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: Thu, 7 Aug 2014 04:36:35 -0600
COMPILED BY THE EDITORS OF DEFENSE NEWS & MILITARY TIMES
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TODAY'S TOP 51. Pentagon may review force levels in Europe, senior official says(Military Times) If tensions between Russia and the West continue to mount, the Pentagon this fall may launch a far-reaching review of the U.S. military's footprint in Europe, the Defense Department's number two official said. 2. Boeing Wins Upgrade Contract for NATO AWACS (Defense News) Boeing has been awarded a $250 million contract to upgrade NATO's fleet of E-3A airborne warning and control system (AWACS) aircraft, the company announced Wednesday. 3. A New American Military Ethic (Frank Hoffman in War on the Rocks) At a major conference at the Atlantic Council recently, General Martin E. Dempsey, U.S. Army, the serving Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, was questioned about the idea of a general officer being elected President. 4. Russian data breach coincides with big security conference (USA Today) It's never good when news breaks that a Russian crime ring has amassed a cache of 1.2 billion username and password combinations. 5. Expert Panel to Consult on Ebola (New York Times) Scrambling to catch up with the worst outbreak of the deadly Ebola virus, the World Health Organization announced Wednesday that it was considering the declaration of an international public health emergency and would convene a panel of experts in coming days to explore the use of experimental treatments for the incurable disease. INDUSTRYKendall Wants Business Case for US Army Helicopter Swap(Defense News) The Pentagon's top weapons buyer has asked the US Army to justify its proposal to retire two types of Bell-made training helicopters and replace them with 100 new Airbus UH-72 Lakota helicopters. 'We've Got To Wake Up': Frank Kendall Calls For Defense Innovation (Breaking Defense) We've been complacent," Frank Kendall said. DRS ICAS wins $85 million Air Force radio contract (C4ISR & Networks) DRS ICAS has been awarded an $85.2 million indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract to for up to 600 U.S. Air Force Tactical Receive System-Ruggedized Concord Intelligence Broadcast Receivers. Stealth Helps BAE Hone New Aerodynamic Skills (Aviation Week) The last time BAE Systems designed and flew a U.K.-funded combat aircraft demonstrator, things were different. The company was called British Aerospace, the aircraft was manned, and aerodynamic performance was king. India Puts Finmeccanica Deals On Hold (Defense News) India's new government has halted defense deals with Finmeccanica while the federal anti-fraud agency looks into alleged corruption in the Navy's 2010 purchase of 12 VVIP AgustaWestland helicopters. India Approves More Foreign Investment in Defense and Railways (Wall Street Journal) India on Wednesday opened up the defense and railway industries to more investment by foreign firms, in a move to attract more international capital and expertise to the sectors. Indian MoD twists the knife over HAL's IJT failures (IHS Jane's 360) The Indian Ministry of Defence (MoD) has dealt a severe blow to state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited's (HAL's) futile efforts over the past 14 years to design an Intermediate Jet Trainer (IJT). Russia to Sue Germany's Rheinmetall for Stopping Combat Simulator Exports (Moscow Times) Russia will sue German defense contractor Rheinmetall after the German government permanently halted the company's export of combat simulation and training equipment to the Russian military, a Russian deputy defense minister said Tuesday. Germany just cancelled a defense deal with Russia-who's next? (Quartz) As European countries try to balance their economic dependence on Russia with their desire to punish president Vladimir Putin for meddling in Ukraine, Germany has stepped ahead of the pack to poke the bear in the eye, canceling a EUR123 million ($165 million) defense deal (paywall) with Moscow earlier this week. Stretched RMN seeks funds for new corvettes, helicopters (IHS Jane's 360) The Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) has requested funding for a number of major procurement programmes that include the acquisition of new corvettes and helicopters and upgrades to existing RMN ships. Seoul taps KAI to develop medevac choppers for Army (Korea Herald) South Korea's government on Monday tapped Korea Aerospace Industries Ltd. to develop a dedicated medical evacuation helicopter for its troops based on the existing Surion. Navantia losses decrease in 2013 (IHS Jane's 360) Spanish state-owned shipbuilder Navantia lost EUR59.7 million (USD79.9 million) in 2013, compared with EUR78.2 million the previous year, according to figures released by its owner, national holding group Sociedad Estatal de Participaciones Industriales (SEPI). VETERANSVA executive: Wait times can be fixed in 2 years(Associated Press) Long wait times for veterans to get health care can be cleared up in two years, along with investigations