Editor's Note

Stuck with household chores .... again. The joy of having a small hobby farm and getting ready for winter. Blogging will return tomorrow morning.

Update Sunday 10:00 EST: Still stuck on the farm. It is taking a bit longer than what I had thought .... much longer. Blogging will return late tonight.

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Editor's Note

Stuck with household chores .... again. The joy of having a small hobby farm and getting ready for winter. Blogging will return tomorrow morning.

Read More

Al-Shabab Headquarters 'Attacked' By Western Forces On Coast Of Somalia

Al-Shabab Militant Base 'Attacked' On Coast Of Somalia -- BBC

Islamist fighters in southern Somalia say Western forces have launched a night-time raid on one of their bases.

The militant group al-Shebab told the BBC "white soldiers" had arrived by boat at the port of Barawe and rebels had repulsed them, losing a fighter.

No-one has admitted the attack. US and French special forces have carried out raids in Somalia in recent years.

It is not clear whether it is linked to last month's attack in neighbouring Kenya, which al-Shebab has claimed.

At least 67 people were killed after militants stormed the Westgate shopping centre in the capital, Nairobi, on 21 September.

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More News On Reports That Al-Shabab Headquarters Was 'Attacked' By Western Forces

Somali militants say 'Western' forces attack coastal base from beach -- Reuters
'Western special forces' raid al-Shabaab stronghold in Somalia -- The Telegraph
Foreign military raid al-Shabaab headquarters in Somalia, reports say -- The Guardian
Military strike reported in southern Somali town -- USA Today/AP
Somalia's Al-Shabab Says Special Forces Attack One Of Its Bases -- Radio Free Europe
Unidentified Military Strike Targets Somali Town -- Voice of America
Somali group says 'Westerners' attacked base -- Al Jazeera
Somalia’s al-Shabaab claims ‘Westerners’ attacked base -- Al Arabiya

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Iran's Supreme Leader Criticizes President Hassan Rouhani’s Overtures To The U.S.

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has the ultimate word on political and religious affairs under Iran's clerically dominated system. Radio Free Europe

Ayatollah Questions Aspects of Rouhani’s Trip -- New York Times

TEHRAN — Iran’s supreme leader expressed support on Saturday for Iran’s diplomatic outreach at the United Nations but criticized some of President Hassan Rouhani’s moves as “inappropriate.”

Analysts had been waiting for the supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, to take a position on the trip after powerful commanders of the Revolutionary Guards criticized the historic phone call between President Hassan Rouhani of Iran and President Obama. Critics said that Mr. Rouhani should not have taken the call from Mr. Obama.

Speaking to students of an military aeronautical university in Tehran, Mr. Khamenei said he supported the government’s diplomatic efforts during Mr. Rouhani’s trip to New York but said that “some of the events” had been “inappropriate.” Mr. Khamenei’s comments were published on his Web site.

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More News On Iran's Supreme Leader Criticizing President Hassan Rouhani’s Overtures To The U.S.

Iran's Khamenei says part of diplomatic opening in New York 'not proper' -- Reuters
Hassan Rouhani's New York diplomacy 'not proper' says Iran's Supreme Leader -- The Telegraph
Iran's Khamenei: Part of Diplomatic Push in New York 'Not Proper' -- Voice of America
Iran's Khamenei criticises 'some' of Rouhani's UN trip -- AFP
Iran's Khamenei Says U.S. Cannot Be Trusted -- Radio Free Europe
Iran's supreme leader criticizes president over New York trip -- Deutsche Welle
Khamenei criticizes ‘some’ of Rowhani’s diplomatic efforts at U.N. -- Al Arabiya

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Veterans Push Back Against Washington

Veterans tour the World War Two Memorial in Washington October 1, 2013. (Reuters / Kevin Lamarque)

Veterans Don’t Want To Be ‘Pawns’ In Shutdown Fight -- McClatchy News

WASHINGTON — As the impact on veterans becomes part of the contentious debate over the government shutdown, the commander of one of the nation’s leading veterans organizations said Friday that they should not become a political “pawn” for warring lawmakers.

In a press conference in front of the barricaded World War II Memorial, American Legion Commander Daniel Dellinger said that the veterans are concerned about the shutdown’s impact on their benefits and services, which he said “transcend politics.”

“You cannot use American veterans or servicemen and -women as pawns in this issue,” Dellinger said. “Veterans earn their benefits through their honorable service, many of them seriously disabled as a result of that service. To threaten suspension of their benefits is not only absurd, it’s cruel.”

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My Comment: Many of these veterans .... if not all of them .... are deeply worried that because of the debt crisis some of their benefits may eventually be cut. This growing realization has resulted in everyone .... veterans included .... in trying their best to position themselves to not be impacted. Sadly .... the money is not there to sustain this entitlement society .... and in the end everyone is going to be impacted .... veterans and visiting their memorials included.

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Who Are The Craziest Rulers In The World

Who Are The World's Craziest Rulers? -- Robert Colvile, The Telegraph

With the deaths of Saparmurat Niyazov of Turkemenistan – a maniac so megalo- that he renamed the days of the week after himself and his family – and of Kim Jong-un – a golfer so talented that he shot 38 under par on his first ever round, including five holes-in-one – some feared that the golden age of the crazed dictator had gone for good.

But Yahya Jammeh's decision to leave the Commonwealth, and subsequent outlining of his more unpleasant characteristics, has reminded us that there are still some old-fashioned brutes plugging away out there – and, more soberingly, that there are millions of people around the world who have to bear the consequences of their capricious decisions. Here are the leaders most likely to send you scurrying to the emigration queue:

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My Comment: I would add Islam Karimov from Uzbekistan, the Castro brothers, Kirchner from Argentina, and about a dozen other leaders. Putin is not crazy .... I would put him in the category of being ruthless.

