Road Trip Middle Eastern Podcast Update

For the last two months, I've been trying to track two big stories in the Middle East: the ongoing Qatar crisis, and the independence referendum (and its aftermath) in Iraqi Kurdistan. I get a most of my news from my morning news reviews, but I also get a lot of my news (particularly deeper context) from podcasts. A wedding, a cross-country move, and three months of unemployment disrupted my normal podcast diet, but I'm getting back into it. I had about five hours of driving today, so I was able to catch up on podcasts I'd missed about Iraqi Kurdistan. I've also listened to most of my downloads about Qatar as well. There are lots of different perspectives on these two matters to be heard in these two lists, so enjoy - and take all of them with at least a tiny grain of salt.

Qatar Dispute

In Qatar and Saudi Arabia’s fight, Iran’s the real winner (War College)

Inquiry: What's So Special About Qatar? (BBC World Service)

What is Happening between Qatar and the GCC [English] (Status Hour)

The Qatar Crisis with Lori Plotkin Boghardt (The Washington Institute's Near East PolicyCast)

Qatar Gets Cut Off (CSIS)

Energy & Geopolitics: Qatar (CSIS)

The Showdown in the Gulf Gets Nasty (Foreign Policy Editor's Roundtable)

Kurdish Referendum

Iraqi Kurdistan's Independence Referendum with Michael Knights (The Washington Institute's Near East PolicyCast)

Kurdistan Referendum with Bilal Wahab (The Washington Institute's Near East PolicyCast)

Iraq & Kurdistan: Energy and Geopolitics (CSIS)

Must the War Go On? Let's Talk About Iraq and the Kurds (War on the Rocks)

The Kurdish Problem | Episode 80 (Covert Contact - The Blogs of War Podcast)

New Job, New Photos

I moved back home in August. After two years of intermittent applications, and over a year of fairly diligent applications, I finally landed a job. I'll be continuing my work in information security. Without getting into detail, I'm optimistic that it will be a good fit in the short term, and set me up for continued career success in the long term.

As I've done before starting previous positions, I've begun getting things ready for my desk and workstation. That includes things like professional files that I've collected over the years, but it also includes something a bit more mundane: photos. On my last workstation, my desktop background rotated through photos that I took on Operation Highlander. So, I'll be replicating those. I've spun through my photos from my 2003, 2004, and 2012 to 2013 trips to Europe, most of which was spent in Scotland, and copied a bunch of those photos for loading into a wallpaper rotation. One of my favorites, still, is the attached photo of a December 2013 sunset, witnessed atop Wideford Hill on the Orkney Mainland with my friend Michelle (AKA "Rock Sniffer").

For the entirety of the time I spent in my last job, I thought that I needed to add a bunch of my photos from time spent in the Middle East, and particularly my photos from the Sultanate of Oman. So, I went through all of those photos, picked my favorites, and copied them as well. The attached photo made the cut, even though it's not one of mine. (Frequent readers of this infrequently updated blog might remember it from this post, where I discussed my efforts to find the village of Hamaam outside the Omani capital of Muscat. I wish I'd been the one to take this photo, and I'm grateful to the Internet for providing it!

I'm adding another group of desktop background photos as well: photos from my long-removed life in the Mojave Desert. More than a decade ago, I cut my teeth as a federal contractor by participating in U.S. Army training operations. I didn't take many photos back then, because we were regularly reminded about security requirements; but there were some occasions to do some desert photography, and my waning days in that neck of the woods provided me with a couple of opportunities to snap some photos (including from a helicopter on my last day). I took the attached photo of a Joshua tree between my apartment and the facility where I worked, using actual black and white film - those days are long gone! So, as I work on one project or another, I'll be able to reminisce about my younger days in the heat and the sand. I chose a few that show various aspects of the base itself. I recently spent some time downloading some of the photos from the National Training Center/Fort Irwin and 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment Facebook pages. I'm not sure if they'll get added at some point or not.

These desktop background images will be supplemented by something I've maintained at both of my last two jobs: a picture frame with actual, bona fide photographs. I know that electronic picture frames have been available for a few years, but as an information security professional, I consider them to be nothing more than non-secure Internet-of-Shit garbage. So, I went to Fred Meyer and printed off a ton of photos to add to those that I'd been using since 2014. There are a bunch of pictures of me and Lady Jaye. Then, there are photos of me with other folks (and one of just me). Next up are photos of Scotland, some of which are redundant to the desktop photo gallery, and some of which I didn't even take. Then, there are some pictures of my home state and my alma mater. Next up are pictures from various desert locales, some that I took, some that were offered up by my Facebook feed. After that, there are overhead and/or satellite pictures of various places that are important to me. Then, there are some photos of public figures whom I respect: Presidents Washington and Lincoln, Sultan Qaboos, General Mattis (pictured), Wilfred Thesiger, T.E. Lawrence, and various Orcadian Gordon Highlanders. Next, it's motivational images. After that, there are some fine art selections - dogs playing poker, for example. Finally, there are a bunch of funny pictures.

So, at the very least, all of these real and digital images will help to make me more comfortable as I work on one project or another. In addition, I expect that some of them will turn into conversation pieces that will help me to establish relationships with my co-workers. I mean, who's not going to be game for chatting with the guy who's got a picture of St. Mattis of Quantico at their desk?

Kurdistan and the Kirkuk Dispute

I continue to follow events in and around Iraqi Kurdistan with some interest (in addition to concurrent, related events in Syria). Here are the headlines.