of employees accused of falsifying data to hide the problem, Deputy Veterans Affairs Secretary Sloan Gibson said Wednesday. VA Secretary Robert McDonald coming to Phoenix on Friday (Arizona Republic) Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Robert McDonald is scheduled to visit Phoenix Friday, his first stop at a VA medical center since being nominated and confirmed to the cabinet post last month. Veterans can share their VA experiences with this survey (Washington Post) A veterans group on Wednesday launched a new survey to gather information about veterans' experiences with the troubled Department of Veterans Affairs. Former 101st soldier works as ranch helper (Clarksville, Tenn.) A handful of "old-timers" sit in a downtown cafe tucked between vacant buildings as old as they are and gossip over a pot of coffee. Bill would provide veterans with extra sick leave (The Hill) Rep. Stephen Lynch (D-Mass.) has introduced legislation that would offer disabled veterans who serve as federal employees with extra time off to seek medical care. Purple Heart amputee makes pro wrestling debut (Army Times) Army veteran and amputee Chris Melendez had two dreams: to serve his country and to dropkick people for a living. CONGRESSLawmakers Remain Skeptical of Obama's Quiet Military, Intel Pivot to Africa(Defense News) US lawmakers continue reacting skeptically to the Obama administration's quiet US military and intelligence pivot to Africa, this time holding up millions to counter violent extremists there. GOP: Shooting shows folly of Afghan pullout (The Hill) Republican lawmakers say the killing of an Army general in Afghanistan this week should be a warning to President Obama not to pull out forces there too quickly. Is Rob Portman the GOP's National Security Dark Horse? (DefenseOne) He's served in Congress for over 15 years, held two cabinet posts and worked for Presidents George H.W. Bush and his son George W. Bush. He's a deficit hawk who now supports gay marriage and believes the future of U.S. defense involves less boots on the ground and more intelligence. He made Mitt Romney's short list for his running mate in 2012, has played a key role in the GOP's bid to take back the Senate in 2014, and just won the Buckeye State the Republican National Convention in 2016. Senators Push For Investigation of USA Discounters' 'Aggressive' Tactics (ProPublica) The Defense Department and Consumer Financial Protection Bureau are urged to see whether service members are able to defend themselves against lawsuits while on active duty. Former Marine paddles away war stress (Associated Press) A former Marine with PTSD paddled the length of the mighty Mississippi in a canoe to clear his head and calm his demons from the war in Afghanistan. He brought along the handle of a medic stretcher for inspiration. DEFENSE DEPARTMENTRetired Navy officer helps run company that targets troops with bad credit(Military Times) The big-box retailer operates close to some of the nation's biggest military installations, selling furniture, electronic gear, car rims and jewelry - often offering high-interest loans and getting troops to sign fine-print documents surrendering a portion of their pay if they default. Defense Could Save Millions in Health Care Costs If Congress Would Let It (Government Executive) Congress should scrap an outdated and unnecessary health care program that is costing the Defense Department billions in contracts, according to a new report from the government's watchdog. Firm Developed Ebola Drug with DoD Funding (DoDBuzz) A closely held Kentucky firm developed the experimental drug to combat the deadly Ebola virus with funding from the U.S. Defense Department. ARMYNew one-star is U.S. military's first general born in Vietnam(Army Times) Col. Viet Luong pinned on his first star during a ceremony Wednesday at Fort Hood, Texas, becoming the first Vietnamese-born general officer in the U.S. military. Why hasn't Obama said a word about the death of Gen. Greene? (CNN) The killing of Maj. Gen. Harold Greene in Afghanistan - the highest ranking officer to have been killed in that war, and the first time a general has been killed on the battlefield since Vietnam - has met with many statements mourning his loss, with one notable exception: the commander in chief. Simulators solving cyber training challenges (C4ISR & Networks) Soldiers on the battlefield, with bombs exploding nearby and rifle fire coming from somewhere in the middle distance, is in no position to learn how to use the computing and communications systems that their lives might depend on. The time for training-thoroughly-is long before their boots hit the dirt. Bergdahl read his rights at Fort Sam session (San Antonio Express-News) Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl met Wednesday with an investigator who is probing allegations of misconduct while the soldier was in Afghanistan. Bergdahl gets opportunity to tell his side of story (Montgomery Advertiser; Ala.) More than two months after he was released in a prisoner swap with the Taliban, Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl got an opportunity to tell his side of the story Wednesday during a meeting with an Army general assigned to investigate the mysterious circumstances of his capture five years ago. National Guard ends team-up with Earnhardt Jr. (Army Times) The Army National Guard is ending its sponsorship of NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Indy Racing League driver Graham Rahal, the component announced Wednesday. NAVYNavWeek: Reagan's Run(Aviation Week) It would be nearly impossible to steal even a wink of sleep in the stateroom of CVN 76 Ronald Reagan during nighttime air ops in the middle of the Pacific off the Hawaiian coast during the Rim of Pacific (Rimpac) exercise. Pacific Fleet Flagship Visits Chinese HQ: The Navy's Balancing Act (Breaking Defense) We write a lot on this site on tactics and technologies for a war with China. But it's worth remembering there's another way. Police: Estranged wife, 2 others killed Jacksonville Navy commander for $1 million in life insurance money (Florida Times Union) A slain Jacksonville Navy commander's estranged wife, her boyfriend and that man's best friend are charged in his February strangulation in an Orange Park motel in a failed plot she masterminded to steal more than $1 million in life insurance money, police said Tuesday. Mother of woman shot by Norfolk police wasn't notified (Virginian-Pilot) The mother of a Navy woman shot and injured by a police officer was not notified about the incident and has been told by police that she cannot see her daughter because she remains in police custody. AIR FORCEPease to get first Guard KC-46A unit(Air Force Times) The Air National Guard will fly the next-generation tanker out of New Hampshire first, the Air Force announced today. USAF employs quicker and safer airdrop method in Afghanistan (IHS Jane's 360) The US Air Force (USAF) has begun using a new airdrop system in Afghanistan that is said to be both safer and quicker for the loadmaster, the service disclosed on 5 August. Guard C-130s busy battling wildfires (Flightlines) Two Wyoming Air National Guard C-130s are flying fire-suppression missions to help firefighters battle blazes in Idaho and Montana. MARINE CORPSMARSOC units renamed for the Marine Raiders(Marine Corps Times) The fabled Marine Raiders live again, if in name only. The commandant of the Marine Corps said Wednesday that Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command will be renamed and rebranded in honor of the elite World War II unit. Mistrial for jailed Marine vet? (San Diego Union-Tribune) The attorney for Andrew Tahmooressi, a Marine veteran jailed in Tijuana on weapons charges, said he will file for a rare mistrial early next week based on procedural errors by Mexican authorities. USMC trains with laser-guided Paveway bombs (IHS Jane's 360) US Marine Corps (USMC) McDonnell Douglas/BAE AV-8B Harrier aircrews successfully employed GBU-12F/B bombs incorporating upgraded Lockheed Martin Paveway II Dual-Mode Laser-Guided Bomb (DMLGB) kits during recent weapons and tactics instructor training, Lockheed Martin announced in a 4 August press statement. IRAQIslamic State fighters extend gains in north Iraq(Reuters) Islamic State militants extended their gains in northern Iraq on Thursday, seizing three more towns and gaining a foothold near the Kurdish region, witnesses said. Kurds want U.S. to drop water to refugees trapped by Islamic State (McClatchy) Desperate to reach tens of thousands of people who fled the Islamist militant takeover of the northern Iraqi city of Sinjar and are now trapped in rugged mountains outside the city, international aid officials and representatives of the Kurdistan Regional Government on Wednesday called for the United States to mount a humanitarian mission to reach the beleaguered refugees. Islamic Militants in Iraq Are Widely Loathed, Yet Action to Curb Them Is Elusive (New York Times) Its fighters have seized oil fields, held water supplies hostage, and commandeered heavy artillery that the United States once supplied to a friendly government in Iraq. In late July, they decapitated Syrian soldiers, put their heads on fence posts and published photographs online. For the last five days, they have drawn the Lebanese Army into a firefight over control of a border town, their first territorial foray into Lebanon. Iraqi government air strike on Islamic State court kills 60 (Reuters) An Iraqi government air strike on a Sharia court set up by Islamic State militants in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul killed 60 people on Wednesday, the office of the prime minister's military spokesman said. Kurds from Turkey, Syria enter Iraq to battle Islamic State (McClatchy) Kurdish forces pushed Tuesday to retake territory they lost over the weekend to the Islamic State in a major counteroffensive that will test the ability of the best-trained military force in Iraq to confront the radical Islamist group. AFGHANISTAN/PAKISTANAfghan ambassador outlines insider attack prevention efforts(Army Times) The deadly insider attack that killed an Army major general and wounded more