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: Tue, 8 Jul 2014 04:45:31 -0600
COMPILED BY THE EDITORS OF DEFENSE NEWS & MILITARY TIMES
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TODAY'S TOP 51. U.S. Navy Warns It Can't Meet 30-Year Funding Needs(Bloomberg) The U.S. Navy can't meet its funding needs for surface warships and a new class of nuclear attack submarines from 2025 to 2034, according to the service's latest 30-year shipbuilding plan. 2. VA rejects link between Gulf War service and cancers (USA Today) The Department of Veterans Affairs has rejected a request from members of Congress and veterans advocates to make brain cancer, lung cancer and migraines presumptive conditions for Gulf War veterans. Officials said they cannot prove the high rate of these illnesses among Gulf War vets are related to military service. 3. Column: Tea Party's Death: Greatly Exaggerated (John T. Bennett in Defense News) A mid-March headline on National Journal's website roared: "The Tea Party's Over." After then-House Majority Leader Eric Cantor's stunning loss in his Virginia GOP primary, the Financial Times' editorial board called it "the tea party's triumphant return." 4. Sources: Engine 'Definitely' to Blame for June F-35 Fire (USNI News) A June 23 fire that severely damaged a Lockheed Martin F-35 Joint Strike Fighter at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is "definitely" related to the aircraft's Pratt and Whitney F135 after-burning turbofan, multiple sources told USNI News. 5. Marines delay female pullup requirement again, this time until end of 2015 (Marine Corps Times) Female Marines training to do pullups as part of their physical fitness test will get a reprieve of more than a year following a Marine Corps announcement delaying the requirement once again. MIDDLE EASTIsrael launches military offensive against Gaza militants(Reuters) Israel launched an offensive against Islamist Hamas in the Gaza Strip on Tuesday, bombing some 50 targets, including homes, in a campaign meant to end Palestinian rocket fire into the Jewish state. Israel Calls Up 1,500 Troops as Tensions Mount With Hamas (New York Times) Israel and the militant group Hamas seemed set on a collision course on Tuesday, with an escalation of cross-border clashes around the Gaza Strip, Hamas vowing to avenge the deaths of six of its fighters, and Israeli warplanes attacking dozens of targets in the Palestinian coastal territory. Suspects confess to killing Palestinian teen (Associated Press) Israeli official says three suspects have confessed to the killing of a Palestinian teenager abducted last week. Meanwhile, U.S. officials say they're troubled by the apparent beating of an American teen by Israeli police. Muslims and Jews in Jerusalem fear more abductions, as rockets from Hamas fly (Washington Post) Jewish and Muslim parents here kept their children indoors Monday, as anxious residents formed neighborhood watch groups and monitored social media, alert for revenge attacks following the recent abductions and killings of three Israelis and a Palestinian, all teenagers. The Seeds of the Next Intifada (The Daily Beast) As Palestinian and Jewish extremists trade murder for murder, the streets of hitherto quiet villages are erupting in some of the worst violence since the last uprising more than a decade ago. Bahrain orders senior U.S. diplomat to leave (Washington Post) The Bahraini government declared a visiting senior U.S. diplomat persona non grata Monday after he met with representatives of a Shiite opposition party, and it took the highly unusual step of demanding his immediate departure from the tiny Persian Gulf kingdom. Iranian media identifies Ababil-3 UAV (IHS Jane's 360) The Iranian media has for the first time identified the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) that has been exported to Sudan and used extensively in Syria as the Ababil-3. Jihadis Tug at Edges of a Staunch American Ally (New York Times) Hanging from the facade of a shuttered bank on a bustling market street in this sunbaked town were two large, white banners emblazoned with black letters. Popular Australian cleric arrives in Syria, joins Islamic State (Long War Journal) A popular radical Muslim cleric from Australia has joined the newly established Islamic State and traveled to Syria to support the establishment of the caliphate. IRAQInside Lindsey Graham's Iraq Battle Plan: Would It Work?(Defense News) Sen. Lindsey Graham says he would launch a three-tiered military campaign against a violent Sunni group in Syria and Iraq "tomorrow." But would his hawkish plan work? Iraq delays formation of a new government, as country veers further toward collapse (Washington Post) Iraq's parliament stalled Monday for a second time, canceling its planned Tuesday session to give the country's deeply divided political factions time to reach an agreement on an urgently needed new government. U.S. officials: 'No reason to doubt' it's al-Baghdadi (CNN) The United States "has no reason to doubt" the authenticity of a video that purports to show ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi delivering a sermon at the Great Mosque of al-Nuri in Mosul, two U.S. officials said. Top Iraqi General Killed in Mortar Attack (New York Times) The general commanding the Iraqi Army's Sixth Division was killed in a mortar attack Monday morning west of Baghdad, according to officers in the division and a counterterrorism official. 