Thank You
Robert Serge
VVA 17 Member
Blog Master
To all my fellow veterans friends and family my we all remember
From: no-reply@navytimes.com
To: rserge1@outlook.com
Subject: Navy Times Early Bird Brief
Date: Mon, 6 Oct 2014 04:44:05 -0600
COMPILED BY THE EDITORS OF DEFENSE NEWS & MILITARY TIMES
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TODAY'S TOP 51. Former Army Ranger Peter Kassig identified as potential next Islamic State victim(Washington Post) The possible next victim of the Islamic State militant group is Army Ranger veteran Peter E. Kassig, who moved to the Middle East to do humanitarian work before being taken hostage. 2. Pakistani Taliban declare allegiance to Islamic State and global jihad (Reuters) The Pakistani Taliban declared allegiance to Islamic State on Saturday and ordered militants across the region to help the Middle Eastern jihadist group in its campaign to set up a global Islamic caliphate. 3. Paul Staniland on How to Fix Counterinsurgency (Cicero Magazine) In his new book, Networks of Rebellion: Explaining Insurgent Cohesion and Collapse, Paul Staniland discusses the importance of material resources in explaining how insurgent groups form and fight. In this interview, the University of Chicago professor addresses why COIN failed in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as recent criticisms of IR scholarship for not being policy-relevant enough. 4. Shiite rebels are Yemen's new masters (Associated Press) The capital of Yemen, the Arab world's poorest and perhaps most chronically unstable nation, has new masters. Anti-American Shiite rebels man checkpoints and roam the streets in pickups mounted with anti-aircraft guns. The fighters control almost all state buildings, from the airport and the central bank to the Defense Ministry. 5. North Korean officials pay rare and surprising visit to the South (Washington Post) North and South Korea have agreed to hold another round of high-level talks after a top-level Northern delegation, including the men thought to be second and third in command behind Kim Jong Un, paid a surprise visit to the South on Saturday. DEFENSE NEWS WITH VAGO MURADIANDLA Wartime Lessons LearnedImproving Nuclear Deterrent Operations Budget Uncertainty and Personnel Planning Improving Navy Leadership ISLAMIC STATEUS Army Apache Helos Used in Strikes Against Islamic State(Defense News) US Army pilots for the first time used an Apache attack helicopter to strike Islamist militant targets in Iraq over the weekend, according to a statement by CENTCOM. Pakistani Taliban group urges jihadists in Iraq and Syria 'to reconcile' (Long War Journal) A senior leader of Jamaat-ul-Ahrar, a splinter faction of the Movement of the Taliban in Pakistan, urged the Islamic State and the Al Nusrah Front, "and other mujahideen of the region" to put aside their differences and fight together against the US and allied countries that are launching airstrikes against jihadists in Iraq and Syria. Jamaat-ul-Ahrar is the latest al Qaeda-linked group to call for reconciliation between jihadist factions in the region. Islamic State reportedly on Baghdad's outskirts after week of victories (McClatchy) Islamic State militants have taken control of key cities in Iraq's western province of Anbar and have begun to besiege one of the country's largest military bases in a weeklong offensive that's brought them within artillery range of Baghdad. Impotent U.S. Airstrikes, Passive Turks and an ISIS Triumph (The Daily Beast) Kobani has become the Kurds' Alamo as they fight ISIS in Syria. Nobody's coming to help them, and if and when they fall, the repercussions will be felt for years to come. Air strikes against Isis are not working, say Syrian Kurds (The Guardian) US-led air strikes in northern Syria have failed to interrupt the advance of Islamic State fighters closing in on a key city on the Turkish border, raising questions about the western strategy for defeating the jihadi movement. Marine lost at sea identified (Marine Corps Times) The Marine missing at sea from an Osprey mishap over the Persian Gulf Wednesday has been identified as 21-year-old Cpl. Jordan L. Spears of Memphis, Indiana. Family of former U.S. Army Ranger held hostage by Islamic State plead for his life (Washington Post) The parents of an American aid worker taken hostage by the Islamic State released a video Saturday pleading with their son's captors to show mercy and free the young man. Alan Henning's widow attends 'service of reflection' for murdered hostage (BBC) Alan Henning's widow and children have attended a "service of reflection" in Salford for the murdered aid worker. US: Militants use beheadings to make up for losses (Associated Press) For months, Islamic State militants rampaged