FW: Navy Times Early Bird Brief

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Robert Serge

VVA 17 Member

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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: Thu, 9 Oct 2014 04:42:07 -0600

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COMPILED BY THE EDITORS OF DEFENSE NEWS & MILITARY TIMES
October 9, 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. U.S. Options Limited by Lack of Drones Over Syria (Foreign Policy) A senior Defense Department official told Foreign Policy that with so many of Centcom's ISR capabilities tied up in Afghanistan, there is a limitation on what can be done in Iraq and Syria.  2. Guantanamo 'experiment' doesn't break hunger strike but gets judge's attention (Miami Herald) Six Guantanamo captives who've been on hunger strike since 2007 got comfy seats this year, communal forced-feedings and television distraction as a way to get them to stop their food protest at the Pentagon prison, it was revealed at federal court Wednesday.  3. David Ignatius: Obama may be looking to shake-up his White House team (David Ignatius in The Washington Post) Presidents often need new energy and talent to refurbish their second terms. George W. Bush opted for such a shake-up in 2006, and it arguably saved his presidency. Barack Obama is now facing a similar moment, and there are signs he's looking to make some personnel changes after the November congressional elections.  4. US intensifies Afghan airstrikes as drawdown nears (Boston Globe) As the United States and its allies began launching airstrikes against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria in August, another - less public - air war was also heating up: in Afghanistan.  5. Marines deploy from Spain for Ebola fight (Marine Corps Times) About 100 Marines based in Spain will deploy temporarily to West Africa to join the fight to contain the Ebola virus, a Pentagon official said.  ISLAMIC STATE Obama makes rare trip to Pentagon for wide-ranging briefing (Military Times) President Obama made a rare trip to the Pentagon Wednesday to get an update from top commanders about the fight against Islamic State extremists, the military mission to contain the Ebola virus in West Africa and other operations around the globe.  Buffer zone for Turkey debated in militants' fight (Associated Press) Leaders of a global coalition to defeat the Islamic State group were divided Wednesday over creating a buffer zone to protect Syrian refugees and bolster Turkey's borders - a key demand by Ankara as Turkey weighs stepping up action against the extremists.  U.S. strikes Islamic State targets inside Mosul (Washington Post) U.S. aircraft struck Islamic State targets Wednesday inside Mosul, the heart of militant operations in Iraq and the country's second most populous city, the Defense Department said.  Airstrikes in Syria That Targeted Khorasan Group Disrupted Plots Against US, Gen. Dempsey Says (ABC News) The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said he believes that airstrikes in Syria that targeted the Khorasan Group succeeded in disrupting the group's plots on U.S. and western targets.  Destroying a $30,000 Islamic State Pickup Truck Can Cost Half a Million Dollars (Foreign Policy) On Saturday, Oct. 4, day 58 of the American campaign against the Islamic State, U.S. aircraft carried out nine strikes inside Iraq and Syria, destroying two tanks, three Humvees, one bulldozer, and an unidentified vehicle. The strikes also hit several teams of Islamic State fighters and destroyed six of their firing positions.  Two months of U.S.-led airstrikes in Iraq and Syria, mapped (Washington Post) The map above outlines where those airstrikes have occurred as of Tuesday night. For those following the conflict, the size and location of the red bubbles may not come as a surprise. But there are still certain details worth noting:  US: Airstrikes push some militants from Kobani (Associated Press) U.S. and coalition airstrikes have forced some Islamic State militants out of the Syrian border town of Kobani, but it may yet fall under the extremists' control because air power alone cannot prevent it, a Pentagon spokesman said Wednesday.  U.S. frustration rises as Turkey withholds military help from besieged Kobane (Washington Post) U.S. airstrikes alone cannot save the militant-besieged town of Kobane, along the Syria-Turkey border, the Pentagon said Wednesday, amid rising tensions between the Obama administration and its Turkish ally.  Gen. Dempsey 'Fearful' ISIS Could Take Over Key Syrian City (ABC News) The nation's top military leader said he is concerned that ISIS could soon take the key city of Kobani located on Syria's border with Turkey.  Washington's Secret Back-Channel Talks With Syria's Kurdish 'Terrorists' (Foreign Policy) As the town of Kobani appears poised to fall to the Islamic State, exclusive, previously classified, State Department cables show how U.S. officials tried to both engage and undermine its Kurdish defenders.  