than a dozen other troops Tuesday has led to questions about the way ahead in Afghanistan and the strength of the partnership between coalition and Afghan troops. U.S. General's Killer Seen as Afghan Loner (Bloomberg) An Afghan soldier who killed the highest-ranking U.S. military official in 13 years of war often dined alone and saw U.S. and allied forces as infidels, according to an officer at the base where the attack took place. The Stories Behind the Numbers on Afghan Translator Visas (Roll Call) Just before Congress left for recess last week, it did something rare: It worked across the aisle to quickly clear legislation that filled what the Obama administration had declared an urgent need: authorization of 1,000 additional special visas to bring over Afghan citizens who helped the United States during the war there. US drone strike kills 5 'militants,' including foreigners in North Waziristan (Long War Journal) The US killed five 'militants,' including several "foreigners," a term used to describe al Qaeda operatives and other non-Pakistani jihadists, in the first drone strike in Pakistan in three weeks. Pakistan Appoints New Defense Secretary (Defense News) Pakistan has appointed a new defense secretary, Mohammad Alam Khattak, a retired lieutenant general. His predecessor, Asif Yasin Malik, stepped down this week after two years on the job. Pakistan Detains Indian Solider Who Accidentally Crossed Border (New York Times) Pakistani forces took custody of an Indian soldier who accidentally crossed the border into Pakistan in the region of Jammu on Wednesday, an incident that Indian officials said they hoped would be swiftly resolved. MIDDLE EASTSaudi Arabia Adds $1B to Lebanese Military Aid(Defense News) After days of intense fighting between the Lebanese Army and Islamist fighters from Syria near the Lebanese town of Arsal, the kingdom of Saudi Arabia has offered an additional $1 billion in military aid to the Lebanese government. Gaza talks in Cairo: Cease-fire may be all that Israel and Hamas can agree on (Christian Science Monitor) Both Israel and Hamas prefer to discontinue the fighting, analysts say, but their long-term aims for Gaza appear irreconcilable, suggesting neither side will get what they want from the Cairo talks. Ebola fears spread to Bahrain (Stars & Stripes) Government officials here announced Tuesday they were stepping up preventative efforts to avert an outbreak of the Ebola virus that is spreading in West African nations. Critics decry lack of U.S. response to Bahrain expulsion (Los Angeles Times) Bahrain's expulsion last month of the top U.S. diplomat for democracy and human rights was a provocative move that seemed sure to bring a strong reaction from Washington. Kurdish security chief: Turkey must end support for jihadists (Al-Monitor) The head of the Kurdish security police in northeast Syria, Ciwan Ibrahim, said that his security forces are willing to cooperate with Turkey if it ends its support for radical jihadist groups. US adds Nusrah, Islamic State financiers to list of global terrorists (Long War Journal) The US Treasury Department today added three "key terrorist financiers" to its list of Specially Global Terrorists; two of them support the Al Nusrah Front and the other is an Islamic State financier/facilitator. All three terrorists are linked to Kuwait. EUROPEHagel: Growing threat of Russia invading Ukraine(Associated Press) Russia's troop buildup on the Ukrainian border increases the threat of an invasion by President Vladimir Putin's army, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said Wednesday. Obama Says Ukraine Doesn't Need U.S. Military Aid (Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty) U.S. President Barack Obama says Ukraine does not need additional military assistance to help fight pro-Russian separatists but an invasion by Russia would raise "a different set of questions." Russia bans some foods from U.S., E.U. (Washington Post) Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday ordered one-year limitations on food and agricultural imports from countries that have issued sanctions against Russia over its actions in Ukraine, a step that could clear supermarket shelves of French cheese, Australian beef and U.S. chicken in this import-heavy country. Russian war games raise fear of Ukraine invasion (USA Today) Fear of a Russian invasion hung over eastern Ukraine on Wednesday as NATO said 20,000 combat forces massed on the border for war games could intervene under the pretext of helping ethnic Russian civilians caught up in what Moscow calls a "humanitarian catastrophe." Mission to search Malaysia Airlines crash site in Ukraine ends over safety concerns (Washington Post) The Dutch-led mission to retrieve human remains and evidence from the site of the Malaysia Airlines crash over eastern Ukraine was halted Wednesday because of security concerns. Croatian jet fighter crashes near Zagreb; pilot survives (Reuters) A Croatian MIG-21 jet fighter crashed on Tuesday about 20 km (12 miles) south of the capital Zagreb, and the pilot ejected and has been taken to hospital for