The Nightmare That Is Aleppo



As Fighting Rages In Aleppo, Syrians Face Hunger, Disease And Little Hope Of Aid -- Washington Post

In Aleppo, Syria — Darkness comes early to the streets of this ancient city, once a symbol of Syria’s richly storied past and now at the heart of the deepening nightmare that the country’s revolution has become.

By 5 p.m., people are scurrying home, down streets potholed by artillery, past piles of rubble and mountains of garbage that hasn’t been collected in months, to spend the evenings huddled in the cold without heat, light or, increasingly, food.

“We just lie under blankets because it is so cold. We have no work, no money and no life,” said Omar Abu Mohammed, 55, one of the few remaining residents of his badly bombed neighborhood, as he prepared to head indoors for the night.

“It is time to go now because soon there will be snipers,” he added, as a shell boomed softly in the distance.

Read more ....

My Comment: This is where projections of a million plus refugees fleeing Syria by this spring are accurate .... no food/water/electricity/medical care .... just hunger/disease/bombardment/and death .... the only option left is to flee.

Picture Of The Day

Members of the U.S. Air Forces Central Band "Total Force" take a photo with audience members on Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan, Dec. 20, 2012. U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Jonathan Snyder

U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Michelle Hooper plays the accordion during a performance for the 772nd Expeditionary Airlift Squadron on Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan, Dec. 20, 2012. Hooper, a musician, is assigned to the U.S. Air Forces Central Band "Total Force." U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Jonathan Snyder

My Comment: A small confession .... when I was young and growing up in Russia I did not only play the piano and guitar, but I was also a professional accordion player and yes .... I did play in a few military halls. So when I see a U.S. soldier playing an accordion .... and a woman at that .... it is a guaranteed 'picture of the day'.

Sighhh .... the memories .... makes me want to pull out the old squeeze box and see if I still 'have it'.

Update: I still have it.

Framework For A Ceasefire And A Change Of Government In Syria Emerging

Russia's President Vladimir Putin said any solution to the conflict in Syria must ensure President Bashar al-Assad's forces and his opponents do not simply swap roles and fight on forever. Dec. 2012 (photo by REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov)

Reports Emerge Detailing Ankara-Moscow Plan For Syria -- Al-Monitor

Ankara’s transition process plan for Syria, which was discussed with Russian President Vladimir Putin and which gained his support, calls for Assad to give up power in three months. Details of Ankara’s formula, seen as Assad’s last chance, are slowly emerging. Here is a summary:

The plan Putin termed as “creative”’ foresees ending the clashes in Syria and the start of a transition process. Both sides have to abstain from using guns and Assad has to stop shedding blood. The formula sets out a detailed calendar of six months for the transition process, starting from the first day.

Read more ....

My Comment: This leads credence to Putin's remarks last week when he stated that his focus was on Syria and not on the Assad family. Will Assad and the Alawite community agree to this proposal .... considering the fact that this is a Russian - Turkish effort, and Russia is the only serious ally to the Syrian government .... I do not see them having a choice. As for the rebels .... I can see the political body and many commanders and soldiers in the FSA agree to this transition process .... especially since it would remove Assad and the Alawites from power. But will the more radical Jihadists agree to this framework .... I doubt it. Are these radicals strong enough to be spoilers .... yes but only to a few limited areas. Will this proposal be adopted ....we shall see in the next few weeks.

The Number Of Iraq And Afghan Vets Who Are Homeless Has Doubled In The Past Two Years


View more videos at: http://nbcphiladelphia.com.

Homeless, At-Risk Veterans Double -- USA Today

The number of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans who are homeless or at risk of losing a roof over their heads has more than doubled in the past two years, according to government data.

Through the end of September, 26,531 of them were living on the streets, at risk of losing their homes, staying in temporary housing or receiving federal vouchers to pay rent, the Department of Veterans Affairs reports.

That's up from 10,500 in 2010. The VA says the numbers could be higher because they include only the homeless the department is aware of.

Read more ....

My Comment: And we wonder why the suicide rate for vets are so high .... it is clear that many are experiencing horrific and depressing financial/debt/money problems. These men (and women) deserve better.

The Washington Consensus Right Now Is That The U.S. Is Going Off The Fiscal Cliff



Fiscal Cliff Deal Increasingly Unlikely -- Politico

Nearly all the major players in the fiscal cliff negotiations are starting to agree on one thing: A deal is virtually impossible before the New Year.

Unlike the bank bailout in 2008, the tax deal in 2010 and the debt ceiling in 2011, the Senate almost certainly won’t swoop in and help sidestep a potential economic calamity, senior officials in both parties predicted on Wednesday.

With the country teetering on this fiscal cliff of deep spending cuts and sharp tax hikes, the philosophical differences, the shortened timetable and the political dynamics appear to be insurmountable hurdles for a bipartisan deal by New Year’s Day.

Read more ....

My Comment: The U.S. Senate has not passed a budget for the past 3+ years .... I doubt that they are going to be successful in the next 3 days. Sequestration appears to now be inevitable .... and for the Pentagon/defense budget/defense contractors who need to plan months (if not years) for their programs/procurements/and policy goals .... everything that has been done in the past few years is now on the verge of being thrown out of the window in the next few days.

