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, 8 Oct 2014 04:41:11 -0600
COMPILED BY THE EDITORS OF DEFENSE NEWS & MILITARY TIMES
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TODAY'S TOP 51. U.S. troops' Ebola mission may last a year(Military Times) Thousands of U.S. troops may be living in tent cities in Liberia and supporting the fight against Ebola for "about a year" or until the deadly outbreak appears to be under control, the top military commander in Africa said Oct. 7. 2. AP ANALYSIS: US-led airstrikes produce few gains (Associated Press) After two months, the U.S.-led aerial campaign in Iraq has hardly dented the core of the Islamic State group's territory. The extremist fighters have melted into urban areas when needed to elude the threat, and they have even succeeded in taking new territory from an Iraqi army that still buckles in the face of militants. 3. Leon Panetta, other former Obama subordinates show stunning disloyalty (Dana Milbank in The Washington Post) Aspiring Republican presidential candidate Bobby Jindal, governor of Louisiana, scheduled a big Washington speech for Monday to condemn President Obama's defense policy. But an unexpected competitor beat him to the punch. 4. Major sponsor drops 'Dual Survival' star; Teti fires back at critics (Military Times) Discovery Channel officials have gone dark, maintaining radio silence over the fate of Joseph Teti, even as support for the "Dual Survival" reality show co-star continues to erode. 5. Will Afghanistan Become the 'Forgotten War' Again? (DefenseOne) On Oct. 7, 2001, nearly a month after the Sept. 11 attacks, the State Department sent a cable to Pakistan asking Islamabad to pass a message to the Taliban warning that "it is in your interest and in the interest of your survival to hand over all al-Qaeda leaders." The message also included a warning to Taliban leader Mullah Omar that "every pillar of the Taliban regime will be destroyed." ISLAMIC STATEObama heading to Pentagon to get update on fight against Islamic State(Military Times) President Obama will be briefed Wednesday at the Pentagon by the Joint Chiefs of Staff and combatant commanders on operations to confront the Islamic State in the Middle East and contain the Ebola outbreak in West Africa, said Air Force Col. Ed Thomas, a spokesman for the chairman of the Joint Chiefs. ISIL Determined to Acquire Biological Weapons (National Defense) The U.S. military has evidence that Islamic State militants in Iraq and Syria are seeking biological weapons, an Army official said Oct. 7. Is it a 'war'? An 'armed conflict'? Why words matter in the U.S. fight vs. the Islamic State. (Washington Post) When is a war not a war? Does it matter, when a bomb is dropped or a missile launched, whether it's called "counterterrorism," or "armed conflict," or "hostilities"? FBI Wants You to Help Identify ISIS Fighter (National Journal) The agency is asking for information on a member of the terrorist organization who appears to have a North American accent. Canada at war: Vote to launch combat mission against ISIS passes 157-134 in House of Commons (National Post) One by one, Conservative MPs in the House of Commons led by Prime Minister Stephen Harper voted late Tuesday to join the war in Iraq, passing a controversial motion that clears the way for Canadian CF-18s to embark on airstrikes in the Middle East. Turkish Inaction on ISIS Advance Dismays the U.S. (New York Times) As fighters with the Islamic State bore down Tuesday on the Syrian town of Kobani on the Turkish border, President Obama's plan to fight the militant group without being drawn deeper into the Syrian civil war was coming under acute strain. Embattled Kurds key in fight against Islamic State (Associated Press) The Kurds of Syria and Iraq have become a major focal point in the war against the Islamic State group, with Kurdish populations in both countries coming under significant threat by the militants' lightening advance. Islamic State Progress Near Baghdad Raises Fears (Wall Street Journal) Anbar province, a crucial buffer zone between Islamic State militants and the Iraqi capital here, is at new risk of falling to the militant group, officials from the region said. Has the U.S. Turned Off the Islamic State's Oil Spigot? (Foreign Policy) Having control of oil helped make the Islamic State the richest terrorist group ever. That's one reason that U.S. and allied airstrikes have hammered its oil operations since late September. But two weeks later, one big question remains: Is the U.S.