across Syria and Iraq, seizing cities, taking hostages and terrorizing all who dared to confront them. Biden Apologizes to Turkish President (New York Times) A diplomatic rift between Turkey and the United States was patched over late Saturday after the American vice president, Joseph R. Biden Jr., officially apologized to Turkey's president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, for remarks suggesting that Turkey helped facilitate the rise of the Islamic State terrorist group. American reportedly fighting against the Islamic State in Syria served in the U.S. Army (Military Times) An American who is reportedly fighting against the Islamic State with Kurds in Syria served in the U.S. Army from 2006 until 2007, according to Army Human Resources Command. The U.S. Veteran and Wisconsin Boy Who Went to Fight ISIS in Syria (The Daily Beast) As American warplanes began airstrikes in Syria, a 28-year-old Army veteran from Wisconsin told friends he had traveled to the country to join a Kurdish militia in the fight against ISIS. Mideast Risks Warlord Era as Jihadists Rise, Nations Fail (Bloomberg) The Middle East may be sliding toward a warlord era, with nation-states increasingly struggling to control all their territory and millions living under the rule of emergent local chiefs and movements. U.S. Is Trying to Counter ISIS' Efforts to Lure Alienated Young Muslims (New York Times) In this central Ohio town, parents and community leaders are expressing growing fears that their youths may succumb to the Islamic State's savvy social media appeal to join its fight on battlefields in Iraq and Syria. Soldiers' families and homes may be IS targets, Army threat center reports (Army Times) Soldiers and their families should be warned the Islamic State is calling on its followers in the United States to use social media sites to "find the addresses of service members, show up [at their homes] and slaughter them," according to the Army Threat Integration Center. Arab Leaders Attack IS With Intel, Theological Challenge (Defense News) As the international coalition's military operations against Islamic State (IS) militants have ramped up, Arab leaders also have begun waging an intellectual war while providing intelligence to guide airstrikes. Australian PM Approves Iraq Combat Missions (Defense News) Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott announced Friday that Royal Australian Air Force F/A-18F Super Hornets will begin striking Islamic State (IS) targets in Iraq. EBOLANumber of U.S. troops to fight Ebola may reach 4,000(Military Times) The military's mission to fight the Ebola virus outbreak in West Africa is ramping up to potentially include as many as 4,000 troops and uniformed health officials are hammering out detailed protocols in the event a service member gets infected with the often-fatal disease, a Pentagon official said Friday. Confronting Ebola: A virologist in Liberia's hot zone (Science magazine) Virologist Heinz Feldmann has spent most of his career studying the deadly Ebola virus at research institutes in Germany, Canada, and the United States. He is now at the Rocky Mountain Laboratories of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases in Hamilton, Montana. EMEDS team sets up Ebola hospital in West Africa (Air Force Times) In 2000, when few could have predicted America's impending wars, the Air Force surgeon general anticipated the need for a mobile hospital that could be erected at a moment's notice on battlefields anywhere in the world. Ebola Patient Fights for Life as Contacts are Monitored (Bloomberg) Seven of the people officials are monitoring most closely for signs of Ebola are health workers who had close contact with a man in Dallas who is fighting for his life against the virus, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said today. Dallas Hospital No Longer Blaming Technical Glitch for Sending Ebola Patient Home (Time) Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital acknowledged Friday there was "no flaw" in its health records INDUSTRYU.S. Army Selects Bell and Sikorsky/Boeing to Build Prototypes for Next Generation Helicopter Program(USNI News) The U.S. Army has picked designs from Bell Helicopter and a Sikorsky/Boeing team to continue development of Joint Multi-Role (JMR) high-speed rotorcraft designs. Air Force Works to Replace JSTARS Fleet (DoDBuzz) The Air Force is looking at a range of airframes from Gulfstream jets to Bombardier airplanes and Boeing 737-700's - as potential replacements for its aging fleet of 16 E-8C Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System, or JSTARS, airplanes. Exelis completes spinoff of services unit (Washington Post) McLean-based defense contractor Exelis recently