Who am I to blame for this debacle .... I cannot blame the President or the Democrats for this mess .... I know what they are and what they want (i.e. a smaller defense budget, more taxes, more entitlements, a greater role for government, etc.) .... the group that I am blaming are the Republicans. They signed up to sequestration because they believed that the Democrats would compromise on their principles .... they are now learning that they will not. The question that is now being asked is .... will the Republicans compromise on theirs .... I believe that they will .... but only in the next month or two before the impact of sequestration really starts to hit the economy and the pocketbooks of American taxpayers.

And the sad part of this debacle is that none of the plans offer any real solutions to arresting America's addiction to debt and deficit financing .... thereby guaranteeing the next crisis (and solutions) will be even worse.

Russia To Develop A New Railroad-Based ICBM System By 2020

Russia to Bring Back Railroad-Based ICBM. © Photo Courtesy of SMF (RVSN) press service

Russia To Bring Back Railroad-Based ICBM – Source -- RIA Novosti

MOSCOW, December 26 (RIA Novosti) – Russia will restart production of railway-based intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM), with prototypes to be deployed by 2020, a senior Russian defense industry official said on Wednesday.

Work has already begun on the prototypes, which will utilize exclusively domestically-made components, the official told RIA Novosti on condition of anonymity.

The new missiles will be half the weight of their decommissioned Soviet analogues, allowing them to fit into one railcar, the official added.

Read more ....

Update: Russia to build new heavy ICBM by 2018 - Karakayev -- Space Daily/Voice of Russia

My Comment: It's back to the past for Russia's nuclear forces. I guess they forgot that the reason why these systems were scrapped in the first place was because of security/technology/maintenance/transportation/etc. problems associated in maintaining such a force. Hell .... this makes more sense than building a fleet of railroad-based ICBM systems.

AK-47 Inventor Mikhail Kalashnikov Hospitalized

Famous armorer Mikhail Kalashnikov. (RIA Novosti / Ruslan Krivobok)

AK-47 Inventor Mikhail Kalashnikov In Intensive Care -- RT

Mikhail Kalashnikov, the 93 year-old inventor of the world’s most popular automatic rifle, has been admitted to a cardiology hospital in the Russian city of Izhevsk, in the Urals.

The engineer’s health is said to have worsened during a routine check up on December 20, and Kalashnikov has stayed in intensive care ever since.

According to his biographer Aleksandr Uzhanov, the weapons designer, who has until recently regularly attended work at the military plant in named after him, “feels good and plans to leave the hospital in the coming days.”

Doctors confirm the life of the increasingly frail Kalashnikov is not in immediate danger.

Read more
....

More News On AK-47 Inventor Mikhail Kalashnikov

Russia’s Kalashnikov in Intensive Care: Report
-- Defense News
AK-47 Gun Designer Hospitalized -- ABC News
Russia's Kalashnikov in intensive care: reports -- AFP

My Comment: Russian media is reporting that his health problems are being exaggerated .... but he is 93 years old .... what do they expect.

Will American Allies In Asia Still Buy The F-35?

First F-35 headed for USAF service. Wikipedia

F-35: Still On Asia’s Radar? -- Trefor Moss, The Diplomat

Several Asian countries are interested in the American F-35 JSF. But Canada’s U-turn on buying the jet won’t encourage Asian partners to sign up any time soon. Will the program survive?

For a stealth plane, the F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) certainly attracts a lot of criticism.

It was the future weapon system that promised so much — enough for the United States and its allies to draw up wide-eyed plans for over 3,100 JSFs while the plane was still little more than an idea. The JSF was going to guarantee air superiority for the U.S. and its partners well into the middle of this century. But ever since rising costs, technical complexities, and missed deadlines have badly hurt the machine’s credibility, to the point where some critics advocate freighting the F-35 straight to the museum before it ever enters active service.

Read more ....

My Comment: The Canadian auditor's report on the F-35 program is/was a wake-up call on what are the real costs for buying and maintaining an F-35 fleet. As a result .... I am not surprised to see everyone starting to develop cold feet .... including the Americans. But unlike the Americans who are politically tied to the F-35, Canada and many other countries (Asia included) have a few options.

U.S. State Department Penalties For Benghazi Failure Are Bogus

Benghazi Penalties Are Bogus -- New York Post

The four officials supposedly out of jobs because of their blunders in the run-up to the deadly Benghazi terror attack remain on the State Department payroll — and will all be back to work soon, The Post has learned.

The highest-ranking official caught up in the scandal, Assistant Secretary of State Eric Boswell, has not “resigned” from government service, as officials said last week. He is just switching desks. And the other three are simply on administrative leave and are expected back.

The four were made out to be sacrificial lambs in the wake of a scathing report issued last week that found that the US compound in Benghazi, Libya, was left vulnerable to attack because of “grossly inadequate” security.

State Department leaders “didn’t come clean about Benghazi and now they’re not coming clean about these staff changes,” a source close to the situation told The Post., adding, the “public would be outraged over this.”

Read more ....

Update #1:
State Department official who 'resigned' after Libya findings reportedly staying on payroll -- FOX News
Update #2: Benghazi penalties “bogus,” officials returning to work? -- Hot Air

My Comment: More deceit and lies coming from the government ... this is outrageous .... and the main stream media (not surprising) is nowhere to be seen.

