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☆ Putin is trying to buy time with Prigozhin but will get revenge since he is the 'ultimate apostle of payback,' CIA director William Burns says
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-21 | by ( Azmi Haroun | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The director of the CIA believes that Putin has yet to play all of his cards against Yevgeny Prigozhin. Right now, Putin is buying time and seeing how he can still benefit from Prigozhin and Wagner Group. But Putin is the 'ultimate apostle of payback' CIA director William Burns said at the Aspen Security Forum. CIA Director William Burns, speaking at the Aspen Security Forum 2023 on Thursday, discussed Prigozhin's failed mutiny and the potential blowback to come. For now, Burns said, Putin is buying time, but when the time is right, Prigozhin may have a target on his back.

Persons: Putin, Yevgeny Prigozhin, William Burns, Wagner, Vladimir Putin, Joe Biden, Prigozhin's, Burns, NPR's Mary Louise Kelly, Prigozhin, Russia's, Alexander Lukashenko, Kelly Organizations: CIA, Wagner, Aspen Security, Service, Wagner Group, Belarusian Locations: Wall, Silicon, Ukraine, Russian, Rostov, Moscow, Belarus, Ukrainian, Bakhmut, Syria, Africa

☆ Wagner boss Prigozhin was just winging it with his armed revolt and making things up as he went along, CIA director says
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-21 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Yevgeny Prigozhin shocked the world when he called on his Wagner Group fighters to invade Russia. CIA Director Bill Burns said this week that Prigozhin was likely improvising during the armed rebellion. Prigozhin was "making some of this up as he went along," Burns told the Aspen Security Forum. Head of the Wagner Group Yevgeny Prigozhin left the Southern Military District headquarters on June 24, 2023 in Rostov-on-Don, Russia. Within hours, the Wagner Group had captured the southern city of Rostov-on-Don without meeting any resistance.

Persons: Yevgeny Prigozhin, Bill Burns, Prigozhin, Burns, Wagner, Joe Biden, I'm, William Burns, Sergei Shoigu, Valery Gerasimov, Wagner Group Yevgeny Prigozhin, Stringer, he'd, Alexander Lukashenko, Reuters Prigozhin, he'll, Russia —, Vladimir Putin, they've, Putin's misjudgment, Russian Wagner, Mark Milley, Milley Organizations: Wagner Group, CIA, Aspen Security, Service, Russian Defense, Southern Military, Anadolu Agency, Getty, Kremlin, Reuters, Belarus —, Wagner, Belarusian Defence Ministry, REUTERS, Ukrainian, Joint Chiefs, Staff, NATO Locations: Russia, Wall, Silicon, Moscow, Ukraine, Rostov, Don, Prigozhin, Russian, Voronezh, Belarus, Belarusian, Africa, Osipovichi, Kyiv

☆ Crimea bridge is legitimate military target, Zelenskiy says
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

July 21 (Reuters) - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Friday that the bridge linking the Crimea peninsula to Russia "brings war not peace" and was therefore a military target. Explosions on the Crimea bridge on Monday killed two civilians and put part of the road bridge out of service, which had only recently returned to full operation after being severely damaged in a similar attack in October. Crimea was annexed by Russia from Ukraine in 2014 and Kyiv wants to reclaim it as it fights back against Russia's 17-month-long full-scale invasion. "And later, they took this situation around the Crimea bridge, using it just as an example," he said. "If not the Crimea bridge, they would have found another example, another reason."

Persons: Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Monday's, Zelenskiy, Ron Popeski, Grant McCool Organizations: Russia's, Thomson Locations: Crimea, Russia, Ukraine, Moscow, Aspen, United States

☆ China’s Hacking of Government Email Was Traditional Espionage, Official Says
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-20 | by ( Julian E. Barnes | More About Julian E. Barnes | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

The hack of Microsoft’s cloud that resulted in the compromise of government emails was an example of a traditional espionage threat, a senior National Security Agency official said. “It is China doing espionage,” Mr. Joyce said. We have to defend against it, we need to push back against it. But that is something that happens.”The hackers took emails from senior State Department officials including Nicholas Burns, the U.S. ambassador to China. The theft of Mr. Burns’ emails was earlier reported by The Wall Street Journal and confirmed by a person familiar with the matter.