Kurds offer talks with Baghdad over airport, banks ban (al Arabiya)

Can Putin stop Erdogan from shutting down Iraqi Kurdish pipeline? (al Monitor)

Iraqi Kurds send reinforcements to Kirkuk amid army 'threats' (BBC)

How Turkey's nuclear plant could curb KRG ambitions (al Monitor)

Kurds on high alert as Iraqi forces mass near Kirkuk (al Jazeera)

Kurd fighters in Iraq briefly block roads to Mosul (al Jazeera)

Kurdish VP : Thousands of troops sent to Kirkuk to face ‘Iraq threat’ (al Arabiya)

Why is Israel supporting Kurdish secession from Iraq? (al Jazeera)

No, the Israeli Air Force Won’t Race to Iraqi Kurdistan’s Rescue (War is Boring)

Turkmens unite against Kurdish designs on Kirkuk (al Monitor)

Cascading Crisis in Iraqi Kurdistan (Institute for the Study of War)

King Salman stresses kingdom’s support for united Iraq in phone call to Abadi (al Arabiya)

King Salman makes telephone call to Iraqi PM Abadi (al Arabiya)

Turkey’s Erdogan says may shut Iraqi border any moment (al Arabiya)

Turkey ‘ready to cooperate with Iraq’ against Kurdish militants (al Arabiya)

Turkey pledges to back Baghdad against Kurds (al Monitor)

How Strongly is NATO Ally Turkey Pivoting to Russia and Iran? (Christian Science Monitor, via Small Wars Journal)

Deal with Iran boosts Turkey’s hopes of trading in national currency (al Monitor)

Erdogan, Rouhani stand together against Iraqi Kurdish state (al Monitor)

Iraq says Kurds brought PKK fighters to Kirkuk in ‘declaration of war’ (al Arabiya)

Peshmerga Command: Iraqi Military Attack on Kirkuk is ‘Declaration of War’ (Rudaw via Small Wars Journal)

Peshmerga: Baghdad to pay heavy price for declaring war (al Jazeera)

Kurdish infighting opened way for Iraqi advances (AFP)

How a shocking reversal of fortunes unfolded in Kirkuk (al Jazeera)

Kurdistan never intended to engage in war with Iraq, foreign minister says (al Arabiya)

UN concerned by reports of forced displacement of Kurds in N.Iraq (al Arabiya)

Iraqi, Kurd forces in Kirkuk standoff as tensions rise (al Jazeera)

Iraq conflict: Peshmerga 'deadline to leave Kirkuk' passes (BBC)

Clashes between Iraqi, Kurdish troops close to Kirkuk city (AFP)

Iraqi forces launch 'major' Kirkuk operation (al Jazeera)

Iraq army seizes Altun Kupri from Kurdish Peshmerga (al Jazeera)

Kirkuk: Iraqi forces capture key sites from Kurds (BBC)

Kirkuk: Iraqi forces seize largest oilfields near city (BBC)

Iraqi forces gain control of main Kirkuk military base from Kurds (al Arabiya)

Iraqi forces complete takeover of Kirkuk province after clashing with Kurds (al Arabiya)

Iraq takes disputed areas as Kurds 'withdraw to 2014 lines' (BBC)

Kurdish forces withdraw to June 2014 lines: Iraqi army commander (al Arabiya)

Iraq Kurds: Army claims full control of Kirkuk province (BBC)

Iraq's military declares mission accomplished in Kirkuk (al Jazeera)

Baghdad says mission accomplished in Kurd operation (AFP)

Iran denies reports Tehran closed border with northern Iraq (al Arabiya)

Iran wary of Trump’s plans in Iraqi Kurdistan (al Monitor)

Iran sees challenge of Kurdish referendum as opportunity (al Monitor)

Turkey, Iran could unite to overcome their Kurdish worries (al Monitor)

Iran’s Soleimani reportedly in Kurdistan as Iraq denies setting Kirkuk deadline (al Arabiya)

Iran Quds commander pays respects at Talabani's tomb as Kirkuk crisis escalates (al Monitor)

Iran denies role in recapture of Kirkuk (al Monitor)

How Iran helped Baghdad seize back Kirkuk (al Monitor)

The fall of Kirkuk and U.S. Kurdish allies: Iran has completed its strategic reversal of America’s regional influence (Washington Times)

The United States Serves Up Kurdistan to Iran on a Silver Platter (Tablet Magazine)

Assessing impact of shifting Iran-KRG relations (al Monitor)

Abadi orders the withdrawal of all military forces from Kirkuk (al Arabiya)

Iraqi president Masum calls for urgent Baghdad-Kurdish dialogue (al Arabiya)

Baghdad court issues arrest warrant for Iraqi Kurd VP (al Arabiya)

Court in Iraq orders arrest of Kurdistan VP Kosrat Rasul (BBC)

Congress threatens to withhold arms from Baghdad (al Monitor)

US strategy sees Raqa fall but leaves Kurds in lurch (AFP)

Iraq conflict: Kurdish leaders refuse to reject referendum result (BBC)

Despite potential trade sanctions, Kurds continue with exports (Christian Science Monitor)

What price have Iraqi Kurds paid for secession vote? (al Jazeera)

What does the future hold for Iraq's Kurds? (al Jazeera)

Is the Dream Of Kurdish Independence Now Over? (Voice of America via Small Wars Journal)

"Phil-Kurdism" Like Philhellenism? The Role and Impact of the Western Volunteers Alongside Kurds (Small Wars Journal)

Since I last posted on this topic, the Kurdish Regional Government reiterated a pre-referendum claim to the Iraqi city of Kirkuk, which led Iraqi national forces (suspected to have consisted largely of Iranian-sponsored Shiite militias) to launch a military operation to retake the city and its surroundings. Iran has denied having played any role in those events, though other actors and commentators disagree. I'm personally of the mind that the KRG may have intentionally fallen back from Kirkuk, partly to give the various Peshmerga factions something to rally around that wasn't traditional Kurdish territory; but also to give the government in Baghdad an opportunity to overplay their hand in the secession dispute by escalating the conflict. In one of my prior posts, I linked to a BBC interview with KRG President Massoud Barzani in which he said:

"When have we ever had stability and security that we should be concerned about losing it? When was Iraq so united that we should be worried about breaking its unity? Those who are saying this are just looking for excuses to stop us... We were hoping the constitution could unite us, but it didn't happen. So many rules were neglected. So now it is our right to seek independence."