Death Toll From Syria's Civil War Has Passed 45,000,



Syria Death Toll Spirals As Lakhdar Brahimi Mission Stumbles -- The Australian/AFP

THE death toll in Syria's civil war has passed 45,000, a watchdog says, as peace envoy Lakhdar Brahimi looked to Russia for help in his faltering bid to find a negotiated settlement.

Washington meanwhile gave a cautious welcome to reports that Syria's army police chief had defected to the opposition.

"In all we have documented the deaths of 45,048 people," said Rami Abdel Rahman, director of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. More than 1000 people had been killed in the past week alone, he said.

Read more
....

My Comment: The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights is also conceding that this death toll could actually be 100,000 instead of 45,000 .... with many of the dead not being reported to medical and/or humanitarian organizations. I concur with this assessment. They are also conceding the strong probability that there will be over one million Syrian refugees in other countries by the summer of 2013. I think they are underestimating that number.

Update: The above YouTube video reveals how bloody the Syrian civil war has become .... it is the missile strike against a bakery bread line in Halfaya 12-23-12 that killed over 90 civilians.

Rebels Advance On The Capital City Of The Central African Republic



Rebels Advance In Central African Republic -- CNN

(CNN) -- The United Nations announced Wednesday that it is temporarily relocating dependents and nonessential staff in the Central African Republic because a cease-fire with rebel forces is not holding.

Their "contradictory messages and their continued military offensive seem to indicate that they might be intent on taking Bangui," said U.N. spokesman Farhan Haq, referring to the capital city.

The move "is a precautionary measure to reduce our presence in the event the security situation further deteriorates in Bangui," he continued.

In a statement, the spokesperson for Ban Ki-moon said the secretary-general "condemns the armed attacks on several towns in the Central African Republic perpetrated by the coalition of rebel groups 'SELEKA.'

Read more ....

More News On Central African Republic's Civil War

CAR wants French help as rebels close in on capital -- Reuters
UN on alert as CAR rebels advance -- Al Jazeera
CAR rebels pass last major town, close in on capital – sources -- Euronews/Reuters
CAR Rebels Seize Another Town -- Voice of America
CAR rebels seize territory, demand talks with government -- Euronews
Central African Republic rebels say they don't intend to seize capital, want talks -- FOX News/AP
C.Africa rebels demand surrender as protesters turn on France -- AFP
Protesters throw stones at French Embassy in Central African Republic as rebels advance -- Washington Post/AP
CAR Protesters Attack French Embassy -- Voice of America
UN pulls non-essential staff out of Central African Republic -- AFP
US urges citizens to quit Central African Republic -- AFP

My Comment: If the French and/or UN do not intervene directly, the government is going to fall. What's my prediction .... it is too late to stop the rebel advance, the government is going to fall.

Will Sen. John Kerry's Appointment As Secretary Of State Be Blocked?

President Obama and Senator John Kerry. Kevin Lamarque / Reuters

Is Hillary's Benghazi Testimony Still Going to Hold Up Kerry's Confirmation? -- The Atlantic

As if the "Where's Hillary?" meme hadn't picked up enough conspiratorial steam, it appears that some continue to believe Sen. John Kerry somehow might not get confirmed as Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's successor until Republican Senators successfully drag her to testify about the Benghazi attacks. The murmurs continued in a report from Foreign Policy's Josh Rogin, who in the midst of an otherwise dull roundup on Kerry's transition team continued to float this curious gossip:

The Senate is expected to take up Kerry's nomination in early January, but multiple Republican senators have already said they won't agree to a vote on Kerry's nomination until Clinton testifies about the Sept. 11 attack on the U.S. mission in Benghazi. Illness and a concussion has prevented Clinton from appearing thus far.

Read more ....

Update: Report: GOP senators won’t confirm Kerry until Clinton testifies on Benghazi -- Washington Examiner

My Comment: Short answer .... no .... the Republicans do not have the votes. But .... they can put the spotlight on the Benghazi tragedy and ask the questions (again) that have remained unanswered. On a side note .... where is US Secretary of State Clinton?

The CIA’s Global Response Staff Emerges From The Shadows

CIA’s Global Response Staff Emerging From Shadows After Incidents In Libya And Pakistan -- Washington Post

The rapid collapse of a U.S. diplomatic compound in Libya exposed the vulnerabilities of State Department facilities overseas. But the CIA’s ability to fend off a second attack that same night provided a glimpse of a key element in the agency’s defensive arsenal: a secret security force created after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.

Two of the Americans killed in Libya were members of the CIA’s Global Response Staff, an innocuously named organization that has recruited hundreds of former U.S. Special Forces operatives to serve as armed guards for the agency’s spies.

The GRS, as it is known, is designed to stay in the shadows, training teams to work undercover and provide an unobtrusive layer of security for CIA officers in high-risk outposts.

Read more ....

My Comment: This is very dangerous work .... and in today's world absolutely essential. The fact that the contractors employed to do this work are sometimes not covered by insurance and other benefits is something that is surprising and maybe should be changed .... especially in view of the work that they do. On a side note .... Blackwater was criticized for doing this type of work (and more) when it was in business .... considering how incredibly dangerous that "business" was/is .... and that the CIA's GRS teams are facing the same problems .... maybe a more thorough discussion and debate is warranted on what role should contractors and their companies play when it comes to doing this type of work.

Can China And Japan Go To War In 2013?

