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: Fri, 18 Jul 2014 04:38:26 -0600
COMPILED BY THE EDITORS OF DEFENSE NEWS & MILITARY TIMES
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TODAY'S TOP 51. Jetliner Explodes Over Ukraine; Struck by Missile, Officials Say(New York Times) A Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777 with 298 people aboard exploded, crashed and burned on a flowered wheat field Thursday in a part of eastern Ukraine controlled by pro-Russia separatists, blown out of the sky at 33,000 feet by what Ukrainian and American officials described as a Russian-made antiaircraft missile. 2. Israel launches ground invasion of Gaza (Washington Post) Israeli forces backed by artillery barrages and airstrikes launched a major ground offensive into Gaza late Thursday, marking a dramatic escalation of the 10-day-old conflict with the Palestinian militant group Hamas. 3. Is the Navy Writing Strategy? (B.J. Armstrong in War on the Rocks) In the 21st century, everyone and everything appears to have something they call a strategy, from Silicon Valley start-ups to your home-owners association. But while they call their ideas, plans, and statements "strategies," they usually don't deserve the label. 4. Manning to begin gender treatment (Associated Press) The Bureau of Prisons has rejected the Army's request to accept the transfer of national security leaker Pvt. Chelsea Manning from the military prison at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, to a civilian facility where she could get better treatment for her gender-identify condition. The military will instead begin the initial treatment for her. 5. Senate Panel OKs Pentagon Spending Bill, But Its Fate Is Uncertain (Defense News) A US Senate panel on Thursday approved nearly $550 billion in military spending, while also proposing to keep alive weapon systems the Pentagon wanted to retire. But senior members made clear it may never see the Senate floor. MALAYSIA AIRLINES FLIGHT MH17U.S. trying to determine cause of Malaysian airline crash in Ukraine(Associated Press) The Obama administration scrambled Thursday to determine what brought down a passenger jet in Ukraine and confirm whether Americans were killed in an incident that could worsen the already tense conflict near the Ukraine-Russia border. McCain on Russia: 'We Need to Impose the Most Severe Sanctions' (National Journal) It was a fast-paced news day with a downed Malaysia airliner and the launch of a ground assault in Gaza leading up to National Journal and CNN's first Politics On Tap event featuring Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz. McCain: 'Hell to pay' if Russian separatists shot down Malaysian plane (The Hill) Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) said there would be "hell to pay" if Russia or Russian separatists were involved in the crash of a Malaysian airplane over eastern Ukraine. How Satellites Give Clues About Malaysia Jet Attack in Ukraine (NBC News) A family of satellites known as the U.S. Space Based Infrared System, or SBIRS, was probably key to determining that a surface-to-air missile took down the Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777 jet over Ukraine on Thursday. FAA warns airlines to avoid Ukraine because of conflict (USA Today) The Federal Aviation Administration said Thursday after the crash of Malaysia Airlines flight 17 that U.S. airlines have voluntarily agreed to avoid airspace near the Russian-Ukraine border. Biden Says Plane Was 'Blown Out of the Sky' Over Ukraine (DefenseOne) Vice President Joe Biden said "possible repercussions could flow" from the crash of Malaysian Airlines Flight 17 as it passed over contested Ukrainian airspace Thursday. If Ukrainian rebels hit Malaysian plane, where'd they get the missile? (Christian Science Monitor) Some defense experts say it's likely Russia has provided Ukrainian rebels with surface-to-air weapons capable of taking down the Malaysian passenger plane. Pentagon officials say they cannot confirm that. U.S. Officials Say They Suspect SA-11 or SA-20 Missiles Brought Down Malaysia Jet (New York Times) American officials, who said a surface-to-air missile was responsible for shooting down a Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777 on Thursday, said they suspected that the missile was either an SA-11 or SA-20, both Russian made. ISRAELI GROUND OPERATIONS IN GAZA1 Israeli, 20 Palestinians Killed in Gaza Ground Offensive(New York Times) An Israeli soldier was killed early Friday along with at least 20 Palestinians in the first hours of Israel's ground offensive in the Gaza Strip as the violent conflict there entered its 11th day. U.S. cautions Israel on civilian casualties (Washington Post) The Obama administration on Thursday voiced its strongest caution yet to Israel not to take the bombardment of Gaza too far. Egyptian TV Hosts Slam Hamas Leaders: We Are Sick and Tired of