F-22. Photo Credit: Lockheed-Martin Photo

With major testing and design problems, the stealthy F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, once planned to cost just $50 million in 2002 dollars, has now doubled in price.

Russian ‘Bin Laden’ Killed By Moscow’s Special Forces — The Telegraph

Russia exulted in the death of a terrorist dubbed “the Russian Bin Laden,” yesterday claiming it has proof he was behind a deadly train bombing last November that left 28 people dead.

The FSB intelligence service said a special forces operation had resulted in the death of Sheikh Said Buryatsky, an Islamist convert whose real name was Alexander Tikhomirov.

FSB chief Alexander Bortnikov told President Dmitry Medvedev said that the operation in southern Russia last week had resulted in the death of eight militants and the capture of ten.

Read more ….

Russia says alleged passenger train bomber killed — L.A. Times
Russia Confirms Killing of Militant Leader in Raid — New York Times
Russian forces kill eight, find train attack clues — AFP
Ingushetia rebel killed in raid by Russian troops — BBC
Gang leader killed in N.Caucasus involved in 2009 train blast – FSB — RIA Novosti
FSB chief certain of killed warlord’s involvement in Nevsky Express blast — RIA Novosti

Russia’s President Visits North Caucasus Offering No Real Solution to its Main Problem — Georgian Daily
Five Years After Maskhadov’s Death, Situation In North Caucasus Remains Complex — Radio Free Europe
Vital Route in Caucasus Is Reopened, Just Barely — New York Times
Georgia: Russia May Have 5,000 Troops In Abkhazia — Eurasia Net

6 Insurgents Killed in Ingush Battle — Moscow Times
Police Kill 20 in North Caucasus Skirmishes — Moscow Times
14 militants killed in clash in Russia’s Caucasus — AP
Grenades launched at south Russia freight train — RIA Novsoti
Russia’s Terror-Fighting Trains Back on the Rails — The Danger Room
Russian investigators to thoroughly probe abductions in Chechnya — RIA Novosti
Kremlin says police reform needed in violent south — Reuters

Russia proposes fingerprinting for volatile N.Caucasus — Reuters
Russian Official Suggests Fingerprinting Entire North Caucasus — Radio Free Europe
Investigation Committee suggests total fingerprint/DNA registration in Russia — ITAR-TASS

Azerbaijan warns of “great war” in South Caucasus — Reuters
Azerbaijan warns of ‘great war’ — Financial Times
Azerbaijan threatens Armenia the great war — Ukrainian Globalist

The ensemble cast of actors in HBO miniseries “The Pacific” all have a similar look…dirty.

“In my memory I was dirty for a year.

The Pentagon will buy fewer F-35s than planned if program costs keep rising, says a senior U.S.