5 Questions With Thomas Hegghammer on Jihad and Jihadi Cocktails (War On The Rocks) This week we spoke with Dr. Thomas Hegghammer, director of terrorism research at the Norwegian Defence Research Establishment (FFI) in Oslo. Hegghammer is the author and co-author of several books, including Jihad in Saudi Arabia (Cambridge 2010) and The Meccan Rebellion (Amal 2011). China pushes for speedy political solution in Iraq (Reuters) China hopes that Iraq can form a new inclusive government as soon as possible and will support efforts by Baghdad to protect its sovereignty, state media cited China's special envoy to the Middle East as saying on a visit to a key energy supplier. Saudi jails four over plan to fight in Iraq (Al Jazeera) A Saudi court has sentenced four people to jail terms for trying to go to Iraq to join the fighting there and for supporting al-Qaeda's operations abroad, state news agency SPA has said. Egypt's Sisi says independence for Iraq's Kurds would be 'catastrophic' (Reuters) Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said on Sunday a referendum on the independence of Iraq's Kurdish region would lead to a "catastrophic" break up of the country, which is facing an onslaught by Sunni Islamist militants. INDUSTRYLockheed CEO On Defense And Space Endeavors(Aviation Week) Before heading across the Atlantic, Lockheed Martin Chairman, President and CEO Marillyn Hewson sat down outside Washington with AWandST Editor-in-Chief Joseph C. Anselmo and Senior Pentagon Editor Amy Butler to talk about the issues facing the company and its programs. Northrop Takes The Lead From BAE On $11B T-X Trainer (Breaking Defense) While Northrop Grumman isn't doing much at the upcoming Farnborough Air Show - at least publicly - they certainly shook things up today with their announcement that they are swapping places with BAE Systems to take the lead role in the competition for the $11 billion, 350-plane T-X trainer program. Lockheed Martin funded for LRASM follow-on development (IHS Jane's 360) Lockheed Martin has received a US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) contract worth up to USD202 million for follow-on development and accelerated acquisition of the US Navy's (USN's) next-generation Long-Range Anti-Ship Missile (LRASM). No Decisions Yet On F-35B UK Flights; Tomorrow Looms (Breaking Defense) The F-35Bs have not left Patuxent River Naval Air Station to make their way across the Atlantic Ocean. Most F-35 engines inspected; U.S. contract talks on hold for now (Reuters) Most of the 97 Lockheed Martin Corp F-35 fighter jets grounded last week have been inspected, and officials hope to wrap up the remaining inspections on Monday, which could pave the way for the resumption of flights of the Pentagon's newest warplane, U.S. military officials said. Poland Shortlists Patriot Missile, Excluding MEADS (Defense News) The decision by Poland to admit Raytheon's Patriot to a short list of bidders for its anti-missile program, while excluding the Medium Extended Air Defense System (MEADS) program, has spurred rival claims over performance between the two. Spain's Tank Program Squeezes Defense Budget, UPyD Lawmaker Says (Bloomberg) Spain's 30 billion-euro ($41 billion) plan to buy heavy armament, including Krauss-Maffei Wegmann GmbH's Leopard battle tanks, will put the country's defense budget under pressure, according to a report from opposition party UPyD. UK defence secretary outlines considerations in the case for a second carrier (IHS Jane's 360) The United Kingdom will be considering capability, cost, and trade-off issues when assessing whether to bring both of its new Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers into service, the UK's Secretary of State for Defence, Philip Hammond, told reporters at the naming ceremony for lead ship Queen Elizabeth in Rosyth, Scotland, on 4 July. New Avionics For Gripen, Typhoon And Rafale (Aviation Week) Modernizing electronics is the most efficient way to upgrade a fighter design, and European governments and industry are investing in those areas to keep their programs competitive. 