completed the spinoff of its services unit, making it the latest government contractor to reorganize itself to better compete in a constrained federal spending environment. New Vietnam Ruling Could Open Door To Further Exports (Defense News) The decision by the US to legalize the sale of lethal equipment for maritime security to Vietnam could have major impacts on both the regional balance of power and US industry. Senate Report Showcases Top Thinkers on Defense Acquisition, But Legislative Path Ahead Still Unclear (National Defense) The Senate permanent subcommittee on investigations last week published a 211-page collection of essays written by Washington's defense procurement gurus. The panel describes the report as a "comprehensive record on shortcomings in the acquisition process," although no specific solutions are offered to fix these problems. AAI wins $118M unmanned minesweeping contract (C4ISR & Networks) AAI has been awarded a Navy contract for an unmanned minesweeper with a potential value of up to $118 million, according to a Department of Defense contract announcement. Brazil's Embraer Officially Enters US Defense Market (Defense News) With the delivery of its first A-29 Super Tucano to the US Air Force, Brazil-based Embraer now has a foothold in the defense market in America. The question is how the company expands from here. Navy Center Works to Keep Energetics Industrial Base Moving (National Defense) A U.S. submarine fired two unarmed Trident missiles on June 2 as part of its certification for redeployment in the U.S. nuclear triad. US ONR solicits for non-lethal maritime weapons (IHS Jane's 360) The US Office of Naval Research (ONR) is seeking proposals for next-generation vessel immobilisation and counter-personnel systems, as part of a cross-service non-lethal weapon (NLW) science and technology effort. Boeing opens cybersecurity center in Singapore (C4ISR & Networks) Boeing has opened a new cyber analytics center in Singapore, the company's first such facility overseas. France Wrestles With Legal Issues Ahead of Mistral Decision (Defense News) France is expected to decide within the coming month whether to deliver a Mistral-class helicopter carrier to Russia, and the letter of the law looms large with officials examining the sale contract as they weigh the government's options, legal and defense specialists said. Saab's South African subsidiary to provide components for Gripen E (IHS Jane's 360) Saab Grintek Defence (SGD) in South Africa has begun the assembly of prototype antennas and microwave modules for the electronic support measures (ESM)/electronic countermeasures (ECM) system on the future Gripen E multirole fighter Sweden To Shutter Arms Export Agency (Defense News) The planned closure of the Swedish Defence and Security Export Agency (FXM) is expected to trigger a major overhaul of the country's arms export rules and infrastructure. Estonia to buy Dutch CV90s (IHS Jane's 360) The Netherlands is to sell 44 BAE Systems CV9035NL infantry fighting vehicles (IFV) to Estonia, Dutch defence minister Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert announced on 1 October during a visit to the Baltic country. Defense Claims Corporate Clash Fueled Orsi Bribery Allegations (Defense News) Days before an Italian court rules on whether former Finmeccanica CEO Giuseppe Orsi offered bribes to win a helicopter contract in India, his lawyer has claimed Orsi was the victim of a power struggle inside the group. Putin considers plans to privatise defence industry assets (IHS Jane's 360) Russian president Vladimir Putin has reiterated that his government is looking towards the privatisation of defence assets and activities in order to reduce the burden on the country's public finances. India Offers To Spend $12B To Break Monopoly (Defense News) The Indian government, acting on Air Force demands, has offered to spend $12 billion to encourage private firms to establish an aircraft manufacturing facility - a move that would break Hindustan Aeronautics Limited's monopoly on aircraft manufacturing after years of delays on several projects. Australia May Acquire Up To 4 More C-17s (Defense News) Australian Defence Minister Sen. David Johnston announced Friday that up to four more Boeing C-17A Globemaster III strategic airlifters could be acquired for the Royal Australian Air Force. VETERANSMemorial honoring disabled veterans dedicated on National Mall(Military Times) The row of wheelchairs near the memorial dedication stage wasn't part of the new tribute site, but it did help underscore its goal. Soldier gets a second chance at medical retirement (Stars & Stripes) A soldier who served nearly 30 years in the Army National Guard but was discharged after being misdiagnosed with adjustment disorder now has a second chance at a medical retirement. Vets hit road for jailed Marine (The Free Lance-Star; Fredericksburg, Va.) Angered by the Mexican government's treatment of Marine Sgt. Andrew Tahmooressi, the 64-year-old Sharpe set out from Summerfield, N.C., on Sept. 6. His destination was Washington, where he hoped to voice his displeasure to any government official who would listen. Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center staff received training prior to scheduling problems found in audit (Augusta Chronicle; Ga.) Staffers who set patient appointments at the Charlie Norwood Veterans Affairs Medical Center received training on the hospital's scheduling system months before federal auditors found falsified entries were encouraged and incorrect usage was common in Augusta, according to documents released last week. Ohio treasurer's race of Mandel-Pillich is veteran vs. veteran (Columbus Disptach; Ohio) Ohioans have a rare choice between two military veterans for state treasurer in the Nov. 4 election at a time when the number of veterans in elective office is shrinking. VA to look into issue with Confederate's gravestone (Star-Gazette; Elmira, N.Y.) National Cemetery Administration to investigate whether headstone of soldier who died at Elmira's Civil War prison camp has wrong name on it CONGRESSAn Obama Ally Parts With Him on War Powers(New York Times) In June, after he had written a scorching opinion article seeking to constrain the president's unilateral power to make war, Senator Tim Kaine of Virginia, one of Barack Obama's earliest supporters, buttonholed the commander in chief at the White House for what he called "a spirited discussion." Ayotte questions Obama's commitment to ISIS fight (The Hill) A Senate Republican said Sunday that she is concerned President Obama will step back from his strong stance of taking out the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) after the midterm elections. Senators Graham and Reed: ISIS, 2016, and sequestration (CNN) Today on CNN's State of the Union with Candy Crowley, two members of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and Senator Jack Reed (D-RI), spoke to Crowley about the implications of sending American ground troops to combat ISIS, the sequestration, and the 2016 presidential candidate speculation. Appropriators want detailed Ebola plan for funding decisions (The Hill) Leaders of the House Appropriations Committee are asking the Obama administration to provide specific details about the government's response to the Ebola crisis to inform their funding decisions. DEFENSE DEPARTMENTHead of Flawed Effort to ID Missing Soldiers Loses Job(ProPublica) The longtime scientific director of the problem-ridden Pentagon agency charged with identifying the remains of service members missing from past wars is out of a job. DoD Kicks Off Fiscal Year With Streamlined Export Rules (Defense News) While it remains much too early to declare a new day in Pentagon acquisition and export control circles, the turn of the building's fiscal page to 2015 has brought with it several high-profile initiatives to begin to reform and streamline several long-stultified lines of effort. Military health system: Patients say they can't get in to see their doctors (Army Times) An unprecedented Pentagon review of the military health system - prompted by the VA hospitals scandal - concluded that military hospitals and clinics overall provide health care on a par with private-sector programs, despite longstanding complaints by troops, retirees and their families frustrated by long wait times and inadequate care. Judge orders release of Guantanamo force-feed videos (Miami Herald) A federal judge in Washington, D.C., on Friday agreed to a U.S. news media petition and ordered the release of videotapes of U.S. troops at Guantanamo forcibly removing a Syrian captive from his cell and force-feeding him. Military hospitals perform 'statistically worse' for some measures of childbirth care (Military Times) More than 50,000 babies are born each year in military hospitals, and while most are delivered without major complications, the recent Pentagon military health system review found that for half the measures used by the National Perinatal Information Center to compare quality of care, the military is failing infants and mothers. First Woman To Head Intel Agency Passes Torch; Cardillo Takes NGA Reins (Breaking Defense) It's not often defense reporters listen to a beautifully restrained brass quintet while working. ARMYThis military faker tricked a town - and a Gold Star family(Army Times) In public, Richard Arthur Rahn was a Ranger-tabbed command sergeant major who attended American Legion gatherings and