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British PM Warns Karzai that Afghanistan May Lose UK Support

In an address to the Royal College of Defense Studies in London today, British prime minister Gordon Brown said that Afghan president Hamid Karzai risks losing western support if Karzai fails to address corruption in his second term. Gordon said "I am not prepared to put the lives of British men and women in harm's way for a government that does not stand up against corruption." Brown, speaking earlier this week to Karzai directly, said that Afghanistan must address security, governance, reconciliation, economic development and regional relations.

Read more at Al Jazeera or the London Times.

"Army's worst single-day losses of life"

Maj. Malik Nadal Hasan, a Muslim-American, who recently transferred from Walter Reed Medical Center to Fort Hood, went on a rampage yesterday. Hasan left 13 dead and dozens wounded. Only one of the victims was a civilian and the rest were members of our military.

What heightened the chaos and shock is that Fort Hood is a base where personnel other than civilian police don't typically carry weapons. WSJ reports quated military officials as "not[ing] that security personnel conduct random car checks in search of guns."

N.Y. Daily News reports that Hasan cried "Allahu Akbar" (God is great in Arabic) just as he began his shooting. At least one witness has confirmed this fact, said Col. John Rossi this Friday morning. The article reports that the shooting did not seem political or any type of terrorist-related event, as officials are saying that Hasan was "angry about being sent to war and tried to get his orders changed."

Sgt. Kimberly Munley, a civilian police officer, after a heavy gun battle with Hasan ended his spree. The N.Y Daily News reports that Sgt. Munley who,"pump[ed] four bullets into the crazed gunman even though she was wounded, is known for her toughness . . . " Sgt. Munley is in stable condition, recovering from wounds sustained in the battle with Hasan.

ICC Prosecutor Asks for Formal Investigation in Kenya

After completing preliminary investigations into violence that shook Kenya after elections in early 2008, Luis Moreno-Ocampo, chief prosecutor for the International Criminal Court, asked for a pre-trial hearing to begin a formal investigation. After the 2007 Kenyan election, the country broke out in violence which ended in tribal warfare and the deaths of over 1,500 people. Kenyan leaders had promised to investigate the violence, but have thus far failed to do so.

Read more at Al Jazeera.

Zimbabwe Prime Minister Ends Boycott

Morgan Tsvangirai, Zimbabwe's prime minister, boycotted the unity government three weeks ago, but has gone back to work in the country's unity cabinet to try to work out difficulties. Tsvangirai had walked out because, he said, the country's president, Robert Mugabe, had not implemented a power-sharing deal they had worked out after a disputed election, and had jailed members of the MDC opposition, most notably deputy agricultural minister Roy Bennett.

Read more about the boycott at National Security Law Brief or Al Jazeera.

UN General Assembly Votes to Back the Goldstone Report

In a 114 to 18 vote, with 44 member-states abstaining, the UN General Assembly voted today to endorse the Goldstone report. The report, which details possible war crimes committed by Hamas and Israel during fighting in Gaza last December. The report calls on both governments to investigate the allegations or for the UN to refer the matter to the International Criminal Court.

The United States, Italy, Poland, the Czech Republic and the Netherlands were among the member-states who voted against the report. Great Britain and France were among the member-states who abstained.

Read more at Al Jazeera and the Jerusalem Post.

AFRICOM Hosts Combined Educational Training Seminar

U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) is hosting a security cooperation seminar at U.S. Embassies in 25 African nations. AFRICOM hosted the seminars for members of U.S. AFRICOM's Offices of Security Cooperation, who are responsible for administering security cooperation programs as well as Combating Terrorism Fellowship Education programs in Africa. The seminar will provide attendees with an overview of the various security, development and anti-terrorism programs operated by AFRICOM in Africa.

Shooting at Texas Army Post

A military doctor killed 11 people and wounded 31 at Ford Hood Army post in Texas today. Sources say the psychiatrist was facing deployment. The gunman was first reported to be killed but recent reports have stated that he is alive. This is believed to be the worst shooting on a military base in U.S. history. To read more, click here Dallas Morning News.