You (The Middle East Media Research Institute) Egyptian show hosts slam Hamas. Israel's Incursion Was Driven By Risk From Tunnels (Wall Street Journal) Israel's government said it began its air assault in the Gaza Strip to counter the tide of rocket fire from Hamas that threatened its citizens. From Gaza, an Array of Makeshift Rockets Packs a Counterpunch (New York Times) The rockets are smuggled via ship and tunnel from Iran, Libya, Sudan and Syria and, increasingly, manufactured from water pipes and household items in what a senior Israeli intelligence officer called Gaza's "high-tech" sector - about 70 makeshift factories staffed by 250 men and overseen by a few dozen engineers and chemists. INDUSTRYPratt, Norway Get Jump On Global Engine Sustainment Contest(Defense News) Pratt and Whitney signed a depot activation contract agreement Thursday with Aerospace Industrial Maintenance (AIM) Norway for sustainment of its F135 engine, used to power the F-35 joint strike fighter. Textron AirLand Targets National Guard for Potential Sales (National Defense) Textron AirLand continues to search for a customer for its Scorpion light attack airplane, but it will have the chance to prove the aircraft's capabilities to the Air National Guard in August. Raytheon GPS passes Air Force jamming test (C4ISR & Networks) The Air Force has successfully tested its next-generation GPS system in a jamming environment. Arms makers embrace partnerships in pursuit of foreign sales (Reuters) Traditionally companies which have guarded their secrets closely, arms makers are opening up to partnerships and technology sharing to meet the demands of overseas buyers they need to offset budget cuts at home. Egyptian Order Rises to 20 C-295M Air Transports (Defense Industry Daily) Egypt has ordered eight more Airbus C295 transports in a deal which will take its fleet to 20 and makes it the biggest customer for the market-leading tactical airlifter. Airbus Revs Up for A400M Production (DoDBuzz) Airbus Defense and Space is preparing for a massive increase in production of A400M strategic and tactical military airlifter. Two A400M's were delivered to the French military last year and one was sent to Turkey. This year the United Kingdom's Ministry of Defence is poised to receive the first of 22 ordered A400Ms in September, Airbus officials told Military?.com. Aerospace firms place long-term bets on 3D printing (Reuters) The prospect of huge time savings, less waste and more design options have drawn aerospace firms to invest in additive layer manufacturing, also known as 3D printing, though it may be years before parts made this way are common in planes and weapons. Modi's Offer to Defense Companies Not Enough for Lockheed (Bloomberg) Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's move to increase the ownership stake for foreign defense companies to 49 percent isn't sufficient to lure high-technology investments from Lockheed Martin (LMT) Corp. or Boeing Co. Tata/AgustaWestland JV decision deferred again by India (IHS Jane's 360) India's Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) has again deferred judgment on a bid by Indian Rotorcraft Limited (IRL) - a joint venture (JV) between AgustaWestland and Tata - to manufacture upgraded AW119 reconnaissance and surveillance helicopters in India. Brazil set to issue RfP for 105 mm gun system (IHS Jane's 360) The Brazilian Army is scheduled to issue by August a request for proposals (RfP) to purchase a 105 mm turreted gun system intended to arm the service's future 8x8 armoured reconnaissance vehicle, known locally as VBR (Viatura Blindada de Reconhecimento). VETERANSVA secretary: Albuquerque staff acted properly(Associated Press) Acting Veterans Affairs Secretary Sloan Gibson said Thursday that staffers at Albuquerque's VA hospital responded properly when a veteran died after collapsing in the medical center's cafeteria. Acting VA Secretary: It Will Take Years Before Department Changes (National Journal) For anyone still under the impression that the embattled Veterans Affairs Department will be able to turn itself around quickly, think again. 1st sgt. gets shot at TV fame on hunting reality show (Military Times) If you're a fan of hunting shows, maybe you've imagined what it would be like to host one. CONGRESSDoD: New Counterterror Account Needed for Helicopters, ISR(Defense News) The Pentagon could use a new $5 billion counterterrorism fund, strongly opposed by the US Congress, to purchase new intelligence gear and aircraft for American and partner militaries, a Defense Department official said. Senate Panel Wants Pentagon to Craft 'Stable Requirements' for UCLASS (USNI News) The Senate Appropriations Committee on Defense (SAC-D) supports the U.S. Navy request for $403 million to continue the development of the Unmanned Carrier Launched Airborne Surveillance and Strike (UCLASS) aircraft - with conditions. With 'Incredible Ambivalence,' SAC