-led campaign succeeding in strangling the Islamic State's golden goose? Syrian Rebels Seize Russian Spy Station Near Israeli Border (The Daily Beast) Syrian rebels have overtaken a joint Russian-Syrian secret facility that they claim was a covert intelligence collection base. Opposition fighters say the post was used to snoop in on the communications of opposition groups -- and perhaps even the nearby Israelis. ISIS Issues 11 Rules for Journalists in Deir Ezzor (Syria Deeply) Many local journalists fled Deir Ezzor when ISIS arrived - and the ones who stayed behind are forced to abide by the extremist group's draconian rules Turkey: NATO has plan to defend the country (Associated Press) The NATO alliance has drawn up a strategy to defend Turkey if it is attacked along its border with Syria, a Turkish official said Monday. INDUSTRYSOCOM, Allies Buy Lightweight DAGOR Truck; Debuts At AUSA(Breaking Defense) It's six days until the largest defense conference of the year, the Association of the US Army's annual meeting, and here at Breaking Defense our email runneth over. Amidst the missives touting everything from "e-learning solutions" to free steak dinners for reporters, though, this one in particular caught our eye. On first sight, it's a good old-fashioned Army truck. US Army could fund AVX, Karem JMR tech development (IHS Jane's 360) The US Army could fund development of rotorcraft technology offered by two companies not selected to build demonstrator aircraft under the Pentagon's Joint Multi-Role Technology Demonstrator (JMR-TD) programme, officials announced on 3 October Northrop Grumman Pitching New Humvee Chassis to Army (National Defense) Northrop Grumman has designed a new Humvee chassis that would restore the vehicle's original mobility and payload capabilities while maintaining its current level of protection, a company executive announced Oct. 7. NAVAIR set to finalise MSST re-baseline (IHS Jane's 360) The US Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) expects to be in a position to formally re-baseline the troubled GQM-173A Multi-State Supersonic Target (MSST) acquisition effort around the end of this year, IHS Jane's has learned. Foreign sales may offset U.S. cost of Raytheon radar-US Air Force (Reuters) The U.S. Air Force said foreign sales of 50 to 100 of the new long-range radar systems to be developed by Raytheon Co (RTN.N) could help lower the cost of U.S. purchases in coming years. Official Touts Progress of Once Broken Air Force Acquisition Enterprise (National Defense) Five years into a long-term plan to turn around the Air Force's bad reputation for poor acquisition management, the service is beginning to make progress, a senior service leader said Oct. 6. USIS cuts more than 2,500 jobs after losing contracts in wake of cyberattack (Washington Post) The Northern Virginia contractor that suffered a cyber-attack in August and subsequently lost its contracts with the Office of Personnel Management has laid off more than 2,500 employees. US approves JASSM sale to Poland (IHS Jane's 360) The US Congress approved a possible sale to Poland for 40 AGM-158 Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missiles (JASSMs) and Polish Lockheed Martin F-16C/D Block 52 fighter aircraft upgrades on 2 October. Airbus sets out plans to reduce Dassault stake (Reuters) Airbus Group (AIR.PA) on Tuesday sketched out the opening steps of a plan to unwind its 46 percent holding in Dassault Aviation (AVMD.PA), saying it was weighing the possibility of selling a 10 percent stake by placing it with financial institutions. Montenegro Puts Leading Defense Company Up for Sale (Defense News) Montenegro's government has decided to sell the country's leading defense company, state-owned Montenegro Defence Industry (Vojna Industrija Crne Gore). Indonesia, South Korea sign up for next phase of KFX programme (IHS Jane's 360) South Korea and Indonesia have signed a joint engineering and development agreement for the Korean Fighter Experimental (KFX) 4.5-generation fighter, the Defense Acquisition Program Administration in Seoul announced on 6 October. Raytheon eyes deal with Qatar on Patriot system before year-end (Reuters) Raytheon Co (RTN.N) expects Qatar and the U.S. government to complete a long-awaited multibillion-dollar agreement on a "significant" number of Patriot missile defense systems before year end, a senior company official told Reuters on Tuesday. UAE procures IOMAX Archangel Border Patrol Aircraft (IHS Jane's 360) The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has signed a contract to procure "an enhanced squadron" of