U.S. Web Companies Hosting Sites Linked To Terror Are Rarely Shut Down

Feds Take Little Action Against U.S. Web Companies Hosting Sites Linked To Terror -- Washington Times/Washington Guardian

Just miles from New York City’s hallowed Ground Zero, an Internet server in New Jersey hosts a Jihadist leader’s website that instructs supporters of al-Qaida to use explosive devices against western civilians, along with blueprints showing how to build the bombs.

Another website, hosted on a server located in Miami, provides Hezbollah – designated as a terrorist organization by the U.S. State Department – a platform for its television website al-Manar.

Followers of Hezbollah can also view the terrorist organization’s television programming on smart phones with the help of one of the Internet’s most celebrated applications, WhatsApp, based in Dallas, Texas. YouTube and Twitter are also mega platforms for Hezbollah’s news outlets and videos.

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My Comment: I understand that it is difficult (if not impossible) to police the web. But an effort must be done.

Top 10 Special Forces In The World (From A Chinese Perspective)

Special Air Service, United Kingdom [Photo: pawnation.com]

Top 10 Special Forces In The World -- China.org.cn

Special Forces, or Special Operations Forces, are military units strictly selected and intensely trained for the execution of special missions for a nation's political, economic or military purposes. With their flexible formation, these elite troops are generally led by the highest commanding military authorities and are usually well-equipped, possessing strong combat capabilities.

The origin of Special Forces dates back to the early 20th century, with fighting models set up by German Brandenburg Commandos during the Second World War (1940-1945). Nevertheless, these renowned Special Forces are always surrounded by an air of mystery as they cannot be exposed to the general public – if the general public is already aware of their existence, that is. Their daunting missions usually stretch beyond the imagination, yet their military exploits cannot be awarded. The super elite soldiers are definitely heroes.

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My Comment: I find it interesting that they did not list China's Special Forces.

Russia's Pacific Fleet Enters The Mediterranean For The First Time Since The Cold War

The "Admiral Panteleyev" anti-submarine warfare ship of the Pacific Fleet (RIA Novosti/Vitaliy Ankov)

Russian Pacific Fleet Warships Enter The Mediterranean For First Time Since The Cold War -- Business Insider

A group of warships from Russia’s Pacific Fleet has entered the Mediterranean waters for the first time since the Cold War, RIA Novosti reports.

“The task force has successfully passed through the Suez Channel and entered the Mediterranean," Capt. First Rank Roman Martov said. "It is the first time in decades that Pacific Fleet warships enter this region.”

The vessels are scheduled to make a port call in Limassol, Cyprus.

In November Russia sent six warships from its Black Sea Fleet to the Mediterranean in response to the Israel-Gaza conflict.

Also in November two warships from the Black Sea Fleet made a rare visit to Syria's port of Tartus, a signal of its support for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

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More News On The Russian Pacific Fleet Entering The Mediterranean For The First Time Since The Cold War

Russian Pacific Fleet Warships Enter Mediterranean -- RIA Novosti
Russian warships enter Mediterranean to form permanent task force -- RT
Russian Navy Begins Staffing Mediterranean Group Of Warships -- Radio Free Europe
Black Sea Fleet to Form Core of New Mediterranean Unit -- Moscow Times
Russia eyes stronger naval presence in Mediterranean -- China.org.cn
Russian Navy plans to reestablish Mediterranean presence -- Russia Beyond The Headlines

President Obama Meets With U.S. Military Leaders Over The Growing Problem Of Sexual Assaults In The Military

U.S. President Barack Obama (3rd L) speaks to the media as he sits between Secretary of Defense Chucck Hagel and General Dempsey. Reuters/Yuri Gripas

Obama: Pentagon Leaders 'Ashamed' Over Sexual Assaults Plaguing Military -- CNN

(CNN) -- U.S. military leaders are "angry" and "ashamed" over sexual assaults plaguing the armed forces, President Barack Obama said Thursday after ordering top Pentagon officials to "leave no stone unturned" in the effort to stop the abuse.

The president's comments came the same day legislation was introduced in Congress to ease the victims' quest for justice, a move that followed news this month of two high-profile cases involving sexual assault in the military -- allegedly by the very service members tasked with preventing such crimes.

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More News On President Obama Meeting With U.S. Military Leaders Over The Growing Problem Of Sexual Assaults In The Military

Obama Emphasizes Concern About Sexual Assault in Military -- US Department of Defense
Dempsey: Sexual Assault Constitutes Crisis in Military -- US Department of Defense
Barack Obama: US military 'ashamed' about sexual assault -- AP
Obama deplores sex crimes in military, says there’s ‘no silver bullet’ -- Washington Post
Top U.S. general warns of sexual assault 'crisis,' meets Obama -- Reuters
US military forced to face ‘crisis’ over sexual assault cases -- The Independent
US military leaders vow to tackle sexual assault issue as Congress pledges action -- The Guardian
Army chief: Time to fight against sex assault -- US News and World Report

Picture Of The Day

The USS Nimitz, left, and the Military Sealift Command dry cargo ammunition ship USNS Richard E. Byrd conduct a replenishment in the Pacific Ocean, April 28, 2013. The Nimitz and Carrier Air Wing 11 left San Diego for a deployment in the western Pacific. U.S. Navy photo by Seaman Kole E. Carpenter

Donald Rumsfeld’s Leadership ABCs

On Afghanistan, Benghazi And Critics: Donald Rumsfeld’s Leadership ABCs -- Washington Post

Donald Rumsfeld is a collector. His new book, “Rumsfeld’s Rules,” is a compendium of the leadership mantras he began stockpiling in a shoebox when growing up in Chicago, added to his files when serving in the Nixon administration, then printed out for Gerald Ford when acting as the president’s chief of staff. They include quotes from Carl von Clausewitz on war, from Rep. Mo Udall on meetings and from Rumsfeld himself on lessons from his own career.

He continued to add to these rules throughout his tenure, perhaps most notably and controversially as secretary of defense during the George W. Bush administration, before compiling them at age 80 into the book released Tuesday. In this interview, edited for length and clarity, Rumsfeld spoke with On Leadership editor Lillian Cunningham about managing budget cuts and bureaucracy at the Defense Department, offering lessons on Benghazi, and facing his critics.

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My Comment: Those who admire Donald Rumsfeld will enjoy reading this post. Those who do not will ignore it.

President Obama: The U.S. Will Not Act Alone On Syria

US President Barack Obama is shielded from the rain by a Marine during a press conference in Washington Thursday. © REUTERS/ Jason Reed

Obama Says U.S. Won't Act Alone On Syria -- L.A. Times

He rules out unilateral military action even if chemical weapons use is proved.

WASHINGTON — President Obama on Thursday ruled out unilateral U.S. military action in Syria even if proof emerges that Syrian forces have used lethal chemical weapons.

"This is … an international problem," Obama said at a White House news conference with visiting Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. "It's not going to be something that the United States does by itself. And I don't think anybody in the region would think that U.S. unilateral actions … would bring about a better outcome."

Obama's warnings since August that Syrian President Bashar Assad would cross a "red line" if his forces used poison gas in the nation's civil war were widely viewed as a trigger for potential U.S. military intervention.

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Update #1: Obama: U.S. preserves diplomatic, military options on Syria -- Reuters
Update #2: Obama tells Turkey: 'US will not attack Assad alone' -- The National
Update #3: Obama Keeps Diplomatic, Military Options Open in Syria -- RIA Novosti

My Comment: President Obama does not want to step into the Syrian quagmire .... and I certainly do not blame him.