Contemplating The Worse Case Scenario For The F-35 Program

Thinking The Unthinkable About The F-35 -- DoD Buzz

An AvWeek headline this week posed a question that once had an easy, one-word answer: No.

The question was, per David A. Fulghum and Bill Sweetman: “Are there alternatives to the F-35 program?” But in post-super committee America, where the Air Force daydreams about growing its fleet with a service-life extension program for the Wright Flyer , things aren’t as clear cut as they used to be.

Back in the old days we used to say, c’mon, there’s just too much riding on this to seriously contemplate it going away. It’s the largest defense program in history. It’s the future of fast-jet flying for three U.S. military services and a host of international clients. It’s got an economic footprint across the country. All the right people in Washington have a stake in pressing forward, even as its schedule slides and its costs creep up.

Read more ....

My Comment: If the F-35 program is scrapped .... it will take years (if not more) for the Air Force (and Lockheed Martin) to recover. But in today's financial/debt crisis .... that will probably be the choice that is taken.

Update: Yeah, there are alternatives "for" the F-35 program -- Eric Palmer Blog

North Sudan Threatens To Seize South Sudanese Oil As Talks Collapse

Sudan Says It Will Seize South Sudanese Oil As Talks Fail -- McClatchy News

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia — Sudan vowed Wednesday to confiscate a portion of South Sudan's oil as it passes through a pipeline in Sudan as talks between the countries failed to produce any agreement on how to split oil revenues.

Sudanese officials defended the action as a reasonable step to bolster their country's flailing economy, which lost access to oil production facilities earlier this year when South Sudan became independent.

Several months of negotiations have failed to produce a deal on how much South Sudan should pay to move its oil north through a pipeline that runs through Sudan.

Read more ....

More News On The Collapse Of Oil Talks Between North And South Sudan

Sudan says to take quarter of south's oil, as talks fail -- AFP
Sudan Threatens to Take One-Fourth of South Sudan’s Oil -- Voice of America
Sudan denies blocking S. Sudan oil as talks collapse -- Reuters
Sudan Denies Blocking South Sudanese Oil Exports -- Voice of America
Sudan Says It Hasn’t Stopped South Sudan’s Oil Exports -- Bloomberg Businessweek
China Uges Sudan, South Sudan to Resolve Oil Dispute -- Voice of America
Beijing presses Sudanese to end oil row -- Financial Times

Picture Of The Day

LOADING UP
U.S. Marine Corps Gen. James F. Amos, Marine Corps Sgt. Maj. Micheal P. Barrett and staff members board a Ch-53 Sea Stallion helicopter on Camp Leatherneck in Afghanistsan's Helmand province, Nov. 24, 2011. Amos, the 35th commandant of the Marine Corps, and the others traveled to Afghanistan to visit service members throughout regional commands West and Southwest during the Thanksgiving holiday. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Mallory S. VanderSchans

Is European Missile Defense Blowing Up The 'New START' Nuclear Weapons Treaty? (A Commentary)

Rocket men: Progress in the stalled ABM talks may have to wait until after elections in Russia and the US Photo: Reuters / Vostock-Photo

A 'New START' To An Arms Race Between The US And Russia? -- Yousaf Butt, Christian Science Monitor

How European missile defense is blowing up the 'New START' nuclear weapons treaty, US relations with Russia, and possibly reigniting a cold-war arms race.

Judging by the sound and fury coming from Russia lately, the United States might be witnessing the slow-motion destruction of President Obama’s foreign policy crown jewel, the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START).

But no big surprise there, really: It was only a matter of time before the time bomb attached to the treaty – European missile defense – blew it up. Not only is Russia figuratively up in arms, but it has actually upped its nuclear arms lately, possibly re-igniting a cold-war-style arms race.

Read more ....

More News On the Deteriorating U.S./NATO - Russian Relationship

Moscow weighs NATO sentiment -- UPI
US-Russian reset in recess -- Dmitri Trenin, Khaleej Times/World View
Dmitry Medvedev blasts US anti-ballastic missile plan -- The Telegraph
US faces Russian threat to cut access to Afghanistan -- The Australian
Russia could deliver death blow to Nato, say analysts -- The International News
Strategic Talks -- Inside the Ring/Washington Times
Medvedev's Missile Threats Are His 'Plan B' -- Ruslan Pukhov, The Moscow Times

Russia May Skip NATO Summit Because Of Missile Defense

Russia May Drop NATO Summit Over Missile Defense -- RT

Russia is uncertain as to whether or not it will take part in the NATO-Russia summit in Chicago in May next year due to a deadlock in missile defense talks.

Moscow’s consent for the gathering “should not be taken as predetermined,” said Deputy Director of the Department for Security and Disarmament of the Russian Foreign Ministry Vladimir Leontyev, cites Itar-Tass. The diplomat stressed though that Russia is not closing the door on co-operation.

“Our partners should view current problems fairly and responsibly," Leontyev said. “Otherwise, Russia will have to give adequate responses as the US missile defense system is being created in Europe.”

Read more ....

