Iran
Iran nuclear talks yield only one agreement: Let’s meet again
Scott Peterson, Christian Science Monitor – June 20, 2012
Iran and world powers have agreed to continue negotiations at a technical level over Iran’s nuclear program, staving off a collapse of talks after two days of difficult discussions in Moscow, where hard-line positions did not budge.
U.S., Israel developed Flame computer virus to slow Iranian nuclear efforts, officials say
Ellen Nakashima, Greg Miller and Julie Tate, Washington Post – June 19, 2012
The United States and Israel jointly developed a sophisticated computer virus nicknamed Flame that collected intelligence in preparation for cyber-sabotage aimed at slowing Iran’s ability to develop a nuclear weapon, according to Western officials with knowledge of the effort.
Defense Spending
House Democrats: Obama Should Block Bill Over Any Nuke-Cut Restrictions
Global Security Newswire – June 19, 2012
Nearly three dozen House Democrats on Monday told President Obama he should refuse to sign the fiscal 2013 defense authorization bill if it retains language restricting his administration’s options for pursuing atomic arsenal cuts and observing requirements under a bilateral nuclear arms control treaty with Russia.
Dempsey maps sequestration cuts at Defense
Andrew Lapin, Government Executive – June 19, 2012
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Martin Dempsey said Tuesday that automatic cuts to the Defense Department’s budget resulting from the sequestration deal struck by the Obama administration and Congress would have to come from military operations, maintenance, training and modernization.
Lockheed Needs Pressure to Pare F-35 Costs, Levin Says
Tony Capacio, Bloomberg – June 19, 2012
The Pentagon and Congress should press Lockheed Martin Corp. (LMT) to reduce soaring costs of its F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, the chairman of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee said.
Syria
Putin Rules Out Intervention to Stop the Syrian Rebellion
Helene Cooper, New York Times – June 19, 2012
President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia said Tuesday that the fate of President Bashar al-Assad of Syria should be left to the hands of the Syrians, saying that no one country has the right to tell another people whom their leader should be.
Afghanistan
Violence spikes in southern Afghanistan as civilians, police, NATO soldiers killed
Deb Riechmann, canada.com – June 19, 2012
Violence spiked in southern Afghanistan as militants stormed a NATO military base and attacked a police checkpoint Tuesday, a day after gunmen wearing police uniforms killed a U.S. soldier.