Okays $500M For Syrian Rebels (Breaking Defense) After bitter debate, the Senate Appropriations Committee voted 21 to 9 to approve the administration's request for $500 million in training and weapons for "vetted" Syrian rebel fighters. Senate bill proposes $61.6M in cuts to Pentagon IT programs (C4ISR & Networks) US senators want to slash the Pentagon's information technology (IT) spending plan by tens of millions, calling on the military to trim duplicative programs. Here Are the House's Recommendations for the Border Crisis (National Journal) A special House "working group" led by Rep. Kay Granger has finalized a draft of its "set of principles" for GOP legislation dealing with the border crisis-including a call for putting an end to the "catch-and-release" system for unaccompanied minors. DEFENSE DEPARTMENTLasers Could Become Cost Effective Missile Defense Weapons(National Defense) The U.S. military invests more money than any other country to maintain technological superiority, but its expensive high-tech defenses are increasingly countered by the proliferation of relatively cheap but effective weapons like cruise missiles and unmanned aircraft. Troops complain about new POV shipping company (Military Times) Complaints are surfacing about a new contractor that recently took over the process of shipping service members' privately owned vehicles to and from overseas locations. Pentagon, Arlington to train for shooter situation (Washington Times) The Defense Department's security agency and Arlington County firefighters are cross training so that they will be able to collectively rush into an active-shooter scenario at the Pentagon armed with medical supplies and weapons - a new tactic that will be deployed the next time the government building is under siege. ARMYFormer Army sex-crimes prosecutor reprimanded, plans to retire(Washington Post) The Army has issued a formal reprimand for misconduct to its former top sex-crimes prosecutor after investigating a complaint that he kissed and groped a female officer while attending a conference on sexual-assault prevention, according to Army officials. Permanent Ink on Your Permanent Record (Army Magazine) The ink has dried on the Army's new tattoo policy, and results could be on the books for a long time-destined to be part of America's military historical record if things remain unchanged. Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl should be court-martialed. (Military Times) More than half of respondents to a Military Times survey believe that Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl should be court-martialed. Army announces lieutenant colonel selections (Army Times) These officers have been selected for promotion to lieutenant colonel in the Army Competitive Category, the Army announced Thursday. They are shown with sequence numbers and branches: Army opening sex-assault response centers based on JBLM model (Tacoma News Tribune) This month, Army commanders announced plans to replicate the Lewis-McChord model at 11 other posts. It's an endorsement of a project created at the base south of Tacoma that put a variety of resources under one roof instead of spreading them around a sprawling military installation. Warrant officer promotion list announced (Army Times) These chief warrant officers have been selected for promotion, the Army announced Thursday: NAVYUSS Reagan sailors not exposed to high radiation levels in Japan, report finds(Stars & Stripes) A high-ranking Defense Department official backs the contention that USS Ronald Reagan sailors were not exposed to dangerous levels of radiation in the aftermath of Japan's nuclear disaster three years ago. Navy Yard Shooting Report: 'Some Members of the Media Made Serious Errors in Judgment' (Romenesko) The D.C. Metropolitan Police after-action report on the September 16, 2013, Navy Yard mass shooting was released last Friday after the Washington Post filed a Freedom of Information Act request. The section about the media's performance is near the end of the report. Workers to return to Navy Yard building in Feb. (Associated Press) An admiral says workers will start returning in February to the Washington Navy Yard building were 12 were fatally shot last year. New Satellite Systems to Boost Communication Coverage in Arctic (UPDATED) (National Defense) The Arctic region is warming up at twice the pace of the rest of the Earth, opening up sea lanes during the summer that were previously inaccessible, according to a Navy report. AIR FORCEAir Force loses staff sergeant tests in the mail(Air Force Times) Promotion test answer sheets for 99 airmen at Pope Field in North Carolina were lost in the mail and were unable to be used in the most recent staff sergeant testing cycle, the Air Force Personnel Center said Thursday. Fort Bragg airman killed on post during Air Force training exercise (Fayetteville Observer) A Fort Bragg airman died today