Persons: Rob Joyce, cybersecurity, Mr, Joyce, Nicholas Burns, Burns Organizations: National Security Agency, Aspen Security, State Department, Wall Street Journal Locations: United States, China, U.S

In the most detailed public account yet given by a U.S. official, the director of the C.I.A. offered a biting assessment on Thursday of the damage done to President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia by the mutiny of the Wagner mercenary group, saying the rebellion had revived questions about his judgment and detachment from events. Speaking at the Aspen Security Forum, an annual national security conference, William J. Burns, the C.I.A. director, said that for much of the 36 hours of the rebellion last month, Russian security services, the military and decision makers “appeared to be adrift.”“For a lot of Russians watching this, used to this image of Putin as the arbiter of order, the question was ‘Does the emperor have no clothes?’” Mr. Burns said, adding, “Or at least ‘Why is it taking so long for him to get dressed?’”Mr. Burns’s remarks on the Kremlin’s paralysis during the uprising carried out by Yevgeny V. Prigozhin and his mercenary group built on comments a day earlier from his British counterpart, Richard Moore, the chief of MI6, who said the rebellion showed cracks in Mr. Putin’s rule.

Persons: Vladimir V, Putin, Wagner, William J, Burns, “, Mr, Burns’s, Yevgeny V, Prigozhin, Richard Moore, Putin’s Organizations: U.S, Aspen Security Forum Locations: Russia

☆ China says its 'priority' is to stop Taiwan VP visiting US next month
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

BEIJING, July 20 (Reuters) - It is China's "priority" to stop Taiwan's vice president and presidential frontrunner William Lai from visiting the United States next month, the country's ambassador in Washington said on Wednesday, as Beijing steps up its warnings against the trip. Provocative moves by Taiwan "separatists" should be contained, he added. "Now the priority for us is to stop Lai Ching-te from visiting the United States, which is like a grey rhino charging at us," Xie said, using Lai's Chinese language name. Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen and her government have repeatedly offered talks with China but been rejected, as Beijing views them as separatists. In August and then again in April, China staged large-scale war games around Taiwan, angered by the August visit to Taiwan of then-U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and in April by Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen meeting current House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in Los Angeles, while she was transitting back from a visit to Central America.

Persons: William Lai, Lai, Democratic Progressive Party's, Xie Feng, Xie, Lai Ching, Tsai Ing, Both Tsai, Nancy Pelosi, Kevin McCarthy, Ben Blanchard, Stephen Coates Organizations: United, Democratic Progressive, Aspen Security, ., Taiwan, Central America, Beijing, Thomson Locations: BEIJING, United States, Washington, Beijing, China, Taiwan, Taipei, Paraguay, Los Angeles, Central, Tapei

☆ A Speedo vs 'outdated swimwear' analogy has officially entered the US-China tech war conversation
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-20 | by ( Huileng Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Xie Feng, the Chinese ambassador to the US, said Washington isn't playing fair in its tech race with China. Restrictions on China are like forcing it to wear outdated swimwear while the US wears Speedos, he said. The tech war between the world's two largest economies has been intensifying. On Wednesday, Xie Feng, the Chinese ambassador to the US, found the most unexpected analogy to the US-China tech competition by comparing American restrictions on China to different types of swimwear. It also wants to slap further export restrictions on AI chips to China, the Wall Street Journal reported on June 27.

Persons: Xie Feng, Washington isn't, Xie, we've, Biden, China's Organizations: Aspen Security, Wall Street, Micron Locations: China, Colorado, Netherlands, Beijing

More than two weeks later, the Kremlin disclosed that Mr. Prigozhin and other Wagner leaders had met with Mr. Putin for three hours in the days after the rebellion ended. “I think he probably feels under some pressure,” Mr. Moore said of Mr. Putin, speaking at the British ambassador’s residence in the Czech capital. Mr. Prigozhin is known to have spent several days in Russia afterward, and video posted on the Telegram messaging app on Wednesday appears to show him in Belarus. “He is clearly under pressure,” Mr. Moore said of Mr. Putin. Mr. Cleverly said the rebellion underscored the falsity of Mr. Putin’s assertions that Russia would be more committed to a long war in Ukraine than the West would be.

Persons: Richard Moore, Vladimir V, Putin, Yevgeny V, Wagner, Prigozhin’s, Prigozhin, “, Mr, Moore, “ Prigozhin, ” Mr, ’, James, ”, Vladimir Putin Organizations: Politico, Kremlin, Mr, Prigozhin, The New York Times, ”, Russian Army, British, Aspen Security Locations: London, Prague, Russia, British, Czech, “, Belarus, Moscow, Belarusian, Minsk, Ukraine, Rostov, Afghanistan, Russian

WASHINGTON, July 20 (Reuters) - The United States on Thursday voiced mounting concern over Army Private Travis King, who dashed into North Korea two days ago, saying Pyongyang had a history of mistreating captured Americans. But North Korea had yet to offer any response, officials said. American officials remained stumped about why King ran across the border into North Korea. Asked whether King might have sympathized with North Korea, Wormuth said: "I don't think we have any information that points to that clearly." Last week, North Korea launched its newest solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) which it said had the longest flight time ever.

