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: Mon, 28 Jul 2014 04:46:36 -0600
COMPILED BY THE EDITORS OF DEFENSE NEWS & MILITARY TIMES
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TODAY'S TOP 51. New details emerge on Libya embassy evacuation(Military Times) Dozens of U.S. Marines and at least seven military aircraft were involved in Saturday's embassy evacuation operation in Libya, Military Times has learned. 2. Broitman Resigns DoD Industrial Policy Post (Defense News) The US Defense Department's industrial policy chief Elana Broitman announced that she will step down next month after only five months on the job 3. The Bend of Power (Gen. Martin Dempsey in Foreign Policy) How the U.S. military can overcome the challenges of complexity in a rapidly changing world. 4. US Says China Tested Anti-Satellite Missile (Associated Press) The U.S. says China has tested a missile designed to destroy satellites and is urging Beijing to refrain from destabilizing actions. 5. Veterans' Affairs committee chairmen reach deal on legislation (CBS News) The House and Senate Veterans' Affairs committee chairmen have reached a deal on legislation that will address problems at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), aides to both sides confirmed to CBS News. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., and Rep. Jeff Miller, R-Fla., are expected to outline the deal at a news conference Monday. DEFENSE NEWS WITH VAGO MURADIANRussia's Long-Term StrategyMaking the Pentagon more Efficient HMS Queen Elizabeth Vago's Notebook LIBYAU.S. diplomats' return to Libya could be more hazardous than exit(Reuters) If evacuating U.S. embassy staff from Libya was perilous - three F-16 fighters and Marines in Osprey aircraft flew overhead a road convoy from Tripoli to Tunisia - sending them back in could be politically hazardous for President Barack Obama. Libya: western countries urge citizens to leave as civil war intensifies (The Guardian) Western countries urged their citizens to leave Libya yesterday, as the country descended further into civil war and British diplomats came under fire. Still Torn by Factional Fighting, Post-Revolt Libya Is Coming Undone (New York Times) For weeks, rival Libyan militias had been pounding one another's positions with artillery, mortar rounds and rockets in a desperate fight to control the international airport in the capital, Tripoli. Then suddenly, early Saturday morning, the fighting just stopped. 38 killed as Libyan forces battle militias in east (Associated Press) Heavy clashes between Libyan soldiers loyal to a renegade general and Islamist-led militias killed 38 people, health officials said Sunday, as fighting between rival militias around the capital's international airport raged on and European nations warned their citizens to leave. British Embassy Convoy Attacked In Libya (Sky News) A British Embassy convoy in Libya has been fired at during an attempted carjacking, as UK nationals were urged to leave the country immediately. ISRAELI GROUND OPERATIONS IN GAZADestroy Hamas? Something worse would follow: Pentagon intel chief(Reuters) A top Pentagon intelligence official warned on Saturday that the destruction of Hamas would only lead to something more dangerous taking its place, as he offered a grim portrait of a period of enduring regional conflict. What the U.S. military can and cannot learn from the IDF's Gaza operation (Haaretz) Though both armies are fighting Muslim insurgencies, international backlash for Israeli operations and different long-term objectives complicate the comparison. But Israel is still considered the world's 'war laboratory.' Israel admits mortar shell hit U.N. school (USA Today) Israel acknowledged Sunday that its military fired a mortar shell into the courtyard of a U.N. school in Gaza but says its attack wasn't responsible for the 16 deaths at the school. As wounded Israeli troops return home, military censorship is harder to enforce (Washington Post) The Sheba Medical Center near Tel Aviv is on a war footing. In the 10 days since Israel started its ground operation in the Gaza Strip, the hospital has received more than 50 soldiers with wide-ranging combat injuries. Despite Gains, Hamas Sees a Fight for Its Existence and Presses Ahead (New York Times) Hamas, the militant Palestinian faction that dominates the Gaza Strip, has more to boast about in its current 20-day battle against Israel than ever before. Forty-three Israeli soldiers have been killed in fierce fighting. Gunmen infiltrated Israel through tunnels five times. Rockets repeatedly rained over Tel Aviv, and one even led most airlines to halt flights into Israel's only international airport for two days. INDUSTRYBoeing Discloses KC-46 Design Flaw as Companies Report Mixed Earnings(Defense News) Boeing said it would eat $272 million in the development of the new KC-46A aerial refueling tanker after discovering wiring issues in test aircraft. SES takes USAFRICOM satellite contract (C4ISR & Networks) SES