatican.
Russia says it is not crucial for Syria's President Bashar al-Assad to remain in power, backing away from previous support.
A woman who says she was the "secret wife" of the late King Fahd of Saudi Arabia wins a multimillion-pound claim at the High Court.
AP: Broken system lets problem officers jump from job to jobby By NOMAAN MERCHANT and MATT SEDENSKY
Law enforcement officers accused of sexual misconduct have jumped from job to job - and at times faced fresh allegations that include raping women - because of a tattered network of laws and lax screening that allowed them to stay on the beat....
NEW YORK (AP) -- Teenagers spend nearly nine hours a day absorbing media and despite all the new options, music and television remain the favorites....
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KADIRLI, Turkey (AP) -- The 4-year-old Syrian girl was ending her first trip to her grandparents' house. Posing for the last family photos before returning to Turkey with her mother, Raghad dressed up in a pretty blue-and-white polka dot dress and put her hair up in ponytails with red barrettes....
Israeli archaeologists unearth what they think is an ancient Greek fortress in Jerusalem. . Report by Asana Greenstreet.
Today's Headlines and Commentaryby Elina Saxena, Cody M. Poplin
As the United States continues to modify its strategy in Syria, the New York Times writes that the new U.S. effort to arm and equip local militias against the Islamic State is mired in challenges, chief among these is that “many of the forces in the [U.S.-backed] alliance, called the Syrian Democratic Forces, made clear that so far it exists in name only, and that the political and logistical challenges it faces are daunting.” Already, the alliance has encountered difficulties, which have forced it to rely on Kurdish forces to lead the charge against ISIS in predominantly Arab regions while Arab militias play a more secondary role due to limitations in capabilities and experience.
In a push to overcome these setbacks, 50 U.S. special operations forces will be deployed to Syria, a move that the Washington Post suggests “[fails] to add up to a coherent strategy.” President Obama said in his remarks yesterday that the U.S. special forces will help train, advise, and assist local fighters and that the deployment of these forces is merely an extension of ongoing U.S. operations in the country. He added that the decision to send in special forces does not break his “no boots on the ground” pledge. The Daily Beast tells us that the United States will deploy F-15Cs to Turkey in order to “'ensure the safety' of America’s NATO allies." Given that F-15Cs have only air-to-air weapons systems and that the Islamic State does not have air capabilities, the Daily Beast speculates that the move is to counter the increased presence of Russian forces in the skies over Syria.
Meanwhile, the U.K. government is still considering the question of airstrikes in Syria but faces increasing challenges from lawmakers. Britain's Foreign Affairs Select Committee advised against the proposed operations, saying that airstrikes would be "a distraction from the much bigger and more important task of finding a resolution to the conflict in Syria."
Russia has softened its stance its commitment to Syrian president Bashar al Assad and is working to “host a round of talks between Syrian government officials and members of the country's opposition in Moscow next week.” Russia has traditionally been Assad’s strongest supporter, intervening in the country’s conflict to support his regime’s fight against rebel forces. A spokesman for the Foreign Ministry said that the Syrian people needed to decide the fate of Assad. This change in tone could symbolize a departure from Iran’s goals, marking a split between the Assad regime's nominal allies. The head of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Crops signalled yesterday that Tehran may be more committed than Moscow to keeping Assad in power.
The Times writes that Iran has threatened to withdraw from discussions due to “what Iranian officials described as the unconstructive role of Saudi Arabia.” Yet despite continued distrust of the United States, Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei clarified that the slogan “‘Death to America’ is not aimed at the American people, but rather American policies,” the AP tells us. And while Tehran continues to deny the “presence of Iranian combat troops in Syria,” Iranian media announced that another member of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard had died in the conflict.
The Journal reported that the U.S. “Federal Reserve and Treasury Department temporarily shut off the flow of billions of dollars to Iraq’s central bank this summer as concerns mounted that the currency was ending up in Iranian banks and possibly being funneled to Islamic State militants.”
