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Monday, June 30, 2014

FW: Navy Times Early Bird Brief



Thank You
Robert Serge
VVA 17 Member
Blog Master
To all my fellow veterans friends and family my we all remember 




Subject: Navy Times Early Bird Brief
Date: Mon, 30 Jun 2014 05:21:49 -0600


Defense News
COMPILED BY THE EDITORS OF DEFENSE NEWS & MILITARY TIMES
June 30, 2014

EARLY BIRD BRIEF
Get the most comprehensive aggregation of defense news delivered by the world's largest independent newsroom covering military and defense.

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TODAY'S TOP 5

1. Obama to nominate former Proctor and Gamble CEO as Veterans Affairs secretary
(Military Times) The White House on Monday will nominate former Procter and Gamble CEO Bob McDonald to take over as the next Veterans Affairs secretary, charged with fixing the ongoing veterans care delay scandal and restoring public faith in the department. 
2. In Military Care, a Pattern of Errors but Not Scrutiny
(New York Times) Jessica Zeppa, five months pregnant, the wife of a soldier, showed up four times at Reynolds Army Community Hospital here in pain, weak, barely able to swallow and fighting a fever. The last time, she declared that she was not leaving until she could get warm. 
3. Blame The Obama Doctrine For Iraq
(Stuart Gottlieb in The Daily Beast) Obama keeps trying to blame Maliki, but his administration left Baghdad vulnerable so he could claim in 2012 he'd ended the war he'd opposed all along. 
4. Obama Poised to Yank Top Military Intel Pick
(Foreign Policy) The Obama administration is poised to abandon its pick to run the sprawling Defense Intelligence Agency amid two ongoing investigations into whether programs she had overseen have been marred by questionable and potentially illegal spending, according to administration officials and congressional sources with knowledge of the matter. 
5. Interceptions Rise as Russia Boosts Air Power
(Defense News) The Russian Air Force is upgrading its long-range aircraft, making the decades-old planes more lethal amid increasing encounters near US airspace, a top US general responsible for defending the American and Canadian airspace said. 

DEFENSE NEWS WITH VAGO MURADIAN

Norway's Relations with Russia
http://bcove.me/nttszbip 
Climate Change in the North
http://bcove.me/plqhfqld 
Israel's View of ISIL and Iraq
http://bcove.me/onwpg4hn 
Vago's Notebook
http://bcove.me/4c3md8qx 

IRAQ

Iraq Says Russian Experts Have Arrived to Help Prepare Jets for Fighting
(New York Times) Iraqi government officials said Sunday that Russian experts had arrived in Iraq to help the army get 12 new Russian warplanes into the fight against Sunni extremists. 
Iraqi PM Nouri Maliki: Russian jets will turn tide
(BBC) Iraq's Prime Minister Nouri Maliki has told the BBC that he hopes jets from Russia and Belarus will turn the tide against rebels in the coming days. 
Pentagon: We're Not Slow-Rolling F-16 Sale to Iraq
(Defense News) The Pentagon pushed back Friday on comments made by Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki that the US is slow-rolling a sale of Lockheed Martin F-16 fighters to Baghdad. 
U.S. has armed drones over Baghdad, official says
(CNN) A U.S. official confirmed to CNN that armed American drones started flying over Baghdad in the previous 24 hours to provide additional protection for 180 U.S. military advisers in the area. Until now, U.S. officials had said all drone reconnaissance flights over Iraq were unarmed. 
Iraqi Forces Stalled in Push Against Militants, Say Officials
(Wall Street Journal) Iraqi security forces were locked in a standoff outside the city of Tikrit on Sunday morning, local security officials said, as the military's most muscular effort to beat back a three-week-old Sunni insurgency appeared to stall. 
ISIL declares new 'Islamic caliphate'
(Al Jazeera) Fighters in Syria and Iraq have announced the establishment of a "caliphate", referring to the system of rule that ended nearly 100 years ago with the fall of the Ottoman empire. 
ISIS weapons windfall may alter balance in Iraq, Syria conflicts
(Los Angeles Times) Six months ago, Sunni Arab militants faced a daunting firepower imbalance in their uprising against the U.S.-equipped Iraqi army west of Baghdad. 
Top Shiite Cleric Tells Iraq Leaders to Pick New Premier
(Bloomberg) Iraq's top Shiite religious leader stepped up pressure on politicians to agree on a new government intended to prevent a fracturing of the country, as the army battles militants who have seized major cities. 
Pew Poll Finds Americans Deeply Skeptical of US Military Force
(Defense News) A new poll finds most Americans deeply skeptical about the effectiveness of US military force and eager for an increased focus on domestic affairs. 