Government Solutions has been awarded an $8.2 million contract to provide on-orbit satellite transponders for U.S. Africa Command. Court: US Must Explain Why It Rejects Foreign Deals (Defense News) Since its inception in 1975, the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) has decided whether foreign acquisitions or investments in US companies could raise national security concerns. Air Force selects 10 for NETCENTS-2 (Federal Times) The U.S. Air Force has selected 10 companies for a Network-Centric Solutions-2 (NETCENTS-2) Application Services contract. Interview: Bennett Croswell, President of Pratt and Whitney Military Engines (Defense News) Croswell, the man in charge of Pratt's military engine division, spoke at the start of the Farnborough International Airshow. Germany promises change as arms sales draw scrutiny (Reuters) For lawmaker Jan van Aken, little symbolizes more potently all that he finds indefensible about Germany's arms exports than the German and French-made anti-tank missile that he was shown in northern Syria. Mideast, US Lead Sharp Rise in Munitions Market (Defense News) The global smart weapons market, valued at $3.6 billion in 2013, is expected to reach $5.3 billion by 2018, according to an industry report. Elbit Gains as Gaza Conflict Seen Fueling Defense Tech (Bloomberg) The conflict between Israel and Hamas is fueling speculation that Elbit Systems Ltd., the nation's biggest listed developer of military technology, will see more government orders for its defense products. Chinese Threat, US Hesitance Drive Taiwan's Munitions Push (Defense News) Taiwan's efforts to develop and produce a variety of munitions spring from two fears: fear of China and fear that Washington will fail to live up to its promises to provide arms in the event of a Chinese invasion. The weapons efforts also stimulate the economy of the self-governing island, said a Ministry of National Defense (MND) source. Tomahawk could be offered to FMS customers (IHS Jane's 360) Given the high cost of integrating an all-new tactical cruise missile weapon on surface ships and submarines, Raytheon sees a strong case for upgrading the Block IV Tactical Tomahawk systems in service with the United States and United Kingdom and making the missile available for "many other coalition partners" via Foreign Military Sales (FMS). Norway Eyes Greater Precision, Global Exports (Defense News) The ambitious private-state partnership behind Kongsberg Defence System's Naval Strike Missile (NSM) and Joint Strike Missile (JSM) programs is driven by government support for advanced precision strike weapons that can bolster Norway's defense sector and deliver exports. Tunisia requests Black Hawks (IHS Jane's 360) Tunisia requests Black Hawks Russian Actions Drive Poland's Acquisition Mood (Defense News) Poland, now more focused on strengthening its precision strike and deterrence capacity, is in talks with the US to acquire AGM-158 joint air-to-surface standoff missiles (JASSMs) for its fleet of F-16 Block 52+ fighter jets. Marking Navy Day, Russia Starts Work on 3 Submarines (Moscow Times) Russia started building its three newest submarines on Sunday in the White Sea port of Severodvinsk, marking the halfway point in the country's drive to re-establish its place as a modern naval power. Turkey Shops Locally for Smart Munitions (Defense News) A host of regional symmetrical and asymmetrical threats, and their unusually swift rise in prominence, are leading the Turkish government to focus on smart munitions. Mexico selects Grob trainer (IHS Jane's 360) The Mexican Air Force (FAM) has selected the Grob Aircraft G120TP twin-seat turboprop as its new elementary trainer. Aiming To Cut Collateral Damage, Canada Eyes Smarter Weapons (Defense News) The Royal Canadian Air Force is looking at acquiring new weapons to reduce collateral damage, a key recommendation that emerged from the service's war in Libya. Australia To Renew Ground-based Air Defense Capability (Defense News) Australia plans to include a replacement for its Saab RBS-70 very-short-range air defense missile system in its next Defence Capability Plan. CONGRESSCongressional candidate defends Special Forces claims(Military Times) A Mississippi congressional candidate called out by the Special Forces community for describing himself as a Green Beret says he stands by what he has said, even if it should have been phrased differently. McConnell Endorses Extra Iron Dome Funds, but Not Democratic-Written Supplemental (Defense News) The Senate's top Republican supports doubling US funds for Israel's Iron Dome missile defense program, but just how the extra $225 million passes the chamber remains unclear. House passes resolution requiring Congress to approve troops in Iraq (The Hill) The resolution passed with bipartisan support in a 370-40 vote. Three Democrats and 37 Republicans voted against the resolution; 180 Republicans and 190 Democrats voted in favor. White House wants new OK for 'evolving' terror fight (Politico) A