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, 25 Aug 2014 05:42:05 -0600
COMPILED BY THE EDITORS OF DEFENSE NEWS & MILITARY TIMES
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TODAY'S TOP 5China: Criticism of U.S. jet encounter 'groundless'(USA Today) The Chinese Defense Ministry on Saturday called U.S. criticism of an encounter between one of its jets and a U.S. Navy surveillance plane "totally groundless." Bonhomme Richard flight deck unfit for flight operations, could delay next deployment (Stars & Stripes) The USS Bonhomme Richard will likely miss its next underway deployment after a botched $3 million resurfacing of the amphibious assault ship's flight deck. The Foreign Policy Essay: China's ADIZ in the East China Sea (Eric Heginbotham in Lawfare) Reporting on China's Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) in the East China Sea, which it rolled out in November 2013, has been highly (if understandably) skewed. (ADIZs are unilaterally declared areas that stretch beyond territorial airspace within which states impose reporting requirements on aircraft for purposes of national defense.) China's ADIZ stretches into the East China Sea, beyond Japan's designated "mid-point line," towards the Ryukyu Islands, and covers the contested Senkaku Islands (known as the Diaoyu Islands in Chinese). Lawsuit filed over records on deadly helicopter crash (The Hill) The government's release of records relating to the downing of a Chinook helicopter in 2011 that killed 30 U.S. troops has been unsatisfactory, according to a complaint filed by conservative group Freedom Watch. Obama Insiders Frustrated Over Reluctance to Attack Syria and Iraq (DefenseOne) President Barack Obama recently dismissed his critics who argue that arming the Syrian moderate opposition long ago would have made a difference in the fight against Bashar al-Assad. But louder than ever those critics - some from within his own administration - are saying, "We told you so." DEFENSE NEWS WITH VAGO MURADIANHow to respond to ISISISIS, the U.S. and Defense Spending X-47B Unmanned Aircraft at Sea Vago's Notebook IRAQA 'range of options' under discussion to combat Islamic State(Washington Post) The Obama administration is considering seeking congressional authorization for military action against the Islamic State under a revamped counter-terrorism strategy President Obama announced last year. Sen. Graham Hints at Future Strikes Against Islamic State (Defense News) As the Obama administration weighs further action against the Islamic State, one of the top defense voices on the Hill is sending clear signals he expects action soon. Obama, Iraq and the Coming War Powers Fight With Congress (Defense One) As the United States military's intervention in Iraq intensifies, so does the debate between legislative and executive branch officials about President Barack Obama's muscular use of war powers. GOP demands ISIS plan from Obama (The Hill) Republicans are pushing President Obama to clarify his plans for combating the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) following the beheading of an American journalist last week. CENTCOM releases new video of U.S. airstrikes in Iraq (Military Times) U.S. Central Command released two new videos Friday on its YouTube page of military Aug. 18 airstrikes on Islamic State targets in Iraq. White House Calls James Foley's Murder a 'Terrorist Attack' (National Journal) At a press conference on Friday, a White House adviser said the killing of U.S. photojournalist James Foley by the jihadist group ISIS "absolutely" constituted a terrorist attack against the United States. Foley, who had been held captive by the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria since 2012, was beheaded by a member of the group in a gruesome video released on Tuesday. Obama's evolution on ISIS threat (The Hill) The Obama administration says the nation is facing a threat from the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) that, in the words of Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel, is "beyond anything we've seen." SAS in high-tech hunt for Jihadi John: 'Significant force' of elite UK troops on the ground as MI5 identify James Foley's sickening killer (Daily Mail) British Special Forces hunting the killer of James Foley are using an array of sophisticated equipment to track him down - and possibly free other hostages being held. Kickstarter-funded journalists found an ISIL training camp using Google Earth and Bing Maps (Quartz) A group of crowd-funded citizen journalists seem to have located a training camp for the militant group ISIL using only online mapping services and some old-fashioned detective work. Containing ISIS is no solution, Ayotte says (The Hill) Sen. Kelly Ayotte (R-NH) on Sunday warned of the threat from the militant Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS), saying a "containment strategy