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, 7 Jul 2014 04:47:32 -0600
COMPILED BY THE EDITORS OF DEFENSE NEWS & MILITARY TIMES
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TODAY'S TOP 51. International Partners Key To DoD's New R&D Strategy(Defense News) The US Defense Department is set to roll out a new strategy this week that is designed to make sure researchers know about ongoing technological developments around the world, and can take advantage of spending by close allies to fill gaps in capabilities and cut costs. 2. DoD Grounds Entire F-35 Fleet; Plane Might Not Make UK Debut (Defense News) The European debut of the Lockheed Martin F-35 joint strike fighter is now in question after the Pentagon grounded the entire fleet late Thursday based on the initial findings of an investigation into a fire that broke out on one of the jets last month. VA scandal: How to fix a broken system (Arizona Republic Editorial Board) Mr. Robert McDonald: We admire your courage. In accepting this nomination, you are about to confront one of the most daunting challenges in all of federal governance: reforming the VA hospital system. You face three great challenges. 4. Pentagon Goes After 'No Easy Day' Author's Book Money (Foreign Policy) The Obama administration is actively pursuing legal action against a former Navy SEAL to seize the hundreds of thousands of dollars he received for writing a best-selling but deeply controversial memoir about the raid that killed Osama bin Laden. 5. Obama calls for immigration reform at Independence Day citizenship ceremony (Washington Post) At a precarious moment for his immigration policy, President Obama took part in a naturalization ceremony Friday for 16 members of the armed forces, two veterans and seven military spouses, saying he will take action so that "hardworking" immigrants who come to the United States can "join the American family." DEFENSE NEWS WITH VAGO MURADIANHow to Ignite InnovationTechnology, Strategy and Defense How Video Games Help Soldiers Vago's Notebook IRAQDempsey: Iraqi military can't regain lost territory on its own(Military Times) The military's top officer on Thursday issued a bleak assessment of the crisis in Iraq, saying that nation's armed forces are probably incapable of regaining control of areas captured by Islamic extremists and the U.S. may need to expand its military support mission there. Expanded Iraq Role for U.S. Military Left Open by Dempsey (Bloomberg) The top U.S. general isn't ruling out an expanded role for American military advisers in Iraq. In Iraq, airstrikes slam into Mosul, city held by al-Qaeda-inspired militants (Washington Post) Warplanes carried out multiple bombing raids in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul on Sunday, a day after the leader of a powerful al-Qaeda-inspired militant group appeared online in a video from the city's main mosque. Militant Leader in Rare Appearance in Iraq (New York Times) Wearing a black turban and black robes, the leader of the self-proclaimed Islamic state that stretches across eastern Syria and much of northern and western Iraq made a startling public appearance, his first in many years, at a well-known mosque in the Iraqi city of Mosul, according to a video released on Saturday whose contents were confirmed by experts and witnesses. Worried who else might hear it, U.S. weighs what it can tell Iraq (McClatchy) The United States finds itself confronting a delicate issue as it opens two joint operations centers in Iraq to help that nation's forces battle Sunni Muslim extremists who've seized much of the countryside: Iran confirms death of Iranian pilot in Iraq (Washington Post) State media reported Saturday that an Iranian military pilot was killed in Iraq, the first confirmation that Iranian forces are involved in the Iraqi government's battle to repel an offensive by al-Qaeda-inspired extremists. Plan to deliver F-16s to Iraq on hold (FlightLines) A plan to start delivering F-16s to Iraq in September is on hold until the security situation improves, a U.S. official said. 