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, 2 Sep 2014 04:08:07 -0600
COMPILED BY THE EDITORS OF DEFENSE NEWS & MILITARY TIMES
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TODAY'S TOP 51. U.S. military conducts operation in Somalia, Pentagon says(CNN) U.S. military forces conducted an operation Monday against the Al-Shabaab network in Somalia, Pentagon press secretary Rear Adm. John Kirby said. 2. Libyans Overrun Compound Abandoned by U.S. Embassy in Tripoli (New York Times) Libyans have overrun a residential compound abandoned by the American Embassy when it pulled out of Tripoli in July, according to a video circulated online Sunday. Dozens of gleeful trespassers could be seen gathered around a swimming pool inside the compound, and a few dived in from the second-floor balcony, all fully clothed. 3. Why a strategy to fight ISIS in Syria will take time (Retired Army Lt. Gen. Mark Hertling in CNN) When asked to describe "strategy," every military leader who has attained the rank of colonel will probably begin the description with an explanation of ends, ways and means. 4. Pratt and Whitney Halted F-35 Engine Delivery Over Titanium (Bloomberg) United Technologies Corp. (UTX)'s Pratt and Whitney unit said it suspended delivery of engines for the F-35 jet, the Pentagon's costliest weapons program, over concern that a supplier may have provided "suspect" titanium. 5. Crushing demands of job lead some Air Force recruiters to falsify reports (Air Force Times) Air Force recruiting is plagued by a longstanding epidemic of falsifying records, according to multiple recruiters around the country. DEFENSE NEWS WITH VAGO MURADIANWarrior GamesWhat to Expect at NATO's Summit Expert Roundtable on Syria and Russia 2015 Defense Spending ISLAMIC STATEObama notifies Congress of ordering air strikes in Iraq(Reuters) U.S. President Barack Obama on Monday formally notified Congress that he had authorized targeted air strikes in Iraq to help deliver a humanitarian aid to the besieged Shi'ite town of Amerli, the White House said in a statement. US Ops in Iraq Have Cost $550 Million Since June (Defense News) Since June 16 when US President Barack Obama first sent several dozen US troops to Iraq to begin assessing the state of the country's Army, the United States has spent around $500 million on operations there. Sen. Feinstein: Obama Was 'Too Cautious' on ISIS (NBC News) Senate Intelligence Committee Chair Dianne Feinstein said President Barack Obama was "too cautious" when he said the U.S. hasn't developed a strategy to combat the terrorist group Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham. WH pushes back on report Obama hesitated to rescue Foley (The Hill) The White House is pushing back on a report that the military operation to rescue captured American journalist James Foley was delayed by President Obama's "hesitation." Iraq Airstrikes Are Strategic, Not Humanitarian (Breaking Defense) The Obama administration and the mainstream media can make the airstrikes in Iraq sound like a humanitarian war, a New Age operation driven not by realpolitik but by the high-minded and/or fuzzy-headed responsibility to protect. US airstrikes in Amerli supported deadly Shia terror group (Long War Journal) While helping Iraqi forces to break the Islamic State's siege of Amerli, the US Air Force supported a deadly Shia militia that is responsible for killing hundreds of US soldiers. The Shia militia, known as Asaib al Haq, or the League of the Righteous, has also captured and executed US soldiers and British citizens in the past. Iranians play role in breaking IS siege of Iraqi town (Reuters) Kurdish peshmerga fighters and Shi'ite militiamen paraded through Amerli on Monday, a day after breaking the two-month siege of the northern town by Sunni Islamist militants. Islamic State seeks to link its conquered territories (IHS Jane's 360) The US airstrikes to defend Iraqi Kurdistan from Islamic State (IS) militants have attracted considerable attention in recent weeks, but the main IS focus is on unifying its areas of operation in northern Syria and Iraq. Australia to fly guns and ammunition into Iraq (Associated Press) An Australian military aircraft will soon fly guns and ammunition to the northern Iraqi city of Irbil to help Kurds fight Islamic State militants as part of a U.S.