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: Thu, 16 Oct 2014 04:44:13 -0600
COMPILED BY THE EDITORS OF DEFENSE NEWS & MILITARY TIMES
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TODAY'S TOP 51. Hagel Devises New Mission for Army: Coastal Defense Force(Defense News) After two days of US Army top leadership extolling the virtues of putting US boots on the ground across Asia-Pacific to train and advise allies, both old and new, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel on Wednesday suggested a new Army mission at the annual AUSA convention: a coastal defense force. 2. Health-care worker with Ebola was allowed to fly despite slight fever (Washington Post) The experts had warned that fighting Ebola is hard, and Wednesday's drumbeat of bad news proved them correct. The day began with a bulletin about another health-care worker stricken with the deadly disease, and the news got worse with the revelation that she had flown with a slightly elevated temperature from Cleveland to Dallas on a crowded airliner barely 24 hours before her diagnosis. 3. The Afghanistan Withdrawal: A Potential Disaster in the Making (Peter Beinart in The Atlantic) Disputes over Iraq have distracted Americans from a more important debate. 4. Egypt warplanes hit Libya militias, officials say (Associated Press) Egypt deepened its involvement in the fight against Islamist militias who have taken over key parts of Libya on Wednesday, with officials saying Egyptian warplanes have bombed their positions in the eastern city of Benghazi. 5. Exclusive: Washington Wants NATO To Help Retrain The Iraqi Military (Foreign Policy) The difficult and dangerous task of retraining Iraqi security forces to take on the Islamic State militants who've made impressive gains in the north and west of Iraq will require large numbers of trainers from the United States and NATO nations, according to a person familiar with joint assessments by the American-led coalition and the Iraqi government. DEFENSE NEWS WITH VAGO MURADIANAUSA 2014: Brian McKeon, Sr. Vice President, Booz Allen Hamilton, on C4ISR(Defense News) AUSA 2014: Brian M. McKeon, Booz Allen Hamilton Senior Vice President talks about C4ISR during AUSA. AUSA 2014: Gen. Robert "Doc" Foglesong CEO IAI North America (Defense News) AUSA 2014: Gen. Robert "Doc" Foglesong, CEO for IAI North America, talks about products they are trying to bring to the US Army. AUSA 2014: Jerry Wheeler, Vice President, Programs, ATEC (Defense News) AUSA 2014: Jerry Wheeler, Vice President, Programs for ATEC, talks about the Army competition for new helicopter engines. AUSA 2014: Sally Wallace, President, C4ISR Business Group, DRS Technologies (Defense News) AUSA 2014: Sally Wallace, President, C4ISR Business Group, DRS Technologies at AUSA. AUSA 2014: John Urias, President, Oshkosh Defense (Defense News) AUSA 2014: John Urias, President of Oshkosh Defense, talks about their armored vehicles while at Association of the United States Army conference in Washington, DC. EBOLAU.S. Ebola force continues to build in West Africa(Military Times) Before entering the U.S. Embassy in Monrovia to brief soldiers and reporters on the U.S. military response to the Ebola epidemic, Army Maj. Gen. Daryl Williams washed his hands in chlorine bleach and had his temperature taken. Pentagon: Policies in place to protect troops, even as Ebola spreads in US (Stars & Stripes) The Pentagon is confident it has measures in place to protect thousands of troops sent to Liberia to help combat Ebola and protect their families when they return, even as doubts have emerged about civilian protocols after two health care workers have tested positive for the disease in Dallas. Obama: Ebola 'SWAT teams' to respond to infections (USA Today) President Obama has directed the Centers for Disease Control to dispatch rapid response "SWAT teams" of Ebola experts to any local hospital with an infected patient within 24 hours. Nurses at Dallas hospital describe poor safety measures with Ebola victim (Los Angeles Times) Nurses at a Texas hospital where a Liberian man died of Ebola described a confused and chaotic response to his arrival in the emergency room, alleging in a statement Tuesday that he languished for hours in a room with other patients and that hospital authorities resisted isolating him. Lax U.S. Guidelines on Ebola Led to Poor Hospital Training, Experts Say (New York Times) Many American hospitals have improperly trained their staffs to deal with Ebola patients because they were following federal guidelines that were too lax, infection control experts said on Wednesday. ISLAMIC STATEPentagon: Islamic State airstrikes on hold as weather hampers targeting(Stars & Stripes) Bad weather is hindering the U.S. air campaign against militants in Iraq as a key province hangs in the balance, the Defense Department said Wednesday. Islamic State militants do not appear to have seized any chemical weapons (Washington Post) Islamic State militants do not appear to have seized any chemical weapons as they have rolled across Iraq and Syria, the Pentagon said Wednesday, as reports of U.S. troops' exposure to chemical weapons during Washington's last conflict in Iraq raised questions about the extremist group's access to similar deadly agents. US airstrikes have 'minimal effects' on Islamic State. Why that's not all bad. (Christian Science Monitor) The number of US airstrikes against