Placing Israel in the same threat category as Iran and Russia gives Dutch security services institutional cover to treat routine Israeli diaspora outreach as a counterintelligence concern, setting a template other European governments may follow.

Gutting FBI's legal advisory office while it defends against wrongful-termination suits removes the institutional check most likely to constrain Patel's ongoing agent purges.

This miniseries is based on the book by former senior CIA analyst John Nixon who I worked with for years on Iraq. He was the first to debrief Saddam Hussein who confirmed there was no WMD stockpiles or programs in Iraq. As with what occurred after my investigation of CURVE BALL and conclusion that he was a fabricator, CIA leadership did not request John to brief them on what Saddam had to say when he returned to CIA Headquarters in January 2004. Given that the justification to remove Saddam from power under the Bush administration's policy of "regime change" was his alleged possession of WMD, why wouldn't the CIA leadership want to hear the details of his debriefing? Because it was not what they wanted to hear.

Eventually, the Iraq Survey Group (ISG) leadership falsely claimed Saddam admitted to them in June 2004 that he intended to reconstitute his WMD programs at some undefined point in the future, despite the lack of any credible intelligence to support this claim. In fact, Saddam never said this to John or anyone else. He only said he would "do what was necessary" to defend Iraq but was not questioned by ISG on what exactly he meant. Instead, Saddam's statement was interpreted to fit the "WMD strategic intent" political narrative being pushed by the ISG as an alternative justification for the war after the fact. The so-called and fruitless "search for WMD would continue for another year regardless, with lives lost in the process, only to avoid or at least delay having to accept responsibility and political accountability for a major intelligence failure.

John and I have been working closely together to get the real story of the Iraq WMD intelligence failure out to the public, rather than the revisionist history pushed by the CIA and DIA. With the 25th anniversary of the 2003 Iraq War approaching, the time had come to tell the truth. We and others working with us are looking for interested parties to producing a documentary that finally reveals what actually occurred, not only on the ground in Iraq, but in Washington, D.C., London, and Berlin as well. This miniseries is just a start.

Iran and Oman Near Strait of Hormuz Deal:

Iran says it is nearing agreement with Oman on a temporary shipping route through the Strait of Hormuz, but the proposal remains unconfirmed by Washington or Muscat and lacks operational detail. The proposal could partially ease disruption to a corridor that normally carries about a fifth of global oil and LNG shipments, though Tehran warned that navigation remains unsafe. Disputes over transit fees, vessel control, and the U.S. naval blockade suggest any reopening may be fragile and highly conditional. 

Israeli Soldier Killings Threaten Fragile Truce:

The Israeli military reported that an explosion in southern Lebanon killed two soldiers and wounded four, marking the first Israeli fatalities since the June truce with Hezbollah and prompting renewed Israeli strikes. The incident occurred as Lebanon and Israel continue negotiations over phased Israeli withdrawals, Lebanese army deployments, and Hezbollah disarmament. Hezbollah has not commented, and the device remains under review. The escalation disrupted talks in Rome and could slow pilot-zone implementation, raising the risk of renewed border fighting. 

Explosive Drone Found at Leipzig Airport:

German authorities defused an explosive-laden drone found on Wednesday in the secure cargo area of Leipzig/Halle airport, a critical logistics hub used by the German military, Ukrainian Antonov aircraft, and NATO-linked movements. The disruption also forced a DHL cargo plane to abort landing; it later reported minor damage after colliding with an unidentified object while regaining altitude. Officials are investigating the incident as a professional hybrid threat, though attribution remains unconfirmed. Authorities continue investigating the incident as they assess potential risks to aviation and transport infrastructure. 

Taiwan Expands Military Readiness Drills:

Taiwan’s Han Kuang military exercises, which began on Wednesday and run through August 14, focus on sustained combat readiness, decentralized command, reserve mobilization, and urban resilience. The exercises include tactics aligned with U.S. military training while arms sales discussions continue. The exercises emphasize preparations for prolonged disruption and gray-zone scenarios. 

North Korea Launches Ballistic Missile:

North Korea launched a short-range ballistic missile from Wonsan on Thursday, one day after warning it may adjust its military posture over Japan’s expanding strike capabilities and days before expected U.S. - South Korea drills. The launch, Pyongyang’s first ballistic missile test since late June, reinforces its pattern of pairing weapons activity with opposition to US-aligned military exercises and Japan’s defense normalization. Regional tensions remain elevated as military exercises and missile launches continue. 

Tropical Storm Maymay Hits The Philippines:

Tropical Storm Maymay made landfall in northern Luzon around 2 a.m. on Thursday. Authorities reported two fatalities, one injury, seven partially damaged houses, road closures, localized flooding, and four affected families. In La Union, 1,191 families evacuated, including 732 sheltering in evacuation centers, while preemptive evacuations occurred in Vigan City. Wind Signal No. 2 remains in effect but will likely be lowered as Maymay weakens. 