-led multination mission, Australia's prime minister said on Sunday. Tarnishing a Reputation as Storied Warriors (New York Times) For decades, the pesh merga have enjoyed a fearsome reputation as unconquered mountain warriors, a storied band of guerrilla fighters who became the official guardians of the Kurdish enclave in northern Iraq. But when fighters from the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria rolled into Kurdistan in August, the pesh merga fled the front line, just a half-hour's drive from the territorial capital, Erbil. Amnesty International Says Islamic State Guilty Of 'Ethnic Cleansing' (Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty) In a report released on September 2, the rights group Amnesty International said Islamic State (IS) militants were guilty of "systematic ethnic cleansing" in northern Iraq. INDUSTRYFrance, UAE Close In on Spy Sat Deal(Defense News) The United Arab Emirates and France are expected to finalize the Falcon Eye spy satellites deal within the coming weeks while looking into the purchase of 40 Dassault Rafale fighter jets. UCLASS RFP Delayed Again Following Pentagon Meeting (USNI News) The final request for proposal (RFP) for the Navy's planned carrier-based unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) has been delayed pending a review of the service's information, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) portfolio as part of the service's budget process this fall, Navy officials told USNI News on Friday afternoon. Pentagon Will Demand 'Fair Prices' From Commercial Vendors (National Defense) The Defense Department spends $60 billion a year - nearly a third of its annual purchases - on everyday products sold in the open market by commercial companies. It also buys items that are not sold to the general public and fall into the narrower category of "commercial of a type." Northrop Grumman CIRCM completes US Army flight testing (IHS Jane's 360) Northrop Grumman's Common Infrared Countermeasures (CIRCM) system recently completed US Army flight demonstrations aboard a UH-60M Black Hawk helicopter, the company announced on 28 August. New Balance pitches DoD on standard-issue shoe for recruits (Army Times) New Balance pitches DoD on standard-issue shoe for recruits Boeing awarded AH-6i contract for Saudi Arabia (IHS Jane's 360) Boeing has been formally awarded a contract for the manufacture of 24 AH-6i Little Bird light attack/reconnaissance helicopters for Saudi Arabia. Japan and India vow to boost defense ties during summit (Reuters) Japan and India agreed on Monday to strengthen defense ties as Asia's second and third biggest economies keep a wary eye on a rising China, with India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi lashing out at the "expansionism" of some nations. Royal Air Force A400M Makes Its Maiden Flight (Defense News) The Royal Air Force's first Airbus A400M has made it's maiden flight moving Britain closer to becoming the third operator of the new European airlifter. Australia leans toward buying Japan subs to upgrade fleet -sources (Reuters) Japan and Australia are leaning towards a multibillion-dollar sale by Tokyo of a fleet of stealth submarines to Canberra's military in a move that could rile an increasingly assertive China, people familiar with the talks said. Indian MoD approves USD2.91 bn worth of acquisitions, cancels LUH tender (IHS Jane's 360) India's Ministry of Defence (MoD) approved acquisitions worth INR175 billion (USD2.91 billion) on 29 August but terminated the long-pending INR60 billion Light Utility Helicopter (LUH) programme. Iron Dome Blunts 90% Of Enemy Rockets (Aviation Week) Out of the Israelis' conflict with Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, at least one success story has emerged: Israel's Iron Dome counter-rocket system. With 735 interceptions of rockets and mortar bombs, Iron Dome demonstrated improved performance, scoring an almost 90% success rate. Czech government approves L-159 sale to Iraq (IHS Jane's 360) The Czech Ministry of Defence (MoD) will allow the sale of 15 Aero Vodochody L-159 ALCA light attack and training aircraft to Iraq, it announced on 27 August. VETERANSCombat vet turned Clemson star will soon get his own movie(Army Times) Nearly five years after earning a Bronze Star with "V" and a Purple Heart for his actions in Afghanistan at the Battle of Kamdesh, former Army Sgt. Daniel Rodriguez will suit up Saturday to begin his senior football season with the Clemson Tigers. For Kentucky town that gave much, new worries over Iraq (McClatchy) On an unseasonably cool August day, Zola Hamlin pulled up to a small square cemetery on the outskirts of town, saluted the headstone of her fallen grandson and offered a somber thought for the parents and grandparents of future soldiers who might get caught again in an Iraq war. "Run, Don't Walk:" The realities of amputation and rehabilitation (Fayetteville Observer) "A lot of people are under the impression that there's nothing technology can't do. A lot of people - I would say most people - think that the new computerized and mechanized legs are bionic. That you can strap them on and they will walk for you." VA'S Scheduling System Revamp Will be Big Test of Agency's Agile Approach (NextGov) The last attempt by the Department of Veterans Affairs to update the system used by hundreds of VA facilities nationwide to schedule and manage veterans' medical appointments was one of those failed IT projects that have come to hog the spotlight in the post-HealthCare.gov age. California lawmakers vote to protect in-state tuition for veterans (The Associated Press) California lawmakers have