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More Cuts Planned For The British Military

Armed Forces To 'Axe 3,000 More Jobs Next Year In Further Cost-Cutting Drive' -- Daily Mail

* Soldiers, RAF staff and Navy medical personnel 'in line for redundancy'
* Sources say David Cameron keen to avoid bad publicity of job losses
* Military chiefs reportedly want to choose how many redundancies to make
* Downing Street set to prefer troop numbers to fall through retirement
* In 2010 plans announced to cut Army size by 20,000 to 82,000 by 2020

Thousands of soldiers could lose their jobs in a new wave of redundancies set to embarrass the Prime Minister, it has been reported.

An announcement is expected to be made next January with the final number of those losing their jobs confirmed in May.

The final figure due to be made redundant could reach 3,000. Under plans set out in 2010 the size of the Army will be cut by 20,000 to 82,000 by 2020.

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Update: Army faces losing another 3,000 soldiers in January as No 10 and military chiefs clash over redundancies -- The Independent

My Comment: Morale in the British armed forces must be rock bottom.

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No One In The West Is Listening To Netanyahu's Worries On Iran

Netanyahu and Obama shake hands Photo: REUTERS

Analysis: Netanyahu's Sense Of Urgency On Iran Fails To Impress War-Weary West -- Jerusalem Post

One Western diplomat involved in Iranian nuclear diplomacy described Netanyahu as "out of step" with the mood of detente that has emerged recently.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said this week that Iran's new president was a "wolf in sheep's clothing", but he himself looked increasingly like a lone wolf as his allies seek to bring Tehran into the fold.

After years of worrying about Iran's disputed nuclear ambitions, Netanyahu took to the stage at the UN General Assembly on Tuesday and made his most explicit threat yet to attack the Islamic republic unless it ends its atomic program.

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My Comment: They are only not listening to him .... but they are also making fun of him.

Update: Netanyahu struggles to set the terms in Iranian dispute -- Reuters

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The Real Crisis In America Is It's Uncontrollable Debt

The Shutdown Is A Sideshow. Debt Is The Threat -- Niall Ferguson, Wall Street Journal

An entitlement-driven disaster looms for America, yet Washington persists with its game of Russian roulette.

In the words of a veteran investor, watching the U.S. bond market today is like sitting in a packed theater and smelling smoke. You look around for signs of other nervous sniffers. But everyone else seems oblivious.

Yes, the federal government shut down this week. Yes, we are just two weeks away from the point when the Treasury secretary says he will run out of cash if the debt ceiling isn't raised. Yes, bond king Bill Gross has been on TV warning that a default by the government would be "catastrophic." Yet the yield on a 10-year Treasury note has fallen slightly over the past month (though short-term T-bill rates ticked up this week).

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My Comment: The key sentence in this commentary is the following ....

.... As anyone can see who reads the most recent long-term budget outlook—published last month by the Congressional Budget Office, and almost entirely ignored by the media—the question is not if the United States will default but when and on which of its rapidly spiraling liabilities.

Niall Ferguson's analysis is correct .... but for the moment .... no one cares.

Update: Correction .... there are some who do care .... and they are now deeply worried.

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The Internet Is The Forum For The World To Laugh At The U.S. Government Shutdown

One of hundreds of memes on Tumblr, which makes fun of the US government shutdown. © Tumblr

US Gov’t Shutdown Becomes an Internet Joke -- RIA Novosti

Washington, October 4 (Suleiman Wali for RIA Novosti) – The US government shutdown, now in its fourth day, has hurt hundreds of thousands of federal workers who are not getting paid as Congress and President Barack Obama try to figure out how to strike a deal on the national budget.

A serious issue, no doubt.

But often in times of crisis, humor becomes a way for people to cope with circumstances that are seemingly out of their control. Enter memes—which have produced some of the funniest online jokes about the shutdown. Here are 15 government shutdown memes.

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My Comment: I like the one with the Queen.

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We Should Cut A Taliban Deal Or Get Out Of Afghanistan

U.S. Army Spcs. Christopher McLaughlin, left, and Zachary Dechant, center, and U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. William Voorhies place munitions on a pile to prepare for a controlled detonation operation on a range near Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, Sept. 30, 2013. Voorhies will attend disposal training at the end of his deployment. McLaughlin and Dechant are explosive ordnance disposal technicians with Combined Joint Task Force Paladin-East's 663rd Ordnance Company. DOD photo by Ed Drohan

Ending The War In Afghanistan -- Stephen Biddle, Foreign Affairs

How to Avoid Failure on the Installment Plan

International forces in Afghanistan are preparing to hand over responsibility for security to Afghan soldiers and police by the end of 2014. U.S. President Barack Obama has argued that battlefield successes since 2009 have enabled this transition and that with it, “this long war will come to a responsible end.” But the war will not end in 2014. The U.S. role may end, in whole or in part, but the war will continue -- and its ultimate outcome is very much in doubt.

Should current trends continue, U.S. combat troops are likely to leave behind a grinding stalemate between the Afghan government and the Taliban. The Afghan National Security Forces can probably sustain this deadlock, but only as long as the U.S. Congress pays the multibillion-dollar annual bills needed to keep them fighting. The war will thus become a contest in stamina between Congress and the Taliban. Unless Congress proves more patient than the Taliban leader Mullah Omar, funding for the ANSF will eventually shrink until Afghan forces can no longer hold their ground, and at that point, the country could easily descend into chaos.

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My Comment: A sobering analysis .... and one that is probably correct. Read it all.

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Taliban Chief: Most Of Afghanistan Is Now Under Taliban Control

An Afghan policeman stands at the site of a Taliban suicide attack. The militant hinted that there could be talks with the Afghanistan government about entering a power-sharing agreement

Taliban Chief Vows To 'Unite All Afghans' And Take Over The Whole Country When Nato Troops Pull Out -- Daily Mail

* Taliban chief said most of Afghanistan was now under their control
* Hinted at talks with Afghan government over power-sharing agreement
* Nato mission due to end in 2014 and troops will pull out by end of year

A Taliban chief has told a British newspaper that the fundamentalist group is preparing to run Afghanistan when Nato forces leave.

