The U.S. Moral Decline – Rachel Ehrenfeld – What would Eleanor Roosevelt say about the election of Saudi Arabia’s Geneva ambassador Faisal Trad, as Chair of the United Nation Human Rights Council’s monitoring panel? She would wonder how…continue…
A Tale of Two Viennas – Norman A. Bailey – The great powers of Europe; Russia, Prussia, Great Britain and Austria, meet in Vienna with the representative of a France defeated, disarmed and occupied by foreign troops…continue…
Xi’s Bluffing Hand – Sol W. Sanders – Next week’s state visit of China’s No. 1 Xi Jinping looks to be all pomp and circumstance. There is little expectation that the long list of critical issues between Washington and Beijing will be addressed in any substantive way…continue…
News & Analysis
Nuclear:
‘New activity’ detected at N. Korean nuclear test site – Deutsche Welle
China is launching a ‘trump card’ nuclear submarine that could target the US – Business Insider
Russia offers nuclear expertise to Malaysia – The Star Online
Cyber:
China and US agree not to conduct commercial cyber attacks… – South China Morning Post
New Report Of Malicious Chinese Cyber Attack On A U.S. Government Agency – Forbes
OPM says 5.6 million fingerprints stolen in cyberattack, five times as many as previously thought – Washington Post
Middle East:
American negotiator: US ready to discuss Syria with Iran – U.S. News & World Report
How Iran Plans to Destroy Israel – Ehud Yaari
(U.S.) Politicization of intelligence on Islamic State fight – Michael Hayden
You Can’t Understand ISIS If You Don’t Know the History of Wahhabism in Saudi Arabia – Alastair Crooke
Saudi Arabia declares all atheists are terrorists in new law to crack down on political dissidents – Independent UK
Turkey a la Carte – Michael J. Koplow
Europe:
35 MILLION migrants heading to Europe, says Hungary as it builds second fence – Express UK
The Middle East Visits Europe: The Ramifications of the Refugee Crisis – Shimon Stein, INSS
Bosnian Leaders Quarrel at Peace Deal Conference – Balkan Insight
The Age of Cult Politics – Nick Cohen
Russia:
Vladimir Putin: Spoiler or Statesman? – David Goldman
Will Putin’s Empire Outlast The Soviets? – Laszlo Solymar, Richard Syms
Ukraine’s Security Challenges and the Crisis of Global Order – Oleksandr Turchynov
40 Percent of Russia’s Muslims Now ‘Infected with Radicalism’ – Paul Goble
For First Time, Moscow Says Some Lies are ‘More Valuable than Any Truth,’ Mitrofanov Warns – Paul Goble
Capitol Hill
Senate:
General David H. Petraeus, USA (Ret.), Testimony on United States Middle East Policy – Armed Services Committee – September 22
GAO Reports
Foreign Aid: U.S. Assistance for the West Bank and Gaza for Fiscal Years 2012-2014, GAO-15-823 – September 22