(Click on Image to Enlarge)

Professor: Don't Be Surprised If There's A War Between Japan And China In The Next Year -- Rob Wile, Business Insider

Chinese planes flew near Japanese airspace Monday to assert its claims to Japan's Senkaku islands (China calls them the Diaoyu islands).

The move came just as Japan announced its new prime minister.

Hugh White, a professor at Australian National University and a former Australian defense official, believes this is the latest sign the two countries are heading to war.

And the U.S. will be dragged in.

Read more ....

My Comment: I am still of the opinion that our "better angels" will persevere .... but it is true that historically speaking .... wars have been fought in this part of the world for far less.

Commentaries, Opinions, And Editorials -- December 26, 2012



Assad's End Game. Then What? -- The Australian

AFTER more than 45,000 deaths, the civil war to overthrow Bashar al-Assad's Baathist regime dominated by the heterodox Shia Alawite community is nearing the end game. The rebels, endorsed by Sunni leaders in the Gulf and elsewhere, appear to have the upper hand in this 18-month-long civil war. Peace cannot come too soon, but the portents for the aftermath are disturbing. Sadly, Assad's downfall will not be the end of Syria's problems nor will it restore stability to the region.

Read more
....

Commentaries, Opinions, And Editorials

How the face of the Syrian regime betrayed Assad over Twitter
-- David Kenner, Passport/Foreign Policy

From Bread Lines to Front Lines: In the latest phase of Syria's civil war, civilians have become the targets. -- Steven Sotloff, Foreign Policy

The Iran Secret: Explaining North Korea’s Rocket Success -- John S. Park, The Diplomat

The Asian Century Crumbles
-- Devin Stewart, Huffington Post

13 bold predictions for Asia in 2013 -- Tom Nagorski, Salon

Japan has to make tough choices for economy
-- Gulf News editorial

A nation in dire need of Mandela's high purpose -- Bill Keller, The Age

The Russian Duma’s ill-considered adoption bill -- Washington Post editorial

Looking Ahead, Europe Faces a Difficult 2013
-- Desmond Lachman, Real Clear Markets

Germany's austerity plans will beggar Europe -- Costas Lapavitsas, The Guardian

Obama’s Gesture Just for Show
-- Jonathan S. Tobin, Commentary

World News Briefs -- December 26, 2012 (Evening Edition)



US Treasury Warns Of 'Extraordinary Measures' Amid Fiscal Cliff Deadlock -- The Guardian

Barack Obama cuts short holiday to tackle budget crisis as country faces breaching its $16.4tn debt limit.

US Treasury secretary Tim Geithner warned on Wednesday he would have to take "extraordinary measures" to avoid a default on the US's legal obligations as the country is set to breach its $16.4tn (£10.16tn) debt limit.

In a letter to Congress, Geithner said the debt ceiling would be reached on 31 December and that the Treasury could raise $200bn (£124bn) to fund government spending as a stopgap measure. But he warned that the current impasse over the fiscal cliff budget crisis meant it was uncertain how long that money would last.

"Under normal circumstances, that amount of headroom would last approximately two months.

Read more
....


MIDDLE EAST

Syrian moderates fear being edged out of uprising.

Video: Syrian military police chief defects to join 'the people's revolution'.

Shelling in Syria's Raqqa kills 20, at least eight children.

Iranian ex-president's family sue Ahmadinejad ally over corruption claim.

Blogger's death stirs political hornet's nest in Iran.

Turkey kills 13 PKK militants.

GCC states slam Iran interference in region.

Iraqis rally against government.

Israel fast-tracks plan to build settler units.

ASIA

China's claims on South China Sea grow challenge for ASEAN, world.

Asia remembers 2004 tsunami.

Three Afghans dead in new blast at U.S. base in Afghan east.

India orders inquiry into Delhi gang rape.

Thai defence chiefs tour hot spots.

UN General Assembly voices concern for Myanmar's Muslims.

Japan's Abe set for second term, to tap allies for cabinet.

China launches longest high-speed train line.

Air Bagan survivors tell of terrifying landing.

AFRICA

Central African Republic wants French help as rebels close in on capital.

Sudan's Bashir says ready to meet Kiir to try to get oil flowing.

Nelson Mandela discharged from hospital in South Africa.

Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi signs constitution, reaches out to critics – but no sale. Egypt's Morsi admits mistakes and urges unity.

Egypt constitution passes, economic crunch looms. Egypt's leader signs contentious constitution into law.

Boko Haram launches attacks across northern Nigeria, 25 dead.

Fire causes massive explosion at Nigeria fireworks factory.

CAR rebels advance on another major town.

Mali: UNESCO chief deplores new destruction of Timbuktu mausoleums.

EUROPE

Berlusconi allies fire barbs at Monti, ending Christmas truce.

Spanish police bust hashish-smuggling ring.

Central African Republic protest prompts France action.

Russian parliament approves ban on American adoptions.

Merkel party rises to seven-year poll high before election year 2013.

Number of North Caucasus terrorism-linked crimes down in 2012 - Interior Ministry.

Ukraine helicopter crash in Kirovograd kills five.

Svoboda: The rise of Ukraine's ultra-nationalists.

Bleak Christmas in Greece.

AMERICAS

Bush spokesman says ex-president's fever rising.

Nicaragua volcano: Hundreds flee San Cristobal eruptions.

US storm's toll up to 6 dead; system heads east.

U.S. will hit debt limit on Dec. 31, Treasury Department says.

