Saturday, June 1, 2013

World News Briefs -- June 1, 2013

John Kerry, who said the delivery of Russian weapons to Syria was 'not helpful' while the peace conference was being organised. Photograph: Yuri Gripas/Reuters

Syria Peace Talks Likely To Be Postponed As RussiaPplans To Ship More Weapons -- The Guardian

Geneva negotiations conceived by US and Russia will not take place in early June as hoped, say diplomats

Peace talks in Geneva between Syria's warring parties are almost certain to be postponed after further diplomatic setbacks on Friday, as Russia announced its intention to ship more weaponry to the Assad regime.

Heavy fighting continued on the ground in Syria, where it emerged that a British man and American woman had been killed, apparently while fighting with the rebels in Idlib, in the north, earlier this week.

Read more ....

MIDDLE EAST

Reports: Russian fighter jets headed to Syria, which asks for more.

Irked by Syrian opposition’s disarray, U.S. withholds millions in pledged funds.

Breedlove: No-fly zone over Syria would constitute 'act of war'.

NATO head says political option best for Syria.

Turkish protesters clash with police for second day. Turkey police clash with Istanbul Gezi Park protesters.

More than 1,000 killed in Iraq violence in May.

Iraqis, Lebanese blame unrest on internal issues, not Syria’s war.

Iran presidential debate on economy dissolves into chaos.

Two drone strikes kill seven in southern Yemen: local official.

ASIA

Hagel, Asian allies meet to coordinate strategy on North Korea.

U.S. and Japan seek dialogue with China to prevent sea clashes.

Pakistan marks first-ever democratic transition as new parliament sworn in.

Red Cross suspends operations in Afghanistan.

Japan's problems could make the eurozone's look like a garden party.

Malaysia PM reaches out to opposition with electoral reform.

India's economic growth slowest in a decade.

Asia curbs US imports of wheat after genetically modified sample found.

Kyrgyz protesters unblock Canadian gold mine.

AFRICA

More than 23K refugees flee South Sudan conflict.

Civilians among dead in Nigeria offensive.

France's Hollande wants political success in Mali.

CAR issues arrest warrant for ex-president.

Top Zimbabwe court orders elections by July 31.

International Criminal Court rejects Libyan request to try Saif al-Islam Gaddafi.

EUROPE

Anti-austerity protests held across Europe.

PIMCO braces for Eurozone debt; revival disappoints.

Eurozone unemployment heading for 20 million.

Switzerland enforces new quotas for EU workers.

Rajoy sees hope for Spain in jobless figures.

France to tighten spying on jihadis after soldier attack, Hollande tells RFI.

Cyprus rescinds citizenship of Assad billionaire cousin.

Traffic-clogged Moscow switches gear with bike-hire scheme.

Kick the habit: Smoking ban comes into effect in Russia.

AMERICAS

Americans oppose U.S. military involvement in Syria. Poll: 68 percent oppose military involvement in Syria.

US Social Security and Medicare: time running out to fix them, trustees say.

Colombia says Maduro claims 'crazy'.

At least 5 dead, dozens injured after tornadoes sweep through Oklahoma City area.

Video shows Boston bombing suspects at the gym three days before attacks.

Tar sands supporters suffer setback as British Columbia rejects pipeline.

Canada GDP jumps to 2.5 percent growth in first quarter on exports.

TERRORISM/THE LONG WAR

U.S. warned Europe of Hezbollah operations before terror attacks last year.

State Department releases annual U.S. report on terrorism.

Al Qaeda magazine encourages Boston-style bombings.

Administration aims to bring detainee to US for military trial, sources say.

Syria has become the theatre for international jihad.

Guantánamo Bay hunger strikers demand new doctors in letter of protest.

ECONOMY/FINANCE/BUSINESS

DirecTV, two others bid over $1 billion for Hulu: source.

Judge orders Google to comply with FBI's secret NSL demands.

Dell board backs Michael Dell's buyout offer.

The real reason Millennials don’t buy cars and homes.

Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- June 1, 2013



U.S. Re-balance To Asia-Pacific Gaining Steam, Pentagon Chief Says -- Reuters

(Reuters) - The U.S. military will devote more air power, ground troops and high-tech weaponry to the Asia-Pacific region as it moves ahead with a strategic rebalance, the U.S. defense chief said on Saturday in a speech that accused China of cyber incursions.

