Shutdown D+7, Default D-10 & Monday’s Top Ten
FROM THE DESK OF CLEARANCE JOBS.COM
1. Communication Strategies 101. Social media – like it or not – is here to stay. Contributor Jillian Hamilton analyzes its effect and potential, but it’s time to get on board: “A simple search provides lessons learned and best practices for creating a social media campaign. Although social media has negative components, it is important to establish a meaningful presence. Chances are, if you are not communicating a message, someone else is doing it for you . . . and you might not like the message.”
2. Vets – still a great investment. Vet’s don’t compose the Greatest Generation for nothing. If you want your business to work, to overcome obstacles, look hard at hiring Vets. Contributor Diana Rodriguez reviews Caldwell and Burke’s latest report, “America’s Veterans: A Sound Investment”: “Veterans have incredible work experience in the military. Employers are generally unaware of the skills (adaptability, hard work, creativity, etc.), due to the growing civil-military divide. . . . Hiring veterans is a proven investment for businesses.”
THE FORCE AND THE FIGHT
1. In AFRICOM, Ikrimah gets away – this time. . . . NYTimes.Com’s Nicholas Kulish, Eric Schmitt, and Mark Mazzetti report, “The target of the American commando raid in the Horn of Africa, a Kenyan of Somali origin known as Ikrimah, is one of the Shabab militant group’s top planners for attacks beyond its base in Somalia, an American official said Sunday. . . . Special-operations commanders were in favor, pushing for a more aggressive response to the rising threat from the group in Somalia, while administration officials were nervous about incurring American military casualties. As it turned out, there were none, according to a United States official — but Mr. Ikrimah was not captured, and there is as yet no evidence that he was killed in the firefight that broke out on the Somali coast in the early hours of Saturday morning.”
2. Also in AFRICOM, D-Force nabs terrorist Anas al-Liby. Aljazeera.Com reports, Libyan officials dumbfounded: “Libya has called for an explanation after the US snatched a man it alleges is an al-Qaeda leader during a raid in Tripoli. Ali Zeidan, Libya’s prime minister, suggested on Sunday that his government was not informed of the plan before US commandos seized Nazih Abdul-Hamed al-Ruqai, known by his alias Anas al-Liby, in the Libyan capital on Saturday. . . . Liby is wanted by the US for his alleged role in the East Africa embassy bombings that killed 224 people in 1998. The US had offered $5m for information leading to his capture. US Secretary of Defence Chuck Hagel praised the US military on Sunday saying that the raid underlined the precision, global reach and capabilities of the US forces.” See also, United States’ memory like an elephant and TheDailyBeast.Com, al-Liby’s rare fate: he’s alive.
3. SecState Kerry pleased with progress in Syria. Aljazeera.Com reports, “US Secretary of State John Kerry says the United States and Russia are ‘very pleased’ with the progress made so far in destroying Syria’s chemical weapons stocks. . . . The US secretary of state described the first move to dismantle and destroy Syria’s chemical weapons arsenal as ‘a good beginning’ and went as far as to say Syrian President Bashar al-Assad deserved credit for its compliance with the UN Security Council resolution calling for the elimination of the weapons.”
4. Clashes in Egypt continue: 53 dead. Reuters’ Shadia Nasralla reports from Cairo, “Further confrontations may shake Egypt this week. An alliance that includes Mursi’s Muslim Brotherhood has urged Egyptians to stage more protests against the army takeover from Tuesday and gather on Cairo’s Tahrir Square on Friday.” See also AP on “Wave of Deadly Attacks in Egypt” and Aljazeera’s “Scores killed.”
5. In Afghanistan, Karzai condemns NATO civilian casualties. Khaama.Com reports, “Karzai strongly condemned the recent NATO airstrike in eastern Nangarhar province of Afghanistan that left at least five civilians dead. . . . At least five civilians including three school students were killed following the airstrike which was carried out two nights back in Nangarhar province. . . . the interior ministry delegation which was assigned to investigate the incident has confirmed that five civilians including three young brothers were killed during the airstrike.” Also in Afghanistan, U.S. pressure is on for Afghanistan to sign the bi-lateral security agreement.
CONTRACT WATCH
1. Contracting Shutdowns Imminent. Today, Monday, expect to see contracting agencies begin to close their doors. Forbes.Com contributor Loren Thompson explains, “The Sikorsky helicopter unit of United Technologies UTX +0.56% says it will furlough 2,000 workers on Monday due to the absence of federal inspectors from its plants who audit and approve various stages in the production process. UTX’s Pratt & Whitney engine business expects to furlough an additional 2,000 at week’s end if the shutdown continues. Some industry employees have already begun to head home.” See also NationalJournal.Com: “Lockheed Martin picks 3,000 workers to be furloughed starting Monday” and ABCNews.Go.Com – Blackhawk down as UTX shuts its doors.
