AQIM
Mali manual suggests al-Qaida has feared weapon
Rukmini Callimachi, Yahoo! News – June 11, 2013
This is the fourth story in an occasional series based on thousands of pages of internal al-Qaida documents recovered by The Associated Press earlier this year in Timbuktu, Mali.
STRATCOM
Gen. Kehler Lays Out Vision for STRATCOM
Aaron Mehta, Defense News – June 12, 2013
The head of US Strategic Command made the case that STRATCOM cannot be viewed simply as the nuclear arm of the Pentagon.
NDAA
White House Objects To Nuclear Security Restrictions In House Bill
Douglas P. Guarino, Global Security Newswire – June 12, 2013
The White House on Tuesday threatened to veto the House version of the fiscal 2014 defense authorization bill over provisions it says could limit the Obama administration’s efforts to comply with a key nuclear arms control treaty and restrict efforts to lock down vulnerable atomic materials.
North Korea
North Korea says South’s ‘sinister’ moves caused talks collapse
Jack Kim, Reuters – June 12, 2013
North Korea blamed the South on Thursday for scuttling fresh dialogue that aimed to ease tensions between the rival Koreas, saying Seoul deliberately torpedoed reconciliation talks planned for this week.
Iran
U.S. Hardens Tone Toward Iran as Election Nears
Jay Solomon, Wall Street Journal – June 11, 2013
The Obama administration has sharply increased its economic and diplomatic pressure on Iran’s rulers in recent weeks in a bid to shape how the country’s presidential election on Friday is viewed both in and outside the country.
Iran Election: Reformers Gain Momentum in Final Days of Campaign
Aryn Baker, Time – June 11, 2013
It’s not very often that a presidential candidate, four days before an election, enters a stadium to thunderous cheers, only to announce that this time tomorrow he may no longer be in the race.
Russia
General: U.S. Nukes Still ‘Credible’ Against Russian Missile Defenses
Rachel Oswald, Global Security Newswire – June 12, 2013
The four-star head of U.S. Strategic Command on Wednesday said he is not worried that Russia’s efforts to develop a next-generation missile interceptor system will weaken the credibility of Washington’s nuclear deterrent force.
Heather Wilson
Federal report slams Wilson work for labs
James Monteleone, Albuquerque Journal – June 12, 2013
Sandia and Los Alamos national labs improperly used federal funds to pay former Rep. Heather Wilson about $422,000 for possibly engaging in prohibited lobbying and other work the labs failed to document, according to a Department of Energy inspector general report.