top White House official suggested Saturday that Congress pass new legislation to support President Barack Obama's authority to act against an array of terrorist groups not clearly linked to the September 11 attacks. Turner to Obama: Arm Ukraine To Take Out Anti-Air Systems (Defense News) US Rep. Mike Turner continues to focus on America's response to global crises while his rivals for the House Armed Services Committee gavel continue to work on acquisition reform and shipbuilding. Senate's Top Republican Appropriator Doubts 2015 Defense Bill Reaches Floor (Defense News) Can the US Senate put aside a years-long procedural impasse and pass a Pentagon spending bill? The top Republican on the Appropriations Committee has his doubts. DEFENSE DEPARTMENTAdvisers to DoD: Help Private-Sector Innovators Help You(Defense News) It's well past time for the Pentagon to revamp its acquisition processes so the private sector can boost its role in technology development, a key Pentagon advisory panel said on Thursday. Number of military suicides showing uptick (Military Times) The number of military suicides so far this year is running slightly higher than for the same time frame last year, but without the context of force reductions, the raw data say little about current suicide trends in the armed services. Spy talk: NSA seeking spokesperson (The Hill) The National Security Agency is looking for someone new to lead its communications shop. DoD tightens tuition assistance rules (Military Times) Force-wide changes to the military's Tuition Assistance program may require troops to pay back their TA money if they perform poorly in class. ARMYArmy PT overhaul: Master fitness trainers' will dispatch to all units(Army Times) The Army is in the middle of training thousands of these fitness gurus, who will be schooled in more than 150 exercises and dispatched to every installation and every unit, down to the company level in the active force, Guard and Reserve. Sister, friends remember fallen Fort Carson soldier with candlelight vigil (Colorado Springs Gazette) A little more than a year ago, Keith Williams had celebrated a fresh diploma, the end of high school and a future with the Army. Army officials on 'pink slip' controversy: We don't have a choice (Washington Post) For weeks, the Army has been taking a verbal beating for sending "pink slips" to officers while they were deployed. It was no joke or Internet rumor, either: About 1,100 captains received notice last month that they would be required to leave active duty within a year as the service shrinks, and some of them were in Afghanistan and other volatile areas. CID looking for new special agents (Army Times) U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command is putting out a dragnet - for new special agents. Internal Army investigation questions explosives accountability measures (Northwest Florida Daily News) A single, fraudulent document was likely what allowed a large cache of military explosives to go missing from the 7th Special Forces Group, according to an internal Army report. As demand evolves, Army simplifies WIN-T (C4ISR & Networks) It has been more than a decade since the Army began working on the Warfighter Information Network-Tactical, incrementally updating and fielding communications capabilities to deployed soldiers around the world. With the first increment fully fielded and developments and upgrades ongoing, Army officials now say they are focused on modernizing WIN-T, particularly on making it easier for soldiers to use. NAVYMoney for new amphib falls far short(Defense News) Powerful forces in Congress are working to buy the Navy an extra amphibious ship, and lawmakers in both the House and Senate have added between $650 million and $800 million to the proposed 2015 shipbuilding budget to begin construction. Adm. Charles R. Larson, former Naval Academy superintendent, dies (Baltimore Sun) Adm. Charles R. Larson, the onetime commander-in-chief of military forces in the Pacific who became superintendent of the U.S. Naval Academy to restore discipline and morale after his alma mater had been rocked by the largest cheating scandal in its history, died early Saturday at his home in Annapolis. He was 77. Retiring frigates may leave some missions unfilled (Navy Times) The Navy may be shedding all its frigates by the end of next year, but the ships are still busy and in high demand - creating a dilemma for the Navy over which ships will pick up their missions. Plan for new Navy SEAL campus (San Diego Union-Tribune) The Navy has released initial plans for a major overhaul of the Navy SEAL compound now along Coronado's Silver Strand. Survivors of cruiser Indianapolis sinking reunite (Associated Press) About a third of the remaining 36 survivors of the worst single seagoing disaster in U.S. Navy history gathered for a reunion this weekend in Indianapolis, the city for which their doomed ship was named. Judges dismiss booted sailors' appeal (Navy Times) Three hundred former sailors