Shoals & Rocks

PASTICHE:

a compelling compendium

Look to the helm, good master--many a shoal Marks this stern coast, and rocks, where sits the Siren Who, like ambition, lures men to their ruin.

Sir Walter Scott, Source: Kenilworth (ch. XVII, verses at head of chapter)

CHINA

China’s emerging institutional statecraft: The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank and the prospects for counter-hegemony

Too fast, too soon: how China's growth led to the Tianjin disaster

South China Sea: US warship challenges China's claims with first operation under Trump

In Brief: Graham Allison on Why the U.S. & China are Destined for War"

China's Xi calls for greater counter-terrorism cooperation with Turkey

U.S. MILITARY

U.S. Air Force Sends Robotic F-16s Into Mock Combat

Unprecedented: US Air Force Will Let a Defense Company Pick Its Next Jamming Plane

Pentagon reports decrease in military sexual assault

Airstrikes kill 35 of the civilians and family members of the “Islamic State” organization and raise to at least 50, the victims of targeting the city within 24 hours

COULD MS. PAC-MAN TRAIN THE NEXT GENERATION OF MILITARY DRONES?

John Glenn’s body rekindles military mortuary scandal

Trump’s Dangerous ‘Dishonest’ Message to the Troops

Djibouti

Djibouti Keeps Wary Eye on Eritrea, Somali Pirates, Al Shabaab

U.S., China, Others Build Bases in Djibouti – What Could Go Wrong?

Djibouti: EU Support for WFP Adds Freedom of Choice to Refugees' Food Assistance in Djibouti

Djibouti: [Somali] President Arrives in Djibouti On State Visit

TRAVEL BAN

Trump turns to Supreme Court to move forward on travel ban

Trump travel ban's fate hinges on emergency U.S. high court request

Trump tweets renewed push for travel ban after London Bridge 'incident'

After a ruling on Trump’s travel ban, all eyes are on the 4th Circuit OPINION

When will the travel ban cases become moot? OPINION

DEPARTMENT OF "JUST US"

The U.S. Department of Justice scrapped independent forensics panel, but the scientific questions ‘are not going away’

Deputy attorney general appoints special counsel to oversee probe of Russian interference in election

Naming Robert Mueller as Special Counsel Restores the Justice Department's Independence

Justice Dept. to review possible ethics conflicts involving Mueller’s former law firm

Justice ethics experts clear Mueller to head Russia probe

READING MATERIALS

Bang! YOUNG ADULT

HE CALLS ME BY LIGHTNING NONFICTION

Skitter FICTION

Ararat FICTION

MEDIA

Revealed: Facebook's internal rulebook on sex, terrorism and violence

Has Facebook become a forum for misogyny and racism?

Facebook is not liable for not policing Palestinian terrorist accounts OPINION

FOREIGN POLICY

Once more into the breach: Does foreign aid work?

Trump Rules Out Moving Israel Embassy to Jerusalem for Now, Official Says

Trump reassures ASEAN, previews a broader Asia policy

Embassies court Ivanka Trump to build a relationship with her father’s administration

How Trump’s “think big” mantra could help advance Israeli-Palestinian peace

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.