FW: Navy Times Early Bird Brief

Thank You

Robert Serge

VVA 17 Member

Blog Master

To all my fellow veterans friends and family my we all remember 

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From: no-reply@navytimes.com
To: rserge1@outlook.com
Subject: Navy Times Early Bird Brief
Date: Fri, 5 Sep 2014 05:00:11 -0600

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COMPILED BY THE EDITORS OF DEFENSE NEWS & MILITARY TIMES
September 5, 2014 EARLY BIRD BRIEF Get the most comprehensive aggregation of defense news delivered by the world's largest independent newsroom covering military and defense. ADVERTISEMENT	ADVERTISEMENT TODAY'S TOP 5 1. NATO Unable to Finalize Troop Numbers for Afghanistan (Defense News) NATO leaders did not agree on the size of a training and assistance force expected to be based in Afghanistan from 2015 to 2017, as the alliance still waits for Kabul to approve an operating arrangement.  2. Commander of Western Regional Medical Command suspended, Army says (Army Times) The commanding general of Western Regional Medical Command has been suspended pending "the outcome of an inquiry centered on the command climate of the organization," the Army announced Thursday.  3. Sorry Realists. 'Containment' Won't Work Against ISIS (Michael Page in Cicero Magazine) The rhetorical war over expanding direct U.S. military intervention into Syria-this time against the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS)-has once again reached a boiling point.  4. New Book Says C.I.A. Official in Benghazi Held Up Rescue (New York Times) Five commandos guarding the C.I.A. base in Benghazi, Libya, in September 2012 say that the C.I.A. station chief stopped them from interceding in time to save the lives of Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens and an American technician during the attack on the diplomatic mission there.  5. Report: B-1B bombs killed U.S. soldiers after location mix-up (Air Force Times) The friendly fire incident that killed five American soldiers and one Afghan soldier in June was caused by failures from the "key members" of the ground team who called in an airstrike from a B-1B Lancer, according to an accident investigation report released Thursday.  ISLAMIC STATE As U.S. seeks commitments in fight against Islamic State, its focus is tightly on Iraq (Washington Post) President Obama and his top national security officials are fanning out across the globe this week and next, seeking commitments to help the Iraqi government in its fight against Islamic State militants.  U.S. leaders press NATO on ISIL (Politico) President Barack Obama and his top lieutenants spent a packed day here Thursday lobbying allies to join a campaign against Islamic State terrorists in Iraq and Syria, but as the sun set there was no clear picture of how well the U.S. leaders were doing.  Coalition Emerges to Battle Islamic State Militants (Wall Street Journal) American allies including the U.K. and France said they would help form an international military coalition to fight a growing threat from Islamic State militants.  US wants more from Saudis in fight against extremists (Boston Globe) The US battle against the self-described Islamic State is being complicated by concerns that Saudi Arabia has helped support extremist Sunni elements - both spiritually and financially - even as the Saudis call themselves friends and allies of the United States.  British Premier Offers to Expand Assistance to Kurdish Forces in Iraq (New York Times) Prime Minister David Cameron of Britain offered on Thursday to arm Kurdish forces fighting Islamist militants and refused to rule out British airstrikes in Iraq and possibly Syria.  Islamic State issues fake tax receipts to keep trade flowing (McClatchy) The self-styled Islamic State has consolidated its control over much of the desert in eastern Syria and western Iraq by following a rule that's governed in that austere region for a millennium: Don't interfere with the ability of local Sunni Muslim tribes to make a living through trade.  Al-Qaeda overshadowed by Islamic State's influence (USA Today) Al-Qaeda's call Thursday for a jihad (holy war) in India is the latest sign of how the terror group is battling to stay relevant in the face of the rival Islamic State's savage rampage in Iraq and Syria.  