China's Support for Bilateral Talks Between U.S. and North Korea

RIA Novosti reports that the PRC supports bilateral talks between the US and North Korea. The PRC views these talks as a vehicle for reviving the six-party talks which North Korea abandoned in protest in April.

Currently, UN Resolution 1718, adopted in October of 2006, prohibits North Korea from nuclear and ballistic missile tests. However, the North Korean has violated this resolution with a nuclear test, as well as a number of short-range missile launches.

Chief Of Russian's Spy Agency Warns of New Georgian War

In a very rare public interview commemorating the 91st anniversary of Russia's Main Intelligence Directorate (GRU), Aleksandr Shlyakhturov, the head of the GRU, said that Georgia will likely attempt another attack at the breakaway republics of South Ossetia and Abkhazia. Although Russia recognized the independence of the two republics after Russia repelled Georgian forces last year, only two other countries have also done so; most of the world recognizes South Ossetia and Abkhazia as part of Georgia.

Mr. Shlyakhturov said that tensions are high because Georgia refuses to recognize the independence of the two republics, and also sighted unpredictable Georgian leadership and small arms shipments going into Georgia from "new NATO members" in Eastern Europe.

Read more at RFE/RL.

More Funding Requested For Wars

The New York Times is reporting that Congress should be expecting another request for funding from the Pentagon in the near future. The report claims that up to $50 billion could be asked in order to support the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. It must be understood that this extra funding will be added to the $130 billion that Congress authorized last month. This presents another problem for the Obama Administration, as he has promised not to use supplemental funding to pay for the wars and also promised to lower troop levels in Iraq, but with an increase in Afghanistan.

The Pentagon Is "Decades Behind" Tracking Satellites

After a defunct Russian satellite collided with a Iridium-owned US satellite, which SatCom commander Gen. Kevin Chilton called a "seminal event," the Pentagon has been trying to keep tabs on over 20,000 satellites in earth orbit. Before the collision last Feburary, Chilton said the Air Force was tracking less that 1oo satellites per day, but has now increased that capacity to 800 per day, and plans on adding the ability to track 500 more by year's end. Chilton also said that the current system is too reliant on Air Force analysts, and is decades behind where it should be.

Read more at Reuters.

CFR Video of Baradei Speech on Iran's Nuclear Program

Given Wednesday's numerous news pieces dealing with Iran - Israel's interception of materials potentially bound for Iran, protests occuring in Iran - I felt it would be appropriate to provide a link to this lecture by Mohamed El Baradei.

Speaking at the New York office of the Council of Foreign Relations, El Baradei again asserted the need for ongoing dialogue and his skepticism of sanctions.

Israel Seizes Ship, Claims Iranian Weapons Destined for Hezbollah

Israelis are claiming that a ship seized close to Cyprus flying under an Antiguan flag contained a large supply of weapons destined for Hezbollah fighters. The seizure comes at a time when Israel is under increased scrutiny over additional settlement constructions in the occupied territories. If any weapons are found and are shown to be from Iran, Israel's contention that Iran poses a continued threat to the Middle East peace process may be viewed as increasingly plausible. For more, go to the BBC.

Italian Court Convicts 23 Americans In CIA Rendition Case

On Wednesday an Italian court convicted 22 C.I.A. agents and a U.S. Air Force Colonel for the extraordinary rendition of a Muslim cleric. The former head of the C.I.A. station in Milan, Robert Lady, was sentenced to 8 years for orchestrating the seizure. Most of the others tried were given 5 year sentences.

The cleric was flown to Egypt where he says he was tortured at the behest of the C.I.A. This is the first time C.I.A. agents have faced criminal trial for the practice of extraordinary rendition. The Americans were tried in absentia. The prosecutor says he will seek their extradition from the United States. Read more at The Guardian and Washington Post.