'You Have to Kill Them' Says Former U.S. Ambassador to Iraq (DefenseOne) For months warnings have sounded over the rising threat posed by extremists operating unimpeded in Syria. Now those fighters are cutting their way through Iraq and plunging the region into a sectarian bloodbath with consequences that would stretch well beyond the Middle East. Have The Islamist Militants Overreached In Iraq And Syria? (National Public Radio) The Islamist radicals who have declared an Islamic caliphate on land they control straddling Iraq and Syria are waging an audacious publicity stunt, according to some analysts. Obama's Blueprint for Fighting Terrorism Collides With Reality in Iraq (New York Times) Speaking at West Point in May, President Obama laid out a blueprint for fighting terrorism that relies less on American soldiers, like the cadets in his audience that day, and more on training troops in countries where those threats had taken root. Iran Pursues Subtle Strategy on Iraq (Wall Street Journal) Iran is pursuing a delicate strategy of supporting fellow Shiite Muslims and preserving its influence in neighboring Iraq-where the government is under siege by radical Sunni militants-without pushing the confrontation into outright sectarian warfare. Iraqi PM Retires Two Top Security Officers (Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty) Lieutenant General Qassim al-Mussawi says Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki signed the papers July 5 to retire Lieutenant General Ali Ghaidan, commander of the army's ground forces, and Lieutenant General Mohsen al-Kaabi, the federal police chief. INDUSTRYGlobal Competition Opens For F-35 Sustainment Deals(Defense News) The F-35 Joint Program Office (JPO) has begun carrying out a game-changing plan for sustainment on a global scale, one that relies heavily on competition to help drive down costs. Investigators Eye Third-Stage Turbine As F-35 Remains Grounded (Aviation Week) Investigators have narrowed their focus to the third stage turbine of the F135 engine as the likely source of a fire that erupted as an F-35A fighter was preparing for takeoff at Eglin AFB, Florida, last month. Defense Forecast: So Many 'What-Ifs' (National Defense) Uncertainty remains the operative word in the defense sector. The chances that Congress will pass a defense appropriations bill by Sept. 30 appear to be slim to none. Policy decisions are on hold pending mid-term elections, but gridlock is likely to continue regardless of the outcome. Saab Deal Raises Prospects For Domestic Sub Orders (Defense News) Saab's US $50.7 million acquisition of ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems AB (TKMS) from Germany's ThyssenKrupp Industrial Solutions will help maintain Sweden's submarine-building capabilities while expanding Saab's underwater offerings. USMC moves forward with Diver Reconnaissance Vehicle project (IHS Jane's 360) The US Marine Corps (USMC) is discussing with industry the likely acquisition of a two-man diver propulsion device with integrated navigation and hydrographic survey capabilities to support sub-surface amphibious reconnaissance missions. US Clears $250M RAF C-17 Logistics Deal, $69M Support in Egypt (Defense News) The US State Department has approved a $250 million C-17 Globemaster III sustainment deal with the UK, which would continue the Royal Air Force's participation in the Boeing-run program. Contractors Vulnerable to Growing Number of 'False Claims' Suits (National Defense) Under a recent court decision by the Fourth Circuit, a federal government contractor may suddenly find itself facing potentially massive liability based solely on the number of invoices submitted in previous years, even if every one of those invoices was entirely accurate. Long-Awaited Consolidation Rolls Forward With Nexter-KMW Deal (Defense News) A plan to set up a 50-50 holding company that oversees France's Nexter and Germany's Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW) opens the door to a long awaited French-German consolidation in the troubled land weapons industry, analysts and industry sources said. German MoD externally reviews nine major procurement programmes (IHS Jane's 360) The German Ministry of Defence (MoD) has contracted an independent commission to conduct a review of the country's nine major defence programmes. India Reworks Defense Licensing Categories (Defense News) India has made major changes in its defense production policy that will enable foreign manufacturers to set up production in India without going through the cumbersome process of seeking licensing. France pushes India to move on Maitri SR-SAM programme (IHS Jane's 360) French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius expressed his concern to senior Indian leaders in New Delhi on 1 July over recurring delays in implementing the bilateral Maitri programme to jointly develop a short-range surface-to-air missile (SR-SAM) system. Japan May Return to