Following the Syrian government’s shelling of a rebel-held Damascus suburb, rebels have openly begun using human shields, imprisoning regime forces and Alawite civilians in cages in the town square in an attempt to deter more government bombardments.
In a recently released recording, Al Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahri urged militant unity in the Syria conflict. Though it is unclear when the video was produced, Reuters suggests that the recording “references to Russian aggression suggest it was made after Russia, an ally of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, launched air raids against opposition groups and Islamic State in Syria.” Another al Qaeda recording was also released but held a “scathing” criticism of the Islamic State, the Post tells us.
The Journal tells us that Turkey has commenced a new round of strikes against Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) militants in northern Iraq. A PKK spokesman interpreted the strikes as a sign that Turkish leaders did not want to pursue peace talks. Also from Turkey, following the victory of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s party in the recent parliamentary elections, Reuters writes that“opponents fear the result, which dashed any hopes of a coalition government that might soothe deep social divisions, will exacerbate his authoritarian instincts.” Government authorities have already increased cracking down on dissent.
As mystery continues to engulf the circumstances surrounding the Russian plane that crashed in the Sinai, Egyptian President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi dismissed ISIS's claims that it brought down the plane, calling them propaganda. Yet experts have not ruled out the possibility of ISIS involvement in downing the plane, but say that it is too early to speculate about the causes for the plane’s demise.
Relationships between Egypt and Israel may be thawing. Following reports that Israeli forces helped locate the downed Russian plane, Israel also said that it conducted joint training exercises with Egyptian and Jordanian air force. Meanwhile, at the U.N., Egypt voted in favor of an Israeli bid for the first time since 1948.
Meanwhile, as violence continues across Israel, the AP reports that Israel shut down a Palestinian radio station which it claimed was inciting violence. The station’s director accused Israel of trying to silence the Palestinian voice in, what he calls, “violent aggression on the Palestinian media.”Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas sought Europe’s help “to de-escalate the crisis with Israel” and prevent further deterioration, the AP writes.
On the eve of discussions between President Obama and Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu next week, Politco interviewed retired Israeli general Michael Herzog about U.S.-Israeli relations and the U.S. role in the region.
In Yemen, a massive cyclone has wreaked havoc and caused massive amounts of damage in the wartorn country.
Voice of America tells us that Pakistan has banned media coverage of an Islamist charity linked to the 2008 Mumbai attacks. The move comes after Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif assured President Obama of “Pakistan’s resolve to take effective action against United Nations-designated terrorist individuals and entities.”
At a Defense One summit yesterday, Director of the Office of National Intelligence James Clapper said that the CIA did not pull officers from Beijing following the Chinese hack of the Office of Personnel Management. The Post notes that the director, however, did not elaborate.
Speaking in Beijing, Admiral Harry B. Harris Jr., the head of U.S. Pacific Command, told a crowd that the U.S. Navy’s recent freedom of navigation operation in the South China Sea was not intended as a military threat, but instead served “to protect rights, freedoms and lawful uses of the sea and airspace guaranteed to all nations under international law.” His comments came as Malaysia’s defense minister welcomed the operations, according to the Wall Street Journal. Speaking at an Associate of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit, Defense Minister Hishammuddin Hussein said the patrol was “very important.” Secretary of Defense Ash Carter is expected to appear at the summit along with his Chinese counterpart tomorrow.
About that operation: Defense News reports that several Chinese Navy warships escorted the USS Lassen as it cruised through the waters surrounding the Subi Reef, shadowing the U.S. ship but staying “at a safe distance.” Even so, China’s “little blue men”--fishing and merchant vessels utilized to enforce Chinese maritime claims--”were not as demure,” according to a U.S. Navy source. One ship apparently left anchorage and crossed the destroyer’s bow before circling around. Andrew Erickson of the U.S. Naval War College suggests these hybrid forces are intended to reinforce Chinese claims without forcing the Chinese navy to directly challenge other claimants in the region.
