NSN Daily Update: 6/18/09 Posted by The National Security Network

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What We’re Reading

A Global insurance fraud scheme is discovered that provided North Korea’s leadership with hundreds of millions of dollars in hard currency.

A last-minute amendment in the House rolls back defense cuts desired by Sec. Gates and President Obama, and would restore $368.8 million towards the purchase of 12 F-22s in fiscal year 2011.

As Russia and China urge North Korea to return to international disarmament talks, a Japanese news report said the regime plans to fire a missile in the direction of Hawaii.

As Mexico's midterm elections gear up, one of the prominent campaign slogans is vouching for Mexican voters to “voto en blanco,” or vote for nobody.

A report by Amnesty International says Zimbabwe is still suffering "persistent and serious" human rights violations. These accusations flourish as Prime Minister Tsvangirai is tours  foreign capitals seeking the $10bn of aid needed to stabilize the country’s economy.

Commentary of the Day

Joe Klein provides an insider’s take on the situation in Iran, reporting on what he saw during his ten days in the country.

In a piece titled “With Iran, think before you speak,” John Kerry rebukes McCain and the neoconservative criticisms of Obama’s reaction to the elections.

While the world’s attention is on Iran, Pakistan struggles through a chaotic summer facing an escalation in hostilities on many fronts.