U.S. Focus on ISIS Frees Syria to Battle Rebels (New York Times) As American warplanes cross the Syrian sky dropping bombs on Islamic State militants, another set of air raids has sown destruction across the country, as the Syrian government returns with new intensity to its longstanding and systematic attacks on rebellious towns and neighborhoods.  Iraqi helicopter shot down, pilots killed (Agence France-Presse) An Iraqi military helicopter was shot down by suspected jihadist fighters Wednesday, five days after a similar incident in the same location north of Baghdad, officers said.  Carter unhappy with Obama's policies in Middle East (Fort Worth Star-Telegram) Former President Jimmy Carter put down his hammer at a Meadowbrook Habitat for Humanity project Tuesday for a wide-ranging interview that touched on subjects such as the Obama administration's use of drones, women's rights and faith.  U.S. Steps Up Fight to Block ISIS Volunteers (New York Times) As a 19-year-old man passed through security at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport on Saturday, federal authorities executed a plan they have honed across the country in the past year.  New jihadist threat intelligence service launched (C4ISR & Networks) Flashpoint Global Partners has launched a threat intelligence service for monitoring jihadist groups.  The Isis propaganda war: a hi-tech media jihad (The Guardian) Isis is using techniques plundered from movies, video games and news channels to spread its message. Who is masterminding the operation - and what is the best way to counter it?  Iraq approves Aussie special forces on the ground (Sydney Morning Herald) Australian special forces have been cleared to start work on the ground in Iraq, helping local troops as they face the grinding task of driving Islamic State fighters out of their stronghold towns and cities.  EBOLA Military picks up pace in Ebola fight in Liberia (Stars & Stripes) Top U.S. officials in Liberia rejected perceptions Wednesday that aid to those suffering from the Ebola virus was coming too slowly, saying that despite many obstacles, they're finally seeing signs of progress.  Ebola patient dies in Texas; U.S. orders airport screenings (Reuters) The first person diagnosed with Ebola in the United States died on Wednesday and the government ordered five airports screen passengers from West Africa for fever, underscoring concerns about U.S. treatment and preparedness for the virus.  Scientist who identified Ebola virus says epidemic will be long (McClatchy) The scientist who's widely credited with discovering the Ebola virus said Tuesday that the world finally was "waking up" to the epidemic sweeping West Africa but that the situation remained dire and was nowhere near being contained.  Ebola in Europe: What Went Wrong (The Daily Beast) In Spain, where a nurse came down with the extremely contagious disease, all the people concerned are trying to prove they did nothing wrong. Nothing could be further from the truth.  Cameraman with Ebola gets blood transfusion (USA Today) Ebola survivor Kent Brantly has donated blood to a fellow patient for the second time. This time, Brantly, a physician, donated blood to an NBC cameraman who also contracted the virus while working in Liberia.  Inside the Mini-Hospitals the Air Force Is Using To Fight Ebola in Africa (NextGov) The Air Force's Air Combat Command has started installation of what its command surgeon, Brig. Gen. Sean Lee Murphy, described as "a mini-community hospital" in Liberia as part of the Defense Department's response to the Ebola outbreak in West Africa.  Ebola burial teams in Sierra Leone go back to work (USA Today) Burial teams responsible for collecting the corpses of Ebola victims in Sierra Leone returned to work Wednesday, one day after going on strike because of a delay in receiving hazard pay.  Questions and answers on dogs and Ebola risks (Associated Press) Monkeys, bats and a menagerie of animals can spread Ebola. Now there's worry that dogs - or one dog in particular - might spread it, too. Officials in Madrid got a court order to euthanize the pet of a Spanish nursing assistant who has the deadly virus.  INDUSTRY Company wins new contracts despite federal probe (Associated Press) The Army has awarded $80 million in helicopter contracts to Wall Street executive Lynn Tilton even as the Justice Department is investigating whether she played by the rules to win earlier military work.  Army Seeks New Trucks While Upgrading MRAPs (DoDBuzz) The U.S. Army is pressing ahead with plans to buy a replacement for the iconic Humvee, even as it upgrades heavier blast-resistant trucks now part of the fleet.  Northrop Grumman unveils mine-hunting sensor (C4ISR & Networks) Northrop Grumman has demonstrated its AQS-24A maritime mine detector.  