other ceremonies, swapped tales of combat with veterans and pressed the flesh with civic leaders. Review of fatal jump leads to discipline for six (Fayetteville Observer) An investigation into the death of Col. Darron Wright during a training jump on Fort Bragg last year led to the discipline of six people and prompted more than 20 changes across airborne operations, including planning, parachute packing procedures and medical coverage at drop zones. Army cuts long-standing SRB bonus (Army Times) The Army's long-standing policy of offering a modest Selective Re-enlistment Bonus to certain soldiers deployed to Afghanistan, Iraq and Kuwait has been rescinded, effective immediately. Runners pay tribute to slain commander Lt. Col. Roy Tisdale (Fayetteville Observer) A Fort Bragg battalion commander who was killed on post two years ago will again be honored by his alma mater, friends and family during races this month. 1st lt. sells high-fashion bags made of Army surplus (Army Times) Three years ago, 1st Lt. Emily Nunez Cavness was the lone ROTC cadet at Middlebury College, in Vermont, headed for a career in the military. Fort Carson seeks long-term agreement for helicopter training in Colorado high country (Colorado Springs Gazette) The Bureau of Land Management will hold a public meeting Tuesday to discuss an extended proposal from Fort Carson to use public land for high-altitude helicopter training. NAVYDestroyer Stout's CMC relieved(Navy Times) The destroyer Stout's command master chief was fired on Friday following non-judicial punishment proceedings. Navy officials said Command Master Chief (SW/FMF/MCD/FPJ) Albert Marcucci had an unduly familiar relationship with someone on the ship and made a false official statement during the investigation. The relationship was not with anyone in the command triad. Disappearing act: Nominee for Navy's No 2 fades from public view (Defense News) So whatever happened to Jo Ann Rooney? Sailor input sought for leadership training overhaul (Navy Times) If you've ever sat through petty officer leadership course and thought you could do lead it better, now's your chance to chime in. Inside the Navy's Secret Swarm Robot Experiment (Defense One) It's August on Virginia's James River and a secret military exercise is about to make history. A large ship that the Navy sometimes calls a high-value unit, HVU, is making its way down the river's thalweg, escorted by 13 small guard boats. Between them, they carry a variety of payloads, loud speakers and flashing lights, a .50-caliber machine gun and a microwave direct energy weapon or heat ray. Experts: Breath tests can lead to punishment (Navy Times) When Cmdr. Armando Ramirez arrived aboard his ship late one Saturday night, he was greeted by his command master chief administering a breath test, even though Ramirez was not on duty. AIR FORCETyphoon heads to Tokyo after killing US airman(Associated Press) A powerful typhoon was heading toward Tokyo on Sunday after lashing southern Japan, where it killed at least one U.S. airman on Okinawa island and left two others missing, officials said. Pentagon ethics boss lauds Air Force Academy probe, calls for more accountability (Colorado Springs Gazette) The Pentagon's two-star ethics boss charged with addressing misconduct throughout the military voiced support last week for Air Force Academy efforts to fix its culture in the wake of ongoing woes in its athletic programs. Former Bay area Air Force member enters guilty plea to sex charge (WFLA; Tampa) A former enlisted member of the United States Air Force is heading to Federal Prison after entering a plea of guilty to child enticement charges. In her father's flight path: Boom operator discovered air refueling at 15 (Air Force Times) In January 2005, the Repp family boarded a Hawaii-bound KC-135 Stratotanker to escape a bitter-cold winter at Fairchild Air Force Base, Washington. Kennedy road named in honor of Air Force veteran killed in training flight (Pittsburgh Tribune-Review) For years to come, motorists driving the Capt. Sean M. Ruane Memorial Highway will think about the sacrifice the Kennedy native made, a township commissioner said Saturday. New online certifications start in January (Air Force Times) The Air Force is replacing its military tuition assistance certification program with the new Air Force Credentialing Opportunities Online program, the service announced Sept. 30. Anti-drone activists, limited to 'Free Speech Zone' at Hancock Air Base, protest without incident (Post-Standard; Syracuse, N.Y.) A group of about 50 anti-drone activists cordoned off by barriers protested without any arrests or incidents Sunday afternoon. MARINE CORPSThree women pass grueling endurance test at Marine Infantry Officer