Iraqis Identify Prisoner as Chinese Islamist Fighter (New York Times) The Iraqi Defense Ministry has posted on its Facebook page photographs that it says show a captured Chinese man who was fighting on behalf of the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, the Sunni jihadist group.  ISIS wants inmates freed to help create Lebanon base (Daily Star; Lebanon) With the release of Islamist prisoners topping the demands of extremist militants holding security personnel in Arsal, a long-held suspicion was confirmed: ISIS has a stake in Lebanon, and the Roumieh prison lies at the heart of the matter.  Islamic State Is Coming, Graffiti Warns Lebanese, as the Band Plays On (Bloomberg) The crowd at the Beirut music club roared approval when the band struck the first notes of a satirical song about Islamic State chief Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi.  EUROPE NATO Prepares New Sanctions Over Russian Action in Ukraine (New York Times) Amid talk of a possible cease-fire between Ukrainian forces and Moscow-backed separatists, President Obama and European leaders at a NATO summit meeting here on Thursday prepared a new round of sanctions against Russian officials, banks and enterprises that could be imposed as early as Friday.  As NATO summit kicks off, Ukrainian leader voices cautious optimism about peace plan (Washington Post) Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko expressed guarded optimism Thursday that a peace initiative advanced by Russia can bring a quick end to his country's months-long conflict.  UK to Pledge 3,500 Troops to NATO Rapid Response Force (Defense News) Britain has pledged to commit 3,500 troops to a new NATO spearhead force expected to be announced by alliance leaders on the second day of the summit according to Prime Minister David Cameron. Pentagon: Russia Has More Capable Troops on Ukraine Border (Wall Street Journal) The Pentagon said Thursday that the Russian troops along Ukraine's border represent the most capable force Moscow has deployed to the area since the current crisis began.  SACEUR: Allies must prepare for Russia 'hybrid war' (Stars & Stripes) NATO must help allies in the east bolster first-line defenses to counter any aggression from Russia, whose unconventional tactics in Ukraine could pose special challenges if deployed on alliance turf, Gen. Philip Breedlove, NATO's top military commander, said Thursday.  Stavridis: Russian Mistrals Could Work Well As NATO Rapid Reaction Force Asset (USNI News) The suspended delivery of two French-built amphibious warships to the Russian Navy could give NATO an opportunity to buy a ready-made platform for its planned rapid reaction force, retired Adm. James G. Stavridis - former NATO Supreme Allied Commander - told USNI News on Thursday.  Shelling rocks outskirts of Mariupol as talks to end Ukraine conflict due to begin (Washington Post) Heavy shelling rocked the outskirts of a key Ukrainian port city Friday just hours ahead of talks on ending the conflict.  Shellshocked Ukrainians Flee to New Lives in Russia (New York Times) Oksana Shevelina, 62, who came here with her elderly mother just a few days ago from their home in eastern Ukraine, squinted at a map of the Russian Federation.  Putin Seen Waging Ukraine Shadow War Until Veto Assured (Bloomberg) Vladimir Putin will continue his shadow war until he's created quasi statelets in Ukraine's easternmost regions with veto power over the country's future, five current and former Russian officials and advisers said.  On Ukraine, the West Sidesteps a Fraught Term (New York Times) Whether on the streets of Budapest in 1956, the mountains of Afghanistan in 1979 and again in 2001 or in the swampy forests of Grenada in 1983, invasions have tended to be noisy, unmistakable affairs that screamed their purpose from the start.  Report: Britain's Defense Spending to Fall Below 2% GDP in 2015 (Defense News) Two days after British Defence Secretary Micheal Fallon told a Royal United Services Institute conference that the government would urge it's NATO partners at this week's summit to pledge to invest more on defense, a report says Britain will miss a key spending target as soon as 2015.  INDUSTRY CANES Work On Hold After Protests Filed (Defense News) The US Navy's effort to develop and install a new shipboard tactical electronic network is on hold after two losing bidders protested the Aug. 20 award of contracts worth up to $2.53 billion.  