Greece's Maritime Patrol Aircraft Competition (Defense Industry Daily) The US DSCA announces Greece's official export request for modification and reactivation of 2 stored P-3B aircraft (bringing the fleet to 6), and the upgrade of up to 5 P-3Bs that will include structural Mid Life Upgrades (MLU) to provide 15,000 more flight hours, Phased Depot Maintenance (PDM), Mission Integration and Management Systems (MIMS), and new flight avionics.  Israel Reports $1B Drop in 2013 Exports (Defense News) Israel's Defense Ministry announced $6.54 billion in new export contracts signed in 2013, a $1 billion drop from 2012 orders.  Canada's Hornet Upgrade Delays New Fighters (Aviation Week) Canada's conservative government, which has spent four years pushing for a noncompetitive purchase of the Lockheed Martin F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, announced at the end of September it would delay retirement of the Royal Canadian Air Force's Boeing CF-18A/B Hornets for up to five years, until 2025. Canada will, however, continue to support JSF.  Austrian defence minister announces major cuts programme (IHS Jane's 360) Austrian minister of defence Gerald Klug presented a wide-ranging restructuring package for the Austrian Federal Army (Bundesheer) on 3 October to enable the service to cope with more spending cuts.  Finance Minister Says Russia's Grand Rearmament Plans are Unaffordable (Moscow Times) Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov says that Russia will not be able to afford its current level of military spending in the long term, as an economic slowdown amid declining oil prices and Western sanctions forces Moscow to drastically alter the expected funding environment.  Russia's RSK eyes Peruvian MiG-35 sale (IHS Jane's 360) Russia's RSK-MiG is seeking to sign a contract with Peru for "more than 10" of the MiG-29-series fighter aircraft's most modern derivative, according to company officials.  Russia, Belarus to introduce single defense industry standards (ITAR-TASS) The Belarus-Russia intergovernmental military-technical cooperation commission will consider the introduction of a unified cataloguing system for materiel items of the two states' armed forces, spokesman for the Belarusian State Military Industrial Committee Vladimir Lavrenyuk told TASS on Wednesday.  Pilum High: The Javelin Anti-Armor Missile (Defense Industry Daily) The US DSCA announces Estonia's official export request for 120 Command Launch Units (CLU) with Integrated Day/Thermal Sight, 102 Battery Coolant Units, 350 Javelin Guided Missiles, 102 Missile Simulation Rounds (MSR), 16 Enhanced Performance Basic Skills Trainers (EPBST), spare and repair parts, rechargeable and non-rechargeable batteries, battery chargers and dischargers, support equipment, publications and technical data, personnel training and training equipment, and other U.S. Government and contractor support.  Sweden orders undersea robots (C4ISR & Networks) The Swedish military has ordered 10 remotely operated vehicles (ROV) for underwater operations.  Rockwell Collins announces simulation joint venture in India (IHS Jane's 360) Rockwell Collins announced on 7 October that it had signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Indian company Zen Technologies.  VETERANS VA bonuses may be tied to phony records (KARE; Minneapolis) KARE 11 News has learned the FBI is now interviewing two former workers at the Minneapolis VA who claim that patient records were falsified to cover up life-threatening delays. This, as KARE 11 uncovers millions of dollars in bonuses paid to top VA workers that may be based on phony records.  Head of Edward Hines Jr VA Hospital stepping down (Chicago Sun-Times) Joan Ricard is leaving after nearly 40 years of service in the Department of Veterans Affairs, including two years as director of the hospital.  Tables turned on VA watchdog as link between neglect, deaths fails to emerge (Washington Times) He's the man leading the investigation into problems at the VA, but Inspector General Richard J. Griffin himself is increasingly under scrutiny for his conclusions, which have failed to find any exact link between veterans' deaths and botched care.  James A. Haley VA director tells employees to answer phones (Tampa Bay Times) The director of the James A. Haley VA Medical Center has a message for every one of the Tampa hospital's more than 4,800 employees: Answer the phone.  Linkin Park bonds with military, vets (Military Times) Linkin Park - the Agoura Hills, California, band known for its edgy blend of rap, rock and metal, and dynamic collaborations with artists from Jay-Z to Steve Aoki - recently teamed with Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America to draw attention to the problem of suicide among troops and veterans.  CONGRESS US House Democrats Finalize Sweeping Defense Acquisition Reform Plan (Defense News) A moderate US House Democratic group is pushing a sweeping overhaul of the Pentagon's acquisition system, but a key member says incremental changes are most likely.  