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: Wed, 17 Sep 2014 04:29:17 -0600
COMPILED BY THE EDITORS OF DEFENSE NEWS & MILITARY TIMES
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TODAY'S TOP 51. Obama will consider ground troops in Iraq on 'case-by-case basis,' Dempsey says(Military Times) President Obama is considering putting combat troops on the ground in Iraq on a "case-by-case basis," his top military adviser said Tuesday. 2. Senior Senator: Both Chambers Should Pass CR, Syrian Rebels Authorities 'Before' Weekend (Defense News) A senior US Senate Democrat is hopeful both chambers can pass a stopgap spending measure and approve presidential authorities to train and equip Syrian rebels by this weekend. 3. Obama vs. the generals (Marc A. Thiessen in The Washington Post) Pity poor Gen. Lloyd Austin, top commander of U.S. forces in the Middle East. 4. NCSD teachers, students fight for right to enlist in Air Force (The News Herald; Morganton, N.C.) A group of students and leaders in education at the North Carolina School for the Deaf traveled to the nation's capital last week to participate in a rally, advocating for the right for the hearing impaired to enlist and serve in the military. 5. Ebola Poses a New Challenge for U.S. Military (Wall Street Journal) President Barack Obama's plan to contain the Ebola outbreak presents the U.S. military with a logistical challenge with few precedents, one that it will be under pressure to execute quickly while ensuring that the 3,000 military personnel involved are protected from the deadly virus. ISLAMIC STATEUS-Israel Accord to Support Coordinated Air Ops in Syria(Defense News) A US-Israel defense agreement will support coordinated air power in Syria if and when the Israel Air Force (IAF) is tasked to operate in close proximity to American-led coalition air forces. Hagel: US 'finalizing' Syria strike plans (The Hill) Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said President Obama will receive completed military plans Wednesday to strike Syrian safe havens of the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS or ISIL). Obama arrives in Tampa for briefing on ISIS (Tampa Tribune) President Barack Obama has landed at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa ahead of a Wednesday briefing at the base on the Islamic State insurgent group. U.S. Strikes in Syria Won't 'Shock and Awe,' Dempsey Says (Bloomberg) U.S. airstrikes against Islamic State targets in Syria won't be a repeat of the 2003 Iraq War's opening attacks, dubbed "shock and awe," the Pentagon's top general said today. 5 things to know about Islamic State's military capabilities (Marine Corps Times) Members of the Islamic State are well-equipped with weapons and vehicles, but experts say they're more concerned about the group's professional-grade propaganda motivating new fighters to join their ranks. ISIS Draws a Steady Stream of Recruits From Turkey (New York Times) Having spent most of his youth as a drug addict in one of the poorest neighborhoods of Turkey's capital, Can did not think he had much to lose when he was smuggled into Syria with 10 of his childhood friends to join the world's most extreme jihadist group. Iraq parliament rejects interior, defense nominees (Associated Press) Iraqi lawmakers rejected Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi's nominees Tuesday to lead the defense and interior ministries, leaving the crucial Cabinet posts unfilled as an emerging U.S.-led coalition intensifies its air campaign against Islamic State extremists who have seized a third of the country. Iran fills key role in battling Islamic State in Iraq (Los Angeles Times) In an isolated corner of northeastern Iraq, a foreign power has been a crucial contributor in a little-noticed front against the militant Islamic State - and it's not the United States. Shiite Militias Pose Challenge for U.S. in Iraq (New York Times) Militia justice is simple, the fighters explained. New IS video warns US over Iraq deployment (Associated Press) The militant Islamic State group has released a video warning the United States that fighters await it in Iraq if President Barack Obama sends troops there, as he and his top general said may happen. INDUSTRYPratt: F-35 Fix Could Begin Installation Before End of Year(Defense News) Engine manufacturer Pratt and Whitney believes it could begin retrofit fixes by November for the engine issue that caused an F-35A to catch fire this summer. Lockheed Martin Banks on Internal Investments to Reduce F-35 Cost (National Defense) Lockheed Martin