suing forcompensation from or reinstatement in the Navy after being booted by the deeply unpopular 2011 enlisted retention boards lost their appeal, likely closing the book on their challenge. Naval Experts Call for 'Offensive Sea Control,' (Seapower) Three authorities on naval warfare argued July 25 that the Navy needs to dramatically revise its operational concepts and acquisition policies to make the surface fleet more capable and relevant to the rapidly changing and increasingly dangerous global security environment. Navy's weathermen celebrate 90 years (Navy Times) This unsung rating celebrates 90 years of weather forecasting this month. Chief Quartermaster John Dungan became the first aerographer in 1924, and he was joined by seven other sailors the following year. As billets drop, board convenes to set future of troubled ratings (Navy Times) Between 2005 and 2009, Navy officials converted all naval aircrewmen into five service ratings, but manning and advancement challenges have officials rethinking part of that move and have led them to set up an advisory board to consider their options. Navy includes biofuels in annual fuel request (Navy Times) The Pentagon is requesting biofuels be included in its annual request for fuels that are delivered to facilities in the eastern and inland U.S., according to the Energy Department's stat shop. AIR FORCEUSAF Ready for New Geosynchronous Overwatch(Defense News) The US Air Force will soon have new spy satellite capability that will provide oversight over other objects in space. 2 USAF missileers to work with Navy in morale-improvement effort (Air Force Times) They are the first to be selected for the new Striker Trident program - one of the Air Force's efforts to improve morale in the nuclear force. San Antonio airman ambushes homeless man with makeover (KENS-TV; San Antonio) James Green has a special commitment to San Antonio's homeless. He wants them to know they matter and he wants the displaced to know he cares. AF takes aim at obesity in dependents, retirees (Air Force Times) The Air Force is taking aim at obesity among dependents and retirees through two pilot programs that could eventually go servicewide. USAF's 'Care In The Air' Exceeds Expectations (Aviation Week) U.S. armed forces quietly made medical history in March, when statisticians recorded zero combat-related fatalities among American service members deployed in Afghanistan. Marines certify female airman as martial arts instructor (Air Force Times) Meet the first female airman to become a certified martial arts instructor through the Marine Corps Martial Arts Center of Excellence at Quantico, Virginia. AFPC outlines options for senior airmen affected by lost promotion tests (Air Force Times) The Air Force is still trying to hunt down promotion test answer sheets for the most recent testing cycle that went MIA after they were mailed via FedEx from Pope Airfield, North Carolina, Air Force Personnel Center officials said Friday. MARINE CORPSFamily of murdered Marine 'betrayed' after Afghan killer gets 7-year sentence(Marine Corps Times) The family of a Marine killed during an insider attack in Afghanistan says they were outraged to discover this week that the attacker's trial took place recently in an Afghan court without their knowledge. Marine Corps Force Integration (Marine Corps Commandant Gen James F. Amos) Throughout our Corps' proud 238-year history, Marines have earned their place among the world's elite ground combat forces. Direct ground combat remains indispensable to the security of our Nation in chaotic and dangerous times. MARSOC demystified: Officials to unveil training details (Marine Corps Times) Notoriously shrouded in secrecy, Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command may soon lift the veil on its training pipeline, beginning with the assessment and selection course that is held several times per year at undisclosed locations. Bataan group's long stretch at sea symptomatic of smaller amphibious fleet (Stars & Stripes) The amphibious assault ship USS Bataan returned to open waters Friday after undergoing much-needed maintenance after its near-record 135 days at sea in an area of heightened tension, which put a strain on the amphibious ready group and the ship's crew. Marines land ashore with Navy, Army (San Diego Union-Tribune) Marine tankers stormed the beaches at Camp Pendleton last week with an unusual mix of support, including ship crews from the Navy and Army. Texas couple gives forgotten flag to Marine's mom (Marine Corps Times) A couple who discovered a tribute flag for a fallen Marine at a Texas flea market has presented it to his mother, more than nine years after he was killed in Iraq. IRAQUS, Iranian Drones Crowd Iraqi Air Space(Defense News) With the US now flying about 50 missions a day over Iraq and a dedicated Iranian drone and signals intelligence presence having been established in Baghdad, the two rivals find themselves overtly sharing the same airspace. Obama quietly