Centralized Procurement (Defense News) Japan's Ministry of Defense has hinted it may try to re-establish a centralized procurement agency to streamline purchasing and concentrate talent and resources so Japan can participate in the global arms trade. BAE Systems to launch Striker II next-gen helmet at Farnborough (IHS Jane's 360) BAE Systems is to launch its latest offering from the Striker family of helmet-mounted display (HMD) systems at the Farnborough International Airshow 2014, IHS Jane's was told in early July. Maintenance Contract Awarded for RAF A400Ms (Defense News) A key element of the support package required by the Royal Air Force (RAF) to operate its new A400M Atlas airlifter has fallen into place with a decision to award a maintenance contract on the aircraft. Mitsubishi Electric eyes F-35 missile deal with Europe's MBDA: sources (Reuters) Japan's Mitsubishi Electric (6503.T) has agreed to take the first step towards a partnership with European missile maker MBDA to develop a medium-range air-to-air missile for the F-35 stealth fighter, two people with knowledge of the matter said. Turkey's Disputed Air Defense Contract Awaits Politics (Defense News) For a fourth time since September, Turkey's procurement authorities extended a deadline for all three bidders in a disputed air defense contract to submit their renewed proposals, a move officials and analysts link to presidential elections. HHI launches South Korea's fifth KSS 2 submarine (IHS Jane's 360) The Republic of Korea Navy's (RoKN's) fifth KSS 2-class (Type 214) diesel-electric air-independent propulsion submarine has been launched at Hyundai Heavy Industries' (HHI's) Ulsan shipyard, company representative Koo Young-jun confirmed to IHS Jane's . Canada, Sikorsky Amend Cyclone Support Terms (Defense News) Sikorsky hopes to recoup some of the financial losses from the troubled Canadian maritime helicopter program through a contract amendment that assures it more money to maintain the new fleet. VETERANSLouis Zamperini, Olympian and 'Unbroken' War Survivor, Dies at 97(New York Times) Louis Zamperini, an Olympic runner who as an airman during World War II crashed into the Pacific, was listed as dead and then spent 47 days adrift in a life raft before being captured by the Japanese and enduring a harsh imprisonment, died on Wednesday in Los Angeles. He was 97. Veteran dies waiting for ambulance in VA hospital (Associated Press) A veteran who collapsed in an Albuquerque Veteran Affairs hospital cafeteria - 500 yards from the emergency room - died after waiting around 20 minutes for an ambulance, officials confirmed Thursday. New VA stats show ballooning wait times (Stars & Stripes) Statistics released Thursday by the Department of Veterans Affairs show dramatically increased numbers of veterans who waited more than 30 days for health care appointments in June compared with the prior month. Transforming the VA will be daunting task (Arizona Republic) It seems nearly every day there's more bad news about the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and how it has treated those who served in the military. 'Still a fighting force:' 50 years later, Vietnam War's first Medal of Honor recipient remembers (Northwest Florida Daily News) In 1964, Roger Donlon, a 30-year-old Special Forces soldier, was sent into the thick of the jungle in Vietnam. National oral history project StoryCorps stops in Miami to collect veterans' stories (Miami Herald) StoryCorps' Military Voices Initiative comes to Miami to record, preserve and share the stories of local veterans, service members and military families. CONGRESSCrunch time for VA deal(The Hill) Pressure is building on House and Senate lawmakers to reach a deal this month on legislation to reform the troubled Veterans Affairs Department. In Iraq debate, GOP Senators call Obama 'weak' and 'a failure' (MSNBC) Republicans on Sunday continued to pillory the Obama administration's strategy for dealing with the violent unrest across Iraq and parts of Syria. Senate bill forces repayment of VA bonuses (The Hill) Sens. