THREATWATCH
Usama bin Ladin’s confidant has been detained by the U.S. government, and on Friday faced his accusers in court where he plead not guilty to material support to terrorism.
The U.S. military compound bordering the bustling Afghan metropolis of Kabul was attacked on the eve of newly-christened Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel’s first visit to the region.
ON THE FORCE
Turns out U.S. Special Operations Command will not only have to eat a majority of the cuts levied, but that it could adversely affect readiness.
The Washington Post’s David Ignatius delves into the fundamental assumptions that would shape the framework underlying any new revision or rewrite of the Authorization of Military Force.
Admiral McRaven wants Congress to eventually reexamine well-intentioned restrictions on the U.S. military that disincentivizes working with partner forces that have been suspected of or are currently committing human rights violations.
POTOMAC TWO-STEP
Special operations forces will need to be more integrated and in closer communication in an increasingly interconnected world.
ON SECRECY – OR LACK THEREOF
Marc Ambinder and D.B. Grady offer a look at their latest joint project, The Deep State, and examine a myriad of compelling intelligence activities in Pakistan.
The Air Force, being the proponent command that governs and executes all so-called drone strikes (even for the CIA) has begun to scrub its own records in a bid to obscure the hard statistics on the kinetic actions that have raised such ire in the foreign policy community.
INSIDE BASEBALL
The Pentagon has updated or created its directives governing the administration of Assignment Incentive Pay, Defense Support of Civilian Law Enforcement Agencies, the Manual of Military Decorations and Awards and Joint Decorations and Awards as well as Evacuation of U.S. Citizens and Designated Aliens from Threatened Areas Abroad, colloquially referred to as non-combatant evacuations.
CONTRACT WATCH
The U.S. diplomatic mission to the Hague in the Netherlands is hiring a very specific local guard force.
