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
Subject: Navy Times Early Bird Brief
Date: Wed, 25 Jun 2014 04:38:46 -0600
COMPILED BY THE EDITORS OF DEFENSE NEWS & MILITARY TIMES
| ||||||
|
TODAY'S TOP 51. New Leaders Tapped for ISAF, SOCOM and NORAD(Defense News) The Pentagon on Tuesday announced a major change at the top of its training, counterterrorism and homeland security efforts, naming new heads US Special Operations and Northern Command, along with a new leader of the NATO force in Afghanistan. 2. US forces flow into Baghdad to assess Iraq troops (Associated Press) Nearly half of the roughly 300 U.S. military advisers and special operations forces expected to go to Iraq are now in Baghdad and have begun to assess Iraqi forces in the fight against Sunni militants, the Pentagon said Tuesday as the U.S. ramped up aid to the besieged country. 3. Whoops, He Did it Again: Obama's ISIS Lesson for Afghanistan (Ryan Evans in War on the Rocks) Washington has descended into a familiar battle: the blame game. The issue is Iraq and a major territory grab by the Islamic State of Iraq and Sham (ISIS), but that is unfortunately secondary to the brawl itself 4. Lawrence of Afghanistan'... And His Woman (ABC News) Major Jim Gant believed he held to key to victory in Afghanistan, but the military said he went over the edge. 5. DoD War Spending Bill to Head to Hill Soon (Defense News) The White House will soon send the Pentagon's 2015 war spending request to the US Congress, with sources saying the budget plan will likely head to Capitol Hill by the end of the week. IRAQSix cities in Iraq where U.S. victories turned into defeat(Washington Post) City names that were frequently in newspapers years ago have returned to the headlines. One by one, towns in Iraq are falling to either Islamic state of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), an al-Qaeda splinter group, to Kurdish militants or to other tribal forces. McCain, Inhofe: Why was immunity only possible for troops in Iraq now? (The Hill) A pair of senior GOP senators on Tuesday said if the Obama administration has been able to secure legal immunity for U.S. special operations heading to Iraq, it should have landed the deal years ago. A challenging job for US special forces in Iraq (Associated Press) U.S. teams of special forces going into Iraq after a three-year gap will face an aggressive insurgency, a splintering military and a precarious political situation as they help Iraqi security forces improve their ability to battle Sunni militants. U.S. Intelligence Sees Iraqi Militants Gaining Strength (Bloomberg) Sunni militants are consolidating their hold on a swath of Iraq and now threaten the integrity of the Iraqi state, U.S. military and intelligence officials said. Onetime U.S. allies in Sunni Awakening sit out new Iraq conflict (Los Angeles Times) The aging ex-general remembers another era not long ago, when American military commanders would visit him at his compound and sip tea as they sat on plastic chairs in a tidy garden ringed by date palms. Syrian Warplanes Strike in Western Iraq, Killing at Least 50 People (Wall Street Journal) Syrian warplanes struck targets in the western Iraqi province of Anbar on Tuesday, killing at least 50 people as foreign allies of Baghdad's Shiite-dominated government sought to shore up the crumbling Iraqi armed forces and curb the advances of Sunni insurgents. ISIS holds military parade in Mosul (Long War Journal) The Islamic State of Iraq and the Sham's Ninewa Division continues to crank out images of its conquest of Mosul and the surrounding province. Earlier today, the Ninewa Division released photographs of its forces seizing control of several bases, displaying captured military hardware, and executing Iraqi soldiers Poll: Majority of Americans Oppose Obama's Handling of Iraq (Defense News) A majority of Americans disapprove of President Barack Obama's handling of the crisis in Iraq, according to a new poll. Losses to ISIS in Iraq Spur U.S. to Rethink Syria (Wall Street Journal) The Sunni militant advance in Iraq has reignited a debate in the Obama administration over its policy toward Syria, increasing pressure on the president to act more aggressively against a growing regional threat, according to current and former government officials. More Than 1,000 Iraqis Killed in Past Two Weeks Alone (DefenseOne) The latest grim tolls out of Iraq speak to the fate of thousands of its people: death and dislocation. ISIS recruits Kurdish youths, creating a potential new risk in a peaceful part of Iraq (Washington Post) This town near