Update: Russia Could Cancel Summit With NATO Due to Antimissile Impasse -- Global Security Newswire

My Comment: What is also adding more stress to this relationship is the Russian Parliamentary and Presidential elections. With Putin and Medvedev facing a tough re-election campaign, I now expect them to play the NATO 'boogeyman" scenario more often in order to stir up their base who are not sympathetic to the West.

No CIA Christmas Party This Year

The logo appears on the lobby floor of the headquarters of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) in Langley, Va. Melanie Stetson Freeman/Staff/File

The Spies Say They’ll Scrimp For The Holidays -- Washington Post

U.S. spy agencies might have been eager to celebrate their success this holiday season, following the death of Osama bin Laden, new indications that sanctions and sabotage are working against Iran, and the passage of another year without a major terrorist attack on the United States.

But with budget cuts looming, party plans are being pared back for the Director of National Intelligence and the CIA.

Both agencies have for years been known — at least among elites in the insular world of espionage — for throwing lavish year-end events.

Read more ....

My Comment: Do CIA employees get Christmas bonuses?

Congratulations To The Air Force's 40 Newest Generals

Star creep has risen steadily since World War II / Project on Government Oversight

Star Wars: Congratulations to the Air Force's 39 Newest Generals -- Time

Yep, that's right. On Monday, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta announced President Obama has nominated thirty-nine Air Force colonels to the rank of brigadier general. It's all part of the bigger problem of star creep – the ratio of generals to troops – that has gotten worse since World War II, and accelerated since 9/11. (Brigadier generals wear one star, major generals wear two, lieutenant generals wear three, and plain old generals, four.)

We don't mean to quibble with the sensitive topic of rank, but some of these star-worthy titles seem more red dwarf than super nova. Many of them don't run things like the newly-promoted brigadier generals who command Bomber and Network Warfare wings (yes, both the guys flying, as well as those prying, now run wings in the Air Force). Instead, they're helping even more senior generals by serving as “director, force application, deputy chief of staff, operations, plans and requirements, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Pentagon, Washington, D.C.” Or toiling away as the “commander, 76th Maintenance Wing, Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center, Air Force Materiel Command, Tinker Air Force Base, Okla.”

Read more ....

Update: Air Force announces 1-star nominations -- Air Force Times

My Comment: This continues a long term trend in the Air Force

Catching Up With Last U.S. Troops to Leave Iraq (Video)

U.S. Troop Withdrawal From Iraq Is At The Last Stage

Luggage are lined on the tarmac as U.S. Air Force servicemen board a plane bound for the U.S. at al-Asad air base in Iraq's western province of Anbar in this November 1, 2011 file photo. REUTERS/Mohammed Ameen/Files (IRAQ - Tags: TRANSPORT MILITARY)

Packing And Patrolling, U.S. Troops Roll Out Of Iraq -- Yahoo News/Reuters

One of the last seven U.S. military bases in Iraq, Echo is in rapid handover to Iraqi hands as American soldiers there pack up and complete their final task - protecting the last few departing troops heading home south across the Kuwaiti border.

CAMP ECHO, Iraq (Reuters) - Camp Echo's dusty motorpools are empty, its private contract caterers have long gone home and murals depicting the September 11, 2001 attacks on New York's twin towers have been painted over.

One of the last seven U.S. military bases in Iraq, Echo is in rapid handover to Iraqi hands as American soldiers there pack up and complete their final task - protecting the last few departing troops heading home south across the Kuwaiti border.

Read more ....

Update #1: As American Bases Dwindle, Soldiers Have Less Time to Dwell -- New York Times
Update #2: White House: We’re Really, Really Ending The Iraq War -- Danger Room

My Comment: With 15,000 US soldiers remaining, I suspect the next few weeks will be one massive rush out of the country. On a final note .... you know things are winding down when the press office closes.

10 Days To Save The Euro Or Else

Day The World's Banks Wobbled: Britain Joins Multi-Billion-Pound Global Bailout As Key Banks Face New Credit Crunch -- Daily Mail

* Just ten days left to save euro from collapse, warns senior EU official
* Osborne says move vital if Britain is to avoid another recession next year
* Cameron to attend last-ditch talks next week

Britain has been sucked into a second credit crunch that threatens the stability of the world’s banking system, Downing Street warned last night.

Central banks from around the world – including the Bank of England and China’s equivalent – yesterday launched a dramatic rescue bid worth hundreds of billions of dollars.

It was agreed to head off a repeat of the 2008 crash when banks simply stopped lending to each other, bringing the world economy to a halt.

Read more ....

More News On The Euro Crisis

European debt crisis: Euro zone facing make-up-or-break-up choice -- Washington Post
Central banks act as euro zone crisis rages -- Reuters
Save the euro in 10 days or see the EU disintegrate, ministers are warned -- The Guardian
Shot in arm for world finance as EU countdown begins -- AFP
Europe Delays Major Debt Decisions for 10 Days -- ABC News/AP
Ten days to solve the euro – but how? -- CNN
TIMELINE-European ministerial meetings in 2011 -- Reuters
FACTBOX - Euro zone faces critical 10 days -- Reuters

Privacy Policy

With the heavy traffic that this blog has been receiving in the past few months, I am now obliged to publish a Privacy Policy. I just want to inform everyone that we have no interest in tracking and/or keeping any information on the readers of War News Updates. We take your privacy seriously, and we will not permit tracking and/or marketing programs to monitor our readers. If you should find a post has such a tool, please inform us immediately and we will delete this offending post ASAP.

