Left: Iraqi Shiite fighters wearing explosive belts

Jihad is Jihad is Jihad and It’s Deadly – Rachel Ehrenfeld – The ISIS announcement of  American aid worker, despite his conversion to Islam. Former Army Ranger Peter Edward Kassig, now Abdul-Rahman, will die because he is an American.  For the ISIS and all other jihadists America is the Great Satan and all Americans, apparently Muslim converts included, will be treated similarly. Beheading, stoning, hanging or shooting to death  Kufurs (unbelievers), is common among our so-called ‘allies’ the Saudis, as well as our soon to become new allies, Iran. While thew Mullahs are heading the strategic planing for the Islamist expansion, the Saudis and the Emirs in the Gulf States are funding it.  Qatar’s invovment  is significant, but it is hardly the only state providing material, financial, and ideological support for the growing jihadist movement. Turkey’s newly elected president, Muslim Brother Recep Tayyip Erdogan has extended his country’s support to the Islamic Republic of Iran, to Hamas and ISIS, all at the same time….The U.S. and the West were given many opportunities to understand the jihadist threat. They chose not to. And although it is not too late to wake up and confront the jihadist movement, the U.S. and the West are doomed if they refrain from identifying the ideology that feeds all jihadist groups and the states and rulers who fund them..…more…

Egypt’s, Iran’s and Turkey’s Transformation – Norman A. Bailey – The five most important countries of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) from the standpoint of military power and economic clout are the Arab states Egypt and Saudi Arabia and the non-Arab states Israel, Turkey and Iran. Three of those countries are undergoing significant transformations: Egypt, Iran and Turkey. In the case of Turkey, the bad news proliferates. The chaos on its southern frontier is getting worse and the security threats to Turkey are increasing rapidly. The fact that the Islamic State (IS) is attacking the Syrian Kurds is a nightmare for Ankara, which is faced with deciding whether to get involved in the attack on IS or stand back and watch what happens. As of now, the wait and watch strategy has been adopted, but it is not likely it can continue, as Kurdish refugees flood north across the border and Kurdish fighters move south to aid their cousins in Syria. Equally significant, and actually more so in the medium-term is the deterioration of the Turkish economy. Its trade situation is worsening badly and the deficit is being covered by ever-increasing borrowing from banks and from friendly Gulf emirates. The resulting government debt levels are reaching dangerous levels, especially as the economy stagnates and exports decline. The lira has fallen by half against the U.S. dollar and the Turkish central bank has let interest rates rise to support the currency, which leads to an increase in the foreign exchange risk to Turkey’s creditors. An eventual default is not unlikely, coupled with social unrest due to worsening unemployment and inflation. In contrast the Islamic Republic of Iran is riding high.…more…

News & Analysis

Qassam Brigades Establishing a “Popular Army” in Gaza – Meir Amit Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center

Iran Says It’s Willing to Fight ISIS, for a Price – Benny Avni

If Intel Wrong About ISIS, Is it Also Wrong About Iran? – Lee Smith 

New Tactic in Left’s Never-Ending War Against Israel: Calling It ‘JSIL’ – Ron Radosh 

ISIS Jihadists Returning to Europe – Olivier Guitta 

Saudi Arabia executes 19 in one half of August in ‘disturbing surge of beheadings’ – Independent UK

Moscow Preparing to Play Citizenship Card in Estonia and Latvia – Paul Goble 

Estonia arrests former KGB officers. Incident follows Russian kidnapping of Estonian agent, pointing to heightened tensions between Moscow and Tallinn – The Guardian UK

Time for Sanctions on Baku – David Kramer, Richard Kauzlarich

15-year-old Joshua Wong Chi-fung, co-founder of the group Scholarism, has come to symbolise the anti-national education movement’s energy – South China Morning Post

PLA’s airborne radar system touted as ‘best in world’ –  China Times

Capitol Hill Hearings

House—

Subcommittee Hearing: Sergeant Andrew Tahmooressi: Our Marine in Mexican Custody – Committee on Foreign Affairs, Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere – October 1, 2014

GAO Reports

Technology Transfer: Federal Laboratory Consortium Should Increase Communication with Potential Customers to Improve Initiatives – GAO-15-127: Published: Oct 3, 2014. Publicly Released: Oct 3, 2014.

Natural Gas: Federal Approval Process for Liquefied Natural Gas Exports – GAO-14-762 – Published: Sep 26, 2014. Publicly Released: Oct 1, 2014.

Afghanistan Equipment Drawdown: Progress Made, but Improved Controls in Decision Making Could Reduce Risk of Unnecessary Expenditures – GAO-14-768 – Published: Sep 30, 2014. Publicly Released: Sep 30, 2014.

Unmanned Aerial Systems: Department of Homeland Security’s Review of U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Use and Compliance with Privacy and Civil Liberty Laws and Standards – GAO-14-849R – Published: Sep 30, 2014. Publicly Released: Sep 30, 2014.

CRS Reports

Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty: Background and Current Developments – Jonathan E. Medalia, Specialist in Nuclear Weapons Policy – September 29, 2014