Weekly Briefing – February 1-6, 2015

Hell on Earth –  Dr. Mordecai Kedar@Arutz7 – Burning alive a human being is a method of eliminating enemies that is well known and documented in early Islamic sources, and based on a deductive legal principle of Sharia law… Anyone who attacks Islamic State will be condemned to Hell on earth – and if he is unsure about how Hell looks and about what happens to the wicked there, he now has a movie that answers both questions….more…

Beware of the Ides of March – Norman A. Bailey —   March 2015 is looking like it is going to be a very “interesting” month, to quote the well-known Chinese curse “May you live in interesting times”…The prime minister, John Boehner, Speaker of the House of Representatives and President Obama are engaged in a three-way political dance, each trying to gain political advantage from the impending address. Which will gain more from this exercise is not clear.. ..more..

GPS Insecurity – Rachel Ehrenfeld – Our critical infrastructure is growing increasingly reliant upon wireless technologies. The challenge of cybersecurity, however, overshadows the need to address and reduce our vulnerability the electromagnetic spectrum that hosts these technologies to intentional interferences. Today, a much needed hearing titled “Finding Your Way: The Future of Federal Aids to Navigation,”was held by Rep Duncan Hunter (R-Ca), the chairman of The House Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Subcommittee..…more…

On “supersessionism”: Abrahamic faiths in history – Clive Kessler – Prologue: Supersessionism (also called replacement theology or fulfilment theology) is a Christian theological view on the current status of Jews and Judaism. Supersessionism designates the belief that the Christian Church has replaced the Israelites as God’s chosen people and that the Mosaic covenant has been replaced or superseded by the New Covenant. This view directly contrasts with dual-covenant theology which holds the Mosaic Covenant as valid for Jews. …more…

Egypt’s War in the Sinai Peninsula: : A Struggle that Goes beyond Egypt – Yoram Schweitzer@INSS – Egypt is in the midst of a war that can be categorized as a low-intensity conflict. This category represents a common pattern of military campaigns in the early twenty-first century: sub-conventional wars fought by armies and security services belonging to states against armies of terrorilla – fully armed and hierarchical organizations that operate among civilian populations, combining guerrilla and terror warfare tactics with the logic of terrorism…more…

AID to Pakistan: Money Down A Rat Hole – J. Millard Burr – After Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Raheel Sharif’s visit to the Pentagon, Islamabad defense officials claimed that the United States would give Pakistan $1 billion through the Coalition Support Fund (CSF). The officials added that the US would “further give Pakistan used defense equipment to meet its security challenges for which the process had already begun.”.…more…

Semantics? Not on our lives! – Sol W. Sanders – Yeah, it’s a big joke! The most amateurish hacks performing as government spokesmen, whether it is an arrogant but totally incompetent campaign apparatchik at the State Department, the White House’s befuddled spokesmen, or the embarrassed uniformed presenter at The Pentagon, we have public figures stumbling all over themselves. They are trying to follow President Barak Hussein Obama’s dictum that there is no relationship between Islam and terrorism — and even if there were, it shouldn’t be named. Furthermore, the Administration insists the war on terrorism is winding down because of precipitant withdrawals from Iraq and Afghanistan. …more…

Back to the 1930s – Norman A. Bailey – As the US retreats from global responsibilities, disintegrative and destructive forces are taking hold. The world is coming to resemble the 1930s more and more. From Argentina to Yemen to Ukraine to Syria and Lebanon, entropy, the natural tendency of everything to disintegrate if there is no force to hold it together, is coming to dominate the international scene. …more…

News & Analysis

Egypt: 27 Isis-linked Sinai Province militants killed in Cairo air strikes – International Business Times

A Game of Thrones: Royal Succession in Saudi Arabia – Yoel Guzansky

Obama’s Secret Iran Strategy. The president has long been criticized for his lack of strategic vision. But what if a strategy, centered on Iran, has been in place from the start and consistently followed to this day? – Michael Doran

A Speech Netanyahu Must Give. Barack Obama collects hard favors from allies and repays them with neglect and derision. – Bret Stephens

Barbarians at the Gates: A Postcard from Erbil – Matthew Clayfield, World Affairs

Iran’s Militias Are Taking Over Iraq’s Army – Eli Lake

Murdoch loses Saudi ally at News Corp – Financial Times

Special Report: How Cairo is taking the fight to Sinai militants – Reuters

A New Sect Emerges in Russia – ‘Putin’s Witnesses’ – Paul Goble

China’s Emergence as a Middle Eastern Power and Israel’s Opportunity – David Goldman

As Muslim Uighurs Flee, China Sees Jihad Risk. As Homeland Grows Violent, Some Uighurs Seek Haven in Turkey – Wall Street Journal 

The Unreality of Obama’s Realpolitik. With the president unwilling to project U.S. might, Iran and other bad actors rush to exploit the power vacuum. – Josef Joffe

Islamism and the Left – Michael Walzer

Anthem cyberattack reminiscent of other Chinese hacks, expert say – Aaron Bernstein,

Cyber risks too big to cover, says Lloyd’s insurer – Alistair Gray

GPS Policy Outlook: What to Watch for in the New Congress – Dee Ann Divis

Capitol Hill

House—

Hearing: World Wide Threats – Armed Services Committee – February 3

Subcommittee Hearing: The Strategic Importance of the Western Hemisphere: Defining U.S. Interests in the Region – Foreign Affairs Committee, Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere – February 3

Hearing: Examining the Adequacy and Enforcement of Our Nation’s Immigration Laws – Judiciary Committee – February 3

Hearing: Cuba: Assessing the Administration’s Sudden Shift – Foreign Affairs Committee – February 4

Subcommittee Hearing: The Palestinian Authority’s International Criminal Court Gambit: A True Partner for Peace? – Foreign Affairs Committee, Subcommittee on the Middle East and North Africa – February 4

Subcommittee Hearing: Human Rights in Cuba: A Squandered Opportunity – Foreign Affairs Committee, Subcommittee on Africa, Global Heal, Global Human Rights, and International Organizations – February 5

Senate—

Hearing: Guantanamo Detention Facility and Future of U.S. Detention Policy – Armed Services Committee – February 5

Hearing: Building a More Secure Cyber Future: Examining Private Sector Experience with the NIST Framework – Commerce, Science & Transportation Committee – February 5

Hearing: Ending Modern Slavery: What is the Best Way Forward? – Foreign Relations Committee – February 4

Hearing: Understanding The Impact of U.S. Policy Changes On Human Rights And Democracy In Cuba – Foreign Relations Committee, Subcommittee on Western Hemisphere, Transitional Crime, Civilian Security, Democracy, Human Rights, and Global Women’s Issues – February 3

Hearing: Deferred Action on Immigration: Implications and Unanswered Questions – Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs Committee – February 4

GAO Reports

Enterprise Funds: Egypt and Tunisia Funds Are Established; Additional Steps Would Strengthen Compliance with USAID Grant Agreements and Other Requirements, GAO-15-196: Published: Feb 2, 2015. Publicly Released: February 2, 2015.