INDUSTRY

US Armored Vehicle Battle Intensifies
(Defense News) The US Army is threatening to slash modernization funding for Stryker, Abrams and Bradley vehicles if the service is forced to halt a $10 billion program to replace thousands of M113 infantry carriers. 
Boeing completes MSA systems fit ahead of trials and customer demos
(IHS Jane's 360) Boeing has recently completed missions systems and sensor installation of the Bombardier Challenger 604 Maritime Surveillance Aircraft (MSA) testbed, ahead of ground and flight trials which in turn will lead onto customer demonstrations, a Boeing official disclosed on 27 June. 
Snowdrifts and Skis: US Army Updates Land-Nav Trainer
(Defense News) The US Army has upgraded its land-navigation simulator, which helps teach a variety of outdoor skills, to take advantage of a new version of its underlying battlefield simulation system. 
Lockheed Martin develops hybrid cloud for Air Force
(C4ISR & Networks) Lockheed Martin is developing a hybrid cloud that will enable the U.S. Air Force to migrate to a cloud-based system. Lockheed claims that this will offer lower costs, better service and greater agility for 800,000 Air Force users. 
Despite Lawsuits, Disagreements, SpaceX and USAF Moving Forward
(Defense News) On a muggy day in DC, Elon Musk, the founder and CEO of SpaceX, stood in front of a gaggle of reporters and openly questioned the organization that could be his biggest customer. 
What motivates defense contractors? Four lessons for government leaders
(Washington Post) Competition was the main theme of the Defense Department's second annual report on acquisition performance, released earlier this month. Declining budgets may be pushing defense contractors to look for work outside the government, but the Pentagon's emphasis remains on promoting competition, according to Frank Kendall, the undersecretary of defense for acquisition, technology and logistics. 
BAE Reorganizes Portfolio of Saudi Arabia Industrial Interests
(Wall Street Journal) Defense firm BAE Systems PLC (BA.LN) Monday announced a reorganization of its portfolio of interests in a number of industrial companies in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and an enhancement of its existing relationship with Riyadh Wings Aviation Academy LLC. 
Poland orders Tytan soldier system
(IHS Jane's 360) The Polish Armament Inspectorate signed two contracts on 27 June for the Tytan (Titan) future soldier system worth more than USD1.5 billion. 
Poland orders new Rosomak 8x8 variant
(IHS Jane's 360) Poland has ordered 34 WRT engineering reconnaissance variants of its Rosomak (Patria AMV) 8x8 armoured fighting vehicle. 
Eyes on defense deals, Western powers rush to court India's Modi
(Reuters) Western governments are rushing to visit India's new Prime Minister Narendra Modi, drawn by the prospect of multi-billion-dollar deals as the government prepares to open the nascent defense industry to foreign investment. 
Bangladesh Navy to receive K-8W, Mi-171Sh aircraft
(IHS Jane's 360) The Bangladesh Navy will take delivery of nine K-8W training aircraft from China by the end of 2014, Minister for Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives, Sayed Ashraful Islam said on 22 June. 

VETERANS

'Corrosive culture,' weak leadership cripple VA, report says
(CNN) The Veterans Affairs health care system needs to be overhauled because of unresponsive leadership and a "corrosive culture" that affects the delivery of medical care, said a report delivered Friday to President Barack Obama. 
GI Bill funds flow to for-profit colleges that fail state aid standards
(Center for Investigative Reporting) Over the last five years, more than $600 million in college assistance for Iraq and Afghanistan veterans has been spent on California schools so substandard that they have failed to qualify for state financial aid. 
Whistleblower brings scrutiny to Lakewood lab that handles veterans' blood
(Tacoma News Tribune) Last February medical lab technicians at the VA's American Lake hospital in Lakewood flagged a compromised batch of blood samples because it had been frozen and thawed one too many times. 
VA investigates Atlanta enrollment office
(Atlanta Journal-Constitution) National eligibility office alleged to have purged thousands of veteran applications, AJC investigation reveals. 
The VA's Secret Claims
(National Journal) The long-standing slog within the Veterans Affairs Department to cut down its mountain of disability claims has been well documented. Or has it? 
Surge in patients outpaces Fayetteville's VA health care's building boom
(Fayetteville Observer) The Fayetteville VA Medical Center has been playing catchup for years. 
Vietnam veteran fabricated heroic acts during trial
(Augusta Chronicle) Chavous, 63, was in the Marines and was in combat during his one-year tour of duty in 1970. But there was no Navy Cross, no Distinguished Service Cross, no five Purple Hearts, and no escape from a North Vietnamese prison camp, according to records The Augusta Chronicle obtained from the National Archives 

CONGRESS

Republicans Say Obama's War-Funding Request 'Cries Out for Oversight'
(Defense News) Senior congressional Republicans are vowing to closely scrub President Barack Obama's new war-funding request, with one saying it "cries out for oversight." 
Can Obama ever close Gitmo?
(The Hill) President Obama vowed to close the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay on his second day in office, but it is increasingly unlikely he can deliver on that promise. 
Congress Moves To Halt Palestinian Funding
(Defense News) The US Congress is targeting the Palestine Authority (PA) with a cutoff of funds unless US President Barack Obama can justify how continued support to Ramallah advances national security needs. 
Senators Drafting Bill That Could Extend Life of Chemical Security Program
(Global Security Newswire) Senators are working on a bill that could extend the life of a controversial chemical security program, but details still remain under wraps. 
Bill aims to aid Camp Lejeune contamination victims
(Associated Press) Sen. Kay Hagan and U.S Rep. G.K. Butterfield said Friday the measure would pre-empt states from limiting the time frame in which damages can be recovered in pollution lawsuits. 

DEFENSE DEPARTMENT

'Magic Money': DoD's Overseas Contingency Budget Might Dry Up
(Defense News) While the US Defense Department's Afghanistan war budget is expected to receive little resistance from lawmakers, the Pentagon is under pressure from the White House Office of Management Budget to lower, then eliminate supplemental requests, sources said. 
Report: DOD lacks realistic plan to cut costs at management headquarters
(Stars & Stripes) The Pentagon has produced no realistic plan for cutting costs at its many management headquarters, according to a report released Thursday by the Government Accountability Office. 
Keeping pace with cyber training
(C4ISR & Networks) Report after report continues to surface warning about the shortage of properly skilled cyber security resources. Last year, the DHS inspector general reported that the National Cybersecurity and Communications Integration Center "does not have sufficient resources to provide specialized training to incident responder." 
Powerful Radar Blimp To Surveil Washington, Baltimore, Out to Sea
(Defense News) If a U.S. combatant commander stationed somewhere around the globe feels his command lacks the ability to detect missiles, airplanes and drones up to 350 miles away, the US Army might have the solution. 

ARMY

Tactile belts let soldiers feel their way through the field
(Army Times) Soldiers may develop a sixth sense for combat, but the Army's not done working on the other five. 
Amy Adams gives U.S. soldier a surprise first-class upgrade
(Los Angeles Times) Amy Adams quietly did a cool thing on an airplane Friday -- and the world would have been none the wiser except for a tweet from another passenger outing the actress' wish-I'd-done-that-too goodness. 
QandA: First woman to wear Jungle tab talks training, warrior royalty
(Army Times) About six months after opening, the Army's Jungle Operations Training Course in Hawaii graduated its first female soldier. 
Jury rejects death penalty in Williams murder case
(Honolulu Star-Advertiser) A federal court jury in Honolulu rejected the death penalty on Friday for former Schofield Barracks soldier Naeem J. Williams, who instead will spend the rest of his life in prison for killing his 5-year-old daughter Talia in 2005. 
North Pole man pleads guilty to shooting fireworks at Army helicopters
(Fairbanks Daily News-Miner) A North Pole man who shot fireworks at Army helicopters flying over his house and shined a spotlight at them pleaded guilty Friday to a misdemeanor count of assaulting U.S. military personnel performing official duties. 