The thing is, regardless of where you stand on the Kurdish referendum or the territorial integrity of the Iraqi nation-state, Barzani has a point. As of 2011, a viable political settlement was in place to balance the interests of Iraq's three largest population groups: the Shiite Arabs, the Sunni Arabs, and the Kurds. I watched the American withdrawal from a vantage point in the Gulf in 2011; and I was there in early 2012 when Prime Minister Nouri al Maliki, lacking American support, found himself subject to influence from Tehran. The result was the violation of the Iraqi constitution, a collapse of the political settlement, the persecution of Sunni Arabs and their leaders by Baghdad, and the de facto abdication of Baghdad's obligations to the Kurds. In the case of the Sunni Arabs, this left them receptive to the promises from DAESH, empty though they turned out to be, that they had learned their lesson and were ready to bring Iraq's Sunni population into a new caliphate. In the case of the Kurds, they found themselves under assault by DAESH, without the backup that Baghdad owed them. That included protecting Kirkuk from DAESH while cities like Mosul were overrun, forcing Arab forces - including a lot of heavy lifting by Tehran-sponsored Shiite militias - to root DAESH out, house by house.

That's the history of the dispute, in a nutshell. How it will play out in the coming weeks and months is anyone's guess. America has a vested interest in maintaining good relations with the Kurds, but supporting their secession efforts puts Washington at odds with Ankara, Baghdad, and Tehran. Moscow has an interest in keeping Kurdish oil flowing, but maintains a tight relationship with Iran (particularly in Syria, but also by way of Iran's controversial nuclear program), and is working to drive a wedge between Turkey and the rest of the NATO alliance. Baghdad has a vested interest in retaining the oil-rich areas around Kirkuk; and in avoiding the precedent of Iraqi Kurdistan seceding. Tehran also harbors a vested interest in avoiding that precedent, as Iran's own Kurdish minority in the region bordering Iraqi Kurdistan are watching the secession effort with great interest. The same goes for Ankara. It leaves a difficult situation for the folks in Erbil to manage.

I'll keep track of further developments and post as appropriate.

Kurdish Independence Referendum Update

My good buddy Irish Jay (AKA Code Name: Silverback) has been sending me questions about the recent Kurdish referendum, particularly how it relates to the Syrian civil war. Rather than restrict my response to him, I wanted to post an update of some of the stories I've been keeping track of. Unlike the string of stories I posted before the referendum, I haven't had a chance to read through these yet; but the headlines alone provide a great deal of useful context. Go ahead and have a look - and remember that al Jazeera has a Qatari slant, al Arabiya has a Saudi slant, and al Monitor has a sort of international flavor to it. Process accordingly.

Regional implications of the Kurdish independence vote (al Jazeera)

Syrian Kurdish commander: We're 'ready to engage' with Damascus (al Monitor)

Iraqi Kurdistan referendum: High turnout in independence vote (BBC News)

Israel denies Turkish claim of involvement in Kurd vote (AFP)

Kurdish secession tops Erdogan's agenda in Iran visit (al Jazeera)

Iraqi Kurds watch nervously as Erdogan heads for Tehran (al Monitor)

Turkey’s Erdogan in Iran amid tensions over Iraqi Kurd vote (al Arabiya)

Turkey’s threat of sanctions against Iraqi Kurds rattles its own traders (al Monitor)

Turkey’s Erdogan says will impose further sanctions against northern Iraq (al Arabiya)

Ankara could misplay its hand again (al Monitor)

Turkey’s military options in Iraq and Syria hinge on US and Russia (al Monitor)

Turkey raises oil threat after Iraqi Kurds' referendum (al Jazeera)

Erdogan and Putin agree Iraqi Kurdish referendum has no legitimacy (al Arabiya)

Russia keeps eye on Kurdish oil contracts, referendum (al Monitor)

France offers to mediate between Baghdad and Kurds (al Arabiya)

Tensions mount as Iraqi militias boost numbers in contested areas while Kurds hold referendum (Long War Journal)

Iranian, Iraqi government forces to hold joint border drills (al Arabiya)

Iraqi military preparing to take control of Kurdish borders (al Arabiya)

Iran’s pressure on Kurds could backfire (al Monitor)

Iran’s Leaders Opposed Kurdish Independence Vote in Iraq. Iran’s Kurds Celebrated on The Streets. (Washington Post via Small Wars Journal)

Iraqi Kurdish opposition welcomes Abadi's post-referendum measures (al Monitor)

Abadi Wins ISIS War, Maliki Wins Elections: Time for US to Shift Policy on Kurdistan (Rudaw via Small Wars Journal)

The Kurds Are About to Blow Up Iraq (Michael J. Totten via World Affairs Journal)

The Trump Administration Just Stabbed the Kurds in the Front (Michael J. Totten via World Affairs Journal)

For the Love of Coal Fires

This is a post that could have easily appeared over at Operation Highlander, but I've been pretty consistent about posting over there lately, so I'll post it here. Something I enjoyed during my days in Orkney was a nice coal fire. The photo I've featured above, which somehow never made it on to the Operation Highlander blog, was taken during the Winter of 2013 when I was yet in Orkney. I know that coal is taboo due to environmental concerns, but it was so cool to come into Helgi's off the cold, blustery street and warm myself by the fire while enjoying a dram or a pint. In November of last year, I discovered that there's an hour-plus-long video of a coal fire (apparently filmed in Poland, not Orkney, but I'll take it), so I figured I'd share it.

As you can see from this second photo, I used the occasion of some cold nights in my since-vacated East Coast apartment to pour myself a dram or cuppa, light candles in my since-liquidated (and dearly missed) Moroccan lanterns, bundle myself into a cozy blanket, and enjoy a good book (like the Orkneyinga Saga, pictured) - or possibly a Washington Capitals game on the radio - while the coal fire burned happily on the television. Someday, I hope to have a house with an actual hearth in which Lady Jaye and I can build and enjoy a nice fire - maybe even burning a few chosen lumps of coal! Until then, I'll have to enjoy the spark and crackle of that YouTube video. Less heat, inferior ambience, but I'll take it.

The Referendum in Iraqi Kurdistan

A couple of years ago, I posted about my concerns for Iraqi Kurdistan. Iraq's Kurds are preparing to vote in an independence referendum. I'm getting caught up on news, and caught up on some articles I've saved on the topic. I may write something more substantial in the next few days. In the mean time, I wanted to share some of the articles I've collected.