Obama to cut vacation short to deal with fiscal crisis.

U.S. trade deficit heading for surplus.

Venezuela’s VP says Chavez up and about, giving orders.

Good year ahead for Mexico while investors feel frustrated with ‘Brazil cost’.

The trend of fathers disappearing from households across America.

TERRORISM/THE LONG WAR

France hastens military intervention against al-Qaida-linked groups in Mali.

UAE says arrests cell planning attacks.

Interview with a newly designated terrorist: Syria’s Jabhat Al-Nusra.

Al Qaeda blames France for Sahel hostage deadlock.

Morocco busts Qaeda recruitment cell: ministry.

ECONOMY/FINANCE/BUSINESS

Toyota agrees $1bn US recall deal.

Why does Canada have a maple syrup cartel?

Netflix up and running again after Christmas Eve outage disappointed families counting on holiday movie marathon.

Toyota poised to reclaim world's biggest carmaker title.

Google apps breaking into Microsoft territory.

Why Did An Afghan Policewoman Kill An American Contractor In Afghanistan?

The daughter of Narges Rezaeimomenabad holds a picture of her mother. Photo: Reuters

Mental Illness, Poverty Haunted Afghan Policewoman Who Killed American -- Reuters

(Reuters) - The Afghan policewoman suspected of killing a U.S. contractor at police headquarters in Kabul suffered from mental illness and was driven to suicidal despair by poverty, her children told Reuters on Wednesday.

The woman was identified by authorities as Narges Rezaeimomenabad, a 40-year-old grandmother and mother of three who moved here from Iran 10 years ago and married an Afghan man.

On Monday morning, she loaded a pistol in a bathroom at the police compound, hid it in her long scarf and shot an American police trainer, apparently becoming the first Afghan woman to carry out such an attack.

Narges also tried to shoot police officials after killing the American. Luckily for them, her pistol jammed. Her husband is also under investigation.

Read more ....

My Comment: If the children are to be believed .... this Afghan policewoman was on the verge of a breakdown, and in her anger and despair made the decision to destroy as many lives as possible before ending hers. Unfortunately .... she succeeded.

Fracking Will Impact Today's Geopolitical Status Quo

How Fracking Could Affect U.S. Policy Towards The Middle East -- Daniel J. Gallington, U.S. News And World Report

Daniel Gallington is the Senior Policy and Program Adviser at the George C. Marshall Institute in Arlington, Va. He served in senior national security policy positions in the Office of the Secretary of Defense, the Department of Justice, and as bipartisan general counsel for the U.S. Senate Select Committee on Intelligence.


In the news a lot recently is "fracking," the shorthand for "fracturing". It's an oil-drilling technique that's becoming increasingly effective for recovering lots of oil and gas from rock formations—and is undergoing widening application in the United States.

In fact, a recent public report by the National Intelligence Council says that modern fracking for oil in the United States is a "technological revolution, which won't be completely understood for some time." And that "in a tectonic shift, energy independence is not unrealistic for the US in as short a period as 10-20 years."

Read more
....

My Comment:
For much of the past 40 years U.S. foreign policy has been influenced and guided by it's need for energy .... if this status quo can be changed, the consequences on us and on countries like Iran, Venezuela, Russia, Saudi Arabia .... all of this can only work in our favor (environmental concerns aside).

U.S. Will Hit Debt Limit On Monday

The Outstanding U.S. Public Debt as of 26 Dec 2012 at 10:07:21 PM GMT

U.S. To Hit Debt Limit Monday -- FOX News

The U.S. Treasury on Wednesday announced the first in a possible series of emergency steps to push back the day when the government will exceed its legal borrowing authority as imposed by the U.S. Congress.

The Treasury said on Dec. 28 it would suspend issuance of State and Local Government Series securities, known as "slugs", which are special low-interest Treasury securities offered to state and local governments to temporarily invest proceeds from municipal bond sales.

Read more ....

WNU Editor: The U.S. national debt (in real time) can be viewed here.

The Most Popular Military Videos Of 2012



Top 10 Most Popular Military Videos Of 2012 -- Stars And Stripes

There’s live video of a Coast Guard rescue at sea during Hurricane Sandy, a public service announcement on homeless veterans, and of course, a ‘Gangnam Style’ spoof music video in contention, but what were the top 10 most watched U.S. military videos of 2012?

This year’s winner, published in February, garnered almost 2.4 million views. In comparison, the most watched video from Stars and Stripes in 2012—‘Heat ray demonstration’—received about 57,500 views, good enough for 11th place if in the competition.

Read more ....

My Comment:
The most popular military video (it is a military tribute video) is this one with over 31,000,000 visits .... the music is "Pacific Wind" by Ryan Farish .... and it is haunting .... this is also my favorite military tribute video (by far).

A Bloggers Murder In Iran Is Stirring A 'Political Hornet's Nest'

Iranian blogger Sattar Beheshti pictured with his mother before his death in custody. The Guardian

Blogger's Death Stirs Political Hornet's Nest In Iran -- Reuters

(Reuters) - There was little about Sattar Beheshti that made him stand out in a working-class suburb south of Tehran called Robat Karim.

Like many of his peers, the 35-year-old laborer was devout and lived at home with his mother. But his life changed when he started a blog called "My Life for Iran" last year.

