US calls China

       After watching the US cut and run on two red lines in the sand (Iran and Syria), the Chinese were emboldened to extend their air defenses well into international waters - over disputed islands. The response by the Japanese, South Koreans and the US was predictable: test the resolve of the Chinese by flying war planes inside the defense zone. The Chinese did the same idiotic thing as Obama in Syria by backing themselves into a corner. How remarkably stupid was that call by the Chinese leader? I say give it to the Chinese... it is pretty close to China and a lot further away from Japan. However, after that the communists need to quit molesting the rest of Asia for demands to their water for fishing and natural resources. It is called give and take
Source: Article

Snowden revelations prompt UN investigation into surveillance

              

          I don't think anything the Guardian or the New York Times (etc.) have published with regards to Snowden or WikiLeaks has in any way compromised national or international security. It may have caused political embarassment. It may have disclosed events that people suspected (discussed by some/many, voiced and subsequently rejected as untrue by official sources). The public need some enlightening amusement in these times of austerity.This would be downright irresponsible: I'd rather have them do their research first and make sure no sensible information is published, than have it all out without any proper care. Besides, it seems that's how Snowden wanted the info to be released anyway...nonsense, either the press is free and independent or it is not, why should the press be concerned with the operational security of the security services, it is not their concern. the press did not steal this information, the security services failed to protect this information, spying is a risky business, if exposure causes operational harm, or harm to agents for that matter, that is a issue for those that failed to protect this information, if it was so important. it is just another one of those great swindles that the press is coerced into protecting the security services, and in some cases, the security services of a foreign state over the interests of the public. sunlight is the best disinfectant, if they are allowed to operate with impunity with anonymity while conducting mass surveillance on everyone how will this ever end?

Snowden Article

       

          Around 200,000 Yemeni expatriate workers have returned from Saudi Arabia since June, according to estimates from the International Organization for Migration, amid a sharp escalation in deportations as Saudi authorities crack down on those breaking labour laws - developments that risk increasing poverty and destabilizing the transition in Yemen Relations between Yemen and its richer northern neighbour have often been tense, exemplified by perennial disputes over the location and policing of their shared 1,458km border. Saudi Arabia supported the now-defunct regime of Yemen’s ex-President Saleh in a civil conflict against Shi’ite Houthi rebels, a mutual enemy straddling the Yemeni-Saudi frontier. With little chance of employment in Yemen, both Abdul Salam and Radhwan are planning to be smuggled over the border soon to look for work - but this time they intend to avoid Saudi Arabia and travel east into Oman.