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Is Assad our guy now?

Posted by William A. Jacobson on September 11, 2013 27 Comments

Is there an undisclosed understanding between the U.S. and Russia to keep Assad in power?

Obama Syria Speech – Negotiating the terms of surrender

Posted by William A. Jacobson on September 10, 2013 42 Comments

As of this writing, it’s unclear where things stand. There is a vague offer by Vladimir Putin agreed to by Syria to turn over chemical weapons, but Russia opposes a binding U.N. resolution to that effect and the details are to be worked out. Putin...

Putin pulls Obama out of a fire, Obama supporters credit Obama

Posted by William A. Jacobson on September 10, 2013 46 Comments

We accept!

Senate cloture vote on Syria resolution to take place on 9/11 (Update – delayed)

Posted by William A. Jacobson on September 09, 2013 6 Comments

How convenient. How abusive of the memory of those who fell, a clear ploy to gain political advantage from the significance of that date. The vote will be on Cloture for the resolution, not the resolution itself. It’s an even higher hurdle. JUST IN: Senate...

Syria endgame emerging: Turn over chemical weapons

Posted by William A. Jacobson on September 09, 2013 42 Comments

The threat of possible military action, as attenuated as Congressional authorization now seems, has led to what may be the endgame. John Kerry floated the idea of Syria turning over its chemical weapons or else, the Russians seized on the idea, and Syria in principle...

The “Assad v. al-Qaeda” narrative may not be what it appears

Posted by William A. Jacobson on September 07, 2013 80 Comments

There are very good arguments against intervention in Syria, even if I disagree with the conclusions reached from those arguments. I haven’t denigrated those who disagree, although I can’t say the same is true in reverse. Unfortunately, regardless of how you come out on the...

Obama and Putin remain in disagreement on Syria strike

Posted by Mandy Nagy on September 06, 2013 30 Comments

Speaking from the G20 meeting in St. Petersburg, Russia this morning, President Obama addressed the topic of Syria, where he acknowledged that he knew it would be a tough fight to convince Congress and the American public to move forward with a military strike. The...

The Indian economy is shaking like a Bollywood dancer

Posted by Leslie Eastman on September 05, 2013 5 Comments

Those who follow my exploits know I dance Bollywood, so it is not surprising that this news clip would catch my interest: Indian newspapers have been gushing about the incoming governor of the central bank, Raghuram Rajan, in terms usually reserved for Bollywood film stars:...

Putin says Kerry lies, softens blow by adding “beautifully”

Posted by Mandy Nagy on September 04, 2013 25 Comments

Meanwhile, Senate Foreign Relations Committee passes limited use of force resolution

Obama wants Congress to save him from himself on Syria

Posted by David Gerstman on September 01, 2013 21 Comments

The mishandling of Syria is so complete, it's not clear there are any good options.

Snowden reportedly assumed digital identities of other NSA employees to access files

Posted by Mandy Nagy on August 29, 2013 35 Comments

Former NSA contractor Edward Snowden was able to access some of the 20,000 documents he reportedly downloaded from the agency’s systems by assuming the digital identities of NSA officials with higher levels of clearance, according to intelligence sources with knowledge of the case. From NBC...

Is it “if” or “when” the bombing of Syria starts?

Posted by Mandy Nagy on August 27, 2013 22 Comments

As international pressure mounts for action in response to chemical attacks alleged to have been perpetrated by the Assad regime, US officials say they could launch military strikes on Syria as early as Thursday. From NBCNews.com: The United States could hit Syria with three days...

Will life in Syria turn even nastier and more brutal?

Posted by David Gerstman on August 23, 2013 13 Comments

Mideast Media Sampler 08/23/2013

Beware Glenn Greenwald bearing leaks

Posted by William A. Jacobson on August 21, 2013 34 Comments

Just as the NSA-Snowden leak story was being broken by The Guardian via Glenn Greenwald, and to a lesser extent at The Washington Post, I thought about writing a post with the title this post bears. In the crush of other things, and the uncertainty as...

What’s behind Wikileaks’ latest release of “insurance” files?

Posted by Mandy Nagy on August 18, 2013 8 Comments

Wikileaks has been known to release insurance files from time to time. These are dumps of encrypted files that can only be opened by those who hold the encryption key to do so. For one, it makes certain that information reaches the public in the...

Lavabit owner’s cryptic interview on decision to shutter encrypted email service

Posted by Mandy Nagy on August 13, 2013 19 Comments

Late last week, we reported that Ladar Levison, the founder of encrypted email service provider Lavabit, abruptly shut down his service without notice, leaving only a cryptic message for users and visitors to the company’s website as to the reasons behind his decision. While Levison...

Email service reportedly used by Edward Snowden abruptly shuts down

Posted by Mandy Nagy on August 08, 2013 27 Comments

Well, this was a bit of mysterious news today. Apparently, the owner of Lavabit – the same email service reportedly used by NSA leaker Edward Snowden to contact human rights groups last month – has decided to shut down its operations in order to avoid...

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