approved legislation to offer in-state college tuition for veterans who were stationed in California immediately before being discharged Preparation, fleibility key in job hunt (Fayetteville Observer) About 2,500 Army captains, majors and noncommissioned officers recently found out this summer they need to find a new job. And this is just the first of several rounds of cuts as the Army scales back and draws down. CONGRESSUS Lawmakers Flag Bipartisan Support for Israel(Defense News) Flagging their unflinching bipartisan support for Israel, leaders of the House Foreign Affairs Committee pledged strengthened cooperation in countering common strategic threats. House Armed Services to get classified briefing on ISIS and Ukraine (The Hill) The House Armed Services Committee will receive a closed-door briefing on the latest security developments in Iraq and Ukraine on Sept. 9, according to a House aide. U.S. lawmakers call for arming Ukraine government (Reuters) U.S. Democratic and Republican lawmakers on Sunday urged Washington to arm the Ukrainian government, saying it needed help to repel what they called Russia's invasion of the country. Senator Menendez on CNN's State of the Union: Russia in Ukraine "is clearly an invasion" (CNN) Today on CNN's State of the Union with Candy Crowley, Senator Robert Menendez spoke to Candy about Russia's presence in the Ukraine and the proper response to President Putin. Text highlights and a transcript of the discussion are below. Endangered Dem bets on the Warthog (The Hill) Vulnerable Rep. Ron Barber (D-Ariz.) is hoping that his efforts to keep the Air Force's venerable A-10 Thunderbolt aircraft fleet in the air can lift him to victory in November. DEFENSE DEPARTMENTSmaller Military Hospitals Said to Put Patients at Risk(New York Times) Every year, more than 25,000 Americans undergo surgery to correct a hiatal hernia, a condition in which tissue from the stomach bulges into the chest cavity through a hole in the diaphragm. The hernias often return, but major complications are rare. Hospital stays are usually short. DoD takes lead on finding drugs to fight superbugs (Military Times) With very few antibiotics in development at major pharmaceutical companies, the Pentagon is stepping in to support research to combat the growing threat of "superbugs" - bacteria that can't be stopped with current medications. Decaying Guantanamo Defies Closing Plans (New York Times) One sweltering afternoon last month, a Boeing C-17 military transport plane arrived at the American naval base here. It had come to take six low-level detainees to new lives in Uruguay after 12 years of imprisonment. DoD makes advances toward blood test to diagnose concussions (Military Times) The Defense Department is closing in on a blood test to detect concussions. Capitalizing on tactical apps (C4ISR & Networks) Need to coordinate fires in combat? Conduct triage in the field? Connect tactical radios on the fly? There's an app for that, or soon will be. ARMYArmy sees 'megacities' as the future battlefield(Defense News) When the US Army looks to the future, it sees cities. Dense, sprawling, congested cities where criminal and extremist groups flourish almost undetected by authorities, but who can influence the lives of the population while undermining the authority of the state. 18th Airborne Corps paratrooper found dead on Fort Bragg (Fayetteville Observer) An investigation into the death of Pvt. 1st Class Lance D. Cuffee, 23, of Norfolk, Virginia, is underway, the post said in a news release. Fort Hood shooter Nidal Hasan asks to be a citizen of Islamic State (San Antonio Express-News) The former Army psychiatrist condemned to death in the killings of 13 people at Fort Hood wants to become a citizen of the Islamic State. Technological game changers: Looking powerful (Fayetteville Observer) ParaSol Technologies' "chargeable" material traps solar energy and converts it into electricity. Army tents constructed of the stuff would cut down on costly generators down range. Soldiers could shed heavy batteries in their packs. Army explores new networked ground sensors (C4ISR & Networks) Due to defense budget cuts, military purchases of unattended ground sensor (UGS) systems have been flat since 2010, with defense contractors shifting focus to the border-security market in Asia and the Middle East. Still, all is not grim on the domestic front. Doughboy award: Retired Command Sgt. Maj. Steve England is joining a list of heroes (Fayetteville Observer) In 1974, not long after he made a parachute jump over the Arctic Circle, the call went out for another challenge, a new battalion expected to train tougher and fight harder. NAVYNew rules OK ball caps with blue cammies, on base and off(Navy Times) After six years, the Navy listened. New Pearl Harbor facilities fall to neglect (Honolulu Star-Advertister) On Dec. 7, 2010, the 69th anniversary of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, the National Park Service dedicated a new $56 