unveiled new details on manufacturing investments aimed at bringing the F-35 joint strike fighter price down to about $80 million a copy by 2019. First flight delayed for KC-46A test aircraft (Air Force Times) The first flight of the KC-46A program's test aircraft has been pushed back until mid-to-late November, with the first next-generation tanker not expected to fly until April, the program's top officer said today. US Air Force Special Ops Looks To Add Armor, Firepower to Ospreys (Defense News) In response to two of its CV-22 Ospreys being shot up over Juba, South Sudan, in December, critically injuring two service members, the US Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) has added optional armor to the flooring of the aircraft and may also incorporate forward-firing weapons. $7.2b in US Army Intelligence Support Contracts, 2014-2019 (Defense Industry Daily) Army Intelligence and Security Command at Fort Belvoir, VA issues up to $7.2 billion worth of indefinite-delivery/ indefinite-quantity contracts for global intelligence support services. Each contractor will compete for task orders, and receive a minimum guarantee of just $5,000. Funding and work location will be determined with each order, and will run from Sept 11/14 to Sept 11/19. Boeing signs deal with Sky-Watch to develop UAV (IHS Jane's 360) Boeing announced 15 September that it had signed a deal with Danish company Sky-Watch to develop an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) as part of a project run by the Danish National Advanced Technology Foundation. Space Command Chief: SpaceX Certification Looming (Defense News) SpaceX is getting close to certification for military launches, perhaps as soon as the start of December, the new head of US Air Force Space Command said today. Remotely operated Husky developed to enhance counter-mine missions (IHS Jane's 360) DCD Protected Mobility has partnered with US companies Critical Solutions International and Torc Robotics to develop a remotely operated variant of its well-proven Husky mine-detection system. QinetiQ releases airborne intel systems (C4ISR & Networks) QinetiQ has released a new line of airborne communications intelligence systems. Airbus Announces Divestment of Some Defense Subsidiaries (Agence France-Presse) European aircraft manufacturer Airbus said Tuesday that it would sell off several subsidiaries at its defense division to focus on its core businesses of space activities, military planes and missiles. Thyssen says to start talks with Airbus about Atlas (Reuters) ThyssenKrupp plans to start talks with Airbus about a possible buy-out of Airbus's 49 percent stake in submarine supplier Atlas Elektronik, its chief executive said. An Israeli drone conference is featuring a product recently used on Gaza (Quartz) A few weeks after Israel and Hamas signed an open-ended truce to end their nearly two-month-long war in Gaza, Israeli defense contractors are parading weapons used in the conflict at a conference in Tel Aviv. TALON enters full-rate production for UAE (IHS Jane's 360) Raytheon has announced that the TALON laser-guided rocket has entered full-rate production under a contract valued at USD117 million. India identifies 15 weapon systems for export (Hindustan Times) The Defence Research and Development Organisation, which is struggling to meet deadlines for delivering key military projects, is working on an elaborate weapons export plan to make inroads in the lucrative global arms market. Delays force Indian Navy to shake up Project 75I submarine plans (IHS Jane's 360) A delay of more than seven years in acquiring six conventional submarines has prompted the Indian Navy (IN) to ditch its plan to import two boats and licence-build the remaining four. Mercury wins jammers contract (C4ISR & Networks) Mercury Systems has been awarded a $2 million U.S. Navy contract to provide Digital RF Memory (DRFM) jammers. VETERANSVA whistleblower says investigation has been a 'whitewash'(CNN) The main whistleblower in the scandal involving the Department of Veterans Affairs has asked for an independent review of delays in care at the Phoenix VA, calling the recent investigation by the Office of Inspector General a "whitewash." House GOP: VA interfered with IG's report (Politico) Congressional Republicans are accusing the Department of Veterans Affairs of influencing an independent review of whether delayed health care resulted in the deaths of nearly three dozen patients. Doctor: VA downplayed link between wait times, deaths (Stars & Stripes) Contrary to the findings