is not going to cut it." Iraq forces defeat militant push to take oil refinery (BBC) Iraqi government forces say they have defeated a militant attack on the country's largest oil refinery, killing several insurgents. Response to Attack Reflects Iraq's Sectarian Divide (New York Times) Iraq's politicians were struggling to meet the constitutional deadline to form a new government when, in an isolated village, two masked men stepped into a Sunni mosque and opened fire on Friday, killing dozens of worshipers. Iran says Iraq able to fight militants alone (Associated Press) Iran sees no need to send fighters to help the Iraqi government battle the Islamic State group, even as Sunni militants inch closer to the Iraq-Iran border, its top diplomat said Sunday. Iraq's Shia militias that once fought US, confront extremists, sow fear among Sunnis (McClatchy) Hatem Abu Hazal lives between two frightening forces in northeast Iraq. Bombings kill 42 in Iraq after Sunni mosque attack (Associated Press) Bombings in Baghdad and the northern city of Kirkuk killed at least 42 people in Iraq on Saturday as the government investigated a deadly attack on a Sunni mosque the day before that has heightened sectarian tensions amid a fragile political transition. Jihad in a social media age: how can the west win an online war? (The Guardian) At first it reads like just another tweet extolling the power of social media. At 9am on Thursday, as news broke of the latest US air strikes in northern Iraq, its author likened the might of social networking to that of the "gun or sword". UK appoints security envoy to Iraqi Kurdistan (Associated Press) Britain has appointed a security envoy to Iraq's Kurdistan region as part of efforts to defeat militants of the Islamic State group. INDUSTRYSpaceX Rocket Explodes During Test Flight(Defense News) A SpaceX rocket exploded Friday during a test launch outside of McGregor, Texas. This Stealth Attack Boat May Be Too Innovative for the Pentagon (Bloomberg) On the northern edge of the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Maine, past the security checkpoint and high-tech stations for refurbishing nuclear submarines, is a derelict warehouse that once doubled as a sawmill. Exelis gets Corps of Engineers IT contract (C4ISR & Networks) Exelis has been awarded a $517 million IT contract to support the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Acquisition On FIRE, Or How A Lt. Col. Can Make A Difference (Breaking Defense) The White House has made the day of one Air Force Force lieutenant colonel, one familiar to readers of Breaking Defense. Enstrom: Sweden Must Keep Sub-building Know-how (Defense News) Sweden's parliament, the Riksdag, has endorsed a government plan to increase defense spending by more than 10 percent in 2015-2024. To a great degree, this level of investment is in response to regional tensions over Russian aggression in Ukraine, and Sweden's need to strengthen its military organization and defense capability, with an emphasis on reinforcing its presence in the Baltic. Singapore quietly expanding F-15 fleet (IHS Jane's 360) Singapore appears to have quietly boosted the size of its F-15SG fleet from 24 aircraft to 40, according to Boeing financial statements, aircraft registration filings, and US congressional reports. DISA looks to intelligence community for cloud tips (Federal Times) As the Defense Information Systems Agency negotiates its path toward cloud services and broader IT upgrades, officials there may be taking some tips from their Fort Meade, Maryland, neighbors. US, Croatia discuss deal that would send helicopters to Ukraine (IHS Jane's 360) US and Croatian officials have discussed a deal that would send American UH-60 helicopters to Croatia, while Croatia would send Mi-8MTV-1 aircraft to Ukraine. Radios connect across 2,000 miles with MUOS (C4ISR & Networks) Defying line--of-sight limitations, two AN/PRC-155 manpack radios have connected 2,000 miles apart. Users in Phoenix, Arizona and Taunton, Massachusetts, used Mobile User Objective System (MUOS) satellites to connect, according to General Dynamics. Mobility becomes central to DISA's strategy (Federal Times) As the Defense Information Systems Agency rolls out shared-service offerings under its unified capabilities (UC) effort, officials say they want to integrate mobility into applications rather than focus separately on smart phones and devices. GE offers to power Korea's KFX aircraft in collaboration with local industry (IHS Jane's 360) General Electric (GE) intends bidding to supply engines to power the Republic of Korea Air Force's (RoKAF's) proposed KFX indigenous fighter aircraft. Israel turning to other arms sources amid uncertainty of U.S., EU sales (Haaretz ) Israel's Western weapons sources are no longer a sure thing; Haaretz found that former Soviet republics are pitching in. VETERANSPresident Obama to address American Legion