United States and Canada

A Bodyguard of Lies

By Harlan Ullman

During World War II, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill said that truth was so important that it had to be protected by a “bodyguard of lies.” Hence, under Churchill’s leadership, Britain set up the Special Operations Executive to confuse, mislead and otherwise trick the Nazis about allied intentions and operations. The “man who never was” […]

Russia considering establishing cyber-security command

By RIA Novosti

From RIA Novosti:  The Russian government is considering setting up a dedicated cyber-security command, responsible for protecting the armed forces’ information systems, Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin said on Wednesday. "We are currently discussing the question of setting up a cyber-security command," said Rogozin, who has responsibility for Russia’s military-industrial complex. "This is in connection […]

McCain urges US to sign Strategic Partnership Agreement with Karzai at NATO summit

By Carlos Munoz, DEFCON Hill

From Carlos Munoz, DEFCON Hill:  The U.S. military "will remain a fact on the ground" in Afghanistan long after a White House deadline to have all American troops out of the country expires, Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) said today.

Russian president orders military to prepare countermeasures against US missile shield

By Vladimir Isachenkov, the AP

Four conditions for a NATO invasion of Syria

By Daniel Byman, Michael Doran, Kenneth Pollack, and Salman Shaikh, Brookings

From Daniel Byman, Michael Doran, Kenneth Pollack, and Salman Shaikh, Brookings:  One variant on the invasion option that bears separate consideration because it could prove to be an attractive alternative is for NATO to invade Syria with Arab League diplomatic support and ideally some Arab military participation.

Russian Anti-Terror Troops Arrive in Syria

By Kirit Radia and Rym Momtaz, ABC News

From Kirit Radia and Rym Momtaz, ABC News: A Russian military unit has arrived in Syria, according to Russian news reports, a development that a United Nations Security Council source told ABC News was "a bomb" certain to have serious repercussions.

U.S. accelerating cyberweapon research

By Ellen Nakashima, the Washington Post

From Ellen Nakashima, the Washington Post:  The Pentagon is accelerating efforts to develop a new generation of cyberweapons capable of disrupting enemy military networks even when those networks are not connected to the Internet, according to current and former U.S. officials.

UN sanctions panel investigates reports of French/Qatari arms transfers to Libya’s rebels

By Colum Lynch, Turtle Bay

From Colum Lynch, Turtle Bay:  A U.N. panel set up last year to enforce an arms embargo in Libya has opened an inquiry into allegations that France and Qatar armed Libyan rebels

The Pentagon’s cold feet on Syria

By Max Boot, the Washington Post

From Max Boot, the Washington Post:  Today, in the case of Syria, any military action needs to be carefully thought through, but we should not refuse to act simply because of the worst-case scenarios being raised by the Pentagon.