Blake Hounshell

Obama wants Assad to go, but not too soon

washingtonpost.com — Obama doesn't want the rebels to overrun Damascus if the jihadists are the strongest faction. As he told PBS's Charlie Rose in an interview broadcast Monday, "One of the challenges that we have is that some of the most effective fighters within the opposition have been those who frankly are not particularly [friendly] towards the United States."

Leak probe has chilled sources, AP exec says

cnn.com — Washington (CNN) -- The Justice Department's sweeping collection of Associated Press phone records as part of a national security leak investigation has had a chilling effect on sources, the news agency's top executive said on Wednesday.

WikiLeaks Says It Is Working to Negotiate Asylum in Iceland for Snowden

nytimes.com — WASHINGTON - WikiLeaks activists in Iceland are discussing with government officials there the possibility of asylum for Edward J. Snowden, the former National Security Agency contractor who disclosed hundreds of classified documents on N.S.A. surveillance, Julian Assange, the founder of the antisecrecy group, said Wednesday.

Chinese hackers referencing PRISM to lure e-mail victims

washingtonpost.com — A cyber security professional named Brandon Dixon recently discovered an e-mail scam, apparently sent by the same group responsible for the "NetTraveler" attacks sourced to Chinese hackers, with an ingeniously newsy hook. The e-mail, which Dixon posted in full, carries the subject line "CIA's prism Watchlist," a reference to the secret U.S.

Scrapping equipment key to Afghan drawdown

washingtonpost.com — KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - Facing a tight withdrawal deadline and tough terrain, the U.S. military has destroyed more than 170 million pounds worth of vehicles and other military equipment as it rushes to wind down its role in the Afghanistan war by the end of 2014. The massive disposal effort, which U.S.

Snowden extradition may be complicated process if criminal charges are filed

washingtonpost.com — If U.S. officials criminally charge Edward Snowden, they are likely to confront a complicated and lengthy process to bring the admitted leaker of top-secret documents back home to stand trial, according to extradition experts and law enforcement officials. Although the United States has an extradition treaty with Hong Kong, where Snowden was last seen, the treaty offers an exception for political offenses.

USA TODAY

m.usatoday.com — Syria needs 'no move zone': Other views ENN via AP Anthony H. Cordesman, Center for Strategic and International Studies: "The time has come for the United States to take decisive action in Syria. ... The most decisive option (is) making a no fly zone a de facto 'no move zone.'