Majority Of Americans See Pakistan As An Enemy

Most Americans See Pakistan As Enemy -- DAWN

WASHINGTON: A majority of Americans do not see Pakistan as a friend to the United States, says an opinion survey released on Monday.

The survey, conducted on Nov 27, a day after a Nato air strike killed 25 Pakistani soldiers, asked US citizens: Do you consider Pakistan to be a friend or enemy of the United States?

An enemy to the US was the choice of 55 per cent respondents. Only seven pc said they considered Pakistan a friend, 26 pc did not consider Pakistan a friend or enemy and 12 pc did not have an opinion.

The surveyors, a US polling agency called Poll Positions, noted that the relationship between the United States and Pakistan had been up and down over the past years.

Read more ....

My Comment: Finding Osama bin Laden in a compound that was literally next door to Pakistan's top military academy and 35 miles north of their capital city did more to destroy U.S. trust in Pakistan .... than any other Pakistani action. Couple this with Pakistani actions after Bin Laden's killing, nuclear proliferation, support (and protection) of terror groups that are targeting Afghan/U.S. forces, and artillery strikes in Afghan proper .... it is now very hard for most Americans to believe anything that now comes out of Pakistan's government/military/intelligence departments.

President Obama's Silence On Pakistan's Military Is Costing The Lives Of American Soldiers In Afghanistan

The Generals Have No Clothes -- Kapil Komireddi, Foreign Policy

Islamabad's generals have been sponsoring the deaths of Americans for years, and yet Obama does nothing. Why?

Pakistan is indignant about the killing of 25 of its troops in a NATO air raid on Saturday. The circumstances that led to the assault are still unknown, but Washington and Europe have expressed contrition and promised an investigation. Pakistan has every reason to feel angry. But after a suitable period of mourning, shouldn't the United States, in the interests of fairness if nothing else, ask the Pakistani army if it plans ever to apologize for -- or, at bare minimum, acknowledge -- its role in the deaths of hundreds of coalition forces and many more Afghan civilians?

Read more ....

My Comment: Bottom line .... President Obama wants US Soldiers out of Afghanistan .... if it means making a deal with Pakistan's ISI and Generals to speed this up .... so be it.

Egypt’s Brotherhood Poised To Win In Egypt

Leading In Vote, Egypt’s Brotherhood Seeks To Form Gov’t In Possible Collision With Military -- Washington Post/AP

CAIRO — Partial results Wednesday showed the Muslim Brotherhood emerging as the biggest winner in Egypt’s landmark parliamentary elections, and leaders of the once-banned Islamic group demanded to form the next government, setting the stage for a possible confrontation with the ruling military.

The generals who took power after the February fall of Hosni Mubarak have said they will name the government and the parliament would have no right to dissolve it. They have also sought to wrest from the new parliament the more long-reaching and crucial role of running the process for writing the new constitution.

Read more ....

More News On Egypt's Parliamentary Elections

Islamist parties on course to dominate Egypt's parliament -- The Telegraph
Egypt election results put Muslim Brotherhood ahead -- The Guardian
Muslim Brotherhood takes lead in Egypt vote count -- Haaretz
Unofficial Egypt Tally Points to Strong Islamist Lead -- Wall Street Journal
Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood wins votes though organization, promises to poor in Egypt vote -- Washington Post/AP
Muslim Brotherhood's machine helps in Egypt vote -- CBS/AP
Cairo calm as voters await results -- CNN
Egypt's Brotherhood feels its time has come -- Reuters
Egypt To Announce Election Results Thursday -- Voice of America

Who Was Behind The British Embassy Attack In Tehran?

British Embassy Attack Was State-Sponsored, Experts Claim -- Deutsche Welle

A day after Iranian protesters stormed the British embassy in Tehran, Britain has said it is withdrawing its diplomats, and closing Iran's embassy in London . The question that remains is - who was behind the attack?

Images broadcast on Iranian state television on Tuesday showed an angry crowd of mostly men gathered in front of the British embassy in Tehran. Women enveloped in black stood at the back.

Chanting "death to England," a group of protesters stormed the embassy compound and a diplomatic residence while the security forces simply stood by.

Read more ....

More News On Iran's Attack On The British Embassy, And It's Aftermath

Britain evacuates all embassy staff after Iran protesters storm compounds -- CNN
Britain evacuates its diplomats from Iran; Norway shuts embassy -- Miami Herald/Christian Science Monitor
UK to expel all Iranian diplomats over embassy attack -- BBC
Britain orders Iran's diplomats to leave UK -- AP
Iran faces increased isolation after attack on British Embassy -- Washington Post
Trouble in Tehran -- Financial Times
Time for a geography lesson, Mr President? Obama blunders as he condemns attack on the 'English' Embassy in Tehran -- Daily Mail
Iran and UK - centuries of mistrust -- Olivia Lang, BBC
Expelling Iran's diplomats: a dangerous showdown -- Mark Malloch-Brown, The Guardian
Iran's mullahs come out fighting -- Con Coughlin, The Telegraph

Commentaries, Opinions, And Editorials -- November 30, 2011

Don't Take On Iran Unless You're Prepared To Face The Consequences -- Con Coughlin, The Telegraph

The violent attack on the British Embassy in Tehran is Iran's entirely predictable response to the tough line the British government has taken in recent weeks in response to the ayatollahs' controversial nuclear programme.