after he was run over by a government vehicle during an Air Force training exercise. Air Force ISR agency to become numbered Air Force (C4ISR & Networks) The Air Force Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Agency will become a numbered Air Force under an ongoing reorganization. Air Force secretary tours bases in England that could face closure (Stars & Stripes) Secretary of the Air Force Deborah James is on a tour of bases in England, some of which have uncertain futures. Kadena rescuers save two airmen caught in flash flood (Stars & Stripes) Airmen Brandon Miles and Roderick Jones could only laugh as the flood waters filled their guard shack in the aftermath of Typhoon Neoguri last week. Article 32 begins Friday for airman charged in strangling death of sailor (Air Force Times) An Article 32 is set to begin Friday morning in the case of an Air Force staff sergeant charged in the December strangling death of a sailor in Germany 439 selected for supplemental promotions (Air Force Times) The Air Force announced today that 439 airmen were selected for supplemental promotions for July. MARINE CORPSLawmakers vow swift confirmation for Marines' next commandant(Marine Corps Times) Afghanistan's future was the most popular discussion point during Thursday's confirmation hearing on Gen. Joseph Dunford's nomination to become the next Marine Corps commandant. US Marines to train with Australian, Chinese forces (Stars & Stripes) U.S. Marines will participate in survival training with Chinese and Australian soldiers this fall, according to officials. NCIS joins Erin Corwin investigation (The Desert Sun; Palm Springs, Calif.) The Naval Criminal Investigative Service is assisting the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department in its investigation into the disappearance of Erin Corwin, an NCIS spokesman told The Desert Sun on Thursday. US plans more Osprey training flights in mainland Japan (Stars & Stripes) Marine Corps Ospreys will be making more flights over mainland Japan as the U.S. military tries to reduce training hours on Okinawa, where residents have protested the hybrid aircraft since before its arrival in 2012. IRAQBehind the Sharp Change in the U.S. Tone on Iraq(Wall Street Journal) A fresh assessment of Iraq's security forces prepared by U.S. military teams working in Iraq was delivered to the Pentagon this week. It wasn't exactly a sunny outlook, but Rear Adm. John Kirby, the Pentagon press secretary, said that while defense leaders felt a sense of urgency, they were not going to rush their work. Australian Islamic State suicide bomber attacks Shia shrine in Baghdad (Long War Journal) The Baghdad Division of the Islamic State claimed credit for today's attack in the Al Shorja neighborhood in Baghdad in a statement that was released on the group's Twitter feed. Five people were killed and 37 more were wounded in the suicide attack, according to the National Iraqi News Agency. Minorities in Iraq Follow Kurds in Pushing for More Autonomy (Wall Street Journal) Threats by Iraq's Kurds to break off and form an independent state are sparking calls by other ethnic minorities for more autonomy of their own amid the shifting political landscape. Islamic State uses Turkish Consulate in Mosul as headquarters (Al-Monitor) When Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the enigmatic leader of the al-Qaeda-inspired Islamic State (IS, formerly the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham, or ISIS), appeared on a video posted online in early July addressing a congregation of faithful at a mosque in Mosul, pundits oozed commentary about his words and his attire. Was the self-declared caliph's watch a Rolex? If so, how did this sit with the teachings of Islam? they mused. AFGHANISTAN/PAKISTANMarine Corps Commandant Nominee Supports Russian Helicopters for Afghan Forces(National Defense) The nominee to lead the Marine Corps said at his confirmation hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee that he supported the Defense Department purchase of Russian-made helicopters for the Afghan national army. Afghanistan Begins Audit of Presidential Election (New York Times) Afghan election workers on Thursday began auditing the votes cast in last month's presidential election runoff, monitored by American and United Nations observers. Militants Slip Away Before Pakistan Offensive (Wall Street Journal) The Pakistani army isn't targeting Afghanistan's deadly Haqqani network, which is based in a Pakistani tribal area, despite Islamabad's assertion that it is going after all insurgents during its current offensive, local tribesmen and U.S. officials say. 10-Hour Clash in Pakistan Leaves 3 Dead (New York Times) A gunfight between members of the Pakistani security forces and two suspected militants erupted early Thursday about a mile away from the country estate of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, killing