U.S. aims to fund alternative to Russian rocket engine in 2016 (Reuters) The U.S. government hopes to add funding to its 2016 budget for alternatives to Russian-made rocket engines to launch sensitive satellites, a key Pentagon official said Wednesday.  DCATS takes the long view (C4ISR & Networks) The Army's Defense Communications and Army Transmission Systems (DCATS) leads the Program Executive Office Enterprise Information Systems efforts in technology when it comes to satellite and terrestrial communications. In terms of network modernization, much of this work centers on Defense Department communications infrastructure, satellites and the transport layer underpinning the Joint Information Environment.  Exclusive: Canada seen buying fighter jets from U.S., not Europe - source (Reuters) Canada is likely to choose between two major U.S. firms when it buys a new fleet of jet fighters, excluding two European competitors, according to a source with direct knowledge of the matter.  India Could Sell High Speed Anti-Ship Missile to Vietnam, Venezuela (USNI News) India hopes to co-develop a new smaller, faster version of its Mach 3-capable BrahMos supersonic anti-ship missile with Russia. The country also hopes to export versions of the missile to other countries such as Venezuela, Vietnam and Indonesia according to Indian press reports.  Indian Air Force unhappy at progress of PAK-FA fifth-gen fighter (IHS Jane's 360) The Indian Air Force (IAF) has expressed concerns to Russia over technical problems and delays plaguing the USD10.5 billion Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft (FGFA) programme, which is based on the Russian Air Force's Sukhoi T-50 PAK-FA platform.  Pricey Defense Exhibition Gives Prime Access at NATO Summit (Defense News) The British government has mounted a mini-defense exhibition alongside the NATO summit, which opened here Sept 4, and is charging some companies hundreds of thousands of pounds to attend.  South Africa's Paramount announces more acquisitions (IHS Jane's 360) Fast-growing South African defence group Paramount has announced another series of acquisitions in its domestic market to consolidate its position in the local naval and aerospace markets.  With Scout SV Deal Done, UK to Sell Surplus CVR(T)s to Latvia (Defense News) Britain is selling the Latvian military 123 surplus Combat Vehicle Reconnaissance (Tracked) (CVR(T)) armored vehicles, British Defence Secretary Michael Fallon announced Thursday as the two-day NATO summit opened in Newport, South Wales.  MANPADS Mix: Lithuania Adds Polish GROM Missiles (Defense Industry Daily) At MSPO 2014, Lithuania signed a EUR 34 million contract with Poland for PZR GROM soldier-portable anti-aircraft missiles, along with necessary instrumentation, simulators, and training. The Polish MON says that Lithuania is their 4th export customer after "Georgia, Indonesia, and Japan." Peru has also bought GROM, as part of the vehicle-mounted POPRAD system, and missiles seized by Russian forces in Georgia appear to have found their way to pro-Russian "customers" in eastern Ukraine external link.  CONGRESS Defense bill awaits Congress' return (Military Times) When Congress returns to Capitol Hill on Monday, members will have three weeks of work scheduled - and a year's worth of work to finish.  Amid GOP Criticism, Dems Say Obama Implementing Strategy To Combat Islamic State (Defense News) Democratic lawmakers are beginning to describe the Obama administration strategy for fighting the Islamic State, a plan Republicans say is nonexistent.  Obama administration sets briefings for Congress on Islamic State (Reuters) U.S. President Barack Obama's administration is dispatching senior intelligence officials and Secretary of State John Kerry to brief members of Congress and staff about the Islamic State militant group in the coming weeks, congressional aides said on Thursday.  4 congressmen seek Purple Hearts for soldiers killed in Arkansas (Military Times) Arkansas' four congressmen blasted the Defense Department on Thursday for what they called an unnecessary delay in a decision on Purple Hearts for a pair of Army recruiters killed by a religious fanatic in Little Rock five years ago.  House to vote on resolution condemning Obama for Bergdahl trade (The Hill) The House is expected to vote next week on a resolution condemning the Obama administration for not giving Congress advance notice before exchanging Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl for five Taliban prisoners.  