His entries often focused on the struggles of the working class as well as the political restrictions in Iran, sometimes mixed with personal anecdotes from Beheshti's daily life.

As months passed, the tone on the blog became sharper and more political, with unveiled criticism of the establishment and even the Supreme Leader, a red line in the Islamic Republic.

Read more
....

My Comment: This case illustrates the power of social media and the web as well as revealing why the Iranian theocracy is afraid of it. The web may not change the government in Iran, but it is revealing its crimes that future generations will be able to look at and make a judgement on .... a prospect that Iranian government officials (for their own reasons) do not want to see happen.

Searching For A Roadmap To End The Syrian Civil War



Assad Officials Head To Moscow To Discuss End To Syrian Civil War -- NBC

BEIRUT -- Syrian President Bashar Assad dispatched senior diplomats to Moscow on Wednesday to discuss proposals made by international envoy Lakhdar Brahimi to end the 21-month-old conflict gripping Syria, Syrian and Lebanese sources said.

Syria's Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad and Assistant Foreign Minister Ahmad Arnous flew early Wednesday to Moscow, airport officials in Beirut told The Associated Press. The men hope to sound out Russian officials on details discussed with Brahimi earlier this week in Damascus.

Brahimi is trying to arrange a peaceful transfer of power, but has disclosed little about how this might be achieved. Opposition sources have staunchly rejected any solution that would leave President Bashar Assad and his government in power.

Read more ....

Update:
Syrian officials head to Moscow for talks on crisis proposals -- Reuters

My Comment: UPI has a good 2012 review of the Syrian civil. As for a Syrian delegation traveling to Moscow for talks on ending the civil war .... from my vantage point "talk" is something that both sides are not serious about .... it is all being done for the cameras and for their supporters.

Senior Syrian Military General Defects



High-Ranking Syrian General Defects in New Blow to Assad -- New York Times

Syria’s embattled leadership suffered a new setback on Wednesday with the publicly broadcast defection of its military police chief, the highest-ranking officer to abandon President Bashar al-Assad since the uprising against him began nearly two years ago.

The defector, Maj. Gen. Abdul Azia Jassem al-Shallal, announced his move in a video broadcast by Al Arabiya, saying that he had taken the step because of what he called the Syrian military’s deviation from “its fundamental mission to protect the nation and transformation into gangs of killing and destruction.”

Read more ....

More News On The Defection Of Maj. Gen. Abdul Azia Jassem al-Shallal

Top Syrian Official Defects -- Voice of America
Syria military chief General Abdel Aziz Jassem al-Shallal defects from Assad regime -- The Australian/AFP
Syria military police chief defects to rebels -- The Guardian
Syrian military police head defects as death toll climbs -- Deutsche Welle

My Comment: The defections are happening .... but slowly. Sighhhh .... this is going to be a long war.

When U.S. Drone Strikes Go Wrong

Yemeni protesters on the streets of Sanea during an anti-government demonstration in Radfan. Photo: Reuters

Villagers Join Al-Qaeda After Deadly US Strike -- Sydney Morning Herald

DHAMAR, Yemen: A rickety truck packed with 14 people rumbled down a desert road from the town of Radda, which al-Qaeda militants once controlled. Suddenly a missile struck flipping the vehicle over. Then a second missile hit the truck.

Within seconds, 11 of the passengers were dead, including a woman and her seven-year-old daughter. A 12-year-old boy also died that day, and another man later died from his wounds.

The Yemeni government initially said that those killed were al-Qaeda militants and that its own Soviet-era jets carried out the September 2 attack. But last week US officials acknowledged for the first time that it was an American strike and that the victims were civilians.

Read more ....

My Comment: This is one of those "damn if you do, damn if you don't" situations. For the past few years Al Qaeda in Yemen has plotted (and tried) to carry out terror attacks against the West .... the West in turn had to respond .... hence the civilian casualties. But blow-back is a double edge sword .... Al Qaeda expects us to respond with their attacks, but we in turn must also be ready for their response after we have struck .... including from those who are caught in the crossfire in our conflict with Al Qaeda.

Afghanistan war News Updates -- December 26, 2012

Afghan policemen carry the dead body of a victim at a local hospital after a suicide bomb attack in Khost province, December 26, 2012. Voice of America

Taliban Suicide Bomber Attacks US Base In Khost -- Long War Journal

The Taliban claimed credit for a suicide attack outside of a US base in eastern Afghanistan that is known to house CIA operatives who are hunting al Qaeda and other terrorist leaders across the border in Pakistan.

The Taliban suicide bomber detonated a van packed with explosives outside the main gate of Forward Operating Base Chapman in Khost province as Afghan workers were entering the base. Two Afghan civilians and an Afghan soldier were killed and several more were wounded in the blast, the provincial police chief told Pajhwok Afghan News. The slain Afghan policeman stopped the vehicle before it could enter the base, and then the suicide bomber detonated the explosives, TOLONews reported.

Read more ....