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) and Kelly Ayotte (R-N.H.) introduced a bill that would take back bonuses paid to VA employees who falsified waitlist times. Senate to Hold Confirmation Hearings Next Week for Next USMC Commandant, ISAF Commander (USNI News) Marine Gen. Joseph Dunford, Jr. and Army General John Campbell will appear before the panel ahead of becoming the commandant of the Marine Corps and the leader of International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), respectively. House lawmakers want to approve any military action in Iraq (The Hill) A bipartisan group of 80 House lawmakers sent a letter to President Obama this week urging him to seek congressional approval before taking military action in Iraq. DEFENSE DEPARTMENTPay panel appears wary of cutting compensation(Military Times) For years, the Pentagon's top brass has called for an overhaul of the entire military compensation system, claiming that the cost of troops' pay and benefits is soaring unsustainably and threatening future funding for readiness and weapons modernization. Here's How the Pentagon Could Save $108 Billion Over the Next Decade (DefenseOne) The most significant compensation reduction option, CBO found, would come from cutting retirement pay for veterans already receiving disability payments from the Veterans Affairs Department. Prior to 2004, military retirees - former personnel with 20 years of service - had their retirement pay reduced by the amount of any VA disability compensation they also received. Moving back to that system would save Defense $108 billion over the next decade, according to CBO. U.S. Military Turns to Hollywood to Outfit the Soldier of the Future (Wall Street Journal) The Oscar-nominated designers at Legacy Effects have outfitted such memorable movie warriors as The Terminator, RoboCop, Captain America and Iron Man. Pentagon Urged to Focus on 'Great Power Conflict' to Save Budget (Defense One) Forget terrorism. The Pentagon's best chance to field the best military with the smaller budget imposed by sequestration may just lie in preparing for nuclear war with Russia and China. ARMYThe right to bare arms: Soldiers demand rolled sleeves in summer(Army Times) For Spc. Milt Perkins, the summer heat at Fort Polk is like a Louisiana steam bath. "Nobody was that crazy:" Documents show soldiers called Robert Bales "paranoid" well before killings (Tacoma News Tribune) Months before he committed an inexplicable massacre, Staff Sgt. Robert Bales showed a split personality to his fellow soldiers at a small outpost in Southern Afghanistan. Army Wants a Harder-Hitting Pistol (Military.com) The U.S. Army is moving forward to replace the Cold War-era M9 9mm pistol with a more powerful handgun that also meets the needs of the other services. Army kicked out Green Beret who gave steroids to Robert Bales weeks before massacre (Tacoma News Tribune) The Special Forces soldier who gave body-building but potentially mood-altering steroids to Staff Sgt. Robert Bales in Afghanistan claimed to Army police that he didn't know what he had when he handed Bales four bottles of pills after a workout. Unique brigade part of successful missile defense test (Army Times) In one sense, the 100th Missile Defense Brigade is one of the military's more isolated units - 300 soldiers, mostly members of the National Guard, some of whom are posted in Alaska, all of whom are on watch for ballistic-missile threats they hope never arrive. Jailhouse tapes: Bales family struggled with infamy of his massacre (Tacoma News Tribune) In jailhouse conversations, Staff Sgt. Robert Bales urged his wife to prepare for a future without him even as he denied that he'd committed the massacre that would send him to prison for life. Winter Garden man worries he'll be dead before Army executes daughter's killer (Orlando Sentinel) Edward Bowman fears he won't live to see his daughter's killer executed. Afghan field hospital kept five of Robert Bales' victims alive as rumors of a massacre surfaced (Tacoma News Tribune) Maj. Travis Hawks could not think about who shot the five Afghan civilians when they showed up at his field hospital, even as rumors swirled that it was an American soldier who attacked them in their own homes NAVYFormer Navy football player Blake Carter dies at 27(Capital Gazette; Annapolis, Md.) The Navy football brotherhood lost one of its most beloved members last weekend when Blake Carter died unexpectedly. US Navy's Cruiser Problem (Defense News) The US Navy and Congress are in a sort of faceoff over the fleet's cruiser force. To extend their service lives, the Navy is asking to take half its cruisers - CGs in Navy-speak - out of service now and gradually bring them back starting in 2019. Congress, fearful that Pentagon budget-cutters will instead decide to cut costs and reduce the force, is insisting the ships be modernized now and kept running. Navy looks to advancements in 'fog of war' for