DEFENSE DEPARTMENT LRS-B, Next Boomer May Force Weapons Cuts (Breaking Defense) It won't happen tomorrow, but the Pentagon may have to start eating its young to pay for two of the most expensive weapons in US history: the Air Force's Long Range Strike bomber and the Navy's replacement for the Ohio class nuclear missile submarine.  DoD: It takes only one person to stop a suicide (Military Times) Just six days before the start of Suicide Prevention Month in September, Army Sgt. 1st Class Paula Walker, 33, barricaded herself inside an office at Fort Lee, Virginia, and, in what military leaders later described as "upset and rage," killed herself with a personal firearm.  Contractor: DOD employees can track vehicle shipments with updated website (Stars & Stripes) The company that has come under fire for long delays in shipping vehicles for Defense Department employees says it is working on an update to its website that will allow customers to track their vehicles.  DoD delays launch of rental housing website (Military Times) The launch of a new Defense Department website aimed at helping service members and their families find available rental housing has been delayed indefinitely, an official said.  ARMY Army hero honored for saving man from oncoming BART train (San Francisco Chronicle) After two tours of combat duty in Afghanistan and one in Iraq, the morning commute on BART from Orinda to San Francisco must have seemed pretty routine to Adam Czekanski, a career Army officer, one day last winter.  Tuition assistance changes start taking effect on Saturday (Army Times) New policies affecting which soldiers are eligible for Army Tuition Assistance will take effect in the coming days and weeks.  Army now says it won't put cameras on surveillance aircraft in Maryland (Washington Post) Military surveillance aircraft slated to be set aloft over suburban Baltimore this year were originally designed to carry video cameras capable of distinguishing between humans and wheeled vehicles from a distance of at least five kilometers, according to documents the Army has newly released to a privacy group.  New list of names for CSM and SGM key billets announced (Army Times) The Army has issued a revised version of the fiscal 2015 nominative command sergeant major and sergeant major key billet selection list that was retracted in early August because of administrative problems.  Special-branch officers named to go to senior service college (Army Times) Here are the names of active component colonels and lieutenant colonels of the Army Medical Department, Judge Advocate General's Corps and Chaplaincy selected for resident senior service college attendance in school year 2015-16:  Man, 88, awarded medals at JBLM 61 years after release from North Korean prison camp (Tacoma News Tribune) Retired Army Master Sgt. James Hayden kept insisting that he didn't want any fuss about him even as a two-star general leaned in to pin long-overdue Army service medals to his collar.  WWII soldier's remains identified, Arlington burial set (Army Times) The remains of a soldier reported missing in action on Saipan 70 years ago will be buried Sept. 12 at Arlington National Cemetery after Defense Department scientists confirmed his identity, according to a DoD news release.  NAVY Ohio police: Former SEAL lied about shooting (Navy Times) A former Navy SEAL who claimed he chased his assailants after being shot in an Ohio parking lot in March lied about what happened that day, according to local police.  Transgender SEAL is subject of CNN documentary (Virginian-Pilot) Ask Kristin Beck what it's like to be the only transgender Navy SEAL in the world and you get a deeply philosophical answer on living a conflicted life.  5th Fleet loosens curfew in latest move (Navy Times) The curfew for sailors, their dependents and other Defense Department contractors and civilians assigned to 5th Fleet was loosened slightly as of Wednesday, a Naval Forces Central Command spokesman confirmed to Navy Times.  Navy lieutenant commander sentenced to serve 2 years for domestic assault (Providence Journal) A lieutenant commander in the U.S. Navy was sentenced to serve 2 years of a 20-year sentence in the domestic strangulation and domestic felony assault of his wife after he pleaded no contest on June 23.  Jesse Ventura case: 'Sniper' author's widow seeks retrial (Pioneer Press; St. Paul, Minn.) Attorneys for Chris Kyle's estate are asking a judge to throw out a defamation verdict and $1.8 million award in the late Navy SEAL-turned-author's legal battle against Jesse Ventura -- or send the matter back for a new trial.  