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. Airbus rebrand leads Indian MoD to delay A330 MRTT contract signing (IHS Jane's 360) The Indian Air Force's (IAF's) plans to procure six Airbus Military A330 Multi-Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) aircraft are delayed again, this time by the trivial procedural hurdle of the manufacturer changing name. Official: Turk Indigenous Sat Capability on Schedule (Defense News) Turkey's efforts to build the country's first indigenous communications satellite are progressing "at full speed," government officials have said. VETERANSVA nominee Bob McDonald pledges more effective agency(Military Times) Last fall, at a leadership event at Abilene Christian University, former Procter and Gamble CEO Bob McDonald talked about how a West Point cadet prayer has influenced most of his business career. Vet who died after collapse had served in Vietnam (Associated Press) A veteran who collapsed in an Albuquerque veterans hospital cafeteria - 500 yards from an emergency room - before he died was a 71-year-old husband who had served in the Vietnam War, his family said Monday. Tampa area mourns death of popular wounded soldier (Tampa Tribune) Ever since returning from Afghanistan, where he was severely injured when his vehicle hit an improvised explosive device in 2010, Army Sgt. Thongpane Thongdeng touched a lot of lives in the area's military community. Navy vet sues Idaho for right to be buried with her same-sex spouse (The Spokesman-Review; Spokane, Wash.) Madelynn Lee Taylor filed a lawsuit against the state Division of Veterans Services today asking a federal judge to order the division to allow her to be buried together with the remains of her same-sex spouse at the Idaho State Veterans Cemetery. Veterans turn to American Legion for medical help (Associated Press) A counselor at the local Veterans Affairs office looked at Rebecca King, a victim of domestic violence and abuse who was seeking help for depression, and told her she would not be able to see a psychologist. She looked too nice and put together for someone depressed, King was told. WORDS OF WAR Peace of mind (Virginian-Pilot) As a soldier and as a diplomat, Ron Capps saw the worst of war. His traumatic memories nearly drove him to suicide, and then he found recovery through writing. Now Capps helps other veterans through the Veterans Writing Project. CONGRESSCongress has little time to finalize VA, defense bills(Military Times) Congress returns from its July Fourth vacation to a long list of high-profile, unfinished defense business and a short legislative calendar before the November elections. VA panel focuses on whistleblowers (Washington Post) The House committee that has focused on the cover-up of long wait times for service at veterans hospitals will turn its attention to the federal employees who turned back the covers, sometimes risking their careers to do so. Remember the Veterans Health Care Crisis? (National Journal) Having so far failed to complete reform legislation intended to ensure veterans don't die waiting for health care, lawmakers return facing significant unfinished business to show voters action before they go home to campaign in August. WH sends McDonald's VA nomination to Senate (The Hill) The White House on Monday formally submitted to the Senate the nomination of Robert McDonald to head the Veterans Affairs Department. Republicans can't seem to agree on Iraq and Middle East strategies (Los Angeles Times) The crisis in Iraq and broader unrest in the Middle East have exposed a growing rift among Republicans on foreign policy, as skeptics of military intervention have more openly challenged the party's hawkish posture in the post-Sept. 11. House Benghazi panel may cost $3 million this year (USA Today) House Republicans are planning to spend as much as $3.3 million for this year's operations of the special committee they created in May to investigate the September 2012 Benghazi attacks, a bigger budget than the House Veterans Affairs and Ethics committees were given this year. DEFENSE DEPARTMENTPanel member: Military sex assault response hard to fix(Virginian-Pilot) Harvey Bryant hoped the panel he was appointed to last year would bring a sea change to the military's handling of sexual assaults. Instead, Virginia Beach's former top prosecutor says the group's recommendations are little more than "a wading pool." As marijuana law changes, DOD officials in Washington state stand pat (Stars & Stripes) After legalizing recreational marijuana in 2012, Washington state on Monday began issuing licenses to sell it, with a first round of pot store openings expected Tuesday. 'Sullivan and Son' star says performing for U.S. troops is an honor (Military Times) Comedian Steve Byrne got a small taste of life downrange during a performance in Iraq with the USO. ARMYNew spin on jungle boots: Ripstop camo(Army Times) Just in time for the Pacific pivot, Bates Footwear has launched a new jungle boot billed as quick-drying and durable enough for tropical climates, according to the company's announcement Monday. Blasting pig eyes could lead to better eyewear for GIs (San Antonio Express-News) In a basement lab at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston, researchers have been unleashing massive shock waves strong enough to bounce a postmortem pig eye out of the artificial socket and gelatin in which it had been sitting. Chaplain with the Dog' breaks down barriers at Fort Bliss, Afghanistan (El Paso Times) She is known simply as the "Chaplain with the Dog" to the many soldiers she has served with at Fort Bliss and Afghanistan and even to the people she meets in the El Paso community. More prior-enlisted officers