NAVY

Navy Engineers LCS Changes
(DoDBuzz) The Navy is implementing specific design and engineering improvements to its Littoral Combat Ship following the construction of the first two vessels, the Freedom and the Independence. 
Inquiry board recommends retaining Navy captain
(Virginian-Pilot) He is a decorated Navy doctor with almost 30 years of service - a man one general says he would serve with again in a heartbeat. * But after sequestration grounded the hospital ship Comfort last year, Capt. Kevin Knoop found himself fighting to save his career. 
New apps put Navy fitness in your pocket
(Navy Times) Whether you're looking to get jacked, take on your first mud run or just stay in shape during deployment, the Navy has an app for that. 
Stealthy warship Zumwalt is soon getting jet fuel
(Associated Press) Bath Iron Works is getting ready to bring fuel aboard the Navy's biggest destroyer in preparation for firing up some of the world's largest marine turbines this summer. 
New paint could mean lighter workloads - and lighter ships
(Navy Times) The Navy is hoping that a new paint slathering its way into the fleet will mean a little less chipping and painting for sailors. 
'Rogue drone' report blames range, glitch for November crash
(Navy Times) A new report faults a control glitch and the drone's operators for an unusual November mishap where the telemetry target crashed into the cruiser Chancellorsville during at-sea testing, sidelining the ship for months and causing millions in damages. 
Reserve, FTS chief petty officer list released
(Navy Times) Active-duty sailors weren't the only ones facing a more difficult path to make chief this year. 
U.S. Navy Shows Off Ideas About 2025 Workplace
(Defense News) The U.S. Navy is trying to give developers and operators a look at the workplace of 2025 - a space full of unmanned vehicles, gesture-controlled robots, virtual meetings and 3D data visualization. Some of the technology hasn't even been invented, much less fully fleshed out, but officials hope to get people excited about the possibilities, rapidly develop ideas in virtual environments and lay the groundwork for swift adoption of technologies as they arrive. 
Navy: SOCOM No Longer Interested in Oceanographic Survey Ship
(Seapower) Military Sealift Command's (MSC's) oceanographic survey ship USNS Sumner (T-AGS 61) no longer is destined for acquisition by U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM). 

COAST GUARD

Coast Guard court martial alleging sexual assault underway in Miami
(Miami Herald) A petty officer is facing charges dating back to 2010 in South Carolina; the proceedings are at District 7 headquarters in Miami. 
Evans takes command of U.S. Coast Guard research center
(The Day; New London, Conn.) Command of the U.S. Coast Guard Research and Development Center passed from Capt. Alan Arsenault to Capt. Dennis Evans in a ceremony today at the center. 

AIR FORCE

10 cadets found guilty in academy cheating scandal, another resigns
(Air Force Times) An Air Force Academy investigation into a cheating scandal has found 10 cadets violated the honor code, academy superintendent Lt. Gen. Michelle Johnson said Thursday. Another cadet who was under investigation has resigned, Johnson said. 
America's $400 Billion Stealth Jet Fleet Is Grounded
(The Daily Beast) The U.S. Air Force has grounded its fleet of stealthy Lockheed Martin F-35 Joint Strike Fighters (JSF) after one aircraft caught fire on takeoff Monday at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida. While the pilot got out of the stricken jet without injury, the roughly $200 million machine could be a total loss. 
Death penalty suggested in case against airman facing murder charges
(Air Force Times) An Air Force investigating officer is recommending the death penalty for a Robins Air Force Base, Georgia, senior airman charged with killing his fiancee and unborn child. 
Handlers find loyal kennel companions at Peterson Air Force Base
(Colorado Springs Gazette) Dogs have accompanied man on the hunt since time immemorial. Though the bow and spear has given way to the rifle, and hunting is no longer necessary, dogs continue to prove their dedication on the nation's battlefields. 
1,318 selected for promotion to major, lt. col., col
(Air Force Times) More than 1,300 officers have been selected for promotion to major, lieutenant colonel or colonel, the Air Force said Friday. 
Culture shock after the first block: 'Doolies' get rude awakening on first day at Air Force Academy
(Colorado Springs Gazette) The air was so silent on the bus loaded with fresh, wide-eyed Air Force "Doolies" one could hear a beret drop. But only until it turned the corner, out of the sight of friends, family end everything familiar. 

