Intelligence Snippet of the Week:

Open Source Intelligence (OSINT) refers to the process of collecting, analyzing, and disseminating information that is publicly available. This can include information from a wide range of sources such as: social media, news articles, government reports, and more. The goal of OSINT is to provide organizations and individuals with the information they need to make informed decisions.

OSINT can be used for a variety of purposes such as threat intelligence, competitive intelligence, and background checks. It is often used by law enforcement, intelligence agencies, and private companies to gather information about potential threats and make decisions about how to respond. OSINT can also be used by journalists, researchers, and individuals to gather information for a specific project or interest. With the increasing amount of information available on the internet, OSINT has become extremely important and widely used. However, it is important to notice that not all the information found on the internet is reliable and accurate; so critical thinking and verification are key.

Weekend Insights

• This week we learned a United States Navy Seal, who had been Absent Without Leave (AWOL) since 2019, died during combat operations in Ukraine. While this information was widely reported the day of the event, its repercussions have flown under the radar. The Navy confirmed that Swift has been in “an active deserter status since March 11, 2019.” If things turn sour for Putin in Ukraine, he could identify this event as a provocation from the United States and use it as a precursor for more aggressive actions towards the West.

• The United States Federal Bureau of Investigation is deeply disturbed by the Chinese government's artificial intelligence program, arguing that its activities are not limited by the law; and Beijing's AI objectives were built using massive piles of sensitive data and intellectual property pilfered over recent years. If unchecked, China could capitalize on advances in artificial intelligence to strengthen its cyber-attacks, robbery of intellectual property, and suppression of dissidents within their boundaries and further abroad.

• South America continues to be a continent of unrest. Its political geography can be defined by a desire to reduce foreign influence. While at the same time China, Russia, and the United States have expressed a desire to increase political and military agreements on the continent. The nationalization and privatization of industry, as well as the influence of indigenous groups, are the primary political issues affecting South America.

Headlines

Chris Hipkins Confirmed as New Zealand’s Next Prime Minister:

New Zealand’s former minister for COVID-19, Chris Hipkins, has been confirmed as the country’s next prime minister.

Hipkins got the unanimous support of legislators from the ruling Labour Party on Sunday after he was the only candidate floated to replace the charismatic Jacinda Ardern. Last week, Ardern shocked the nation when she announced she was resigning after more than five years as prime minister.

Analyst Comment:

• Hipkins was first elected to parliament in 2008, and has since been re-elected in every general election. He is a member of the Labour Party, which is one of the two major political parties in New Zealand. He is known for his strong focus on education and has been actively involved in the development of policies aimed at improving the country's education system. He is also known for his strong commitment to transparency and accountability in government.

• He is also known for his strong interest in technology and its impact on society. He has spoken out about the need for a responsible approach to the use of technology and has advocated for greater investment in the development of new technologies and training workers to use them.

• Some analysts view Hipkins as a 'fixer,' who has taken over several Labour positions when the leader of that position has to step down.

Tensions High Over Isolated Azerbaijan Region:

Two years after Azerbaijan and Armenia ended a war that killed about 6,800 soldiers and displaced around 90,000 civilians, tensions between the countries are again high in a dispute over a six-kilometer (nearly four miles) road known as the Lachin Corridor.

The winding road, which is the only land connection between Armenia and the ethnic Armenian Nagorno-Karabakh region in Azerbaijan, has been blocked by protesters claiming to be environmental activists since mid-December. This is threatening food supplies to Nagorno-Karabakh’s 120,000 people.

The dispute raises fears that new fighting could break out. It also could destabilize Armenia’s chronically excitable politics. As well, it casts doubts on the competence and intentions of Russia, whose peacekeeping troops are charged with keeping the road secure.

Analyst Comment:

• The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is a long-standing dispute between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the Nagorno-Karabakh region, an area located in the South Caucasus that is internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan but is controlled by ethnic Armenians. The conflict began in the 1980s and escalated into a full-scale war in the early 1990s. This resulted in the deaths of tens of thousands of people and the displacement of many more. A ceasefire was declared in 1994, but hostilities have flared up periodically since then.

• The underlying cause of the conflict is the competing claims of Armenians and Azerbaijanis over the Nagorno-Karabakh region. Armenia claims the region as part of their historic homeland, while Azerbaijan sees it as an integral part of their country. The region is also home to many ethnic Armenians, and this has become one of the main drivers of the conflict. The dispute has remained unresolved for decades despite numerous attempts to find a peaceful resolution. The situation has been exacerbated by the involvement of regional powers and the presence of large numbers of refugees and internally displaced persons on both sides. The situation remains tense, and in 2020 the two countries went into a war for 44 days, which ended with Russia brokering a ceasefire. However, there was no resolution to the underlying dispute.

Country Profile

Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan is a unitary semi-presidential constitutional republic. The President of Azerbaijan is the head of state and government, and holds executive power. Also, it is a developed industrial and agrarian country. The emphasis on heavy industry has considerably expanded two traditional industries—petroleum and natural gas. However, engineering, light industry, and food production are also of growing importance.

Azerbaijan has a strong military force, composed of the Azerbaijani Land Forces, Azerbaijani Air and Air Defense Forces, and Azerbaijani Navy. The Ministry of Defense is responsible for the management and administration of the military. The President of Azerbaijan serves as the commander-in-chief of the armed forces.

Azerbaijan has a long-standing conflict with Armenia over the Nagorno-Karabakh region and the military is actively involved in this dispute. In 2020, a war broke out between the two countries, which resulted in the deaths of many people and the displacement of many more. The war ended with a Russian-brokered ceasefire, but the underlying dispute remains unresolved.

A Level 3 (Reconsider Travel) warning has been issued due to COVID-19-related restrictions and terrorism concerns. There is a do not travel alert for the Nagorno-Karabakh region and surrounding territories due to ongoing conflict in the region.

Azerbaijan has an ongoing danger presented by terrorist organizations, who remain plotting conceivable assaults in Azerbaijan. Terrorists could attack suddenly and unexpectedly. They could aim at traveler spots, transportation centers, markets/shopping centers, civic establishments, inns, clubs, eateries, places of reverence, parks, consequential athletic and cultural occasions, educational foundations, airports and other public spaces.

Media Bias Alert

National Review has a 'Right Wing' Bias from almost all media bias ratings, and a 'low factuality' rating. The score takes into consideration things like the credibility of sources used, the speed at which corrections are made, and whether the language retains context.

The publication states: DeSantis’s refusal to approve APAAS is entirely justified, and the College Board has pointedly declined to release the APAAS curriculum. They say they obtained a copy of the curriculum and wrote about it in September, where they argued that APAAS proselytizes for a socialist transformation of the United States.

Business Insider has a 'Left Wing' Bias from almost all media bias ratings, and a 'high factuality' rating. The score takes into consideration things like the credibility of sources used, the speed at which corrections are made, and whether the language retains context.

In an odd statement, the publication quotes a Hillsborough County School Board member who was extremely upset and horrified, but not surprised. However, they admit in the next paragraph, she was speaking specifically on DeSantis' anti-mask mandate in schools in 2021 and not the decision to ban AP African American Studies. This is an attempt to reuse content to promote a specific narrative.

Interesting Articles from the Weekend

Stay safe out there