Iraqi Kurdistan on the front line (BBC News, May 2016)

A referendum on Kurdish independence from Iraq carries grave risks (The Economist)

The Kurds Are About to Blow Up Iraq (World Affairs Journal/Michael J. Totten)

On the Kurdish Front Line, a Tense Night Fending Off Islamic State (War is Boring)

Iraqi Kurds Stockpiled Captured Islamic State Explosives (War is Boring)

For Iraq’s Long-Suffering Kurds, Independence Beckons (New York Times, via Small Wars Journal)

Iraqi Kurds 'prepared to draw own borders', Barzani warns Baghdad (BBC News)

Iraqi Kurdish leader: 'Our right to seek independence' (BBC News)

Iraq parliament votes to remove Kirkuk governor (al Jazeera)

Why is the Kurdistan Referendum Controversial? (VOA News, via Small Wars Journal)

Iraq MPs vote to sack Kirkuk governor over Kurdish referendum (BBC News)

U.S. Special Envoy: Kurdish Referendum Could Undermine Fight Against IS (VOA News, via Small Wars Journal)

UN urges Iraqi Kurds to drop referendum, hold talks (AFP)

Iraq army 'to intervene' if Kurds' referendum escalates (al Jazeera)

Kurdish referendum in Iraq: What and where? (al Jazeera)

Iraq top court rules to suspend Kurdish referendum (al Jazeera)

What is at stake in Iraqi Kurdish vote for independence? (BBC News)

Iraqi Kurdish referendum must be suspended - Iraqi PM (BBC News)

Northern Syria’s Anti-Islamic State Coalition Has an Arab Problem (War on the Rocks)

The Big News

Well, it's been a big month, with a lot of news. The biggest bit of that news? Well, I went and got myself married.

My first contact with Lady Jaye was in August of 2012. We met for the first time in December of 2013 - mere hours before January 2014. I proposed marriage in June of 2016. In August, we were married in her hometown. It took a lot of work, but when the dust settled, we got as close to a perfect wedding weekend as we could have possibly asked for. (That is, save for the unwelcome logistical disruption of the total solar eclipse, but it was more of an annoyance in the long run.)

The wedding followed some other big events for me: leaving my employer of ten years and relocating home to the West Coast after more than three years in Northern Virginia. Lady Jaye joined me for a few weeks in July, so we were able to do a joint goodbye tour, followed by my solo goodbye tour. My departure was bittersweet, because even though I don't feel as if I accomplished the goals I set when I moved to the National Capital Region in the first place, we had a great time in the process, and I think I set myself up for long-term success now that I've moved back home.

So... What now? Well, stay tuned.

Hiatus

The good news: I passed my CISSP exam, which was the major reason why a couple of weeks of Joshua Tree Reports have been skipped. I also have some big stuff happening in the coming weeks that may get some acknowledgement here on the blog. It's a good time to be alive.

The bad news: I'm insanely busy. So, I'm going to suspend the Joshua Tree Reports for a few weeks. At some point, I'll try to come up with some stuff to make up for the absence. However, if you follow this blog, be prepared not to read anything until early September.

Joshua Tree Report: July 2nd, 2017

This is the Joshua Tree Report for May 28th, 2017.

General Data

The temperature in Cody is 82° Fahrenheit and the weather is fair. The temperature in Kirkwall is 9° centigrade and the weather is rainy. The temperature in Muscat is 40° centigrade and the weather is clear. A barrel of crude oil is selling at $46.04, and $1.30 currently exchanges for £1. This week's geospatial image is the Roman ruins of Leptis Magna in Libya.

In the News

Here are a few of the last couple of weeks' top stories.

Saudi king's son Mohammed bin Salman is new crown prince (BBC News)

Mohammed bin Salman named Saudi Arabia's crown prince (al Jazeera)

Saudi Arabia's royal shuffle - All decrees in full (al Jazeera)

What does Saudi’s new Crown Prince mean for the country? (Gulf News)

Saudi naval forces foil attack on offshore oil field (Khaleej Times)

Weapons found after shots fired in oil field: Saudi (AFP)

Yemeni Forces Hit Saudi Warship off Southwestern Coasts (Tasnim News Agency)

Bahrain: Explosion kills policeman, wounds two in Diraz (al Jazeera)

Qods Day commemorations highlight Tehran’s global reach (Long War Journal)

Israel calls for Saudi Arabia ties and state visits (al Jazeera)

UK activists demand end to Saudi Arabia, UAE arms sales (al Jazeera)

The mysterious fall in Saudi foreign reserves (al Jazeera)

Why did Qatar leave the Djibouti-Eritrea border? (al Jazeera)

Donald Trump Is Building an Alliance of Oil States (War is Boring)

Chinese Navy ships in Oman on goodwill visit (Times of Oman)

Pakistan to introduce strict visa policy for Chinese (Khaleej Times)

We are to blame, not expats (Kuwait Times)

US coalition downs first Syria government jet (BBC News)

Syria conflict: Russia issues warning after US coalition downs jet (BBC News)

Assad Still Must Go (The Tower/Michael J. Totten)

China, Russia to hold joint naval drills in Baltic Sea (AFP)

NATO holds first war games on vulnerable Baltic corridor (AFP)

Soviet Docs Shed Light on the Red Army’s Booze-Fueled Nuclear Vacation in Cuba (War is Boring)

Australia accused of spying on China: Chinese media (AFP)

Sharp rise in violent Islamist extremists in Sweden: intelligence (AFP)

It's Difficult to Know If Counter-Extremism Programmes in Europe Are Working (RAND Corporation)

Marines Take Control of Mexico’s Ports to Fight Out-of-Control Crime (War is Boring)

In Fixing the Afghan Army, We Need to Start with The Afghan Air Force (Small Wars Journal)

How China Could Truly Rein in North Korea (RAND Corporation)

Giving Japan a Military (RAND Corporation)

The European Commission Is Struggling to Demonstrate 'Value for Money' (RAND Corporation)