Top GOP rep to Obama: Rethink ISIS strategy (The Hill) House Armed Services Chairman Buck McKeon (R-Calif.) urged President Obama Wednesday to rethink his strategy against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS), after defense officials acknowledged that the terrorist group might take over the Syrian town of Kobani.   Carney pushes to update C-130 fleet (News Journal; Wilmington, Del.) "Got a long way to go," Carney, the state's sole representative in the U.S. House, said Monday about his quest to upgrade the aging C-130 transport airplanes before worldwide digital navigation and air traffic control regulations make them obsolete by 2020. "That's the challenge ahead of us."  DEFENSE DEPARTMENT Pentagon to delay autism spending cuts (The Hill) The Pentagon is delaying controversial healthcare spending cuts after hundreds of military families complained it would have left their autistic children without coverage, according to an official from the Department of Defense.  Shielding troops from high interest rates may help DoD (Military Times) Giving troops more protections against high-cost debt could save the Defense Department between $13 million and $137 million per year because it would reduce the number of troops involuntarily separated over financial problems, according to DoD estimates.  EW Needs $2B More A Year; 'Major Deficiencies' Found By Defense Science Board (Breaking Defense) A classified Defense Science Board study, now on the desk of Deputy Defense Secretary Robert Work, recommends that the Pentagon invest an additional $2 billion a year in electronic warfare and create a high-level executive committee to oversee the four services' EW spending.  Tricare to stop mailing paper notification letters (Military Times) Starting this month, Tricare will stop mailing letters to patients notifying them of changes to their health coverage or eligibility for military health programs.  Managing The Chaos Of Electronic Warfare (Breaking Defense) "We've got twenty shotgun shells and a hundred ducks" in the electronic warfare world today, lamented Strategic Command's Rear Adm. John R. Haley this morning. "There are so many devices out there and so many things being used."  Trust offers peace of mind to seriously wounded, caregivers (Military Times) Each week, retired Army National Guard Sgt. Dennis Cabanting pushes himself to his limits: diagnosed with multiple sclerosis likely related to a head injury he received in Iraq in 2006, the former motor-T soldier spends countless hours in Gold's Gym, strengthening his legs and arms so he can move himself from wheelchair to car or bed to chair.  DARPA unveils Ground X-Vehicle Technologies display concept (Gizmag) DARPA's Ground X-Vehicle Technologies (GXV-T) program, announced earlier this year, aims to move away from the traditional battle tank paradigm - creating a new class of faster, more agile vehicles that are better at negotiating terrain and detecting targets. Today, the agency has provided the first details on what this new breed of ground-based armoured vehicles might look like.  Family council pushes for more information for families (Military Times) The ongoing struggle to get the word out to military families about programs and services already available to them is the dominant theme in the DoD Military Family Readiness Council's recommendations to Congress, which the council adopted Tuesday.  ARMY Brigade tapped for summer deployment to South Korea (Army Times) The Army has preliminary plans to rotate 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, to South Korea next summer.  Fort Hood police warn Kouma residents of suspicious activity (Killeen Daily Herald) Police are investigating a suspicious person reported in Kouma Village talking to children, Fort Hood's police chief Maj. Adam Stocking confirmed this morning.  Army offers football scholarship to honor, mourn high school player (Army Times) There is no such thing as a football scholarship to West Point - cadets don't pay tuition.  Fort Bragg leaders discuss ways to curb domestic violence (Fayetteville Observer) Fort Bragg leaders met Tuesday to discuss domestic violence and how to raise awareness while preventing or treating what the acting post commander called a "very, very serious challenge."  Officers can apply to go cyber in voluntary transfer program (Army Times) The Army is accepting applications from Regular Army officers in the ranks of second lieutenant through colonel who want to become members of the service's new career branch for cyber warriors.  NAVY Guantanamo forced feedings: Doctor says using olive oil was mistake (Miami Herald) Navy medical staff put Guantanamo prisoners' health at risk by using "for cultural preference" olive oil to lubricate feeding tubes, a doctor testified at federal court hearing on prison force-feeding practice Tuesday.  