the Iranian border has long been a symbol of Kurdish resistance, and it is best known as the site of a gruesome chemical-weapons attack by Saddam Hussein in 1988. Records show how Iraqi extremists withstood U.S. anti-terror efforts (McClatchy) The Islamic State of Iraq and Syria sprang from a largely self-funded, corporation-style prototype whose resilience to counterterrorism operations was proven by the time Abu Bakr al Baghdadi assumed command in 2010. Chaos in Iraq May Lead to Divisions, Says Turkmen Leader (Daily Sabah) Iraqi Turkmen Front leader Ershad Salihi called on Turkmens, 500 of whom have been killed by ISIS, to take up arms against ISIS yesterday as the front's executive member was killed in Kirkuk INDUSTRYLockheed wins $1.9B deal for U.S. missile-warning satellites(Reuters) The U.S. Air Force said on Tuesday it had awarded Lockheed Martin Corp (LMT.N) a contract valued at $1.9 billion to complete work on two more missile-warning satellites as part of the Space-Based Infrared Systems (SBIRS) system. NDIA Official: DoD's Red Tape Could Become 'Most Dangerous Enemy' to US (Defense News) The processes that govern - and often stymie - how the US military buys weapons could be the biggest threat to America, a former Pentagon official said Tuesday. Defense Procurement: Congress Continues to Search for Answers (National Defense) Even in this day of deeply divided government, lawmakers on both sides of the aisle agree that there are fundamental flaws in how the Pentagon buys weapons systems. Beyond that, there is little consensus on what can be done about it. AirTanker Cuts Refueling Deal With Thomas Cook (Defense News) The British consortium which provides Airbus A330 inflight refueling tankers for the Royal Air Force has leased one of the aircraft for holiday flight duties with Thomas Cook Airlines. Pentagon eyes remedies as spending 'bow wave' looms (Reuters) U.S. weapons makers must focus on affordability and be more upfront about the cost of new, cutting-edge technologies given a large "bow wave" of increased spending facing the Pentagon in the 2020s, Comptroller Robert Hale told Reuters on Tuesday. NavWeek: Done Deeds (Aviation Week) In its recent denial of industry protests over the U.S. Coast Guard's Offshore Patrol Cutter design contracts, the U.S. Government Accountability Office Comptroller General showed a pretty keen interest in past-contract performance. Contractors may be wise to take note. DRDO chief says India is ready to become major exporter (IHS Jane's 360) India is ready to export locally developed defence equipment at competitive prices to friendly countries and is in the process of devising the means to do so, the head of the country's premier weapons agency said on 22 June. Turkey Aims To Focus on 'Smart Systems' (Defense News) Turkey's new procurement chief has said the country should prioritize what he calls "smart systems" when planning future purchases. Avibras, Nexter to jointly develop self-propelled howitzer (IHS Jane's 360) Brazil's Avibras and France's Nexter signed a memorandum of understanding in June to develop the Camion Equipe d'un Systeme d'Artillerie (CAESAR) 155 mm self-propelled howitzer (SPH) so that it complies with future Brazilian Army mobility requirements. Russia to Reduce Ukrainian Defense Imports 95% by 2015 (The Moscow Times) Russia is on track to reduce its imports of Ukrainian defense technology and hardware by 95 percent by the end of 2015, Deputy Defense Minister Yury Borisov said Tuesday. Rostec announces 2013 revenues of USD30 billion (IHS Jane's 360) Russian Technologies (Rostec), the state-owned holding group for Russia's defence industry, had consolidated revenues of RUB1.04 trillion (USD30 billion) and made a profit of RUB40 billion in 2013, according to financial results released by the company on 20 June. VETERANSSurvey: Many vets with PTSD or TBI say treatment doesn't help(Military Times) Echoing recent concerns about the effectiveness of military mental health efforts, a new American Legion survey of veterans found that nearly half thought clinical help they received for post-traumatic stress and traumatic brain injury had little or no effect on their conditions. Senator: More than 1,000 veterans may have died as a result of VA misconduct (Stars & Stripes) Over the past decade, more than 1,000 veterans may have died as a result of misconduct by employees of the Department of Veterans Affairs, according to a report released Tuesday by Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla. Man found dead at Arlington National Cemetery was retired Air Force