The U.S.-France Dustup Over Counterterrorism in the Sahel (RAND Corporation)

NATO says non-US 2017 defence spending to rise 4.3% (AFP)

Grounding the Ayatollah’s Tomcats (War is Boring)

It’s Better When F-35s and Super Hornets Work Together (War is Boring)

The U.S. Air Force Is Starving Its A-10 Squadrons—Again (War is Boring)

To Grow the Fleet, the U.S. Navy Could Recommission Retired Warships (War is Boring)

Five Myths About a Controversial Nuclear Weapon (War on the Rocks)

Insitu receives $45 million contract extension for SOCOM UAVs (UPI)

Washington Might Feel the Chill of a More United European Defense (War on the Rocks)

Don't Believe the Hype About European Defense (War on the Rocks)

Germans Should Accept What a Military is For, or Get Used to Disappointment (War on the Rocks)

Obama reportedly ordered implants to be deployed in key Russian networks (Ars Technica)

NATO says cyber attacks a call to arms (AFP)

Petya' Ransomware Outbreak Goes Global (Krebs on Security)

Petya Ransomware Hackers Didn't Make WannaCry's Mistakes (Wired)

Tuesday’s massive ransomware outbreak was, in fact, something much worse (Ars Technica)

WikiLeaks Dump Reveals a Creepy CIA Location-Tracking Trick (Wired)

NSA Insider Security Post-Snowden (Schneier on Security)

The Encryption Debate Should End Right Now, After Vault 7, Shadow Brokers, WannaCry, and Petya (Wired)

Senator Probes Top US Defense Contractor Over Leaked Data Tied to Pentagon Project (Gizmodo)

How to Browse the Web and Leave No Trace (Gizmodo)

How to Spot and Remove Stalkerware (Gizmodo)

Official warning: Snapchat 'bug' gives away your location (Gulf News)

UAE residents warned about new Snapchat update (Khaleej Times)

Microsoft bringing EMET back as a built-in part of Windows 10 (Ars Technica)

Some beers, anger at former employer, and root access add up to a year in prison (Ars Technica)

Is Continuing to Patch Windows XP a Mistake? (Schneier on Security)

The FAA Is Arguing for Security by Obscurity (Schneier on Security)

Human error blamed for 'wrong island' air ambulance (BBC News)

US gun laws: Colorado to arm teachers in classrooms (BBC News)

Hacking the Nazis: The secret story of the women who broke Hitler's codes (Tech Republic)

Saudi man mauled by lion at recreational facility (Gulf News)

Exploding cream dispenser kills French fitness blogger (BBC News)

Things that Canada is really, really good at (BBC News)

Baby elephant rescued by family at zoo (BBC News)

Top Podcasts

These were my favorite podcasts from the last couple of weeks.

In Qatar and Saudi Arabia’s fight, Iran’s the real winner (War College)

IOT: The Battle of Salamis (BBC)

Inside the DIA, Episode 1: An Interview with DIA Historian Greg Elder (SpyCast)

The Death of Expertise: An Interview with Tom Nichols (SpyCast)

Episode 256 - Robert O'Neill, SEAL Team 6 UBL shooter (SOFREP Radio)

MWI Podcast Ep. 27 – The Battle of Barg-e Matal (Modern Warfare Institute)

Rational Security #114: The "Intelligence Porn" Edition (Rational Security)

Security by the Book: How America Lost Its Secrets (The Hoover Institution)

Episode 059 – Legal Stalking and Other Scary Tales from Michael Bazzell (Social Engineer)

Security Management Highlights June 2017 (ASIS)

Episode 197 - After the Penetration Test (The Southern Fried Security Podcast)

Risky Business #109 - Open source intelligence with Maltego creator Roelof Temmingh (Risky Business)

Risky Business #458 -- Reality Winner, Qatar hax and Internet regulation calls (Risky Business)

100 years of the WI: The acceptable face of feminism (The National Archives)

Voices of the First World War: U-Boats (BBC)

Voices of the First World War: Ypres (BBC)

U.S. Entry Into World War I: Lessons One Hundred Years Later (Council on Foreign Relations)

The Art of Manliness #311: The Meaning of Beards (The Art of Manliness)

The Art of Manliness #314: Building Better Citizens Through Rucking (The Art of Manliness)

The National Archives: An Embarrassing Question: Opium, Britain and China 1856-1860 (The National Archives)

The National Archives: Lines on the map: records of international boundaries (The National Archives)

The National Archives: Lost London pubs (The National Archives)

Course Report

ENG 199: I've been at work on an undisclosed project.
PAC 130: I deliberately stretched a couple of times.
BA 480/CS 406: I continued studying for my CISSP.
PI5502: I diligently followed the ongoing diplomatic dispute in the Gulf.
HST 406 (OGHAP): I collected a few sources and listened to a bunch of podcasts.

Quote of the Week

“So, I love you because the entire universe conspired to help me find you.”
- Paulo Coelho, The Alchemist

Joshua Tree Report: June 18th, 2017

This is the Joshua Tree Report for May 28th, 2017.

General Data

The temperature in Cody is 60° Fahrenheit and the weather is fair. The temperature in Kirkwall is 11° centigrade and the weather is rainy. The temperature in Muscat is 39° centigrade and the weather is clear. A barrel of crude oil is selling at $44.74, and $1.27 currently exchanges for £1. This week's geospatial image is the the monastary on Skellig Michael, off the Irish coast.

In the News

Here are a few of this week's top stories.