national convention in Charlotte(Fayetteville Observer) President Obama is scheduled to speak in Charlotte next week as part of the American Legion's national convention. Burglars steal triple amputee's hand movement (San Antonio Express-News) U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Ben Eberle was smoking a cigarette Nov. 19, 2011, in the Tangi Valley of Afghanistan when he saw the blue wire. Hagan hits Obama on VA ahead of NC visit (The Hill) Sen. Kay Hagan (D-N.C.) said President Obama has not done enough to reform the Veterans Affairs Department in a statement released Friday evening, shortly after the president announced a trip to North Carolina next week. Rock band Five Finger Death Punch to fix music video about veterans' homelessness (Washington Post) Last week, Checkpoint broke down a new music video by the band Five Finger Death Punch. Set to their new song "Wrong Side of Heaven," it sheds light on veterans' homelessness as a societal issue that deserves attention. DEFENSE DEPARTMENTUPS data breach does not affect exchange customers(Military Times) Military shoppers who made purchases or shipped packages through The UPS Store locations operated through the Army and Air Force Exchange Service were not affected by the data breach involving about 1 percent of The UPS Store locations nationwide, AAFES officials said. Pentagon says little of the equipment seen in Ferguson is military surplus (St. Louis Post-Dispatch) A Pentagon spokesman said today that almost all of the military-style equipment used by local law enforcement in Ferguson over the last 13 days did not come from the Department of Defense. Officials: White House reviewing equipment program (Associated Press) The White House is conducting a review of programs that have equipped local police departments with military gear from the Pentagon, urged by President Barack Obama's call for more separation between the nation's armed forces and civilian law enforcement. What you need to know about FBI checks at the front gate (Military Times) Some military installations are now able to run FBI background checks on anyone trying to pass through their gates. Less armor, but more protection? The new, high-tech push to improve military vehicles (Washington Post) When insurgents began laying improvised explosive devices by the dozen in Iraq to kill U.S. troops in 2004, no immediate answer was available. Soldiers and Marines responded by hanging any kind of scrap metal they could find to better protect their Humvees. But "Hillbilly armor," as the troops sometimes called it, weighed the vehicles down, made them prone to rollovers and still didn't cover the bottom sides of the vehicle most exposed to a blast. ARMY2-star accused of intimidation, compromising investigation(Army Times) A two-star Army general impeded a Navy reservist's interaction with Defense Department investigators at a military hospital in Afghanistan in 2011, a recent DoD report found, when he allegedly told the reservist to "stay in your f---ing lane" when speaking with the visitors. Fort Bragg soldier killed in wreck on U.S. 401 in Hoke County (Fayetteville Observer) A Fort Bragg soldier was killed early Friday in a wreck on U.S. 401 in Hoke County. Research raises concerns for new Army helmet design (Army Times) Tests by Navy researchers on a new Army and Marine helmet design, complete with a visor and a jaw protector, showed blast waves could bounce off the added components and produce unexpected pressure, according to a recent research paper. Drill sergeant school to mark 50th anniversary (Fayetteville Observer) The Army will celebrate the 50th anniversary of its drill sergeant school next month at Fort Jackson, South Carolina. Tyler Perry's deal to buy Fort McPherson faces more controversy (Army Times) A Georgia state senator wants the Army's top civilian to "carefully consider the ramifications" of selling part of the shuttered Fort McPherson to movie mogul Tyler Perry in a process he calls "a terrible act of injustice." Fort Hood NCO to face court martial in prostitution-ring case (Associated Press) A noncommissioned sexual abuse prevention officer at Fort Hood accused of operating a prostitution ring will be court martialed, the central Texas Army base said Friday. Report: 'Enlisted' online revival talks dead (Army Times) Talks to reboot the military-themed comedy "Enlisted" via Yahoo's emerging video service ended without a deal, TVLine.com reported Friday, likely closing Fort McGee for good. Four soldiers return to duty after lightning strike; two remain hospitalized (Watertown Daily Times) Four soldiers returned to duty Friday morning while two remained hospitalized with injuries after lightning struck during a training exercise on post Thursday. NAVYDestroyer CMC fired for loss of confidence(Navy Times) The command master chief of the San Diego-based destroyer Dewey was fired Friday, Naval