IOMAX Archangel Border Patrol Aircraft (BPA), the company told IHS Jane's on 6 October. Retired USAF General to Head Israeli Defense Co. N. American Division (The Jewish Press) Israel's global heavyweight in the defense industry, Israel Aerospace Industries, has made an important acquisition of its own: retired United States Air Force General Robert Foglesong is its new chief executive officer of IAI Ltd. North America. IAI North America is located in Arlington, Virginia. VETERANSLejeune vets exposed to toxic water have deadline extended(Military Times) The Veterans Affairs Department has extended its deadline for veterans to receive reimbursement for medical costs related to exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, and announced it will start paying out-of-pocket health costs for family members with certain health conditions related to drinking toxic water at the military base. VA begins firing process for embattled procurement official (Federal Times) Veterans Affairs secretary Sloan Gibson has proposed firing the senior contracting official who allegedly pressured employees to award a contract to reverse auction company FedBid. VA Braces for a New Front in the Agent Orange Battle (National Journal) A group of post-Vietnam War veterans say their illnesses are tied to the herbicide. So far, Veterans Affairs isn't buying it. Lawmaker questions VA exec's management of benefit appeals (Stars & Stripes) A House panel says the head of the VA's Board of Veterans' Appeals continues to mismanage the legal office and may have been "untruthful" in her sworn congressional testimony claiming improvements in processing vet appeals last month. Wounded warrior wins first-ever Men's Health 'Ultimate Guy' contest (Military Times) An Army veteran who lost an arm and a leg to roadside bomb in Iraq took top honors in the "Ultimate Men's Health Guy" contest announced Oct. 7 on NBC's Today Show. Officials: Allegations of unsafe practices at Fayetteville VA Medical Center surgery department under review (Fayetteville Observer) Investigators are reviewing allegations of "unfair and unsafe practices" in the Fayetteville VA Medical Center's Department of Surgery. Largest conference of wounded vets (San Diego Union-Tribune) For Richard Silva, injured during 2004 in Fallujah, Iraq, the road to recovery has been long. Actually, he is still on it. CONGRESSRepublican, Democratic Campaign Bosses Cite Progress in Senate Race - But Cautiously(Defense News) The officials running the Republican and Democratic campaign machines are claiming progress toward winning the Senate - but both were notably cautious on Tuesday. Top Dem open to US boots on the ground (The Hill) Rep. Dutch Ruppersberger (D-Md.), the ranking member of the House Intelligence Committee, said Monday night that he is open to U.S. boots on the ground to fight the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) if they are needed to save American lives. Senator: Congress should debate terrorist threat (Associated Press) U.S. Sen. Bob Casey said Monday it would be "very healthy" for America if members of Congress spend about two weeks getting briefings, holding hearings, and having a real debate about authorizing the use of force against the Islamic State terrorist group. DEFENSE DEPARTMENTUp in smoke?(Politico) Congress and the Defense Department are mulling over a potential ban on selling tobacco products - cigarettes, cigars and chewing tobacco - on military bases and ships in an effort to curb high smoking rates, but critics argue the move would be unfair to service members who already are making significant sacrifices. STRATCOM Lacks Authority, $$ On Electronic Warfare (Breaking Defense) As the world has gone wireless, the electromagnetic spectrum has become a vast, invisible battleground - and we don't even have a general in command. While US Strategic Command has the responsibility to "advocate" for Electronic Warfare, STRATCOM's own chief of operations said bluntly today that it lacks the authorities and funding it needs to make things actually happen. So who's in charge? The Trouble With Defense Acquisition May Be the Workforce (Government Executive) If you asked 31 knowledgeable people how fix the way the Pentagon buys weapons you'd expect to hear a multitude of answers aimed at addressing the cost overruns, program delays and failures to deliver promised capabilities that have come to define military procurement. What you might not expect is widespread agreement -- 70 percent -- that one significant problem is the Defense Department's acquisition