Persons: Travis King, mistreating, Christine Wormuth, Washington, Wormuth, Otto Warmbier, John Kirby, King, Sabrina Singh, Army's, Singh, North Korea Sung Kim, Kim, Kim Yo Jong, Kim Jong Un, Jake Sullivan, Phil Stewart, Idrees Ali, David Brunnstrom, Jonathan Oatis, Daniel Wallis, Grant McCool Organizations: U.S . Army, United, Aspen Security, White House, National Security, Army, Pentagon, Incheon International Airport, U.S, Reuters, South Korean, Thomson Locations: United States, North Korea, Pyongyang, United Nations, Colorado, U.S, South Korea, Japan, Incheon, Dallas , Texas, Korea

The planned recipient of the colorful batik top was Chinese foreign minister Qin Gang, who has not been seen in nearly a month and is set to miss at least one other important meeting, in South Africa, next week. It is not clear whether even then Borrell would meet Qin as initially planned, the official said. The former aide to President Xi Jinping was appointed foreign minister in December after serving less than two years as ambassador to the United States. Qin's absence has also been widely discussed in the diplomatic community, with some saying it is another example of China's lack of transparency. Some diplomats have even started to speculate on who may replace Qin, with three telling Reuters the ranking vice foreign minister, Ma Zhaoxu could be a candidate.

Persons: Qin Gang, Qin, Yun Sun, Mao Ning, Wang Yi, Josep Borrell, Wen, Xi Jinping, Antony Blinken, Ma Zhaoxu, Ma, Wang, Xie Feng, Xie, Laurie Chen, Martin Quin Pollard, Yew, Tian, Kate Lamb, Gabriela Baczynska, Andrew MacAskill, John Geddie, Robert Birsel Organizations: China Program, Stimson, Reuters, EU, Australian National University, Qin, Baidu, London School of Economics, United, Aspen Security Conference, Thomson Locations: BEIJING, JAKARTA, China, Indonesia, Jakarta, South Africa, Washington, Johannesburg, Britain, United States, Beijing, Sri Lankan, United Nations, Brussels, London

☆ China's Washington envoy warns of retaliation against further US tech curbs
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-19 | by ( David Brunnstrom | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

WASHINGTON, July 19 (Reuters) - China does not want a trade or tech war but will definitely respond if the United States imposes more curbs on its chip sector, China's ambassador to Washington said on Wednesday. Xie referred to reports that Washington is considering an outbound investment review mechanism, and further prohibition on the export of AI chips to China. "China, definitely ... will make our response. We don't want ... a trade war, technological war, we want to say goodbye to the Iron Curtain as well as the Silicon Curtain." She said the order would enacted in a transparent way, through a rule-making process that would allow public input.

Persons: Xie Feng, Xie, There's, Biden, Janet Yellen, David Brunnstrom, Grant McCool Organizations: Aspen Security, China, Labor Day, Micron Technology, Cybersecurity Administration, Micron, Treasury, Thomson Locations: China, United States, Washington, U.S

☆ Matt and Ginger Gaetz channeled MAGA Barbie and Ken on the pink carpet, but she didn't like the movie because of Ryan Gosling's 'beta energy'
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-19 | by ( Cheryl Teh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Matt Gaetz and his wife, Ginger, channeled MAGA Ken and Barbie at an event celebrating the movie. Ginger said she didn't like the film because of Ryan Gosling's Ken and his "beta energy." Ginger Gaetz, who married the Florida congressman in 2021, tweeted a photo of them posing on a pink carpet on July 17. Either way, we have the "Barbie" movie to thank for these tweets about Matt Gaetz's "Big Kenergy." Thanks Barbie!

Persons: Matt Gaetz, Ginger, MAGA Ken, Barbie, Ryan Gosling's Ken, Ginger Gaetz, Ryan Gosling's, Ken, Gosling's, Barbie …, Robbie, He's, Matt Gaetz's Organizations: Service, Aspen Security, Twitter Locations: Wall, Silicon, Florida

An army official told CNN the private was set to be administratively separated from the US Army. Details about how exactly King ended up on the North Korean side of the border remain unclear. King’s mother, Claudine Gates, told ABC she was “shocked” after being told by the US Army that her son had crossed into North Korea. Travis King, the US soldier who ran across the military demarcation line into North Korea on Tuesday, July 18 Travis King/FacebookThe US has been actively reaching out to North Korea to resolve the situation, but it has not yet heard back, a defense official said Wednesday. South Korean police told CNN that King was transferred to US military police after an investigation into an assault last September.