The militant, using the pseudonym Qari Nasrullah, said most of the country is now under Taliban control.

The Nato mission is due to end in 2014, with U.S. and British troops pulling out by the end of the year.

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My Comment: I suspect that these Taliban boasts have a grain of truth to it. Bottom line .... there is nothing positive coming out of Afghanistan right now. The drug trade continues to boom .... corruption is widespread .... and the international community is throwing in the towel and looking for the exits.

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Barricades At The WWII Memorial Have Been Reinforced

Wired Shut: Barricade at WWII Memorial Reinforced -- Weekly Standard

On Tuesday morning, seven National Park Service employees were seen erecting and tending to a barricade around the World War II memorial in Washington, D.C. One NPS employee was operating a forklift. There usually aren't any NPS employees working at the World War II memorial.

A couple hours later, when an Honor Flight of World War II veterans arrived, accompanied by Democratic and Republican members of Congress, the fences blocking the memorial were easily moved away, allowing the veterans to enter.

But the barriers are still at the memorial, and they've been reinforced. This morning, I walked by the memorial and noticed that wires had been used to tie the fences together:

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My Comment: My suggestion .... bring the wire cutters.

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Pentagon Halts NFL And Baseball Coverage To Troops Overseas

U.S. soldiers, assigned to 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Task Force 3/101, celebrate a play made by their team during the Veterans Day NFL game, Houston Texans at Chicago Bears, on Forward Operating Base Salerno, Khost province, Afghanistan, Nov. 12, 2012. Live video of the soldiers was broadcasted during game breaks. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Kimberly Trumbull/Released)

Military Keeps Camp David Open, Cuts NFL, Baseball Coverage To Troops Overseas -- Washington Examiner

President Obama has visited the Navy-run presidential retreat Camp David in central Maryland only 32 times, but it is being kept open during the government shutdown for his entertainment and security at the same time the Pentagon is cutting sports coverage to hundreds of thousands of troops around the world.

A phone call to the retreat found it open, confirming a TMZ report.

Camp David is one of the most highly secure areas in the nation and provides the president with a safe haven. The president has been known to shoot skeet at Camp David, which he most recently used for his 52nd birthday, according to CBS White House Correspondent Mark Knoller.

Obama has spent just 78 days at the retreat, choosing instead to spend his weekends in Washington and hitting military golf courses, which are also being kept open during the government shutdown.

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My Comment: Here is my next scary prediction .... the next thing that they are going to cut for those who are serving overseas is the internet for personal use.

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Sam's Club Waives Membership Fees For U.S. Military Personnel During The Government Shutdown

Sam's Club Waives Membership Fees For Military Personnel During Shutdown -- Baltimore Sun

Sam's Club is waiving membership requirements for military personnel and retirees and their families during the government shutdown.

The retailer said Thursday it decided to waive the fees after dozens of commissaries on military bases were closed by the shutdown.

"Military personnel, retirees and their families heavily depend on commissaries for low-cost groceries and everyday needs," Sam's Club's announcement said.

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Update #1: Sam's Club Offers Free Passes to Military during Shutdown -- Wall Street Journal
Update #2: Free Military Sam’s Club Membership Until Shutdown Ends -- Spouse Buzz/Military.com

My Comment: Closing the base commissaries was (and is) a mistake. Many of them make a profit .... so closing them will actually cost money. I cannot help but feel that this is just a political tactic to cause and spread "pain".

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List Of U.S. Companies Affected By Government Shutdown

Photo: Wikipedia

FACTBOX - U.S. Companies Affected By Government Shutdown -- Reuters

Oct 3 (Reuters) - The U.S. government shutdown, which entered its third day on Thursday, is beginning to hit the factory floor as concerns grow about the economic consequences of a prolonged stalemate in Congress.

The standoff, prompted by Republicans' determination to halt President Barack Obama's healthcare reforms, could affect U.S. companies that rely on federal employees and funding.

Following is a list of companies and financial institutions that have warned of project delays, employee furloughs and other consequences of a prolonged budget impasse:

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My Comment: I think we should be more worried about Main Street .... not Wall Street.

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Legendary Vietnamese General Vo Nguyen Giap Dead At 102

Vo Nguyen Giap, Red Napolean Who Drove France And US Out Of Vietnam, Dies -- The Australian

VO Nguyen Giap, the brilliant and ruthless self-taught general who drove the French out of Vietnam to free it from colonial rule and later forced the Americans to abandon their gruelling effort to save the country from communism, has died. At age 102, he was the last of Vietnam's old-guard revolutionaries.

Giap died last night in a military hospital in the capital of Hanoi where he had spent close to four years growing weaker and suffering from long illnesses, a government official and a source close to General Giap said.

General Giap was a national hero whose legacy was second only to that of his mentor, founding president Ho Chi Minh, who led the country to independence.

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More News On The Death Of Vietnamese General Vo Nguyen Giap

Legendary Vietnam Gen. Vo Nguyen Giap dies -- USA Today/AP
Vietnam independence hero General Giap dead at 102 -- AFP
Gen. Vo Nguyen Giap, Who Ousted U.S. From Vietnam, Is Dead -- New York Times
Vo Nguyen Giap, Vietnamese General Who Beat French, Dies at 102 -- Bloomberg Businessweek
Vietnam's military mastermind Vo Nguyen Giap dies -- Reuters
Legendary Vietnamese General Dead at 102 -- Voice of America
Vietnam's General Vo Nguyen Giap dies -- BBC
Vo Nguyen Giap, renowned Vietnamese general, dies in Hanoi -- Washington Post
Legendary Vietnamese Gen. Giap Dies -- Wall Street Journal
Vietnamese general behind victories over French and US dies aged 102 -- The Guardian

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Photos Of The Vietnam War Taken By AP Photographers To Be Released In A New Book Entitled 'Vietnam: The Real War'

Vietnam: The Real War is being published on Oct. 1 by Abrams Books in the U.S. and Canada, and by Abrams & Chronicle Books in the UK

The Real Vietnam: Spectacular Images Taken By Courageous AP War Photographers Released To Remember 50 Years Since Conflict Began -- Daily Mail

The Vietnam War left a deep and lasting impression on not just the soldiers who fought but the whole of America.