million USS Arizona Memorial visitor center with a sprawling campus to handle increasing numbers of tourists at one of the nation's most revered attractions. Diving legend Walter Mazzone dies at 96 (Navy Times) Retired Capt. Walter Mazzone, a decorated World War II submariner who later became legend as a pioneering medical officer in deep dive experiments that captured the nation's attention, died Aug. 7 in San Diego. He was 96. LED Lighting Making a Mark on US Navy Ships (Defense News) Few things are more ubiquitous aboard a US Navy ship than fluorescent lights. They're in virtually every space - topside too - emitting that familiar, sometimes-flickering white light. Fitted as lights in every sailor's rack, they can emit a hum loud enough to make sleep difficult. Coming up the gangway: Sailors in exoskeletons (Navy Times) Anyone who saw Ripley defeat the alien queen in the 1986 film "Aliens" knows how badass exoskeleton technology can be. John Walker Jr., spy family ringleader, dies in prison at 77 (Los Angeles Times) John Walker Jr., a former American sailor convicted during the Cold War of leading a family spy ring for the Soviet Union, has died in a prison hospital in North Carolina, officials said Friday. AIR FORCEPilot killed in Virginia F-15 crash had more than 2,300 flight hours(Air Force Times) Massachusetts Air National Guard Lt. Col. Morris Fontenot Jr., whose F-15C crashed Aug. 27 in rural western Virginia, never managed to eject from his aircraft. Interview: Gen. Paul Selva (Defense News) As US operations in Afghanistan wind down, Gen. Paul Selva is responsible for getting military equipment back to the United States. James calls for review of testing procedures (Air Force Times) Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James has directed the service to review its testing procedures following multiple high-profile incidents of cheating. Was hacker working at Scott Air Force Base? (Belleville News-Democrat) A Mascoutah man stationed at Scott Air Force Base and hired to ensure the security of Department of Defense computers was being investigated for hacking before he took his own life, according to recently unsealed federal court records. Air Force to begin rotating launch officers (Air Force Times) The latest change in the nuclear missile career field will let airmen trade places with each other, opening up opportunities for officers to work on a different base for three months. F-16s dispatched for unresponsive pilot of small plane near D.C. (Reuters) Two F-16 fighter jets were dispatched to check on a small plane that entered restricted airspace around Washington, D.C., on Saturday, and the fighter pilots observed the person at the controls to be unconscious before the plane ran out of fuel and crashed into the Atlantic Ocean, officials said. New combat uniform pattern coming as early as April (Air Force Times) The Army plans to field its new combat uniform camouflage pattern as early as April, and deployed airmen will wear it when stationed with Army units in Afghanistan and Africa. MARINE CORPSUSMC Super Stallion crashes in Gulf of Aden; all 25 personnel rescued(Marine Corps Times) A U.S. Marine Corps CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter assigned to the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit crashed at sea today in the Central Command area of operations, an official press release stated. Bataan group extended in Mideast (Stars & Stripes) The Bataan amphibious ready group will remain in the Middle East for three more weeks, Navy officials announced Saturday. Marine fatally injured in Oceanside hit-and-run (San Diego Union-Tribune) A 22-year-old Marine riding a motorcycle was fatally injured Thursday in a hit-and-run collision in Oceanside, and a suspect was later arrested, police said. MARSOC offers operator spots to reservists (Marine Corps Times) Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command put out a call for enlisted reservists to join the ranks of critical skills operators. Walking Dead' Marine battalion to be deactivated (Associated Press) Decades before the television show, a Marine Corps battalion decorated for extensive combat in World War II and Vietnam earned the nickname the "Walking Dead." New seminar will prep logisticians for EF-21 mission types (Marine Corps Times) Coming soon: a seminar for all Marine logisticians to prepare them for their role in small-unit operations and joint missions around the globe. Vigil marks Marine vet's 3rd year of imprisonment in Iran (Associated Press) A Bay City vigil marked the third anniversary of the Iranian imprisonment of a Marine Corps veteran. Former Marine gets custody in fraud case (San Diego Union-Tribune) A former Camp Pendleton Marine who bilked the military out of $95,000 in fraudulent housing reimbursements was sentenced in San Diego federal court Friday to four months in custody. AFGHANISTAN/PAKISTANSenior IMU leader captured by ISAF in 2011 now leads fight in northern Afghanistan(Long