1. NatSec Advisor General James Jones tells Marines in Afghanistan that any future requests for additional troops will elicit a "WTF moment" from President Obama, likely falling on deaf ears.

2. An American soldier was captured and abducted along with three Afghan soldiers by the Taliban in the Helmand region of Afghanistan. Little info released as intense search underway.

3. As the EU considers pulling ambassadors from Iran, the regime opposition continues despite little news reportage. Night time shouts of "Allahu Akhbar!" from rooftops reportedly louder now than ever.

4. With the Palestinian Islamic Jihad nearing economic collapse after recent interruption of Iranian regime funding due to unrest (as reported here previously), hints of a possible merger with Hamas begin to emerge.

AFGHANISTAN
Taliban faction claims capture of US soldier in Afghanistan - Telegraph (UK)
Jones, Mullen Apparently At Odds Over Afghanistan Troop Levels - US News & World Report
Gen. Jones: Additional Troop Requests Will Cause "WTF Moment" for President - Jules Crittenden

IRAN
EU considers pulling ambassadors from Iran - Guradian (UK)
Ahmadinejad's foes refuse to back down on election - Seattle Times
Iran fails to silence critics of 'coup' - Toronto Star
Opposition Leader Declares Iran's New Government Illegitimate - AHN
Iran's moderate party says vote result unacceptable - Reuters

IRAQ
Insurgents Hail Pullout of Troops From Cities - New York Times
Iran's Puppet Muqtada Al-Sadr demands full U.S. withdrawal from Iraq - CNN

NORTH KOREA
North Korea Fires Short Range Missiles as Talks With South Sputter - VOA

PAKISTAN
Pakistan motorcycle bomb kills up to six - AFP (France)
Most Pakistanis see Taliban, al-Qaeda as threat - Globe and Mail (Canada)
Pakistan troops kill 'more than 50' militants - AFP (France)
Pakistan Fights, Congress Sleeps - Wall Street Journal

PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES
Are Hamas and Islamic Jihad planning a merger? - Ha'aretz
Vital Background: Iran Turmoil Causes Terrorism Economic Crisis - ThreatsWatch
Haughty Hamas Honcho Plays Pundit - Wall Street Journal

SOMALIA
Somali Radio Report: Ethiopian Troops Reach Near Beledweyn Town - allAfrica (Mauritius)
Al-Shabaab Islamists Behead Two Young Sons of Christian in Hunt for Church Leader - Compass News

UNITED STATES
Portraits of Valor: The John Finn Story (MoH WWII) - Great Americans

1. North Korean ship tracked by US Navy for suspicion of banned weapons cargo has turned around, apparently heading back to NoKor without delivering cargo. Ship yet to be boarded, inspected.

2. Loud Hugo Chavez-led outcry against ouster of former Honduran president Zelaya crescendos while Honduran military says evidence shows Zelaya played middleman to Venezuelan drug trafficking into US.

3. At Pakistani request, US drones have resumed flights over Pakistan to assist with intelligence gathering but cannot fire missiles. Pak Army facing stiff resistance as it gears for North & South Waziristan battles, eye of storm.

4. After Guardian Council affirmation of Ahmadinejad election, the Iranian president and Supreme Leader Khamenei have begun the anticipated purge of foes from government and military.

EGYPT
Egypt wants Russian S-400 Air Defense Missiles to counter Iran - Jerusalem Post
Relations tense Qatar expands into Egypt's traditional sphere of influence - Washington Times

HONDURAS
Honduras Gets Ultimatum From Oraganization of American States - New York Times
Ousted Honduras president builds support for return - Los Angeles Times
Ousted Zelaya to be arrested if returns to Honduras - Reuters
Honduran coup leader to AP: Zelaya won't return - AP
Honduras' Zelaya Says Won't Seek Re-Election, Extended Term - Bloomberg
Honduras coup could bring more business-friendly government - National Post (Canada)

IRAN
6 Mousavi supporters reportedly hanged - Jerusalem Post
Ahmadinejad begins purging his government of perceived foes - Washington Times
Europe's Vote Protests Make EU "Unqualified" for Nuclear Talks, Iran Says - New York Times
'Hacktivists' target Iran's leadership online - Washington Times

IRAQ
BP, Chinese win lucrative oil contract; Exxon out - CNN
US warns Iraq of 'difficult days'after city pullouts - BBC
Editorial: The surge worked: Iraqi transfer of power is a sign of stability - Washington Times

