Government Admits Data-Mining Flaws · A data-mining program implemented by the Pentagon to help identify terrorists is flawed, and pattern-seeking data-mining applications are of limited usefulness, concluded authors of a report by the National Research Council. (CNET)

Buffett’s GE Stake Seen As Win For Both · Billionaire investor Warren Buffett invested $3 billion in General Electric last week. Morningstar analysts Daniel Holland and Justin Fuller look at the deal from the perspective of both GE and Buffett's flagship investment company, Berkshire Hathaway, and like what they see. (Morningstar)

Boeing Strike Cramps Q3 Deliveries · Boeing delivered just 84 aircraft in the third quarter, down from 109 in the year-earlier quarter, due to a job action by nearly 27,000 machinists. Before the strike, the aerospace giant had been on pace to deliver 108 units for the quarter. (Aviation Week)

GE Rebuts Doubts On Its Creditworthiness As Shares Fall · General Electric is saying it can fund operations without tapping credit lines. The conglomerate's shares have fallen 9% today as swaps that protect against a default by subsidiary GE Capital soared 125 basis points to 740 basis points. Deutsche Bank cut its 2008 earnings target for GE, citing weakness in the financial services unit. (Bloomberg)

EADS Chief Seeks To Diffuse Dispute Over A400M Delays · The chief executive of EADS is trying to diffuse a dispute with the engine supplier to the European aircraft maker over delays to its A400M military aircraft. EADS faces stiff penalty payments to seven countries that have ordered the plane. (FT)

Private Jet Maker Mooney Names New CEO · The Mooney Aerospace Group has named Robert B. Gowens chief executive of its Mooney Airplane unit. Gowens comes to the private jet maker from the recreational marine industry. (Aero-News Network)

EADS Again Delays Maiden Flight Of A400M · EADS, the parent company of Airbus, is once again postponing the maiden flight of its key A400M military transport aircraft, and blaming one of its contractors for the latest delay. The A400M had originally been scheduled for a January 2008 test flight. (Aero-News Network)

Senate Grants Extra Funds For Laser Weapons · The Senate granted additional funds for laser weapons programs and directed the Defence Secretary Robert Gates to accelerate work to make the weapons operational, in the fiscal 2009 defense authorisation bill approved in the Senate today. (Washington Post)

ANALYSIS: Iran Says “No”—Now What? · The U.S. should take a firm stance in responding to Iran's nuclear developments, argues a new Carnegie Endowment for International Peace report.  If Iran does not suspend its fuel-cycle activities, the U.S. and others should impose sanctions and should use military force if Iran weaponizes its enrichment processes. (Carnegie Endowment for International Peace)

ANALYSIS: CFR Reports On China, Space Weapons And U.S. Security · Advancing technology has made some degree of offensive space capability inevitable, argues Bruce MacDonald in a new Council on Foreign Relations report.  He calls for a reinvigorated space diplomacy, as well as technological progress, to lead in establishing a more stable and secure space environment. (Council on Foreign Relations)

Russian Defense Budget To Grow 27% In 2009 · Russia's defense spending will grow by 27% or $94.12 billion in 2009, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said. The announcement came as Russian stocks plunged more than 10% to two-year lows. (RIA Novosti)

SEC Investigates UAL Glitch, Finger-Pointing · The SEC is investigating the release of an archived Tribune Co. article about United Airlines' 2002 bankruptcy-court filing. Distributed by Google's automated news service, the false report sent UAL's stock to $3 from $12.50 in less than 15 minutes. (WSJ)

Businesses Use Los Alamos For Research · Companies like Procter & Gamble and Goodyear are using the computational capabilities of famed national labs such as Los Alamos, Lawrence Livermore, and Sandia. (BusinessWeek) The labs support U.S. competitiveness while earning lucrative contract-research fees.

Defense Budget Features Open Source · The current draft of the annual defense reauthorization bill suggests that open source software (OSS) be considered for technology procurement. (Ars Technica) A senior Pentagon official argues that OSS could help accelerate battlefield deployment of new technologies.

JetBlue Auctions Tickets On eBay · JetBlue Airways will auction 300 round-trip tickets to more than 20 destination on eBay in order to attract customers in a sluggish holiday period. Bidding will open at 5 or 10 cents. (Boston Globe, CNNMoney)