Miami Herald March 6, 2012 Pg. 3 'Shame on us,' said GOP Sen. John McCain, if the U.S. fails to help Syrians fight a bloody crackdown by regime forces. He urged airstrikes. By Michael A. Memoli, Tribune Washington Bureau WASHINGTON — Republican Sen. John McCain said the United States should lead a military air assault …
Defense Is Under The Gun By Robert J. Samuelson
Washington Post March 5, 2012 Pg. 17 It turns out that “budget sequestration,” portrayed as an evenhanded way to spur bipartisan negotiations over budget deficits, is actually a dagger aimed at defense spending. The president and other top administration officials have said the automatic spending cuts required by sequestration are “bad policy.” But they still …
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Al Qaeda In Iraq Mounts Comeback
Washington Times March 5, 2012 Pg. 1 Claims a string of fatal bombings By Rowan Scarborough, The Washington Times Al Qaeda in Iraq, the Osama bin Laden-inspired terrorist group that sank the country into sectarian violence five years ago, is trying to make a comeback in post-U.S.-occupied Iraq, analysts and intelligence officials say. Washington is …
A Cold-War Chill? US-Russia Relations Falter Over Libya And Syria
Christian Science Monitor (csmonitor.com) March 3, 2012 Stormy days lie ahead for US-Russia relations, many say. Progress on issues like missile defense and NATO-Russia relations could suffer serious setbacks if the Syria and Iran crises deteriorate further. By Howard LaFranchi, Staff writer WASHINGTON--Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton doffed her diplomatic gloves after Russia vetoed …
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China Boosts Defense Spending By 11.2 Percent
Reuters.com March 4, 2012 By Chris Buckley, Reuters BEIJING--China will boost military spending by 11.2 percent this year, the government said on Sunday, unveiling Beijing's first defense budget since President Barack Obama launched a "pivot" to reinforce U.S. influence across the Asia-Pacific. The increase was announced by Li Zhaoxing, the spokesman for China's parliament, and …
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China Lays Out Stance On Syria, Rejects ‘Interference’
NYTimes.com March 4, 2012 BEIJING (Reuters) - China warned other powers on Sunday not to use humanitarian aid for Syria to "interfere" in the strife-torn Middle Eastern country, while urging unity in the U.N. Security Council after a split with Western powers over the crisis. The Chinese Foreign Ministry laid out its stance on Syria …
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U.S. Backers Of Israel Pressure Obama Over Policy On Iran
New York Times March 4, 2012 Pg. 1 Mark Landler WASHINGTON — On the eve of a crucial visit to the White House by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel, that country's most powerful American advocates are mounting an extraordinary public campaign to pressure President Obama into hardening American policy toward Iran over its nuclear …
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Persian Poker By Robert Haddick
SmallWarsJournal.com March 2, 2012 This Week at War To compel Iran to fold, President Obama may have to back Israel's play. Will Obama go all in or cash out? I also highlight a debate at El Centro, Small Wars Journal's new Latin America venture. Persian Poker On March 5, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will meet with …
Top U.S. Admiral: Arming The Syrian Rebels Would Help Oust Assad
The Cable (thecable.foreignpolicy.com) March 2, 2012 By Josh Rogin If the international community gave the Syrian rebels arms, communications equipment, and intelligence, that would help speed PresidentBashar al-Assad's removal from power, the top U.S. military official in Europe said Thursday. Navy Admiral James Stavridis, Commander of U.S. European Command and Supreme Allied Commander-Europe, told the …
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Syria Splits Along Sectarian Lines, Shaking Mideast
McClatchy Newspapers (mcclatchydc.com) March 2, 2012 By David Enders and Jonathan S. Landay, McClatchy Newspapers NEAR QUSAYR, Syria — Resting in a safe house south of the shell-battered city of Homs, Syrian rebel Abu Abdo at first framed the conflict convulsing his country as a war between the Sunni Muslim majority and the authoritarian regime …
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Mastermind Century Group 