FROM THE DESK OF CLEARANCEJOBS.COM
Stepping stones. Editor Lindy Kyzer explains, “Staffing companies can be a great first step for entry-level professionals, who are wondering how to ‘break-in’ to a defense industry or government career. . . . even for candidates just applying on line, when they work with a staffing company, they may be considered for positions they weren’t even aware of.”
Follow-up follow through. Also from Lindy Kyzer, “The follow-up thank you note may have gone by the wayside, but the follow-up email is here to stay. Crafting a genuine, formatted thank you note within 24 hours of every interview opportunity or phone-screen is a great way for job seekers to show they’re actively invested in the process – and appreciative of a recruiter’s efforts. And in a job search, a little personality, and a little gratitude, can go a long way.”
THE FORCE AND THE FIGHT
China’s strategic concepts. The Diplomat’s Leon Whyte reports, “Like any bureaucracy or interest group the CCP wants to ensure its survival, which depends on maintaining legitimacy with the Chinese people. To meet this goal, the CCP under President Xi Jinping has articulated a strategy of peaceful development; however, increasing Chinese military capabilities and strategic coercion will cause other states to balance against China, making it harder for the CCP to protect its core interests and continue its economic and strategic rise. . . . To maintain control of Chinese nationalism, and to channel it as a source of legitimacy for the regime, the CCP has established the two concepts of ‘core interests’ and a ‘new type of great power relationship.’”
Turkey targets Kurds. AP reports, “Turkish troops have shelled a Syrian village near the border, targeting Kurdish fighters who have been battling the Islamic State group with the aid of U.S.-led airstrikes . . . . In cross-border strikes since Friday, Turkey has targeted both Kurdish fighters as well as the IS group, stepping up its involvement in Syria’s increasingly complex civil war. The Syrian Kurds are among the most effective ground forces battling the IS group, but Turkey fears they could revive an insurgency against Ankara in pursuit of an independent state.” See also, “Turkey Launches New Strikes on PKK as NATO Meeting Called.”
Taliban win in Badakhshan. The Long War Journal’s Bill Roggio reports, “The Taliban overran a military base in the remote northern Afghan province of Badakhshan this weekend, capturing more than 100 police and tribal fighters before disarming and freeing them. Taliban fighters began their assault on the Qala base in the embattled district of Warduj beginning on July 24, according to the jihadist group and Afghan press reports. The base was overrun by July 25, but the Afghan government and the Taliban differ on the reasons why. Afghan officials claimed that a police commander known as Amanullah and his officers defected to the Taliban . . . .” See also, “Afghan security forces to launch large-scale military operation in northern provinces.”
Defense spending down. Defense News’ Andrew Clevenger reports, “Lagging defense spending and the large-scale drawdown of US troops in the Middle East spelled another year of decreased revenues for defense contractors. . . . Analysts suggested that while 2014 is close to the bottom of the defense market, defense spending may continue to go down for another year or two. And when it stops declining, it may not recover as quickly as it did following the large downturn in the 1990s.”
CONTRACT WATCH
Kryptowire wins DHS 30-month $3 million. Homeland Security News Wire reports, “The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) last week announced a $2.9 million cybersecurity mobile app security (MAS) research and development (R&D) award which will help identify mobile app vulnerabilities. . . . The MAS R&D project aims to establish continuous automated assurance of mobile apps for the federal government. By combining mobile app archiving and app vetting technologies as well as incorporating government and industry security standards, the project will capture app changes made over the app’s lifespan and will test against known vulnerabilities and emerging threats.”
IED technology solicitation. Military & Aerospace Electronics Editor John Keller reports, “U.S. Army researchers are reaching out to industry for fresh IED detection ideas on mature technologies for clearing surface-laid and buried improvised explosive devices (IEDs) from roadways and areas of military operations. . . . Researchers are interested in IED-detection approaches that are airborne, vehicle-based forward-looking, vehicle-based downward-looking, and combinations of these modes. Army experts particularly are interested in technologies that can detect IEDs quickly to support high rates of advance along routes.”
TECH, PRIVACY, & SECRECY
Cyberwarfare: Gameover Zeus botnet. Homeland Security News Wire reports, “FBI offered a reward of $3 million for any useful information which will lead to the apprehension of Evgeniy Mikhailovich Bogachev. Bogachev is notorious for creating the Gameover Zeus botnet, which the FBI had successfully shut down in mid-2014, but the agency failed to capture Bogachev himself. In early 2015 Bogachev managed to restore Zeus. Bogachev and some members of his hacking crew now live in Russia, and the Russian government does not want to hand him or any of his hackers over to the United States to stand trial.”
Telecommuting advantages. Venture Beat’s Brian de Haaff explains, “On any given day, employees have to fight through long commutes, noise, a lack of privacy, and constant interruptions. It is amazing that anyone gets anything done. But thanks to technology, work does not have to be that way anymore. We now have the ability to work from anywhere and be happy. . . . Some people still have trouble getting their heads around the idea that work can be accomplished from anywhere. They believe that there should be a dividing line between work and the rest of life.”
#Terrortips. AP’s Anne Flaherty reports, “Social media giants including Twitter, Yahoo, Facebook and Google are pushing back against Senate legislation that would require them to alert federal authorities of any terrorist activity . . . . But tech officials also said they worry that the proposed legislation is too broad and would potentially put companies on the hook legally if they miss a tweet, video or blog that hints of an attack. They said the result would probably be a deluge of tips to law enforcement, making it tougher for the government to find more valuable information.”
POTOMAC TWO-STEP
Cruz missile. “There are few remaining places in modern life where strict decorum is expected as it is in the halls and on the floor of the United States Senate. And on Friday, U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas shattered one of the surest unwritten rules of the upper chamber: He called a colleague a liar. It was not just any colleague, for that matter. It was Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.”
Missile defense. “Ted Cruz just wanted a roll-call vote on Sunday. Instead, he got a smackdown. Republican leaders, led by Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), delivered what senators described as punishment for Cruz’s brazen floor tactics — the Texas senator first accused McConnell of lying and later sought to change Senate procedures in order to push for an Iran-related amendment. So when Cruz came to the floor looking for 16 senators to agree to hold a roll-call vote, only three raised their hands.”
OPINIONS EVERYONE HAS
“Turkey’s motives in its war on Islamic State.” Christian Science Monitor’s Editorial Board argues, “If Turkey’s actions are done well and for the right motives, it could add to the momentum of the Iran nuclear deal in reducing violence committed by Mideast actors trying to advance a radical religious cause. As a powerful nonArab state, Turkey has the potential to be a peacemaker.”
“The Iran Deal and the Future of Nuclear Nonproliferation Efforts.” Defense One contributor Adam Mount argues, “Like other areas of global governance, the nuclear nonproliferation regime needs to continually improve if it is to survive.”
“Understanding the Limits of Sanctions.” Lawfare contributor Peter Feaver and Eric Lorber argue, “Regardless of where one comes down on whether the Iran deal is good enough, the basic point stands: whatever the economic sanctions were able to accomplish with Iran were accomplished only because they were integrated to a larger strategy, initially laid down by the Bush administration and later expanded by the Obama administration, that combined economic pressure with military, diplomatic, and other forms of pressure.”
“The whining of the militants.” Reuters contributor John Lloyd argues, “It’s the curse of our times: militant group self-pity. But however vexing it may be to watch powerful figures use the blame game to justify their bad actions, the strategy is proving wildly successful.”