missile defense (Stars & Stripes) The U.S. Navy is sea testing a carbon-fiber "fog" that officials hope will defeat the guidance systems of missiles aimed at its ships. At-sea sprinter? Track star-turned-yeoman on his path to the fleet (Navy Times) Six years removed from his moment on the Olympic stage, a world-class sprinter stands poised to begin his return to glory. Navy Overhauls Amphib's Electronics Ahead of Deployment (DoDBuzz) The Navy is upgrading the sensors, radar, computer networks and electronics on-board its LPD 24 amphibious transport dock, the Arlington, in anticipation of its scheduled deployment next year, service officials said. Custody case highlights a dilemma of deployment (Navy Times) Countless service members and citizens demanded justice when a sailor - unable to attend a June 16 court hearing because his sub was deployed - was threatened with jail time and losing custody of his 6-year-old daughter. Ventura suit over alleged barroom fight goes to trial in St. Paul (Minneapolis Star Tribune) The former governor's suit against a late Navy SEAL is watched as it's an unusual and important First Amendment case testing the definitions of celebrity and defamation. Retired officer pleads guilty in Navy bribery scheme (Los Angeles Times) The guilty plea by Edmond Aruffo, 45, who retired in 2007 as a lieutenant commander, marks the fourth defendant in the scheme to plead guilty in federal court. AIR FORCEAppeals Court affirms death sentence in 2004 double murder(Air Force Times) The Air Force Court of Criminal Appeals on Monday affirmed that Senior Airman Andrew Witt should be sentenced to die for the 2004 double murder of a fellow airman and his wife and the attempted murder of a staff sergeant at Robins Air Force Base, Ga. Air Force: Crackdown on 'juicy bars' in South Korea paying dividends (Stars & Stripes) A year after protests by bar owners brought the popular Songtan entertainment area outside Osan Air Base to a near-standstill, the 7th Air Force says its efforts to put "juicy bars" off-limits to U.S. servicemembers have helped dramatically lower the clusters of establishments thought to be involved with prostitution and human trafficking. Silver Star for EOD tech (Air Force Times) Master Sgt. Michael Sears was already on the ground in the midst of a Sept. 29, 2012, firefight in Ghazni province, Afghanistan, when a rocket-propelled grenade flew by, hitting a Polish mine-resistant, ambush-protected vehicle and seriously injuring the driver. 18 bases test recreation program (Air Force Times) At least 15 airmen at Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho, are working out like special operators - carrying loaded backpacks during activities such as swimming, lifting, marching, or even singing. MARINE CORPSCritique of Marines' combat endurance test sparks debate, but no change(Marine Corps Times) Retired Army Col. Ellen Haring, whose op-ed appears in the July 14 issue of Marine Corps Times, raised hackles in May when she called the combat endurance test - the grueling first exercise in the Marines' Infantry Officer Course - an 'initiation rite' and proposed that female volunteers might have a better chance of graduating if it was not mandatory to pass the endurance test on the first day. Family, friends mourn fallen N.H. Marine, 19 (Associated Press) Hundreds of mourners gathered Saturday at the Conval High School auditorium and lined the streets for the funeral of a New Hampshire Marine killed last month by a roadside bomb in Afghanistan. No more Hescos: DARPA calls on industry to develop compact, push-button wall (Marine Corps Times) The military's lead research agency is working to develop what some are calling a ballistic "wall in a can." The futuristic device could be used to quickly form walls at a forward operating base or even to provide individuals under fire with near instant emergency cover, all at the push of a button ... well, at least notionally. Shuttering of elite unit spells end of 7-year mission for Marines (Marine Corps Times) The training group that prepped thousands of Marines to serve as advisers in Iraq and Afghanistan has been deactivated. COAST GUARDJury acquits Coast Guard petty officer of sexual assault(Miami Herald) Coast Guard Petty Officer Sheldon Bond wept after hearing the verdict in his military trial late Wednesday: Acquitted of wrongful sexual contact or sexual assault. Sailing family sends three daughters to Coast Guard Academy (Svannah Morning News) Dan and Carrie Rohde have a lot to celebrate