The Washington Post has published the first really detailed outline of the budgets of the national intelligence agencies in the US. All told, the budgets total almost $53 billion, and the CIA receives the most of all the agencies. The information was part of the material leaked by Edward Snowden and the Post is only publishing summaries of the budgets in order not to betray any national security secrets. Nonetheless, the level of detail is more than Americans have ever seen before and it is a very revealing set of information.
The British House of Commons has rejected, 285-272, a motion by Prime Minister David Cameron to intervene militarily in Syria. The vote was a stunning blow to the Conservative Party, and represents the lingering resentment against British policy in the Iraqi War in 2003 as well as substantial doubts about the wisdom of an attack on Syria. There are reports that President Obama has determined that British participation in a strike was not a necessary condition for a strike, but the loss of a critical ally will undoubtedly complicate decision-making. Obama also has to consider his meeting with Russian President Putin in St. Petersburg next week, given that the Russians are moving more naval vessels into the Eastern Mediterranean.
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