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Saturday, November 8, 2014

US Army Slow to Investigate Losses of Key Encryption Gear Worth $420 Million in Afghanistan


An internal report by the Pentagon’s Inspector General found the US Army “lost” some $420 million worth of equipment in Afghanistan, including weapons, sensitive encryption devices, and even some vehicles.
To make matters worse, the IG found that the Army brigade responsible for managing the gear failed to report the losses in a timely fashion, meaning there were no great efforts to recover it.
Army officials told the IG that they expected the massive amount of gear wasn’t really lost, and would turn up at some point. Years later, the report shows, almost none of it ever did.

Despite losing all this equipment, never finding it, and not properly documenting the loss, the IG audit praised the Army for admitting that “improvements are needed.”

How does the military lose half a billion dollars worth of equipment in one year? That’s the question Pentagon auditors are asking after it was revealed that US military equipment worth $420 million went missing in action in Afghanistan last year.

According to a recent Pentagon report, 156,000 pieces of hardware, including sophisticated weapons systems, vehicles and communications gear vanished into thin air in fiscal year 2013. The report also revealed that between 2006 and 2010, 133,557 pieces of equipment valued at $238.4 million could not be accounted for.

No matter how you slice it, that’s a lot of military hardware slipping out the back door. And since we are talking about the US Army here, where no general wants to lose a star or two over the question of inventory, it stands to reason that the figures have been greatly scaled back.
Karen Kwiatkowski, a retired US Air Force Lieutenant Colonel, confirmed the suspicion when she told there’s probably a lot more missing than what’s been reported by this Inspector General’s report.”

So now the billion dollar question: Who has got their grimy hands on America’s top-shelf military hardware from Afghanistan? If all that equipment was sold or stolen, it would eventually appear on the radar. And perhaps it already has.

A likely culprit in this great American weapons heist is Islamic State in Iraq & Syria (ISIS), formerly known as al-Qaeda in Iraq, the motley crew of ultra violent cutthroats that rose out of the Iraqi desert at precisely the same time that US hardware in Afghanistan was disappearing from the shelf like it was Black Friday at Wal-Mart.

The curious thing about Islamic State is how this group, which is apparently so vicious that even al-Qaeda alienated them, suddenly emerged on the scene last year, and at almost precisely the same time the Obama administration suddenly braked hard on what appeared to be an ironclad decision to invade the Syrian government of President Bashar-ul-Assad. America’s Commander-in-Chief, who has never waited in the past for congressional consent to initiate a military offensive (7 offensives to date for the Nobel Prize winner with still two years left to go), this time left the decision to Congress.
Reuters / Omar Sobhani

The reason for the last-minute change of tactic was not due to prudence on Obama’s part, or some kind of respect for the trampled Constitution, but rather the understanding that taking sides in the Syrian civil war was a bad public relations move since al-Qaeda was also allied with the Syrian rebels against the Assad government.

Senator Ted Cruz, who, in a moment of impressive perceptiveness for an American politician, summed up the situation best.

We certainly don’t have a dog in the fight,” Cruz said, echoing the timeless message of Ron Paul. “We should be focused on defending the United States of America. That’s why young men and women sign up to join the military, not to, as you know, serve as al-Qaeda’s air force.”

Meanwhile, there was also the nagging problem of Syria’s chemical weapons arsenal. It goes without saying that bombarding a country bubbling with large stocks of chemical weapons may not be the best way of supporting your rebel allies, who are on the ground in the thick of it. Thus, US Secretary of State John Kerry diplomatically, if not cunningly, suggested that Washington would call off the dogs if Bashar Assad would hand over his stock of chemical weapons in “one week.”

Russia successfully intervened and the unenviable task of removing Syria’s chemical weapons was eventually assumed by the United Nations. Today, Syria is without its chemical weapons – the poor man’s equivalent of nuclear weapons - but that does not mean Washington is content with Assad – an ally of the Iranian regime (which in all likelihood is the Endgame here) - still hanging around. In fact, Washington has openly stated its intentions of assisting the rebels to usurp the elected leader of Syria. But without the chemical casus belli for military intervention in Syria, Washington needed a new strategy to jump into the fray.