colonel, 92 (Air Force Times) A man found dead of a gunshot wound Friday at Arlington National Cemetery has been identified as retired Air Force Col. Robert Stanton Terrill, 92, of Falls Church, Va. Woman admits bilking WW II vet out of $2.6 million (Arizona Daily Star) A woman accused of defrauding an elderly World War II veteran of more than $2.6 million confirmed everything police and prosecutors said about her crimes was true. CONGRESSSen. Inhofe to Fellow Republicans: Submit NDAA Amendments Now(Defense News) Senior US senators are still working on an agreement for floor amendments to a 2015 Pentagon policy bill, and its Republican manager wants his colleagues to get their amendments in now to avoid a repeat of last year's chaos. Congress Has One Hurdle Left to Pass a VA Bill, But It's a High One (National Journal) The House and Senate have agreed it's time for reform of the Veterans Affairs Department. Now they have to agree how to pay for it-and they have to do it quickly. House chairman pushes to broaden funding for VA reform bill (The Hill) House Veterans' Affairs Committee chairman Rep. Jeff Miller (R-Fla.) on Tuesday said lawmakers may broaden their seach to pay for an overhaul of the troubled department. ARMYArmy-Navy, arena football-style, set for Saturday in Philly(Army Times) Army-Navy football in Philadelphia in December means harsh weather, crowds approaching 90,000 and a rivalry that dates back well over a century. Late Medal of Honor recipient Rudy Hernandez immortalized in museum exhibit (Fayetteville Observer) When Rudy Hernandez described how he earned the Medal of Honor, he often struck the pose of a man pushing forward through daunting odds, thrusting a bayonet into the enemy. Joint Base Lewis-McChord could house undocumented children (Army Times) The Department of Health and Human Services is considering temporarily housing as many as 600 undocumented children at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington state, said Air Force Lt. Col. Thomas Crosson, a Defense Department spokesman. Army's new plan: Active and Guard brigade team-ups (Army Times) To make up for lost time and money, the Army has ramped up its combat training center rotations this year. Army receives additional manpack radios (C4ISR & Networks) The Army has received additional AN/PRC-155 manpack radios under a supplementary contract with General Dynamics C4 Systems and Rockwell Collins. NAVYDeployed squadron CMC sacked for poor performance(Navy Times) The command master chief of a helicopter squadron has been fired for poor performance while the unit was in the Persian Gulf, Naval Air Force Atlantic said Tuesday. Navy SEAL died in parachute accident (San Diego Union-Tribune) The Navy released the name of a 31-year-old Navy SEAL killed Monday in a parachute accident in El Centro. Carrier Nimitz heads into 16-mo. overhaul in 2015 (Navy Times) The fleet's longest-serving flattop is slated for a much-needed break from the deployment cycle next year, when it enters a16-month maintenance period, Naval Air Forces Pacific said Tuesday. Chesapeake contractor gets prison for scheme (Virginian-Pilot) As head of a Chesapeake defense contracting firm, Roderic Smith thought he had to "pay to play." He thought bribery was all part of the government contracting game. USN's Joint High-Speed Vessel demonstrates transport capabilities in Caribbean (IHS Jane's 360) One month into its maiden deployment to Latin America, the US Navy's (USN's) first Joint High-Speed Vessel (JHSV) is supporting a US Southern Command-sponsored training event in the Caribbean designed to help regional navies improve capabilities for disaster response and also for countering maritime threats, such as illicit trafficking, the navy told IHS Jane's on 20 June. Chance to make chief dips; 3,923 spots up for grabs (Navy Times) The latest chief petty officer selection board began its work Monday picking who will be next to move into the chief's mess in the coming year. U.S. prepares for awkward military engagement with China in Hawaii (Washington Post) The U.S. Navy has dispatched numerous ships to Hawaii as it prepares for Rim of the Pacific 2014, the world's largest international maritime exercise. It will involve 49 surface ships and six submarines from 23 countries this year, but the inclusion of one - China - will get an inordinate amount of attention. AIR FORCEF-35As grounded at Eglin after Monday's fire(Air Force Times) Flights of F-35A fighters are grounded Tuesday at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, one day after a "significant fire" damaged one of