1. In line with the Peoples Liberation Army's post-Gulf War doctrine of "Unrestricted Warfare" against America, Chinese officers recommend dropping US bonds to "economically punish" the United States.

2. After yesterday saying NATO is a threat to Russia while ordering French amphibious attack ships, Russia's defense chief says that the planned US missile shield for its European allies is "aimed at Russia," not Iran.

3. Inexpicably and knowingly late, Lebanese President Seuliman asked Spain's president to ensure UNIFIL forces enforce UN Resolution 1701 to prevent Hizballah from re-arming via Iran, Syria. That mission has already failed, with Hizballah more armed than before 2006 war.

4. Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (via Yemen) issued audio call to jihad against "Crusaders (Christians) and Jews," seeks to attack and close Red Sea to US naval traffic "supplying the Jews."

AL QAEDA
Former Al Qaeda-Linked Associates Warn of Future Attacks - FOX News
Al-Qaeda in Arabian Penninsula urges jihad, wants Red Sea blocked to US shipments "to Jews" - Reuters
Poll: 90% of Middle East views Jews unfavorably - Jerusalem Post
Anwar The American: Just One Question - ThreatsWatch
Audio: Schippert & Robbins On US Terror Policy: Inanity or Insanity? - ThreatsWatch

AFGHANISTAN
Gates quietly draws more allied troops for Afghanistan effort - Los Angeles Times
Kremlin: No troops to Afghanistan, Help In 'Other Ways' - UPI
Marjah offensive: Q&A on why it matters to Afghanistan war - CS Monitor

CHINA
Peoples Liberation Army officers urge economic punch against U.S. - Reuters
Post-Gulf War Doctrine Behind It: Unrestrcted Warefare (By Qiao Liang and Wang Xiangsui) - PLA

IRAN
Iran anniversary 'punch' will stun West: Khamenei - Breitbart
What is Iran Planning for Thursday? - Michael Ledeen
Iran Starts Higher Uranium Enrichment - VOA
Israel urges "crippling" sanctions now against Iran - Reuters
New Iran sanctions move likely 'within weeks': Gates - AFP
U.S., EU castigate Iran for human rights abuses - Los Angeles Times

IRAQ
Fact Sheet: Iranian Proxy Group Kidnaps US Contractor in Iraq - Institute for the Study of War
News Headline - ThreatsWatch

ISRAEL
Abbas Says He May Accept Offer of Obama Admin Representing Palestinians in Talks with Israel - BusinessWeek
Meanwhile: Abbas' Rival Hamas Sees 'No Prospect' for Middle East Peace - Washington Post
Foreign Nationals in West Bank Urged to Disrupt IDF Operations - Jerusalem Post

LEBANON
Outside Lebanon, Hizballah Support Waning, Poll Finds - UPI
President Suleiman to Spain's King: Lebanon, UNIFIL Facing Dangerous Israeli Threats - An-Nahar (Lebanon)
Novel Idea: Suleiman urges Spain to enforce implementation of UNSCR 1701 - Daily Star (Lebanon)
True Context: Under UNIFIL Watch: Hizballah Doubles Pre-War Missile Count in Lebanon - ThreatsWatch (2006)
Background: French UNIFIL commanders say will shoot at Israeli Air Force overflights - Ha'aretz (Oct 2006)
Background: The UN's Disintegration in Lebanon - Michael Totten (April, 2009)

NORTH KOREA
China, N. Korea step up drives for revival of nuke talks - Kyodo News (Japan)
North Korea nuclear envoy visits China, talks closer - Reuters
Comedy Central, Pt. II: North Korea committed to denuclearization, Kim tells China - The Hindu (India)

PAKISTAN
Militants allegedly targeting Americans at hotel arrested - Boston Globe
Pakistani military claims success in Bajaur - Long War Journal
Speculation Intensifies Over Pakistan Taliban Leader's Death - Wall Street Journal

RUSSIA
Moscow says U.S. missile shield aimed at Russia - Reuters
Yesterday: Russian security chief says NATO poses threat - Canadian Press

SOMALIA
Somali forces 'kill al-Qaeda man' - BBC
Yemen "getting tougher" with Somalis on al-Qaeda fears - Washington Post

UKRAINE
Comedy Central: Ukraine's Yanukovich: I'm no Kremlin stooge - CNN

1. As Iran announces that it will begin higher-level uranium enrichment, SecDef Gates nullifies "all options on the table" stance by declaring sanctions, which have never worked, are the "only path left" to stop Iran.