sends more advisers to Iraq (The Hill) The additions bring the total number of advisers in the country to 242, still short of the 300 advisers that President Obama authorized for Iraq last month. ISIL terrorists blow up burial site of Jonah, vow more of same (Washinton Times) Terrorists with the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant have blown up the burial place of Jonah, the reluctant prophet from Galilee whose story of being swallowed by a massive sea creature is told in the Bible. Maliki's bloc says it is willing to consider other candidates for his position (Washington Post) Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's days at the helm of his country appear to be numbered after his own party seemed resigned to finding another candidate for the post, releasing a statement urging politicians not to "cling" to their positions. Abduction of Sunni Displays Gangland Edge of Iraqi Politics (New York Times) Just before midnight on Friday, Shiite militiamen in eight black S.U.V.'s rolled up to the Baghdad home of an important Sunni politician and abducted him and four of his bodyguards, a brazen move that threatened to further convulse a country already in the grip of a political crisis. AFGHANISTAN/PAKISTANHelmand police chief mentored by Marines is dismissed after Taliban violence(Marine Corps Times) Less than a month after Marines ended their mission advising Afghan National Police in Helmand province, the Afghan interior ministry has replaced the provincial police chief central to the Marines' final mentoring efforts. Taliban Making Military Gains in Afghanistan (New York Times) Taliban fighters are scoring early gains in several strategic areas near the capital this summer, inflicting heavy casualties and casting new doubt on the ability of Afghan forces to contain the insurgency as the United States moves to complete its withdrawal of combat troops, according to Afghan officials and local elders. Gunmen kill 14 Shiite Muslims in rare sectarian attack in Afghanistan (Los Angeles Times) Gunmen stopped a convoy of three minivans traveling through central Afghanistan and executed 14 Shiite Muslims in a rare attack on the country's religious minority, a local official said Wednesday. MIDDLE EASTUAE Stiffens Counterterror Laws(Defense News) The United Arab Emirates Federal National Council has approved a revised draft of its 10-year-old counterterrorism law to respond to evolving threats last week. Oman begins receiving second batch of F-16 fighters (IHS Jane's 360) The first of 12 new Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcon combat aircraft for the Royal Air Force of Oman (RAFO) departed the company's production facility in Fort Worth, Texas, on 22 July. New U.S. help arrives for Syrian rebels as government, extremists gain (Washington Post) A U.S.-backed effort to arm the moderate Syrian opposition is finally ramping up along the Turkey-Syria border, but it may come too late to save the rebels from defeats on two fronts, by President Bashar al-Assad's government and by the extremists seeking to carve out an Islamic state. Jihadists seize Syria army base, behead soldiers (Agence France-Presse) Islamic State fighters have seized a Syrian army base in the northern province of Raqa, killing scores of troops and beheading some of them, a monitoring group said Saturday. The Number of Foreign Fighters in Syria Now Exceeds 12,000 and Rising (Defense One) Syria is now the "predominant battleground for extremists" plotting to attack the United States, as the number of foreign fighters now has exceeded 12,000 and is rising rapidly, the United States counterterrorism chief said on Friday. Rocket kills four children in Egypt near Gaza border: sources (Reuters) Four children were killed and five other people were injured when a rocket landed near their homes in Rafah, an Egyptian town in Sinai near the border with Gaza, security officials said on Saturday. EUROPENATO considers another base location closer to eastern Europe(Flightlines) A military base in Poland could soon be repurposed to support NATO in its mission to reassure eastern European allies of its oversight amid the Ukraine-Russia conflict. U.S. releases images it says show Russia has fired artillery over border into Ukraine (Washington Post) The Obama administration on Sunday released overhead surveillance images it said were evidence that Russia has fired artillery rounds from its side of the border against Ukrainian military units. Russian Fighter Jet Crashes, Killing Pilot (Agence France-Presse) A fighter jet crashed in southern Russia on Sunday, killing the pilot, the head of the air force told Russian news agencies, blaming a technical fault. Finland Detains Vietnamese Missile Parts (Wall Street Journal) Finland has detained a shipment of Vietnamese-owned air-to-air missile parts bound for Ukraine after raising concerns the consignment of military hardware violated arms-export regulations. Europe Struggles To Unify Its Response to Russia (Defense