And the superb photojournalism by the Associated Press' Saigon bureau was largely responsible for sharing the bravery and drama of the conflict with those at home.

Half a century on from the beginning of the war, a new book entitled 'Vietnam: The Real War' showcases some 300 of the most historic AP images - from Malcolm Browne's image of the burning monk to Nick Ut's photograph of a 9-year-old running from a napalm attack to Eddie Adams' picture of the execution of a Viet Cong prisoner - that serve as a photographic record of the combat.

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Update #1: Slaughter of the innocents: The Vietnam war as never seen before -- The Independent
Update #2: 'Vietnam: The Real War': Iconic images mark conflict's 50th anniversary -- New York Daily News

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Newly-Released Footage From The Battle Of Mogadishu 20 Years Ago (Black Hawk Down)

Black Hawk Down! Newly-Released Footage From The Battle Of Mogadishu Shows The Moment Helicopter Was Shot Down Stranding US Troops In Enemy Territory -- Daily Mail

* Twenty years after the Battle of Mogadishu, new footage sheds light on how a mission to kidnap two Somali lieutenants went awry
* The mission was 'flawless' until the men were ready to be airlifted out of the Somali capital
* That's the moment when two black hawk helicopters were shot down, stranding soldiers in the city hours
* Nineteen U.S. servicemen died in the overnight battle in enemy territory
* The 2001 film Black Hawk Down was based on the event

Yesterday marked the 20 year anniversary of the Battle of Mogadishu. Two decades later, never-before-seen footage has been released of the operation that was depicted in the 2001 film Black Hawk Down.

The footage was obtained by CBS' 60 Minutes and will air this Sunday as part of a special segment on the mission that went awry in the capital of Somalia.

From 1993 to 1995, the United Nations had an operation in Somalia to create enough peace to continue humanitarian operations for civilians.

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WNU Editor: The CBS report is here. The fill 60 Minutes report will be broadcast on October 6.

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The Global War On Christians

The War On Christians -- John L. Allen Jr., The Spectator

The global persecution of Christians is the unreported catastrophe of our time.

Imagine if correspondents in late 1944 had reported the Battle of the Bulge, but without explaining that it was a turning point in the second world war. Or what if finance reporters had told the story of the AIG meltdown in 2008 without adding that it raised questions about derivatives and sub-prime mortgages that could augur a vast financial implosion?

Most people would say that journalists had failed to provide the proper context to understand the news. Yet that’s routinely what media outlets do when it comes to outbreaks of anti-Christian persecution around the world, which is why the global war on Christians remains the greatest story never told of the early 21st century.

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My Comment: I have more than once pointed out in this blog that the global persecution against Christians is one of the most under-reported stories of our time .... John Allen's above post provides the details.

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The Reason Why The NSA And GCHQ Regard The Tor Network As A Threat

NSA And GCHQ Target Tor Network That Protects Anonymity Of Web Users -- The Guardian

• Top-secret documents detail repeated efforts to crack Tor
• US-funded tool relied upon by dissidents and activists
• Core security of network remains intact but NSA has some success attacking users' computers
• Bruce Schneier: the NSA's attacks must be made public
• Attacking Tor: the technical details
• 'Peeling back the layers with Egotistical Giraffe' – document
• 'Tor Stinks' presentation – full document
• Tor: 'The king of high-secure, low-latency anonymity'

The National Security Agency has made repeated attempts to develop attacks against people using Tor, a popular tool designed to protect online anonymity, despite the fact the software is primarily funded and promoted by the US government itself.

Top-secret NSA documents, disclosed by whistleblower Edward Snowden, reveal that the agency's current successes against Tor rely on identifying users and then attacking vulnerable software on their computers. One technique developed by the agency targeted the Firefox web browser used with Tor, giving the agency full control over targets' computers, including access to files, all keystrokes and all online activity.

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Why The NSA And GCHQ Are Targeting The Tor Network For Infiltration

GCHQ and NSA Repeatedly Tried and Failed to Crack Tor Network -- IBTimes
Tor anonymizer network among NSA’s targets, Snowden leaks reveal -- RT
NSA Tor hack attempts see US try to crack the anonymity it pays for -- Slash Gear
The NSA's Been Trying to Hack into Tor's Anonymous Internet For Years -- Gizmodo
NSA and UK intel agency GCHQ target online anonymity tool Tor, according to leaked Snowden documents -- Boing Boing
NSA tried and failed to compromise Tor, but browser vulnerabilities gave some users away -- The Verge
Attacking Tor: how the NSA targets users' online anonymity -- Bruce Schneier, The Guardian
NSA, GCHQ Have Worked to Develop Attacks on Tor Because ‘Very Naughty People Use Tor’ -- Fire Dog Lake

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Family Members Of Greenpeace Activists Imprisoned in Russia Are Worried About Their Fate

Capt. Peter Willcox, 60, is a longtime Greenpeace activist now charged with piracy in Russia. © Peter Willcox/Facebook

US Greenpeace Captain’s Wife ‘Terrified’ by Russian Piracy Charges -- RIA Novosti

WASHINGTON, October 3 (By Maria Young for RIA Novosti) – The wife of a Greenpeace ship captain charged with piracy in Russia on Thursday said she is “terrified” of a possible 15-year prison sentence such a charge could carry.

“That’s incredibly frightening,” said Maggy Willcox, who is married to Peter Willcox, captain of the Arctic Sunrise and a longtime Greenpeace activist.