Britain became public enemy number one in Tehran after it decided to ban all Iran's banks from trading in London, thereby dealing a major blow to Iran's access to Europe's financial markets.

Read more ....

Commentaries, Opinions, And Editorials

Iran and UK - centuries of mistrust -- Olivia Lang, BBC

Expelling Iran's diplomats: a dangerous showdown -- Mark Malloch-Brown, The Guardian

Iran's mullahs come out fighting -- Con Coughlin, The Telegraph

Tehran embassy seizure, as in 1979, highlights rift with West -- William Branigin, Washington Post

Why an Undemocratic Party Is Going to Win Egypt's First Democratic Election -- Eric Trager, Real Clear World

U.S. Policy on Egypt Needs a Big Shift -- Marc Lynch and Steven A. Cook, New York Times

The Arab Awakening and Israel -- Thomas Friedman, New York Times

Fallible: Infiltrated by up to a dozen CIA spies, Hezbollah, the official party of God, is taking hits to its prestige—and revealing its weakness -- Lee Smith, Tablet

How Can Europe Possibly Save Itself? -- Megan McArdle, The Atlantic

Germany’s Denial, Europe’s Disaster -- New York Times editorial

Blame It on Berlin: The euro bailout caucus wants the Germans to write a blank check. -- Wall Street Journal editorial

Why Defense Cuts Could Doom Obama's Re-election Bid -- Loren Thompson, Forbes

World News Briefs -- November 30, 2011 (Evening Edition)

Anatomy Of A Deadly NATO Airstrike: The Pakistani Version -- Time

The NATO air strikes that killed 24 Pakistani soldiers last Saturday, sparking a fresh crisis in U.S.-Pakistan relations, started with a mysterious report of firing from the Pakistani side of the border, according to the Pakistan army's account of the incident.

Soon after midnight on Nov. 26, at approximately 12:05 a.m., a NATO sergeant called a Pakistani major at one of the border control centers that the two sides use to coordinate their efforts to complain that U.S. Special Forces had received "indirect fire" from a Pakistani border checkpoint at Gora Parai, in Pakistan's Mohmand tribal agency. Seven minutes later, the NATO sergeant got back in touch with the Pakistani major to say that NATO forces had engaged a different location, the Volcano border checkpoint, some 15 km south of Gora Parai.

Read more ....

MIDDLE EAST

Iranian influence seeping into Iraq.

Pressure mounts on Syria, government raids continue.

Northern battle flares as Yemen seeks interim government.

Biden: US troop exit marks new beginning with Iraq.

First suicide blast since '07 hit Iraq's restricted Green Zone.

Turkey imposes sanctions on Assad's Syria.

ASIA

Afghan President urges Pakistan to attend Bonn conference. Afghan officials voice scant remorse to Pakistan.

North Korea supplying Syria, Iran with prohibited nuclear technology, report says.

NKorea claims progress in uranium enrichment, light-water reactor, raising nuclear bomb worry.

Clinton in Myanmar to urge reform.

Internet freedom in Central Asia worsens say human rights groups.

AFRICA

Islamist leader Abdelilah Benkirane named Morocco PM.

Egypt Islamists on collision course with Army. Egypt’s Brotherhood claims lead in polls, challenges military rule.

Egypt: Tahrir Square violence marrs closing of polls.

Ivory Coast: Gbagbo faces murder and rape charges. Plane believed carrying ex-Ivory Coast President Gbagbo arrives in Netherlands.

DR Congo's Vital Kamerhe leads calls to annul vote.

EUROPE

EU monetary chief sees 10 days to rescue euro zone.

EU Defense Ministers may endorse pooling resources.

Britain withdraws diplomats from Iran after embassy attack. UK to expel all Iranian diplomats over embassy attack.

Norway closes embassy in Iran after Brits attacked.

UK Strikes hit services as millions heed unions' call to fight pension cuts.

AMERICAS

Honduras turns to army to battle drug gangs.

Police arrest more than 200 in raid of 'Occupy L.A.' camp.

Chile seeks extradition of ex-U.S. military officer in 1973 death.

Latin America poverty level lowest in 20 years, says UN.

TERRORISM/THE LONG WAR

'I thought my life would end in a tent': ex-envoy.

Senate defies threat of veto in terrorist custody vote. Indefinite military detention of citizens on US soil still in Pentagon spending bill.

Obama orders government to clean up terror training.

ECONOMY/FINANCE/BUSINESS

Stocks surge after central banks’ action on debt crisis. Stocks rocket 4%, Dow closes above 12,000.

Fed, ECB offer aid for global financial system.

S&P downgrades dozens of global banks.

Study: Cyber Monday was biggest online shopping day ever in U.S.

American Airlines' Boeing and Airbus order is 'rock solid' despite bankruptcy.