this July 4th. AFGHANISTAN/PAKISTANAfghan Troops Struggle to Retake Parts of Key Province from Taliban(Wall Street Journal) Government forces are stepping up a counterattack against the Taliban after stumbling in their efforts to retake territory seen as critical to preserving Kabul's hold in the country's south. Five Afghan Police Killed In Insurgent Attack (Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty) A district police chief, Shir Ahmad, was among those killed in Herat's Farsi district when their vehicle was hit by a rocket. Afghan presidential candidate Abdullah preemptively rejects election results (Washington Post) Afghan presidential candidate Abdullah Abdullah has preemptively rejected the results of last month's election, which are scheduled to be released Monday by authorities, claiming the country's electoral commission was involved in widespread fraud that tarnished the legitimacy of the runoff vote. Afghan Election Dispute Forcing Western Officials to Take a Stand (New York Times) A growing number of Western officials are calling for an audit of the ballots cast in the Afghan presidential election, increasing the likelihood that the nation's electoral commission will have to formally reassess the June 14 runoff vote even as it prepares to announce preliminary results. Taliban torch hundreds of fuel tankers in Kabul (Long War Journal) The attack took place as the vehicles gathered at a trucking terminal in the Paghman district of Kabul province. Claiming credit for the attack, said the Taliban said they planted bombs on the trucks and then detonated the devices remotely. Pakistan Vows to Target All Militants in Tribal Area (Wall Street Journal) Pakistan will go after all militant groups in its unfolding operation in the North Waziristan tribal area, including insurgents who target neighboring Afghanistan, in what would be a major shift in policy, the defense minister said. MIDDLE EASTIsraeli airstrikes kill Hamas militants(USA Today) Palestinian militants vowed to take revenge on Israel Monday after at least seven members from Hamas were killed in an early-morning airstrike in the deadliest exchange of fire since the latest round of attacks began weeks ago. Israel: 'A number' of suspects arrested in Palestinian teen's death (Los Angeles Times) Israeli media, citing unidentified police sources, said six young suspects described as Jewish extremists were arrested in the case by the Shin Bet, Israel's domestic security service, and are being held without access to counsel. Yemen Clashes Between Rebels, Tribesmen Kill 35 (Associated Press) Clashes between Shiite rebels and government-allied tribesmen have killed at least 35 people and wounded 40 others in some of the fiercest fighting to hit the country in months, a Yemeni security official said Sunday. Egypt's president says he wishes Al Jazeera journalists were not tried (Los Angeles Times) Egyptian-Canadian producer Mohamed Fadel Fahmy, Australia's Peter Greste and Egyptian producer Baher Mohamed were sentenced to between seven and 10 years in jail after they were indicted of "aiding a terrorist group" and "falsifying news" by a Cairo court last month. EUROPEGermans Demand U.S. Response to Spy Allegation(New York Times) With mystery enveloping a German intelligence service employee accused of spying - reportedly for the United States - German officials and commentators on Sunday angrily demanded a response from Washington, warning that an already troubled relationship was at risk of deteriorating to a new low. NATO signals no new members for the present (Associated Press) Faced with a newly aggressive Russia, NATO has been mulling how to react, but it is ruling out one option: rapid expansion. Ukraine rebels regroup after losing Sloviansk (BBC) Pro-Russian separatists in Ukraine are reported to be regrouping in Donetsk after government forces retook some of their main strongholds. Ukraine Military Faces New Challenge in East: Governing (Wall Street Journal) Since he and a battalion of volunteers helped capture this town from rebels last month, Konstantin Mateychenko has directed affairs from the mayor's office, where he keeps two Kalashnikov submachine guns by his desk. Kiev has no plan for ceasefire after reclaiming Slovyansk (USA Today) Ukraine's Security Council says no ceasefire is planned as fighting continues in Ukraine's eastern regions, a after government forces recaptured separatist stronghold of Slovyansk. Jillian Kitchener reports. ASIA-PACIFICShadow of Brutal '79 