TEARLINE
The Washington Post kicks off a three-part series on the inner workings and lexicon of the modern-day Counterterrorism Executive Group, saying the Central Intelligence Agency’s activities of late reflect “[…] the agency’s transformation into a paramilitary force, and makes clear that it does not intend to dismantle its drone program and return to its pre-Sept. 11 focus on gathering intelligence.”
Which begs the question: if the Central Intelligence Agency has made a conscious decision to prioritize cool-guy kinetic action over intelligence collection…who is?
The open source presents us with a multitude of clues.
“Defense Clandestine Service –Special Operations (DCS-SO) [is] located at the USSOCOM HQ, Tampa, FL. This person will manage Human Intelligence Collection Requirements unique to DCS-SO platforms worldwide“, with the announcement further stipulating that, “the incumbent will support both SOCOM and DIA Collection Requirements.”
Just got interesting, didn’t it?
ON THE FIGHT
Air Force Special Operations Command’s gunships are in such high operational demand, they had to pave a new runaway to accommodate all the traffic.
France is sending unarmed, surveillance drones to back up west African intervention in northern Mali and is meeting top U.S. diplomats in Paris this week to discuss fighting the Islamist presence there.
Reuters has offered up a minute-by-minute account of the emails sent to the White House and State Department following the attack in Benghazi: “A third email, also marked SBU and sent at 6:07 p.m. Washington time, carried the subject line: ‘Update 2: Ansar al-Sharia Claims Responsibility for Benghazi Attack.'”
Marcy Wheeler writers: “This Eli Lake story describing what has happened to one of two Benghazi suspects arrested in Turkey confirms something I long suspected: he was headed for Syria.”
The Defense Threat Reduction Agency is standing up a Defense Threat Reduction Information Analysis Center (DTRIAC) at Fort Belvoir, in suburban Virginia.
Commanders in U.S. Army Africa already have plans to use the soldiers from 2nd Brigade.
ON TECH
Microsoft’s new tablet for business is garnering mixed reviews.
CONTRACT WATCH
The Building’s Task Force for Business and Stability Operations is on a modernization shopping spree.
The Office of Military Commissions is upgrading courtrooms in Guantanamo, bringing them into the 21st century.
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.