Secretary of State John Kerry sought today to reassure Afghanistan’s Central Asian neighbors, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan, that the United States would remain committed to the security and prosperity of the region even after the country’s drawdown of forces in the region. In the last few days, Kerry has made stops in all five of the regions former Soviet republics. Reuters has more.
The United Nations said Monday that a record 218,394 people crossed the Mediterranean to reach Europe during the month of October. That number all but eclipses the total number of migrants entering the continent last year. The Washington Post reports that as the number of migrants balloon, European nations are facing renewed pressure to close their borders as neighboring countries fear that a sudden closure of any one border could leave tens of thousands of people stranded, desperate, and angry. In light of the growing frustration, German Chancellor Angela Merkelcalled today for a bundle of national and European measures to stem the number of refugees flowing into Germany. Elsewhere, the Wall Street Journal carries a special report on life in limbo at Europe’s door, a tragic story of African migrants who can’t reach the continent but can’t go home either.
The Associated Press brings renewed reports of violence in Ukraine, as both government and separatists forces confirmed new bursts of fighting outside Donetsk.
Elsewhere, NBC News reports that Spanish police have broken up an ISIS cell in Madrid that was committed to carrying out an attack in the country. The cell consisted of three Moroccan nationals, according to Spanish police.
The National Journal writes that Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-UT) has introduced a bill that would make stingrays, or cell-site simulators used by law enforcement to vacuum up data from cell phones, illegal to use without a warrant. The bill as described by the National Journal would largely codify and extend newly released Department of Justice and Department of Homeland Security policies to state and local police.
The Miami Herald updates us on the latest from Guantanamo Bay as a recently unsealed war court document reveals that Majid Khan, "an American-educated former al-Qaida courier turned government witness, has agreed to postpone his Guantánamo sentencing hearing by three years." Following his detention in a CIA blacksite, Khan pled guilty to terror charges in 2012 for involvement in transferring money used to fund the 2003 bombings of a Marriot hotel in Jakarta. The document “does not specify at which trial Khan would testify, nor whether postponement might permit him to serve a shorter sentence than the original plea deal [that scheduled him] to be released in 2031 at the earliest, if he satisfied the Pentagon prosecutor’s conditions.”
Parting shot: The new Long Range Strike Bomber is cloaked in as much mystery as it will supposedly be by stealth, but the folks at War is Boring have eked out a few clues as to what we can expect on the project.
ICYMI: Yesterday, on Lawfare
Jack and Ben posted an invitation to the next Hoover Book Soiree in Washington, D.C, which will take place on November 10th. Don’t miss this opportunity to hear Jack interview Charlie Savage about his new book, Power Wars: Inside Obama’s Post-9/11 Presidency.
Rachel Brand outlined the complexities inherent to achieving the right balance between transparency and secrecy in light of the ODNI’s newly released transparency implementation plan.
Finally, Zachary K. Goldman and Ramesh Karri described the real insider threat from breaches of trust like the Volkswagen EPA scandal.
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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Once again we see the Islamic advocacy groups in the U.S. opposing counter-terror efforts and claiming they unfairly single out Muslims. The idea that today's politically correct Obama FBI, which refuses as a matter of policy to ...
An Illinois police officer was suspiciously found dead two months ago. The FBI is now investigating if the death of the police officer was a murder or suicide.
 Washington Post |
US intelligence head: CIA did not pull officers from Beijing after OPM hack
Washington Post Asked at a Defense One national security conference whether CIA officers were removed from Beijing, Director of National Intelligence James R. Clapper Jr. said “No.” He did not elaborate. The Washington Post, citing current and former U.S. officials ... CIA officers not pulled in China, official saysStars and Stripes all 3 news articles » |
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Inside the China-US Competition for Strategic Partners
Huffington Post No one would have imagined in late 2012, at the start of Xi Jinping's tenure as president ofChina, that by September 2015 leaders from three U.S. allies would attend an extravagantmilitary parade put on by Beijing to celebrate the end of the Sino ... |
Washington Post |
Muslim activists alarmed by the FBI's new game-like counterterrorism program ...