War Journal) A senior leader of the Taliban and al Qaeda-linked Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU) who was captured by Coalition forces in the spring of 2011 is now leading more than 300 jihadists in the northern Afghan province of Kunduz. The IMU leader once served as the top commander of the jihadist group's network in Afghanistan. Deal to End Afghan Election Crisis on Verge of Collapse (Wall Street Journal) A deal brokered by U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry to end Afghanistan's protracted election crisis was on the brink of collapse Monday, with presidential candidate Abdullah Abdullah ready to pull out of talks with his rival. Could saffron help Afghanistan kick its poppy habit? (Stars & Stripes) The hot summer wind sent dust whirling into the air as Nasir Ahmad deftly picked a handful of brown saffron crocus bulbs from a freshly dug hole in the parched earth. US: Too soon to evaluate Pakistan offensive (Associated Press) U.S. military leaders say it's too soon to tell if Pakistan's offensive against militants in North Waziristan has been effective or simply symbolic, but they say the operations have temporarily disrupted the enemy and sent insurgents fleeing into Afghanistan. Pakistan's Sharif clings to power as protesters step up assault (Washington Post) Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was clinging to power Monday as protesters stepped up their assault on government buildings while the capital was gripped with fear and confusion about whether the country's powerful military will step in to defuse the tension. Pakistan parliament convenes amid crisis (Al Jazeera) A joint session of parliament is under way in Pakistan as Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif tries to rally support against the protesters calling for his resignation. Pakistani Protesters Ransack State Television Headquarters (New York Times) Pakistan's political crisis deepened on Monday when protesters stormed the headquarters of the state-run television network, causing a temporary lapse in transmission until army troops regained control and secured the building. MIDDLE EASTIsraeli Public Demands Answer to Mortar Threat(Defense News) Terrified and angry by their government's inability to protect them from eight straight weeks of Gaza-launched attacks, Israeli residents too close to the border to benefit from the Iron Dome missile shield are demanding an active defense solution to short-range threats. Israel Shoots Down Drone That Crossed From Syria (Wall Street Journal) Israel's military said it shot down a drone that crossed into its airspace from the Syrian side of the Golan Heights on Sunday, the latest sign of intensified civil war battles along a tense border that have caught United Nations peacekeepers in the crossfire. Israel Claims Nearly 1,000 Acres of West Bank Land Near Bethlehem (New York Times) Israel laid claim on Sunday to nearly 1,000 acres of West Bank land in a Jewish settlement bloc near Bethlehem - a step that could herald significant Israeli construction in the area - defying Palestinian demands for a halt in settlement expansion. U.N. Calls Syrian Refugee Crisis 'Biggest Humanitarian Emergency of our Era' (National Journal) As of Friday, 3 million Syrian refugees have fled their country to escape the civil war there, in what U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees Antonio Guterres called "the biggest humanitarian emergency of our era." U.S. sends arms to bolster Lebanon army after Islamist incursion (Reuters) The United States has begun delivering nearly $20 million of arms including assault rifles, anti-tank missiles and mortars to bolster Lebanon's army after Islamist insurgents seized a border town for several days this month, U.S. officials said on Friday. Syrian rebels release Lebanese soldiers (Al Jazeera) The Al-Nusra Front frees four soldiers and a police officer kidnapped in Lebanon nearly a month ago. Filipino UN troops escape Golan Heights militants, Fijians still detained (Deutsche Welle) Officials in the Philippines say dozens of their UN troops have made a "greatest escape" from Syrian rebels in the Golan Heights. However, a group of Fijian peacekeepers remains detained by fighters linked to al-Qaeda. U.S. slaps more sanctions on Iranian banks, firms (Reuters) The United States on Friday penalized a number of Iranian and other foreign companies, banks and airlines for violating sanctions against Tehran largely tied to its nuclear program. EUROPENATO Leaders to Discuss High Readiness Task Force(Defense News) NATO leaders meeting at the NATO summit in Wales on September 4 and 5 will be discussing the option of adding a "high readiness joint task force" or "spearhead force" to the existing NATO Response Force (NRF) capable of reacting to threats to NATO territory within two days, said a senior NATO official here Sept. 1. Putin comment on "taking Kiev in 2 weeks" was taken out of context - aide (Reuters) Reported comments by