More News On Afghanistan

ISAF Joint Command operational update, Dec 26 -- IASF

3 killed as Afghan bomber attacks near major US base in country’s east -- Washington Post/AP
Three Afghans dead in new blast at U.S. base in Afghan east -- Reuters
Officials: Suicide blast outside key U.S. military base kills 3 Afghans -- Washington Post
Suicide bomber targets Nato base in Afghanistan -- The Guardian
Suicide Bomber Targets US Base in Afghanistan -- Voice of America

Afghan 'Green-on-Blue' Attacker Named as Iranian National -- Voice of America
Motive Unclear in Killing by Woman in Afghan Force -- New York Times
Officials say policewoman shooter Iranian -- UPI

Afghanistan: NATO troops get a taste of the Christmas spirit
-- Euronews
Troops in Afghanistan celebrate Christmas -- Baltimore Sun (Photo Gallery)

Spring Wish denied as suicide bomber brings down Afghan juice empire -- Reuters
Killing Thousands in Afghanistan: Record Number Of Deadly US Drone Strikes -- Global Research
Anniversary of Soviet operation in Afghanistan -- Voice of Russia
Endgame In Afghanistan: Pakistan’s New Approach – Analysis -- Eurasia Review

World News Briefs -- December 26, 2012



Syria To Discuss Brahimi Proposals With Russia -- Reuters

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad dispatched a senior diplomat to Moscow on Wednesday to discuss proposals made by envoy Lakhdar Brahimi to end the conflict convulsing his country, Syrian and Lebanese sources said.

Brahimi, who met Assad on Monday as part of a series of planned talks with Syrian officials and dissidents in Damascus this week, is trying to arrange a peaceful transfer of power, but has disclosed little about how this might be achieved.

More than 44,000 Syrians have died in the revolt against four decades of Assad family rule, a conflict that began with peaceful protests but which has descended into civil war.

Read more ....

MIDDLE EAST

Video: Syrian military police chief defects to join 'the people's revolution'.

Shelling in Syria's Raqqa kills 20, at least eight children.

Turkey kills 13 PKK militants.

GCC states slam Iran interference in region.

Iraqis rally against government.

Israel fast-tracks plan to build settler units.

ASIA

Three Afghans dead in new blast at U.S. base in Afghan east.

India orders inquiry into Delhi gang rape.

Thai defence chiefs tour hot spots.

UN General Assembly voices concern for Myanmar's Muslims.

Japan's Abe set for second term, to tap allies for cabinet.

China launches longest high-speed train line.

Air Bagan survivors tell of terrifying landing.

AFRICA

Egypt constitution passes, economic crunch looms. Egypt's leader signs contentious constitution into law.

Boko Haram launches attacks across northern Nigeria, 25 dead.

Fire causes massive explosion at Nigeria fireworks factory.

CAR rebels advance on another major town.

Mali: UNESCO chief deplores new destruction of Timbuktu mausoleums.

EUROPE

Russian parliament approves ban on American adoptions.

Merkel party rises to seven-year poll high before election year 2013.

Number of North Caucasus terrorism-linked crimes down in 2012 - Interior Ministry.

Ukraine helicopter crash in Kirovograd kills five.

Svoboda: The rise of Ukraine's ultra-nationalists.

Bleak Christmas in Greece.

AMERICAS

Obama to cut vacation short to deal with fiscal crisis.

U.S. trade deficit heading for surplus.

Venezuela’s VP says Chavez up and about, giving orders.

Good year ahead for Mexico while investors feel frustrated with ‘Brazil cost’.

The trend of fathers disappearing from households across America.

TERRORISM/THE LONG WAR

Interview with a newly designated terrorist: Syria’s Jabhat Al-Nusra.

Al Qaeda blames France for Sahel hostage deadlock.

Morocco busts Qaeda recruitment cell: ministry.

ECONOMY/FINANCE/BUSINESS

Why does Canada have a maple syrup cartel?

Netflix up and running again after Christmas Eve outage disappointed families counting on holiday movie marathon.

Toyota poised to reclaim world's biggest carmaker title.

Google apps breaking into Microsoft territory.

Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- December 26, 2012

Famous armorer Mikhail Kalashnikov. (RIA Novosti / Ruslan Krivobok)

AK-47 Inventor Mikhail Kalashnikov In Intensive Care -- RT

Mikhail Kalashnikov, the 93 year-old inventor of the world’s most popular automatic rifle, has been admitted to a cardiology hospital in the Russian city of Izhevsk, in the Urals.

The engineer’s health is said to have worsened during a routine check up on December 20, and Kalashnikov has stayed in intensive care ever since.

According to his biographer Aleksandr Uzhanov, the weapons designer, who has until recently regularly attended work at the military plant in named after him, “feels good and plans to leave the hospital in the coming days.”

Doctors confirm the life of the increasingly frail Kalashnikov is not in immediate danger.

Read more
....

MILITARY AND INTELLIGENCE NEWS BRIEFS

Chinese military power 'shifting Pacific balance', says defence white paper -- The Australian

Australian war games with China on radar -- The Australian

Kazakh military plane crashes, all 27 on board killed -- Reuters

China's Military Ordered To Clean Up And Get Stronger -- Strategy Page

Official: Iran among Top 20 Manufacturers of Navy Vessels -- Fars News Agency (Iran)

Leaked Image Shows First RAF Rivet Joint -- Ares/Aviation Week

The Great Russian Train Wreck -- Strategy Page

India Claims Problems With Russian-Leased Nuclear Sub
-- RIA Novosti

Increasing Marine Embassy Security a Challenge -- Military.com/UPI

Head of nuclear security agency steps down -- Christian Science Monitor/AP

NSA’s Super-Secure Database Dodges Bullet From Senate -- Wired

Revealed: NSA targeting domestic computer systems in secret test -- CNet

The Pentagon's Decade-Long Spending Spurt Is Over: Welcome To The New Austerity
-- International Business Times

