Taiwan’s Democracy Needs U.S. Arms – Sol W. Sanders – If there was any doubt that Taiwan is the first democratic state in the long history of the Chinese, it came this week in the buildup to January presidential election. The current ruling Kuomintang, descendant of Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek’s Nationalists who fled the Mainland Communists in 1949, suddenly switched nominees…continue…

ISIS Takes a Chapter from the Palestinian Incitement Book – Rachel Ehrenfeld – Bi-Partisan Congressional condemnations of the Palestinian Authority (PA) for inciting violence against Israelis, such as passed by House Foreign Affairs Committee on October 22, 2015 provides moral support, but do nothing to stop the attacks. Moreover, condemnations by Congress are often used to further fuel the Palestinian hate industry…continue…

U.S. Conflicting Objectives in Syria – Stephen Bryen – A day before Bashar Assad’s meeting with Russian President Putin in Moscow, the United States signed a deal with Russia, to avoid entering “the same battle space” over the Syrian sky. However, according to Pentagon spokesman Peter Cook, this agreement…continue…

Temple Mount’s Status Quo Needs to Change – Prof. Hillel Frisch (BESA) – he fact that al-Aqsa is not in danger, does not mean that the status quo on the Temple Mount should remain constant. To the contrary, it must change on both strategic and moral grounds; and for the sake of true Israeli-Palestinian peace. All of Israel’s leaders…continue…

Palestinian Bar Association Honors Terrorists – The Meir Amit Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center – Last week the EU-funded Palestinian Bar Association (PBA) expressed solidarity with two of the Palestinian terrorists (a law student and a lawyer) who carried out lethal stabbing attacks in Jerusalem. PBA members took a series of steps to show solidarity with…continue…

Martyrs unremarked – Sol W. Sanders – One of the many mysteries of the current political and media scene is the neglect which accompanies a growing worldwide Christian martyrdom, but particularly in the Middle East. Ancient Christian enclaves, some of them going back to its earliest origins in its birthplace which have survived centuries of vicissitudes, are being exiled…continue…

News & Analysis

Muslim Refugees:

Mama Merkel and the Immigration Invasion of Germany – Rael Jean Isaac

Sweden Opened Its Doors To Muslim Immigration, Today It’s The Rape Capital Of The West. Japan Didn’t – Daily Caller‎

Israel:

“The place where the status quo needs to change is here at the UN” – Israel Amb. Danon to UN

The Mufti, Hitler and the Palestinians: The Facts – David Bedein

Russian Ambitions, and Israeli Opportunities, in the Partition of Syria – Col. (res.) Dr. Eran Lerman, BESA

ISIL:

Despite US-led campaign, Islamic State rakes in oil earnings – Associated Press

U.S. Plans To Capture The Islamic State’s Capital Go Awry – Washington Post

Iran:

U.S. seeks U.N. response for Iranian missile launch – Washington Examiner

Congress Can Still Make a Difference on Iran. They failed on nukes. Now it’s time to take up the cause of Tehran’s human-rights abuses – Ray Takeyh

Could Iran Get Ex-Im Loans? Voting to reauthorize the Export-Import Bank could allow floods of U.S. taxpayer money to reach Iran’s terrorist government – Christine Brim

Why Obama will let Iran violate the nuke deal – Benny Avni

Syria:

Gates: Come Up With A Syria Strategy, Then Tell Putin ‘Stay Out of the Way’ – Defense One

No-Fly Zone No Answer for Syria – Henri Barkey

Putin Officials Said to Admit Real Syria Goal Is Far Broader – Iya Arkhipov, Stepan Kravchenko, and Henry Meyer

Russia:

When Moscow First Crushed an Islamic State … in China … in 1934 – Paul Goble

Russia retreats to autarky as poverty looms. Vladimir Putin is falling back on Soviet-era self-reliance as oil wealth evaporates and sanctions cut off vitally-needed technology – Ambrose Evans-Pritchard

Cyber:

FBI: Mobile devices deserve extra attention as cyber threats increase – WRAL.com

TalkTalk cyber attack: Customers losing hundreds of pounds – The Independent

Why the ‘cyber bill’ falls short on protecting critical networks – Ron Gula

Researchers reveal how attackers could turn back Internet time – CSM

ISIS is attacking the U.S. energy grid (and failing[for now]) – CNN

Capitol Hill

House:

Worldwide Threats and Homeland Security Challenges – October 21, 2015

Cybersecurity for Power Systems – Committee on Science, Space & Technoloy, Subcommittee on Energy and Subcommittee on Research and Technology – October 21, 2015

Examining Law Enforcement Use of Cell Phone Tracking Devices – Oversight Committee, Subcommittee on Information Technology – October 21, 2015

Words Have Consequences: Palestinian Authority Incitement to Violence – Foreign Affairs Committee, October 22, 2015

Public Hearing 4, Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton – Select Committee on Benghazi – October 22, 2015

North Korea: Back on the State Sponsor of Terrorism List? – Foreign Affairs Committee, Subcommittee on Terrorism, Nonproliferation, and Trade – October 22, 2015

Africa’s Great Lakes Region: A Security, Political, and Humanitarian Challenge – Foreign Affairs Committee, Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights, and International Organizations – October 22, 2105

Senate:

Global Challenges, U.S. National Security Strategy, and Defense Organization – Armed Services Committee

Ongoing Migration from Central America: An Examination of FY2015 Apprehensions – Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs Committee – October 21, 2015

2015 Paris International Climate Negotiations: Examining the Economic and Environmental Impacts – Foreign Relations Committee, Subcommittee on Multilateral International Development, Multilateral Institutions, and International Economic, Energy, and Environmental Policy – October 20, 2015

The Persistent North Korea Denuclearization and Human Rights Challenge – Foreign Relations Committee – October 20, 2015

GAO Reports

Critical Infrastructure Protection: Cybersecurity of the Nation’s Electricity Grid Requires Continued Attention – GAO-16-174T – October 21, 2015

Unaccompanied Alien Children: Improved Evaluation Efforts Could Enhance Agency Programs to Reduce Migration from Central America – GAO-16-163T – October 21, 2015.

CRS Reports

Greenhouse Gas Pledges by Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change – Jane A. Leggett, Specialist in Energy and Environmental Policy – October 19, 2015