2. Afghan President Karzai states he wants US transition to Afghan forces to begin by end of year. Afghan forces incapable, demonstrated by arrest of senior police official for role in roadside bombs.

3. SecState Clinton claims Obama administration Iran, Korea stances yielding "benefits." Curiously, Yonhap News reports Germany told South Korea to perpare for earlier than expected reunification with North.

4. In mere formality, Somali terrorist group al-Shabaab (The Youth) officially aligned with al-Qaeda. Group's leadership had deep AQ ties even before formation.

5. As France finalizes deal to sell Russia helicopter carrier warships, President Dmitri Medvedev declares NATO "Russia's greatest threat" and welcomes leaders of the Palestinian terrorist group HAMAS to the Kremlin.

AL QAEDA
Al-Qaeda is a wounded but dangerous enemy - Washington Post
Al-Qaeda threat to US greater than Iran: Clinton - AFP
Yemen's al-Qaeda calls for jihad in region - Washington Post
AQ in Yemen may send American jihadis, recruited by Anwar al-Awlaki, to attack US - NY Daily News
Last Week: Yemen Commitment to Al Qaeda Fight Not Clear - CIA - New York Times
British intel: Breast implants may hide bombs - Detroit Free Press

AFGHANISTAN
More Demands: Karzai wants Afghanistan security handover to begin this year - CNN
Afghans Not Close To Being Ready: Senior Afghan policeman held over planting bombs - BBC
Pakistani Military Sets Afghan Terms, Calls for Top Taliban Negotiations - Asia Times
NATO: Others should do more in Afghanistan - UPI
Taliban make children plant Afghanistan bombs - SOS Children

CHINA
The News: China Heralds Bust of Major Hacker Ring - Wall Street Journal
The Context: Rising skill of Chinese cyberattacks alarms West - Ft. Wayne Journal Gazette
The History: China's cyber army is preparing to march on America, says Pentagon (2007) - Times (UK)
The Background: China's Cyber Forces: People's Liberation Army (2008) - DefenseTech
Trading (Economic) Barbs With China - Wall Street Journal
US more at ease with India's rise than China's ascent - Times of India

IRAN
Iran to enrich uranium to higher levels, build 10 nuclear plants, beef up military - Los Angeles Times
Gates Scoffs at Iran Nuclear Claim - New York Times
SecDef Takes "All Options" Off Table? Gates: Sanctions On Iran The Only Path Left - Reuters
Germany says Iran 'not prepared to cooperate' - Khaleej Times (UAE)
Iran builds own aerial drones with strike capabilities - RIA Novosti (Russia)
Report: Iran cites CIA in Radio Farda arrests - CNNi
Iranian Nobel Prize winner backs fresh street protests in Iran - Telegraph (UK)

IRAQ
Iraqi official's top aide linked to Shi'ite terrorists - Washington Times
Female Parliament candidate gunned down in Mosul - AFP
Iraq inquiry: Jack Straw denies ignoring legal advice on war - Telegraph (UK)

ISRAEL
Terrorists Playing To Western Sensibilitites: Hamas "regrets" civilian deaths, Israel unmoved - Reuters
Devastating war between Israel & Hizballah is on the horizon - Analyst Network
Iran's Quest for African Allies Troublesome for Israel - Economist

NORTH KOREA
Clinton: Obama's Iran, Korea stance shows benefits - UPI
Benefits, Last Week: North Korean Arms Were Headed to Iran, Thailand Report Says - Business Week
The Race: Germany advises S. Korea to prepare for early inter-Korean reunification - Yonhap News Agency
North Korea Says It Will Release 'Repentant' US Missionary - VOA

PAKISTAN
Pakistan Army Recaptures NW Taliban Stronghold - VOA
Context repeated from Above: Pakistani Military Sets Afghan Terms - Asia Times
Karachi violence blow to Pakistan economy - AFP
India offers to revive talks with Pakistan - Los Angeles Times

PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES
Iran Supreme Leader Meets Palestinian PIJ Terror Leaders: Praises, Predicts Fall of Israel - Tehran Times (Regime-run)