F-22 News Updates -- November 30, 2011

Photo: Two of the U.S. Air Force's F-22 Raptors, built by Lockheed Martin Corp., fly above Andersen Air Force Base on Guam. Credit: Associated Press / U.S. Air Force/Airman 1st Class Courtney Witt

F-22 Upgrades in Deficit Crosshairs -- Military.com

The deficit-reduction stalemate in Washington has put the Pentagon on a collision course with $500 billion in "automatic" budget cuts over the next 10 years.

But even before last week's failure of Congress' "supercommittee" to find an alternative solution, the Defense Department faced potential cuts of as much as $400 billion over 10 years. Any chance that might trigger some "rush orders" to get a jump on the historic budget ax that's likely to fall?

Read more ....

More News On The F-22

F-22 oxygen report delayed for months -- Flight Global
F-22s Uneasily Fly Again -- Strategy Page
Raptor pilots to conduct nighttime training -- Las Cruces Night Time Training
Friday Evening's Furtive F-22 Fix -- Time
Lockheed clarifies latest F-22 fighter upgrade deal -- Reuters
Air Force issues potential $7.4 billion contract for F-22 upgrade -- L.A. Times
Lockheed Gets Potential $7.4B F-22 Upgrade -- Aviation Week/Reuters
$US7.4b Spent On Upgrading The Never-Used F-22 -- Gizmodo
F-22 Pilot Flies 1,000 Hours -- KTUU.com

Bloomberg in Open Armed Rebellion Against Federal Government

I have my own army in the NYPD, which is the seventh biggest army in the world. [More]

Oh really?

No State shall, without the Consent of Congress...keep Troops...in time of Peace...

Assuming that also applies to cities within States, I call on the federal government to invade New York, disarm these unconstitutional troops and arrest their commander in chief.

And seeing as how this flies in the face of the supreme law of the land, the militia should be called out to put down this insurrection, as is our duty...

[Via Chris Mallory]

World Aid Donors Gather In South Korea To Plot Strategy Amid Economic Crisis

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon speaks at opening session of Fourth High-Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness in Busan. UN News Centre

Global Leaders Gather In SKorea Amid Financial Jitters For World’s Premier Aid Forum -- Washington Post/AP

SEOUL, South Korea — Thousands of government and private aid officials converge this week on the port city of Busan for a summit aimed at making sure billions of dollars in global aid money gets to the people who need it most.

The world’s premier development aid forum — the fourth of its kind since 2003 — starts Tuesday and comes at a sensitive time for those pushing to better coordinate efforts to help the poor.

Read more ....

More News On The World Aid Forum In South Korea

At aid forum, Ban urges countries to not turn their backs on the world’s poor -- UN News Centre
International Conference in South Korea to Assess Effectiveness, Impact of Aid -- Voice of America
World aid donors plot strategy amid economic crisis -- Reuters
From rags to riches, South Korea hosts forum on international aid -- L.A. Times
Global donors plot better ways to spend aid billions -- AFP
Clinton: Aid for world’s poor is national security priority even during economic turmoil -- Washington Post/AP
China pulls out of aid partnership -- The Guardian
Rwanda demands end to tied aid -- The Guardian

Let Him Out?

Thanks to this diseased piece of crap we have the Bradys. [Read]

Some things are broken and cannot be fixed.

The Future Of Aerial Warfare

Drone Pilots: The Future Of Aerial Warfare -- NPR

To understand how important remotely piloted aircraft are to the U.S. military, consider this: The U.S. Air Force says this year it will train more drone pilots than fighter and bomber pilots combined.

And that's changing the nature of aerial warfare — and the pilots who wage it.

Steve, a lieutenant colonel, grew up wanting to be in the Air Force. And that meant one thing: wanting to be a pilot.

To him, flying is physical: the pull of gravity, the sounds inside the cockpit.

"You hear those things, you feel those things, and you react to them as you need to," he says.

Steve joined the Air Force in 1997 and started out flying F-15s. But he quickly started to see signs that his world was changing. When he was given a chance to fly drones, he took it.

Now, he is at Holloman Air Force Base in New Mexico helping the Air Force build a different kind of pilot.

Read more ....

My Comment: Another indication that the UAV program is becoming important .... the US Air Force is now raising the "secrecy bar" for their drone program.

We're the Only Ones "Suffer the Children" Enough

Hinds County Coroner Sharon Grisham-Stewart said the baby died of internal hemorrhage because of severe blunt trauma. [More]

Sure glad he was out there protecing us all from vice...

[Via Jeffersonian]

Meanwhile, Across the Pond in Sarah Brady Paradise

Blimey!

For some reason I'm imagining a Monty Python skit with this "hapless" twit tripping all over himself in the background while this speech is taking place.

[Via Steve T]

U.S. And Iraq Discuss The Future Role Of American Forces

U.S., Iraq Discuss Future Role of American Forces -- Wall Street Journal

BAGHDAD—U.S. and Iraqi leaders signaled Wednesday that the two governments are working toward expanding efforts for American forces to continue training and cooperating with Iraqi soldiers after completion of next month's troop withdrawal.

Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki said there is "no doubt the U.S. forces have a role in providing training of Iraqi forces." Vice President Joe Biden, who arrived in Baghdad on Tuesday night to meet with Iraqi leaders and salute American troops as the war winds to a formal close, said the U.S. will provide security assistance to the Iraqis at Baghdad's request.