Skype Links Guardsmen to Home on Holidays
-- Military.com/Bangor Daily News

One in 12 in military has clogged heart arteries -- Reuters

Heart Disease in Military Shows Steep Drop Since Korean War
-- New York Times

Freedom Of Information Request Reveals British Government's Plans For A Zombie Outbreak -- Business Insider/The Telegraph

Through the Glass Darkly: What U.S. Intelligence Predicts for 2030 -- The Cutting Edge

Russia To Launch Navy Drills In The Meditteranean

Yaroslav Mudry. © RIA Novosti. Igor Zarembo

Russian Warships Gather In Mediterranean For Drills -- RIA Novosti

MOSCOW, December 25 (RIA Novosti) - About a dozen Russian warships are converging on the Mediterranean and the Gulf of Aden as part of a large-scale strategic exercise, a high-ranking representative the General Staff of Russia’s Armed Forces said on Tuesday.

“This part of the world’s oceans is very important from the point of view of Russia’s geopolitical interests, including the fact that the Russian Navy has a logistical base here [in Syria],” he said.

The warships will conduct air-defense, anti-ship and anti-submarine drills and call at some foreign ports, including Tartus in Syria, he said.

Read more ....

More News On Russia's Navy To Conduct Drills In The Mediterranean

Russian warships begin military exercises -- UPI
Russian warships on mission in Mediterranean -- Voice of Russia
More Russian marines and tanks sail for Syria’s Tartus -- Debka
Russian ships to hold joint drills in Mediterranean -- Panarmenian.net

My Comment: The real reason why these ships are there is to watch the unfolding destruction in Syria, and to be prepared to evacuate Russian nationals.

Russia Is The World's Second Largest Arms Exporter



Russian Weapons Popular In The World In 2012 -- Space Daily/Voice of Russia

In 2012, Russia concluded contracts on selling weapons for the total sum of $ 15 bln. Russian weapons are still popular in the world, much to the envy of some Western weapon producers.

Today, the position of a country on the world market of weapons is evidence of the development of science and technology in this country.

From this point of view, Russia's position today is much better than it was in the 1990s, when the military industry in Russia was experiencing a crisis after the collapse of the Soviet Union.

Read more ....

My Comment: This trend will probably continue. Russian arms are cheaper than American weapon systems, and the world is certainly not becoming a safer place.


Iran To Launch Massive War Games In The Persian Gulf

Iranian helicopters and war-boats during "Velayat-90" navy exercises in the Strait of Hormuz (file photo)

Iran to Start Six-Day War Game in Strait of Hormuz on Dec. 28 -- Bloomberg Businessweek

Iran’s naval forces will conduct a military exercise this week in the Strait of Hormuz, a chokepoint for 20 percent of the world’s traded oil, Iranian Navy Commander Habibollah Sayari said.

The six-day exercise, which will starts on Dec. 28, will also be held in the Sea of Oman and in the north of the Indian Ocean, Sayari said today, according to the state-run Fars news agency. The drill will involve testing defensive and missile systems, combat vessels and submarines, and is aimed at “identifying and combating threats,” he was cited as saying without elaborating.

Read more ....

More News On Iran Preparing For Six Days Of War Games In The Persian Gulf

Report: Iran plans naval maneuvers near strategic Strait of Hormuz -- Washington Post/AP
Iran to conduct navy drill in Strait of Hormuz in December -- Reuters
Iranian Commander Says Navy Plans Exercises In Hormuz Strait -- Radio Free Europe
Iran launches naval drills in Persian Gulf's gas fields -- Xinhuanet
Iran says it will test new subs, drones in upcoming war games -- Times of Israel
Iranian fleet is training to block the Hormuz strait -- Voice of Russia
Iran Navy plans weeklong massive war games in southern waters -- Press TV (Iran)
Navy to Stage Large-Scale Drills in Iran's Southern Waters on Friday -- FARS News Agency (Iran)
Iranian Navy to stage war games -- Tehran Times (Iran)

Gulf Arab States To Unify Their Military Commands To Counter Growing Iranian Interference

Dignitaries from the six Gulf states gathered for a summit in Manama, Bahrain [Reuters]

GCC to Form Unified Military Command Amid Iran ‘Threats’ -- Bloomberg Businessweek

The Gulf Cooperation Council said it will form a unified military command structure at a time when Iran poses a “very serious” security threat to the Middle East.

The six-member group will coordinate air, land, and marine forces under one structure, Bahrain’s Foreign Minister Sheikh Khalid Bin Ahmed Al-Khalifa said today in a press conference after a meeting of GCC heads of state in Manama, the Bahraini capital. Iran’s nuclear program is a security threat to the region, he said.

Read more ....

More News On the Gulf Cooperation Council Unifying Their Military Commands To Counter Growing Iranian Interference

Gulf Arabs decry Iran "interference" in region -- Reuters
GCC warns Iran 'stop interference' -- Gulf Daily News
GCC states slam Iran interference in region -- Al Jazeera
Stop meddling, Iran told -- Khalleej Times
Gulf council to unify members' militaries under a single command structure
-- CNN
Bahrain to host GCC united military command -- Xinhuanet
GCC to set up unified military command -- The Peninsula