MARINE CORPS

Camp Lejeune Marine Who Died During Fitness Test Named
(WITN; Greenville, N.C.) A U.S. Marine lieutenant colonel was two days away from assuming command of a school at Camp Johnson has died after collapsing during a physical fitness test. 
Minor injuries, damage after CH-53 hard landing in Afghanistan
(Marine Corps Times) A Marine CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter was damaged during a hard landing at Camp Bastion, Afghanistan June 1, according to new data released by the Marine Corps. 
Marine who disappeared in Iraq in 2004 back in US
(Associated Press) A Marine who was declared a deserter nearly 10 years ago after disappearing in Iraq and then returning to the U.S. claiming he had been kidnapped, only to disappear again, is back in U.S. custody, officials said Sunday. 
Obamas attend evening parade at Marine Barracks Washington
(Stars & Stripes) President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama were among the guests at Friday's evening parade at Marine Barracks Washington. 
Marine Harrier pilot sticks incredible landing on tiny bench at sea
(Marine Corps Times) A new video from the amphibious assault ship Bataan shows a Marine AV-8B Harrier pilot executing the precision landing of a lifetime after his aircraft malfunctioned in mid-flight. 
Marine Corps Strategy Reflects Lean Times
(National Defense) Marines are coming to grips with the reality that they will not have the big-ticket hardware that they had hoped for. So they are adjusting their plans and strategies with the knowledge that they will have to live with existing equipment and lower-cost alternatives.  
USMC to reduce Shadow budget to fund Blackjack engine upgrade
(IHS Jane's 360) The US Marine Corps (USMC) has requested that the US Congress allow it to shift USD18.75 million from its RQ-7B Shadow unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to its RQ-21 Blackjack UAV programme in order to extend the latter's range. 
Navy Cross recipient who outed military fakers dies
(Marine Corps Times) Retired Marine Lt. Col. Tom Richards received the Navy Cross, but he was most proud of the Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal that he received as an enlisted Marine, said his wife, Diane Richards. 
Prison for contractors in 'godfather' bribery scheme
(San Diego Union-Tribune) Two contractors were sentenced to prison Friday for their bribery scheme with a construction supervisor who called himself the "Godfather of Camp Pendleton." 
Terminal Lance creator goes darker with new graphic novel
(Marine Corps Times) Fans of the Marine Corps-centric "Terminal Lance" helped its creator Max Uriarte raise the seed money for his newest project, a graphic novel set to debut this summer. But don't expect the sardonic, absurdist humor of Terminal Lance here. 
Marine receives combat medal in ceremony at crowded Chili's restaurant
(Marine Corps Times) It was the perfect ambush. Cpl. Randy Mann, an assault amphibious vehicle crewman on terminal leave, was lured to a Southern California Chili's by his Marine buddies who said they wanted to bid him farewell before he departed for Texas, his home state, the next day. 
Marine drone community gets more officers
(Marine Corps Times) Results of the latest selection board for officers making a lateral move into the burgeoning unmanned aerial vehicle officer specialty show the community continues to grow. 

AFGHANISTAN/PAKISTAN

Afghanistan on the brink
(San Diego Union-Tribune) Among his many military titles, one might add "Chief of Busting Chops" to Lt. Gen. Joseph Anderson's resume. 
Pakistani military kills local Taliban leader, captures al Qaeda bomb expert
(Long War Journal) The Pakistani military said it killed the Movement of the Taliban in Pakistan's commander for the town of Miramshah in North Waziristan and captured an al Qaeda explosives expert during its ongoing offensive in the tribal agency. 
Pakistani Cobra Crash Further Stresses Tired Fleet
(Defense News) The fatal crash of a Pakistan AH-1F Cobra helicopter gunship during a night training mission Wednesday has further whittled down the well-worn fleet at a time when it is engaged in efforts to cleanse North Waziristan of the Taliban and its allies. 

MIDDLE EAST

Qatar Emiri Air Force Through The Lens
(Aviation Week) Like most Middle Eastern air arms, the Qatar Emiri Air Force is extremely camera-shy. 
Militants Leverage Iraq Gains in Syria
(Wall Street Journal) The extremist group known as the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) is expanding its foothold in Syria after recent gains in neighboring Iraq, intensifying its clashes here against other Islamist rebel factions. 
Saudi king sacks deputy defence minister - royal court
(Reuters) Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah sacked the deputy defence minister on Saturday less than two months after he was appointed, the state news agency reported. 
Iran, Qatar to cooperate against 'terror'
(Agence France-Presse) The leaders of Shiite Iran and Sunni Qatar vowed Sunday to cooperate to fight "terrorism in the region", President Hassan Rouhani's office reported as Iraqi forces counter a militant onslaught. 
Israeli air strikes hit targets in Gaza
(Al Jazeera) The Israeli military has carried out airstrikes in the Gaza Strip after rockets were launched towards Israel, the military said, and Israel's foreign minister suggested reoccupying the Hamas-ruled territory to stop the rocket fire. 
Martin Indyk, U.S. envoy for Israeli-Palestinian negotiations, to step down
(Washington Post) Martin Indyk, the former U.S. diplomat who has served for the past year as Secretary of State John F. Kerry's point man in failed efforts to forge an Israeli-Palestinian peace agreement, is returning to his regular job at the Brookings Institution, Kerry announced Friday. 

EUROPE

Second French FREMM completes sea trials
(IHS Jane's 360) The French Navy's second Aquitaine-class multimission FREMM (Fregate Europeenne Multi-Missions) frigate Normandie has completed sea trials and returned to the DCNS shipyard in Lorient, France, for final work prior to delivery later in 2014. 
Finland Appoints 'NATO Hawk' as New PM
(Defense News) The appointment of Alexander Stubb, dubbed a "NATO hawk" by the opposition Finns Party, as Finland's new prime minister has raised expectations that the non-aligned Nordic state will accelerate a path toward NATO. 
Turkey Could Double Its Arms Budget
(Defense News) Turkey, which has been spending around US $4 billion a year on weapons and upgrades, may double that to meet procurement goals for 2023. 
French Minister's Visit to India To Feature Talks on Rafale Sale
(Defense News) Discussions to resolve contract differences on India's planned purchase of Dassault Rafale fighters for its $12 billion Medium Multirole Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) program are likely to top the agenda when French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius begins a two-day visit to New Delhi on June 30. 
Italy Seeks Bigger JSF Workshare
(Defense News) Italy's defense minister, during a Friday meeting with US Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel, will ask the US to boost the Italian workshare on the Joint Strike Fighter program at its final assembly line, even as Italy reduces spending on the aircraft. 

ASIA-PACIFIC

North Korea launches two missiles, defies U.N. ban
(Reuters) North Korea fired two short-range ballistic missiles into seas east off its coast on Sunday, South Korea's military said, defying a U.N. ban on the isolated country testing such weapons. 
New landmine policy will not affect Korea's DMZ
(Military Times) A major change in U.S. policy on landmines should not affect the mines in the Demilitarized Zone separating North and South Korea. 
India signs nuclear inspections protocol after five-year delay
(IHS Jane's 360) India has finally ratified another element of its international nuclear safety obligations after a five-year delay. 
Vietnam inducts DHC-6 aircraft into air naval brigade
(IHS Jane's 360) The People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN) Navy inducted a Viking DHC-6 twin turboprop aircraft into its 954 Air Force-Naval Brigade on 17 June, in a ceremony at Cam Ranh City presided over by PAVN Deputy Commander Rear Admiral Le Minh Thanh. 