Washington Post Last month, FBI Director James B. Comey said ISIS does crowd-sourcing for terrorism using a two-prong siren song: “Come to the Caliphate,” or “if you can't come, kill somebody where you are.” “That buzz all day long in your pocket, come or kill, come ... and more » |
Western Journalism |
The FBI Has A New Method To Identify Extremists, And Some Muslims Are Furious ...
Western Journalism FBI Director James B. Comey said agents have handled more than 900 cases of homegrown extremists, and most of them are connected to ISIS. He said the recruiting efforts of terrorists aren't just trying to lure youth to go overseas, but are also seeking ... Muslim activists alarmed by the FBI's new game-like counterterrorism program ...Washington Post all 17 news articles » |
DefenseNews.com |
China's 'Little Blue Men' Take Navy's Place in Disputes
DefenseNews.com WASHINGTON — When the US destroyer Lassen passed near a newly-built artificial island on Subi Reef in the South China Sea's Spratly Islands Oct. 27, it was already being escorted by several Chinese Navy warships. The US ship represented a ... He ... South China Sea: US to increase freedom of navigation patrols as China respondsSydney Morning Herald South China Sea: US To Conduct Two Patrols Every Quarter To Press 'Freedom Of...International Business Times Reports China has sent armed fighter jets over South China SeaNEWS.com.au Sputnik International all 34 news articles » |
CNBC |
Here's why China's flunking English exams
CNBC China is losing interest in learning English, sending its proficiency in the global language of business falling ten places in a worldwide ranking. According to language training company EF Education First, which conducted the 70-country ranking, the ... and more » |
Ten days of interviews and front-line visits made clear that an alliance entrusted with beating jihadists in northern Syria faces daunting political and logistical challenges.
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How the F.B.I. Can Detain, Render and Threaten Without Riskby By PATRICK G. EDDINGTON
A U.S. citizen can’t sue the government because his mistreatment happened overseas.
Authorities in Washington are preparing to launch an investigation into a dozen radio stations operating in major cities in the United States, which are allegedly owned by a subsidiary of the Chinese government. The investigation appears to have been sparked by a report published by the Reuters news agency on Monday, which claims that the Chinese government is operating a “covert radio network” inside the US, aimed at broadcasting news reports that reflect Chinese views.
The New Yorker |
How China Wants to Rate Its Citizens
The New Yorker I was reminded of that grade-school experiment when, in recent weeks, I've read about China'splans for a social-credit system, or S.C.S., that aims to compile a comprehensive national database out of citizens' fiscal, government, and possibly personal ... |
A threat by Anonymous to unmask at least 1,000 members of the Ku Klux Klan might have come to fruition Sunday when the names of notable politicians, supposedly affiliated with the hate group, started coming to light.
A Chinese attack submarine stalked the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan near Japan last month in the closest encounter between a carrier and a People’s Liberation Army Navy submarine since 2006, according to American defense officials.
The Chinese submarine sailed very close to the Reagan during the weekend of Oct. 24, said defense officials familiar with reports of the incident.
The incident occurred as the Reagan sailed from its home port to the Sea of Japan around the southern end of Japan.
Days later, in the Sea of Japan, the Reagan was targeted for a close flyby by two Russian Tu-142 bombers that flew within a mile of the ship at an altitude of 500 feet. U.S. Navy jets were scrambled to escort the bombers away from the carrier group.
The submarine encounter also occurred days before the USS Lassen, a guided missile destroyer, carried out a freedom of navigation operation in the South China Sea.
The Lassen’s passage within 12 miles of a disputed island in the South China Sea on Oct. 26 was fiercely denounced by the Chinese government. Chinese spokesmen, both military and civilian, said the passage was a violation of Beijing’s territorial sovereignty, a claim rejected by the United States, which said the ship was sailing in international waters.
Disclosure of the Chinese submarine encounter comes as Adm. Harry Harris is visiting China for the first time as the commander of U.S. forces in the Pacific.