So guess what magically appeared on the desert horizon, motoring along with a head of steam in an endless convoy of Toyota Tacoma pickup trucks and sophisticated weapons - the very same brand of merchandise that went mysteriously AWOL in Afghanistan? Yes, the bad boys of Islamic State, whose highly publicized video be-headings of several American and British journalists handed Washington the opportunity to do what it could not do just one year earlier: launch attacks on Syria territory.
Reuters / Shamil Zhumatov

Admittedly, the US military, from what we are being told, has thus far practiced restrained self-control in Syria and not gone off the rails with an attack on Syrian government forces. But that’s not to say that the Pentagon’s “defensive strategy” today will not abruptly morph into an all-out offensive against Assad’s forces tomorrow. Indeed, it is the opinion here that only a miracle will prevent such a disastrous scenario from happening.

Unfortunately, news of America’s activities in Syria is being tightly controlled by the US military, which has given up the practice of “embedded journalism” in the ranks after a few media mavericks, like the late Michael Hastings of Rolling Stone fame, took one too many liberties with their “privileges.” To put it another way, they could not be “trusted."
Meanwhile, the aerial campaign against the barbaric Islamic State seems to have taken a backseat as the US military goes on a joyride around Syria, seemingly hunting for anything but members of IS.

Just yesterday, the US aerial campaign targeted new Syrian territory in the northwest of the country, this time hitting a compound belonging to the al-Nusra Front, and despite the fact this group is equally opposed to the Islamic State. It was also reported that a compound belonging to the Islamic group Ahrar al-Sham in Syria’s northwestern territory came under American attack, according to the British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

On Friday, the US military announced it carried out air strikes against the al-Qaeda-linked Khorasan group, an organization few people had heard of before the aerial campaign began in Syria. According to military officials, US forces targeted several vehicles and buildings near the border with Turkey.

Increasingly, and oddly, the allegedly ruthless Islamic State seems to be falling out of the equation in Syria as a host of other lesser known groups are becoming the target of the US-led aerial campaign. This is having the effect of confusing the situation in Syria to the point that few people understand what is happening. When and if the US attacks Syrian government forces this dust being thrown into the public's face will have served its purpose.

Of course I hope I am wrong, but it appears only a matter of time before the Syria campaign, initially against Islamic State, will start to resemble the former war in Iraq, carved up with no-fly zones and massive bombardments and the eventual toppling of Damascus.

At that point, nobody will remember the name Islamic State, nor the loss of US military equipment from Afghanistan.


First Video on YouTube Ever - Me At The Zoo


Me at the zoo is the first video ever to be uploaded to YouTube. It was uploaded at 8:27 pm on Saturday, April 23, 2005, by Jawed Karim, one of the co-founders of the site, under the username "jawed". Described by The Observer as "poor-quality", the video was shot by Yakov Lapitsky at the San Diego Zoo; it features Karim in front of the elephants, explaining how interesting their "really, really, really long trunks" are. The entire video is 18 seconds long. Here is the video link.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jNQXAC9IVRw

Haroon Tariq, A Pakistani Student Break 6 World Records


ISLAMABAD: A Pakistani student, Haroon Tariq, has broken the current world record by securing a total of 30 A Grades in his International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) A Levels exams.
Now, Haroon Tariq holds 6 world records, one thing here is very important that all these 6 world records broken by Haroon Tariq also were previously hold by Pakistani Students. Detail of these 6 world records is as under:
No. 1: Scored 28 A Grades in IGCSE O Levels exams. (This record was also previously held by a Pakistani student Ibrahim Shahid by scoring 23 A Grades)
No. 2: Scored 30 A Grades in IGCSE A Levels exams. (This record was also previously held by a Pakistani student Ali Moin Nawazish by scoring 21 A Grades)
No. 3: Haroon Tariq Scored 87 A Grades collectively in Cambridge University O Levels and A Levels exams (This record was also previously held by a Pakistani student Zohaib Asad by scoring 40 A Grades)
No. 4: Scored 29 A Grades in IGCSE exams. (This record was previously held by another Pakistani student Danish Abeer by scoring 23 A Grades)
No. 5: Scored 57 A Grades (in total) in Cambridge University exams. (This record was also previously held by a Pakistani student Zohaib Asad by scoring 30 A Grades)
No. 6: Scored collectively 30 A+ Gardes in IGCSE Secondary Education exams. (This record was also previously held by a Pakistani student Talal Almas by scoring 23 A+)
His subjects spanned both the humanities and sciences including Human and Social Biology, Islamic Religion and Culture, Physics, Chemistry and Global Development.
A student of Froebel’s International School (FIS), Haroon Tariq’s achievement had put Pakistan in the global spotlight.
Haroon Tariq said he studied 50 different subjects in O and A levels during the span of three years. He said obtaining 30 As was not easy as he had to study different languages including Spanish and French.
Haroon Tariq said his teachers guided him well due to which he achieved the remarkable score, adding that he had to give all his attention to his studies.
Head Principal of the school Shahmina Kamal said, “I feel honoured to be instrumental in shaping a competent youngster for tomorrow’s Pakistan.” Similarly, the head of the Dept of Examinations Sahar Pirzada said, “I always remind students that success is a state of mind. They need to trust themselves as they always know more than what they think they do.”
“Surely enough, we have students setting world records for academic excellence,” she said.