the aircraft during takeoff. Drinking ban in Korea successful with no alcohol-related incidents (Stars & Stripes) The 7th Air Force called last weekend's ban on drinking a "success," with no alcohol-related incidents recorded during the 66-hour period. Suspicious' package found at the Air Force Academy; all clear given (Colorado Springs Gazette) A package identified as "suspicious" on the Air Force Academy grounds Tuesday morning was quickly determined to not contain hazardous materials, according to spokesman Lt. Col. Brus Vidal. MARINE CORPSIowa Marine dies in attack in Afghanistan(Des Moines Register) An Ottumwa native known as a hard worker who was always kind to his classmates was one of three Marines killed in a Taliban attack as the United States draws down its military forces in Afghanistan. Medal of Honor recipient Carpenter visits Marines in San Diego (Stars & Stripes) As the 1,100 enlisted Marines packed in the base theater Monday morning waited for Cpl. William Kyle Carpenter to arrive, they plotted how to be the first to get a selfie with the newest Medal of Honor recipient and the second living Marine of their generation to receive the award. USMC, USN eyeing ship-to-shore connectors for new amphib strategy (IHS Jane's 360) Ship-to-shore connectors are to play a key role in the US Marine Corps' (USMC's) future amphibious vehicles strategy, according to USMC Commandant General James Amos. AFGHANISTAN/PAKISTANTop Marine: Taliban 'more desperate' to inflict US casualties(The Hill) The nation's top Marine said Taliban attacks had grown "more desperate" as they looked to inflict casualties on American troops drawing down from Afghanistan. Gunmen fire on plane at Pakistan's Peshawar airport (Reuters) Gunmen fired on a Pakistan International Airlines plane as it was landing in the northern Pakistani city of Peshawar on Tuesday night, killing a woman on board and injuring three crew members in the third incident at a Pakistani airport this month. Operation Waziristan: Can Pakistan's Military Root out Taliban Sanctuaries? (Foreign Policy) The bane of Pakistan's counterterrorism policy has been denial, delay, and as some would argue, deception. U.S.-Pakistan Alliance Failing to Contain Terrorism, Says Scholar (National Defense) The United States should break off its counter terrorism alliance with Pakistan because the South Asian nation has goals that don't match U.S. foreign policy objectives, a scholar argued at a recent panel discussion in Washington, D.C. MIDDLE EASTAt least five wounded in Cairo explosions: sources(Reuters) Four small bomb blasts wounded at least five people in Cairo during the morning rush hour on Wednesday, security sources said, the first such casualties in the capital since Abdel Fattah al-Sisi became president this month. Israeli jets bomb Gaza after rocket fire (The Times of Israel) IDF strikes targets across Strip in response to barrage; Palestinians say 3-year-old Gazan killed by rocket fired at Israel Suicide attacker strikes near cafe south of Beirut (Associated Press) A suicide bomber detonated an explosives-packed vehicle near a checkpoint and a cafe in a neighborhood south of Lebanon's capital early Tuesday, causing several casualties, a Lebanese security official and witnesses said. At long last, the Pentagon's chemical weapons-eating ship jumps into action (Washington Post) In January, the Pentagon invited dozens of journalists to Portsmouth, Va., to view the MV Cape Ray, the container ship that has been outfitted with equipment to process deadly chemical weapons coming out of Syria as part of a deal with President Bashar al-Assad that stopped the United States from launching airstrikes. After Opening Way to Rebels, Turkey Is Paying Heavy Price (New York Times) In normal times, hauling 50,000 pounds of frozen chicken into Iraq is a routine job for Turfan Aydin, a Turkish trucker who has been working the route for years. But the cross-border trade has suddenly all but halted, locked up by the insurgent offensive in Iraq and the kidnapping of 80 Turkish citizens. EUROPEUkraine army helicopter shot down despite ceasefire(BBC) The Ukrainian military says one of its helicopters has been shot down by pro-Russian rebels in the east, killing all nine people on board. Poroshenko Warns He Might Scrap Cease-Fire (Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty) Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has warned he may scrap a cease-fire after pro-Russian separatists shot down a Ukrainian helicopter. Ukraine accuses Russia of using landmines (Associated Press) Ukraine has accused