Read more ....

More News On U.S. - Iraq Relations

Iraq Would Accept U.S. Soldiers as Trainers -- New York Times
Biden, Maliki hail ‘new phase’ in U.S.-Iraq relations -- Washington Post
After war in Iraq, Biden heralds new era of US involvement -- Christian Science Monitor
Biden says U.S. pullout brings new phase with Iraq -- Reuters
In Baghdad, Biden sees ‘new path’ after U.S. pullout -- Washington Times
Biden sees rosy U.S.-Iraq relationship -- UPI
VP Biden: US troop departure marks new beginning with Iraq; Sadrists protest his presence -- Washington Post/AP
Biden says US, Iraq in new phase as troops go -- AFP
Joint Statement Affirms Strong U.S.-Iraq Partnership -- US Department of Defense
After U.S. Troops Leave, What Happens To Iraq? -- NPR

Just Get Rid of the Guns

Peabody's boy Sherman here will protect you with his moving plea.

See, if you just get rid of inanimate objects, we'll all be drinkin' that free Bubble-Up and eatin' that rainbow stew.

Sounds like the judge is dropping some other kind of movement on us...

From the comments so far, it looks like the serfs are eating it up.  If you're happy and you know it, clank your chains...

A Study in Contrast

Dave Workman explains. [Read]

What I said about Kurt applies here too. He gets paid for page views, brings you stuff none of the "Authorized Journalists" will, and is vastly undercompensated when you consider not only the quality of the work, but how damn much of it there is to regularly bring you stuff like this.

Share the links. It costs you nothing but a few seconds, will help to educate your friends and will help to get the truth out that Big Boy media refuses to do.

If you get value from the work, why wouldn't you want it to continue?

The Worst Kind of Heresy

State Rep. Steve Farley says "to involve machine guns and Santa in a celebration in the birth of Jesus Christ is the worst kind of heresy I can imagine."[More]

Says the collectivist who swore an oath and then "proposed an unsuccessful ban on large-capacity gun magazines"...

[Via Smiley Starfish]

U.S. Air Force Extends Space Mission Of The Super Secret X-37B

The unmanned X-37B space plane built by Boeing's Phantom Works division is undergoing orbital flight tests for the U.S. Air Force. Boeing

Air Force Says It's Extending Mission Of Mysterious X-37B -- L.A. Times

The Air Force is extending the mission of an experimental robotic space plane that’s been circling the Earth for the last nine months.

The pilotless X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle, which looks like a miniature version of the space shuttle, was launched in March from Cape Canaveral, Fla. At the time, Air Force officials offered few details about the mission, saying that the space plane simply provided a way to test new technologies in space, such as satellite sensors and other components.

Read more ....

More News On The Air Force's X-37B Program

Secretive Air Force space plane nears orbital record -- MSNBC
Secretive X-37B Robotic Space Plane Receives Prolonged Mission -- Daily Tech
Secretive Air Force space plane sets endurance record -- CBS/AP
Mystery Robot Space Plane Still Flying, 7 Months Later -- FOX News/Space.com
New Mission for Secret Spaceplane? -- Discovery News
Military space shuttle receives mission extension -- Spaceflight Now

Holder has a point claiming calls for resignation ‘not organic’

If Holder simply steps down, much of the incentive to pursue him will evaporate.  The natural focus of those who place ambition above principle will target others who have the power they covet for themselves. First things first and all… [More]

Today's Gun Rights Examiner commentary bucks "conventional wisdom" and does not call for the Attorney General's resignation.

How Many Troops Will Be Needed To Stabilize North Korea If It Collapses?

How Many Troops If North Collapses? 300K+ -- Wall Street Journal

Imagine North Korea collapses. How many soldiers would be needed – in the best case assuming North Koreans don’t put up a resistance – to stabilize the country so that food and medicine can get in and other work can start to be done?

Jennifer Lind, a political scientist at Dartmouth College, and research partner Bruce Bennett of Rand Corp. have been crunching the numbers and come up with a surprisingly large figure: 300,000 to 400,000.

Read more ....

My Comment: What is my take on North Korea's future .... I foresee a Romanian type/style of revolution in which (in a span of a few days) the military and security forces .... coupled with massive civilian unrest .... will topple the regime in a brief but violent confrontation.

Why North Korea Is Dangerous

North Korean leader Kim Jong Il acknowledging applause from soldiers as he inspects the Korean People's Army Unit. WAToday

The Real North Korea Threat -- Ryo Hinata-Yamaguchi, The Diplomat

A year has passed since North Korea conducted its unexpected shelling of Yeonpyeong Island. Yet, while tensions between the two Koreas seem less intense now, the threat posed by North Korea’s military continues to be as complex and diversified as ever. Indeed, even as the North Korea looks like it is edging toward collapse, there are signs of dangerous military changes, including the further politicization of the Korean People’s Army (KPA) and the diversification of its military capabilities.

Read more ....

My Comment: A sobering assessment on North Korea's military capabilities.