President Vladimir Putin that Russia could capture Kiev within two weeks were taken out of context, Itar-Tass news agency quoted a Kremlin foreign policy aide as saying on Tuesday. Russia 'to alter military doctrine towards Nato' (BBC) Russia is to alter its military doctrine as a result of the Ukraine crisis and Nato's presence in eastern Europe, a top Russian official says. Ukraine Shifts to Defense Against Russian Incursion (Wall Street Journal) Ukraine is shifting the focus of its military operation from rooting out pro-Russia rebels in the east to warding off a broader incursion by Moscow, following major setbacks for Kiev's forces in fighting in recent days. Putin calls for talks on east Ukraine 'statehood'; rebels fire on ship (Reuters) Russian President Vladimir Putin called on Sunday for immediate talks on the "statehood" of southern and eastern Ukraine, although his spokesman said this did not mean Moscow now endorsed rebel calls for independence for territory they have seized. Russia calls for cease-fire with rebels, but Ukraine vows to keep up the fight (Washington Post) Russian officials pressed Ukraine on Monday to declare a cease-fire with separatists, but Ukrainians say they are locked in a war not just against the rebels but also against Russia - on behalf of Europe. Is Vladimir Putin Covering Up the Deaths of Russian Soldiers in Ukraine? (Foreign Policy) With Russian soldiers fighting in eastern Ukraine, Russian soldiers are also all but certainly dying there. Now, Russian President Vladimir Putin appears to be mounting a campaign to find out that his constituents don't find out about that unpleasant and politically explosive fact. The invasion of Ukraine, in maps, satellite photos, and video (Quartz) Although most world leaders have not actually come out and said so, Ukraine is being invaded. That's according to Ukrainian politicians and military officials, NATO representatives, and, privately, officials in Washington. Ukrainian patrol ship sunk by artillery fire (IHS Jane's 360) A Ukrainian patrol ship has been sunk in the Azov Sea after coming under artillery fire, the Ukrainian State Border Guard Service (DPSU) announced on 1 September. Kazakh President Warns Of Impact Of Ukraine Sanctions (Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty) Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbaev has said further escalation of the crisis in Ukraine could hurt Kazakhstan's economy. Multinational Fighter Force Conducts Baltic Air Policing (Aviation Week) Several NATO air forces began the latest, reinforced Baltic air policing mission today. ASIA-PACIFICIn Interviews, 3 Americans Held in North Korea Plead for U.S. Help(New York Times) North Korea granted two United States news organizations interviews with three incarcerated Americans on Monday, with each prisoner apologizing for violating its laws and beseeching Washington to send a high-level emissary to negotiate their release. Indian Navy plans new carrier, SSBN base in Bay of Bengal (IHS Jane's 360) The Indian Navy (IN) is building a new base on India's east coast to further boost force levels in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) and to counter China's growing presence. U.S. Debates Removal of Weapons Ban on Vietnam as China Asserts Territorial Claims (National Defense) With relations warming, the U.S. ban on the sale of lethal weapons to Vietnam has come into question. Some government officials in both the United States and Vietnam are advocating for restrictions to be repealed, citing a need to boost Vietnam's defense capabilities in the face of a rising China, according to a recent think tank report. RSAF grounds US-based F-16Ds after structural cracks found (IHS Jane's 360) The Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) has grounded an unspecified number of Lockheed Martin F-16D multirole combat aircraft attached to its Peace Carvin II training detachment at Luke Air Force Base (AFB), Arizona, Singapore's Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) revealed to IHS Jane's on 29 August. Democracy Backers in Hong Kong Face Tough Choices (New York Times) Distrust of the Chinese Communist Party runs deep in Hong Kong, a city built largely by refugees from famine and party-sponsored political violence in mainland China. AFRICAPentagon set to open second drone base in Niger as it expands operations in Africa(Washington Post) The Pentagon is preparing to open a drone base in one of the remotest places on Earth: an ancient caravan crossroads in the middle of the Sahara. Congo: Top general active in volatile east dies (Associated Press) Congo's government spokesman says a top general based in the country's volatile east has died. Lesotho 'coup': Sadc rejects Thabane's troop request (BBC) Regional leaders have rejected calls by Lesotho's exiled Prime Minister Thomas Thabane for the immediate deployment of troops to help restore order in his country, an official has told the BBC. Somalia: 12 Killed as Army Repels