eligible for 15-year retirements (Army Times) In an expanded effort to slim down the force, the Army is offering more 15-year retirements to officers with prior-enlisted service. Promotion selection lists for warrant officers dropping soon (Army Times) Selection lists containing the names of active component and Army Reserve officers recommended for promotion to the grades of chief warrant officer three through five will be released soon. NAVYRussia, U.S. ships sail in competing Black Sea exercises(Navy Times) It's the tale of the two maritime exercises: In the Black Sea, the U.S. and its allies are starting up multinational training while Russian warships separately maneuver in a large-scale war game. Navy to add Triton to unmanned aircraft fleet in Guam (Stars & Stripes) The Navy has announced plans to bring the next generation of unmanned maritime surveillance aircraft to Guam, which is already home to the Air Force operated RQ-4 Global Hawk. Overhauling an aircraft carrier: a complex challenge (Daily Press; Newport News, Va.) When Edward Shields joined the Navy 10 months ago, the recruiter didn't mention jackhammer duty. AIR FORCEKadena braces for Supertyphoon Neoguri(Air Force Times) Kadena Air Base, Japan, evacuated all aircraft Sunday in preparation for Supertyphoon Neoguri, expected to hit Okinawa early Tuesday, which is late Monday U.S. time. Military helicopter assists in search for missing man (The Coloradoan) An Air Force helicopter is now among resources that have been deployed in the search for a Fort Collins man who suffers from dementia and went missing this weekend. How to land a federal job: 25 tips from insiders and experts (Air Force Times) You've probably heard that federal agencies give some hiring preferences to veterans. Lengyel credits cadet leadership with improving Air Force Academy (Colorado Springs Gazette) Stern and serious, Maj. Gen. Gregory Lengyel spent two years hammering cadets into officers at the Air Force Academy. MARINE CORPSSeven new ground combat schools open to women(Marine Corps Times) The first enlisted female Marines will start training in mortarman and infantry assaultman specialty schools next week as the Marine Corps kicks off the next phase of its Women in Service Review study. F-35B training squadron arriving in Beaufort, to start training in October (Island Packet) Members of one of Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort's new F-35B squadrons are arriving in Beaufort, but the new jets won't take to local skies until later this fall, according to air station officials. Marines eligible for humanitarian medal for typhoon relief (Marine Corps Times) Marines who assisted with relief efforts in the Philippines following Typhoon Pablo in 2012 may be eligible for a Humanitarian Service Medal, according to a Marine Corps administrative message released on Monday. Marines trade boots and utes for jungle warfare training (Marine Corps Times) Local soldiers here will soon trek into the jungle on their counter-narcotics missions sporting new boots and uniforms, thanks to an agreement with the Marine Corps in which the Belizeans swapped a jungle warfare training package for new supplies. AFGHANISTAN/PAKISTANAshraf Ghani leads in Afghan presidential runoff, preliminary results show(Washington Post) Former World Bank official Ashraf Ghani is leading his rival, former foreign minister Abdullah Abdullah, in a presidential runoff that would mark Afghanistan's first transfer of power through the ballot, according to preliminary results released Monday by election authorities. Suicide bomber kills 16 in Afghanistan as election crisis deepens (Los Angeles Times) A suicide bomber killed 16 people, including Afghan school children and four Czech soldiers, in eastern Afghanistan on Tuesday as the country reeled from a worsening election crisis. Kerry Warns on Parallel-Government Proposals in Afghanistan (Wall Street Journal) U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said Tuesday that protester proposals for a parallel government in Afghanistan in the wake of contested presidential elections raised concerns and could jeopardize U.S. support for the country. EUROPEEUCOM chief: Time to stop the drawdown in Europe(Military Times) The top U.S. commander in Europe said he will probably need more troops to counter the renewed military threat from Russia that is roiling the far eastern region of Europe. Rasmussen to Push Readiness Action Plan at NATO Summit (Defense News) NATO leaders will push alliance members to adopt a readiness action designed to improve the speed European militaries can respond to crisis during the organization's September summit in Wales. A Bogeyman In Russia, U.S. Envoy Appears Poised For Moscow Job (Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty) In Moscow they have called him a regime-change expert, a "diplomatic diversionist" dispatched by Washington to foment unrest in Russia's neighboring states. And now he appears to be headed to Russia, where Kremlin surrogates warn he may try to do the same. Eduard A. Shevardnadze, Soviet foreign