AFRICA

U.S. trims Nigeria surveillance flights seeking abducted girls
(Reuters) The United States said on Friday it had decreased its surveillance flights in the search for more than 200 schoolgirls abducted by Islamist militants in Nigeria, but added that the overall effort was unchanged due to more flights by other countries. 
Gunmen Attack Nigerian Churches, Killing at Least 30
(Wall Street Journal) Gunmen on Sunday attacked services at three churches near the Nigerian village where 276 schoolgirls were abducted in April, part of a pounding of a Christian pocket in the predominantly Muslim north. 
German troops to stay in Mali
(Deutsche Welle) Parliament in Berlin has extended German participation in the UN mission in Mali for another year. Up to 150 German soldiers can continue to serve in the West African country. Doubts about the mission persist. 
A Rogue Libyan General Tries To Impose Order With An Iron Fist
(National Public Radio) No one is safe in Libya these days. Judges, activists, human rights defenders and former officers in Moammar's Gadhafi's army are being silenced with bullets and knives. 

COMMENTARY AND ANALYSIS

Obama's Last Best AUMF Reform Moment
(Defense News) If success really largely is about timing, it is tough to imagine a better political scenario in which President Barack Obama could achieve his own goal of updating America's legal framework for fighting violent Islamic groups. 
The End of an Era in the Philippines?
(Lt. Cmdr. Mark Munson in War on the Rocks) Last week U.S. Pacific Command announced that the Joint Special Operations Task Force - Philippines (JSOTF-P) would be phased out and replaced by "a dozen or so advisers" forming a "PACOM Augmentation Team." And with JSOTF-P's departure, the basis of the U.S.-Philippine relationship is changing. 
The Law's Vital Role in America's Intelligence Debate
(Butch Bracknell and Morris Davis in Real Clear Defense) In his essay, "National Security Lawyers a National Security Threat," Marshall Erwin disparages national security lawyers for, in his view, putting the nation's security at risk. In the process of doing so, Erwin inadvertently makes a compelling case for why national security lawyers play a vital role in helping to guide those who make and execute national security policies.  
Opinion: The Wrong Debate on Coping with ISIS
(Air Force Lt. Col. David Abba in USNI News) Since the dawn of military aviation, proponents and skeptics of air power have vigorously debated its efficacy, often focusing on whether air power is capable of winning wars by itself. Not surprisingly, this debate is surfacing again as we consider whether and how the United States should be involved in the current crisis in Iraq. 
The IMU Ascendant: How Uzbek Autocracy Empowers Terrorist Entrepreneurs
(Luke Lischin in Small Wars Journal) After approximately one decade spent in the shadow of the Afghan Taliban, the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU) claimed ownership over what appear to be increasingly frequent waves of violence focused in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and at the borders of Central Asia 




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Friday, June 27, 2014

FW: THE EARLY BRIEF -- 500 US Military Personnel Now in Iraq



Thank You
Robert Serge
Subject: THE EARLY BRIEF -- 500 US Military Personnel Now in Iraq

The Early Brief
27 June 2014
500 US Military Personnel Now in Iraq A Pentagon spokesman said, "Some of them are conducting an advise and assist mission, some are manning the joint operations center, some of them are part of the [Office of Security Cooperation] and yet others are Marines that are part of a [fleet anti-terrorism security team] platoon." Read More
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Thursday, June 26, 2014

FW: Navy Times Early Bird Brief



Thank You
Robert Serge
VVA 17 Member
Blog Master
To all my fellow veterans friends and family my we all remember 



From: no-reply@navytimes.com
To: rserge1@outlook.com
Subject: Navy Times Early Bird Brief
Date: Thu, 26 Jun 2014 04:22:35 -0600


Defense News
COMPILED BY THE EDITORS OF DEFENSE NEWS & MILITARY TIMES
June 26, 2014

EARLY BIRD BRIEF
Get the most comprehensive aggregation of defense news delivered by the world's largest independent newsroom covering military and defense.

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TODAY'S TOP 5

1. White House to Request $60B for Afghanistan in 2015
(Defense News) The White House on Thursday will ask the US Congress for $60 billion to fund military operations in Afghanistan and other global contingencies, Defense News has learned. 
2. Scores dead as Taliban wages offensive in southern Afghanistan
(Los Angeles Times) Taliban fighters have attacked Afghan government troops and civilians across five southeastern districts in a days-long offensive heralding the start of the summer fighting season in the mountainous areas along the border with Pakistan. 
3. Congress has a role in U.S. military action in Iraq
(Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., in The Washington Post) Last week, both the Obama administration and certain members of Congress said that no congressional authorization is needed for U.S. military action in Iraq. I deeply disagree. 
4. Marine, Air Force JSF Flights Stalled; AETC Puts F-35A Under Lock, Key
(Breaking Defense) The F-35A struck by fire as it took off from Eglin Air Force Base has been secured and is under armed guard in a secure hanger and the Air Force and Marines are not flying their versions of the Joint Strike Fighter program until they know more about the fire's causes. 
5. Arlington tragedy: Deceased colonel remembered as loving, generous and proud of service
(Air Force Times) Retired Air Force Col. Robert Stanton Terrill was married to his wife, Helen, for 65 years before she passed away after a long illness in 2009. Helen was laid to rest in Section 64 of Arlington National Cemetery. 