Surface Force Pacific said. Nurse who refused to force-feed sent home from Guantanamo (Miami Herald) A Navy nurse who refused to force-feed hunger strikers at Guantanamo has been sent back to the United States with no resolution of his case. Sailors with higher education degrees advance faster, data show (Navy Times) Get a degree - or risk falling behind those who do. Next chapter for Navy drone (San Diego Union-Tribune) The Navy's first three Triton drones sat near the tarmac Wednesday, waiting to fly to Maryland next month for an important report card from the Navy. Tips from the insiders on advancing to chief (Navy Times) It's one of the hardest jobs that chief petty officers have - counseling their E-6s who didn't select for chief petty officer. AIR FORCEOsprey crew members recognized for actions during ambush(Air Force Times) As three CV-22s on a rescue mission descended on a U.N. compound in war-torn South Sudan, Capt. Arjun Rau saw something he'll never forget - a bright red streak, headed straight at him. USAF Chief: Expect Further Integration of Guard, Active (Defense News) The US Air Force's top uniformed official expects to see the lines between the active, guard and reserve components continue to come down as the service looks for ways to operate effectively under limited budgets. Combat controller receives Silver Star for heroism during 13-hour firefight (Air Force Times) On Sept. 12, 2013, Tech. Sgt. Matthew McKenna was on a mission with Special Forces and Afghan troops in Kandahar province when insurgents attacked. Over 13 hours, with enemy rounds landing inches from his head, McKenna crisscrossed the kill zone as he called in airstrikes and resupply missions that kept his team alive. Veteran Space Shuttle Astronaut Steven Nagel Dies At 67 (National Public Radio) Astronaut Steven Nagel, who flew on four space shuttle missions in the 1980s and 90s, including two as mission commander, has died after a long battle with cancer, NASA confirms. Medal of Honor recipient remembered for small acts of kindness (Air Force Times) Viewings will be between 6:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. Sunday in Kuna, Idaho, for Col. Bernard Fisher, renowned as the first airman to be awarded the Air Force-designed Medal of Honor. Fisher died Aug. 16 at age 87. But those who knew him appreciated him for everyday generosity. 60 years after first flight, C-130 far outlasts expectations (Macon Telegraph) On Aug. 23, 1954, a plane took off from the Lockheed plant in Burbank, California, for a flight that would have great impact on the military and Middle Georgia. Historian on museum closure: History not going anywhere (Air Force Times) A plan to shutter the Security Forces Museum at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland - and reopen it as early as 2017 as part of a sprawling enlisted heritage and character development center - has left members of the Air Force's largest career field feeling shafted. New Air Force Space Command boss outlines big rules (Colorado Springs Gazette) Air Force Space Command got a new leader, but not a new face, when Gen. John Hyten took command Aug. 15. Basic training 'transition week' launches in January (Air Force Times) For the first time in January, basic military training will be shortened from 8-1/2 weeks to 7-1/2 to make time for a week of character development training and a focus on reinforcing Air Force core values. Air Force Still Wants to Retire Warthog Jets (Wall Street Journal) The U.S. Air Force plans to revive its controversial push to retire the A-10 jet in the face of fierce opposition from lawmakers. Round three of special duty assignment nominations begins in Sept. (Air Force Times) The third round of selections for special duty assignments is set to kick off next month, with commanders expected to nominate staff sergeants, technical sergeants and master sergeants for assignments that used to be filled by volunteers. Air Force eases officer education requirements (Air Force Times) The Air Force will no longer consider advanced academic degrees when Line of the Air Force officers are up for promotion to lieutenant colonel and below. MARINE CORPSIG investigates Marine 3-star for alleged retaliation(Marine Corps Times) The Defense Department Inspector General is investigating whether a three-star general retaliated against a Marine major for speaking-up as a whistleblower after he was punished by the Corps for having secret materials on his personal computer. Hare was a Marine in WWII, an artist (San Antonio Express-News) Billee Juene Eby Hare, who was among the first wave of women to enlist in the Marine Corps during World War II, and who for years created the elaborate crowns worn by the royalty of the Order of the Alamo, died Aug. 12 at 91. Rob Richards' funeral a salute to Marine sniper's complicated legacy (Marine Corps Times) Rob Richards was well guarded. Montford Point