Friday, November 7, 2014

Top 10 Facts About Navy Seal that Killed Bin Laden


It’s been over three years since Osama Bin Laden was killed on May 2, 2011. It was a moment that went down in U.S. history as one of the most storied commando operations in U.S. At the time we only heard of the super-secret mission was a success but is not until now that we can identified the name of the man who actually pulled the trigger on Bin Laden, his name? Robert O’neill
His identity was disclosed preemptively by the Web site SOFREP saying that Navy SEAL Rob O’Neill is the individual responsible for killing Osama bin Laden. Mr. O’Neill, who is set to do a lengthy interview with Fox News next week, but protests by other former SEAL members prompted the finger pointing at him.
Read below his top-ten facts!
robert-o'neal-2
#1 He is one of the most distinguished members of the elite force.
O’neill has over 400 separate combat missions. The 38-year-old is a native of Butte, Montana.

#2 He shot Bin Laden three times
Robert claims he shot bin Laden in the forehead with three shots — at close range. He also acknowledged that shots were fired by at least two other SEAL team members.

#3 Mr. O’Neill has since quit the military
After 16 years of service, he retired from the Navy in the summer of 2012 and is now a motivational speaker.

#4 He is ditching his anonymity after three years, but why?
According to the DailyMail report, he was prompted [at least in part] by losing some of his military benefits by quitting the SEALs — some four years shy of the 20yr. minimum required to receive military retirement benefits.

#5 He is a highly decorated SEAL
Mr. O’Neill was “decorated 52 times, leaving as a Chief Petty Officer; and, his decorations include two Silver Stars, four Bronze Stars With Valor, a Joint Service Commendation Medal With Valor, three Presidential Unit Citation Awards, and two Navy/Marine Corps Commendations With Valor.

#6 Robert O’neill is the first SEAL to jump aboard the Maersk Alabama, the one taken by Somali Pirates.
He was also the lead jumper on the Maersk Alabama, the ship taken by Somali pirates, whose rescue turned into the Oscar-winning movie, Captain Philips.

#7 His missions have inspired at least three movies
Besides being on the mission for Captain Philips and Zero Dark Thirty, he also helped save SEAL Marcus Luttrell, the one man who lived to tell the tale of a failed mission to capture a Taliban leader in Afghanistan — that was made into a Hollywood movie — Lone Survivor.”

#8 He is being criticized by his pears, calling him a violator of “our Ethos,” their core values
In a letter to past and present SEALS, former Master Chief Michael Magaraci and Commander Rear ADM. Brian Losey, made it clear that the vow of silence remains one of the most important tenets of the SEAL life.”

#9 His decision to come forward could make him face legal actions
O’Neil’s decision to go public, translates into shame among former SEALs; and, that he could even face legal action. “We will actively seek judicial consequences for members who willfully violate the law, and place our Teammates, and Families, and potential future operations at risk.”

#10 O’neill is the second SEAL of the 23 involved in the raid to come public.
The other being Matthew Bisonnette, who wrote an inside account of the mission that killed Osama bin Laden. Bisonnette released his book, “No Easy Day,” in 2012, under the pen-name, Mark Owen — and, immediately faced the ire of Pentagon officials and fellow SEALs.”

