Why is Obama Changing the Date and Size of First CIA Death Squads to Enter Syria?
There is a very interesting point thrown in as a small tidbit in Monday's New York Times story on Barack Obama securing the support of John McCain for a military strike on Syria:
Officials said that in the same conversation, which included…
"As He Determines To Be Necessary and Appropriate in a Limited and Tailored Manner"
Everyone who has commented on the draft Menendez-Corker resolution to strike Syria has focused on this language:
The President is authorized, subject to subsection (b), to use the Armed Forces of the United States as he determines to be necessary…
Lessons from Today's Senate Hearing on Syria
Lesson #1: We're going to war so we don't lose some friends
John Kerry twice said that if we don't bomb Assad we'll lose friends and/or allies. "If we fail to act we'll have fewer allies."
That admitted something that has been acknowledged…
The Case for War: Since When is Médecins Sans Frontières a Secret Intelligence Source?
There are a couple of new developments in the case for war. Most notably, a Syrian -- whose former position has been described variously as head of forensic evidence in Aleppo and some medical role in Bashar al-Assad's CW group -- defected,…
Rush to Syrian War: What About US Relations With Iran and Russia?
Today's New York Times opens its article on the effects a US attack on Syria would have on the efforts by the US to halt Iran's development of nuclear technology by framing the question from the militaristic point of view that we must be "strong":
As…
Today's Labor Heroes Are Working Today
Unless there's some breaking news (like this AT&T story, which I'll get to tomorrow), I'm going to take a break from surveillance and Syria war posts today. The day is supposed to pay tribute to the great contribution organized labor has…
The Short-Comings of Pre-Crime Intelligence
The Sunday Express has a report that I consider one of the strongest pieces of evidence to date that Assad's military was definitely behind the CW strike last week. (John Kerry is on TV citing forensic evidence, but he also said the evidence…
The AUMF Crescent
Both Moon of Alabama and Jack Goldsmith have analyses of the Authorization to Use Military Force the White House proposed to Congress yesterday.
The President is authorized to use the Armed Forces of the United States as he determines to be…
The Case to Congress
As you've no doubt heard, President Obama gave a statement today in which he said he had decided to strike Syria. But then said he plans to have Congress approve the strike.
Here's how the Administration plans to sell this to Congress:
And…
Operation Ballsack Labor Day Football Trash Talk
Hello. Is there anybody in there? Just nod if you can hear me.
I am not sure how well the Trash Talk Machine is greased after such egregious neglect. But, we can only do what we do, and carry on. And those skilz have NOT been forgotten jack.…
Whatever Happened to the Atrocities Prevention Board?
I should be analyzing the Administration's case for war to punish Bashar al-Assad because someone in his regime allegedly used chemical weapons against civilians. I will do so soon.
But I keep thinking back to the President's Atrocities Prevention…
Microsoft, Google, as Unimpressed as I Am with I Con's New Data Release Promise
I showed earlier that the Director of National Intelligence's promise to release certain information -- much of which they're already obligated to release -- wasn't all that impressive. As part of that, I noted that the DNI wasn't providing…
Sources and Methods: A Case for War
I'm going to do a more detailed discussion of what the Administration just released as its case to unilaterally and illegally start bombing Syria.
For now, I wanted to point out something that stuck out to me. The map the Administration released…
Blurred Line? Really? What a Perfect Analogy
As Barack Obama's relentless pursuit of a violent intervention in Syria continues, cliches have been tossed out freely in each new segment of the corporate news cycle. We had "credibility" for quite some time, and then yesterday there was "go…
Hundreds of Millions Lubricate the Telecoms
In the third of its budget stories today, the WaPo reveals the scale of the funds provided to telecoms to provide vast amounts of data to the government: $278 million this year, and $394 million in 2011, for doing things like leasing networks…
The Black Budget
The Washington Post just published an excellent package on the FY2013 Black Budget for intelligence. I'm reading through the summary now.
I'll put working comments below. But one of my first impressions is that all of this is useful information,…
General Idris' Close Watch on Assad's CW
In a piece summarizing the current state of intelligence, the AP reveals how uncertain US intelligence is about chain of control over Bashar al-Assad's chemical weapons.
Intelligence officials say they could not pinpoint the exact locations…
The New I Con: "Total Number of Orders and Targets"
The I Con people, in another attempt to feign transparency, have announced they will release "new" numbers.
Consistent with this directive and in the interest of increased transparency, the DNI has determined, with the concurrence of the IC,…
Anonymous "Intelligence Officials" Contemplated a Rogue CW Attack 8 Months Ago
In my Syria post last night, I expressed vague feelings that the alleged preparations of chemical weapons back in December might offer some insight into last week's attack.
Here's one way they might.
CIA beat reporter Joby Warrick did…
3 Tech Issues the Non-Technologist NSA Technical Committee Needs to Address
A number of people are asking why I'm so shocked that President Obama appointed no technologists for his NSA Review Committee.
Here are three issues that should be central to the Committee's discussions that are, in significant part, technology…