Sub La Jolla returns from final cruise (Navy Times) The attack submarine La Jolla pulled into Pearl Harbor Wednesday on a sunny day tinged with a sense of finality: The crew was bringing their sub home from its final deployment, a 6-month Western Pacific cruise.  Navy hastening overseas screening to ease manning gaps (Stars & Stripes) The Navy is attempting to fix a cause of manning shortfalls by allowing sailors to prepare for overseas moves sooner, according to a message published Wednesday.  AIR FORCE Air Force to reprimand Krusinski rather than pursue court-martial (Stars & Stripes) The Air Force has decided to punish a former sexual assault prevention officer accused of groping a woman outside a Washington-area restaurant last year by issuing him a letter of reprimand rather than pursue a court-martial, according to an Air Force document obtained by Stars and Stripes.  Group: Airman denied reenlistment for refusing to say 'so help me God' (Air Force Times) An atheist airman at Creech Air Force Base in Nevada was denied reenlistment last month for refusing to take an oath containing "so help me God," the American Humanist Association said Thursday.  Services for F-15 pilot Lt. Col. Morris Fontenot Jr. set for Sunday, Sept. 7 (The Republican; Springfield, Mass.) Memorial services for Lt. Col Morris "Moose" Fontenot Jr., are scheduled for 2 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 7 in the 104th Fighter Wing's main hangar at the Barnes Air National Guard Base.  Air Force combat pilot dies in private plane crash (Air Force Times) Family members remember the decorated combat pilot and his brother, who joined the Air Force to follow in his footsteps, as selfless, funny and loving.  Air Force to build cybersecurity facility (C4ISR & Networks) The U.S. Air Force is building a new cyber and ISR facility.  Academy gymnasts disciplined for unprofessional behavior (Air Force Times) The Air Force Academy has disciplined a coach and some cadets on the men's gymnastics team for underage drinking and "unprofessional behavior."  MARINE CORPS Marine whistle-blower promoted to lieutenant colonel (Marine Corps Times) The Marine whistle-blower who accused the commandant of meddling in military justice pinned on a new rank this month.  UH-1N 'Huey' retired from USMC service (IHS Jane's 360) The US Marine Corps (USMC) has officially retired the last of its Bell UH-1N 'Huey' helicopters after more than 40 years of service, it was announced on 3 September.  Veterans plan to open FOB-themed pub near Pendleton (Marine Corps Times) Two former soldiers plan to make Marines feel at home in their new restaurant by decking it out in camouflage netting with sandbags lining the walls - and the menu will feature items chicken "M-WRAPS," napalm nachos and homemade MREs.  NATIONAL GUARD Federal investigation finds Alaska Guard 'not properly administering justice'; general resigns (Alaska Dispatch) A federal investigation requested by Gov. Sean Parnell has found significant problems within the ranks of the Alaska National Guard in the wake of accusations of sexual misconduct and has resulted in the resignation of Maj. Gen. Thomas Katkus.   National Guard member says UPMC didn't protect job (Pittsburgh Tribune-Review) A UPMC worker injured while training with the Army National Guard says in a lawsuit moved to federal court Wednesday that UPMC Shadyside didn't protect her job as the law requires.  AFGHANISTAN/PAKISTAN Afghan Presidential Candidates Pledge To Form Unity Government (Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty) Afghanistan's rival presidential candidates told NATO leaders they are committed to forming a national unity government when the dispute over the presidential vote is resolved.  Afghanistan election audit and recount process completed (Khaama Press) The Independent Election Commission (IEC) officials said Friday that the president election vote audit and recount process has been completed.  Afghan Army Officer Reportedly Claims Asylum In Britain (Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty) An Afghan delegate at the NATO summit in Britain has reportedly claimed asylum upon arriving in London.  