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Author Archives: Charles Duelfer
Syria CW Conundrum – Risks, Options, Consequences and Mitigation Measures
So far, Syrian chemical munitions seem to have been protected and have not been used by the Syrian government. There were reports of steps being taken to prepare them for use, but it seems Syria has walked back from that … Continue reading
Posted in Syria CW, Uncategorized, WMD
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Bashir CW Action will Unify Security Council – And NATO Will Bomb-And Iran?
NBC’s Pentagon correspondent Jim Miklaszewski (who has been working in the Pentagon longer than many of its current inhabitants have been alive) reported yesterday: “The Syrian military is prepared to use chemical weapons against its own people and is awaiting … Continue reading
Is Syria Playing Chicken with Chemical Weapons?
President Obama has publicly warned that any use by Syria of chemical weapons would have consequences. Reportedly US intelligence shows that CW related materials have been moved. It is unclear from the outside whether this indicates Syria has taken steps … Continue reading
Posted in Intelligence, Iran, Syria CW, WMD
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Investigations and Elections – Personal Experience
I have no idea what the facts are about the FBI investigation that led to the Petraeus resignation. I also do not know the details behind the investigation of the Benghazi Attack. However, I had the experience of investigation an … Continue reading
Posted in Intelligence, Uncategorized
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Leading the CIA
The Petraeus resignation may look different if you are sitting in the CIA. A salient aspect would be the contrast between the standards Petraeus is reported to have ratcheted up inside the Agency and the ones he lived. During the … Continue reading
Politics in Washington and Beijing
With the United States self-absorbed in its own elections…staring at its navel…it is interesting to see other capitals focusing attention on the upcoming 18th Party Congress that begins two days after the US election. Leadership will change in China and … Continue reading
Iran: The Crisis Grows and US Lacks Influence
The Iran nuclear problem is approaching crisis stage and the IAEA is in a critical position. They have done a remarkable job in being steadfast in working toward their larger objectives and in maintaining credibility in a highly charged political … Continue reading
Syrian Ambassador on WMD Use
The Syrian ambassador to Iraq, Nawaf al-Fares, has declared his opposition to the Bashir al-Assad regime in Damascus. He has made strong public denunciations of the regime and declared that Bashir would use his chemical weapons capability against the opposition. … Continue reading
Spacex Innovation Isn’t Technical
The mission by the Dragon capsule to the International Space Station executed by Spacex Inc., is remarkable. However, it is not a technical innovation. It is an innovation in government contracting. Technically, what Spacex did is little different than what … Continue reading
Picture Washington as seen by Tehran
Imagine you’re the intelligence analyst in Tehran who is charged with making an assessment of the leadership in Washington…and predicting what President Obama will do. Not an easy task. Even Washington can’t predict what Washington will do. Still, some in … Continue reading