the Islamic State are 'very, very low,' but the goal is not just a military one, as Tuesday's meeting of the 22-member coalition highlighted. U.S. pounds Islamic State in Kobane, seeking a propaganda and a military win (Washington Post) For the moment, at least, the once-obscure Syrian town of Kobane, along the Turkish border, has become the epicenter of the overall U.S. and coalition fight to degrade and demoralize Islamic State militants. U.S. Sends Mixed Message on Battle for Syrian City (Wall Street Journal) The U.S. has sent conflicting signals about the importance of Kobani to the fight against Islamic State militants over the past week, playing down the Syrian border city's strategic significance while intensifying efforts to defend it. Siege Possible as ISIS Nears Strategic Town in Iraq (New York Times) Fighters from the Islamic State were mustering with tanks, armored vehicles and heavy weapons on Wednesday near a strategically located rural town about 25 miles west of Baghdad in the embattled province of Anbar, local officials said. Pentagon says it has foreign commitments to train Iraqi forces (The Hill) The Pentagon has received a "significant commitment" from other nations to train Iraqi forces, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said Wednesday. ISIL is suffering a big oil hit (Quartz) Among the petro-actors hurting right now is the Islamic State. As prices take another tumble today-oil hit new lows last seen in October 2010-ISIL is suffering not just lower income, but lost production. According to the International Energy Agency, US-led bombing runs have taken out most of the militant group's production. Joint Staff names campaign against Islamic State 'Operation Inherent Resolve' (Military Times) The war against the Islamic State now has a name: "Operation Inherent Resolve." Syrian Kurds press hundreds of young men into army (Associated Press) Police in Syria's beleaguered self-ruled Kurdish areas have rounded up hundreds of young men to press them into military service recently made compulsory, activists and Kurdish officials say. It's official: U.S. won't be working with current Syrian rebel groups to battle Islamic State (McClatchy) John Allen, the retired Marine general in charge of coordinating the U.S.-led coalition's response to the Islamic State, confirmed Wednesday what Syrian rebel commanders have complained about for months - that the United States is ditching the old Free Syrian Army and building its own local ground force to use primarily in the fight against the Islamist extremists. AP PHOTOS: Kurds bury killed female fighters (Associated Press) In the Turkish town of Suruc, across the border from the beleaguered Syrian town of Kobani, several hundred people gathered Tuesday at a cemetery to bury four female Kurdish fighters who died there fighting extremists from the Islamic State group. Dutch bikers join fight against Islamic State in Iraq (BBC) Three members of a Dutch motorcycle club with military backgrounds have gone to Iraq to help fight Islamic State (IS), a fellow biker says. John Nagl says the U.S. isn't finished in Iraq (American Public Media) American soldiers found chemical weapons in Iraq as long as a decade ago, left over from Saddam Hussein's war with Iran, according to a New York Times investigation. Some U.S. troops were injured by the shells. Both the discoveries and injuries were kept secret. AUSAMarines To Begin JLTV User Tests(Defense News) The US Marines are due to put the three Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) offerings through their paces during a limited user test set to begin next week, following the end of a soldier test last month, Army officials said Wednesday. Wanted: Soldiers who 'thrive in chaos' (Army Times) The Army wants soldiers who thrive in chaos and can build rapport, said leaders and experts on a panel looking at "The Human Dimension" at the AUSA convention Wednesday. Army Eyes Coordinated Land-Cyber Missions (Defense News) Seven years ago, the Israeli military's Operation Orchard is believed to have employed an electronic warfare-delivered cyber attack to shut down Syrian anti-air defenses before its jets bombed Syria's Al Kibar nuclear reactor. AUSA: UTC Aerospace Systems unveils intel software (C4ISR & Networks) UTC Aerospace Systems unveiled its new web-based SCi- toolset IRL image exploitation information management software suite at the Association of the U.S. Army (AUSA) expo, in Washington, D.C. Building on pre-existing company tools, SCi-toolset offers an integrated, user-friendly interface, without sacrificing any functionality. Army leaders assure families they're sticking up for them in budget fight (Army Times) Pressed about why leaders aren't speaking out against budget cuts and sequestration, Army leaders assured families that they have been doing exactly that. AUSA: IAI pitches ISR gear for ground troops (C4ISR & Networks) As Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) seeks to expand its reach into the US land systems market, it is showing off a lightweight UAV, a countermine package for ground vehicles, and other gear at this year's AUSA expo here this week. AUSA: Army seeks new positioning tech (C4ISR & Networks) Concerned about GPS jamming and spoofing by an adversary, the Army is leading the services' efforts to develop alternative technologies to provide reliable and trustworthy positioning, navigation