New Air Base Continues Pakistan Navy's Move From Karachi (Defense News) The Pakistani Navy this week commissioned a new air base intended to move its air assets away from the vulnerable and congested city of Karachi, and to help protect the coast and Pakistan's maritime territory.  MIDDLE EAST Iran announces progress on long-range SAMs (IHS Jane's 360) Iran's air defence commander, Brigadier General Farzad Esmaili, has claimed the Islamic Republic is making progress on two indigenous long-range surface-to-air missile (SAM) programmes, in a series of announcements made on 28 August and 1 September.  US: Terrorist could get Syria chemical weapons (Associated Press) The United States is concerned that the Islamic State group and other terrorists could get a hold of chemical weapons if Syria is hiding any stockpiles, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations said Thursday.  New Light on Hamas Role in Killings of Teenagers That Fueled Gaza War (New York Times) The abduction and killing of three Israeli teenagers in the occupied West Bank in June, which helped fuel the biggest escalation in Palestinian-Israeli tensions in years, was set in motion by Hamas operatives from a local Palestinian clan and was financed with about $60,000, mostly obtained through a relative who worked for a Hamas association in Gaza, according to official Israeli documents released on Thursday.  Israeli-U.S. energy partnership agrees to export natural gas to Jordan (Washington Post) A U.S.-Israeli partnership of energy companies agreed to supply Jordan with natural gas from Israeli offshore gas fields, in a deal that is likely to benefit the neighbors economically and could strengthen the Jewish state's relations with other countries that share an interest in fending off Islamist extremists.  Between Gaza and Israel, a Border Crossing in Need of Travelers (New York Times) At 375,000 square feet, the terminal through which travelers pass between Israel and the Gaza Strip is a vast, high-tech hangar with a capacity of 45,000 people per day. Current traffic: 400 or fewer.  Turkey's Erdogan to seek Gulen extradition in Obama talks- media (Reuters) Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan will seek the extradition of his ally-turned-foe, U.S.-based Islamic cleric Fethullah Gulen, when he meets U.S. President Barack Obama at the NATO summit on Friday, Turkish media reports said.  ASIA-PACIFIC US, South Korea to form combined division next year (Stars & Stripes) The U.S. and South Korea will form a combined division early next year to improve the allies' warfighting capabilities and create more opportunities for efficient joint training, defense officials said Thursday.  Philippine military chief seeks arms upgrade as China expands (Bloomberg) Philippine military chief Gregorio Pio Catapang likens his task to a boxing match. Dwarfed by neighbors like China, with whom ties are strained, he'd like his forces to last at least a few rounds in the ring.  Hong Kong's Democrats Clamor for Spot on Crowded U.S. Agenda (New York Times) Pro-democracy advocates in Hong Kong are girding for what some predict will be a tense final showdown with the Chinese government over whether Beijing will permit genuine democracy to take root in the former British colony.  AFRICA US plans major border security program in Nigeria (Associated Press) The United States is preparing to launch a "major" border security program to help Nigeria and its neighbors combat the increasing number and scope of attacks by Islamic extremists, a senior U.S. official for Africa said Thursday.  As Islamist Militants Advance, Residents Flee a Nigerian City (New York Times) Amid fears that Islamist militants were closing in on the major city in Nigeria's northeast, hundreds of residents were said to be fleeing Maiduguri on Thursday in the face of doubts that the army could repel an attack on the metropolis of more than one million people.  UN: 250,000 have fled militia fighting in Libya (Associated Press) A United Nations report on Thursday said four months of fighting by militias in Libya's two biggest cities, Tripoli and Benghazi, has forced some 250,000 people to flee, including 100,000 who have been internally displaced.  Ebola's Economic Toll on Africa Starts to Emerge (Wall Street Journal) The flow of goods across many African frontiers, from Congolese copper crossing the Botswana border to used cars driven into Nigeria, is seizing up on fears that traders could be carrying or catch the killer virus. The trade slowdown comes on top of a drop in tourism and the suspension of commercial flights to West African cities as well as Nairobi, a continental hub.  