Pacific Fleet and Pacific Command spokesmen declined to comment on the submarine encounter but did not deny that the incident occurred.
Additional details of the encounter—such as the type of submarine involved, whether it surfaced or remained submerged, and how close it came to the ship—could not be learned.
The nuclear-powered carrier is a symbol of U.S. power projection capabilities. China’s military has been attempting to drive the U.S. military out of Asia as part of efforts to assume the sole leadership role in the region.
One defense official said the detection of the submarine set off alarm bells on the Reagan, although it could not be learned whether anti-submarine warfare aircraft were launched to locate and track the vessel.
Other defense officials said the Reagan’s recent submarine encounter appeared similar to China’sstalking of the aircraft carrier USS Kitty Hawk in 2006.
During that incident, a Song-class attack submarine surfaced undetected within torpedo range of the Kitty Hawk on Oct. 26, 2006—nearly nine years to the day of the recent Reagan encounter.
The 2006 incident also was disclosed during the visit to China by Adm. Gary Roughead, then-commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet.
China is known to use its military forces to send political messages and it appears that the Reagan incident also was timed to the expected navigation operation in the South China Sea and to Harris’ visit.
Harris has been a forceful advocate within the military for challenging China’s claims to vast areas of the South China Sea. He told a Senate hearing in September that “the South China Sea is no more China’s than the Gulf of Mexico is Mexico’s.”
Harris visited U.S. troops in South Korea over the weekend and took part in the annual U.S.-South Korea Military Committee Meeting and Security Consultative Meeting in Seoul.
On Monday, Harris traveled to Beijing for a three-day visit and talks with Chinese military leaders. He was scheduled to speak at Peking University on Monday.
“Sustained military-to-military dialogue between the U.S. and China is designed to maximize cooperation on areas of mutual interest while candidly addressing and managing disagreements,” the Pacific Command statement said.
Harris’ last visit to China took place in April 2014 when he took part in talks with the Chinese military on a Code of Unplanned Encounters at Sea in Qingdao, China. The code, which covers submarine-ship encounters, was approved in 2014.
It is not known whether the Chinese submarine followed safety guidelines outlined in the code during the Reagan encounter. The code is designed to prevent collisions at sea.
The Reagan and four other warships were on the way to conduct joint naval exercises with South Korean naval forces at the time of the Chinese submarine stalking.
The exercises were held Oct. 26 to Oct. 29 in waters around the southern end of the Korean peninsula. The carrier arrived Friday in Busan, South Korea, for a port call.
Accompanying the Reagan are the Ticonderoga-class guided missile cruiser USS Chancellorsville and the Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyers USS Fitzgerald and USS Mustin.
A Pacific Command statement issued Saturday said the Reagan is one of two carrier groups operating in the region. The second is the USS Roosevelt, which departed Singapore Oct. 28 on its way to San Diego.
The Reagan was “operating off the east coast of the Korean peninsula conducting routine bilateral training with the Republic of Korea navy,” the command statement said, adding that anti-submarine warfare training was part of the exercises.
“The U.S. routinely conducts carrier strike group operations in the waters around the Republic of Korea to exercise maritime maneuvers, strengthen the U.S.-ROK alliance, and improve regional security,” the statement said.
“The U.S. Navy maintains a presence in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region to help preserve peace and security and further our partnerships with friends and allies,” said Rear Adm. John Alexander, the Reagan’s commander. “Our forward presence contributes to freedom of navigation and lawful use of the sea, as well as furthers operational training and enables an exchange of culture, skills, and tactical knowledge.”
Rick Fisher, a Chinese military affairs analyst, said China’s willingness to use submarines to harass U.S. large warship demonstrates that the Navy needs more submarines for escort missions.
It also highlights the need for additional U.S. attack submarines as Los Angeles-class submarines are retired and are not replaced quickly enough by newer Virginia-class vessels.