Course(Marine Corps Times) Three women have passed the grueling Combat Endurance Test on the first day of the Marine Corps Infantry Officer Course, officials told Marine Corps Times Friday morning. Marine Lost at Sea Was Living Dream: Father (KNSD; San Diego) The father of a Marine corporal presumed dead at sea says it was his son's childhood dream to serve. Plans, policies and operations revolve around crisis response (Marine Corps Times) In the year ahead, Plans, Policies and Operations, the Pentagon-based command responsible for coordinating Marine movements across the globe, is placing particular emphasis on embassy security and the service's rapidly expanding crisis response mission. Bataan group heading home after 8-month deployment (Stars & Stripes) The Bataan amphibious ready group is heading home after an eventful eight-month deployment to the region. Semper Fi Fund director made honorary Marine (Marine Corps Times) In one of his final acts as commandant of the Marine Corps, Gen. Jim Amos pinned Semper Fi Fund founder Karen Guenther with a solid gold eagle, globe and anchor, signaling her admission into the exclusive order of honorary Marines. Head of SOUTHCOM says partnership and cooperation are vital in the Americas (Marine Corps Times) When Washington wanted answers this summer about the hordes of unaccompanied kids illegally crossing the U.S.-Mexico border, Gen. John Kelly was thrust into the spotlight. Corps renews emphasis on shooting competition (Marine Corps Times) Marine officials recently released details of the fiscal 2015 Competition-In-Arms Program, where Marines compete for the honor of being one of the service's top marksmen and a seat on the USMC Shooting Team. COAST GUARDMan floating in bubble rescued by Coast Guard(Associated Press) A longtime endurance runner and peace activist whose latest goal was to reach Bermuda in a homemade floating "Hydro Pod" was rescued by the U.S. Coast Guard on Saturday after he began suffering from fatigue. Coast Guard rescues five off N.C. coast (Virginian-Pilot) The Coast Guard and partner agencies rescued five people Saturday after their boat capsized in Lockwoods Folly Inlet near Holden Beach, N.C. AFGHANISTAN/PAKISTANJihadist group loyal to Taliban, al Qaeda claims to have captured Afghan district(Long War Journal) The Taliban claims to have captured the Registan district in the southern province of Kandahar. In a statement released on Oct. 2, the Taliban said it had routed Afghan forces in Registan, forcing them to flee to the neighboring "Shorawak district after dozens were killed and wounded." This "led to [the] Mujahideen liberating the district center, unfurling the sublime white flag of Islam over it and bringing the entire district under their complete control." Afghan army death rate spikes 30 percent (Associated Press) An Afghan army desperate for more advanced military equipment is suffering death rates 30 percent higher in the 2014 fighting season, the army's first against the Taliban without large-scale assistance from the U.S.-led international military force, officials said. Bagram tears down old structures as it builds up long-term mission (Stars & Stripes) For dust it was, and unto dust it shall return. Acres of land at the NATO coalition's largest air base are returning to empty dirt lots as troops pack up and tear down. Kashmiris flee India-Pakistan violence; 9 dead (Associated Press) Officials say nine civilians were killed as Pakistani and Indian troops bombarded each another with gunfire and mortar shells across the border in the disputed region of Kashmir. Pakistan Reports Record Polio Cases This Year (Wall Street Journal) When Salma Iqbal developed a high fever in July, her family didn't think it was anything to worry about. Within two days, however, the alert, playful 9-month-old's legs had gone limp. MIDDLE EASTBiden calls UAE prince to clarify remarks on Syria(Associated Press) Vice President Joe Biden on Sunday called the crown prince of the United Arab Emirates to clarify that he did not mean to imply in his remarks last week that the Gulf ally was supporting al-Qaida fighters in Syria. Hezbollah repel al-Nusra attack on Lebanon-Syria border (BBC) There have been fierce clashes in eastern Lebanon between Sunni militants and Lebanese Shia group Hezbollah. Israeli gunfire wounds Lebanese soldier on border (Associated Press) A Lebanese soldier was wounded on Sunday after Israeli soldiers opened fire near the border between the two countries, Lebanon's military said. Egypt jihadist group releases video of beheadings (Agence France-Presse) An Egyptian jihadist group released a video Sunday showing the execution of four men, including three being beheaded, accused of spying for the army and for