LCAC Hovercraft: US Navy's Champion Schleppers Get SLEPped (Defense Industry Daily) The LCAC fleet is the latest platform to be bitten by Microsoft's decision to end support for Windows XP. The Navy completes the Critical Design Review for a new Command, Control, Communications, Computers and Navigation (C4N) suite, "System Baseline Configuration 4?:  Four Fresno clubs banned for NAS Lemoore sailors (Navy Times) Four night clubs in Fresno, California, are off-limits to Naval Air Station Lemoore sailors after a series of incidents, according to a report from The Fresno Bee newspaper.  Worker missing at San Clemente Island (San Diego Union-Tribune) A civilian employee at the Navy's San Clemente Island installation is missing, Navy officials said midday Wednesday.  AIR FORCE Pilot safe after F-15 crashes in U.K. (Air Force Times) A U.S. F-15D Eagle from RAF Lakenheath crashed in the United Kingdom today during training.  Body of third airman found off coast of Okinawa (Air Force Times) The body of the third airman swept to sea off the coast of Okinawa over the weekend was recovered Wednesday, Robins Air Force Base officials said in a release.  Saturday memorial set for Sgt. Schoenhoff (WMAZ; Macon, Ga.) In a release, Shirley Hills Baptist Church in Warner Robins announced they will be having a memorial for Staff Sgt. Joshua Schoenhoff.  A top Air Force Academy official announces January retirement (Colorado Springs Gazette) Air Force Academy Athletic Director Hans Mueh will step down in January, months ahead of his planned retirement, academy officials said Wednesday.  New uniform instruction coming (Air Force Times) The Air Force is reviewing uniform policies to clarify and update changes the service implemented earlier this year.  US considers basing Ospreys at Yokota, Japanese media reports (Stars & Stripes) The U.S. may station a dozen CV-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft at Yokota Air Base next year, according to Japanese news reports.  After Security Forces museum closing, Air Force police go online to preserve history (Air Force Times) A small group of Air Force law enforcement alumni launched a virtual police museum and memorial Wednesday to help safeguard history they feared was in danger of being lost following the shuttering of the 35-year-old Security Forces Museum at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland in August.  Air Force Academy program helps wounded warriors find peace (Colorado Springs Gazette) Situated on a thousand acres of mountain forest deep inside the Air Force Academy is a special institution with therapists dedicated to helping hundreds of wounded troops struggling with post-traumatic stress or traumatic brain injuries.  MARINE CORPS Marine sentenced to 2 years for shooting fellow gate guard (Marine Corps Times) Lance Cpl. Brandon Little will spend two years behind bars for inadvertently shooting and killing a fellow Marine outside the main gate here six months ago.  Sick Marines a medical who-done-it for Navy doctors (Stars & Stripes) When Navy Lt. Cmdr. Joy Dierks arrived at work last month, she found 31 sick Marines waiting for her.  Here's What Happened When NASA Simulated A Marine Helicopter Crash (Business Insider) On October 1, NASA researchers tried to simulate a helicopter crash.  AFGHANISTAN/PAKISTAN Taliban suicide attack kills 5 in Afghanistan (Associated Press) An Afghan official says a suicide car bomber has killed at least five people in an attack that targeted a former district police chief in southern Helmand province.  Execution of 5 Afghans in gang rape stirs questions (Los Angeles Times) The Afghan government on Wednesday executed five men accused of the gang rape of four women traveling home from a wedding in August, a case that generated national outrage.  Base Security, Sub Fleet Improvement Among Challenges for Pakistan's New Navy Chief (Defense News) Adm. Muhammad Zakaullah, the new head of Pakistan's Navy who took office on Tuesday, is viewed as a highly experienced officer who will have to focus on base security and improving Pakistan's submarine force.  Spasm of violence in Kashmir worst in years (Associated Press) Iram Shazadi was making breakfast for her family when bullets started whizzing through her dusty Pakistani village just a half-kilometer (quarter-mile) from the Indian-controlled area of disputed Kashmir.  MIDDLE EAST Blast rips through rebel rally in Yemeni capital (Associated Press) A massive explosion has struck in the Yemeni capital of Sanaa, ripping through a gathering of supporters of the rebel Shiite Houthis who recently overran the city.  AQAP conducts offensive against Yemeni military in Baydah (Long War Journal) Local security officials in the central Yemeni city of Baydah reported a series of attacks carried out by al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) early this morning. AQAP fighters attacked several military targets in the city, including a Special Forces headquarters, a police station, and two military checkpoints. While initial reports from the main hospital in the city claimed that at least 10 police officers were killed in the attacks, security officials later said that 11 soldiers were killed in addition to 12 AQAP fighters.  