Pakistan Army's Operation Zarb-e-Azb Disrupted Haqqani Network: US General


WASHINGTON: A top American general in command of international forces in Afghanistan said Pakistan's ongoing military operation in North Waziristan has helped disrupt the Haqqani network's ability to launch attacks on Afghan territory.
Lt. Gen. Joseph Anderson, a senior commander for US and Nato forces in Afghanistan, noted in a Pentagon-hosted video briefing from Afghanistan on Wednesday that the Haqqani network is now "fractured" like the Taliban.
“They are fractured. They are fractured like the Taliban is. That's based pretty much on the Pakistan [operations] in North Waziristan this entire summer-fall,” he said, acknowledging the effectiveness of Pakistan's continuing military offensive, Zarb-e-Azb.
“That has very much disrupted their efforts [in Afghanistan] and has caused them to be less effective in terms of their ability to pull off an attack in Kabul,” Anderson added.
The US commander's remarks came in response to a question, when he was asked about the level of Haqqani network threat in the wake of Pakistani operation in the previously militant stronghold tribal area of North Waziristan.
Since its launch in June this year, the Pakistani offensive has eliminated a large number of terrorists. In the briefing, the US general also referred to success of the Afghan national security forces against the Haqqani network, which he described as one of the many threat streams affecting security in Afghanistan.
The network, he said, is focused more on the high profile attack like the large vehicle-borne explosives attacks.
“Well, the examples are been what the ANSF in fact has been in terms of their security operations. So they've been able to secure the major road networks. They've worked the border crossings and they've kind of worked a layered ebb and flow based on all the different events that have transpired since the summertime.”
Anderson revealed that 4,634 members of Afghanistan's police and army have been killed in action this year. That is already an increase from the total for 2013, when 4,350 members lost their lives.
“This [level of casualties] is not sustainable,” he said.
A Pentagon report submitted to the US Congress titled 'Progress Toward Security and Stability in Afghanistan' had earlier accused Pakistan of using militants who launch attacks on India and Afghanistan from sanctuaries in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) and Balochistan.
“Taliban attacks in Afghanistan launched from sanctuaries in Pakistan remain a serious problem. These sanctuaries exist primarily in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) and Baluchistan,” the report said.
The report which runs more than 100 pages also said Pakistan is involved in a proxy war waged against India to offset the latter's military superiority. It also acknowledged gains made by the military in the FATA operations.
“Afghan- and Indian-focused militants continue to operate from Pakistan territory to the detriment of Afghan and regional stability. Pakistan uses these proxy forces to hedge against the loss of influence in Afghanistan and to counter India’s superior military," it said.
“These relationships run counter to Pakistan’s public commitment to support Afghan-led reconciliation. Such groups continue to act as the primary irritant in Afghan-Pakistan bilateral relations,” it added.
Referring to a recent attack on the Indian consulate in Afghanistan's Herat province which took place three days before India's new Prime Minister Narendra Modi took oath, the report held militant group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) responsible for the attack.
Then Afghan President Hamid Karzai had also said that he was informed by western intelligence agencies that the attack was carried out by the LeT.
The accusation was rejected by the LeT.

