August 13, 2008                                  
Dossier: Hu Jintao


China ruler banking on Olympics glory, but Iran strategy matters more

BACKGROUNDER
Compiled by Bill Gertz

Executive order addresses frictions in U.S. intelligence community

The revised presidential executive order that governs U.S. intelligence activities contains new language designed to emphasize the need to counter foreign spying carried out through agent recruitments and through computer-based spying, according to U.S. officials.

The order states that “special emphasis” is given to effort to detect and counter “espionage and other threats and activities directed by foreign powers or their intelligence services against the United States and its interests.”

The main goal of the order is to better integrate the new office of the director of national intelligence into the 16-agency intelligence community. The DNI office is already creating friction with the CIA and other agencies as the most senior intelligence officials seeks to get control over intelligence policies and budgets.



Intelligence, security called key in next stage of war with Al Qaida

WASHINGTON — The key to U.S. success against Al Qaida in the next phase is enhanced intelligence skills, a new report said. The U.S. military was no longer a key element in defeating the Islamic insurgency movement. Instead, the United States must focus on intelligence and police skills to block Al Qaida recruitment and operations. This would include increased cooperation by the CIA and FBI. "The United States has the necessary instruments to defeat Al Qaida, it just needs to shift its strategy," Rand researcher Seth Jones, lead author of the report, said.      
Focus on Iran
Iran's ties with Syria termed 'political and strategic', not economic   


'What Iran can spare in terms of economic aid can hardly meet Syria's needs in boosting its economy'
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, left, and his Syrian counterpart, Bashar al-Assad, right, review an honor guard during a welcoming ceremony for Assad in Teheran.   AFP/Atta Kenare
Northeast Asia Report
Bush increasingly defers to Beijing; Kissinger's influence seen   
Middle East Report
Hamas torn between expanding ties with Iran or Gulf Arabs   
Military Technology
Russia readies comprehensive military, nuclear agreement with Libya   
Focus on Islamic Insurgencies
Jordan 'can no longer ignore Hamas'; Intel officials guide contacts    
East-Asia-Intel.com
Group reports sharp increase in N. Korean rights violations
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