workforce itself. Should We Put Robots in Charge of Cybersecurity? (NextGov) The theme of October's National Cybersecurity Awareness month, for half a decade has been "cybersecurity is a shared responsibility" - but should it be? ARMYIRR soldier nominated for Nobel Peace Prize(Army Times) An Individual Ready Reserve sergeant has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize for his work in a place where such an honor would seem impossible. Fort Bragg soldier dies in Qatar (Fayetteville Observer) Maj. Jonathan D. Walker, 44, of Merriam, Kansas, died Oct. 1 at Camp As Sayliyah in Dohar, according to U.S. Army Special Operations Command. U.S. Army has Growing Role in Africa Missions (DoDBuzz) It's a different kind of hot spot to which U.S. Army troops are deploying in increasing numbers, helping to fight against a terror that has killed by the thousands but not with bombs or bullets. Italy-based soldier accused in two rapes faces February trial (Stars & Stripes) A 173rd Airborne Brigade soldier accused of raping a teenage girl and a pregnant woman in separate incidents will face trial in the first case in Italian court early next year. Fort Bragg soldier pleads guilty to fuel theft (News & Observer; Raleigh, N.C.) A Fort Bragg soldier pleaded guilty in federal court Monday to stealing more than $400,000 worth of fuel while deployed in Afghanistan, according to U.S. Attorney Thomas G. Walker. NAVYCNO: Two carriers in the gulf region is unlikely(Navy Times) The Navy's top officer said Tuesday he would oppose sending a second carrier to the Persian Gulf region. Virginia Beach man faces additional sexting charges (Virginian-Pilot) Daniel Chase Harris, 31, a Navy pilot, was charged in a new indictment with 32 counts of enticing minors to engage in sexual activity and related child pornography counts. Future USS America enters San Fran as ceremony nears (Navy Times) The future USS America passed under the Golden Gate bridge Monday as it entered San Francisco harbor in preps for its next milestone - joining the fleet. Jury recommends death for Austin Myers (Cincinnati Enquirer) Several jurors openly wept as the verdict was read. Back's mother, Sandy Cates, remembered her U.S. Navy recruit son as a caring person who often flashed a "Tom Cruise-megawatt smile." Flight test success for BQM-177 target (IHS Jane's 360) The US Navy's (USN's) next-generation BQM-177A Subsonic Aerial Target (SSAT) has successfully completed a first contractor development test flight at a range off of southern California. Lemoore naval base commander declares four Fresno nightclubs off limits to sailors (Fresno Bee) Four nightclubs in Fresno have been placed off limits to Lemoore Naval Air Station sailors after a gang member severely beat a military member at a north Fresno club. Navy tests cutting-edge clothing manufacturing (Associated Press) The U.S. Navy is testing out a cutting-edge way of manufacturing clothes; welding them together with ultrasonic sound waves. The process promises garments that weigh at least 40 percent less. AIR FORCESearch teams find second U.S. airman washed to sea off Okinawa(Air Force Times) Air Force and Japanese search teams on Tuesday recovered the body of a second airman swept to sea off the coast of Okinawa over the weekend as Typhoon Phanfone approached, Kadena Air Base officials said in a release. Air Force Rebuts Report It May Waste $8 Billion on Drones (Bloomberg) The U.S. Air Force says the Pentagon's inspector general got the numbers wrong in asserting that the service risks wasting $8.8 billion on MQ-9 Reaper drones. Air Force Academy athletic department investigation complete (Air Force Times) The Air Force Academy's inspector general has finished its review into athletic department misconduct, but it remains unclear when - or if - the report will be released to the public. Hostage's Warning (Air Force Magazine) Last year's budget sequester so crippled the Air Force that a third of its fleet was grounded and only a handful of jet aircraft were ready in case of a new international crisis, according to the head of the combat air forces. That debacle drove USAF's request to shrink even more, as the service desperately tried to save enough cash to keep a smaller force fully prepared for unexpected wars. ICBM crew tours adjusted for force improvement (Great Falls Tribune; Mont.) Officials at Malmstrom Air Force Base are working to implement the 3 plus 3 program, which stemmed from missileer complaints about the lack of career advancement. Sabbatical offer draws fewer applicants than expected (Air