News) Europe will harden its line against Moscow after the downing of Malaysian Airlines Flight 17, but sniping between Britain and France shows that the road to political consensus will be long and hard, analysts said. Ukraine military pushes toward Donetsk (The Hill) Troops are pushing against pro-Russian separatist groups that have taken control of the regional capital for months, and which western leaders say are being backed by Moscow. Auditors: Turkish Industry 'Has Failed To Develop' Despite Reforms, Billions Spent (Defense News) Despite the government's optimism and ambitions for a robust Turkish defense industry, a first-of-its-kind state audit report has revealed that the sector has underperformed in the past years. ASIA-PACIFICFirst Australian F-35A Rolled Out(Defense News) The first F-35A for the Royal Australian Air Force was rolled out during a ceremony at the Lockheed Martin facility. Satellites and seafood: China keeps fishing fleet connected in disputed waters (Reuters) Satellites and seafood: China keeps fishing fleet connected in disputed waters India's Tender for Private-Sector-Built Airlifter May Not Take Off (Defense News) India's first attempt to operate a military aircraft-building program involving the domestic private sector appears to be a non-starter as only one potential foreign partner is likely to submit a bid, a Ministry of Defence source said. Indonesia equips corvette with Chinese 30 mm CIWS (IHS Jane's 360) The Indonesian Navy (Tentara Nasional Indonesia Angkatan Laut - TNI-AL, or TNI-AL) is equipping its Kapitan Pattimura (Parchim I)-class corvette KRI Sultan Thaha Syaifuddin (876) with a Chinese-developed Type 730 close-in weapon system (CIWS). North Korea Defies UN Censure To Fire Missile Into Sea (Agence France-Presse) North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un guided the military's latest rocket-firing drill, state media said Sunday, confirming the missile launch which was conducted in defiance of UN censure. Events mark anniversary of Korean War armistice (Associated Press) The 1950-53 Korean War ended in an armistice, meaning the two Koreas remain technically at war. But in North Korea, the anniversary of the agreement ending the hostilities is commemorated as "Victory in the Fatherland Liberation War," a major national holiday. COMMENTARY AND ANALYSISRough Ride for the F-35(New York Times editorial board) The F-35 fighter jet was expected to be exhibited at an international air show a few weeks ago - a chance for America to showcase its state-of-the-art war plane, the world's most expensive weapons project. But, in an embarrassing turn of events, the star-crossed, single-engine F-35 was a no-show. Opinion: Sen. John Walsh citing PTSD in defense of plagiarism hurts veterans (Alex Horton in The Washington Post) I was sitting in a college classroom less than a year after coming home from Iraq. We were discussing Shakespeare. I was thinking about dead bodies in Baghdad. It was jarring and uncomfortable that first semester, but I knew I couldn't let my struggles influence my academic career. Senator Walsh's Unrepresentative Black Mark on Professional Military Education ( James Joyner in Real Clear Defense) Not unreasonably, Tufts University professor and Washington Post columnist Dan Drezner has some things to say about Montana Senator John Walsh's plagiarized masters paper at the Army War College. As his headline puts it, "On what academic planet does a 14 page paper merit John Walsh an M.A.?" The Foreign Policy Essay: Iran-Maliki's BFF (Afshon Ostovar in Lawfare) Iran considers Baghdad a close friend and has offered to help in any way it can. On June 14, Iranian president Hassan Rouhani unequivocally stated, "If the Iraqi government asks us for help, we may provide any assistance..." Did China Blink in the South China Sea? (Alexander Vuving in The National Interest) For seventy-five days starting from May 2, China unilaterally deployed its US$1 billion oil rig HYSY-981 to drill in waters lying within Vietnam's exclusive economic zone (EEZ). The platform was originally scheduled to stay until August 15, but on July 15, China announced that the rig had completed its work and would be relocated to Hainan Island. The Geographic Limits of National Power (Steven Wills in The Center for International Maritime Security) Despite advances from steam power to cyber communications that have reduced the relative size of the world, large geographic obstacles like the Hindu Kush mountain range in Afghanistan and vast empty space of the Indian Ocean continue to cause trouble for even the most powerful states. Mowing the Grass in Gaza (Rep. Doug Lamborn, R-Colo., in Real Clear Defense) Americans think of wars as decisive battles between the forces of good and evil. One side loses and one side wins and it's over. Hopefully the good guys are the ones left standing. The bad guys may even turn into good guys, as happened after World War II. | |||||
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