Marines honored during ceremony (Jacksonville Daily News) The commanding general of Marine Corps Recruit Depot and Eastern Recruiting Region, Brig. Gen. Terry V. Williams, also attended the ceremony as guest speaker in honor of the country's first African-American Marines. How one female officer won over her skeptical combat-arms Marines (Marine Corps Times) Lance Cpl. Eamonn Garber wasn't sure things would work out, and that was bad mostly because his unit was at war. Equipped with monitors and mice, modern Marines train for fast-moving future (Stars & Stripes) Beyond the dusty berms, concertina wire and armed guards, in the center of adjoining tents set up like spokes on a wheel, Marines sat at computers, monitoring incoming communications while huge screens full of blue and red icons illustrated the position of friendly and enemy forces. Hair policy being considered by Commandant (Jacksonville Daily News) The decision to allow female Marines to wear twists, where two portions or strands of hair are interwoven together, now lies in the hands of the commandant of the Marine Corps. Beaufort Marine couple to be featured on 'House Hunters' (Beaufort Gazette; S.C.) When Marine Corps pilot Cody Buras was given a three-year assignment to Beaufort last year, he and his wife, Stephanie, were ecstatic. AFGHANISTAN/PAKISTANAfghan leader amplifies pressure on Ghani, Abdullah to resolve differences by Sept. 2(Washington Post) Afghan President Hamid Karzai has reiterated that he will leave office Sept. 2, intensifying pressure on his two potential successors to resolve their differences soon to avoid plunging the country into political chaos. As coalition troops disappear, Afghan educations could too (Stars & Stripes) Ehsanullah Ehsan's dream of higher education was shattered by war, and he's spent most of his adult life making sure Afghan children, especially girls, avoid the same fate. This time, the end of a military intervention imperils the dream he has braved death threats in the Taliban's heartland to achieve. Taliban offensive in southern Afghan district 'worst fighting' in years (Washington Post) The Taliban came at night, slipping into Sarwan Qala village and scaling the roofs of its mud-baked homes to fire on police and army checkpoints nearby. Gunmen In Pakistan Kill Two NATO Truck Drivers (Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty) Gunmen in northwestern Pakistan have killed two people in an attack on a truck delivering supplies to NATO-led troops in Afghanistan. MIDDLE EASTUS says 'serious questions' remain over Syrian CW(IHS Jane's 360) The United States has made the strongest indication to date that Syria may have withheld some of its chemical weapons on 18 August, when it said there are still "serious questions" about its declaration to the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW). U.S. strikes in Syria against Islamic State would be hindered by intelligence gaps (Washington Post) A U.S. offensive in Syria against the radical Islamist group that beheaded an American journalist would likely be constrained by persistent intelligence gaps and an inability to rely on fleets of armed drones that have served as the Obama administration's signature weapon against terrorist networks elsewhere, U.S. officials said. Jihadis capture major Syrian air base in northeast (Associated Press) Islamic State fighters captured a major military air base in northeastern Syria on Sunday, eliminating the last government-held outpost in a province dominated by the extremist group, activists and state media said. U.S. hostage Peter Theo Curtis is freed after nearly two years in Syria (Washington Post) An American journalist abducted by rebels in Syria was freed Sunday after nearly two years in captivity, but his release appears to have little bearing on the fates of other hostages under threat of death from their kidnappers because of the U.S. airstrikes in Iraq. Iran TV shows off allegedly downed Israeli drone (Associated Press) Iran's state TV has broadcast footage purported to show an Israeli drone the country's Revolutionary Guard claimed it shot down near an Iranian nuclear site. Israeli airstrike collapses Gaza apartment building (Washington Post) Israel bombed an apartment tower in downtown Gaza City on Saturday, collapsing the 12-story building in an unprecedented strike, while Hamas kept up heavy rocket fire that sent more Israelis fleeing border areas close to Gaza. Netanyahu Signals Expansion of Air Attacks in Gaza (Wall Street Journal) Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday that the battle with Hamas is likely to drag on into September and signaled that Israel plans to expand air attacks in civilian areas, an indication that the country is prepared for a war of attrition. Saudi Arabia to host Arab meeting on Syria, IS (Jordan Times) Jordan will on Sunday take part in an Arab foreign ministers meeting