Qassem Soleimani allegedly spotted in Syria near the Iraqi border (Long War Journal)

New US Russia sanctions bill riles Germany and Austria (BBC News)

Juncker says Europe can no longer 'outsource' protection (AFP)

Yemen rebels fire on UAE ship: coalition (AFP)

Yemen rebels fire on UAE ship: Saudi coalition (Khaleej Times)

Photos show US joint patrols with rebels in southern Syria (Long War Journal)

United Nations Shines Light on Shadowy Libyan Air War (War is Boring)

The UAE's 'destabilising' role in Libya (al Jazeera)

UAE boosts Libyan faction's air power: UN report (AFP)

Saif al-Islam Gaddafi freed from prison in Zintan (al Jazeera)

Saif al-Islam Gaddafi case: ICC calls for arrest of ex-Libya leader's son (BBC News)

Philippine OV-10s Bomb ISIS (War is Boring)

Dollar diplomacy?: The island's allies are being picked off by China in what Taiwan calls a "diplomatic money game (BBC News)

What China's space ambitions have to do with politics (Sputnik)

Ukraine touts defense industry to potential customers (UPI)

Modern Wars Are a Nightmare for the Army's Official Historians (The Atlantic)

Russia's Election Hacking Playbook (Wired)

Russia struck at election systems and data of 39 US states (Ars Technica)

NSA Document Outlining Russian Attempts to Hack Voter Rolls (Schneier on Security)

Latest WikiLeaks Release Shows How the CIA Hacks Your Router (Wired)

Advanced CIA firmware has been infecting Wi-Fi routers for years (Ars Technica)

U.S. Cyberweapons, Used Against Iran and North Korea, Are a Disappointment Against ISIS (New York Times)

Facing limits of remote hacking, Army cybers up the battlefield (Ars Technica)

Mass surveillance: BBC Arabic found the sales included decryption software that could be used against the West (BBC News)

How BAE sold cyber-surveillance tools to Arab states (BBC News)

US arrests nearly 200 Iraqis in deportation sweep (al Jazeera)

Iraqi detainees launch case to halt deportation from US (al Jazeera)

How a crippling shortage of analysts let the London Bridge attackers through (The Guardian)

Fasting Muslims save lives in London fire, hailed as heroes (Khaleej Times)

Suspected N.Korea drone filmed missile defence site: Seoul (AFP)

NSA links Wannacry worm to North Korea (BBC News)

Global cyber-attack 'came from N Korea' (BBC News)

US Blames North Korea for Series of DDoS Attacks (Gizmodo)

North Korea's Cyberattacks Are Chaotic, But Also Make Perfect Sense (Wired)

There's Proof That North Korea Launched the WannaCry Attack? Not So Fast! - A Warning Against Premature, Inconclusive, and Distracting Attribution (Institute for Critical Infrastructure Technology)

'Mary, Jesus' Mother' is new name for UAE mosque (Gulf News)

UAE Christians hail renaming of Abu Dhabi mosque (Khaleej Times)

'Historic' islands bill published (BBC News)

Archaeologists Uncover Secret Message On Bible-Era Pottery (Gizmodo)

No wasta with God (Kuwait Times)

Vintage 1950s Bedford coach to return to Shetland (BBC News)

Battlestar Galactica's Ronald D. Moore Admits the Cylons Never Had a Plan at All (Gizmodo)

A 15-Piece Orchestra Played Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger Than Daft Punk Themselves (Gizmodo)

Top Podcasts

Most of this week's listening hours were spent on either music or baseball, so I'm going to hang on to the handful of podcasts until the next edition.

Course Report

ENG 199: I got some work done on a super secret squirrel writing project.
PAC 130: Nada.
BA 480/CS 406: I spent a lot of time studying for my CISSP exam. This actually consumed a lot of my week.
PI5502: Nothing to report.
HST 406 (OGHAP): Nothing to report.

Quote of the Week

“Plant yourself not in Europe but in Iraq; it will become evident that half of the roads of the Old World lead to Aleppo, and half to Bagram.”
- Arnold Toynbee

More Sources and Headlines on Recent Gulf Tensions

Here's a follow-up to last week's post.

What the Qatar Blockade is Really About (Michael J. Totten/World Affairs Journal)

Qatar accused: Tom Keatinge looks at why the tiny Gulf emirate of Qatar is alleged to supported terrorist groups (BBC News)

Qatar and the myth of humanitarian work (Gulf News)

Qatar's case (Kuwait Times)

GCC citizens launch petition to end Gulf crisis (al Jazeera)

Will Hamas survive the Gulf crisis? (al Jazeera)

Qatar allows residents from boycotting states to stay (al Jazeera)

Akbar al-Baker on the Gulf Crisis and Qatar Airways (al Jazeera)

No limitations on foreign carriers: Gulf nations clarify (Khaleej Times)

Qatar's migrant workers on Gulf crisis frontline (Kuwait Times)

Africa and the Gulf crisis: the peril of picking sides (al Jazeera)

Pakistan urged to quit Saudi-led alliance (Khaleej Times)

Turkey: Gulf rift damages Muslim world (Kuwait Times)

Turkish FM holds talks in Kuwait over Gulf crisis (Kuwait Times)

Cavusoglu meets Gulf envoys to discuss diplomatic rift (al Jazeera)

Mevlut Cavusoglu pushes efforts to end Qatar dispute (al Jazeera)

Turkey's Erdogan decries Qatar's 'inhumane' isolation (BBC News)

Turkey: Qatar military base for the security of Gulf (al Jazeera)

Why is Turkey standing up for Qatar? (BBC News)

UAE: 'No military component' in actions against Qatar (al Jazeera)

No Arab plans to push for Qatar-linked UN sanctions (Khaleej Times)

Qatar's history of agitating its neighbours (Gulf News)

Qatar ships cargo via Oman to bypass Gulf restrictions (BBC News)

Oman values Saudi, UAE, Bahrain move on Qatar joint families (Times of Oman)

Twitter mocks Saudi editor over #Qataristomach remarks (al Jazeera)

Qatar crisis: All eyes on Riyadh (Khaleej Times)

Saudi: Gulf rift bigger political issue than airspace rights (Khaleej Times)

In Qatar and Saudi Arabia’s Fight, Iran Is the Real Winner (War is Boring)

Qatar-Iran ties: Sharing the world's largest gas field (al Jazeera)

Iran sends warships to Oman amid Gulf dispute (al Jazeera)

Qatar blockade: Iran sends five planeloads of food (BBC News)

Gulf dispute tops agenda of France-Morocco talks (al Jazeera)

Morocco offers to mediate Qatar-GCC crisis (al Jazeera)

Morocco supports Kuwait mediation in Gulf crisis (al Jazeera)

Britain's Theresa May urges easing of Gulf tensions (al Jazeera)

US' Mattis: Qatar blockade 'very complex situation' (al Jazeera)

US and Qatar seal $12bn deal for F-15 fighter jets (al Jazeera)

Qatar buys F-15 fighter planes in billion-dollar US deal (BBC News)

US naval warships arrive in Qatar for military exercise (al Jazeera)

Qatar moving quickly towards isolation—Gargash (Gulf News)

Gulf gamble: The longer the isolation of Qatar persists, the deeper the wounds to the entire region (BBC News)

Joshua Tree Report: June 11th, 2017

This is the Joshua Tree Report for June 11th, 2017.