a policeman and the suspects, Pakistani officials said. EUROPEPutin denies reports that Russia plans to reopen spy base in Cuba(Washington Post) Russian President Vladimir Putin is denying reports that his government had reached an agreement to reopen the Lourdes electronic eavesdropping base in Cuba, which once monitored a broad range of U.S. communications. Ukraine Says Russian Plane Shot Down Its Fighter Jet (New York Times) The Ukrainian government said on Thursday that a Russian military plane had shot down a Ukrainian fighter jet in Ukrainian airspace the previous evening, a serious allegation of direct intervention by Russia's armed forces. Greece looks to major upgrade programmes (IHS Jane's 360) Greece is expected to push ahead with over USD1 billion worth of defence upgrade programmes, with the Parliamentary Committee on Defence Procurement and Contracts scheduled to meet on 30 July to discuss and approve the projects. Cross-Party Support Grows in Finland To Boost Defense Spending (Defense News) The crisis in the Ukraine has united cross-party political consensus to strengthen defense spending in Finland, after six years of near static growth in the military budget. ASIA-PACIFICPhilippines Military Goes on Shopping Spree(Wall Street Journal) Dozens of global defense companies showed off their latest weaponry on Thursday at the first major defense exhibition in 15 years in the Philippines, which is aiming to revamp its military amid territorial disputes with China. Manila urges unity for South East Asian nations in China sea dispute (Reuters) The Philippines is pushing for a meeting among four Southeast Asian nations with conflicting claims to waters in the South China Sea so that they can hammer out a common stand in dealings with China, Manila's foreign minister said on Friday. Japan Couple Seek Child's Return as North Korea Probe Starts (Bloomberg) Shigeru and Sakie Yokota may have their best chance yet of being reunited with their daughter -- 37 years after she was abducted by North Korean agents. AFRICATunisia putting squeeze on extremism after attacks(Associated Press) Tunisia's prime minister has announced a crackdown on networks recruiting people to fight jihad abroad and on imams who incite violence, after 14 soldiers were killed in one of this country's deadliest attacks in recent years. Belmokhtar's jihadis say they killed French soldier in Mali (Radio France Internationale) A jihadist movement led by Mokhtar Belmokhtar, who is linked to Al Qaeda, has reportedly claimed responsibility for the death of a French soldier in Mali. Official: Female Lawmaker Assasinated in Libya (Associated Press) A Libyan security official says a female lawmaker in the outgoing parliament has been killed in a restive eastern city known as a stronghold of Islamic extremists. In Kenya, Somalis at Refugee Camp Languish with Limited Options (Los Angeles Times) As a young man, Noor Hassan Shanglo spent years working on cargo ships that carried apples and oranges from South Africa to ports across Europe and the Middle East. He fell in love with the blue waves and the bright streets of Sicily, Durban and Dubai. COMMENTARY AND ANALYSISWill the Malaysia Airlines crash de-escalate the Ukraine crisis?(David Ignatius in The Washington Post) This is a hotline moment: When a civilian passenger plane is shot down over a war zone, leaders are forced to see - and hopefully, discuss - the unintended consequences of battle and the accidental risk of war. But, paradoxically, horrifying moments like this can also encourage government leaders to break from the status quo and its cycle of escalation - and think about ways to move back from the brink. The Downing of MH17 (Wall Street Journal) The world's investigators will need time to fix responsibility for the crash in Ukraine of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17, but U.S. intelligence officials had already concluded on Thursday that the Boeing BA -1.21% 777-200 passenger jet was hit by a surface-to-air missile of uncertain provenance. If the source of that missile turns out to be separatists backed by Russia's Vladimir Putin, then the civilized world will have no choice but to change how it deals with the Kremlin. How the West Chose War in Gaza (Nathan Thrall in The New York Times) AS Hamas fires rockets at Israeli cities and Israel follows up its extensive airstrikes with a ground operation in the Gaza Strip, the most immediate cause of this latest war has been ignored: Israel and much of the international community placed a prohibitive set of obstacles in the way of the Palestinian "national consensus" government that was formed in early June. South Sudan Post-Independence: Things Fall Apart (Lesley Warner in War on the Rocks) Three years into its independence, South Sudan faces multiple crises on political, security, and humanitarian fronts. | |||||
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