Force Times) Only a handful of officers have so far expressed interest in a new program offering airmen a lengthy sabbatical from the Air Force, and the service is hoping more will apply before the sign-up period ends Oct. 15. Streamlined parts funding is lauded as major ICBM improvement (Great Falls Tribune; Mont.) When Air Force Global Strike Command moved the responsibility of purchasing and funding parts for the intercontinental ballistic missile system from the three missile wings to AFGSC on Oct. 1, it was the culmination of about 18 months of work. MARINE CORPSMarine gate guard reveals details of tragic negligent discharge(Marine Corps Times) Guilty was the plea here this morning from a Marine gate sentry facing charges of involuntary manslaughter in the death of Lance Cpl. Mark Boterf, 21, in an April 8 negligent discharge that took place inside the guard house. Marines had prepared for major rescue on Mount Sinjar (USA Today) Until it was called off at the last minute, U.S. Marines prepared to land aircraft on Mount Sinjar in northern Iraq in August for one of the largest evacuation operations ever - the rescue of thousands of trapped refugees, the Marines' top officer disclosed. S.F. earthquake drill - "We got a heavy bleeder" (San Francisco Chroncile) The earthquake victim suffered from arterial bleeding in one of his thighs, and required two tourniquets and a chest needle decompression. COAST GUARDCost of Clearwater Coast Guard rescue of "bubble man": $144,000(WFLA-TV; Tampa, Fla.) Stocked with protein bars, water, a GPS and a satellite phone, long-distance runner Reza Baluchi set off in this human-powered bubble. Coast Guard sector issues new steps on Ebola virus (Associated Press) A U.S. Coast Guard sector says it will contact ships that have recently been to Ebola-affected countries to ask whether passengers have symptoms of the virus before they are allowed into port. As Budgets Shrink, Cooperation is Key to Battling Drug Traffickers (Seapower) The U.S. Coast Guard is facing a relentless battle trying to stop the flow of illegal narcotics into the country, a battle that only gets more difficult over time, according to the service's commandant. NATIONAL GUARDParnell reaffirms authority of acting Alaska National Guard chief(Alaska Dispatch News) Just days after undoing a major staffing decision by the Alaska National Guard's interim adjutant general, Gov. Sean Parnell is standing by his appointee to guide the guard during its transition out of scandal and low morale and into new leadership. National Guard program puts dropouts on a new track (CBS) The 4 a.m. wake-up call was none like these teenagers had ever heard. AFGHANISTAN/PAKISTANU.S. Watchdog: U.N. Misspent Hundreds of Millions of Dollars in Afghanistan(Foreign Policy) The congressionally created watchdog responsible for monitoring U.S. reconstruction funds in Afghanistan blasted the United Nations' chief development agency for exercising a "baffling" lack of oversight of a fraud-tainted, multibillion-dollar program that funds the payroll of the Afghan police. US launches another 2 drone strikes in North Waziristan (Long War Journal) The US launched two more airstrikes in Pakistan's lawless tribal agencies today, killing 10 more "militants," according to reports from the region. Polio becomes 'public health emergency' in Pakistan as number of cases soars (Washington Post) As world health officials struggle to respond to the Ebola epidemic, Pakistan has passed a grim milestone in its efforts to combat another major global health crisis: the fight against polio. MIDDLE EASTHezbollah Attack Along Border With Lebanon Wounds Two Israeli Soldiers(New York Times) In an attack that ended months of relative quiet on the border between Lebanon and Israel, Hezbollah, the Lebanese Shiite militant group, said it set off an explosive device on the Israeli-controlled side of the border on Tuesday, wounding two Israeli soldiers. Young Israeli cyberwarriors learn to duel in the dark (Washington Post) There are a lot of secrets kept in Israel's intelligence community, but this is not one of them: Israel aims to become a cybersecurity superpower, and to do that, the Israeli military is launching an ambitious program to groom the next generation of cyberwarriors while they are still in high school. Yemen rebels reject new prime minister (Al Jazeera) Shia rebels have rejected a new Yemeni prime minister just hours after his appointment, in a blow to hopes of restoring order two weeks after they overran the capital. US-backed Hazm Movement, Muhajireen Army