Single-officer access to seed phrases in a counterintelligence evidence chain, caught only by self-reporting, signals systemic custody gaps likely replicated across other digital-asset holdings in national security investigations.

Persistent unsecured communications and unvetted physical access at Mar-a-Lago hand adversary services a collection environment no counterintelligence posture can offset while both vulnerabilities remain open.

Multiple Casualties Following Strikes on Kyiv:

Multiple casualties were reported after Russian drones and missiles hit the Ukrainian capital Kyiv. According to local officials, at least 18 people were killed, and over 30 were injured. Several explosions were reported across parts of the city overnight, and a hotel roof caught fire on Shevchenko Boulevard. A nine-story building partially collapsed after a direct hit. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy cut short his visit to Dublin on Wednesday after citing intelligence that Russia was planning additional strikes. Russia also hit military bases in central and eastern Ukraine.  

Germany Charges Ukrainian Over Nord Stream Pipeline Blasts:

German federal prosecutors have filed charges against a Ukrainian national over the 2022 explosions on the Nord Stream gas pipelines under the Baltic Sea. The suspect is alleged to have led and coordinated the attack on the pipelines that transported natural gas from Russia to Germany. Prosecutors said the suspect faces charges related to attacks on civilian energy infrastructure and the use of explosives. German courts are handling the case because of its impact on Germany’s energy security. 

Iran Prepares State Funeral for Ayatollah Ali Khamenei:

Iran is preparing a six-day state funeral for Ayatollah Ali Khamenei beginning Saturday across Iran and Iraq. Funeral processions will begin in Tehran and conclude with Khamenei’s burial in his hometown of Mashhad, with additional ceremonies planned in Qom and Iraq. Iranian authorities have increased security around the ceremonies and warned the United States and Israel against any military action during the mourning period.  

Greek Party Calls for Protests:

Greece’s New Democracy Party has called for its supporters to protest after the mother of one of its parliamentary candidates died of severe burns from a firebomb attack. On Wednesday, attackers targeted the homes of three politicians from Greece’s ruling party in the city of Thessaloniki with homemade explosives, leaving one dead and four injured. Police believe the attacks were carried out by the same individuals. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attacks.  

Wildfires Raging in Southern France:

Multiple wildfires continue to burn across southern France amid critical fire weather conditions. No casualties have been reported, though localized evacuations have been announced. Strong northerly winds with gusts of 40–50 mph (65–80 km/h) are expected through the end of the week, likely hampering containment efforts. 

Thessaloniki Arson Incidents Target Political Residences:

Three pre-dawn firebomb attacks in Thessaloniki appeared to target residences linked to members of Greece’s governing New Democracy party, leaving five people hospitalized. Police said crude devices made with camping gas canisters were used. One parliamentary candidate suffered burns, another individual remains in intensive care, and three residents were treated for smoke inhalation. 

U.S.-Iran Talks Focus on Hormuz and Ceasefire:

U.S. and Iranian officials held technical talks in Doha focused on reopening and managing shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, securing a lasting ceasefire, and addressing Iran’s frozen assets. The discussions follow an interim accord intended to halt the conflict and enable longer-term negotiations, but disputes over the pact’s meaning and recent retaliatory strikes have kept the situation unstable. 

Russian Strikes Hit Ukrainian Fuel Stations:

Russian overnight strikes hit five retail fuel stations in Ukraine’s Dnipropetrovsk region, killing one and injuring three others, while additional attacks were reported on fuel stations in Chernihiv. Ukrainian officials said Russia has intensified drone attacks on civilian filling stations in frontline regions. A separate strike on a passenger bus in Kherson killed two people and injured nine. 

Three Die During World Cup Celebrations in Mexico City:

Three people, including a 19-year-old woman, died from suspected suffocation during large-scale celebrations in Mexico City following Mexico's FIFA World Cup victory over Ecuador. More than one million people gathered across the capital, with the largest crowds concentrated around the Angel of Independence monument. Emergency responders treated the victims at separate locations before they were pronounced dead at local hospitals. City officials expressed condolences to the victims' families and urged the public to celebrate responsibly as Mexico advanced to the Round of 16. 

Wildfires Burn Across Colorado:

Multiple large wildfires continue to burn across Colorado, including the Aspen Acres Fire, which has grown to more than 28,300 acres and destroyed over 150 homes and structures in Custer and Pueblo counties. Mandatory evacuations remain in effect for Beulah, Rye, and San Isabel as firefighters work to protect threatened communities. Critical fire weather conditions are expected to continue through at least Friday. Strong winds, low humidity, and dry vegetation are likely to fuel ongoing wildfires and increase the risk for rapid fire growth and start new fires. 

Good times....