General Data

The temperature in Cody is 62° Fahrenheit and the weather is cloudy. The temperature in Kirkwall is 10° centigrade and the weather is partly cloudy. The temperature in Muscat is 40° centigrade and the weather is clear. A barrel of crude oil is selling at $45.83, and $1.27 currently exchanges for £1. This week's geospatial image is the Pakistani port city of Qwadar, which used to belong to the Sultanate of Muscat.

In the News

Here are a few of this week's top stories.

Gunmen attack Iran's parliament, Khomeini shrine (al Jazeera)

Iran attacks leave 12 dead at parliament and Khomeini mausoleum (BBC News)

Tehran attackers 'were IS recruits from Iran' (BBC News)

Iran accuses Saudi Arabia of Tehran attacks (al Jazeera)

Iranian officials offer disjointed response to Islamic State terrorist attacks in Tehran (Long War Journal)

Deadly explosion strikes Afghanistan's Herat (al Jazeera)

Why are Sahel countries deploying an anti-jihad force? (AFP)

The Sunni-Shia Divide (Council on Foreign Relations)

Raqqa: Syrian Kurdish-led forces launch offensive on IS 'capital' (BBC News)

Iraqi Kurds to hold independence referendum in September (BBC News)

Iraqi Kurds set date for independence referendum (al Jazeera)

Iraqi government rejects Kurdish move for independence (al Jazeera)

Why Aren't There More Terrorist Attacks Like the One in London? (RAND Corporation)

Blaming the Internet For Terrorism Misses The Point (Wired)

Germany sees rise in fake father scams with immigrants (BBC News)

Egypt Has Joined the Air War in Libya (War is Boring)

Ecowas agrees to admit Morocco to West African body (BBC News)

Japan's Mistaken South Sudan Withdrawal (RAND Corporation)

Vietnamese coast guard receives former U.S. vessel (UPI)

Lithuania warns Russian drill may mask troop buildup (AFP)

NATO: Prepared for Countering Disinformation Operations in the Baltic States? (RAND Corporation)

Canada to rely less on US defense in major policy shift (AFP)

Don't Count on Germany to Save the West (War on the Rocks)

Europe Reckons With Its Depleted Armies (Wall Street Journal)

Juncker: EU needs stronger defence arm (BBC News)

CIA names former bin Laden hunt chief to run Iran spying (AFP)

Need More Naval Missiles? Stick the Launchers in Shipping Containers (War is Boring)

James Rosen: New Evidence Obama Administration's NSA Spied On Americans (Real Clear Politics)

How a few yellow dots burned the Intercept’s NSA leaker (Ars Technica)

Leaked NSA report says Russians tried to hack state election officials (Ars Technica)

Russian Hackers Turn to Britney Spears for Help Concealing Espionage Malware (Ars Technica)

Does British Airways' explanation stack up? (BBC News)

Hackers are around, secure your surveillance cams (Khaleej Times)

'Oldest Homo sapiens' found (BBC News)

RSPB criticises slow action to tackle Orkney's stoat problem (BBC News)

Teacher sought for single-pupil school on Foula (BBC News)

Restored antique map returns home to Aberdeenshire (BBC News)

Peacock trashes liquor store in California to tune of $500 (BBC News)

Trump Boys Chasing Wounded Boar Around White House (The Onion)

Top Podcasts

These were my favorite podcasts from the last week.

Agent M: An Interview with Henry Hemming (SpyCast)

CIA Spy Girl: An Interview with Emily Brandwin (SpyCast)

Security by the Book: The Way Of The Strangers: Encounters With The Islamic State (The Hoover Institution)

'The Way of the Strangers: Encounters with the Islamic State' (Council on Foreign Relations)

A Conversation With Nikki Haley (Council on Foreign Relations)

Less than 10 Minutes Series: WebGoat Project (OWASP 24/7)

Risky Business #457 -- Shadow Brokers turn to ZCash, plus special guest John Safran (Risky Business)

Episode 2 - Forgotten Heroes, The Indian Army in the Great War (BBC)

Episode 3 - Forgotten Heroes, The Indian Army in the Great War (BBC)

Voices of the First World War: Battle of Loos (BBC)

Voices of the First World War: Cowardice (BBC)

Voices of the First World War: Gallipoli - Conditions and Evacuation (BBC)

Voices of the First World War: Gallipoli - Landings (BBC)

WW1 At Home 2 - Zeppelin Raids; Airship Patrols; Scouts on Standby (BBC)

WW1 At Home 3 - The Spy on the Forth; Lizzie the Elephant; a Gardener Goes to War (BBC)

How I Built This: Compaq Computers: Rod Canion (NPR

The Art of Manliness #307: Make Your Bed, Change the World (The Art of Manliness)

The Art of Manliness #308: Reconsidering the Trades With Mike Rowe (The Art of Manliness)

Course Report

ENG 199: I didn't have a chance to do any reading this week.
PAC 130: This one's still pretty well on hold.
BA 480/CS 406: I spent a bunch of time studying for my CISSP exam.
PI5502: This one was pretty much on hold this week.
HST 406 (OGHAP): I listened to a bunch of First World War podcasts and did some work on one of my chapter subsections.