and timing (PNT) information. Its Assured PNT program is looking at tiny atomic clocks, inertial navigation systems and other technologies. AUSA: The time for acquisition reform may be at hand (C4ISR & Networks) Much has been made of the military's challenges in accelerating the acquisition process, especially when it comes to time-sensitive technologies that are critical to theater operations or rapidly rendered obsolete - or both. But Army officials are optimistic that things finally are beginning to change. INDUSTRYFormer UK Defence Staff Chief Joins DynCorp(Defense News) The former head of Britain's armed forces, Gen. Sir David Richards, has been recruited by DynCorp International to head the support company's business activities here just weeks ahead of the UK government naming the winner of a competition to privatize the state-owned Defence Support Group (DSG), in which the US concern is a prominent bidder. DRS and Rafael Propose New Tank Active Protection System to Army (DoDBuzz) DRS Technologies and Israeli-based Rafael Advanced Defense Systems are asking the U.S. Army to consider acquiring the Trophy Active Protection System, a vehicle-mounted technology engineered to instantly locate and destroy incoming enemy fire. With Few Army Aviation Opportunities in Sight, Industry Targets RandD Programs (National Defense) Once again, it is a quiet year for Army aviation at the Association of the U.S. Army annual meeting and exposition. Thales Chairman and CEO Jean-Bernard Levy to Resign (Defense News) The French government has selected Jean-Bernard Levy, chairman of Thales, to be the next head of the state-owned electricity utility Electricite de France (EDF), a source at the defense electronics company said on Wednesday. White House launches DoD-sponsored photonics competition (C4ISR & Networks) President Obama has announced a Pentagon-sponsored competition that will offer up to $110 million to develop light-based technology. Lockheed says makes breakthrough on fusion energy project (Reuters) Lockheed Martin Corp said on Wednesday it had made a technological breakthrough in developing a power source based on nuclear fusion, and the first reactors, small enough to fit on the back of a truck, could be ready for use in a decade. Air Force awards spectrum warfare contract (C4ISR & Networks) The Air Force has awarded a $47 million contract to seven companies to design spectrum warfare technologies and techniques. Army Industrial Base Said to Be in 'Death Spiral' (National Defense) There was plenty of doom and gloom on the final day of the Association of the United States Army annual conference where a panel of officials, industry leaders and academics spelled out all the problems with the service's research, development and acquisition enterprise. Seventh GPS IIF satellite completes orbital checkout (C4ISR & Networks) The seventh GPS IIF satellite has successfully completed its orbital checkout. Nano UAV Gets Night-Vision Capability (Aviation Week) Prox Dynamics has unveiled a night-capable version of its PD-100 Black Hornet unmanned air vehicle, believed to be the world's smallest operational military UAV. Raytheon releases wearable intel system (C4ISR & Networks) Raytheon's new wearable Intelligence and Operations Convergence system combines Raytheon's Air Warrior wearable computing technologies with the DCGS-A Lite capability, which "enables troops to receive intelligence and generate new intelligence as they perform missions in bandwidth-challenged areas," said a company news release. It will be demonstrated to U.S. special operations forces later this month. BAE Systems Amps Up Directed Energy Work (Aviation Week) BAE Systems unveiled its Future Technology Demonstrator armored vehicle at the Association of the U.S. Army convention in Washington this week, with a focus on directed-energy technology. Raytheon upgrades anti-jam system (C4ISR & Networks) Raytheon UK has unveiled an enhanced version of its Landshield battlefield GPS anti-jam system. The upgrade is aimed at meeting the requirements of the U.S. Army's new Assured Position Navigation and Timing program of record, according to a Raytheon news release. The company will deliver the system for evaluation in early 2015. U.S. Army Pacific Seeks Technologies To Enhance Force Projection (Aviation Week) U.S. Army Pacific (USARPAC) is looking for technologies and equipment that will assist force projection in an area of responsibility that includes half the world's surface area, its commanding general says. Tactical radio security adapts to new threats (C4ISR & Networks) Modern tactical radios are single or multichannel systems that contain built-in routing capabilities and transmit both voice and data within Internet Protocol (IP) packets. Besides possessing radio frequency connectivity, today's tactical radios are also often physically connected via cables to a terrestrial network. India Cancels Navy LUH Tender; Issues New Request (Defense News) India has canceled yet another light utility helicopter (LUH) global tender, this time for the Navy, which has rushed to float a new request for information to domestic companies for the troubled program, said a Defence Ministry source. Indian MoD hands HAL RfP for more Hawks (IHS Jane's 360) India's Ministry of Defence (MoD) dispatched a request for proposal (RfP) to Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for 20 