FROM THE DESK OF CLEARANCEJOBS.COM

Cost of clearance. Contributor William Henderson reports, “Office of Personnel Management (OPM) security clearance costs are going up. That doesn’t have a major affect on the average clearance holder, but it does contribute to the growing trend to reduce the number of more expensive, higher level clearance investigations, as agencies look to find ways to save money. That means fewer workers cleared at the highest levels.”

Clearance check. Editor Lindy Kyzer explains, “Whether you’ve obtained a security clearance in the past or currently hold one, knowing your clearance status – including expiration date, issuing agency and other details – is important both for your career progression and your job search. If you’re currently employed, checking on your clearance is easy – simply request your Facility Security Officer inquire about the status of your clearance.”

THE FORCE AND THE FIGHT

Saudi-Iran crisis in context. Reuters’ Angus McDowall reports, “The last time Saudi Arabia broke off ties with Iran, after its embassy in Tehran was stormed by protesters in 1988, it took a swing in the regional power balance in the form of Saddam Hussein’s 1990 invasion of Kuwait to heal the rift. It is hard to see how any lesser development could resolve the region’s most bitter rivalry, which has underpinned wars and political tussles across the Middle East as Riyadh and Tehran backed opposing sides.”

Siege of Madaya. Vice News’ Avi Asher-Schapiro reports, “Madaya lies on a strategically key line in Syria’s ballooning multi-front, multi-party civil war. The town is nestled within the Qalamoun mountain range, alongside the Lebanese border, less than 30 miles (50 km) from the capital Damascus. Stamping out unrest in Qalamoun . . . is key to the regime’s survival. ‘If rebels there broke out, they’d have a straight corridor to Damascus’ . . . .”

Dawah Muslim movement. Christian Science Monitor’s Taylor Luck reports, “What began as a revivalist movement for a beleaguered Muslim minority in British-ruled India has over the past century transformed into a global phenomenon that may have as many as 50 million followers. Strictly apolitical, Dawah urges members to undertake a personal spiritual journey in the manner of Muhammad and his followers. Their task is to travel lightly and spread the word to fellow Muslims . . . .”

ISIS takes Libya’s Bin Jawad. The Long War Journal’s Thomas Joscelyn reports, “The Islamic State’s so-called ‘province’ in Libya has launched a new offensive and claims to have captured a town on the Mediterranean coast. ‘The soldiers of the Khilafah [caliphate] managed to take complete control over the coastal city of Bin Jawad,’ the Islamic State’s Wilayat Barqat (or province) said in a short statement released online earlier today. The ‘blessed operations come during the battle of Sheikh Abdul Mugirah al Qahtani (May Allah accept him), and all praise is due to Allah, master of the universe,’ the statement continued.”

Fleeting pacific fleet. AP’s Audrey Mcavoy reports, “The Navy and its regional component, the U.S. Pacific Fleet, both have fewer ships now than in the mid-1990s. Navy officials say vastly improved technology on those vessels outweighs any disadvantage from a drop in numbers. Questions about whether the Pacific Fleet has enough resources are more of a reflection of regional anxieties than the Navy’s actual capability . . . .”

POTOMAC TWO-STEP

VACANCY. “As Obama now takes his final lap in the White House . . . dozens of crucial jobs in his administration are either totally empty or run by an acting deputy. As senior aides have bolted for higher paying gigs, their jobs have remained empty — in some cases with replacements stuck in Senate limbo who may never get confirmed. More than a quarter of the administration’s most senior jobs, more than 100 overall, are missing permanent occupants.”

Elections coming. “Congress revs back into action on Tuesday for the election-year session, starting with another vote this week to repeal ObamaCare. The House returns Tuesday night for the first vote of 2016, which will be a simple quorum call to formally mark the start of the year’s session. On Wednesday, the House will vote to undo the healthcare law and defund Planned Parenthood. But unlike the other 60-plus ObamaCare repeal votes since 2011, Wednesday’s vote will send the legislation to President Obama’s desk. Obama has said he will veto . . . .”

OPINIONS EVERYONE HAS

“5 Big National Security Questions for 2016.” Defense One contributor James Lindsay argues, “2016 is shaping up to be a tumultuous year. The list of problems is long: a resurgence in terrorism, chaos in the Middle East, tensions in Asia, and sluggish global economic growth. All of this will be happening amidst what promises to be a raucous American presidential campaign that will likely generate more heat than light on the foreign policy challenges facing the United States.”

“Will the U.S. fall for Saudi Arabia’s deliberate provocation in killing of Shi’ite cleric?” Reuters contributor Trita Parsi argues, “If Washington’s priority is the defeat of IS and other jihadist movements, then a balancing act between an Iran that ferociously opposes IS and a Saudi Arabia that has played an undeniable role in promoting jihadi extremism may not be the right answer.”

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Ed Ledford enjoys the most challenging, complex, and high stakes communications requirements. His portfolio includes everything from policy and strategy to poetry. A native of Asheville, N.C., and retired Army Aviator, Ed’s currently writing speeches in D.C. and working other writing projects from his office in Rockville, MD. He loves baseball and enjoys hiking, camping, and exploring anything. Follow Ed on Twitter @ECLedford.