Whirlwind Ascent of Houthi Rebels in Yemen Brings Relief and Trepidation (New York Times) A band of rebels took control of this capital city last month, seizing control of ministries and forcing the resignation of Yemen's government so suddenly that Izzedine al-Kuhlani, a 23-year-old rebel supporter, went from studying pharmacology one day to securing the Central Bank the next.  EUROPE 331 Have Died Since Ukraine Signed Truce, U.N. Reports (New York Times) Hundreds of people have died in fighting in eastern Ukraine since a cease-fire was agreed to by the government and armed separatists last month, the United Nations reported Wednesday, saying it had also received reports of mass graves containing hundreds of bodies.  Europe sends UAVs to Ukraine (C4ISR & Networks) European unmanned aerial vehicles are joining the effort to maintain the fragile truce between Ukraine and Russia, according to an AFP report and other published sources. The first two UAVs arrived on Oct. 6, and two more are coming.  Russia Seeks Sanctions Tit for Tat (New York Times) The Russian Parliament on Wednesday took the first major step to authorize the Kremlin to seize foreign assets and use them to compensate individuals and businesses being hurt by Western sanctions over the Ukraine crisis.  U.K. Independence Party poised to win first parliamentary seat in Britain (Washington Post) The 70-mile stretch of sea that separates this faded Victorian resort town from mainland Europe has long served as a bridge linking the British islands to the continent.  European Leaders Scramble to Upgrade Response to Ebola Crisis (New York Times) When the Ebola virus was first identified in March as the cause of a series of mysterious deaths in the remote forests of Guinea, Europe moved quickly to battle a disease that has now infected more than 7,000 Africans and already killed around half of those. It mobilized more money and health workers than the United States, China or anyone else for West Africa.  ASIA-PACIFIC Tokyo and Washington Writing New Guidelines for Military Partnerships (Defense News) American and Japanese officials are in talks to complete a "vision statement" for how the two allies might work together in the security arena of their 1997 Defense Cooperation document, according to a senior Pentagon official.  In Kim Jong-un's Absence, Rumors About Him Swirl in North Korea (New York Times) In most countries, footage showing the leader with a limp might have generated some curiosity. But in tightly controlled North Korea, those images - coupled with the disappearance of the country's ruler, Kim Jong-un, from public view for five weeks - have generated endless debate among foreign officials and analysts always on the lookout for upheaval in one of the world's most dangerous police states.  Former U.S. Commander in Korea: North Korea Could Use More Than Missiles to Deploy Nuclear Weapons (USNI News) While the United States, Republic of Korea and Japan speak often about the nuclear missile threat posed by North Korea to all three nations, the former commander of the combined forces on the Korean peninsula said the allies may be missing a very real, but less thought about dangers. "The best way to deliver a nuclear weapon to Seoul" could be "a rickety old wooden airplane," or a drone or a ship pulling into a nearby harbor.  Missing Vietnamese oil tanker released by pirates (Associated Press) A Vietnamese oil tanker missing for a week has been released by pirates who stormed the ship and siphoned off some of its cargo of gas oil, a crew member said Thursday.  COMMENTARY AND ANALYSIS Exposed: The White House's Professor-in-Chief (The Daily Beast) Obama 'avoids the battle, complains, and misses opportunities,' says his ex-defense secretary-especially in Iraq, where Biden's botched efforts helped create a vacuum that ISIS filled.  Will the president listen to Leon Panetta? (Dan Balz in The Washington Post) Leon Panetta has written what is being described as the latest kiss-and-tell memoir by a former member of President Obama's Cabinet. But rather than an act of disloyalty, Panetta may be performing a public service for the president.  Truth Has Consequences in Washington (National Journal) Two men told the truth in Washington this week. Both caused problems for President Obama. But one already has been forgiven, while the other has sparked enough anger inside the White House that official absolution could be a long time coming.  Should Senior Military Officers Resign in Protest if Obama Disregards Their Advice? (Peter Feaver in Foreign Policy) Should senior military officers resign if the president disregards their advice and orders them to execute assignments that, in their judgment, are ill-defined, inadequately resourced, or otherwise flawed?   