In remarks laying out his vision for regional security, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel assured allies and partners at the annual Shangri-La Security Dialogue in Singapore that the United States was fully able to continue its strategic pivot to the region despite budget constraints at home.

"It would be unwise and short-sighted to conclude ... that our commitment to the rebalance cannot be sustained," he said in prepared remarks, noting the United States represented 40 percent of global defense spending even under the "most extreme budget scenarios."

Read more ....

MILITARY AND INTELLIGENCE NEWS BRIEFS

US to deploy more cutting-edge military tech in Asia in face of China's military growth -- Economic Times/New York Times

Hagel Warns China on Cyberattacks -- AP

Hagel, in Hawaii, praises 'value added' force integration -- US Air Force

Hagel Reassures Asian Allies in Face of China’s Military Growth -- New York Times

How talking at Asia security meet lessens US China tensions -- BBC

Breedlove: No-fly zone over Syria would constitute 'act of war' -- Stars and Stripes

NATO Secretary General rejects western military role in Syria -- CBS

Russia to sell 10 MiG fighter jets to Syria -- The Telegraph

Reports: Russian fighter jets headed to Syria, which asks for more -- CNN

U.S., Jordan discuss placing Patriot missile batteries in Jordan -- CNN

Obama: NATO To Meet Next Year On Afghanistan Withdrawal -- Voice of America

Japan Drafting Laws for a US-style National Security Council -- Defense News

Open competition best way to find Canada’s next warplane, defence companies say -- Canada.com

Argentina Names New Defense, Security Chiefs -- Defense News/AFP

U.N. official: ‘Just say no’ to killer robots -- Washington Times

Pentagon Works To Expand Aegis BMD’s Reach -- Defense Tech

Naval Air: Triton Takes Off -- Strategy Page

U.S. Navy to replace aircraft carrier at Yokosuka base -- Asahi Shimbun

U.S. military reveals timing of future F-35 fighter's use to Congress -- Reuters

Pentagon: First F-35s Operational in 2015 -- Defense News

US missile defense still plagued by technical doubts -- Space Daily/AFP

STRATCOM strives to build coalitions for space operations -- Space Daily

Panel: Give military power to prosecute all U.S. warzone contractors -- Politico

Put combat commanders in charge of prosecutions, report says
-- Stars and Stripes

Retaliation prevalent in military, rape victim says 14 years after assault -- FOX News/AP

Boxer, with more women in Senate, pushes military to end sexual assaults -- McClatchy News

U.S. soldier at center of WikiLeaks case set to go on trial Monday -- Reuters

FY15 Guidance Takes Sequester Into Account -- Defense News

Track the CIA's Secret Rendition Flights with a New Interactive Map -- Motherboard

The CIA And The Comedy Of Errors -- Strategy Page

Hacking the Drone War’s Secret History -- David Axe, Danger Room

ANALYSIS: Why cyberwarfare is the great equalizer -- Brian Contos, USA Today/Special for CyberTruth

Report outlines ‘something that could still resemble victory’ in Afghanistan -- Karen DeYoung, Washington Post

McChrystal’s New Mission -- Swampland/Time

Building a Smarter, Smaller Army -- Michael E. O'Hanlon, Battleland/Time

US Navy Is Committed To 3D Printing



Navy Considers 3D-Printing Future Fleets Of Drones -- RT

Three-dimensional (3D) printers are quickly proving to be capable of creating just about anything out of little more than thin air, and that could be the military’s key to keeping an endless arsenal of drones at its disposal.

Just as 3D-printed organs, pizza and even firearms are being made with the post-modern machinery, the United States military is eyeing the up-and-coming technology as to further their upper-hand on the battlefield. Recently, a decorated member of the US Navy made an argument for adding unmanned aerial vehicles and even munitions to the list of items that can be made with little more than a well-equipped printer and a few clicks of a mouse.

Read more ....

Update #1: Navy Wants Aircraft Carriers to Manufacture Weapons On the Go -- Gizmodo
Update #2: Navy Believes 3D Printed Ammunitions Are Possible -- USNavySeals.com

My Comment: This technology is only beginning .... what can only dream about what will be possible in 10 or 20 years.