working together in Aleppo (Long War Journal) The US-backed Harakat Hazm, or Hazm Movement, has joined several groups, including Jaish al Muhajireen wal Ansar, a Chechen-led jihadist group, and the Islamist Jaish Mujahideen (Army of Mujahideen) in fighting the Assad regime in the Handarat District of Aleppo. In the video posted above, one can clearly see Hazm fighters use a US-supplied BGM-71 TOW anti-tank missile to destroy a regime tank. Hazm has also posted a video on its YouTube account showing the destruction of a regime BMP in Handarat. Investigators in Syria Seek Paper Trails That Could Prove War Crimes (New York Times) Behind the blitz of airstrikes and land battles in Syria, an unseen army is hunting for special spoils of war: pieces of paper, including military orders, meeting minutes, prison records and any other documents that could help build cases for future prosecutions. Former US diplomat working behind scenes to foster US-Iran ties (Al-Monitor) Iranian President Hassan Rouhani held an off-the-record dinner last month in New York with an elite group of former US officials. Among the guests were three former US national security advisers and a former secretary of state. As Egyptians Grasp for Stability, Sisi Fortifies His Presidency (New York Times) With President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi back from his first visit to the United Nations, the Egyptian news media is hailing his performance there as a transformational moment, for the Egyptian president and even for the General Assembly. EUROPEPro-Russia separatists target key assets in eastern Ukraine(Los Angeles Times) Pro-Russia separatists and Ukrainian government forces have abandoned all pretense of adhering to a cease-fire agreed to a month ago as the rebels have stepped up their assault on the Donetsk airport in hopes of gaining control of eastern Ukraine's most important transport hub. Russia's new Armata MBT to make its debut in 2015 (IHS Jane's 360) The Russian Land Forces are to receive a first batch of 32 Armata main battle tanks (MBTs) in 2015, Russia's Land Forces Commander, Colonel General Oleg Salyukov, has stated. The new MBT is expected to make its public debut at the 2015 Victory Day Parade in Moscow, he also revealed. Russian Navy Chief: New Frigate and Two Kilo Attack Subs to Black Sea by End of Year (USNI News) Russia plans to add a new frigate and two new diesel electric submarines (SSKs) to its Black Sea Fleet by years end, the head of the Russian Navy said on Monday. NATO military committee officials meet in Norfolk (Associated Press) Members of NATO's military committee began meeting in Virginia on Tuesday to get an update from the alliance's only command in North America and discuss the creation of a quick-reaction force in Europe UK looks again at defensive aids EWC2 upgrade for RN ships (IHS Jane's 360) The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) is breathing new life into plans to equip UK Royal Navy (RN) ships with an enhanced soft kill co-ordination capability under the Defensive Aids Systems - Surface Ship (DAS-SS) programme. ASIA-PACIFICJapan, US revising defense plans with eye on China(Associated Press) Japan and the United States are revising their mutual defense guidelines for the first time in nearly two decades to respond to China's military expansion and expand Japan's role in regional defense. Chinese troops training with US, Australia in exercise Down Under (Stars & Stripes) Chinese soldiers began an exercise Down Under alongside U.S. and Australian troops Tuesday, according to Australian Defence Minister David Johnston. U.S., ROK fighters train together after snow delay at Red Flag-Alaska (Air Force Times) After freezing temperatures and snowfall delayed the start of Red Flag-Alaska on Monday, the Air Force's premier flight training event kicked off with U.S. fighter, mobility and tanker units responding to real life combat scenarios alongside KF-16s from the Republic of Korea Air Force. Malaysia targeting 2019 in-service date for littoral combat ship (IHS Jane's 360) The Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) is targeting an operational entry date of 2019 for the first-of-class Second Generation Patrol Vessel - Littoral Combat Ship (SGPV-LCS), according to its chief, Admiral Aziz Jaafar Indonesia's Air Force Adds More Flankers (Defense Industry Daily) Indonesian Military Commander General Moeldoko tells Republika Online that they're leaning toward the Su-35 as their F-5 replacement, with the JAS-39 in 2nd place and the F-16 a distant 3rd: Indonesian