COMMENTARY AND ANALYSIS What the hell happened at NDU? (II) ("Another PME Vet" in Best Defense) I read the piece by Jerry Mitchell. I heartily agree with about 80 percent of it -- NDU has been an accelerating disaster for a long time.  How to save the lives of troubled vets (Brent Budowsky in The Hill) After more than a decade of war, there are many American heroes who served in the military with valor and distinction who are now bravely facing the challenges of post-traumatic stress disorder when they return home.  The U.S. needs to get serious about defense spending (Charles Lane in The Washington Post) In the run-up to this week's North Atlantic Treaty Organization summit, much has been made of the fact that the United States is one of just a handful of the 28 member states that spends more than 2 percent of its gross domestic product on defense - along with Britain, Estonia and Greece, and the latter qualifies only because its GDP has collapsed even faster than its military budget.  Rand Paul: 'I Am Not an Isolationist' (Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ken., in Time) Some pundits are surprised that I support destroying the Islamic State in Iraq and Greater Syria (ISIS) militarily. They shouldn't be. I've said since I began public life that I am not an isolationist, nor am I an interventionist. I look at the world, and consider war, realistically and constitutionally.  Can We Shed Bush Baggage to Confront ISIS? (Ron Fournier in National Journal) We can't shake it. Like the flu-no, like posttraumatic stress disorder, memories of wiretapping, waterboarding, and a war of false pretense in Iraq cling to the nation's consciousness. Called again to confront a threat in the Middle East, Americans keep tripping over the baggage of George W. Bush.  It's Time for Better Options for Rescuing US Hostages (Rep. Duncan Hunter, R.-Calif., in Defense One) The deaths of American journalists James Foley and Steven Sotloff give good reason why the Islamic State group must be crushed. Though less apparent in these tragedies is what the U.S. government must do differently to support Americans in captivity-specifically those held in hostile territory.  With Release of Steven Sotloff Execution Footage, ISIS Begins To Show Desperation (Clint Hinote in the Council on Foregin Relations) After the release of the second Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) propaganda video yesterday depicting the murder of U.S. reporter Steven Sotloff, I've examined both videos in context. When taken together, we can glean some interesting points, the most important of which is the level of desperation and frustration displayed by ISIS.  Bad as Baghdadi? Pakistan's Most Dangerous Man (Michael Kugelman in War on the Rocks) With the Pakistani press fixated on impending anti-government protests in Islamabad, a major terrorist attack launched in mid-August on the other side of the country went largely unreported.  U.S. Nukes in Europe Are Useless (Kingston Reif in Real Clear Defense) As the members of the world's most powerful military alliance convene in Wales this week for the NATO Summit, much of the focus will be on taking steps to increase the capability, readiness, and responsiveness of NATO forces in the wake of Russia's aggression against Ukraine. In particular, the United States will seek to reassure its Baltic and Central European allies that NATO will come to their defense if attacked.   Opinion: Sunset for NATO? (Marine Corps Lt. Col. Donald Thieme in USNI News) Unfortunately, the U.S. is allowing itself to be consumed with Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS or ISIL), the U.K is worried about the Scots leaving, France is, if not in shambles, then certainly making the Italian government look relatively effective, and Merkel is tired whilst the Poles are consumed with their own internal scandal.  The Dying Russians (Masha Gessen in The New York Review of Books) Sometime in 1993, after several trips to Russia, I noticed something bizarre and disturbing: people kept dying. I was used to losing friends to AIDS in the United States, but this was different. People in Russia were dying suddenly and violently, and their own friends and colleagues did not find these deaths shocking.

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