“It’s a survival thing. I cannot let my mind go there. There are so many things here that I don’t understand,” she told RIA Novosti by telephone Thursday before the charges against her husband were announced.

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My Comment: Her worries are justified. The Russian legal system is very tough .... and the process is very slow .... especially to those who get themselves arrested while trying to make a political statement. Her husband and the others who were arrested with him are going to be in prison for the next few months before their trial starts .... and when they are convicted (and they will be convicted) some of them are going to be given stiff sentences. Their only hope will be a Presidential pardon from Putin .... but that will only happen if they are convicted and sentenced to jail. They are also now being used by Russia as a warning to other activists .... a point that I am sure that international activists are now going to heed.

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The Battle Of The Videos: Navy Vs Air Force

Naval Academy Spirit Video Absolutely Demoralizes The Air Force -- Business Insider

The Air Force Academy launched a truly abysmal attempt at co-opting Daft Punk's 'Get Lucky' to respond to the Naval Academy's recent trash talking music video.

The two are due to meet on the college gridiron this weekend (shutdown pending) for their annual football game, and this month students of both schools filmed 'spirit videos' in anticipation of the clash.

The Naval Academy is hands down the winner here (if not yet on the football field).

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My Comment: Yup .... Navy has a better video.

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Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense Scores Another Direct Hit

Aegis BMD Passes Key Test; Multiple Launches At Multiple Targets Next -- Breaking Defense

At 1:30 am this morning – 7:30 pm yesterday Hawaiian time — the Navy’s newest missile defense system marked its second successful shootdown in a month. Under what Lockheed Martin called an “operationally realistic scenario” – more on that in a moment – the USS Lake Erie picked up the target with its Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense “version 4.0.2” fire control system and launched a Raytheon Standard Missile-3 Block IB to blow it out of the Pacific sky.

Code-named FTM-22, the test was one more step towards an anti-missile system that could make North Korea or Iran think twice before launching their relatively small arsenals of ballistic missiles. And that’s the principal reason for the missile defense program: to deter those two countries.

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My Comment: I concur with this analysis. Shooting down a massive missile launch from Russia or China may not be in the cards .... but this system is effective against smaller countries with limited missile capabilities .... Iran and North Korea being the two principle countries that everyone is looking at.

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Commentaries, Opinions, And Editorials -- October 4, 2013

Government Shutdown: Do National Parks Really Need To Be Barricaded? -- Patrik Jonsoon, Christian Science Monitor

Some Americans see the closure of national parks as politically motivated, but others say keeping the areas open during the government shutdown invites liability problems. For many, the parks strike a chord.

As the last campers were being ushered out of Yosemite National Park on Thursday, some Americans were protesting what they see as the unnecessary barricading of the public’s wild lands because of the government shutdown.

That shutdown, now in its third day, has closed hundreds of national park areas as well as facilities such as boat ramps and campgrounds in federal forests like Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest in Georgia.

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Commentaries, Opinions, And Editorials

The Insiders: The World War II Memorial is not a political prop -- Ed Rogers, Washington Post

Two Words That Should Make the West Wary of Iran -- Stephen L. Carter, Bloomberg

Netanyahu struggles to set the terms in Iranian dispute -- Dan Williams, Reuters

U.S. and Israel Share a Goal in Iran Talks, but Not a Strategy -- Jodi Rudoren and David E. Sanger, New York Times

When Israel Stepped Back From the Brink -- Avner Cohen, New York Times

The Fall of Tunisia's Islamists -- Michael J. Totten, World Affairs

Analysis: Kenya's intelligence work hurt by corruption, rivalries -- Edmund Blair, Reuters

Are Chinese Reforms Really a Myth? -- Ryan Rommann, The Diplomat

Obama cancels Asia trip. Is the US 'pivot' in jeopardy? -- Howard Lafranchi, Christian Science Monitor

Roma Immigrants Have Set France on Edge -- Christopher Dickey and Alice Guilhamon, Daily Beast

Transparency to secret drone war in Pakistan -- Deutsche Welle

Why the NSA's attacks on the internet must be made public -- Bruce Schneier, The Guardian

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World News Briefs -- October 4, 2013 (Evening Edition)

House Republicans Say US Government Shutdown Likely To Drag On -- CNN

Washington (CNN) -- Many House Republicans concede the government shutdown likely won't be resolved until the next major congressional deadline in mid-October when Congress needs to raise the nation's debt ceiling.

"I don't see anything happening with the shutdown until we get to some kind of a plan for a bigger agreement," Louisiana Rep. Charles Boustany told reporters after House Speaker John Boehner and other GOP leaders huddled with House Republicans on Friday.

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MIDDLE EAST

Assad: Turkey will pay for supporting 'terrorists'.

Thousands who protested peacefully languish in Syrian jails: HRW.

Qatar World Cup boss: tournament will not be built on 'blood of innocents'.

Syrians, Lebanese job competition adds to tensions.

Hezbollah hands over checkpoints in Lebanon to avoid strife.

Iran military official: Obama has surrendered.

Report: Israel eyes anti-Iran security pact with gulf states.

Netanyahu says Iranian missiles could eventually reach U.S..

Netanyahu says he would 'consider' meeting with Rouhani.

Most Israelis support Iran strike: Poll.

Israel to run for U.N. Security Council seat for 2019-20.

ASIA

Legendary Vietnam Gen. Vo Nguyen Giap dies at 102.

Former warlord named as 'mentor' of 9/11 mastermind to run for president in Afghanistan.

Pakistan wants talks with insurgents despite attacks.

Former Afghan warlords announce joint ticket for 2014 election.

China shores up regional deals as Obama cancels Asia trip.

China’s leader, Xi Jinping, consolidates power with crackdowns on corruption, Internet.

North Korea lashes out at South Korean President.

India announces warm-up for world's biggest election.

Security alert after mystery drone aircraft crashes into Sydney harbour bridge three days before Prince Harry arrives for international fleet review.

Anger over Pakistan Sindh instant message ban proposal.