Iran's Supreme Leader Issues Warning to United States and to Iranian Protestors Against Demonstrating

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran's Supreme leader warned today that negotiating with the United States would be "naive and perverted." He has rejected numerous attempts at discourse with President Obama and has urged all Iranian officials to reject American attempts at negotiating saying that "they are hiding a dagger behind their back." Warnings were also issued to the opposition movement in Iran which has been extremely active since the election fraud of this summer. Demonstrators were promised that if they protested in favor of apologizing to the US for the hostage crisis or against the Iranian regime they would be met with harsh police suppression. Despite this warning, Iranians still poured in the streets to protest today. To read more, click here Washington Post.

India Sells 6.7 Billion U.S. Dollars For Gold

India sent a very clear signal today when it announced it had bought 200 tons of gold from the IMF for $6.7 billion. India, with the fifth-largest foreign reserve of any country, made the largest ever purchase of gold, signaling what they saw was weakness in the U.S. dollar.

The Financial Times reported that Pranab Mukherjee, India's finance minister, said that the European and U.S. economies had collapsed. Central bank holdings around the world went from %9.9 reserves in gold a year ago to %12.6 today. The Times of India said that India felt is was overweight in U.S. Treasuries.

Iranian counter-protesters chant "Death to Dictator," assaulted by security forces

The AP is reporting that Iranian security forces cracked down on protesters today, the 30th Anniversary of the US Embassy takeover. Authorities also initiated electronic interference devices aimed at disrupting mobile phone communication and internet access. Iran had sanctioned anti-US protests outside of the former-US embassy where the crowd was chanting "Death to America." A group of several hundred counter-protesters, though, could be heard denouncing Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei with chants of "Death to the Dictator." Paramilitary and militiamen responded by clubbing and kicking individuals before firing tear gas. Today's protests were generally noted to be significantly smaller than last summer when a disputed presidential election drove tens of thousands into the streets to protest.

The house condemns the Goldstone Report as “irredeemably biased and unworthy of further consideration or legitimacy.”

H.R. Res 867 has been adopted by the House of Representatives on Tuesday November 3rd, 2009.

H.R. Res 867 "[Called] on the President and the Secretary of State to oppose unequivocally any endorsement or further consideration of the "Report of the United Nations Fact Finding Mission on the Gaza Conflict" in multilateral fora (Rep. Ros-Lehtinen - Foreign Affairs)"

Read about the other resolutions passed here.

Iranians Ready to Protest Again

On the eve of the anniversary of radical student hostage taking in Iran, defiance is yet again set to be shown by the people. While the Iranian regime constantly sets up government sponsored demonstrations and funnels propaganda at home and abroad, the movement in Iran against the regime has begun to take over the state sponsored demonstration and turn them into demonstrations supporting their own messages. The scheduled demonstration tomorrow is set to be taken over by supporters of the Green opposition movement who want to see more support by Obama and the international community for the respect of their basic human rights and right to choose their own government. As part of their plan, the people are ready to chant slogans apologizing for the hostage crisis and asking for support against the tyrannical regime in power. To read more click here, Wall Street Journal.

North Korea Claims Further Nuclear Progress

The North Korean regime has recently stated that it has finished the reprocessing of 8,000 spent fuel rods for weaponized plutonium. If these claims are accurate, this weaponized material can be used in a bomb.

Many are concerned that the Taepodong-2, a long-range missile, is a delivery system capable of striking North America. With the threat of more weapons materials and the reactivation of the Yongbyon nuclear complex, North Korea hopes to force the United States into bilateral talks where it may acquire aid, and possible diplomatic recognition.

Following concerns over CTBT ratification by some more hawkish political leaders (Sen. Jon Kyl in the WSJ, for example), the United States response to North Korea will be closely scrutinized by domestic critics of the Obama Administration.