Israel's Mossad intelligence service. Qatar's friends-with-everyone approach rankles some of its Persian Gulf neighbors (Washington Post) The U.S. military orchestrates the air war over Iraq and Syria from a hulking command center on the vast al-Udeid Air Base, a Qatari-owned encampment that is home to 8,000 American military personnel and dozens of Air Force jets. Giant video screens inside the windowless, two-story structure allow troops to track every plane and observe live footage from every drone involved in operations against the Islamic State. EUROPETo Boost Strike Force, UK Delays Retiring Jets(Defense News) The British government has temporarily reprieved a Tornado GR4 strike squadron from the scrap heap in order to maintain sufficient numbers of aircraft for a sustained campaign against the Islamic State. US military in Europe eyes changing uniform rules off base (Stars & Stripes) U.S. European Command has directed its Army, Navy and Air Force components to consider limiting where and when their members can wear military uniforms off Defense Department installations in Europe to ensure the safety and security of personnel and their families. Tensions Surge in Estonia Amid a Russian Replay of Cold War Tactics (New York Times) With thick smoke rising from the nearby border with Russia, a helicopter clattering over her summer cottage and her village's narrow country lanes swarming with emergency vehicles, Leide Heliste, a 67-year-old Estonian pensioner, feared the worst. New NATO chief says wants constructive ties with Russia (Reuters) NATO wants constructive relations with Russia even as it increases its presence in its member states in eastern Europe, the alliance's new secretary-general told a Polish newspaper on Monday. Unearthing a Barbarous Past in Poland (New York Times) Zbigniew Kulikowski stood at the crumbling edge of a muddy hole staring down at a trio of workers gently brushing the dirt from the yellowing bones of several intertwined skeletons. ASIA-PACIFICChina, Russia flex muscles in increasing number of close calls with U.S. aircraft(Washington Post) A recent spate of dangerous midair encounters between American military aircraft and Chinese and Russian planes in the Pacific is the result of increasingly assertive strategies by both U.S. adversaries to project power far beyond their borders, according to the top U.S. Air Force commander in the region. China Touts Anti-stealth Radar (Defense News) America's most advanced stealth fighter poses a great risk to China's air defense network - and the military is going to great lengths to learn how to shoot one down. As buildup in Pacific continues, international training will increase (Marine Corps Times) The Marine Corps has restored its Unit Deployment Program to levels not seen since before the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and training with international partners in the Pacific is going to expand over the next year. India completes 8000TD hovercraft acquisition programme (IHS Jane's 360) The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) has taken delivery of the 12th and final 8000TD hovercraft of a batch ordered in 2011 under a GBP32 million (USD51.1 million) procurement contract with UK-based manufacturer Griffon Hoverwork. S. Korea rumor crackdown jolts social media users (Associated Press) South Korea's president is cracking down on rumors in cyberspace in a campaign that threatens the popularity of Kakao Talk, the leading social media service in a country with ambitions to become a global technology leader. AFRICABoko Haram video shows beheading of Nigeria pilot(Associated Press) Boko Haram, the extremist Islamic group In Nigeria, has published a video that shows charred plane wreckage and the beheading of a man identified as a pilot of a missing Nigerian Air Force jet, bolstering the group's claims that it shot down a fighter plane. African Union and Somali forces claim Shabaab stronghold of Barawe (Reuters) African Union and Somali troops on Sunday took control of Barawe, a port town used by al Shabaab to bring in arms and fighters from abroad, after the al Qaeda-linked militants fled without a fight, the AU and a Somali official said. British hostage David Bolam freed in Libya (BBC) British teacher David Bolam has been released after being held hostage by militants in Libya since May. COMMENTARY AND ANALYSISPaying for wars against the Islamic State, Ebola and more(Washington Post) THE COST of the new U.S. military operation in Iraq and Syria is already approaching $1 billion, according to a study released last week. The Pentagon has meanwhile launched a $750 million mission to fight Ebola in Africa and has committed to rotating U.S. troops through NATO countries bordering