2. Pentagon civilians and contractors coming back. The Wall Street Journal reports, “The Pentagon said it could recall workers under a law that President Barack Obama signed [last] Monday, just before the shutdown took effect. . . . The law also allowed the Defense Department to recall civilians and contractors supporting the active-duty forces. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel and the Pentagon adopted a broad interpretation of the law. . . . That, Pentagon lawyers determined, includes people performing a broad range of activities, such as offering medical care, working in base commissaries, analyzing intelligence and training staff.”
TECH, PRIVACY, & SECRECY
1. Sneak-peek the Nexus 5. If the iPhone just didn’t do it for you, take a look at the Nexus 5: it probably won’t do it for you, either: “Judging from the specs, it looks like the Nexus won’t offer anything truly innovative — it’s more of an upgrade to the Nexus 4 — but it will be the most powerful way to get a pure Android experience. For most consumers though, the Moto X may be a better option, thanks to its always-on voice recognition capabilities.” Also, the curved screened smartphone is on its way.
2. Free stuff – security, utilities, creation, and more. PCWorld.Com contributor Alex Cocilova argues, “Free doesn’t have to mean cheesy, especially when it comes to freeware. A developer’s passion project can become something you can’t imagine being without, and the fact that you don’t have to lay out any cash to acquire it is a major bonus. Some developers accept donations to further development, so consider giving what you can if you find value in their efforts. Here are some of our favorite freebies.”
3. The Abrams Tank that won’t go away. NationalDefenseMagazine.Org reports, “As far as producing Cold War era weapon systems the military says it has enough of, but Congress continues to fund anyway, there is probably no bigger poster child than the Abrams tank. . . . Congress’ shot in the arm for the tank sector includes money for subcontractors as well. Of the $181 million, $114 million will be spent on 12 upgraded tanks, $26 million will go to purchase 48 transmissions and $41 million to buy 86 Block II second-generation forward-looking infrared sensors ‘to mitigate Abrams FLIR industrial base risks, sustain development and production capability,’ an Army report to Congress detailing these outlays said.”
POTOMAC TWO-STEP
1. Don’t let stupidity hurt morale, whatever you do. The ATF is holding up publication of a book detailing the Fast and Furious scandal because, well, it might hurt some feelings: “The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is blocking the main whistleblower in the Fast and Furious case from publishing a book for pay, claiming his retelling of the Mexico ‘gun-walking’ scandal will hurt morale inside the embattled law enforcement agency . . . . Sen. Chuck Grassley, Iowa Republican, and House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman Darrell E. Issa, Calif. Republican, had written a foreword to the book . . . . ‘This would have a negative impact on morale in the Phoenix [Field Division] and would have a detrimental effect on our relationships with DEA and FBI.’”
2. No Cuccinelli-Cruz selfies. With friends like Cruz, who needs enemies, implies Cuccinelli: “Republican Ken Cuccinelli avoided being photographed with Ted Cruz at a gala they headlined . . . .” In spite of Cuccinelli’s rebuff, “Cruz heaped praise on his ‘friend’ Cuccinelli and argued passionately in a 54-minute speech that their party can still win the messaging fight over the shutdown if the people just speak out loudly enough.”
OPINIONS EVERYONE HAS
1. “Politics of self-esteem.” WaPo contributor Robert J. Samuelson argues, “The triumph of ideology is one of the great political upheavals of recent decades. It is, of course, partial; it coexists with interest-group politics and always will. It’s also full of paradoxes. On both the left and right, many activists are intelligent, sincere and hardworking. But the addition of so many high-minded people — usually ‘true believers’ in some cause — to the political system has made it work worse. It increasingly fails to conciliate or, on many major issues, to decide.”
2. If we default . . . . Secretary of Treasury Jack Lew argues, “If the United States cannot pay its bills in full and on time, each and every American will be affected, including seniors who rely on Social Security, veterans who depend on disability payments, children in need of food assistance, and doctors and hospitals who treat Medicare patients, among others. The stock market, including investments in retirement accounts, could tumble, and it could become more expensive for Americans to buy a car, own a home and open a small business.”
3. Thanks for the gumball, Mickey. TheDailyBeast.Com contributor Eleanor Clift argues, “In just about every contested race, Republicans are battling each other in primaries to see who can be the biggest cheerleader of the government shutdown. ‘If Ted Cruz becomes the public face for the Republican Party, it will be a cold day in hell before they have a senate majority’ . . . . The last shutdown seventeen years ago helped re-elect Clinton. This one could give Obama the Congress he wants.”
THE FUNNIES
2. Not exactly.