Navy to equip Bung Tomo corvettes with Panther ASW helicopters (IHS Jane's 360) The Indonesian Navy (Tentera Nasional Indonesia - Angkatan Laut, or TNI-AL) will equip its three Bung Tomo-class corvettes with AS565 Panther anti-submarine warfare (ASW) helicopters from Airbus Helicopters, a navy source told IHS Jane's on 6 October in Surabaya, Indonesia AFRICALiberia's President Seeks New Powers to Fight Ebola(Voice of America) Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has asked the national legislature to give her more emergency powers in yet another effort to prevent the further spread of the Ebola virus. Liberia is already under a state of emergency and curfew. In a letter to the Plenary of the House of Representatives and the Senate, Sirleaf asked for powers to amend seven different articles under the constitution, including freedom of movement, speech, religion, confiscation of private property, and elections. War-torn Liberia already had too many orphans. Then came Ebola. (Washington Post) Berlinda Clark arrived by ambulance at Redemption Hospital, a hellish holding center for the sick and the dead. Also in the back of the vehicle was the corpse of her mother, who died before the child's eyes on the trip over. Life, Death and Grim Routine Fill the Day at a Liberian Ebola Clinic (New York Times) The dirt road winds and dips, passes through a rubber plantation and arrives up a hill, near the grounds of an old leper colony. The latest scourge, Ebola, is under assault here in a cluster of cobalt-blue buildings operated by an American charity, International Medical Corps. In the newly opened treatment center, Liberian workers and volunteers from abroad identify who is infected, save those they can and try to halt the virus's spread. Boko Haram: African leaders set to deploy coordinated military forces to fight terrorist group (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) The leaders of African nations Niger, Nigeria, Chad and Benin have announced plans to step up the fight against Boko Haram with an additional battalion and a command centre to tackle the militants whose insurgency has spread beyond Nigeria. Libya: Militants Parade ISIS Flags Through East Libyan Town (Centre for Research on Globalization) A video posted to YouTube on Monday purportedly shows a large convoy of cars parading through eastern Libya with men displaying their support for the Islamic State (IS). THE AMERICASSOUTHCOM Commander: Ebola Outbreak in Central America Could Cause Mass Migration to U.S.(USNI News) The head of U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) warned an Ebola outbreak in Central America or the Caribbean could trigger a mass migration to the U.S. of people fleeing the disease and implied established Central American illegal trafficking networks could introduce the infected into the U.S., during remarks at a Tuesday panel on security issue in the Western Hemisphere at the National Defense University. Mexico deploys federal forces to missing students' city (Los Angeles Times) Militarized police patrolled this violent city Tuesday after the entire local police force was relieved of duty, with some members implicated in the disappearance and possible massacre of 43 university students. COMMENTARY AND ANALYSISTo Defeat Islamic State, Remove Assad(U.S. Sens John Mccain, R-Ariz., and Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., in The Wall Street Journal) The airstrikes and other actions President Obama is taking against Islamic State deserve bipartisan support. They are beginning to degrade the terrorist group, also known as ISIS, but will not destroy it, for one reason above all: The administration still has no effective policy to remove Bashar Assad from power and end the conflict in Syria. Op-Ed U.S. strategy against Islamic State is too much air, not enough boots (Frederick W. Kagan and Kimberly Kagan in The Los Angeles Times) Air operations in Iraq and Syria have not stopped the advance of Islamic State. Despite the bombing, the Al Qaeda splinter group has launched a series of offensives in Iraq, gaining new ground in Anbar Province, and it has continued its offensive in Syria. History Suggests That Congress Will Only Authorize Force Against the Islamic State If the President Proposes and Pushes For an Authorization (or Screws Up Unilateral Force Badly) (Jack Goldsmith in Lawfare) President Obama says he would "welcome congressional support" but does not need authorization from Congress in order to use force against the Islamic State. The President appears to have taken no steps