LATEST NEWS FROM OFF-SITE

• Collapse of German Drone Program Has Merkel Confidant on the Defensive - SPIEGEL ONLINE May 22, 2013
  Thomas de Maizière has long been a close ally of Chancellor Angela Merkel. But the defense minister now finds himself at the center of controversy after cancelling Germany's half-billion euro surveillance drone program last week. He has allegedly known about the project's problems for months. […]
• German Intelligence Believes Assad Regime Regaining Lost Power - SPIEGEL ONLINE May 22, 2013
  Not even a year ago, German intelligence predicted Syrian autocrat Bashar Assad's regime would soon collapse. Now, the agency instead believes the rebels are in trouble. Government troops are set to make significant advances, it predicts. […]
• Obama dials back drone strikes: 3 reasons why - CSMonitor.com May 22, 2013
  Data collected by the media suggest that US drone strikes are declining. For President Obama, who has founded much of his counterterror strategy on drones, that's a significant development. […]
• US acknowledges killing four American citizens in drone strikes - CSMonitor.com May 22, 2013
  Attorney General Eric Holder acknowledged Wednesday that US drones have killed four American citizens in Pakistan and Yemen, justifying the attacks under US and international law. President Obama is scheduled to address the subject in a speech Thursday. […]
• Holder Acknowledges U.S. Citizens Killed In Drone Strikes : The Two-Way : NPR May 22, 2013
  For the first time, the Justice Department admits that it targeted American-born al-Qaida leader Anwar al-Awlaki and that three other U.S. citizens have died in drone strikes. » E-Mail This     » Add to Del.icio.us […]
• Kerry promises wider U.S. support for Syrian rebels if peace talks remain elusive - The Washington Post May 22, 2013
  AMMAN, Jordan — The United States and its partners will widen support for the Syrian rebels, potentially by sending more weapons or taking other measures short of sending American forces, if diplomacy fails to end a civil war that has killed “upwards of 100,000” people, Secretary of State John F. Kerry said Wednesday. Read full article >>      […]
• U.S. Acknowledges Killing 4 Americans in Drone Strikes - NYTimes.com May 22, 2013
  The acknowledgment that Anwar al-Awlaki, a radical Muslim cleric, and three others were killed in Yemen and Pakistan came one day before President Obama was to deliver a major speech on national security.      […]
• Map: Drone Strikes in Pakistan under Obama, Bush. - Slate Magazine May 22, 2013
  Update, May 22, 2013: The Obama administration formally acknowledged on Wednesday that U.S. drones strikes in Pakistan and Yemen have killed four Americans. The disclosure appeared in a letter to members of Congress that was obtained by the New York Times. Since Obama took office, his administration has conducted at least 301 drone strikes in Pakistan alone, […]
• www.dsca.mil May 22, 2013
  The Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress May 21 of a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Republic of Korea (ROK) for weapons in support of a potential Direct Commercial Sale of F-15 SE aircraft. Included also are associated equipment, parts, training and logistical support for an estimated cost of $823 million […]
• www.dsca.mil May 22, 2013
  The Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress May 21 of a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Republic of Korea (ROK) for F-35 aircraft weapons and associated equipment, parts, training and logistical support for an estimated cost of $793 million […]
• U.S. Acknowledges Killing 4 Americans in Drone Strikes - NYTimes.com May 22, 2013
  US formally acknowledges killing 4 Americans in drone strikes in Yemen, Pakistan - @nytimes […]
• swissinfo - Swiss news and information platform about Switzerland, business, culture, sport, weather May 22, 2013
  The intensive use of drones by the Obama administration is feeding a wave of protest and criticism which reaches Geneva next week when a coalition of NGOs will call for a halt to the race to build technology for autonomous killing robots. (Photo: Keystone) […]
• Karzai seeks military aid in India May 22, 2013
  NEW DELHI Afghan President Hamid Karzai held talks with Indian leaders Tuesday, hoping to secure more military aid as he looks to beef up his security forces after international troops pull out next year. An Indian foreign ministry source confirmed that Karzai had held talks late Tuesday with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh after a separate meeting earlier in […]
• IRIN Africa | Analysis: Nigerians on the run as military combat Boko Haram | Nigeria | Conflict | Governance | Human Rights | Refugees/IDPs | Security May 22, 2013
  KANO, 22 May 2013 (IRIN) - Tens of thousands of residents of northeastern Nigeria's Borno State have fled their homes - thousands of them into neighbouring Niger and Cameroon - following airstrikes by Nigerian fighter jets on Boko Haram (BH) camps from 15 May. […]