Military Creep & Unintended Consequences: a lesson never learned?

PASTICHE:

a compelling compendium

U.S. MILITARY

The case for a larger force in Afghanistan

GOP lawmakers defend Trump military rules of engagement

Trump gives military more authority to launch Somalia strikes

Has a three-star US general declared war on Somalia?

U.S. War Footprint Grows in Middle East, With No Endgame in Sight

Preventing a Defense Crisis: The 2018 National Defense Authorization Act Must Begin to Restore U.S. Military Strength

MIDDLE EAST

At White House, Jordan king to present Arab view on peace

Pakistan approves ex-army chief to command Saudi-led Islamic military alliance

6 elements of a strategy to push back on Iran’s hegemonic ambitions

Entrepreneurship: An engine for job creation and inclusive growth in the Arab World

Lebanon prime minister pleads for financial support ahead of Syria conference

Remains of pyramid built 3,700 years ago found in Egypt

SYRIA

Editor-In-Chief Of Lebanese Daily Close To Hizbullah And Assad Regime: President Trump Offered To Call Assad And Examine Collaboration Against ISIS

'Al-Sharq Al-Awsat' Report Specifies Locations Of Foreign Military Bases In Syria, Says Syria Is Turning Into Brittle Federation That Can Fall Apart At Any Moment

Arab League: Syria chemical attack a 'major crime'; UK says all evidence point to Assad

Russia says Syria gas incident caused by rebels’ own chemical arsenal

Erdogan: 'Hey murderer Assad, how are you going to escape from their curse?'

REFUGEES

For Refugees Displaced by Boko Haram, a Disappearing Lake Has Disastrous Consequences

How teachers use mobile phones as education tools in refugee camps

An Academic in Exile Torn Between Here and There

Activists Form Temporary Tent City In The Financial District To Support Global Refugees

The New York Community That Welcomed 1,000 WWII Refugees

RUSSIA

Six Arrested in St. Petersburg Terror Raid

Petersburg metro security officers might be accused of negligence due to terrorist attack

Putin might not wait for Trump to sort out his Russia policy

Recalibrating U.S. Strategy toward Russia: A New Time for Choosing

REGULATION

PODCAST Regulatory policy in the Trump administration

GOP chairman says Dodd-Frank reform still a 2017 priority

Window closing for Congress to roll back Obama-era regulations

How Will Finance Approach the Regulation of Blockchain?

Jamie Dimon's new letter says America is great, but regulation is holding us back

WATCH: Trump uses giant chart to blast regulatory barriers to highways

Is the Congressional Review Act about to supercharge deregulation?

KEEPING TRACK OF OVERTURNED RULES IS SO HARD TO DO

FREE SPEECH

Illiberal arts colleges: Pay more, get less (free speech) OPINION

Corey Stewart declares victory for free speech after two venues back out of immigration rally

TRUMP TEAM

Trump removes Bannon from National Security Council

Stephen K. Bannon, architect of anti-globalist policies, got rich as a global capitalist

NOT MY FAULT

Trump keeps blaming Obama. Fresh polls show voters don’t buy it.

FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION

Coming Apart: The State of White America, 1960-2010

If You're an Egalitarian, How Come You’re So Rich?

Dream Hoarders

Yitzhak Rabin Soldier, Leader, Statesman

Haven: The Dramatic Story of 1,000 World War II Refugees and How They Came to America

SPELUNKING

Ancient skeletons show direct link to modern tribes in the Pacific Northwest

How to make a cave fish in just a few thousand years

Giant sloths may have created enormous caves in Brazil

Ra Paulette's Hand-Carved Caves

Crown Finish Caves

Cisternerne

St. Govan's Chapel

WORDS MATTER

"We are in the process of going through a review of our posture in Afghanistan and how we have to look at that going forward," Gen. Joseph Votel told lawmakers.

“Christian student suspended after challenging Muslim prof’s claim that Jesus wasn’t crucified,” from The College Fix: “A student says he was suspended from Rollins College for challenging his Muslim professor’s anti-Christian assertions, including her claim that Jesus’ crucifixion never took place. Twenty-year-old Marshall Polston, a sophomore at the private, Florida-based four-year college, said that the professor of his Middle Eastern Humanities class also told students that Jesus’ disciples did not believe he was God. Polston, an avid traveler and self-described Christian, has toured the Middle East and is familiar with the Muslim culture. ‘Our university should be a place where free-speech flashes and ideas can be spoken of without punishment or fear of retribution,’ Polston told The College Fix. ‘In my case it was the total opposite. … I came forward with the story because I know so many other students like me suffer under today’s liberal academic elite.’”

"Refugees are strong people, brave men and women, who are leaving their country, and leaving the comfort of their family for the chance at a better life," Kadiri, a refugee in Nigeria before making it to America and now an organizer with African Communities Together said.

“I have to show this chart to you, because it’s amazing, actually,” Trump said during a speech to the National Association of Building and Construction Trades in Washington.

“Spicer has a habit of defending the administration by complaining about double standards between the White House and the media. It's a poor defense. The ‘you did it too!’ argument doesn't work when you lead the free world." -- CNN’s Dylan Byers 

"The United States has spoken enough about North Korea. We have no further comment." — Secretary of State Rex Tillerson in response to the latest ballistic missile launch earlier Wednesday

NOTE: The news sources here vary.  Not all sources have the same credibility, but in an effort to share some different perspectives, they are included here.  This compendium itself cannot claim to be unbiased.  Please take into consideration where these different perspectives originate in assessing their value.  Thank you.