Attack on Prison (Associated Press) Somalia's government forces regained control of a high security prison in the capital that was attacked Sunday by seven heavily armed suspected Islamic militants who attempted to free other extremists held there, officials said. COMMENTARY AND ANALYSISThe Army's Next Mission: Stability is the Best Offense(M. Shands Pickett and Annie Best in Small Wars Journal) U.S. Army units have been continuously deployed to active theaters of war since the beginning of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) in Afghanistan nearly thirteen years ago Why the US swaps prisoners but doesn't pay ransom (Brian Michael Jenkins in The Hill) The recent report that the United States refused to pay ransom to the kidnappers of journalist James Foley, only weeks before it released Taliban prisoners in exchange for Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl, has caused confusion about American policy. On the surface, the policy may seem inconsistent. Why will the United States release prisoners but not pay ransom? In Iraq, A Faustian Bargain Awaits America and Iran (Christian H. Cooper in Cicero Magazine) The long-predicted demise of Iraq appears to be inching closer day by day. It faces pressure from the brutal forces of ISIS from the outside in combination with domestic turmoil and ever-present sectarian violence from the inside. Stop Dithering, Confront ISIS (Sens. John McCain and Lindsey Graham in The New York Times) AFTER more than three years, almost 200,000 dead in Syria, the near collapse of Iraq, and the rise of the world's most sinister terrorist army - the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, which has conquered vast swaths of both countries - President Obama's admission this week that "we don't have a strategy yet" to deal with this threat is startling. It is also dangerous. Actually, Obama Does Have a Strategy in the Middle East (Peter Beinart in The Atlantic) President Obama's critics often claim he doesn't have a strategy in the greater Middle East. That's wrong. Like it or loathe it, he does, and he's beginning to implement it against ISIS. To understand what it is, it's worth going back seven summers. From the Guy Next Door to the Fighter Overseas: A Look at Four Foreign Fighters who Joined the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (Chelsea Daymon in Small Wars Journal) With the recent eruption of violence in Iraq and the ongoing civil war in Syria the topic of foreign fighters has once again been brought to the forefront. A number of Western intelligence officials have reiterated concerns as to the growing numbers of Westerners and Europeans traveling to Syria to join the jihad Obama Sees No Rush on Syria Despite Mounting Pressure (George E. Condon Jr.) This is a president who is not going to be hurried in his response to daily developments. He is not going to be stampeded into a military strike either by horrific videos of executions and beheadings or by growing complaints from political foes who say action is overdue. The Foreign Policy Essay: Why Iran Won't Leave Afghanistan (Sumitha Narayanan Kutty in Lawfare) As the United States begins to disengage from Afghanistan, there is renewed interest in Washington to understand the extent of Iran's involvement in the region. Sanctions on Russia will increase risk of cyber attacks against Western companies and critical infrastructure (IHS Jane's Intelligence Review) As any economic sanctions imposed by Russia will have far more limited ramifications than the Western sanctions are already having on Russia, IHS assesses that there is an increased risk of Russia seeking to retaliate by other means, including cyber attacks against Western states, both against critical infrastructure and businesses. War in Europe is not a hysterical idea (Anne Applebaum in The Washington Post) Over and over again - throughout the entirety of my adult life, or so it feels - I have been shown Polish photographs from the beautiful summer of 1939: The children playing in the sunshine, the fashionable women on Krakow streets. Why Eastern Ukraine Could Become Russia's Next 'Frozen Conflict' (Brian Whitmore in The Atlantic) This has happened before in Abkhazia and South Ossetia. The rest of the world just wasn't paying attention. At Upcoming NATO Summit, Countries Must Face Reality That Some Are More Equal Than Others (Jarno Limnell in National Defense) Several NATO members have in recent months wondered whether the "One for all, all for one" principle applies to them equally. NATO: Suddenly Relevant, Deeply Divided (Stewart M. Patrick and Daniel Chardell in the Council on Foreign Relations) When Western leaders gather for the NATO summit in Wales next week, they will be expected to answer calls to revive the old alliance in order to confront Russia's gradual invasion of Ukraine. Despite this new clarity of purpose, however, the alliance remains profoundly divided. | |||||
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