North Korea Claims Progress In It's Nuclear Program

North Korea Claims Progress In Uranium Enrichment -- The Telegraph

North Korea said on Wednesday that it is making rapid progress on work to enrich uranium and build a light-water nuclear power plant, increasing worries that the country is developing another way to make atomic weapons.

An unidentified spokesman at Pyongyang's Foreign Ministry said in a statement that the construction of an experimental light-water reactor and low enriched uranium are "progressing apace".

The statement, carried by the official Korean Central News Agency, said that North Korea has a sovereign right to the peaceful use of nuclear energy and that "neither concession nor compromise should be allowed".

Read more ....

More News On North Korea's Nuclear Program

NKorea claims progress in uranium enrichment, light-water reactor, raising nuclear bomb worry -- Washington Post
North Korea Reports Progress on New Reactor -- New York Times
N.Korea says work on uranium enrichment moves briskly -- Reuters
North Korea: Uranium Enrichment Progress -- Time/AP
N. Korea says progress made on uranium production -- AFP
North Korea “Progressing Apace” on Uranium Enrichment -- Voice of America
North Korea claims nuclear plant progress -- The Guardian
North Korea Nuclear Reactor Construction ‘Progressing Apace’ -- Bloomberg Businessweek
North Korea says nuclear plant is 'progressing apace' -- BBC
N. Korea claims LWR progress -- UPI
NK claims progress in uranium production -- Korea Times

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Another Violent Border Incident Between NATO And Pakistani Forces On The Border

Clash Between NATO and Pakistani Forces Defused -- New York Times

KABUL, Afghanistan — A cross-border incident involving NATO and Pakistani forces was quickly defused early on Wednesday with no loss of life, according to Brig. Gen. Carsten Jacobson, the spokesman for the American-led international coalition here.

Few details of the incident were immediately available but it apparently involved heavy artillery fire across the Afghanistan-Pakistan border in Afghanistan’s Paktika province.

The firing broke out at a time of Pakistani anger over the killing of 24 of its soldiers in a United States air strike on Saturday. Pakistan closed its border to NATO supply convoys and pulled out of an international conference on Afghanistan next week in Bonn in protest at the killings.

Read more ....

Update: NATO: Pakistan Cooperates on New Border Incident -- FOX News/AP

My Comment: If there was loss of life in this incident today .... and after the loss of 2 dozen Pakistani soldiers on the weekend ..... I can only imagine how heated the rhetoric would have been on both sides of the border.

Sows at the Trough

Play this in the background while learning about  her and her...

And the schools reflect their leadership! Life's pretty good, no?

"What an exciting and humbling experience!"

Good Lord.

Garth? Wayne?

We're the Only Ones (How Do You Say "On the Lam" in Portuguese?) Enough

Hicks fled the country — presumably to Brazil — on the eve of his federal corruption trial in 2003, but since then, monthly pension checks totaling more than $300,000 have been paid to his bank account or cashed by his wife, a Chicago Tribune investigation found. [More]

Let's see, Hicks was a 29-year officer, his"crew" were "rogue officers," his beneficiary wife was an officer, his fugitive-helping son is an officer...

Yep, no doubt about it. Just a few bad apples.

Forget it Jake, it's Chi-Town.

The Chicago Way

It's the latest in a pattern of records denials from the mayor, who proclaimed a new commitment to transparency at City Hall under his leadership. [More]

It kind of reminds me of that Arnhole line from Commando.

Pakistan Escalates Tensions With NATO And The U.S.

Pakistan Hardens Stance On Nato Attack -- The Telegraph

Pakistan stiffened its public stance on a Nato attack on Wednesday, accusing commanders of deliberately targeting two border posts and killing 24 of its soldiers.

But the prime minister also offered a glimmer of hope that Pakistan could still attend a crucial conference on the future of Afghanistan.

The deaths have provoked daily demonstrations in Pakistan where much of the population cannot believe the attack was an accident.

The US military insists a joint patrol with Afghan forces was first upon first and only attacked the posts – which a commander mistakenly identified as Taliban training camps – after checking there were no Pakistani forces nearby.

Read more ....

More News On The Aftermath Of A NATO Border Strike On A Pakistan Border Outpost

Pakistan Steps Up Anti-US Rhetoric After Attack -- New York Times/AP
Pakistan army says NATO attack was blatant aggression -- Reuters
Pakistani general calls NATO airstrike deliberate -- L.A. Times
Pakistan accuses Nato commanders of deliberately targeting soldiers -- The Telegraph
Pakistan calls NATO raid 'act of aggression' -- Al Jazeera
Pakistan to evaluate all options after NATO attack: PM -- Associated Press Of Pakistan
Pakistan releases first images of border posts attacked by NATO -- MSNBC
Pakistan and US offer different versions of border post attack -- Christian Science Monitor
US scrambles to contain Pakistan fallout -- Seattle PI/AP
After NATO attack, truckers face hard times-- Al Jazeera
What really happened at the bombed out Pakistani military post? -- Scott Baldauf, Christian Science Monitor
Still time to prevent a U.S.-Pakistan meltdown? -- Robert Dreyfuss, CBS

This Day in History: November 30

[More]

Afghanistan War News Updates -- November 30, 2011

NATO: Communication Lines Open Between Coalition And Pakistan During Recent Border Incident -- Washington Post/AP

KABUL, Afghanistan — NATO says Pakistan is showing signs it might be willing to cooperate with the coalition again in the wake of NATO airstrikes that killed 24 Pakistani troops.

