MELSON SAYS DOJ RESPONSE "DISASTER"
New details of Acting BATFE Director Kenneth Melson's testimony emerged.
http://www.sofmag.com/more-melson-doj-response-investigation-was-disaster

Fast and Furious: Melson says DOJ ‘response…was a disaster’

The acting director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives has told congressional investigators digging into the Operation Fast and Furious gun trafficking scandal that the Department of Justice’s response to the investigation has been “a disaster.”

http://www.examiner.com/gun-rights-in-seattle/fast-and-furious-melson-sa...

Article by Dave Workman

Residents of southern Yemen say government forces and tribal allies have killed at least 20 Islamist militants in two days of battles to retake control of parts of Abyan province.

The reports on Tuesday say Yemeni soldiers and local tribesmen inflicted heavy losses on the militants in areas of Abyan seized by those militants in recent months.

There was no independent confirmation of the incidents. It was not clear how many casualties the military and tribesmen have suffered in the fighting.

Guinean President Alpha Conde escaped an assassination attempt early Tuesday when unidentified gunmen attacked his home.

Mr. Conde, who was not injured in the assault, later appeared on state television and appealed for calm.

Witnesses reported hearing heavy shooting overnight at the president's home in the Kipe suburb of the capital, Conakry. In his speech, Mr. Conde said the fighting lasted about two hours, and he thanked the presidential guard which said “fought heroically.”

A minister in the Guinean presidency, Francois Fall, says one member of the guard was killed.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Indian Foreign Minister S.M. Krishna Tuesday urged Pakistan to do more to eliminate terrorist safe-havens on its territory.

The appeal came as the two countries ended another round of their strategic dialogue that also focused on Afghanistan and U.S.-India nuclear cooperation.

Taiwan says it is falling further behind in its race to keep up with China's rapidly expanding military capability.

In a biennial defense white paper published Tuesday, Taiwan says China is already capable of imposing a naval blockade around Taiwan and seizing Taiwan-controlled offshore islands. It says the balance of power is expected to continue tipping in China's favor in the years ahead.

A combined Afghan and coalition security force detained a Taliban leader and killed several armed insurgents during a security operation in Zharay District, Kandahar province, yesterday.

The leader was responsible for roadside bomb and complex attacks against Afghan and coalition forces in Zharay and Panjwa’i Districts.

After providing medical treatment for two Marines who were shot during a firefight in Helmand Province, Afghanistan, in 2010, Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class Jacob Emmott, a corpsman with 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, was shot in the head.

Miraculously, Emmott survived the injury and was awarded the Silver Star for his heroic actions. The award is presented for gallantry in action against an enemy of the United States and is the third highest award for valor in the United States armed forces.

The police working dog program for the Iraqi police here in Basrah is expanding with assistance from Stability Transition Team Enforcer, 1st Battalion, 12th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Advise and Assist Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division.

The police have started to maximize the use of these highly trained and skilled canines. They currently have seven dogs trained for detecting explosives and drugs, and plan to add five more to the team.

“These dogs are extremely exceptional.” said Maj. Kevin Kreie, a military police officer with the STT who works with the canine team trainers.