examination, the defence ministry said. ASIA-PACIFICJapan's 'Increasingly Severe' Security Environment(USNI News) Japan's security environment is "increasingly severe", according to the Ministry of Defense released its annual defense policy white paper. The report singles out China, Russia and North Korea as potential security threats involving cyber attacks, provocations on the high seas and nuclear weapons. Outrage Builds in South Korea in Deadly Abuse of a Soldier (New York Times) The soldiers beat the 20-year-old private almost every day for more than a month. They flogged him with a mop handle until it broke Indian Navy commissions new VLF facility in Tamil Nadu (IHS Jane's 360) The Indian Navy (IN) inaugurated a new very low frequency (VLF) transmitting station on 31 July at INS Kattaboman, near Tirunelvelli in Tamil Nadu, boosting its ability to communicate continuously with operationally deployed ships and submerged submarines. Arrested Filipino militant: Terror suspect alive (Associated Press) A captured Abu Sayyaf commander told investigators that a top Southeast Asian terror suspect, who the military reported was killed in a U.S.-backed airstrike two years ago, is alive and being harbored by a hard-line Muslim rebel group in the southern Philippines, a confidential police report said. AFRICACDC issues highest-level alert for Ebola(USA Today) The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued its highest-level alert for a response to the Ebola crisis in West Africa. US looking to upgrade ISR kit on Nigerien DA42MPP aircraft (IHS Jane's 360) The US government is seeking a supplier to upgrade the intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities on two aircraft operated by Niger. South Sudan Rebels Snub Peace Talks as Ethnic Murders Rise (Bloomberg) South Sudanese insurgents failed to attend talks to end a seven-month civil conflict as ethnic-based killings in the country's north left at least six aid workers dead. Muslim clerics in Nigeria advocate for polio vaccination and mobilize community (Washington Post) A few years ago, northern Nigeria was a global epicenter of polio transmission, but a program that mobilized local Muslim clerics, who were once opposed to immunization and are now advocates for vaccination, has helped radically reduce infections, according to researchers. COMMENTARY AND ANALYSISProgress on the F-35 Fighter Jet(Lorraine Martin in The New York Times) "Rough Ride for the F-35" (editorial, July 28) did not mention why the F-35 fighter jet matters to national security or the significant progress we have made toward delivering software that will enable the Marines to declare Initial Operating Capability in 2015 and the Air Force to do the same in 2016 - progress recognized in many of the reports you cite. Opinion: Defense Companies Reassess Portfolios In Light Of Global Change (Aviation Week) Defense company earnings reports for the quarter that ended June 30 will not be completed until the end of this week. Reports released already and the subjects of related conference calls, however, underscore three bigger themes that should continue to play out in 2014-15. Waiting Out the Afghan War (Elliot Ackerman in The New Yorker) That the death of a U.S. general, the first killed in action since Vietnam, occurred in the waning days of the Afghan war, and at the hands of an Afghan soldier, is a grim milestone in America's longest conflict. Why Help China's Military Progress? (Steve Cohen in The New York Times) The head of China's navy, Adm. Wu Shengli, recently asked his American counterpart, Adm. Jonathan Greenert, to allow Chinese officers assigned to its new aircraft carrier to board an American carrier to learn about maintenance and operational procedures. United States policy makers are considering the request. It is a bad idea. The Gulf of Tonkin and Lessons for the Global War on Terror (Former Assistant Defense Secretary Lawrence J. Korb in Defense One ) There has been understandable focus this week on the lessons of August 1914 and the events that precipitated World War I. But, with respect to our current national security policy and the wisdom of restraint, Americans-and particularly our elected leaders-should instead recall events that occurred just 50 years ago this month off the coast of Vietnam in the Gulf of Tonkin. Caliphate Redux (Julia McQuaid in War on the Rocks) The caliphate has been revived - again. But unlike in previous instances over the past several decades when jihadi groups made claims to states or "emirates," the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant's (ISIL) June announcement that it had established a new caliphate poses a potentially more long-term, or even permanent, threat to the future of Iraq. Arm the Kurds (Bloomberg) Thanks to the Iraqi military's chaotic flight from Mosul in June, jihadists from the Islamic State are now armed with abandoned U.S. weapons and armored vehicles. Iraq's Kurds -- arguably the most reliable U.S. allies in the Middle East after Israel and Turkey -- are not. | |||||
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