“The importance of our aircraft carriers was just demonstrated in the South China Sea,” said Fisher, with the International Assessment and Strategy Center.
“While most press attention focused on the freedom of navigation exercise of the destroyer USS Lassen, the larger story was the fact that the destroyer was covered by the presence of the aircraft carrier USS Roosevelt,” he added. “The carrier was deployed to ensure that China was deterred from attacking or substantially harassing the destroyer.”
Fisher said that he expects China’s attack submarine fleet to begin increasing in size.
“The PLA may build up to 14 of their third-generation Type 095 SSN, which might add up to a total SSN fleet of about 20,” he said, using the military designation for attack submarine.
“Inasmuch as the U.S. may only be able to spare about 30 SSNs for its Pacific-based forces, this could greatly stress the U.S. submarine fleet absent new construction,” he added.
A fleet of 30 attack submarines may limit continuous deployment of submarines to around 10, given the need for maintenance and for crew rotations.
Chinese state-run media and military commentators have denounced the deployment of the Reagan, which replaced the carrier group led by the USS George Washington.
“The United States intends to strengthen its military superiority in order to frighten the neighboring countries of the disputed region, such as China, [North Korea], and Russia,” retired Chinese Rear Adm. Yin Zhuo told state television in September.
The post Chinese Submarine Stalked U.S. Aircraft Carrier appeared first on Washington Free Beacon.
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Secretary of State John F. Kerry on Tuesday urged the president of Tajikistan not to go overboard in its crackdown on political Islam and expressions of faith.
November 3, 2015, 1:37 PM (IDT)
Turkish security forces backed by helicopters imposed a curfew Tuesday on Kurdish neighborhoods in the southeastern town of Silvan after a civilian was shot in the town during Kurdish protests in the region against the ruling party’s election victory. Turkish air strikes Monday in northern Iraq targeted shelters and weapons stores used by the PKK, the outlawed Kurdish Workers Party. The reelected AK Party and its leader President Tayyip Erdogan are clearly determined to continue their anti-Kurdish crackdown.
November 3, 2015, 1:49 PM (IDT)
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told journalists on Tuesday that it was "inappropriate to link Russia's military strategy in Syria with the results of an investigation into an airplane crash in Egypt" over the weekend in which over 200 people died.
DEBKAfile: This comment indicates that Moscow will not initiate a counter-strike against ISIS even if the investigation attributes the air disaster’s cause to a missile or bomb. The Kremlin totally rejects the Islamic State’s claim that it downed the plane to punish Russia for its military operations in Syria.
DEBKAfile: This comment indicates that Moscow will not initiate a counter-strike against ISIS even if the investigation attributes the air disaster’s cause to a missile or bomb. The Kremlin totally rejects the Islamic State’s claim that it downed the plane to punish Russia for its military operations in Syria.
Before the start of business, Just Security provides a curated summary of up-to-the-minute developments at home and abroad. Here’s today’s news.
IRAQ and SYRIA
Russia is stepping up its push for Syria peace talks,officials from the Syrian government and members of the opposition potentially meeting in Moscow next week, a senior official said today. [Reuters]
The new US-supported alliance of anti-ISIS forces in Syria “so far exists in name only,” according to Ben Hubbard, citing 10 days of interviews and front-line visits in northern Syria. [New York Times]
President Obama stated that US Special Operations Forces to be stationed in Syria will not fight on the front lines, during an appearance on NBC News yesterday. [The Hill’s Jordan Fabian]
UK Prime Minister David Cameron will abandon plans to call a House of Commons vote to approve airstrikes against ISIS in Syria, the result of concern over opposition votes and the complex picture added to by Russian intervention. [The Guardian’s Nicholas Watt and Ewan MacAskill] Further, the House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee urged Cameron to drop the vote, raising concerns over the legal basis for such intervention. [BBC]
Iran has threatened to quit Syria peace talks over Saudi Arabia’s involvement in them, though the comments may be “more akin to diplomatic posturing” given the amount Tehran has to lose if it drops out, report Rick Gladstone and David E. Sanger. [New York Times]
Russia has carried out airstrikes around ISIS-controlled Palmyra, the Russian defense ministry confirmed. [AFP]
US-led airstrikes continue. The US and coalition military partners conducted 10 strikes against Islamic State targets in Syria on Nov 1. Separately, military forces carried out a further 17 on targets in Iraq. [Central Command]
The US cut off the flow of billions of dollars to the Iraqi central bank this summer over concerns that the money was ending up in Iranian banks and was potentially being channeled into ISIS. [Wall Street Journal’s Emily Glazer et al]
A prominent Iraqi politician who was a leading voice in support of the 2003 US invasion has died;Ahmed Chalabi was a long-time opposition figure against Saddam Hussein. [Al Jazeera]
ISIS has tracked and killed two Syrian human rights activists at their home in southern Turkey. [New York Times’ Liam Stack]
“The strategic purpose” of the wars waged by Russian President Vladimir Putin is “war itself,” suggests Masha Gessen at the New York Times.