to propose actual language to Congress or to move the idea of an authorization along. And Congress appears to have done nothing significant as a body concerning an authorization of force. Can Drones Help Us Clear ISIS-Controlled Cities? (Peter Storey in Cicero Magazine) Despite becoming a flavor of the month in military circles because of their tactical capabilities and ethical implications, UAVs remain an understudied subject with regards to what can be achieved from the perspective of the challenging battlespace that is urban warfare. Do Drones Have A Future? (Paul Scharre in War on the Rocks) Thirteen years ago today the Predator drone saw its first armed reconnaissance mission in Afghanistan. Since then, the U.S. military drone fleet has grown by leaps and bounds. The U.S. Air Force has scores of Predators and Reapers stationed around the globe 24/7, high-altitude drones like Global Hawk patrol the stratosphere, and the U.S. Army and Marine Corps have thousands of small hand-launched unmanned aircraft to support ground troops. Nigeria: Five Reasons Why Boko Haram's Video Matters (Jacob Zenn and Allen Grane in the Council on Foreign Relations) On October 3 Boko Haram released a new video asserting that Abubakar Shekau is still alive. The video goes beyond "Shekau's" usual rhetoric and Boko Haram violence. Here are five reasons to pay attention to this newest video: Guard leader: Don't be duped by Army's Apache plan (Air Force Maj. Gen. Michael T. McGuire in the Arizona Republic) Adjutant general: The Army is pushing an ill-conceived plan on vital Apache attack helicopters. Crowdsourcing Navy Policy: The Flawed Navy Retention "Study" (Ryan Santicola in War on the Rocks) The front page of The Washington Times recently blared: "Navy sailors distrust commanders, fear crippling political correctness." Quoting a "survey of the fleet," the report labeled the distrust as "widespread." Surely, a headline like this should send shockwaves through the senior leadership in the Navy. But, the fact is, this so-called "survey of the fleet" was nothing more than an effort by the survey's organizers and respondents to lobby Navy leadership for policy change, resulting in questionable recommendations based on unsupported extrapolations. FN FAL Was Almost America's Battle Rifle (Paul Huard in Real Clear Defense) It could have the United States' main battle rifle. Instead, it became "the right arm of the free world." US Strategic Leaders Need to Think Bigger - Much Bigger (Hanna Samir Kassab in Defense One) Russian action against Ukraine, Israeli/Palestinian battles in Gaza, Islamic State in the Middle East, Chinese influence in East Asia - the world is coming to an end. Once the world's dominant, hegemonic actor since 1991, the United States is now in a period of relative and absolute decline. Opinion: NATO's Maritime Future (Navy Lt. Cmdr. Mark Lawrence in USNI News) The transatlantic alliance successfully navigated some rough seas in 2014. A year that began without any allied consensus on NATO's proper direction in the world looks set to conclude with unanimity in the face of Russian President Vladimir Putin's foray into Ukraine. Last month's NATO summit in Wales especially seemed to prove that Europe still can give a good account of itself when necessary. Yet the hard work of follow-through on all the political commitments made there remains to be done, and the fundamental question raised by Russia's belligerence-whether NATO will endure as a viable military entity-warrants close scrutiny in 2015. In no case more so than NATO's maritime domain, where the Ukraine crisis prompted only slight adjustments at the same time it highlighted the need for a major course change. The Afghan Air Force Rises from the Ashes (Daniel Goure in Real Clear Defense) As the U.S. and its coalition partners prepare to withdraw all combat forces from Afghanistan by the end of 2014, the vital question that needs to be answered is, will the Afghan security forces will be able to defend their nation against the inevitable resurgence of the Taliban? The Circum-Caribbean (or Bolivarian-Grenadine) War (Geoffrey Demarest in Small Wars Journal) For fluidity, the text below refers to the governments of Cuba and Venezuela, their supporting institutions, allies, symbols, programs, and etcetera as Bolivarian. Bolivarian is the formal self-designation of the currently governing system in Venezuela, which also often uses the terms 'Bolivarian Socialism' or 'Bolivarian Socialism of the XXI Century'. | |||||
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