of the VA's inspector general, there is a link between wait times and patient deaths at veterans hospitals, according to prepared testimony from a VA doctor. Consumer agency sues Corinthian Colleges for predatory lending (Associated Press) Corinthian Colleges is being sued by the federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau for what it calls a "predatory lending scheme." VA secretary vows more changes, higher ranges of pay for doctors, nurses (Stars & Stripes) As part of the effort to eliminate the VA appointment backlog by the end of next year, Veterans Affairs Secretary Bob McDonald said Monday that he plans to increase the range of pay for VA doctors and nurses, among other changes. Inside #22Kill, a star-studded campaign to fight veteran suicide (Washington Post) When Michael Jernigan medically retired from the Marine Corps in 2005 as a corporal, it was less than two years after an improvised explosive device blast in Iraq on Aug. 22, 2004, had taken both of his eyes and left him disfigured. Vets "suffering" from VA delays, witness tells hearing (Philadelphia Inquirer) In January, Philadelphia's veterans hospital sent Chris Diaz to a private doctor because the wait for knee surgery at its own facility was more than 10 months. Burger King wants Hawaii needle lawsuit dismissed (Associated Press) Burger King wants to dismiss a lawsuit alleging there were needles in a sandwich after the former soldier who made the claim didn't attend a settlement conference. CONGRESSSenator Tries to Help Frustrated Military Drivers With #OopsWeLostYourCar(National Journal) One senator is on a quest to help soldiers find their vehicles, which are being held up as they move overseas. Lawmakers eyeing lame-duck for defense bill vote (The Hill) House and Senate lawmakers are holding informal talks on cobbling together a joint 2015 defense policy bill in the hopes that they could approve the must-pass legislation during a lame-duck session of Congress, Rep. Mac Thornberry (R-Texas) said Tuesday. House passes bill to oversee VA hospital building (Associated Press) The House has passed a bill to increase oversight of veterans' hospitals under construction, following a report that some medical centers take three years longer to complete than estimated and cost an extra $366 million per project. It's not 2002 anymore: For Congress, a sea change since its last Iraq war vote (Washington Post) Minutes after President Obama outlined a new strategy to attack Islamic State forces, Sen. Mark Begich issued a blunt rejection of the proposal. Senate Republicans Fear ISIS Strategy Doesn't Go Far Enough (National Journal) Senate Republicans generally support President Obama's push to train Syrian fighters, but some questioned Tuesday whether it is tough enough to take on ISIS. Dems divided on Obama's Syria plan (Politico) The deep divisions among Democrats over President Barack Obama's plan to attack Islamic State militants foreshadow fights ahead within the party over how aggressively to assert itself on foreign policy. Lawmaker wants to subpoena USIS CEO over security lapses (Federal Times) A top House lawmaker wants to subpoena embattled background investigations contractor USIS to answer questions about its recent high-profile security lapses and quality control failures. DEFENSE DEPARTMENTIG: Sexual assault investigators should improve methods(Military Times) Military investigators responding to reports of sexual assaults do not always follow the widely accepted standards set by civilian police agencies, according to a new Pentagon Inspector General's report. Pentagon rules target Hollywood leaks (The Hill) The fallout over the production of Zero Dark Thirty, a movie that depicted the hunt for Osama bin Laden, may be catching up to the Pentagon. DARPA seeks infrared imagery tools (C4ISR & Networks) Rather than human analysts laboriously comparing infrared imagery, DARPA wants an automated tool to do the work. Jet packs for U.S. soldiers? Yes, it could happen (Washington Post) The U.S. military hasn't been shy about its desire to use technology to develop a new generation of super soldiers. But here's one effort that is sure to raise eyebrows: jet packs to make combat troops faster on foot. ARMYArmy releases new rules for tattoos and hair(Army Times) The Army on Tuesday unveiled its latest update to AR 670-1, its grooming and appearance regulation. Stretch of West Virginia road to be named for former Fort Bragg soldier (Fayetteville Observer) A former Fort Bragg soldier will be honored Thursday when a West Virginia