IRAQ

Iran Secretly Sending Drones and Supplies Into Iraq, U.S. Officials Say
(New York Times) Iran is directing surveillance drones over Iraq from an airfield in Baghdad and is secretly supplying Iraq with tons of military equipment, supplies and other assistance, American officials said. Tehran has also deployed an intelligence unit there to intercept communications, the officials said. 
ISIS Tries to Grab Its Own Air Force
(The Daily Beast) The Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham is threatening to take control of Balad Airbase, Iraq's largest airfield and one of America's most important military outposts during its occupation of the country. 
Sunni Militants Advance Toward Large Iraqi Dam
(New York Times) Iraqi security officials said Wednesday that fighters with the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria were advancing on the Haditha Dam, the second-largest in Iraq, raising the possibility of catastrophic damage and flooding. 
Spying drop-off in Iraq preceded fresh insurgency
(Associated Press) CIA officers in Iraq have been largely hunkered down in their heavily fortified Baghdad compound since U.S. troops left the country in 2011, current and former officials say, allowing a once-rich network of intelligence sources to wither. 
Iraqi PM Rejects Forming 'Salvation' Government
(Voice of America) Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki has rejected forming an emergency government to help the country counter a surge by Sunni Islamist militants. 
A terrorist with gang-leader charisma
(Washington Post) A glimpse of the passionate loyalty inspired by Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the leader of the insurgent group known as the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, comes in a recent video made by a 20-year-old Muslim recruit from Cardiff, Wales. 
Jihadists Step Up Recruitment Drive
(Wall Street Journal) A Sunni jihadist group that has seized vast territories in Iraq and Syria is parlaying its battlefield successes into a recruitment drive that is attracting more foreign fighters, say Western and Arab officials. 
Shiite Violence Traps Sunnis in Baghdad
(New York Times) The bodies arrive in twos and threes most every day in the Baghdad morgue now, a grim barometer of the city's sectarian tensions. Most have gunshot wounds to the head, some have signs of torture, and most of them are Sunnis. 
A U.S.-Iran alliance on Iraq? Is the enemy of our enemy our friend?
(McClatchy) The United States considers Iran a top state sponsor of terrorism, a budding nuclear threat and a meddlesome supporter of President Bashar Assad's regime in civil war-torn Syria. 
As Iraqi city faces new battle, ex-mayor tries to keep the peace - by phone from the U.S.
(Washington Post) The last time Tal Afar fell to insurgents in the midst of the Iraq war, Mayor Najim Abed al-Jabouri was directing his troops from a 16th-century Ottoman castle in the center of his city. This time, he's stuck in a suburb about an hour south of Washington as he punches the code from a $2 phone card into his cellphone, takes a drag on his cigarette and waits for the latest update from the battlefield. 
Officer: Iraq Hopes For 'True Intervention' By US
(Agence France-Presse) Baghdad wants a "true intervention" by the United States, which fought a bloody almost nine-year war in Iraq, to help combat a sweeping militant offensive, a senior officer said Wednesday. 
Iraq's new 'Baghdad Bob' sees positive side as military faces rout
(Washington Post) Each afternoon, the meticulously groomed Lt. Gen. Qassim Atta stands in front of a cluster of microphones in a palatial meeting room in Baghdad's Green Zone to update the nation on the latest military developments. 
State Dept. Bolsters Social Media Campaign Against ISIS, al-Qaida, Others
(NextGov) The State Department is expanding a program to counter al-Qaida and other extremist groups using Twitter, YouTube and other digital media, the agency announced this week. 

INDUSTRY

Boeing Defense Head: Partnerships the New Normal
(Defense News) As budgets around the world continue to contract, expect partnerships on major programs to become the norm, the head of Boeing's defense arm said. 
Navy seeks big data ecosystem
(C4ISR & Networks) The Navy wants to create a big data ecosystem that will enable strides in analytics. 
F-35B Stand-down Not Yet Affecting Air Show Timeline
(Aviation Week) All U.S. Marine Corps F-35B operations remain dormant since a fire broke out in an F-35A preparing for takeoff this week, but this is not expected - at least for now - to affect the timing of the aircraft's debut in the U.K. next month. 
DARPA to progress VTOL X-Plane as Boeing reveals Phantom Swift details
(IHS Jane's 360) The US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is to undertake conceptual design reviews for the four vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) X-Plane contenders in the coming weeks, a Boeing programme official disclosed on 24 June. 
Boeing Defense Head: Partnerships the New Normal
(Defense News) As budgets around the world continue to contract, expect partnerships on major programs to become the norm, the head of Boeing's defense arm said. 
Lawrence Levy, 90; defense industry executive
(Boston Globe) Amid the Cold War boom in defense contracts and frenzied research into aeronautics and space travel, Lawrence Levy launched Concord-based Allied Research Associates Inc. when he was a 28-year-old instructor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. 
Mexico could soon receive more UH-60M Black Hawks
(IHS Jane's 360) The US Department of State has approved a foreign military sale of five Sikorsky UH-60M Black Hawk utility helicopters to Mexico, according to a US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) announcement on June 24. 
British Army to trial VBCI
(IHS Jane's 360) The British Army is to conduct trials later this year on the French Nexter Systems Vehicule Blinde de Combat d'Infanterie (VBCI) 8x8 infantry combat vehicle. 

VETERANS

2 more VA officials resign
(Military Times) Two more high-ranking Veterans Affairs officials announced plans to step down from their leadership roles Wednesday, the latest personnel overhaul for an embattled department already lacking multiple top administrators. 
VA heart program in Oklahoma City temporarily closed after five deaths since October
(The Oklahoman) Five patients at the Oklahoma City VA Medical Center have died since October within 30 days of their surgeries, prompting the temporary closure of the hospital's heart surgery program until a federal review is complete. 
Quick passage of VA reform bill in doubt
(Military Times) Lawmakers are moving as fast as they can to pass a new Veterans Affairs reform bill. Unfortunately for supporters, that doesn't guarantee it'll be finished soon. 
Brain injury in veterans tied to higher Alzheimer's risk
(USA Today) Veterans who suffered brain injuries while in the service were more likely to develop Alzheimer's decades later, according to a new study published Wednesday in the journal Neurology. 
Five questions: Montel Williams talks about supporting vets
(Military Times) Navy and Marine Corps veteran Montel Williams is mad as hell that veterans are dying while waiting to be seen at Veterans Affairs Department medical facilities - mad enough to wage a social media campaign to get President Obama to fix VA. 
VFW: Boycott Mexico Until it Frees Jailed Marine
(Military.com) A major veterans' service organization says it's time to "take off the gloves" in seeking the release of a Marine reservist from the Mexican prison where he has been held on gun charges since March 31. 

