NIGHTWATCH Extract: US-Israel-Turkey-Hamas

Israel-Turkey-Hamas: Four ships from the Gaza-bound flotilla that was raided on 31 May Israeli naval forces have arrived at the port of Ashdod, Israel, accompanied by Israeli warships, Al Jazeera reported. According to Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi, the Israeli soldiers that intercepted the Gaza-bound aid flotilla acted in self-defense, and …

Journal: Dropping COIN–McChrystal Returns to His Roots

By FRANKLIN C. SPINNEY, Counterpunch, 27 May 2010 FULL STORY ONLINE For the past several years Americans have been inundated by reams of journalistic puff pieces extolling the virtues of the new US Counterinsurgency (COIN) Strategy documented by General Petraeus in his much ballyhooed COIN manual — which for the most part was a merely …

Journal: With No Successor In Sight, Intelligence Czar Departs

FULL STORY:  Declassified (newsweek.com/blogs) May 28, 2010 By Mark Hosenball On Dennis Blair’s last day in office as director of national intelligence, the Obama administration seems more stymied than ever in its efforts to replace him. Following a torrent of criticism from Capitol Hill—apparently touched off by this Declassified interview with Rep. Pete Hoekstra, the …

Journal: HOUSE TO CONSIDER GAO AUDITS OF INTELLIGENCE

Defying a previous veto threat from the White House, the House of Representatives will consider an amendment to bolster intelligence oversight by requiring intelligence agencies to cooperate with the Government Accountability Office when it performs audits that are requested by a congressional committee with jurisdiction over intelligence. In general, the amendment (pdf) states, “the Director …

Review (DVD): Unthinkable

Starring: Samuel L. Jackson, Michael Sheen Director: Gregor Jordan And Carrie-Anne Moss (Amazon stinks at listing all authors and actors) 5.0 out of 5 stars Astonishing–Riveting–Thought Provoking–Beyond Five Stars May 28, 2010 EDIT of 27 August 2010: The Intelligence Science Board, the top advisory board to the Director of National Intelligence, has just come out …

Journal: Brazil, Turkey, Iran Blow Off USA–Righteously

  This important essay by Ray McGovern makes a compelling case for the recommendation he makes last two paragraphs which are repeated in italics below: “As a former CIA analyst, I hope that Obama would have the presence of mind to order a fast-track special National Intelligence Estimate on the implications of the Iran-Brazil-Turkey agreement …