roadway is dedicated in his honor. Soldier dies at Fort Polk; second fatal training incident in 2 months (Army Times) A specialist died Sept. 9 in a training accident at Fort Polk, Louisiana, becoming the second training fatality at the base in less than two months. Hundreds pay respects to Spc. Brian Arsenault (Worcester Telegram and Gazette; Mass.) Hundreds of people packed St. Rose of Lima Church and lined Main Street, many with American flags in hand, to bid their final farewell and express respect for Spc. Brian K. Arsenault, the 28-year-old paratrooper who was killed in Afghanistan. Greek tragedy helps address soldier suicide, mental health at Fort Bragg (Fayetteville Observer) To highlight the issue of suicide among the military, a Fort Bragg program Tuesday reached back to the 5th century B.C. October officer promotions announced for active duty (Army Times) October promotions list. Toddler ignores military protocol, greets mom (KARE; Minneapolis, St. Paul) Cooper Waldvogel loves his mom more than military protocol. And Facebook loves him for it. NAVYDestroyer Williams' commanding officer, CMC and former XO reassigned amid investigation(Navy Times) The commanding officer, command master chief and former XO of the destroyer James E. Williams have been reassigned as Destroyer Squadron 2 investigates the command climate aboard the ship. Service mourns 12 fallen one year after Navy Yard shootings (Navy Times) Vice Adm. William Hilarides' voice broke as he read 12 names, each followed by a bell toll, at a ceremony marking the one-year anniversary of the shootings here that claimed the lives of those named. Officer who shot Navy Yard gunman says it 'needed to be done' (Washington Post) At 9:15 a.m., the near-hour-long search through 600,000 square feet of office space narrowed to a single corridor, six rows of cubicles and a smattering of offices of Building 197. Aaron Alexis was hiding amid the cluttered desks and six-foot partitions. Navy leaders recall the chiefs who shaped them (Navy Times) On Sept. 16th, 3,794 sailors will don the coveted rank and anchors of a Navy chief petty officer - a lifetime goal for many. Virginia Beach aviator places second on "Jeopardy!" (Virginian-Pilot) A Navy flight officer from Virginia Beach made an appearance on "Jeopardy!" Monday night, but didn't win. Hamilton crew excited to get maiden voyage underway (Navy Times) The crew of the national security cutter Hamilton stood the ship's first watch Monday, following a ceremony and celebration for the ship's delivery to the Coast Guard. AIR FORCEAir mobility crews have logged more than 1,000 sorties to support airstrikes in Iraq(Air Force Times) Air Mobility Command tankers have flown more than 1,000 missions in support of airstrikes against the Islamic State, AMC commander Gen. Darren McDew said Tuesday. USAF Lab Chief Expects To Test EW Missile in 2016 (Defense News) On the convention center screen, an animated cruise missile flew over a shadowy cartoon city. A beam of high-power microwaves emitted from its nose - and the target building went dark. More significantly, the ones around it stayed lit up. Welsh on Aging Fleets: 'Airplanes Are Falling Apart' (DoDBuzz) Top U.S. Air Force officials said the service must protect funding to upgrade aging fleets of aircraft while investing in new technologies despite automatic budget cuts. AFRL commander: 'Digital teammates' will support a shrinking force (Air Force Times) As the force gets smaller, the Air Force may look increasingly to machines to make decisions in team with airmen. Air National Guard Head Wants Study for Future C-130 Path (Defense News) The head of the US Air National Guard wants to launch a study on the path forward for the component's fleet of C-130 transport aircraft. Air Force to Invest Heavily in Hypersonic Aircraft (National Defense) The head of the Air Force Research Laboratory on Sept. 16 said the first test of a hypersonic aircraft could come within five years, and the technology could be applied to cruise missiles by the 2020s. MARINE CORPSNavy's America: New ship for new aircraft(San Diego Union-Tribune) A new Navy warship noteworthy for several reasons - chief among them its iconic name, America - arrived in its home port of San Diego on Monday. A gym and a prayer: Marine vet's CrossFit business draws on personal ties (Military Times) Pete Doan tried the working man's life after leaving the Marine Corps in 2010. Houston-born Marine wants date with J.J. Watt (KPRC TV; Houston) A Houston-born Marine has started a social media campaign in hopes of