Neo-Nazi as last hope

Pentagon officials confirmed last week that US troops will deploy to Ukraine in the spring to help build the Ukrainian National Guard. In addition to sending US troops, Washington has already sent heavy military equipment and has earmarked $19 million for Ukrainian forces.

In its announcement, the Pentagon failed to mention that the Ukrainian National Guard includes the Azov Battalion, a pronounced neo-Nazi group that has reportedly been involved in the recent violence in Ukraine.

The emblem of the Azov battalion; a paramilitary, volunteer unit of the Ukrainian National Guard. 

US Announces Support of Neo-Nazis

Combating crime/ Biometrics

The Stockton (California) Police Department (SPD) has been quietly testing a state-of-the-art Mobile Biometric Device (MBD) technology for the past four years. Designed quickly to scan fingerprints, irises, and other biological information while officers and evidence technicians are on the field, MBDs can communicate with remote fingerprint databases and confirm matches in as little as three minutes. In partnership with DHS’s Science and Technology Directorate (S&T), Sandia National Laboratories took the lead on testing and evaluating the technology in July 2010.

According to Home Land Security News Wire, sixty-two law enforcement jurisdictions are testing MBDs, with some specializing in the device’s iris and facial recognition capabilities. SPD has played a significant role in perfecting MBDs’ fingerprint function.

New Mobile biometric device expedites identity matching

Threat:  farfetched or real?

“Russian aggression” is the BBC’s meme of the day. I lost count of how many times the phrase popped up in the first 15 minutes of Radio 4’s World at One programme, devoted entirely to the ‘Russian problem – but the theme was drummed in relentlessly.

The idea is that Russia presents a huge a growing threat to world peace and stability. Russian bombers are threatening the ‘English’ Channel (albeit strictly from international airspace). Russia is an expansionist power attacking sovereign nations, Ukraine in particular. And watch it – we’re next!

The Meme of “Russian Aggression”

International security/ Measuring  attitude

Britons feel more “unfavorable” to Israel than any other country worldwide except North Korea, a survey found

The survey — taken in August and published Thursday by Chatham House, the Royal Institute of International Affairs — showed a massive surge in negative attitudes toward Israel since the previous such study, two years earlier. Thirty-five percent of Britons said they “feel especially unfavorable towards” Israel in the 2014 survey, compared to 17% in 2012.

That figure meant that Israel is regarded more unfavorably by Britons than Iran — 33% in the 2014 survey, compared to 45% in 2012. Only North Korea fares worse — regarded as especially unfavorable by 47% in 2014, compared to 40% in 2012.

Britons loathe Israel more than Iran, survey finds

Reforming intelligence

The government finally unveilled its bill to reform the Intelligence services yesterday, immediately disappointing advocates of an overhaul who promptly complained that it appears to be more of a superficial change than the deep reform President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner had suggested was needed earlier this week.

One of the key points in the reform outlined yesterday stipulates that Intelligence Secretariat (SI, formerly known as SIDE) agents will simply be transferred to the new Federal Intelligence Agency (AFI). The bill does make a point of noting, though, that the government will have to keep close tabs on former members of the intelligence service to make sure they are not using their position for personal gain.

New intelligence agency, same old spies

Espionage/Big lenses of fear

“Russians Charged in Cold War-Style Spy Scheme” claimed various US media headline, reporting the federal criminal charges brought against three Russians in New York this week. Other news outlets similarly touted “Russian spies” and “spy ring” and “Cold War” treachery.

These headlines seem to herald a major espionage case. Like that of Robert Hanssen — the FBI counterintelligence agent who devastatingly spied not only on by for his Soviet handlers for 20 years; or Jonathan Pollard — the American Navy Intelligence employee who sold highly sensitive US national security information to his Israeli handlers for thousands of dollars.

New York Russian ‘Spy’ Case is Not James Bond

Terror threat/Federal domestic intelligence collection

The former head of the Boston Police, citing the 2013 Boston Marathon bombings and this year’s Paris terror attacks, is among a group of former intelligence and counter-terrorism officials calling for stronger domestic spying programs to detect ``homegrown’’ extremists.

Former Police Commissioner Ed Davis, who oversaw Boston’s response to the Marathon attacks, helped draft recommendations for policy makers that includes establishing the new post of national domestic intelligence director in Washington. The group also is calling on the federal government to empower state and local police to conduct more sleuthing and surveillance of possible terror suspects.

Ex-head of Boston Police pushes for more domestic intelligence gathering

International security/Old hazardous ideas

Earlier this month, Pascal-Emmanuel Gobry argued for a US invasion of North Korea.

Thankfully, the general response has been quite negative (here, here and here). Invading North Korea is a terrible idea, and it is worth laying out why in some detail. I do not intend this as a particular shot against Gobry – I do not know him personally – but rather against this general idea, as it does come up now and then.