Persons: hasn’t, Travis King, King, Claudine Gates, ”, Travis, ” Gates, he’d, John Aquilino, Aquilino, King “, we’ve, ” Aquilino, CNN King, Jeon Heon Organizations: Seoul CNN, CNN, US Army, ABC, Pacific Command, Aspen Security, Joint Security, North, Defense Department, Korean, Reuters, King . Locations: Seoul, North Korea, Fort Bliss, South Korea, Mapo, Korea

But while he cleared customs, he did not get on the plane as scheduled on Monday, US officials told CNN. Picture of Travis King, the US soldier who ran across the military demarcation line into North Korea on Tuesday July 18th. She said the administration was working with the government of South Korea, along with Sweden, on the matter. Sweden generally represents US interests in North Korea because the US and North Korea have no diplomatic ties. King’s mother, Claudine Gates, told ABC on Tuesday that she was “shocked” by the fact that King had crossed into North Korea.

Persons: Travis King, Fort, King, “, Sarah Leslie, ” Leslie, Travis T, Karine Jean, Pierre said, ”, King “, we’ve, Adm, John Aquilino, we’re, I’ve, Claudine Gates, Travis, ” Gates, Bryce Dubee Organizations: CNN, Airport, US Forces Korea, Joint Security, Facebook, Panmungak, Joint Security Area, North, Fort Bliss, Security Area, Reuters, Pacific Command, Aspen Security, Court, South, ABC, 6th Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat, Armored Division, National Defense Service, Korean Defense, Overseas Service Locations: North Korea, Seoul, South Korea, Fort Bliss , Texas, North, North Korean, Fort, Panmunjom, Sweden, Mapo, Fort Bliss

☆ How the F-16 pilot nominated to be the US military's top officer earned the callsign 'Swamp Thing'
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-25 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

His escape from a burning jet earned him the callsign "Swamp Thing." Gen. Charles "CQ" Brown, Jr., the current Air Force chief of staff and former F-16 Fighting Falcon pilot, is a distinguished four-star general. He has also logged more than 3,000 flying hours — including 130 in combat, yet his callsign is, perhaps unexpectedly, "Swamp Thing." Well I tell you what — he was back in the cockpit the next week with a new callsign: Swamp Thing." "While General Brown is a proud, butt-kicking American airman, first and always, he's always been an operational leader of the Joint Force," Biden said during Thursday's announcement.

☆ Senior U.S. delegation to visit China in coming days
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken reacts as he listens to a youth representative during a visit to Oxygen Park in Education City in Ar-Rayyan, Qatar on November 21, 2022. Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Daniel Kritenbrink and National Security Council Senior Director for China and Taiwan Laura Rosenberger will travel to China, South Korea and Japan from December 11-14, the State Department said in a statement. The two leaders pledged more frequent communications at a time of simmering differences also on human rights, Russia's invasion of Ukraine and economic issues. The State Department said the delegation will follow up on the meeting "to continue responsibly managing the competition between our two countries and to explore potential areas of cooperation" and will also lay the groundwork for Blinken's visit. Campbell was speaking to an Aspen Security Forum event in Washington two days after the United States announced plans to step up its rotational military presence in key region ally Australia amid shared concerns about China.

☆ After 40 years of safe skies, US special operators have to worry about threats from above, SOCOM commander says
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-10 | by ( Stavros Atlamazoglou | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

AP Photo/Efrem LukatskyUkraine's military claims to have shot down over 1,000 Russian drones, but unmanned aerial systems continue to proliferate. Ukraine is also using its fair share of unmanned aerial systems. Special operators vs. dronesA member of the Iraqi federal police with a destroyed drone used by ISIS in Mosul in March 2017. "But now with everything from quad-copters that very small up to very large unmanned aerial vehicles, we won't always have that luxury." DELIL SOULEIMAN/AFP via Getty ImagesGenerally, US special operators can take out unmanned aerial systems in two ways.

☆ Russia gets its first drones from Iran as the two countries strengthen ties
▼ + stars: | 2022-08-30 | by ( Dan De Luce | Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms Josh-Lederman-Circle-Byline-Template.Jpg | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +10 min

Facing a protracted war in Ukraine and a wall of Western sanctions, Russia is turning to Iran to bolster its military and keep its economy afloat, as both countries’ interests converge. The delivery is part of Russia's plans to import “hundreds” of drones from Iran, they said. Despite Moscow’s alignment with Iran, Russia so far has maintained friendly relations with Tehran’s adversaries in the Middle East, including Israel, which has enjoyed a pragmatic relationship with Russia. Russia’s increasing cooperation with Iran could also complicate diplomacy outside the Ukraine conflict, including efforts to revive the 2015 Iran nuclear deal. “Iran can try to help Russia evade sanctions without the JCPOA or with the JCPOA.

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