War Darkens Vietnam's View of China Relations(New York Times) She was 14 when Chinese artillery fire echoed across the hills around her home in northern Vietnam, and hundreds of thousands of Chinese soldiers swarmed across the border. She remembers sprinting with her parents through the peach trees, her waist-length hair flying, as they fled the invaders. They ran straight into the enemy. China arrests Vietnamese fishermen for territorial breach (Reuters) Six Vietnamese fishermen have been detained by the crew of a Chinese vessel in the South China Sea, officials of both countries said on Friday, the latest in a two-month fracas between the Communist neighbours over maritime sovereignty. Military Helicopter Crash Outside Hanoi Kills 16 (Wall Street Journal) A Vietnamese military helicopter crashed on the outskirts of Hanoi on Monday morning, killing 16 military personnel and injuring five others, a senior military official said. India, Israel Discuss Increased Defense Cooperation (Defense News) India and Israel may reach a new level of defense cooperation under the new government in Delhi, with both sides discussing a list of defense items that could be supplied to India on a government-to-government basis. Police say expired MREs being sold on Korean black market (Stars & Stripes) Police are investigating nine South Koreans for their role in a ring that collected discarded Meals, Ready to Eat after U.S. military exercises and sold them on the black market. AFRICAMore than 60 Nigerian schoolgirls escape Boko Haram abductors(Agence France Presse) Local vigilante Abbas Gava said he had ''received an alert from my colleagues ... that about 63 of the abducted women and girls had made it back home'' late Friday. Gruesome Attacks in Kenyan Villages Heighten Fears of a Nation on Edge (New York Times) More than 20 people were killed in two attacks on Kenya's coast on Saturday night - with residents saying that many of the victims had their hands bound and their throats slit - in the latest in a string of gruesome assaults with ethnic undercurrents. Dozens killed as Ugandan forces battle militia (Associated Press) A Ugandan military official said Sunday more than 40 gunmen were killed in clashes between Uganda's security forces and a tribal militia near the country's border with Congo, in what appeared to be coordinated attacks targeting police posts and military barracks in three districts. THE AMERICASTop General Says Mexico Border Security Now 'Existential' Threat to U.S.(Defense One) A top United States general in charge of protecting the southern border says he's been unable to combat the steady flow of illegal drugs, weapons and people from Central America, and is looking to Congress for urgent help. As Venezuela's Maduro confronts economic crisis, pragmatism is a risky path (Washington Post) In the 15 months since Hugo Chavez's demise, his successor, Nicolas Maduro, has kept the Chavez enterprise rolling, sticking to the commandante's policy prescriptions like an executor carrying out a will. COMMENTARY AND ANALYSISEditorial: A little bit of honesty at the VA, please(Military Times) The White House's nomination of Robert McDonald as the next secretary of veterans affairs offers at least one potential reason for early cautious optimism: his 30-plus years of corporate experience with consumer products giant Procter and Gamble. Why we stuck with Maliki - and lost Iraq (Ali Khedery in The Washington Post) To understand why Iraq is imploding, you must understand Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki - and why the United States has supported him since 2006. Opinion: Deck stacked against women in experimental task force (Marine Corps Times) When the secretary of defense rescinded the 1994 "direct ground combat" exclusion policy, he gave the services and Special Operations Command three years to fully integrate women into previously closed occupations and units. Breakdownistan: U.S. Concerns in Central Asia and Afghanistan Going Forward (Charles J. Sullivan in Small Wars Journal) This article highlights the phenomenon of state failure in Central Asia. (Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan for this discussion) to address this security challenge. Reining In the Drones (New York Times editorial board) For all the slick technology, there are grave moral and legal questions going unanswered in the government's use of armed drones to kill people considered terrorist threats. | |||||
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