to be hosted by Saudi Arabia to discuss the Syrian conflict and the rise of Islamic State jihadists, Egypt's foreign ministry announced Saturday. Tens of thousands of Yemeni Houthis protest against govt in capital (Reuters) Tens of thousands of Yemenis massed in the capital Sanaa on Friday in a protest called by the Shi'ite Houthi movement, which wants the government to reverse a decision on cutting fuel subsidies and resign. EUROPEIn Eastern Ukraine, Rebel Mockery Amid Independence Celebration(New York Times) On a day when Ukrainians celebrated their independence from the Soviet Union with parades and speeches, pro-Russian separatists in the eastern part of the country staged a grim counter-spectacle: a parade that mocked the national army and celebrated the death and imprisonment of its soldiers. Russian Artillery Units Are Firing at Ukrainian Soldiers, NATO Says (Time) Artillery units being operated by Russian soldiers have crossed into Ukraine and are firing on Ukrainian forces, Western officials said Friday, in an apparent escalation of the ongoing conflict along the border. Russia says wants to send second aid convoy to east Ukraine (Reuters) Russia wants to send a second humanitarian aid convoy to eastern Ukraine in the near future, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Monday after Kiev and the West criticized Moscow for sending the first cargo without official permission. Ukrainian military moves to endgame (IHS Jane's 360) Ukrainian troops have continued their offensive aimed at clearing pro-Russian rebels from the Donetsk and Lugansk regions despite strong resistance. Has Russia's Invasion of Ukraine Begun? (The Daily Beast) The white-painted military trucks that have been stopped at the Ukraine border for more than a week are rolling across it. The war begins a new stage. Russia expands the United Instruments Corporation (IHS Jane's 360) Russian state industrial holding group Rostec (formerly Russian Technologies) has continued to consolidate its military automated control and robotic systems interests under the United Instrument Corporation (UIC); a venture first created in March this year. Russia denies its aircraft violated Finland's airspace: reports (Reuters) Russia's defense ministry has denied that a Russian aircraft entered Finnish airspace, local media quoted the ministry as saying on Sunday. Britain's Trident nuclear program at stake in Scottish independence vote (Washington Post) For decades, Britain's contribution to the threat of global Armageddon has found a home on the tranquil shores of Gare Loch, where soaring green mountains plunge into murky gray waters plied by sporty kayakers, weekend yachtsmen - and nuclear-armed submarines. France's Francois Hollande Asks Prime Minister to Form New Government (Wall Street Journal) France's President Francois Hollande Monday asked Prime Minister Manuel Valls to form a new government after senior ministers publicly criticized the Socialist leader's policies over the weekend. ASIA-PACIFICPhilippine Navy mulling best way to upgrade Del Pilar frigates(IHS Jane's 360) The Philippine Navy (PN) is having internal talks on how best to upgrade the weapon and electronic systems of its Del Pilar-class frigates. Vietnam sends envoy to China to smooth tensions (Associated Press) Vietnam is sending a senior Communist party official to China this week to try to rebuild relations badly bit by Beijing's decision to deploy an oil rig in waters claimed by Hanoi in May. India, Pakistan intensify cross-border firing, ties sour (Reuters) Indian and Pakistani troops intensified firing across the border over the weekend killing at least four, an Indian official said on Sunday, straining ties between the arch rivals who recently called off top-level diplomatic talks. Australia begins assessment of fire-damaged HMAS Bundaberg (IHS Jane's 360) The Australian Department of Defence (DoD) has begun an assessment of damage sustained by the Armidale-class patrol craft HMAS Bundaberg , following a fire that broke out while the vessel was undergoing routine maintenance in Brisbane, Australia Thai Coup Leader Becomes Prime Ministe (Wall Street Journal) Thailand's coup leader, Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha, was officially appointed the country's 29th prime minister Monday, saying that he would appoint members of his new cabinet in September. Chung Eun-yong,Who Helped Expose U.S. Killings of Koreans, Dies at 91 (New York Times) Chung Eun-yong ran to his wife and embraced her. She collapsed in his arms, sobbing. He asked and asked about their two young children, but she could not answer. AFRICALibyan capital under Islamist control after Tripoli airport seized(The Guardian) Libya has lurched ever closer to fragmentation and civil war this weekend after Islamist-led militias seized the airport in the capital, Tripoli, proclaimed their own government, and presented the world