All Security Watch
- Something beautiful
Cary Huang's Scale of the Universe.
- Why an apology on Afghan Quran burning matters
Because it might save lives.
- Afghan troops keep killing US troops
Two more US soldiers were killed in a gunfight with an Afghan soldier today, bringing the total to six Americans killed in incidents since Qurans were burned at a US base.
- Syria's nonviolent opposition aligns with armed groups
The Syrian National Council announced that it has established links with the armed opposition faction, the Free Syrian Army, after months of hewing to nonviolence.
- Egypt moves to defuse crisis over NGO trials
What exactly is happening isn't clear yet. But it seems fairly certain that Egypt's ruling junta is backing away from the prosecution of NGO workers that led to the worst US-Egypt diplomatic crisis in decades.
- Mistaken identity? Top Al Qaeda leader Saif al-Adel probably not arrested in Cairo.
So far, reports of the arrest of Al Qaeda's Saif al-Adel, once the group's top military planners, in Cairo don't appear to be correct.
- Reports: Netanyahu will push Obama hard on Iran
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will reportedly ratchet up the pressure when he meets with President Obama in Washington next week.
- Foreign journalist rescued from Homs...
... and a reminder of the risks to everyone when reporters go to war zones.
- Rebekah Brooks' gift horse
No word yet on whether she looked in its mouth.
- Ominous signs in Homs amid reports that Syrian tanks are rolling in
Following yesterday's reports of the Syrian government's massacre of civilians seeking to flee the assault on Homs, a large armored column appears to be closing on the city.
- Syria's Assad reportedly launching ground invasion of Homs
While the rebel stronghold has been pummeled by indiscriminate shelling for weeks, an influx of troops could lead to door-to-door searches, arrests, and potential torture of key activists.
- EU heaps new sanctions on Syria
The Council of the European Union is seeking to tighten a financial noose around the regime of Syria's Bashar al-Assad.
- Syria approves new Constitution as dozens murdered in Homs
The mounting death toll in Homs and other Syrian cities is far more important than a referendum the Syrian government says showed overwhelmingly public support for a new constitution.
- A Syria hit list? A list of regime enemies emerges.
News organization Mother Jones has gotten hold of a massive spreadsheet containing names and contacts for thousands of Syrian dissidents.
- On Stratfor, Assange and Anonymous just don't get it
Wikileaks' Julian Assange is trumpeting the release of emails stolen from the security analysis and consulting firm Stratfor as a major coup. Here's why he's wrong.
- Taliban claim Afghanistan suicide attack, citing 'revenge' for Quran burnings
An Afghan suicide bomber attacked outside the NATO base in Jalalabad today, killing nine people. The attack follows a deadly week of protests over Quran burnings at a US base.
- NATO decides Afghan ministries too dangerous for its personnel
After what appears to be the latest murder of US personnel by Afghan security services, NATO pulled its people out of Afghan ministries.
- Yes, the IAEA is worried Iran is hiding something
The latest IAEA report on Iran says that the country is not complying with inspections, is accelerating nuclear enrichment, and isn't being open about past possible weaponization work. Just like the last one.
- Looming Iranian missile threat to US? Pshaw.
Evidence points to Iran being years away from having missiles that can reach the US – although it already has missiles that can reach Israel.
- Kabul embroiled in day 4 of Quran burning protests
Afghan President Karzai accepted US President Obama's apology after US soldiers burned several Qurans, sparking days of protest and the killing of two US soldiers.