Government, Economy, Immigration Are Top U.S. Problems

Most Americans list non-economic problems as most important
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WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Americans say the government, immigration, and the economy in general are the most important problems currently facing the country. Mentions of government and the economy have been at the top of the list since the beginning of the year, while mentions of immigration rose sharply in July, in response to the crisis at the U.S.- Mexico border, and remain high this month.
Recent Trend in Top Three "Most Important" U.S. Problems
To address the immigration issue, President Barack Obama requested an emergency appropriation of $3.7 billion, which Republicans in Congress rejected. The Republican-led U.S. House of Representatives passed two immigration bills before members left for their August recess, but the bills have little chance of passing the Democratic-controlled Senate or being signed into law by the president. The government's failure to act on immigration before the recess likely angered Americans who say immigration is the most important issue, and may be one reason mentions of immigration are elevated for a second month.
Twelve percent mention jobs or unemployment as the top problem, down from earlier this year. As 2014 began, jobs, the economy in general, dissatisfaction with government, and healthcare were the problems Americans mentioned most often. But last month, mentions of immigration surged 12 percentage points while slightly fewer Americans cited jobs, government, and healthcare.
In the Aug. 7-10 poll, mentions of immigration, the economy, and jobs as the most important problem each dipped slightly.
Most Important Problem Facing the U.S., August 2014
More Americans said foreign policy was the most important problem facing the U.S. in August than said this in July, possibly in response to new U.S. military involvement in Iraq, as well as the ongoing fighting between the Israelis and Palestinians and the Russia-Ukraine situation. While the percentage of Americans citing "war" also ticked up slightly, mentions of foreign policy increased by four percentage points between July and August, the largest change seen this month. The increase in international involvement and talks of possible involvement may have led to this rise in mentions of foreign policy as the most important problem.
Seventy-One Percent of Americans Say Non-Economic Issues Most Important
Many more Americans now mention a non-economic issue -- such as dissatisfaction with government, immigration, or ethical and moral decline -- than an economic one as the top problem. This reverses the situation found during much of the recession and its aftermath, when more Americans listed economic issues. The renewed focus on non-economic issues was first evident in May 2013, and the gap between economic and non-economic mentions has now widened to 33 points, with 71% of Americans mentioning non-economic issues and 38% citing economic issues.
Trend: Most Important Problem: Economic Issues vs. Non-Economic Issues
Prior to 2008, an era of a generally healthy economy, Americans were also more likely to list non-economic than economic issues. For example, in August 2007, 82% of Americans listed non-economic issues such as the war in Iraq or immigration as the nation's most important problem, while 24% listed economic issues. By August 2008, there was a much more even split, with 59% listing economic issues and 57% non-economic issues.
Implications
Americans have shifted their focus more to non-economic issues as the most important U.S. problem since May 2013. That trend continues this month. Economic issues more frequently received the most mentions from 2008 through 2013, when the U.S. economy was suffering and unemployment was relatively high. However, now that the economy appears to be recovering, as evidenced by positive signals such as a six-year high in Gallup's Job Creation Index and increased consumer spending, non-economic issues such as government and immigration have become greater concerns to Americans.
With the midterm congressional elections approaching, candidates would be wise to pay attention to these shifting priorities. In particular, Congress' lack of action on immigration could become a major issue in the fall campaign. Of course, it is challenging for the two parties to come to agreement during an intense political season, so it is not clear that Congress will address the issue even if its inaction puts some of its members' jobs in jeopardy.
Survey Methods
Results for this Gallup poll are based on telephone interviews conducted Aug. 7-10, 2014, with a random sample of 1,032 adults, aged 18 and older, living in all 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia.
For results based on the total sample of national adults, the margin of sampling error is ±4 percentage points at the 95% confidence level.
Interviews are conducted with respondents on landline telephones and cellular phones, with interviews conducted in Spanish for respondents who are primarily Spanish-speaking. Each sample of national adults includes a minimum quota of 50% cellphone respondents and 50% landline respondents, with additional minimum quotas by time zone within region. Landline and cellular telephone numbers are selected using random-digit-dial methods. Landline respondents are chosen at random within each household on the basis of which member had the most recent birthday.
Samples are weighted to correct for unequal selection probability, non-response, and double coverage of land line and cell users in the two sampling frames. They are also weighted to match the national demographics of gender, age, race, Hispanic ethnicity, education, region, population density, and phone status (cellphone only/landline only/both, and cellphone mostly). Demographic weighting targets are based on the most recent Current Population Survey figures for the aged 18 and older U.S. population. Phone status targets are based on the most recent National Health Interview Survey. Population density targets are based on the most recent U.S. census. All reported margins of sampling error include the computed design effects for weighting.
In addition to sampling error, question wording and practical difficulties in conducting surveys can introduce error or bias into the findings of public opinion polls.

Thursday, November 6, 2014

Mr. Priceless: Messi Breaks New Record


Lionel Messi scored twice to draw level with Raul Gonzalez as the Champions League's all-time leading scorer on Wednesday, as Barcelona won 2-0 at Ajax to reach the knockout stage along with Group F leader Paris Saint-Germain. Bayern Munich also progressed, beating Roma 2-0 to maintain its perfect record, while Porto won by the same scoreline at Athletic Bilbao to join the Bundesliga club in the last 16. 

"Messi is absolutely the best player I have ever seen as player or coach," said Barcelona coach Luis Enrique. It was a miserable night for English sides with nine-man Manchester City losing 2-1 at home to CSKA Moscow to slip to the bottom of Group E and Chelsea missing a penalty in a 1-1 draw at Maribor in Group G. Sporting Lisbon blew that group wide open as it came from behind to beat Schalke 4-2, while Luiz Adriano scored a second-half hat trick to help Shakhtar Donetsk humiliate BATE Borisov 5-0 and stay second behind Porto in Group H. Messi scored his 70th Champions League goal in the 36th minute with a soft header after Ajax failed to clear a free kick and then linked up with substitute Pedro Rodriguez for his second of the night in the 76th. Ajax played the last 20 minutes with 10 men after defender Joel Veltman was sent off for his second yellow card. Manchester City is on the verge of tumbling out of the group stage following two goals from Seydou Doumbia either side of a Yaya Toure free kick. City's halftime substitute Fernandinho was sent off in the 70th for two bookable offences, and Toure followed for pushing Roman Eremenko. 

"It's very difficult to understand why we played so badly," City coach Manuel Pellegrini said. "Really, we didn't play. The first half especially, we didn't see the team we normally see." 