A 'Dirty Bomb' Attack Will Freeze Global Trade

"Dirty Bomb" Strike Seen Freezing Global Trade -- Global Security Newswire

WASHINGTON -- Last month's manhunt for the surviving Boston Marathon bombing suspect highlights the possible economic devastation that could result if authorities launch a similarly overwhelming response to a radiological "dirty bomb" strike to mitigate the threat of follow-up attacks, one issue expert said on Wednesday.

Authorities brought Boston to a standstill for much of one day -- asking residents to stay indoors -- as they searched for Dzhokhar Tsarnaev in the wake of a gun battle that killed his brother and second suspect, Tamerlan.

Police did not know how much more damage the alleged bomber was poised to inflict, Northeastern University political science professor Stephen Flynn said. He said a radiological attack would similarly force officials to ask, "If this container could get in, and there are others that are out there, what would we do to handle it?"

Read more ....

My Comment: This is an economic nightmare scenario .... and what is surprising is that no one has tried it (yet).

Disturbing Video Adverts For Automatic Aiming Gun



Weapons Company Releases Disturbing Video Game Style Advert For Automatic Aiming Gun -- The Telegraph

A US gun maker has released an animated video promoting an advanced rifle, which it claims will make long-range shooting "five times" more accurate.

The Precision Guided Firearm uses fighter-jet style technology and tablet computing to make it difficult to miss a target up to 1,200 yards.

Despite being the type of weapon one might expect to be used by the military, Texas based company TrackingPoint shows a father and son using it to hunt on their ranch.

In an animated promotional video resembling a video game, the men kill a wildcat with one shot as the son explains that his father, a war veteran, had always instructed him to "embrace technology when it gave me a real advantage."

Read more ....

WNU Editor: Impressive tech .... and I now want to see a real video demonstration.

Update: Here is a real video demonstration. Warning .... live animals were used.

Should A Murderer Be Buried With Military Honors?

Frank Koehl, father-in-law of Alicia Koehl, who was killed during a shooting spree at an Indianapolis apartment complex in May 2012, is leading the effort to have the remains of her killer dug up and removed from a national veteran's cemetery in Michigan.(Photo: Dan McFeely, The Indianapolis Star)

Victim's Killer Buried With Military Honors -- USA 

Today Victim's family wants remains of man who went on shooting spree removed from cemetery.

INDIANAPOLIS -- Just weeks after his daughter-in-law was brutally gunned down during a shooting spree, Frank Koehl learned that her killer, who had committed suicide, was buried with military honors.

The remains of Michael LeShawn Anderson are resting beside other military veterans — many of them decorated heroes — at Fort Custer National Cemetery in Augusta, Mich.

That's a violation of federal law, and as the first anniversary of the tragic killing arrives Thursday, Koehl is on a mission to have Anderson's remains dug up and removed.

Read more ....

My Comment: Someone screwed up.

CIA Whistleblower John Kiriakou Details Prison Experience In An Open Letter

Photo: CIA Whistleblower John Kiriakou

CIA Whistleblower John Kiriakou Shares Prison Experience In Open Letter -- The Guardian

Kiriakou was jailed for revealing details of government use of waterboarding and disclosing identity of an undercover agent.

John Kiriakou, the former CIA agent who revealed details of the US government's use of waterboarding against senior al-Qaida suspects, has written an open letter describing his time in federal prison surrounded by drug dealers, fraudsters and child molesters.

Kiriakou is three months into a 30-month sentence having pleaded guilty to disclosing the identity of an undercover CIA officer to an ABC reporter. He is one of six current or former public officials to be prosecuted by the Obama administration under the Espionage Act – twice the number of cases instigated by all previous presidents combined.

Read more ....

More News On CIA Whistleblower John Kiriakou's Experiences In Prison

Imprisoned CIA Torture Whistleblower John Kiriakou Pens “Letter from Loretto” -- Firedoglake
Life in Jail for a CIA Whisteblower, One Attempted Prison Terror Brawl at a Time -- The Atlantic Wire
CIA whistle-blower John Kiriakou shares letter from prison -- Salon
Imprisoned CIA Torture Whistleblower Describes Prison Life In Remarkable Detail -- Business Insider
John Kiriakou, CIA Leaker, Pens Letter From Federal Prison -- Huffington Post
CIA ‘Whistleblower’ John Kiriakou Describes Life in Prison -- ABC News

WNU Editor: His letter is here.

My Comment: He was prepared to do the crime .... but definitely not the time.