MUST-READS

• U.S. Special Operations
  Why Navy SEALs Are Supposed to Keep Their Mouths Shut

  But O’Neill’s and Bissonnette’s decisions to go public with their role violates the SEALs’ tenets and irritates many in the military. These SEALs, in the eyes of the public, become heroes once their stories are told. But the action that warrants such acclaim has been built on the backs, boots and blood of thousands of anonymous troops (not to mention Pentagon civilians). An untold number of them played critical roles in the hunt for bin Laden; remove any one from the chain of success and the mission could have failed, with the loss of O’Neill, Bissonnette and the other SEALs who participated in the raid.

  • Daily Beast - Bin Laden ‘Shooter’ Story Is FUBAR, Special Ops Sources Say
• U.S. Special Forces
  Ex-SEAL Robert O’Neill reveals himself as shooter who killed Osama bin Laden

  O’Neill confirmed to The Washington Post that he was the unnamed SEAL who was first to tumble through the doorway of bin Laden’s bedroom that night, taking aim at the terrorist leader as he stood in darkness behind his youngest wife. In an account later confirmed by two other SEALs, the Montana native described firing the round that hit bin Laden squarely in the forehead, killing him instantly.

  • Reuters - Who shot bin Laden? Former Navy SEALS make rival claims
• ISIS
  How Does ISIS Fund Its Reign of Terror?

  So how can ISIS, cut off from the rest of the world by financial and trade sanctions, and under daily aerial and land bombardment by some of the richest countries in the world, afford to maintain a well-armed military and pay other bills?

  • Al-Bawaba - Peshmerga official optimistic about advances on ISIL, calls for more help
  • Daily Beast - ISIS Has 9,000 'Core Fighters.' Or Maybe 17,000. Or Possibly 30,000.
  • Washington Post - In Iraq, Islamic State fighters seize Sunni tribesmen for resisting rule
  • Informed Comment - Unlikely Cavalry: Iraq’s Sunni Tribes Split on ISIL, Pursue own Feuds
• Web Language(s)
  Why you probably won’t understand the web of the future

  Internet access doesn’t fully explain the imbalance.  The Middle East scores much lower than you would expect, given how many people in that part of the world are are online, says Graham. There are some 7,000 languages spoken around the world today. Yet Facebook is available in just 75, with another 40 in translation, writes Facebook’s Iris Orriss, who runs its localization efforts. Even fewer are supported on mobile devices. Hindi, spoken by more than 250 million people, wasn’t available on Google’s Android operating system until last year, as Quartz has reported.

• Afghanistan
  U.S. General: Afghan Forces’ Death Toll ‘Unsustainable’

  The second-ranking U.S. commander in Afghanistan says casualties suffered by Afghan security forces have reached a level that cannot be sustained in a successful fight against the Taliban. Lieutenant General Joseph Anderson told reporters at the Pentagon by video from his headquarters in Kabul on November 5 that the number of Afghan soldiers and police officers killed in battle rose by 6.5 percent so far this year compared to 2013.

• Pipeline Mishap
  Repair Works Cause Brief Fire On Saudi Oil Product Pipeline

  A fire which broke out on Wednesday at an oil product pipeline north of the Saudi Arabian capital, Riyadh, during repairs was extinguished, state news agency SPA and security and industry sources said. The pipeline was carrying diesel, not crude oil, an industry source in the country said. One security source said that the accident, which took place near Sudair area some 250 km (156 miles) north of Riyadh, was “not the work of terrorists”.

• Saudi Expatriates
  Saudi businesses call for 2 year ban on returning expats

  A group of leading businessmen has recommended to Saudi authorities that expats who leave the kingdom on an exit visa are not allowed to return for two years. The Council of Saudi Chambers (CSC) labour market committee approved the proposal in a bid to encourage local businesses to hire Saudis. “If implemented, the measure is bound to boost nationalisation in the business sector,” committee chairman Mansoor Al Shethri was quoted as saying by Arab News.

  • Arabian Business - Saudi to introduce mandatory fingerprinting for expats
• Oman
  Ailing Sultan Qaboos tells Omanis he will miss birthday celebrations

  Since taking power in 1970, Qaboos has transformed the small oil exporter from a poverty-stricken backwater torn by dissent into a prosperous Western-allied state, earning a reputation as a mediator seeking to ease periodic tensions between the Gulf Arab states and neighboring non-Arab Iran. In a video message broadcast on state television, a frail-looking Qaboos offered greetings to Omanis on the occasion of his birthday, which falls on Nov. 18 and is celebrated in Oman as a national day.

• Faisal Al-Saud
  A new king in Saudi Arabia: November 1964

  Among numerous modernising reforms, Faisal established a new judicial system, abolished slavery, backed industrial development and introduced free health care. He built schools, hospitals, orphanages, airports and roads. He encouraged the development of women’s education in Saudi Arabia and of television, though cinema remained banned. At the same time he was a leading opponent of Israel and supporter of Palestinian nationalism, hugely admired in the Arab world, while skilfully keeping on good terms with the United States.

• Oil Slump
  Saudi Arabia is not declaring a volume war (yet)

  Some commentators have interpreted the U.S. price cuts as a signal the kingdom is initiating a deliberate price-war targeting U.S. shale producers. The reality is more complex.

  • Christian Science Monitor - Oil price tumbles on Saudi price cut. Big Oil feels a pinch.
  • Reuters - Saudi Arabia adds to oil power with new refineries
  • Reuters - Saudi Prince Alwaleed calls for sovereign fund as oil slides
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