NATO spokesman in Kabul, German Brig. Gen. Carsten Jacobson, said Wednesday that Pakistani security forces fully cooperated with NATO during a cross-border incident the night before in Paktia province along the border. He says details about who was firing at whom are still being collected and that no one was injured in the incident.

Read more ....

More News On Afghanistan

US scrambles to contain Pakistan fallout ensure no new rifts on Afghanistan strategy -- Washington Post/AP
Afghan officials voice scant remorse to Pakistan -- Washington Post
Afghan President Urges Pakistan to Attend Bonn Conference -- Voice of America
Pakistan Dismisses Calls to Attend Afghan Conference -- Voice of America
Pakistan Boycotts Afghanistan Conference -- Wall Street Journal
Pakistan says decision on Afghanistan conference is final -- DAWN/Reuters
Pakistan to Boycott Next Week’s Meeting on Afghanistan After NATO Strike -- Bloomberg
Pakistan urged to rethink Bonn Afghan talks boycott -- BBC
Pakistan sets conditions for Bonn peace conference -- AFP

Combined Force Captures Haqqani Network Leader -- US Department of Defense
NATO Service Member Dies in Afghanistan -- ABC News/AP
Terrorist attack foiled in Kabul -- New Kerala
Afghanistan: 40 000 troops exit next year -- News24
Bulgaria to Make Major Withdrawal of Afghanistan Troops by 2014 -- Novinite
Dempsey Makes Case for Progress in Afghanistan -- US Department of Defense
Transfer of security responsibility will test Afghan National Security Forces -- Long War Journal

Survey: Afghans Living Longer, Fewer Infants Die -- New York Times/AP
Afghanistan maternal mortality drops, survey suggests -- BBC
Afghanistan life expectancy rising as healthcare improves, survey shows -- The Guardian
One in ten Afghan children die before age 5 - survey -- Reuters

Kabul doles out mineral mining rights -- UPI
How to win in Afghanistan -- Ronald E. Neumann, Washington Post
Road to recovery in Afghanistan goes through the countryside -- Edward Girardet, Christian Science Monitor
Afghanistan's Bonn Conference: 4 things you need to know -- Christian Science Monitor
Afghanistan Conference 'Doomed to Failure' -- Spiegel Online

At least 1,724 US military deaths in Afghanistan since 2001 -- Washington Post/AP

World News Briefs -- November 30, 2011

The US Federal Reserve Building

Central Banks Take Joint Action to Ease Debt Crisis -- New York Times

WASHINGTON — The Federal Reserve moved Wednesday with other major central banks to buttress financial markets by increasing the availability of dollars outside the United States, reflecting growing concern about the fallout of the European debt crisis.

The central banks announced that they would slash by roughly half the cost of an existing program under which banks in foreign countries can borrow dollars from their own central banks, which in turn get those dollars from the Fed. The banks also said that loans will be available until February 2013, extending a previous endpoint of August 2012.

Read more ....

MIDDLE EAST

Pressure mounts on Syria, government raids continue.

Northern battle flares as Yemen seeks interim government.

Biden: US troop exit marks new beginning with Iraq.

First suicide blast since '07 hit Iraq's restricted Green Zone.

Turkey imposes sanctions on Assad's Syria.

ASIA

Afghan President urges Pakistan to attend Bonn conference. Afghan officials voice scant remorse to Pakistan.

North Korea supplying Syria, Iran with prohibited nuclear technology, report says.

NKorea claims progress in uranium enrichment, light-water reactor, raising nuclear bomb worry.

Clinton in Myanmar to urge reform.

Internet freedom in Central Asia worsens say human rights groups.

AFRICA

Egypt’s Brotherhood claims lead in polls, challenges military rule.

Egypt: Tahrir Square violence marrs closing of polls.

Ivory Coast: Gbagbo faces murder and rape charges. Plane believed carrying ex-Ivory Coast President Gbagbo arrives in Netherlands.

DR Congo's Vital Kamerhe leads calls to annul vote.

EUROPE

EU monetary chief sees 10 days to rescue euro zone.

EU Defense Ministers may endorse pooling resources.

Britain withdraws diplomats from Iran after embassy attack. UK to expel all Iranian diplomats over embassy attack.

Norway closes embassy in Iran after Brits attacked.

UK Strikes hit services as millions heed unions' call to fight pension cuts.

AMERICAS

Honduras turns to army to battle drug gangs.

Police arrest more than 200 in raid of 'Occupy L.A.' camp.

Chile seeks extradition of ex-U.S. military officer in 1973 death.

Latin America poverty level lowest in 20 years, says UN.

TERRORISM/THE LONG WAR

Indefinite military detention of citizens on US soil still in Pentagon spending bill.

Obama orders government to clean up terror training.

ECONOMY/FINANCE/BUSINESS

Fed, ECB offer aid for global financial system.

S&P downgrades dozens of global banks.

Study: Cyber Monday was biggest online shopping day ever in U.S.

American Airlines' Boeing and Airbus order is 'rock solid' despite bankruptcy.