minister under Gorbachev, dies at 86 (Washington Post) Eduard A. Shevardnadze, who died July 7 at 86, was called the "White Fox" as much for his diplomatic skill as for his silver hair. Rearmament of Russia's Strategic Missile Forces to be completed by 2020 (ITAR-TASS) Russia's Defense Ministry plans to complete the rearmament of Strategic Missile Forces within six years. Exclusive: CIA had role in Germany spy affair (Reuters) The Central Intelligence Agency was involved in a spying operation against Germany that led to the alleged recruitment of a German intelligence official and has prompted renewed outrage in Berlin, two U.S. officials familiar with the matter said on Monday. Spain joins European Air Transport Command (Aviation Week) Spain is the sixth country to assign air transport and refueling assets to the European Air Transport Command (EATC) in Eindhoven, the Netherlands. ASIA-PACIFICTyphoon Neoguri Sweeps Across Japan's Okinawa Prefecture(Wall Street Journal) A giant typhoon was sweeping across Japan's Okinawa prefecture Tuesday, bringing with it powerful winds, high waves and heavy rains, prompting the Japan Meteorological Agency to issue its highest warning. N.K.'s nuclear stockpile could rise sharply if light water reactor goes into operation: U.S. expert (Yonhap News Agency) North Korea can significantly increase its nuclear stockpile if a light water reactor under construction at its Yongbyon nuclear complex goes into operation, a U.S. nuclear scientist warned, urging Washington to restart negotiations with Pyongyang. RIMPAC 2014: Indian Navy puts stealth frigate through paces at RIMPAC debut (IHS Jane's 360) The Indian Navy is showcasing the Shivalik (Project 17)-class guided-missile frigate INS Sahyadri in its debut at this year's US-hosted 'Rim of the Pacific' ('RIMPAC') maritime exercises. China's rise and Asian tensions send U.S. relations into downward spiral (Washington Post) Hundreds of rocky islands, islets, sandbanks, reefs and cays lie scattered across Asia's eastern waters, unimportant-looking to the naked eye but significant enough to spark what may be the most worrying deterioration in U.S.-China relations in decades. Former Indian air chief charged over AW101 case (IHS Jane's 360) Federal Indian investigation agencies registered a money-laundering case on 4 July against former air chief marshal S P Tyagi and 12 others charged in 2013 for their alleged involvement in the corruption scandal surrounding the EUR570 million (USD775 million) purchase of 12 AgustaWestland AW101 helicopters. Japan Signs Protocol on Heightened Nuclear-Material Security Standards (Global Security Newswire) An international pact on heightened security standards for nuclear materials got one step closer to being implemented when Japan signed on late last month. South Korea tempers response to Japan's expanded military role (Stars & Stripes) Concerns over North Korean aggression and a rising Chinese military has led to a tempered South Korean reaction to last week's decision by Japan to expand the role of its military, analysts say. COMMENTARY AND ANALYSISU.S. should aid those who fight terror, not abet human rights abuses(Washington Post editorial board) IN HIS recent address at West Point, President Obama doubled down on his administration's strategy of combating terrorism and other security threats through "partnerships" with other armies. The Secret of Effective Motivation (Amy Wrzesniewski and Barry Schwartz in The New York Times) THERE are two kinds of motive for engaging in any activity: internal and instrumental. Protecting U.S. troops means being able to master nimble, effective procurement (Walter Pincus in The Washington Post) What price do you put on protecting American troops in combat? The Taliban in Afghanistan (Zachary Laub in the Council on Foreign Relations) Both the United States and Afghanistan have pursued a negotiated settlement with the Taliban, but talks have little momentum as international forces prepare to conclude combat operations in December 2014 and withdraw by the end of 2016. The Pakistan Army's Foray into North Waziristan: Get Used to Disappointment (C. Christine Fair in War on the Rocks) We've seen this show before. Even Shuja Nawaz-once a stalwart optimist about the Pakistan army, its intentions, and its capabilities-has been guarded in explaining this operation to the media. In a recent article, he even warned that it will most certainly "fall short." Obama's 'unity government' plan in Iraq is just a mirage (Jackson Diehl in The Washington Post) The Obama administration has developed a bad habit of founding its Middle East strategies on wishful thinking. In the past year, it has supposed that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad would peacefully agree to cede power at a Geneva peace conference, that the Egyptian generals who carried out a military coup would lead the country back to democracy and that Israelis and Palestinians were ready and willing to reach a final peace settlement in a matter of months. | |||||
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