As US creeps toward ground war against Islamic State, Andrew Bacevich is asking, “what next” and labels it “collective suicide”….--in fresh in-depth interview, retired Army colonel and professor Bacevich predicts an IS successor that would be just as bad; his latest essay is here
--Britain joins the fray, launching bombs in Syria hours after Parliament vote, as Kerry says NATO is stepping up
--details emerge of Pentagon’s latest escalation and Iraqi opposition
--Defense Secretary Carter also announced new rules allowing women in most combat roles
--San Bernardino killing spree by husband/wife team leaves many questions
--Jason Leopold reports that residents complain of ongoing gun violence in California’s “inland empire”
--within hours of the shootings, claims of “false flag” surfaced, fueled by massive law enforcement response and “active shooter” simulation drill on Monday reported by local newspaper; the video is here
--west Virginia coal baron Don Blankenship is convicted of conspiract in the deaths of 29 miners
--China seems to acknowledge hacking of Office of Personnel Management files, but says it was criminals, not government action
--in Brazil, impeachment proceedings begin for President Dilma Rousseff
--in Washington, GOP presidential candidates kiss the ring of Sheldon Adelson, and pledge allegiance to Israel
--Israel finally announces arrests in July arson attack in West Bank
--NY Times reports that whistleblowers at National Whistleblower Center have settled with Steven Kohn
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