International War Crimes Tribunal Boycott

Radovan Karadzic, a Bosnian war crime suspect, has informed the International War Crimes Tribunal that he has not had enough time to prepare his case, and thus has boycotted. Karadzic, a former Bosnian Serb leader, is accused of genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes. He has been told that the Tribunal will not make decisions on the start of the trial based on defendant's preparation, instead it falls on the judges to determine the beginning of the trial. He has been advised to show up in order to ensure a fair proceeding. For more go to cnninternational.com

Goldstone Calls H.R. Res. 867 "Factually Inaccurate"

Justice Goldstone issues a line-by-line critique of H.R. Res. 867, which rejects the Goldstone Report as one sided and anti-Israeli. Justice Goldstone points out what he calls "misleading" and "factually inaccurate" interpretations of the Goldstone Report, including the charge that the basis of the fact-finding mission Goldstone led was to investigate Israeli activity. Goldstone says that the mission was to investigate all war crimes committed in Gaza during the fighting last December, and that the report specifically mentions war crimes committed by Hamas.

Read Justice Goldstone's letter to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.

CIA adjusts Afghan population estimations

The CIA released a "significantly revised figure" for Afghanistan's population last week. The CIA's new number is 5.2 million lower than its previous estimates.

The inability of the United States to accurately gauge Afghanistan's demographics could contribute to further delay in President Obama's decision regarding troop escalation. General McChrystal's proposal focuses on the protection of civilians under a new counterinsurgency strategy- a task which could be difficult to achieve without an accurate tally of Afghanistan's population. The CIA Fact Book had regularly reported Afghanistan's population to be near 32 million, while other civilian sources were reporting the population to be closer to 27 million. Read more at the Washington Post.

M-16 and M-4 Malfunctions Draw More Criticism

M-16 and M-4 malfunctions draw more criticism as information was leaked that weapons malfunctions were involved in the loss of American troops lives. The Army continues to hold that they have tested the weapons and have not found the poor results that have been recently reported. To read more, click here NYTimes.

House Bill to condemn Goldstone Report

Today there will be a vote for H.R. Res. 867, by Rep. Ros-Lehtinen - Foreign Affairs, which calls on the President and the Secretary of State to unequivocally disregard any endorsement of the Goldstone report, "Report of the United Nations Fact Finding Mission on the Gaza Conflict," due to it's inherent flaws. WSJ opinion writer , John Bolton, supports the bill when casting blame for the reported flaws on the "report's underlying mandate and its stridently anti-Israel tilt on America's earlier absence from the HRC when the investigation was authorized and launched."


Also this week, H.R. 2868, Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Act of 2009 , will be voted on. This bill will amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to extend, modify, and recodify the authority of the Secretary of Homeland Security to enhance security and protect against acts of terrorism against chemical facilities, and for other purposes. H.R. 2868 was introduced by Rep. Thompson (MS) - Homeland Security.

Read more about this week's house legislative business here.

IAEA Chief Calls For A Quick Iranian Decision

Mohammed el-Baradei, head of the UN's International Atomic Energy Agency says Iran should make a timely response to an offer to export and reprocess much of Iran's nuclear stockpile. Iran had announced that it would export almost three-quarters of its stockpile of low enriched uranium (LEU) for reprocessing into fuel for its medical experimental rector by Russia and France. According to estimates, this would have left Iran without enough LEU to process into a nuclear weapon.

But Iran has been reluctant to take a clear position on its willingness to export any LEU, and had at one point announced it would keep its LEU and buy fuel for its reactor on the open market. All of this comes in the wake of a revelation that Iran has a second, smaller plant for enriching its uranium stockpile.

El-Baradei said that a clear willingness to export its nuclear stockpile would be a powerful gesture from Iran that it was only interested in nuclear technology for peaceful purposes. However, the IAEA chief warned against the use of force to prevent nuclear proliferation, reminding the world community, possibly Israel and the United States specifically, that the invasion of Iraq was premised on a search for weapons of mass destruction.

Read more at RFE/RL.