AFRICA

Madagascar imposes curfew after mob killings.

At least four killed in Egypt as Islamists mount bold protests.

Attack on Egypt army convoy kills 2 soldiers.

Thousands of Muslim Brotherhood protesters march in Cairo.

Nigeria's military: Scores of Islamic militants killed in air raids in northeast Nigeria.

Kenya clashes leave several dead. Youths burn church, riot in Kenya's Mombasa after imam killed.

Kenyan police actions since Westgate attack raise red flags.

Arrests made after Mali military camp unrest.

France moves to shore up African state in turmoil.

Tunisian government and opponents to start talks Saturday.

UN Security Council to visit Africa Great Lakes region.

EUROPE

Stability fund chief expects third Greek bailout.

Envoys ask Ukraine leader to pardon jailed rival to save EU deal.

Italian Senate panel recommends Berlusconi's expulsion.

Spain's biggest corruption trial ends with 53 people convicted.

Merkel Germany: Delicate coalition talks begin. Merkel to hold another round of coalition talks with SPD Oct. 14.

Italian Senate committee starts Berlusconi expulsion process.

Portugal passes latest eurozone bailout test.

Vatican administration needs total overhaul, Cardinals tell Pope.

Ireland will need EU support when bailout ends this year, says IMF.

Cash-strapped Ireland asks voters to close Senate.

European rights court raps Russia for Kasparov arrest.

Dutch take legal action over Greenpeace ship in Russia.

Italy sinking: Search resumes for missing migrants. Italy boat sinking: hundreds of migrants still missing off Lampedusa.

AMERICAS

White House, Congress agree on something: Back-pay for federal workers.

US shutdown: Barack Obama cancels Asia trip.

Colombia peace talks: Farc points to 'modest progress'.

Brazil electoral court rejects new opposition party.

Conflict brews in Cuba over sales ban of imported goods.

Venezuela's Maduro stuck in shadow of 'El Comandante' Chavez.

Argentina prosecutors seek jail for de la Rua.

TERRORISM/THE LONG WAR

Former intelligence analyst: "Al-Qaeda's bigger now than it ever has been".

A creeping terrorist threat in Nigeria.

Yemen army assault to retake Qaeda-held HQ kills 10.

Tunisian extradited to US over NATO bomb plot.

ECONOMY/FINANCE/BUSINESS

One big doubt hanging over Twitter's IPO: Fake accounts.

Lockheed Martin to furlough 3,000 workers due to shutdown.

Silk Road seizure increases pressure on virtual currency Bitcoin.

World rankings: Top 10 universities in 2013.

Twitter unveils IPO filing; Aims to raise $1 billion.

Gates, Ballmer seek re-election to Microsoft board.

US Treasury out of tools to pay US bills.

Global economy in ‘epic scale’ change, says IMF’s Lagarde.

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The Full Story Of The Westgate Mall Attack That Devastated Kenya

Abdul Hajji rescues a youg girl, later paying tribute to her bravery. Photograph: Goran Tomasevic/Reuters

Terror In Westgate Mall: The Full Story Of The Attacks That Devastated Kenya -- The Guardian

It is two weeks since al-Shabaab militants brought mayhem to an upmarket shopping centre in Nairobi, executing unarmed men, women and children as they tried to hide or flee. At least 67 people were killed. Now, a detailed investigation based on interviews with survivors, their relatives and members of the Kenyan security forces reveals how incompetence and infighting among the authorities left the attackers free to continue their slaughter for 80 hours

At 12.30pm on Saturday 21 September, Frank Musungu, a sergeant major in the Kenyan navy, was sitting out on the balcony of the Artcaffe in Nairobi’s Westgate mall, next to its main pedestrian entrance. Military personnel had been advised against visiting the Kenyan capital’s high-profile shopping malls, in case they were targeted by terrorists. He went anyway but took his handgun as a precaution. Like many in the country’s poorly paid armed services he had hopes of a job at the nearby UN headquarters and was meeting a friend in the diplomatic police to look over his CV. Their discussion was abruptly interrupted by rapid bursts of automatic fire only a few metres away.

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My Comment: An excellent summary and analysis.

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Poll: Two Thirds Of Israeli Jews Back A Unilateral Military Strike Against Iran's Nuclear Facilities

Israelis say that if necessary their country should launch its own strike on Iran. Israel Hayom

Most Israelis Would Support Striking Iran Alone -- USA Today

A whopping 84% of the 500 Hebrew-speaking Israelis polled said they do not believe diplomacy will deter Iran from developing nuclear weapons.

JERUSALEM — Two-thirds of Israelis would support a unilateral Israeli strike against Iranian nuclear targets if they believed their country was in real danger of attack, according to a new opinion poll.

The poll was conducted less than a week after Iranian President Hasan Rouhani told the United Nations that his country's nuclear power is intended solely for peaceful purposes, and that Iran is open to negotiations and clarifications related to its nuclear capabilities.

In response, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told the U.N. that "Israel will not allow Iran to get nuclear weapons."

"If Israel is forced to stand alone, Israel will stand alone," he said.

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More News On Two Thirds Of Israeli Jews Backing A Unilateral Military Strike Against Iran's Nuclear Facilities

Poll: Two-thirds of Israeli Jews back unilateral Iran strike -- Israel Hayom
Poll: Most Israelis Support Iran Strike -- Arutz Sheva
Unilateral strike on Iran nuclear program backed by two-thirds of Israeli Jews, poll shows -- JNS.org
Most Israelis support Iran strike: Poll -- Times of India/AFP
Poll: 67% Of Israelis Support A Unilateral Israeli Strike On Iran -- JP Updates
Poll: Two-thirds of Israelis say Iran will build atomic bomb -- Jerusalem Post
Netanyahu convinces Israel on Iran but vexes US -- Global Post/AFP

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No U.S. Drone War In Iraq

DOD

U.S. Rules Out A New Drone War In Iraq -- John Hudson, The Cable/Foreign Policy

For weeks, Iraqi officials have been publicly floating the idea of using American drones to hit the increasingly lethal al-Qaeda-affiliated militants on their soil. But the ordinarily drone-friendly Obama administration is apparently in no mood to open up a new front in global campaign of unmanned attacks. An administration official tells The Cable that American drone strikes in Iraq are now off the table.