getting J.J. Watt's attention. Juggling life as an active-duty Marine and a LSU football player is a rewarding challenge for Luke Boyd (New Orleans Times-Picayune ) Chances are minimal that LSU senior Luke Boyd will ever make a major impact on the field as a football player. Oh it could happen, and the Virginia native's raw set of skills make it at least plausible that he could step on the field and make some noise. AFGHANISTAN/PAKISTANAfghan official says the government has nearly run out of money, needs U.S. bailout(Washington Post) Afghanistan's central government is nearly broke and needs a $537 million bailout from the United States and other international donors within "five or six days" to continue paying its bills, a senior Afghan finance official said Tuesday. Al Qaeda operations chief, propagandist reported killed in airstrikes (Long War Journal) Jihadists on Twitter who are thought to be connected to al Qaeda's senior leadership have reported that the group's paramilitary commander in the Afghanistan-Pakistan region as well as a propagandist were killed in airstrikes earlier this year. Female journalist brutally murdered in northern Afghanistan (Khaama Press) The female journalistm - Palwasha Tokhi Miranzai was reportedly working for Bayan-e-Shamal new network. Al Qaeda Militants Tried to Seize Pakistan Navy Frigate (Wall Street Journal) Al Qaeda militants tried to hijack a Pakistan Navy frigate earlier this month and use it to target U.S. Navy vessels on antiterrorism patrol in the northwestern Indian Ocean, Pakistani security officials said. Pakistani Islamists use floods to turn opinion against India (Reuters) Hafiz Saeed, widely considered one of South Asia's most dangerous militants, has no doubt who is to blame for devastating floods that have submerged swathes of Pakistani countryside and claimed hundreds of lives. MIDDLE EASTLebanon likely to play defense role in ISIS fight(Daily Star; Lebanon) Lebanon's contribution to the global coalition against ISIS will likely center on closing the porous border with Syria and cracking down on cells within the country, analysts said. Yemen clashes between Shi'ite rebels and tribesmen kill 22: sources (Reuters) Twenty-two people were killed in fighting between Shi'ite Muslim rebels and government-allied tribesmen in northern Yemen on Monday and Tuesday, tribal and local sources told Reuters. Hamas debates direct talks with Israel (Al-Monitor) Hamas has weathered a great political storm in the past few days, following a Sept. 11 announcement by the deputy head of Hamas' political bureau, Mousa Abu Marzouk, that the movement might undertake direct negotiations with Israel, since such negotiations have become a popular demand in Gaza but remain forbidden by law. In first strike since truce, a mortar round from Gaza hits Israel (Los Angeles Times) A mortar round fired from the Gaza Strip struck southern Israel on Tuesday, the first such shelling since a truce took effect last month ending seven weeks of fighting between Israel and Palestinian militants. Temporary Agreement Is Intended to Allow Gaza to Import Materials for Rebuilding (New York Times) Momentum for the rebuilding of the Gaza Strip advanced on Tuesday, with a senior United Nations diplomat briefing the Security Council on a temporary deal between Israeli and Palestinian officials to import cement and other building materials. EUROPEAir Force trying to protect F-15s in Europe(Air Force Times) Air Force leaders are crossing their fingers that F-15 fighters will stay at least another year in Europe through the "Europe Reassurance Initiative," a $1 billion funding plan the White House proposed in June currently in the hands of congressional members. Under Pressure, Ukraine Leader to Seek Aid on U.S. Visit (New York Times) Seeking elusive military and economic aid from the United States, President Petro O. Poroshenko of Ukraine headed to North America on Tuesday, while also facing increasingly skeptical questions both here and abroad about the slow pace of change. Ukraine Moves Reflect Moscow's Long Shadow (Wall Street Journal) Ukraine sought to draw a line under its confrontation with Moscow by ratifying a landmark trade-and-political deal with the European Union and approving limited autonomy for territories now controlled by Russia-backed separatists. Germany May Support OSCE Mission in Ukraine (Defense News) Germany sent a military fact-finding mission to eastern Ukraine on Tuesday to determine whether the Bundeswehr can support an observer mission there by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) with