City is two points behind CSKA and Roma. The Italian team was keen to avoid a repetition of its 7-1 mauling at the hands of Bayern last time out and managed to restrict the five-time champion to two goals, by Franck Ribery and Mario Goetze, either side of halftime. Maribor was unrecognizable from the side crushed 6-0 by Chelsea two weeks ago and claimed a deserved lead when Agim Ibraimi curled a beautiful shot into the top corner five minutes into the second half. Nemanja Matic leveled from close range 17 minutes from time and Chelsea had the chance to take all three points when Eden Hazard was fouled for an 85th minute spot-kick, but the Belgian's effort was too central and Jasmin Handanovic saved. Chelsea still leads Group G with eight points, three ahead of Schalke, with Sporting a point further back following its first win of the tournament this season. Maribor has three points. Islam Slimani's 17th-minute own goal from a deflection handed Schalke the lead, but Sporting equalized just under 10 minutes later through Naby Sarr's glancing header. Goals from Jefferson and Nani put Sporting in front and, although Dennis Aogo pulled one back two minutes from time, Slimani sealed it in stoppage time. In Bilbao, Porto forward Yacine Brahimi atoned for his first-half penalty miss with an exquisite solo effort to set up Jackson Martinez for the 56th minute opener. Brahimi then sealed the win with the easiest of goals after a gaffe by goalkeeper Gorka Iraizoz. As well as taking his tally to nine Champions League goals this season, Luiz Adriano also set up both of Shakhtar's other goals for captain Darijo Srna and Alex Teixeira. BATE right-back Anri Khagush was sent off after the halftime whistle had gone, earning a second yellow card in less than a minute for arguing with the referee.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg Meets Afghan President Ashraf Ghani during a visit to Afghanistan on Thursday, November 6, 2014.


KABUL: NATO´s new chief Jens Stoltenberg arrived in Kabul Thursday for talks with President Ashraf Ghani as the coalition prepares to end its combat mission in Afghanistan next month after 13 years of fighting the Taliban.

Stoltenberg, a former prime minister of Norway, began his first visit to Afghanistan after becoming NATO secretary general last month.

NATO´s International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) will be wound up at the end of this year, to be replaced by a training and support mission named "Resolute Support".

ISAF troop numbers peaked at 130,000 in 2010, but are now below 34,000.

About 12,500 soldiers, most of them from the United States, will remain into 2015 to continue training the Afghan army and police, who will be responsible for thwarting any Taliban resurgence.

"The secretary general will meet with President Ashraf Ghani and Chief Executive Officer Abdullah Abdullah to discuss NATO-Afghanistan cooperation, including the 2015 launch of the Resolute Support Mission," NATO said in a statement.

"(He) will spend time with NATO and partner troops to thank them for their service during the 13 years of ISAF operations and will pay tribute to the fallen."

Obama Vows to Work With Republican Congress


WASHINGTON: US President Barack Obama promised to work with his Republican opponents Wednesday after their midterm election victory and asked them to help him fight both Ebola and Islamic State Jihadists.

But he also warned that he would take executive action on immigration before the end of the year, whether or not the new Congress makes progress towards a bipartisan reform bill on the emotive issue.

"Obviously, Republicans had a good night," he admitted, a day after Republicans seized control of the Senate from Obama´s Democrats and increased their majority in the House of Representatives.

"I´m eager to work with the new Congress to make the next two years as productive as possible," Obama said, while warning that there may still be some legislation that he would feel obliged to veto.

"That´s natural. That´s how our democracy works," he said. "But we can surely find ways to work together on issues where there´s broad agreement among the American people."

Obama said he would ask the new Congress for help in battling the spread of Ebola in West Africa and beyond, and for support for US-led military action against jihadists in Iraq and Syria.

"First, I´ve submitted a request to Congress for funding to ensure that our doctors, scientists, and troops have the resources that they need to combat the spread of Ebola in Africa and to increase our preparedness for any future cases here at home," Obama said.

That request is for more than $6 billion in emergency funding to fight the deadly epidemic.

"Second, I´m going to begin engaging Congress over a new authorization to use military force against ISIL," he said, using the White House´s preferred acronym for the Islamic State group.

On immigration, Obama said he would prefer to see Congress agree a comprehensive bill to provide a path to citizenship for deserving undocumented US residents and would-be immigrants.

But he said he would act alone through executive action to make what changes he can if lawmakers continue to stall.

"Before the end of the year, we´re going to take whatever lawful actions we can take that I believe will improve the functioning of our immigration system," he said.