CSP Daily Brief: April 9, 2013

The Latest From the Center…

• Frank Gaffney: The Torch Passes: Margaret Thatcher (1925-2013)
• Frank Gaffney’s Weekly Article: The Warriors’ Call to Duty

…and From our Colleagues

• Judicial Watch: Financial Records Link al-Aulaqi to 9/11 Hijackers
• Gatestone Institute: Muslim Persecution of Christians Escalating in Pakistan

Secure Freedom Radio

• The Iron Lady and Peace Through Strength: with Amb. John Bolton, Michael Smith, Col. Dick Brauer, Gordon Chang
• Secure Freedom Minute: Missing Maggie

Stand with Israel in 2013: Join Frank Gaffney for a Fact-Finding Tour This Fall. Click here for prices and dates.

News

• Special Operations Troops Demand Truth on Benghazi
• Kerry upbeat after 3 days of Mideast diplomacy
• Kerry promises measures to help Palestinian economy
• Top House Intel Lawmaker Warned China’s Cyber Chief On Thefts; House Cyber Bill Marked Up Tomorrow
• US Pacific commander calls North Korea a ‘clear’ threat
• North Korea urges foreigners to vacate South
• Seoul skeptical over dialogue with North Korea to reduce tension
• U.S. Sees North Korea Blustering, Not Acting
• Hagel headed to Israel later this month
• Amid Criticism, Pentagon Is Seeking Overhaul of the Court-Martial System
• Reduced Flying Hours Forces USAF To Ground 17 Combat Air Squadrons
• Six U.S. Air Force cyber capabilities designated ‘weapons’
• Bin Laden ‘aide’ trial may be delayed by US budget row
• Despite US concerns, little prevents Islamists from joining Syria fight
• Iraqi al-Qaeda and Syria militants announce merger
• Iran announces two new uranium-processing facilities
• UN reopens Gaza food centres after compound attack
• Egypt’s Coptic Pope Blasts Islamist President
• Kenya swears in president, West faces balancing act
• Several U.N. peacekeepers, civilian staff killed in South Sudan
• Sudan’s Bashir plans first visit to South Sudan since secession
• Obama approves US military assistance to Somalia
• Afghanistan copter crash kills 2 NATO troops
• Even in Death, Chávez Is a Powerful Presence

Commentary

• BEAUPREZ: SpecOps Community Demands Answers on Benghazi
• FEULNER: Taking the ‘pulse’ of missile defense
• FORBES & COURTNEY: Save Our Subs: Prioritizing The Attack Submarine
• IBRAHIM: Jihad Erupts on Egypt’s Christians, Again
• JOHNSON: Hagel Wants to Take Power to Overturn Court-Martial Out of Commanders’ Hands
• ROHRABACHER: Why Is White House Stonewalling On Benghazi?
• WILL: Thatcher’s Great Legacy: Burying Socialism And Reviving Free Markets