Obama Administration to Provide Gitmo Detainees H1N1 Vaccine

In addition to the political and administrative challenges facing the closure of Guantanamo, the Obama Adminstration may face further difficulties in deciding to provide detainees with a vaccine for the H1N1 flu virus.

Rep. John Boehner, House Minority Leader, has already criticized the decision, pointing out that it was announced as part of a Friday news-dump.

However, as reported in the WaPo (linked provided above), some supporters of the move assert that the US government has an obligation to provide for detainees' basic needs. These needs include the vaccinations.

Freedom of the Press?

In Iran, that's a firm and chilling no. Iranian authorities have shuttered a Tehran business newspaper. The reason? It's "content strayed from the business field." The newspaper, owned by the former Tehran Stock Exchange Director-General Mohammad Hossein Abdo-Tabrizi, has criticized President Ahmadinejad from economics to monetary policies.

While the Newspaper was closed for "repeated violations" of Iranian Press laws, it seems to be just one out of the 100 newspapers and periodicals banned in Iran.

Freedom of the press or security issues? Read here.

Clinton's Blunder

It appears that Secretary of State Clinton has caused even more problems for an Israeli and Palestinian peace agreement. In the past, the United States has not taken a public position on Israeli settlements on the West Bank; but it appears that position has changed. Secretary Clinton has issued a retraction after her comments generated quite a response from the Arab states in the Middle East. The issue of freezing settlement construction on the part of Israel has been a major issue and reason for the failure of peace talks resuming. For further information go to The Washington Post.

U.S. Navy reports American vessel came under pirate gunfire

On Monday, approximately twelve Somali pirates attempted to board the MV Harriette, an American vessel out of Oyster Bay, N.Y. The Harriette was returning from offloading US food aid in Kenya. The pirates attacked in two small boats, but were unable to board after the Harriette's captain took evasive maneuvers. After failing to board, the pirates shot at the ship, damaging a lifeboat, but not injuring any of the 21-person crew. The United States Navy is part of the NATO anti-piracy force patrolling the waters off the Horn of Africa. Read more at NYT.

Afghan run-off cancelled, Karzai declared winner

The New York Times is reporting that incumbent president Hamid Karzai has been declared the winner of Afghanistan's presidential election after a scheduled run-off was canceled. The run-off that was to be held on November 7 was canceled after principle opposition leader Abdullah Abdullah withdrew. The disputed election has delayed the United States from making a final decision to deploy additional troops in Afghanistan for counterinsurgency operations or shifting its strategy to prosecute Qaeda elements in Pakistan.

Bill Moyers' Commentary on the Draft & Afghanistan

On the October 30th edition of his PBS show, television journalist Bill Moyers addressed the tone of mainstream news reporting on involvement in Afghanistan. While this piece doesn't solely focus on national security issues, it also addresses a political third rail - the draft.

This video in no way represents the views of my colleagues on the brief, but it does highlight the stunning lack of political will that bedevils both sides of the isle in Washington.

The lack of political courage affects a number of areas that have national security consequences: intelligence reform, adequate funding for cybedefense, enforcement of/adherence to international law, and our involvement in Afghanistan. Speaking as an individual (and not on behalf of this Brief), I invite you to watch this video, regardless of your agreement or disagreement with Moyers' point of view.

Niger Delta Peace Is Shaky

MEND, the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, has threatened to end a ceasefire agreement negotiated in July. Many of the militants fighting in the Niger Delta want land back from oil companies, a greater share of revenue from oil exports, and complain of environmental degradation.

See a short video interview with MEND leader Henry Okah at Al Jazeera.

Abdullah Abdullah Withdraws from the Race

Days after sitting Afghan president Hamid Karzai agreed to a runoff election, his opponent, Abdullah Abdullah announced he was withdrawing from the race. Over a million ballots from the August 20 election were thrown out due to fraud, pushing Karzai below the 50 percent margin required for presidential elections. A second round is scheduled for November 7, but Abdullah said that the Afghan electoral system is so wracked with corruption that no outcome would be legitimate.

Read more at Al Jazeera.