In 1994, the Clinton Administration came close to launching a massive air campaign against the North (well-discussed here). Then in the first term of President George W Bush, regime change was the watchword and North Korea was on the “axis of evil.

  

TheUltimate Nightmare: Why Invading North Korea Is a Really Bad Idea

Funeral security

 Across Iran, coliseum-like funerary towers sit atop mountainsides. The flat tops of these spiraling alters are used as a gruesome feeding platter of sorts in keeping with a 3,000-year-old tradition: they were built to offer up corpses to be consumed by birds of prey.

Called Towers of Silence, or dakhmas, these temples to the dead are part of an ancient Zoroastrian ritual meant to ensure the circle of life continues and that the body of a deceased doesn’t pollute the elements held sacred.

Why Hungry Vultures Miss Iran’s Towers of Death

War on terror

A chemical weapons expert and longtime jihadist who joined ISIS was killed last week in a targeted U.S. strike near Mosul, U.S. Central Command announced Friday, dealing a significant blow to what several intelligence sources described as a dangerous program by ISIS to acquire unconventional and illicit weapons.

But it was unclear exactly what roles Abu Malik, also known as Salih Jasim Muhammed Falah al-Sabawi, was playing within ISIS—liaison to former Saddam regime elements, WMD specialist, or both. Nor was it apparent precisely how far along his—and therefore, ISIS’s—chemical weapons plans were.

 ISIS Chemical Weapon Specialist Was ‘Gathering Equipment’ Before He Was Killed

Intelligence/ The greatest concern is the threat posed by homegrown terrorists

As a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, and a woman privy to state secrets, Susan Collins is in a prime position to assess today’s terror threat. And what she has to say borders on alarming: American intelligence and law enforcement agencies are not equipped to keep us safe.

“We have never faced so many threats coming from so many different directions,” Collins told me. “I think the threat has grown in such magnitude that we need to devote more resources.”  

Senator Collins: Intelligence agencies are not equipped to keep America safe

Arms trade

For years China has excelled at antagonizing Japan. Now Tokyo may have the chance to extract some revenge.

According to Indian news outlets, the Narendra Modi government has approached Japan about building it six stealth submarines.

“New Delhi has forwarded ‘a proposal’ to Tokyo to ‘consider the possibility’ of making its latest diesel-electric Soryu-class submarines in India,” Times of India reported on Thursday, citing unnamed sources.

China's Worst Nightmare? Japan May Sell India Six Stealth Submarines

Reducing Likud chances to win election

The leader of Lebanon's Hezbollah movement Hassan Nasrallah has sent a clear message to Israel: the group is not pursuing a new war with Jerusalem but is left with no choice but to retaliate; the announcement comes after a recent exchange of attacks in which both sides took casualties.

Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of the Lebanese movement Hezbollah has warned Israel that the group does not fear a new war, even though it isn't seeking to provoke military activity.

War of Words: Hezbollah Not Up in Arms 
With Israel, But Vows to Confront

Defense

Measures taken by the Russian Defense Ministry to develop the Strategic Nuclear Forces and raise the capabilities of regular troops will prevent the United States or NATO's superiority over Russia, General Staff head Valery Gerasimov said Friday.

'The Armed Forces' priority is the quality improvement of the Strategic Nuclear Forces,' Gerasimov said.

The statement comes after US Deputy Secretary of Defense Robert Work's statement Thursday that the growth in Russia's military spending and modernization over the past decade represents a challenge to the United States.

'This attitude toward keeping the Strategic Nuclear Forces in the condition of high combat readiness in combination with the quality improvement of the combat potential of the regular troops will prevent the military superiority of the United States and NATO over Russia,' Gerasimov said.

Russia to Keep Up With US,NATO Military Capability

Nuclear security

India successfully test-launched the nuclear-capable, 5,000 kilometer-range Agni-5 missile, according to Indian news channel NDTV

"The missile, witnessed a flawless 'auto launch' and detailed results will be known after all data retrieved from different radars and network systems," the Integrated Test Range director MVKV Prasad said, the Hindustan Times reported.

The missile has been dubbed the “China-killer” by media, as it is capable of hitting major Chinese cities such as Beijing.

The test launch was conducted from a mobile launcher, in the third such test since April 2012, according to the newspaper

India Launches Agni-5  Nuclear ICBM in Successful Test

Foreign Direct investments security

 China attracted the most direct foreign investments in 2014, 
while the US is down to third place behind Hong Kong, the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) reported on Thursday from Geneva.

China recorded inflows of $128 billion, followed by $111 billion in Hong Kong, which is a leading hub for international corporations, and the US with $86 billion. Flows to the European Union (EU) reached an estimated US$267 billion - a fat 13 percent increase on 2013.

China replaces US as top investment destination