Though neither Iraqi nor U.S. officials will say who called off the drones, it's no secret who began discussing them in the first place. In an August 17 trip to Washington, Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari told reporters that Baghdad is seeking U.S. advisers, air surveillance or drone strikes to combat al-Qaeda's grip on the country. "We cannot fight these increasing terrorist" threats alone, he said. Speaking of drone strikes specifically, he said as long as they were used to "target al-Qaeda and their bases," without "collateral damage," Iraqis would welcome them.

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My Comment: Not surprised by this U.S. reluctance to get involved in Iraq's sectarian troubles .... after-all ... the U.S. learned what could happen when they "bought that t-shirt" when they invaded Iraq in 2003?

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Violent Protests Return To Egypt

Supporters of deposed President Mohamed Morsi and the Muslim Brotherhood clash with anti-Morsi protesters during a march in Shubra street in Cairo, Oct. 4, 2013.

Thousands Of Muslim Brotherhood Protesters March In Cairo -- Voice Of America/Reuters

CAIRO — Defying a crackdown, thousands of supporters of Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood marched through a Cairo suburb on Friday toward the site of their former protest camp that was crushed by security forces in August, a Reuters witness said.

Soldiers and policemen boosted their presence around Rabaa al-Adaweya mosque, the larger of the Brotherhood's two former Cairo sit-ins, as the march approached, the state news agency reported.

Egypt has been gripped by political and economic turmoil since army chief General Abdel Fattah al-Sisi overthrew Islamist Mohamed Morsi, the country's first freely elected president, on July 3 after mass protests against his rule. Hundreds of people were killed when the security forces broke up the Brotherhood sit-ins in August.

Friday's protesters loudly chanted slogans calling for Sisi's downfall, and waved Egyptian flags.

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More News On The Unrest In Egypt

Clashes as thousands of Morsi backers march in Cairo -- AFP
Violent clashes between supporters of ousted Egyptian President Morsi, military -- FOX News
Violence erupts after Friday prayers in Egypt -- Al Jazeera
Clashes erupt in Egypt; Brotherhood supporter killed -- Reuters
Clashes erupt at pro-Morsi demonstrations in Egypt -- BBC
Egyptian riot police fire tear gas at protesters -- AP
Muslim Brotherhood supporter dies in Cairo clash after military open fire on pro-Mursi demonstration -- Euronews
Egyptian security forces fire teargas at pro-Morsi protesters near Tahrir -- Ahram Online/Reuters

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President Obama Cancels His Asian Trip Because Of The Partial U.S. Government Shutdown

Shutdown Prompts Obama To Skip Asia Trip -- Voice Of America

President Obama has canceled an upcoming trip to Asia because of the partial U.S. government shutdown, which entered its fourth day on Friday.

The White House announced late on Thursday that the president made his decision to cancel visits to Indonesia and Brunei based on the difficulty in moving forward with foreign travel in the face of the shutdown and his plans to continue pressuring Republicans to allow a vote to reopen the government.

The White House said Secretary of State John Kerry will lead U.S. delegations to both countries, as well as to Malaysia and the Philippines. Kerry will attend the APEC summit in Bali in place of the president.

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My Comment: This cancellation was a no brainer. How could he go to Asia and negotiate with the people over-there when he refuses to negotiate in Washington with the Republicans. At least this way .... he can now stay in D.C. and not negotiate on the shutdown.

As to his Asian pivot .... some are now wondering if "his heart" is in it.

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War Of Words Intensify Between Syria And Turkey

Syria's President Bashar al-Assad (R) speaks during an interview with Italian television station RaiNews24 in Damascus in this handout photograph distributed by Syria's national news agency SANA on September 29, 2013. REUTERS/SANA/Handout via Reuters

Assad: Turkey Will Pay for Supporting 'Terrorists' -- Voice of America

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is warning neighboring Turkey will pay a "heavy price" for supporting what he referred to as "terrorists" in his country.

Turkey-Syria ties were once close, but have deteriorated over Ankara's staunch support for rebels fighting to overthrow Assad's government.

In an interview aired Friday on Turkey's Halk TV, Assad accused Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan of allowing extremists from over 80 countries to cross the border. He said this resulted in the deaths of "tens of thousands" of Syrians.

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More News On Syrian President Assad Threatening Turkey

Assad says Turkey will pay for backing Syrian rebels -- Reuters
Turkey Aiding Flow of Islamist Fighters Into Syria: Assad -- Bloomberg
Assad Says Turkey Will 'Pay' For Supporting Rebels -- Radio Free Europe
Assad Warns Erdogan over 'Backing Terrorists' -- Novinite

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World News Briefs -- October 4, 2013

Obama To Miss APEC Summit Due To Shutdown -- Voice of America

President Obama has canceled an upcoming trip to Asia because of the partial U.S. government shutdown, which entered its fourth day on Friday.

The White House announced late on Thursday that the president made his decision to cancel visits to Indonesia and Brunei based on the difficulty in moving forward with foreign travel in the face of the shutdown and his plans to continue pressuring Republicans to allow a vote to reopen the government.

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MIDDLE EAST

Assad: Turkey will pay for supporting 'terrorists'.

Thousands who protested peacefully languish in Syrian jails: HRW.

Hezbollah hands over checkpoints in Lebanon to avoid strife.

Iran military official: Obama has surrendered.

Report: Israel eyes anti-Iran security pact with gulf states.

Netanyahu says Iranian missiles could eventually reach U.S..

Netanyahu says he would 'consider' meeting with Rouhani.

Israel to run for U.N. Security Council seat for 2019-20.