Hearings and Events of Note

• Tuesday, April 9, 2:00pm Subcommittee Hearing: Chen Guangcheng and Gao Zhisheng: Human Rights in China (House Foreign Affairs, Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights, and International Organization)
• Tuesday, April 9, 2:30pm Nomination of Sylvia M. Burwell to be Director, Office of Management and Budget (Senate Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs)
• Tuesday, April 9, 9:30am Oversight: U.S. Pacific Command and U.S. Forces Korea (Senate Armed Services Committee)
• Tuesday, April 9, 2:30pm Oversight: Emerging Counterterrorism Threats (Senate Armed Service Committee)
• Wednesday, April 10, 3:30pm Hearing: Mental Health Research (House Armed Services Committee, Subcommittee on Military Personnel)
• Wednesday, April 10, 9:30am U.S. Foreign Assistance: What Oversight Mechanisms are in Place to Ensure Accountability? (House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform)
• Wednesday, April 10, 9:30am Border Security: Frontline Perspective on Progress and Remaining Challenges (Senate Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs)
• Thursday, April 11, 3:30pm Hearing: Equipping the Individual Soldier and Marine: Current and Future Year Acquisition and Modernization Strategies and the Fiscal Year 2014 Budget Request (House Armed Services Committee, Subcommittee on Tactical Air and Land Forces)
• Thursday, April 11, 10:00am Meeting: The Fiscal Year 2014 National Defense Authorization Budget Request from the Department of Defense (House Armed Service Committee)
• Thursday, April 11, 10:00am Subcommittee Hearing: Counterterrorism Efforts to Combat a Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) Attack on the Homeland (House Homeland Security Committee, Subcommittee on Counterterrorism and Intelligence)
• Thursday, April 11, 10:00am Subcommittee Hearing: Highlighting Vietnamese Government Human Rights Violations in Advance of the U.S.-Vietnam Dialogue (House Committee on Foreign Affairs, Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights, and International Organizations)
• Thursday, April 11, 2:30pm Joint Subcommittee Hearing: Breaking the Iran, North Korea, and Syria Nexus (House Committee on Foreign Affairs, Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific, Subcommittee on Middle East and North Africa, Subcommittee on Terrorism, Nonproliferation, and Trade)
• Thursday, April 11, 9:30am Nominations: General Philip M. Breedlove, USAF (Senate Armed Services Committee)
• Thursday, April 11, 10:00am U.S. Policy Towards Syria (Senate Committee on Foreign Relations)
• Thursday, April 11, 10:00am Budget Hearing- Department of Homeland Security (House Appropriations Committee, Subcommittee Homeland Security)
• Thursday, April 11, 9:30am Oversight: Defense Authorization Request (Senate Armed Services Committee)
• Thursday, April 11, 2:30pm Oversight: Situation in Syria (Senate Armed Service Committee)
• Thursday, April 11, 1:00pm Subcommittee Hearing: TSA’s Efforts to Advance Risk-Based Security: Stakeholder Perspectives (House Homeland Security Committee, Subcommittee on Transportation)
• Friday, April 12, 10:00am Meeting: The Fiscal Year 2014 National Defense Authorization Budget Request from the Department of the Air Force (House Armed Services Committee)
• Friday, April 12, 9:00am Subcommittee Hearing: The Impact of Sequestration on Homeland Security: Scare Tactics or Possible Threat? (House Homeland Security, Subcommittee on Oversight and Management Efficiency)
• Wednesday, April 16, 9:30am Oversight: Situation in Afghanistan (Senate Armed Services Committee)
• Thursday, April 17, 9:30am Oversight: Department of the Air Force (Senate Armed Services Committee)
• Thursday, April 17, 2:00pm Oversight: Active, Guard, Reserve, and Civilian Personnel Programs (Senate Armed Service Committee, Subcommittee on Personnel)
• Friday, April 18, 2:30pm Oversight: Current Readiness of U.S. Forces (Senate Armed Services Committee, Subcommittee on Readiness and Management Support)
• Friday, April 18, 2:30pm Oversight: The Role of the Department of Defense Science and Technology Enterprise for Innovation and Affordability (Senate Armed Services Committee, Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities)
• Friday, April 18, Oversight: Current and Future Worldwide Threats (Senate Armed Services Committee)
• Tuesday, April 23, 9:30am Oversight: Department of the Army (Senate Armed Services Committee)
• Wednesday, April 24, 2:30pm Oversight: Military Construction, Environmental, and Base Closure Programs (Senate Armed Services Committee, Subcommittee on Readiness and Management Support)
• Thursday, April 25, 9:30am Oversight: Department of the Navy (Senate Armed Services Committee)
• Wednesday, May 8, 9:30am Oversight: Army Modernization (Senate Armed Services Committee)
• Wednesday, May 8, 9:30am Oversight: Navy Shipbuilding Programs (Senate Armed Service Committee, Subcommittee on Seapower)
• Tuesday, June 11, 9:30am Legislative: Subcommittee Markups (Senate Armed Service Committee, Subcommittee on Airland)
• Tuesday, June 11, 11:00am Legislative: Subcommittee Markups (Senate Armed Service Committee, Subcommittee on Readiness and Management Support)
• Tuesday, June 11, 2:00pm Legislative: Subcommittee Markups (Senate Armed Service Committee, Subcommittee on Personnel)

Other Briefs

• Politico Morning Defense: 4/9/13
• Foreign Policy Initiative: Overnight Brief 4/9/13
• Foreign Policy Magazine: Morning Brief 4/9/13
• Morning FRAGO: 4/9/13
• AIA Daily Lead: April 8, 2013
• The Hill: Overnight Defense 4/8/13