“The creeping optimism that there might be a route to peace in Syria remains constrained by the elephant in the room” – the regime of Bashar al-Assad, observes Crispin Blunt, adding that at this moment, UK military intervention in Syria would do “little except make ourselves feel better.” [The Guardian]
The steps approved by President Obama for Syria are “incremental and underpowered,” opines theWashington Post editorial board, adding that any action which puts US pressure on the Islamic State is welcome.
“Why do some groups trigger our sympathy and win outside help while other victims suffer in (relative) obscurity?” asks Stephen M. Walt, providing a nine-point framework of the “social construction of victimhood” at Foreign Policy.
RUSSIAN AIRLINER CRASH
A heat flash was recorded by a US infrared satellite at the same time and in the same vicinity as the Russian plane crash, an account which undermines claims that the plane was struck by a missile. [NBC News]
While there is no direct evidence that terrorism was involved in the incident, Director of National Intelligence James Clapper said that it could not yet be ruled out. [The Guardian’s Peter Beaumont et al]
The “mystery” surrounding the Russian airplane crash this weekend grew deeper yesterday after Metrojet denied any pilot error or technical fault, claims immediately described as premature by Russian aviation officials. [New York Times’ Neil MacFarquhar; Wall Street Journal’s Thomas Grove and James Marson]
Claims that ISIS militants were involved in downing the Russian airliner are “propaganda,” according to Egypt’s President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi. [BBC]
SOUTH CHINA SEA
The US Navy will patrol within 12 nautical miles of China-claimed islands in the South China Sea roughly twice a quarter, a defense official said yesterday. [Reuters]
The US and Japan are pushing to have concerns about the South China Sea included in a statement to be published following regional defense talks held in Malaysia. [Reuters]
The US should develop closer military-to-military ties with China, the head of US Pacific Command said today, suggesting that dialogue between the two can “avoid misunderstanding and military miscalculation.” [Wall Street Journal’s Gordon Lubold and Jeremy Page]
OTHER DEVELOPMENTS
The CIA did not remove officers from Beijing following the OPM hack, Director of National Intelligence James R. Clapper said. [Washington Post’s Ellen Nakashima and Adam Goldman]
A Guantánamo Bay detainee has agreed to postpone his sentencing hearing by three years; Majid Khan pleaded guilty to terror charges in 2012 following an agreement that he would testify for the government. [Miami Herald’s Carol Rosenberg]
A Palestinian stabbed an elderly Israeli man yesterday in the northern city of Netanya, police said. The attacker was shot and wounded. [AP]
The US may be complicit in war crimes committed during the Yemen conflict due to its role in providing military aid and support to Saudi Arabia, the leading nation in the coalition against Houthi rebels. [Al Jazeera America’s Lauren Carasik]
Iran’s hardliners appear determined to prevent an increase in foreign economic engagement, despite the nuclear accord concluded in July. Gerald F. Seib provides the details. [Wall Street Journal]
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