CONGRESS

Graham: A-10 Proponents 'Getting Close' on Appropriations Language
(Defense News) The Senate's Pentagon spending bill likely will include language blocking an Air Force proposal to cut costs by retiring its A-10 attack plane fleet, a key member tells CongressWatch. 
Republicans Warn Obama Doesn't Have Two Weeks to Mull Iraq
(National Journal) The Senate has one foot out the door for the Fourth of July holiday week, and Republican hawks are warning that by the time they get back, it could be too late for Iraq. 
Amid Call for New Force Resolution, Lawmaker Warns Iraq 'Is Going to Hell'
(Defense News) US senators are taking differing stances on whether another use-of-force resolution would be needed before new US strikes in Iraq, with one saying the situation there "is going to hell." 

DEFENSE DEPARTMENT

US Senate Confirms Morin, Wright
(Defense News) The US Senate has confirmed Jamie Morin to head the Pentagon's Cost Assessment and Program Evaluation office and Jessica Wright to be the undersecretary for personnel and readiness. 
The swift, quiet rise of Lt. Gen. Joseph Votel, Special Operations commander
(Washington Post) Shortly after a controversial Dec. 11 drone strike in Yemen, Lt. Gen. Joseph Votel began pressing for the United States to push back on accusations that it had killed numerous civilians in a wedding party in the process. 
DIA to unveil innovation gateway
(C4ISR & Networks) For more than a year officials at the Defense Intelligence Agency have been working on the Open Innovation Gateway, an environment run by DIA open to industry to share ideas, capabilities and concepts. Now, the gateway is on the verge of being ready. 
Language Learning Software Now Free to All Military, Government Personnel
(National Defense) The Department of Defense recently made language learning software previously used only by specialists available to all government and military personnel. 

ARMY

Pentagon clarifies what could happen to Bowe Bergdahl if he went AWOL
(Christian Science Monitor) If the US Army determines that Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl wandered off his small outpost in Afghanistan without authorization - in other words, if he was absent without leave - this will effectively negate his status as a "captured" soldier, the Pentagon said Wednesday. 
Fort Drum remembers soldiers, civilian killed during deployments in 2013
(Watertown Daily Times) Did soldiers die in vain in Afghanistan? 
Staff sgt. returns to UFC ring Saturday in San Antonio
(Army Times) After two straight losses, the only full-time service member in the UFC faces what could be a career-defining fight Saturday night in San Antonio. 
Defense: Death penalty decision taking too long
(Associated Press) Jurors are taking too long to deliberate the fate of a former Hawaii-based soldier facing the death penalty for killing his 5-year-old daughter, defense attorneys said in a motion that calls for a mistrial in the first capital murder trial since Hawaii became a state. 
Washington National Guard gets new helicopter for first time in five decades
(Tacoma News Tribune) After 38 years in the Washington National Guard, 1st Sgt. Brett Jensen received something new for a change. 

NAVY

Blue Angels report calls out fighter pilot culture
(Navy Times) When news broke that Capt. Gregory McWherter's high-flying career had essentially ended, support came flooding in from thousands of sailors and civilians who said he'd put the Blue Angels flight team back together after a spate of safety issues. 
USS New York, carrying a Benghazi suspect, has gone dark
(Washington Post) Where is the USS New York? 
Navy identifies SEAL killed in parachute mishap
(Navy Times) Officials identified the SEAL killed in a Monday parachute accident as Chief Special Operator (SEAL) Bradley Cavner, a decorated combat veteran, Naval Special Warfare Group 1 said late Tuesday. 
Stabbing victim released from Portsmouth Naval
(Virginian-Pilot) A victim stabbed by another sailor at Portsmouth Naval Medical Center was released from the hospital Friday. 

AIR FORCE

Air Force generals will face off over difficult budget, job cuts
(Washington Times) A group of top Air Force generals will gather behind closed doors at Andrews Air Force Base on Thursday to hash through ways to cut 3,400 positions from the service as part of a proposal to shave $1.6 billion from the Pentagon's budget over the coming five years, defense officials said this week. 
Air Force raises enlistee age limit from 27 to 39
(Stars & Stripes) Thanks to a new Air Force policy announced Tuesday, enlisted recruits can now experience the joys of basic training in their late 30s. 
Minot Air Force Base missile wing gets new leader
(Associated Press) Minot Air Force Base has a new missile wing commander and it might be in line for more personnel. 
Air Force to add up to 1,440 employees to S.A. cyber mission
(San Antonio Express-News) The Air Force will expand its cyber mission in San Antonio, bringing up to 1,440 troops and civilian workers to the city this fall. 

MARINE CORPS

Amos rejects recent critique of amphibious combat vehicle
(Marine Corps Times) The commandant of the Marine Corps pushed back on criticism of the Marines' amphibious combat vehicle Tuesday, calling development of the vehicle his top priority for the remainder of his tenure. 
Marine KC-130Js to Move to Iwakuni
(Seapower) The Marine Corps will move an aviation squadron from Okinawa to one of the main Japanese islands as part of a realignment of Marine aviation units within Japan to reduce the impact of air activity on the Okinawan population. 
Paralympic star Sweeney earns 1st Tillman Award
(Associated Press) When retired Marine Sgt. Josh Sweeney recounts his inspirational journey following an explosion that took both his legs in Afghanistan, he leaves out an important detail: His gold-medal winning goal. 
Promotion rate improves for staff sergeants trying to make gunny
(Marine Corps Times) Although fewer Marines were selected for promotion to gunnery sergeant in fiscal 2014 than in the preceding year, staff sergeants in zone for promotion this year actually had a better chance of picking up rank than they did in 2013. 

