ON MALI AND THE SAHEL
Success in Mali is emboldening al-Qaeda’s global recruitment and fundraising efforts, reports The Washington Post. Tactical defeats aren’t stifling the group’s propaganda efforts, which have picked up online. Many are urging new campaigns against Western countries, as American troops prepare to withdraw from Afghanistan. Rep. Mike Rogerts said, “This becomes a recruiting dream for them and a nighmare for us. It shows that they can strike Western targets and gives them a confidence level.” Rogers cited a recent attack on an energy complex in Algeria, on the heels of the assualt in Benghazi as adding fuel to al Qaeda’s flame.
The American strategy in Africa faces unique challenges, reports The New York Times, specifically the tactical considerations when confrunting ‘multinational bands’ operating across porous borders. Yet another challenge is the region’s host of targets, including, oil, gas and uranium, all with international and largely Western interests. America is still trying to piece together what happened in Africa, and has yet to define a strategy for the region.
ON THE FIGHT
Overnight, Kabul was attacked with rocket-propelled grenades, suicide bombers and insurgents on foot. The attackers were targeting a traffic hub that coordinated flow in and out one of Afghanistan’s major cities.
The Central Intelligence Agency has created an exemption for itself — what the Washington Post is reporting as a carve-out — when it comes to notification and oversight procedures with regards to drone strikes. The carve-out is a part of a classified counterterrorism ‘playbook’ currently being crafted and set for final approval by the White House. It’s a part of a year long-effort to codify counterterrorism policies in the face of criticism of the Administration’s ‘killer drone’ strategy. The carve-out would allow the CIA to continue pursuing targets for a year or more before being forced to comply with the document, however.
ON THE FORCE
The Associated Press, with some troubling statistics on the leaders of our all-volunteer force: many seem to have a problem with sexually related offenses, including ‘harassment, adultury, and improper relationships.’ Sexual offenses account for more than four in ten firings of commanders at the lieutenant colonel or above level, the AP reports.
ON TECH
A leading cyber-security firm is cracking down on what it perceives to be an increase in malware and denial-of-service attacks emanating from Russia.
One of the nations leading schools, MIT, was once a haven for paradigm-breaking and envelope-pushing. Has that changed?
ON SECRECY – OR LACK THEREOF
At least two of the militants killed while storming an oil facility in Algeria were Canadian.
The Department of Defense has refreshed its guidance dictating the proper administration of its plethora of personnel security programs (PDF).
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.