ASIA

Pakistan wants talks with insurgents despite attacks.

Former Afghan warlords announce joint ticket for 2014 election.

China shores up regional deals as Obama cancels Asia trip.

China’s leader, Xi Jinping, consolidates power with crackdowns on corruption, Internet.

North Korea lashes out at South Korean President.

India announces warm-up for world's biggest election.

Security alert after mystery drone aircraft crashes into Sydney harbour bridge three days before Prince Harry arrives for international fleet review.

Anger over Pakistan Sindh instant message ban proposal.

AFRICA

Attack on Egypt army convoy kills 2 soldiers.

Thousands of Muslim Brotherhood protesters march in Cairo.

Nigeria's military: Scores of Islamic militants killed in air raids in northeast Nigeria.

Youths burn church, riot in Kenya's Mombasa after imam killed.

Kenyan police actions since Westgate attack raise red flags.

Arrests made after Mali military camp unrest.

France moves to shore up African state in turmoil.

Tunisian government and opponents to start talks Saturday.

UN Security Council to visit Africa Great Lakes region.

EUROPE

Merkel Germany: Delicate coalition talks begin.

Italian Senate committee starts Berlusconi expulsion process.

Portugal passes latest eurozone bailout test.

Vatican administration needs total overhaul, Cardinals tell Pope.

Cash-strapped Ireland asks voters to close Senate.

European rights court raps Russia for Kasparov arrest.

Dutch take legal action over Greenpeace ship in Russia.

Italy sinking: Search resumes for missing migrants.

AMERICAS

US shutdown: Barack Obama cancels Asia trip.

Colombia peace talks: Farc points to 'modest progress'.

Brazil electoral court rejects new opposition party.

Conflict brews in Cuba over sales ban of imported goods.

Venezuela's Maduro stuck in shadow of 'El Comandante' Chavez.

Argentina prosecutors seek jail for de la Rua.

TERRORISM/THE LONG WAR

A creeping terrorist threat in Nigeria.

Yemen army assault to retake Qaeda-held HQ kills 10.

Tunisian extradited to US over NATO bomb plot.

ECONOMY/FINANCE/BUSINESS

World rankings: Top 10 universities in 2013.

Twitter unveils IPO filing; Aims to raise $1 billion.

Gates, Ballmer seek re-election to Microsoft board.

US Treasury out of tools to pay US bills.

Global economy in ‘epic scale’ change, says IMF’s Lagarde.

Read More

Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- October 4, 2013

U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel speaks with troops aboard the USS Stethem at Yokosuka Naval Base, Japan in Tokyo, Oct. 4, 2013. DOD photo by Erin A. Kirk-Cuomo

Pentagon Waits Out Shutdown While Sequestration Looms -- Defense One

Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel is traveling in Asia, far from the dysfunction of Washington where Congress has once again hijacked his ability to plan his budget. First there was sequestration, now there’s a government shutdown and, in a matter of months, another fight over sequestration and this year’s budget.

“The Pentagon … has no budget. We are still living under this dark cloud of uncertainty not knowing what's going to happen. This reflects on our missions around the world. It reflects our allies' questioning our commitments. It affects our planning as we are in the process, as you know, of preparing a 2015 budget as we are preparing for further significant cuts under the current law, Budget Control Act 2011, which means $52 billion in additional cuts,” Hagel said during a stop in Seoul, South Korea.

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MILITARY AND INTELLIGENCE NEWS BRIEFS

Report: Israel eyes anti-Iran security pact with gulf states -- Space Daily/UPI

Interview: Syria, Iran Main Buyers of North Korean Chemical Weapons -- Radio Free Asia

US Withholds Some Military Aid to Rwanda Over Child Soldiers -- Voice of America

British military honours list includes soldier who fought with broken back -- BBC

Putin: Russia to Expand Arctic Presence -- Real Clear Defense

Ukraine to end military conscription after autumn call-ups -- Space Daily/UPI

Turkey "highly likely" to sign Chinese missile deal -- Reuters

Controversy Deepens Over Chinese Air Defenses For Turkey -- Defense News

First Export of Korea’s Supersonic T-50i Aircraft to Indonesia -- Defence Talk/Korean Information

Global armada steams into Sydney for naval centenary -- Space War/UPI

US to Deploy Global Hawks, F-35s, New Radars to Japan -- Defense News

US, Japan and S. Korea to hold joint naval drills -- Space Daily /AFP

U.S.-Korean Airpower Team Defends ‘Freedom’s Frontier’ -- US Department of Defense

German Air Force leaves Texas Army post after 60 years -- Stars and Stripes/AP

Officials update Okinawa, Guam realignment plans -- Stars and Stripes

US Gen Dempsey: 'Decade of challenges' in Middle East -- BBC

In Pilot Program, The NSA Secretly Collected The Crown Jewel Of Metadata From Americans -- Business Insider

New Ship News – Sub launched, Carrier prepped, LCS delivered -- Defense News

154,000 Army Civilians Furloughed in Shutdown -- DoD Buzz

Pentagon: Shutdown affects F-35 test flights, deliveries -- Military Times

Military service academies feel shutdown's impact -- USA Today

D-Day cemetery among the victims of US shutdown -- AP

Shutdown undermines embassy protection, U.S. officials say -- Washington Post

US fighter pilot at centre of military sexual assault row forced to retire -- The Guardian

Marine Corps Declassifies Blistering Indictment Of Two Generals Held Responsible After Deadly Taliban Attack -- Business Insider

US Air Force Embraces Sequestration and Asia -- Robert Farley, Diplomat

Obama spy panel is loaded with insiders, critics charge -- Anita Kumar — McClatchy Washington Bureau

Italy: home of pizza, pasta, wine and the US military -- David Vine, The Guardian

The NSA debate is as much about journalism as surveillance -- Glenn Greenwald, The Guardian

Russia's Military Is Back -- Nikolas K. Gvosdev, National Interest

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