Quote of the Week

"The gentle reader will never, never know what a consummate ass he can become until he goes abroad. I speak now, of course, in the supposition that the gentle reader has not been abroad, and therefore is not already a consummate ass. If the case be otherwise, I beg his pardon and extend to him the cordial hand of fellowship and call him brother."
- Samuel "Mark Twain" Clemens, Innocents Abroad

Sources and Headlines on Recent Gulf Tensions

I've had several friends ask me for my take on the current dispute in the Gulf. For those who are unfamiliar, despite its status as a founding member of the Gulf Cooperation Council, Qatar has pursued an increasingly independent foreign policy in recent years. earlier this week, six Arab states - Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Egypt, Yemen, and Mauritania - severed diplomatic ties with Qatar. Several others reduced their diplomatic links. Kuwait and Oman have both opted to facilitate diplomatic initiatives to resolve the dispute, with the Kuwaiti Emir taking an active role. Below are stories I've followed over the course of the last week. I may try to post a follow-up next week if the dispute continues.

* * *
Initial Headlines

Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Bahrain cut ties to Qatar (al Jazeera)

Qatar row: Six countries cut links with Doha (BBC News)

Hacking

Hacked Emails Show Top UAE Diplomat Coordinating With Pro-Israel Think Tank Against Iran (The Intercept)

UAE email leak: Yousef al-Otaiba criticises Trump (al Jazeera)

Qatar reveals preliminary results of QNA hacking probe (al Jazeera)

Al-Jazeera claims to be victim of cyber attack as Qatar crisis continues (Ars Technica)

al Jazeera Controversy

Media watchdog: Al Jazeera targeted in Gulf crisis (al Jazeera)

Qatar crisis: Can Al Jazeera survive? (al Jazeera)

Saudi Leadership and Qatar Media (Arab Gulf Studies Institute in Washington)

Diplomatic Efforts

Qatar row: Calls for diplomatic talks to end Gulf crisis (BBC News)

Qatar says ready for mediation to ease Gulf rift (Khaleej Times)

Qatar says Kuwait trying to solve diplomatic rift (al Jazeera)

Kuwaiti Ruler to meet Saudi King over Qatar row (Khaleej Times)

Kuwaiti Amir, Advisor to Saudi King to discuss regional developments (Khaleej Times)

Kuwait's ruler to meet Saudi King over Qatar row (al Jazeera)

Kuwait Ruler meets with Qatari leader amid diplomatic rift (Khaleej Times)

Kuwait and Oman: As they remain silent on the Qatar-Gulf rift, what does this mean for them? (Zawya)

Oman's foreign minister on a private trip to Qatar (Times of Oman)

Saudi foreign minister holds talks in Oman amid regional dispute (Reuters)

International Fallout

Special flights to fly back Pakistanis from Doha (Khaleej Times)

On Qatar, Pakistan walks a diplomatic tightrope (al Jazeera)

Arab-Qatar rift may impact Filipino workers (Khaleej Times)

Indian Embassy issues advisory for Indians in Qatar (Khaleej Times)

Rights group concerned for Gulf citizens amid fallout (al Jazeera)

Isolation Efforts

Emirates Post stops postal services to Qatar (Khaleej Times)

Maersk Line to begin Qatar feeder container shipments from Oman (al Arabiya)

Nations silent on Qatar blockade plea (BBC)

Qatar Gets Cut Off (Center for Strategic and International Studies)

A Winner Emerges From The Qatar Crisis: Oman's National Airline (Forbes)

Qatari riyal under pressure as Saudi, UAE banks delay Qatar deals (Reuters)

Qatari riyal under pressure amid Gulf diplomatic rift (al Jazeera)

Some Sri Lankan banks stop buying Qatar riyal (Khaleej Times)

Isolating Qatar Reveals Economic Vulnerabilities of the GCC (Arab Gulf Studies Institute in Washington)

Intra-Gulf Posturing

The Qatari Military Is Terribly Outgunned (War is Boring)

Qatar FM: Question mark over future of GCC after crisis (al Jazeera)

The GCC will ride out the storm (al Jazeera)

Timeline of GCC, Egyptian discord with Qatar (al Jazeera)

Qatar-Gulf crisis: Your questions answered (al Jazeera)

Timeline of Qatar-GCC disputes from 1991 to 2017 (al Jazeera)

Widening gulf: Qatar's support for Islamist groups has soured relations with Gulf neighbours like Saudi Arabia (BBC News)

Unfulfilled 2014 Riyadh Agreement Defines Current GCC Rift (Arab Gulf Studies Institute in Washington)

Qatar tensions: How regional rivalries and mistrust lie beneath the current tension in the Gulf. (BBC News)

Saudi FM: Qatar must stop supporting Hamas, Brotherhood (al Jazeera)

Saudi FM: Qatar measures taken with great pain (al Jazeera)

UAE demands guarantees before mending Qatar ties (Khaleej Times)

GCC nations issue more threats against Qatar (al Jazeera)

Qatar vows 'no surrender' in row with Arab states (BBC News)

Qatar rejects Saudi-led bloc's 'terror' list (al Jazeera)

Qatar 'not prepared to change its foreign policy' (al Jazeera)

Qatar-Gulf rift: The Iran factor (al Jazeera)

Analysis: Qatar-Gulf crisis: Who are the 'terrorists'? (al Jazeera)

Five days on, five things to know about Qatar-Gulf rift (al Jazeera)

International Influence

Turkey's parliament to debate troop deployment to Qatar (AFP)

Analysis: Why is Turkey deploying troops to Qatar? (al Jazeera)

Qatar crisis: Germany seeks to bridge rift with Arab states (BBC News)

Qatar crisis has 'no impact' on US military operations: Pentagon (AFP)

US military: No plans to change our posture in Qatar (al Jazeera)

Qatar crisis puts spotlight on US military base (AFP)

Washington and the Latest Qatari Row (War on the Rocks)

A Base is More than Buildings: The Military Implications of the Qatar Crisis (War on the Rocks)

Qatar crisis: Can Al Jazeera survive? (BBC News)

Crisis talks over Qatar in Jeddah as Trump backs UAE and Saudi (The National)

US senators push for strategy amid Qatar-Gulf crisis (al Jazeera)