a reconnaissance UAV, the Defense Ministry in Berlin said. UK may retain C-130J Hercules for special forces duties (IHS Jane's 360) The UK Royal Air Force (RAF) may retain in service a number of its Lockheed Martin C-130J Hercules transport aircraft for special forces use, a senior service official disclosed on 16 September. Dutch ease off austerity, will spend on military (Associated Press) The Dutch government is presenting a budget for 2015 that for the first time in years will be focused less on financial austerity and more on security in light of international conflicts. Azerbaijan receives second Buk-MB battalion from Belarus (IHS Jane's 360) The Azerbaijani armed forces have received a second battalion of Belarus-upgraded Buk-MB medium range surface-to-air missile (SAM) systems. Kosovo makes arrests in new push to stem flow of fighters to Syria, Iraq (Reuters) Police in Kosovo arrested 15 people on Wednesday, including a number of imams, in the second major operation in weeks to stem the flow of young ethnic Albanians joining Islamist fighters in Iraq and Syria, a police source said. ASIA-PACIFICDefense ministry mulls introducing ground-based SM-3 interceptor missiles(Mainichi Shimbun) The Defense Ministry is considering introducing a new ground-based type of interceptor missile that the United States is developing, in an effort to bolster Japan's ballistic missile defense system, ministry sources said. China sees jihadi inspiration coming from abroad by way of the Web (Washington Post) On a rocky hilltop close to the city of Urumqi in China's troubled Xinjiang region, five men don black bandanas decorated with Arabic writing. A black flag used by jihadi groups across the world flutters behind them as they press their hands together in a circle and pledge their allegiance to holy war. Setback for India's Ruling Party (New York Times) The Bharatiya Janata Party, coming off a huge victory in May's parliamentary elections, suffered a political setback on Tuesday with a poor showing in state legislative by-elections in three northern Indian states, including one that was swept by Hindu-Muslim tensions in the weeks leading up to the vote Images of an Uzbek First Daughter Under House Arrest (New York Times) A British public relations firm released images on Tuesday showing Gulnara Karimova, the flamboyant eldest daughter of President Islam Karimov of Uzbekistan, under house arrest. AFRICAObama says world has responsibility to act; Ebola to "get worse before it gets better"(Washington Post) President Obama said Tuesday that "the world has a responsibility to act" to save the lives of West Africans threatened by a growing Ebola epidemic, and that the United States will devote significant new resources to curbing the spread of the disease. U.S. troops dispatched to fight Ebola will find an epidemic out of control, UN says (McClatchy) The World Health Organization warned Tuesday that the agency now expects tens of thousands of people will be infected with the Ebola virus before the current epidemic is contained, and it called for nations to commit far more resources to combating the outbreak, which is ravaging the poor African nations of Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea. 12 Nigerian troops sentenced to death for mutiny (Associated Press) Twelve soldiers fighting an Islamic insurgency in northeast Nigeria have been sentenced to death by firing squad for mutiny and attempted murder of their commanding officer. COMMENTARY AND ANALYSISB-2 Pilot's Lessons For LRSB, America's New Bomber(Air Force Lt. Col. Jeff Schreiner in Breaking Defense) The Air Force very quietly released a Request for Proposal (RFP) this summer for the new Long Range Strike Bomber (LRS-B). With a purported fly away cost of $550 million per aircraft - but with estimates up to $810 million - the LRS-B will be one of the largest acquisition programs in history with broad strategic implications to the end of this century. Although I am not privy to the RFP, as a career stealth bomber pilot I believe the B-2 program can provide important lessons for this new program. Stealth technology is unique in many ways. We should learn from past struggles as we start at the ground floor of this new platform. "Fixing" UCLASS May Hasten Its Demise (Loren Thompson in Real Clear Defense) The U.S. Navy has embraced unmanned aircraft ("drones") as a way of expanding the reconnaissance and strike capabilities of its fleet. Two of these programs - the land-based MQ-4C Triton and the vertical-ascent MQ-8B Fire Scout - look like winners. JSF and The Path of DOOM (Air Force Lt. Col. Dan Ward in Breaking Defense ) In February of 2014, Lt. Gen. Charles Davis, the Air Force's top uniformed acquisition official, said big, audacious programs like the Joint Strike Fighter were "doomed the day the contract was signed." As the former Program Executive Officer for the JSF, he brings a pretty credible perspective to the situation. Given his first-hand experience and the F-35's track record of delays, cost overruns, technical problems, operational limitations, and the recent grounding of the entire fleet due to an engine fire, I am very much inclined to agree with him. "War-Weary" Conventional Wisdom Is Wrong (Adam O'Neal in Real Clear Defense) Conventional wisdom holds that most Americans, wary after more than a decade at war, now favor the United States playing a less significant role on the world stage. But the conventional wisdom may be wrong, if not more complicated, according to a new report from the Chicago Council on Global Affairs. The Rule of Law in the Context of US Military Operations: An Insider's View from JTF/CJIATF 435 in Afghanistan 2010-2011 (Retired Army Col. Thomas L. English in Small Wars Journal) Virtually my entire adult life, over forty years, has been dedicated to the enforcement of law in many different contexts. I base this article on my personal observations and perceptions from participation in the leadership of the Legal Operations Directorate for CJIATF (Combined Joint Interagency Task Force) 435 from September 2010 to May 2011. Opinion: The Growing Cost of the Third Iraq War (Retired Navy Cmdr. Daniel Dolan in USNI News) As of Sept. 10, the Third Iraq War is now official. While some debate whether we should call it a war, a campaign or a sustained operation, a set of clear national objectives has now been articulated by President Barack Obama and the number of U.S. airstrikes are escalating daily. How to make Isis fall on its own sword (Army Pvt. Chelsea Manning in The Guardian) The Islamic State (Isis) is without question a very brutal extremist group with origins in the insurgency of the United States occupation of Iraq. It has rapidly ascended to global attention by taking control of swaths of territory in western and northern Iraq, including Mosul and other major cities. Please-Let's Not Destroy ISIS (Michael Tomasky in The Daily Beast) Obama's mission is hard enough without him stating a clearly unachievable goal. Why do presidents feel they have to sound like John Wayne? What the War with ISIS Teaches Us About Strategy (Air Force Col. S. Clinton Hinote in Cicero Magazine ) Few words are as ubiquitous and amorphous as the word "strategy." This has certainly been true regarding the U.S. response to ISIS. On September 10th, President Obama intended to present a clear strategy for combatting the terrorist group. In actuality, his speech illuminated two distinct approaches to strategy. The speech outlined what the president would like to have happen, but it also foreshadowed what is likely to happen. Going beyond military force to defeat ISIS (David A. Siegel in The Hill) I have in this space previously argued that "hearts and minds" approaches to counterrorism and counterinsurgency are superior in many cases to those based on military force, even taking into account the incredible expertise and professionalism of our armed forces. The planned response to the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS), as presented by the president on Sept. 10, places too much emphasis on military force and risks the sort of negative outcome suggested by satirists. Israel's Worst-Kept Secret (Douglas Birch and R. Jeffrey Smith in The Atlantic) Israel has a substantial arsenal of nuclear weapons. Say 'Benghzai' Again, I Dare You (Ryan Evans in War on the Rocks) The other day, something excruciatingly ordinary happened to me: something on Twitter pissed me off. The tweet in question was sponsored (and therefore bullied its way into my feed) and proclaimed, "It's been 2 years since the Benghazi attack and Obama still won't tell us the truth. It's time we demand answers!" The cherry on top was the patriotic video that showed a young boy waving an American flag before turning to the "unanswered questions" of Benghazi. Russia's Treaty Violations and Nuclear Instability (William Schneider in Real Clear Defense) Last week, officials began talks in Moscow regarding Russia's violation of the 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty. | |||||
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