RUSSIA
Russian President Medvedev declares NATO to be Russia's 'Greatest Threat' - The News (Poland)
France Agrees to Helo Carrier Warship Sale to Russia - Reuters
OpEd: No reset, no restart -- no deal with Moscow - Washington Times
Hamas' Top Leader Visits Moscow - New York Times

SOMALIA
Mere Formality: Somali militant group Al-Shabaab aligns with Al-Qaeda - CS Monitor
At least 9 die in Somalia clashes, group says - CNN
Delays plague Somali offensive against Islamists - Washington Post

UKRAINE
Ukraine election: Pro-Moscow Viktor Yanukovych claims victory - Telegraph (UK)

1. A horrid 2007 National Intelligence Estimate on Iran is now set to be revised. The 2007 NIE claimed that Iran had halted all nuclear weapons work in 2003 and had not restarted it. Recent revelations have debunked this myth to point authors must revise.

2. A Greek tanker has been released by Somali pirates after a record ransom as paid by ship's owners. Reward begets more piracy. Meanwhile, Somali government troops and African Union troops were surprisingly reported involved in a deadly clash, blue on blue, in Mogadishu.

3. Iraq's "Chemical Ali," a colonel in Saddam's army, will be hanged for the murderous 1988 nerve gas attacks on Kurdish villages in Iraq's north.

4. One of the only truly offensive approaches to terrorism - the CIA's aerial drone attacks on al-Qaeda in Pakistan - are coming under fire from within the United States via the ACLU. The group has filed FOIA requests challenging the legal status of such operations.

BACKTRACKING A VERY BAD IRAN INTEL ESTIMATE
Coming Around On Iran: Bad 2007 NIE Now To Be 'Revised' - Newsweek
Explaining Why 2007 NIE Was So Bad: NIE: Cutting of your nose to... - NRO (2007)
Lingering Bad NIE Effects: A Manufactured Debate - Is Iran Designing Warheads? - ThreatsWatch (2009)

CIA DRONES: TERROR OFFENSIVE HOW UNDER ATTACK
ACLU Challenges Legal Basis for CIA Drone Strikes - Washington Independent
Vets Respond: Universal Jurisdiction & Targeted Killing - Warrior Legacy Foundation (PDF)

HAMBALI TERROR TRIAL IN DC?
Obama administration may try Hambali in criminal court - Hot Air
Meet the Real Jack Bauers - National Review Online

AFGHANISTAN
Taliban bombers strike Kabul; at least 5 dead, 40 injured - - USA Today
Hitting Karzai Outreach: What's behind latest Taliban attack on Kabul? - CS Monitor

HAITI
More US troops, aid flow to Haiti, but hunger, frustration persists - AP
MilBlogger Aids Rescue Mission: Rubicon Rescue: Mission Haiti - Blackfive
All Team Rubicon Updates Here: Team Rubicon Haiti Archives - Blackfive

IRAN
China balks at Iran sanctions - CS Monitor
Schippert Interview: The China-Russia-Iran Axis - FrontPage Magazine (2008)
Iran hails UN indecision over further sanctions - Forbes
Iran Vows Revenge On Israel For Professor's Death - CBS
But... Hizballah behind slaying of Iranian prof? - UPI

IRAQ
Iraq's "Chemical Ali" to Hang for 1988 Gas Attack - TIME

ISRAEL
FM: No more Israeli gestures towards Abbas' Palestinian Authority - Jerusalem Post
Israel and Turkey Hope to Salvage Their Damaged Alliance - WSJ

SOMALIA
Bitter Confrontation Between AU And TFG Troops Erupts in Mogadishu - allAfrica
Record Ransom Frees Hijacked Tanker off Somali Coast - VOA
Somalia protests after Kenya arrests MPs in riot swoop - BBC

SYRIA
Syria Trained Hizballah on Advanced SA-2 Anti-Aircraft Missiles - Ha'aretz

UNITED KINGDOM
LSE's Islamist teacher 'groomed suicide bomber for Tel Aviv attack' - London Evening Standard
Friday: London School of Econ. & London Univ. Student Unions Twinned with Gaza's Islamic University - ITIC
Friday: London School of Econ. professor tied to radical Islamist group Hizb ut-Tahrir - UPI
U.K.'s Universities Offer Conducive Environment to Islamic Extremists - WSJ

YEMEN
Yemen claims arrest of Al-Qaeda on the Arabian Peninsula No. 2 - UPI