MEXICO
Obama could send 1,500 National Guard troops to Mexican border - CS Monitor
Mexico opposition holds lead over anti-Cartel gov't in July election - Reuters

NORTH KOREA
Suspected North Korea arms ship changes course, Likely heading back without delivery - Reuters

PAKISTAN
Pakistanis turn on Taliban, but resent U.S. -poll - Reuters
Sources: U.S. resumes Pakistan drone flights, No authority to fire missiles - CNN
AQ Repeating Iraq Errors: Pro-Gov't Pakistani elder killed by gunmen - BBC

SOMALIA
MP Dies in Mogadishu, 4th MP to die recently - allAfrica (Mauritius)
African Union backs Somalia government - Capital News (Kenya)
Ethiopia will stay out of Somalia despite threat - AFP

1. President Obama and Venezuela's Hugo Chavez have condemned the coup in Honduras, while Chavez leads group of South and Central American Leftist leaders seeking restoration of deposed president.

2. Interim Honduran president says country was "saved from Hugo Chavez." Venezuela's Hugo Chavez threatens force, but is unlikely. Chavez has history of paying for violent demonstrators and generating propaganda stream. Expect same here.

3. US military commences withdrawal from Iraqi cities and Iraq celebrates independence.

4. Iran's Guardian Council, which ran discredited election, finalized partial re-count and certified Ahmadinejad the winner. Mousavi called for continued protest, while Guardian Council gave him 5 day extension to contest results in order to "rebuild public trust." Tantamount to arrest deadline.

AFGHANISTAN
Taliban killed in Khost bunkers in overnight US strike - Brisbane Times (Australia)
Karzai alleges gunmen tied to U.S. behind shootout, killing of Police Chief - Toronto Star
Afghan minister seeks end to private 'militias' - Washington Post

HONDURAS
Interim leader says Honduras saved from Chavez - Reuters
Obama condemns Honduran coup - San Francisco Chronicle
Venezuela's Chávez Rallies Allies Behind Zelaya in Honduras - Latin American Herald Tribune
Ousted Honduran President Plans Return - VOA
In Honduras, forces crack down on protesters - Los Angeles Times
Zelaya struggled as leader - Seattle Times

IRAN
Iran's Guardian Council certifies Ahmadinejad win - Christian Science Monitor
Guardian Council extends Mousavi deadline to "rebuild public trust": 5 Days - PressTV (Iran, Regime Controlled)
Mir-Hossein Mousavi tells supporters to keep protesting - Telegraph (UK)
The fight for Iran's future is far from over - Times (UK)

IRAQ
U.S. servicemembers withdraw from Iraqi cities, move to main installations - USAF 332nd AEW, Joint Base Balad
U.S. Combat Troops Exit Iraqi Cities Amid Celebration - Bloomberg
Iraq Opens Bids for Oil Fields - VOA

ISRAEL
U.N. fact-finding commission faces skepticism in Gaza - Los Angeles Times
Israel Rejects Fresh International Demands for Settlement Freeze - VOA
Israel OKs New West Bank Construction of 50 new residential units - Wall Street Journal

LEBANON
Can Lebanon's New Anti-Syria PM Hariri work with Hizballah? - Christian Science Monitor
Pro-Syria Lebanese President Suleiman passes good wishes to Ahmadinejad - PressTV (Iran, Regime Controlled)

NORTH KOREA
Japan PM Aso Calls for Pressure on North Korea, Criticizes DPJ - Bloomberg
South Korea, Japan say North Korea should return to talks - Taiwan News
North Korea's Other Crisis: An Economy in Tatters - TIME

PAKISTAN
Taliban end North Waziristan peace agreement - Long War Journal
Pakistan militant faction scraps 'pact,' vows attacks - Reuters
Pakistan places bounties on Baitullah Mehsud and other senior Taliban leaders - Long War Journal

PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES
Palestinian Authority says it foiled Hamas attacks - AFP
Israel Gradually Handing Over West Bank Security Duties to Palestinian Authority - Washington Post

SOMALIA
Al-Shabab Vows They Will Continue the Fighting Against TFG in Bay And Bakol Regions - allAfrica (Mauritius)
New NATO flotilla takes over anti-piracy patrols - AP
Yemen will not send troops to Somalia - Yemen Times

UNITED STATES
White House working on troops plan for Mexican border - San Antonio Express-News
DoD, DHS square off over border troops - UPI
AP source: Nat'l Guard to seek volunteers for border - AP