The Mystery of the Islamic State - Rachel Ehrenfeld -- Over several months last year, in an effort to understand the Islamic State movement, Maj. Gen. Michael K. Nagata, commander of American Special Operations forces in the Middle East, sought the … [Read more...] about Weekly Briefing – January 5-9, 2015
Is The Taliban–Pakistani Alliance on the Rocks?
The bloody attack on an army–run school in December 14, 2014, is considered the most vicious attack ever carried out by the Taliban Movement in Pakistan. Seven Taliban suicide bombers attacked an army-run school auditorium in Peshawar, where children … [Read more...] about Is The Taliban–Pakistani Alliance on the Rocks?
Weekly Briefing – December 28-January 2, 2014/15
Cybersecurity and the 114th Congress - Rachel Ehrenfeld - The Sony hacking served as a national reminder that cybersecurity should be taken more seriously...In May 2010, former National Security Agency Director Keith Alexander lamented, "The scale of … [Read more...] about Weekly Briefing – December 28-January 2, 2014/15
The Dangers of Bad Tradecraft
Review of Kai Bird: The Good Spy: The Life and Death of Robert Ames. Crown Publishers, New York, 2014, 430 p., $26.00 Kai Bird’s The Good Spy, The Life and Death of Robert Ames is more than a book about Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) officer … [Read more...] about The Dangers of Bad Tradecraft
No State – For Now. Meanwhile, PA Security Forces Work with Hamas
Left: Hamas-affiliated Al-Aqsa TV commentator reports on the graduation exercises of the national security forces' officers' training course. In the background on the left is a poster of Ibrahim Daoud al-Bala'wi, a national security force operative … [Read more...] about No State – For Now. Meanwhile, PA Security Forces Work with Hamas
Hamas Trains to Attack the IDF
Left: Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades operatives simulate an attack on an IDF post and abduct "an IDF soldier," dragging him away to the left (Paltimes.net, December 27, 2014). Careful examination of the list of Gazans killed last summer during … [Read more...] about Hamas Trains to Attack the IDF
Obama Losing War on America’s Economy
Whether the fourth quarter 5% growth of the U.S. gross development product [GDP] is a fluke, another wave of the troubled sea of the longest recovery in recent American history, it is evidence of the miraculous strength of the U.S. economy. Some are … [Read more...] about Obama Losing War on America’s Economy
Cybersecurity and the 114th Congress
The Sony hacking served as a national reminder that cybersecurity should be taken more seriously. Thus, the lame-duck 113th Congress passed several cybersecurity acts, which the President signed on December 18. The new laws include: The National … [Read more...] about Cybersecurity and the 114th Congress
Weekly Briefing – December 21-27, 2014
Left: Israel - completely clear - on Christmas morning from the International Space Station. Astronaut Barry Wilmore woke up early on Christmas to reflect upon the beauty of the Earth and snap some images to share with the world. Photo credit: … [Read more...] about Weekly Briefing – December 21-27, 2014
The Oil Market Crossroad
Left: "The number one crude oil exporter, Saudi Arabia, has projected a $39 billion deficit in 2015. The impact of lower oil prices, along with the decision not to cut production, is putting pressure on the country’s finances." It is virtually … [Read more...] about The Oil Market Crossroad