The U.S. Air Campaign Against ISIS Is Much Bigger Than You Think (Daniel Goure in Real Clear Defense) To date, there have been approximately 240 coalition air strikes against ISIS targets in Iraq and Syria since air operations began nearly a month ago. On the first night of operations against ISIS in Syria, the U.S. put most of its best assets into the fight, employing more than 40 Tomahawk cruise missiles along with F-22 Raptors, F-15 Strike Eagles, F-16s, B-1 bombers, EA-18G Growler electronic warfare planes and drones. U.S. Navy F/A-18E/Fs and coalition partners including the U.K., France, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, the UAE and Qatar have participated in air operations too.  The Great Revamp: 11 Trends Shaping Future Conflict (Frank Hoffman and Pat Garrett in war on the Rocks) Since warfare often presents changes that are more than cosmetic, per Clausewitz, Joint Force developers must continuously balance their search for relevant lessons from the past while scanning for indicators of trends that will yield change in the future.  Learning to Find the Right Needle in a Stack of Needles (Timothy E. Grebo in Small Wars Journal) Military leaders operating in the network-centric environment have been educated and trained to find a needle in a haystack, when the true skill-set required is to find the right needle in a stack of needles.  The Dramatically Diminishing Number Of Veterans In Congress (Brian Adam Jones in Task & Purpose) There have never been fewer military veterans in Congress, and that's a problem.  Congress should pass veterans suicide prevention bill (Christopher Neiweem in The Hill) Immediately prior to recessing for another seven weeks, the U.S. House of Representatives unanimously passed four veterans bills. These pieces of legislation included reforms to Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) construction projects, extension of several veterans benefit programs, improvements to services for traumatic brain injury and a cost-of-living adjustment increase for veterans receiving disability compensation. However, the most pressing issue in the veterans community - preventing suicide among troops and veterans - was not addressed.  The Lows and Highs of Life Aboard an Aircraft Carrier (Koma Gandy Fischbein in Cicero Magazine) Reading Geoff Dyer's Another Great Day At Sea felt at times like being regaled with tales from places afar by a slightly annoying guy at a cocktail party where you can't tell if he is treating you and the subject matter with genuine interest, or a snarky sense of humor masquerading as wit.  Dustin Walker: Idaho has much of value to offer the Air Force (Dustin Walker in the Idaho Statesman) As the United States began airstrikes against terrorist targets in Syria recently, the Air Force announced the deployment of A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft to the Middle East. The A-10's latest mission triggered renewed hopes that the Air Force might reconsider plans to retire the aircraft due to budget cutbacks.  Ukraine and the Art of Limited War (Lawrence Freedman in War on the Rocks) The next stage in the conflict over the political future of Ukraine will depend on how the issue of the governance of territory currently occupied by separatists is handled. If the conflict bursts out of its current limits then the next essay in this series will have an even more alarming topic.  Five things the West can learn from the Ukraine Crisis (Andrew Wilson in Quartz) After a popular uprising in February, protestors in Ukraine were full of optimism that the nation could improve on its last attempt to change its dysfunctional post-Soviet system, the so-called Orange Revolution in 2004. Now Ukraine faces make-or-break elections on Oct. 26, with the very survival of the state at stake.  In War Time, Corruption in Ukraine Can Be Deadly (Aleksandr Lapko in The New York Times) This summer I received an official letter informing me that I had been called up for service in the Ukrainian Army, and that in a few weeks I would be deployed to the east, where our soldiers are fighting Russian-backed separatists.  The Battle of Tskhinvali Revisited (Frederic Labarre in Small Wars Journal) More than half a decade has passed since the first conventional war of the 21st century - however brief - came to an end. This author had produced one of the first case studies of the battle of Tskhinvali, published as "Sustainable Armor Capability for Small Powers: The Case of Georgia in the August War" in the Baltic Security and Defence Review (Vol. 11, number 2) in late 2009. The main objective of the article was to shape a case study to inform small power policy-making on the procurement and employment of a sustainable armored capability defined as "main battle tanks" (MBTs).

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