Chuck Spinney: Syrian Use of Chemical Weapons? Bullshit. + Syria Regional Meta-RECAP

Pressure is mounting for the US to become involved in the Syrian civil war.  Advocates of intervention have all sorts of motives.  Once of the most attractive talking points from the perspective of the interventionists is the Syria’s alleged use of chemical weapons on its own people.  This short and well focused essay addresses that …

Stephen E. Arnold: Connecting the Dots is the Wrong Mind-Set for Intelligence

Connecting the Dots Yields Spotty Results Posted: 10 May 2013 05:30 AM PDT In the aftermath of the Boston bombing, many have discussed whether or not the FBI should have had the capabilities to “connect the dots” to identify and prevent the bomber from following through. Boing Boing reiterates the point that Bruce Schneier made …

Neal Rauhauser: Syria, Regional War, The Only Red Line That Matters + Syria Meta-RECAP

The Only Red Line That Matters Conclusion: Here are what I hope are a fairly complete laundry list of the issues: NATO member Greece has collapsed, triggering regional banking meltdown concerns Banks of Cyprus collapsed, Russian offshore banking haven taken out by Greek troubles Russian ally Assad’s Syria is failing, loss of Tartus would exclude …

Berto Jongman: CIA Junior Clandestine Operations Officer Arrested in Moscow with Full Kit for a Cold Pitch Adds Marcus Aurelius Huffington Post Overview

The details are being read in Europe. Cloak, dagger and a blond wig? FSB says CIA agent nabbed in Moscow (VIDEO, PHOTOS) Promises of millions, a new face and detailed instructions on a double-agent conspiracy in Moscow. Bearing the hallmarks of a Cold War spy thriller, Russia’s counterintelligence agency says it nabbed a CIA officer …

Berto Jongman: Call for US Torture Investigation and Eradication + Torture RECAP

Out With It Americans deserve to hear the dirty secrets of the CIA’s war on terror. We’ll all be better off with the truth. In April 1975, Sen. Frank Church impaneled a special investigative committee to look into shocking accounts of CIA dirty tricks. The Church Committee ultimately published 14 reports over two years revealing …

Jim W. Dean: Peace Activists are Extremists? Call DHS Stupid and Be Labeled a Terrorist?

Homeland Security Blames Boston on Public Homeland Security admits Boston security failure EXTRACT: But it gets worse. When those in their own ranks try to bring attention to huge security holes in their operations the DHS’s full resources are put upon them, wasting more taxpayer money chasing bogus ‘domestic’ security threats. Click for DVD Website …