Intelligence Brief 11 November Issue | Page 2

think the additional time would give Israel, Persian Gulf nations such as Saudi Arabia and congressional critics of the administration policy a chance to delay an accord. He said opponents had to “stop and think what happens each day you don’t have an agreement,” referring to Iran continuing its enrichment of uranium and the acquisition of additional centrifuges to enrich still more uranium. Kerry believes diplomacy has to be exhausted and he alluded to the Bush administration invasion of Iraq based on faulty intelligence that the late Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein had acquired weapons of mass destruction. After three days of intense talks, capped by the lon- gest top level negotiations in decades between the United States and Iran, major world powers failed to agree with Iran on an accord to rein in Tehran’s nuclear program, which many fear could lead to an atomic bomb. They agreed to hold more high-level talks again in 10 days for another attempt to complete a deal. Secretary of State John Kerry said an agreement could be reached after further talks. Earlier, the European Union’s senior diplomat, Catherine Ashton, said there had been a “lot of progress and concrete achievements,” but “some differences remain” between the two sides. Javad Zarif, the Iranian foreign minister, said he was “not disappointed at all” with the negotiations, because it was “a very good meeting,” and “we’re all on the same wavelength.” French objections to a draft accord appeared to be the major stumbling block, but the decision by French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius to publicly criticize the draft in a radio interview suggested pique with the United States, Britain and Germany over the preparations for the talks. Asked if the United States was “blindsided” by Fabius, Kerry said the US worked very closely with France and that the language concerning a reactor Iran is building at Arak had been “bracketed” pending clarification in the talks. Kerry said he did not The Navy suspended access to classified material for two admirals who run Navy intelligence operations because of their alleged ties to the head of a Singapore-based company at the center of a widening Navy scandal. The unusual restrictions were placed upon Vice Adm. Ted Branch, director of Naval Intelligence, and Rear Adm. Bruce Loveless, head of Navy intelligence operations, because of their alleged “improper relations” with Leonard Francis, CEO of Glenn Defense Marine Asia (GDMA), said Rear Adm. John F. Kirby, Navy chief of information. The measures against the admirals were taken three days after Cmdr. Jose Luis Sanchez appeared in federal court in Florida on charges of having accepted $100,000 in bribes, luxury trips and sessions with prostitutes from Francis. Francis was arrested Sept. 16 in San Diego. His firm provides fuel, food, water, cleaning and other services to Navy ships throughout Asia and in California. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel has directed the US Pacific Command to support humanitarian relief operations in the Philippines after one of the most powerful storms ever devastated the island nation. Hagel dispatched American ships and planes at the request of the Philippine government, which now faces a months-long recovery from Typhoon Haiyan. At least 10,000 people were feared dead from the storm that struck last Friday with 150 mph winds and 40-foot waves.