Russia. These are all justified initiatives with broad support from Congress and the public. But the budgetary foundation needed to sustain them is crumbling. The Navy Has No Strategy? A Response to Randy Forbes (Jerry Hendrix in Defense One) By all measures Rep. Randy Forbes, R-Va., is a maritime strategist and a supporter of the United States Navy. He is chairman of the House Armed Services Seapower Subcommittee. He has written extensively on the importance of sea power within the international arena. So when he states that the Navy lacks both strategic thinkers and an intellectual foundation for war planning, people ought to pay attention. EDITORIAL: A sexual predator at Hurlburt (Northwest Florida Daily News) Readers of our Sept. 27 story, "Former airman convicted of sex crimes," might have wondered why the people of southern Okaloosa County didn't learn a sexual predator had been in their midst until after he was demoted, discharged, court-martialed and sentenced. Good question. LETTER: A public proceeding (Amy Nicholson in the Northwest Florida Daily News) In reference to the Northwest Florida Daily News' Oct. 3 editorial, "A sexual predator at Hurlburt," we appreciate your concerns and would like to respond to some of the questions posed by this editorial. Even if we defeat the Islamic State, we'll still lose the bigger war (Andrew J. Bacevich in The Washington Post) As America's efforts to "degrade and ultimately destroy" Islamic State militants extend into Syria, Iraq War III has seamlessly morphed into Greater Middle East Battlefield XIV. That is, Syria has become at least the 14th country in the Islamic world that U.S. forces have invaded or occupied or bombed, and in which American soldiers have killed or been killed. And that's just since 1980. How the Obama Administration Ignored Iraq (Former Ambassador Christopher R. Hill in Politico) It was late April of 2009, and Hillary Clinton was coming to Iraq for her first official trip as secretary of state. Normally, visits by a secretary of state are a logistical nightmare for an embassy. Barack Obama's Friendly-Fire Problem (David A. Graham in The Atlantic) Leon Panetta is the latest former aide to criticize the president publicly. This kind of thing didn't always happen. Remember Our Syrian Allies (Former Ambassador Robert S. Ford in the New York Times) President Obama made the right decision to boost military aid to moderate Syrian rebels last year, but today America's approach to attacking Islamic State fighters risks undermining the moderate opposition and alienating support among the Syrian public. Can America Still Win Wars? (Michael Tomasky in The Daily Beast) Public skepticism about war is healthy. But civic cynicism is not, and it means we can never be the unified country we were in World War II. What Drones Can Do Besides Killing Terrorists (Melissa Hersh in Defense One) After reading Patrick Tucker's provocative article on "Fighting Ebola with Data, Satellites, and Drones," I'm reminded that semantics do matter. I am decidedly pro-drone. However, making a distinction between intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance, or ISR, drones and combat drones is important. Is the Islamic State a Terrorist Group or an Insurgency? (Jerry Meyerle in Defense One) President Obama has promised to "degrade and ultimately destroy" the Islamic State through a "comprehensive and sustained counterterrorism strategy". If the group is a terrorist organization like al-Qaeda in Yemen or Pakistan, then the president's strategy might work. But if the Islamic State represents a larger insurgency against the governments in Baghdad and Damascus, then a strategy focused on airstrikes and a small non-combat advisory effort is bound to disappoint. In fact, it could prove counterproductive. North Korea shock. Something big is happening (Thomas Lifson in American Thinker) It is impossible to know exactly what is going on in North Korea, but something big has happened. The third generation Kim dynasty heir, Kim Jong-un, has been missing from public sight for a month, and may be ill, dead, or overthrown. Putinspeak in Kyrgyzstan (Masha Gessen in The New York Times) Few post-Soviet countries are as comfortable for a Russian-speaker to visit as Kyrgyzstan. This landlocked mountainous country of roughly 5.6 million, wedged between China, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, kept Russian as an official language after the breakup of the Soviet Union in 1991. Kyrgyz had fallen into disuse during the Soviet era and lacked the vocabulary for affairs of state. As a result, a generation after the collapse of the Soviet Union, the country still speaks Russian. | |||||
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