Russian troops of planting landmines on its territory during Russia's annexation of the Crimea region earlier this year. ASIA-PACIFICWeb Preaches Jihad to China's Muslim Uighurs(Wall Street Journal) The video posted online last month looks much like ones from Middle East jihadist groups. It shows what appears to be a man making a suitcase bomb and grainy footage of an explosion at a crowded train station here. The soundtrack plays an Arabic chant inciting holy war. China sends 1st minister-level official to Taiwan (Associated Press) China has sent its first ever ministerial-level official to Taiwan for four days of meetings to rebuild ties with the self-ruled island that Beijing claims as its own, after mass protests in Taipei set back relations earlier this year. India unhappy at Russia's Mi-35 sale to Pakistan (IHS Jane's 360) India's defence links with Russia are under strain following Moscow's recent decision to supply Mi-35 'Hind E' attack helicopters to Pakistan. Philippine President Backs Abe's Military Push (Wall Street Journal) Philippine President Benigno Aquino III on Tuesday offered his endorsement of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's move to lift restrictions on the nation's military as both countries grapple with what they view as China's increasing territorial assertiveness in the East and South China Seas. Australia announces Pacific Patrol Boat Program (IHS Jane's 360) Australian foreign minister, Julie Bishop, and defence minister, David Johnston, unveiled on 17 June a AUD2 billion (USD1.88 billion) programme to replace the current fleet of patrol boats for 13 Pacific Island states. Japanese want more info on safety of Misawa-based Global Hawks (Stars & Stripes) Officials in northern Japan - where the U.S. Air Force has decided to temporarily base its largest unmanned aircraft - want more information about the safety of military drones following a recent report that more than 400 large remotely controlled aircraft have crashed since Sept. 11, 2001. AFRICAAs Libya teeters near chaos, U.S. keeps hands-off policy(Reuters) Among all countries swept by the Arab Spring uprisings, few today are as dysfunctional as Libya. C African Republic at risk of genocide, says group (Associated Press) In the early hours of Monday morning, a Christian militia swept down on the village of Ardo-Djobi near Bambari in the Central African Republic killing 18 Muslims of the Fulani ethnicity. Just a few days earlier, Muslim gunmen had attacked Christians in the nearby village of Liwa and killed 21. Sudan Said to Revive Notorious Militias (New York Times) The Sudanese government has reconstituted the janjaweed, notorious militias that terrorized the restive Darfur region for years, making them an official, uniformed force that has recently burned down huts and attacked civilians, according to a new report prepared by the Enough Project, an activist group that aims to prevent genocide. COMMENTARY AND ANALYSISWhy all VA executives are above average(James Joyner in The Hill) It's simply the nature of bureaucracies to inflate ratings. While most employees, even very high performers, could use improvement in some areas of their performance, bureaucracies naturally pretend otherwise, at least officially. Are National Security Lawyers a National Security Threat? (Marshall Erwin in Real Clear Defense) After a year of public debate following the Snowden disclosures and with surveillance reform legislation finally moving forward in Congress, it has become clear that the United States is under threat from within from its own national security law scholars. Opinion: The Third Iraq War (Cmdr. Daniel Dolan in USNI News) In the Naval War College's Strategy and Policy course students have an opportunity to critically analyze both Operation Desert Storm and Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF). Analyzing The ISIS "Twitter Storm" (Shiraz Maher and Joseph Carter in War on the Rocks) For the last eighteen months we've been closely monitoring the Syrian conflict. One of the ways we do this is through social media, using a range of tools to aid our work. The U.S. Must Deny Russian Influence in Egypt (Melissa Hersh in Defense One) In the violent aftermath of the Egyptian military's removal of Mohamed Morsi from power, the United States has tried to send a message with limited suspensions of aid. | |||||
You are receiving this correspondence because you provided us with your email address as a part of your subscription. If you are receiving this in error, please go here to let us know. Thank you.
No comments:
Post a Comment