with yet another crisis. Strife in Libya Could Presage Long Civil War (New York Times) "The fire is inside the airport!" a militiaman cried, as he fired an antiaircraft cannon on the back of a pickup truck toward the runway of Libya's main international airport. "God is great, the flames are rising!" Islamists carry out 'public execution' on a Libyan soccer field (Washington Post) Video footage has emerged of an execution-style killing carried out by an Islamist militia in the eastern Libyan city of Darna. El-Sissi denies Egyptian military intervention in Libya (Deutsche Welle) Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi has denied military involvement in Libya after Cairo was implicated in a deadly airstrike against Islamist militia. Jihadists have accused Libya's parliament of complicity. As Kenya fights terrorism, its tactics come under fire (Los Angeles Times) The 44-year-old Muslim cleric was driving with his family along a narrow highway on Kenya's coast when bullets shattered the car's windows and blood seeped through his white robes. Philippines recalls peacekeepers from Liberia over Ebola threat (Reuters) The Philippines on Saturday ordered 115 troops to return home from peace-keeping operations in Liberia, spurred by a worsening Ebola epidemic in West Africa that has killed almost 1,500 people. To South Sudan's woes, add famine - 50,000 kids at risk of death (Washington Post) Nyarony Choing is as old as South Sudan. And like the world's newest nation, she has been to hell and back before her fourth birthday. COMMENTARY AND ANALYSISIs Extremist Hip Hop Helping ISIS?(Hisham Aidi in Cicero Magazine) Chillin' with my homie or what's left of him." That is the caption posted by Abdel-Majed Abdel Bary, 24, better known in west London DJ circles as L Jinny or Lyricist Jinn. It was accompanied by a picture he tweeted of himself in Syria holding a severed head. The Barbaric Terrorists of the Islamic State Are a Threat to the U.S. Homeland (Retired Army Lt. Col. Douglas A. Ollivant in The New Republic) The videotaped beheading of American journalist James Foley by an Islamic State militant has opened the eyes of the public to what Middle East experts have known for some time: As terrorists go, the barbaric, single-minded zealots of the Islamic State (aka ISIS or ISIL) are in a category all their own. A Necessary Response to ISIS (New York Times) The United States cannot go it alone in the fight against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, the extremist group known as ISIS whose ruthlessness and killing has dumbfounded and horrified the civilized world. In Syria, freelancers like James Foley cover a dangerous war zone with no front lines (Ellen Shearer in The Washington Post) "Conflict zones can be covered safely," James Foley told students at Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism in 2011. "This can be done. But you have to be very careful." Don't Forget Iran's Ballistic Missiles (Behnam Ben Taleblu in War on the Rocks) Last month, the P5+1 and Iran arranged for an extension of Joint Plan of Action (JPOA), the interim nuclear deal that was agreed to in Geneva in late 2013 and implemented in January of this year. The deal has been prolonged for four months as the parties continue to seek a comprehensive solution. Remarkably absent from the text of the JPOA, however, is a reference to the status of Iran's ballistic missile program. Obama's legacy could be a revitalized NATO (Anne Applebaum in The Washington Post) Not long ago, someone asked me about President Obama's foreign policy "legacy." I was startled by the question. There are two whole years left, I told my interlocutor; it's way too early. She seemed surprised that I was surprised: "Can he really do anything significant in only two years?" A NATO for a Dangerous World (NATO Secretary-General Fogh Rasmussen and NATO's Supreme Allied Commander for Europe Air Force Gen. Philip Breedlove in The Wall Street Journal) We both grew up in the shadow of the Cold War, on opposite sides of the Atlantic, and we both remember the extraordinary day when the Berlin Wall came down. Until that day, NATO had kept the Cold War from getting hot. After that day, war in Europe seemed hard to imagine, as former adversaries became NATO allies and we worked to establish a new partnership with Russia. NATO's Second-Class Members (Slawomir Sierakowski in The New York Times) During her recent visit to Latvia, Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany assured the Baltic states of German and NATO solidarity with them in the face of a potential armed conflict between Ukraine and Russia. As President Obama did earlier here, Ms. Merkel assured her audience that NATO's obligations did not exist "only on paper." She is expected to repeat that promise on Saturday, when she is scheduled to appear in Kiev. | |||||
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