TURNOVER

Afghan President Karzai’s office says he has dismissed the country’s top intelligence official, a move that comes just as he prepares to name new defense and interior ministers.

AROUND THE WORLD 

OP OBSERVANT COMPASS: The 2nd Marine Regiment, 24th Marine Expedtionary Unit, Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force 12 and assorted specialized elements have not abandoned the pursuit of Kony, all led by the AFRICOM Counter-Lord’s Resistance Army Control Element. Officially, their mission is to “advise and assist the militaries of Uganda, the Central African Republic, the Republic of South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to eliminate the threat to civilians and regional stability posed by the Lord’s Resistance Army”.

The African Regional Air Chiefs Conference, that kicked off yesterday in Senegal and is set to conclude on August 30th, is being hosted by commander of U.S. Air Forces Africa, General Breedlove, and sponsored by the African Center for Strategic Studies.

Taliban militants attacked a Pakistani army post near the Afghan border killing eight soldiers, a reminder of the threat posed by insurgents despite numerous military offensives against them.

INTERSECTION OF POLITICS AND NATIONAL SECURITY

Republicans included a call for a special counsel to investigate national security leaks from the White House in their party platform that was approved at the Republican National Convention on Tuesday, accusing President Obama of leaking details of the Osama bin Laden raid for political gain. Since the initial calls for a special counsel, details have come to light detailing cooperation between elements of the intelligence community and Hollywood.

ON THE FIGHT

There are still a lot of questions about the uncertain events that transpired south of the border in Mexico.Two U.S. government workers, speculated to be members of the CIA, were wounded when Mexican federal police fired at their armored U.S. Embassy vehicle.

ON TECH

Facebook may be interested in acquiring or possibly collaborating with the popular turn-by-turn navigation app creator Waze.

CONTRACT WATCH

SAIC has landed contracts totaling more than $260 million with the Army Corps of Engineers, Army Geospatial Center and the Space and Naval Warfare Center. Under the Geospatial Center’s $200 million contract, SAIC will provide geospatial research, intelligence and support.

The Navy is expanding its use of the Fire Scout platform. The Fire Scout, or MQ-8B, has fueled the Navy’s appetite for maritime intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance. The service owns 30 Fire Scouts, including seven research and development airframes.

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Robert Caruso is a veteran of the United States Navy, and has worked for the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction, Business Transformation Agency and the Office of the Secretary of Defense.