AFGHANISTAN/PAKISTAN

The Men Who Run Afghanistan
(The Atlantic) Over the past 12 years, Hamid Karzai has relied on several trusted operatives to govern a fragmented country. 
Afghan intelligence rejects political intervention in elections
(Khaama Press) The Afghanistan national directorate of security (NDS) said Wednesday that the Afghan intelligence did not have any political intervention in elections process. 
US adds 2 Lashkar-e-Taiba leaders, several aliases to terrorism list
(Long War Journal) The US government added two Lashkar-e-Taiba leaders to its list of Specially Designated Global Terrorists today. Additionally, the US identified four additional aliases for Lashkar-e-Taiba, or Army of the Pure, and included them on the list of Foreign Terrorist Organizations. 
LeT designation notes group's recent attack in western Afghanistan
(Long War Journal) In today's designation of two Lashkar-e-Taiba leaders as well as the identification of additional aliases for the terror group, the US government disclosed an interesting piece of information: Lashkar-e-Taiba executed an attack in western Afghanistan as recently as late May. From the State Department designation: 

MIDDLE EAST

Beirut Hit by Two Suicide Bombs in Two Nights
(Wall Street Journal) The second suicide bomb in two nights hit Lebanon's capital Tuesday, when explosives detonated in a Mediterranean seaside hotel near the local Saudi embassy as security forces alerted to a bomb plot were raiding the hotel. 
Israel Tests New Counter-Abduction Strategy in Ongoing West Bank Op
(Defense News) Israel is leveraging its ongoing West Bank operation against Hamas, the Islamic organization it blames for the June 12 abduction of three missing teens, to test a new strategy for deterring terrorist trade in Israeli captives, security sources say. 
Bahrain acquits key opposition figure
(Al Jazeera) A Bahraini court cleared Khalil al-Marzooq of 'inciting violence' charges and having links with a 'terrorist' group. 
Egyptian Al Nusrah Front commander on Syrian border defects to ISIS
(Long War Journal) An Egyptian commander of an Al Nusrah Front faction in the border town of Albu Kamal in Syria's Deir al Zour province has recently sworn allegiance to the rival Islamic State of Iraq and the Sham. The pledge to ISIS may help ISIS cement its control of both sides of the Syrian-Iraqi border along the Euphrates River. 

EUROPE

Tense Vote Spares Polish Government After Recordings Scandal
(New York Times) The Polish Parliament voted Wednesday to retain the embattled government of Prime Minister Donald Tusk, despite an embarrassing scandal involving several top officials whose private, often profane conversations in upscale Warsaw restaurants had been bugged for more than a year. 
Norway DM Urges NATO Members To Expand Military Capabilities, Areas of Interest
(Defense News) Norway's defense minister says NATO members should focus on the development of military capabilities as well as on areas where the US has security interests. 
Russia and Others Seek Extended Ukraine Truce, but Separatists Balk
(New York Times) The leaders of Russia, Ukraine, France and Germany on Wednesday called for extending the truce between government and rebel troops in eastern Ukraine, even as separatist leaders said that the peace process had collapsed. 
Uzbeks Adding To Ranks Of Ukraine's Pro-Russian Separatists
(Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty) Fresh evidence suggests that pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine are looking to Central Asia as a potential source of trained military fighters. 
Ukrainian city stays quiet amid war
(Washington Post) The battlefields of eastern Ukraine are barely 100 miles from this city, but there is no visible sign of the militant separatism that has roiled neighboring regions. 

ASIA-PACIFIC

22 nations, including first-ever Chinese ships, set to begin RIMPAC
(Navy Times) The world's largest multination naval exercise kicks off Thursday, and this year includes an unusual player: for the first time, the Chinese navy. 
China accuses Japan of endangering warships with destroyer, submarine hunter
(IHS Jane's 360) China has accused the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) of endangering its vessels on 22 June as they sailed from the Pacific Ocean to the East China Sea. 
North Korea Warns U.S. Over Film Mocking Its Leader
(New York Times) North Korea on Wednesday warned against the release of a Hollywood comedy about a plot to assassinate its leader, Kim Jong-un, calling the movie an "act of war." 
Australia begins training LHD crew with MRH90 helicopters
(IHS Jane's 360) The Royal Australian Navy (RAN) has begun training the aviation crew of its first Canberra-class amphibious assault ship (LHD) on MRH90 helicopters, the RAN's official news outlet said on 24 June. 

AFRICA

Pentagon official: Libya a 'magnet' for terrorists
(The Hill) Libya has become a "magnet" for terrorists since the U.S.-led ouster of Moammar Gadhafi in 2011, a Pentagon official said in testimony Wednesday. 
Violence and Uncertainty Mar Libyan Election for a New Parliament
(New York Times) With their expectations battered, Libyans headed to the polls on Wednesday to elect members of a new Parliament, in a vote seen as a critical step in a democratic transition that was overshadowed by an intensifying civil conflict in the eastern part of the country. 
At least 21 killed in rush-hour blast in Nigerian capital
(Reuters) At least 21 people were killed when a suspected bomb tore through a crowded shopping district in the Nigerian capital Abuja during rush hour on Wednesday, police said, adding to the toll of thousands killed in attacks this year. 
Nigerian Violence Spawns Homemade Responses
(Wall Street Journal) Many people in northern Nigeria, frustrated by a five-year insurgency and what they call a lack of military protection, are ordering what passes for bulletproof clothing, buying homemade muskets and organizing ragtag militias. 

COMMENTARY AND ANALYSIS

How to Reform the VA: Trust Veterans
(Retired Vice Adm. Ed Straw and Stephen Rodriguez in Real Clear Defense) As a start, comprehensive reform should emphasize proactive medical processes rather than the current bureaucratic focus that emphasizes success by administrative metrics. These metrics inadvertently make money, in the form of performance bonuses, a behavioral driver that resulted in the manipulation of wait times by VA personnel.  
The War on the Rocks Summer Fiction Reading List
(Usha Sahay in War on the Rocks) Looking to crack open a novel at the beach this summer? Look no further than this list. Our contributors offer their favorite fiction about war, foreign affairs, and intrigue. 
A-10 vs. fighters and bombers
(Mackenzie Eaglen in The Hill) It's a time-honored tradition inside the Beltway to "kick the can" on really hard decisions while making sure immediate "solutions" to defer pain only cost more and create bigger problems later. Congress is set to do it again. 
Gaming Out the Future of Iraq: Three Options
(Jeffrey Itell in Defense One) With the recent capture of the Iraqi cities of Mosul and Tikrit by the militant organization known as the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant, or ISIL, Iraq faces a greater-than-ever risk of fragmentation along ethnic and religious lines, a fate that has already befallen its neighbor Syria. 




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