additional BAE Systems Hawk Mk 132 Advanced Jet Trainers (AJTs) in early October. Turkey Boasts New Predator Drone Clone; Displayed At AUSA (Breaking Defense) If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc. and Abraham Karem, inventor of the world-changing Predator drone, should feel praised to the skies. First A400M for Germany makes maiden flight (IHS Jane's 360) The first of 53 contracted Airbus Defence and Space (DS) A400M Atlas airlifters for the German Air Force made its maiden flight on 14 October. VETERANSVA secretary: I'm 'aggressively' firing problem employees(Military Times) Veterans Affairs Secretary Bob McDonald says he's working "aggressively" to fire problem employees in his department and is frustrated by congressional criticism that dismissals aren't moving fast enough. Veterans Affairs Executives Slated for Firing Find Way to Retire Instead (Wall Street Journal) Top-level Department of Veterans Affairs employees whom the agency moves to fire can take advantage of a procedural delay to retire instead, despite a law passed this summer to hasten the termination process. Did safety net fail suicidal Marine vet? (San Diego Union-Tribune) After multiple Iraq, Afghanistan tours, Jeremy Sears lost battle for benefits with the VA, then killed himself at Oceanside shooting range At VA, exploring alternative therapies for chronic pain and other ailments (Washington Post) The acupuncturist in his glow-in-the-dark yellow Crocs gently leaned over the burly and bearded Army Special Operations officer, who was stretched across a bed in the "zen den" of the Hunter Holmes McGuire VA Medical Center. CONGRESSFormer Republican SASC Chair Endorses Democratic Sen. Warner(Defense News) A former Senate Armed Services Committee chairman is doing the unthinkable in today's partisan environment: crossing the aisle to support a Democratic incumbent's reelection bid. Boehner Urges Obama to Consider Travel Ban to Fight Ebola (Bloomberg) House Speaker John Boehner said President Barack Obama should consider a temporary ban on travel to the U.S. from countries where the Ebola virus is rampant. House Dems call for US troops in Africa to give direct Ebola care (The Hill) A trio of House Democrats is calling on President Obama to allow U.S. troops in West Africa to provide direct care to Ebola patients. Sen. Levin Has Critical Words for IS, Pakistani Leaders and US Media (Defense News) Carl Levin used one of his final public appearances as a sitting US senator to deliver stern words to the Islamic State group, Pakistani leaders - and the American media. DEFENSE DEPARTMENTHagel pressures Congress to reverse defense budget cuts(The Hill) Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel pressured Congress Wednesday to reverse the Pentagon's deep budget cuts, saying the cuts put soldiers' lives at risk at a time of growing threats. Top WMD Expert Leaves the Pentagon to Fight Ebola Full Time (Foreign Policy) Whether we're at the beginning, in the middle, or near the end of the Ebola outbreak is going to depend on the "impact of international action," said Andrew Weber, the soon-to-be deputy at the State Department's recently created Ebola Coordination Unit. DARPA seeks better chemical, biological detection (C4ISR & Networks) DARPA has put out a solicitation for remote devices to detect biological and chemical agents. ARMYArmy needs to establish long-lasting influence with its allies, leaders say(Fayetteville Observer) With the war in Afghanistan drawing to a close and the world filled with seemingly endless threats, the Army should be in the business of preventing wars instead of just fighting them. Fort Hood soldier dies of apparent gunshot wound (Army Times) An officer stationed at Fort Hood, Texas, died Tuesday of an apparent gunshot wound at his residence in Killeen, base officials said. Army leaders discuss benefits of a regionally aligned force (Fayetteville Observer) The Army is creating a force filled with geographical experts in hopes that steady relationships with other nations can help prevent future conflicts. Fort Drum soldier killed in rollover crash near LaFargeville (Watertown Daily Times) A Fort Drum soldier was killed Tuesday morning in a one-car rollover crash on Route 180 in the town of Orleans. NAVYVinson strike group arrives in 5th Fleet(Navy Times) The Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group reported for duty in 5th Fleet on Oct. 15, according to a Navy news release. USN, Northrop Grumman to deploy more mine-hunting USVs to the Gulf (IHS Jane's 360) After successfully demonstrating real-world operations of a prototype unmanned mine-hunting system in the Gulf, Northrop Grumman Corporation is preparing to deploy two more of the units with the US Navy's (USN's) Gulf-based 5th Fleet in early 2015, officials told IHS Jane's on 9 October. CNO Greenert: U.S. Navy Needs to Engage More With China (USNI News) The key to a peaceful maritime future between China and the U.S. will be rooted in additional engagement between the countries' navies. U.S. Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Jonathan Greenert said at the CSIS and U.S. Naval Institute's Maritime Security Dialogue on Tuesday. Navy retests show lower lead levels in some water taps (Stars & Stripes) Retests of water taps at Navy bases in Japan showed fewer elevated levels of lead than the initial tests that forced faucet shutdowns at schools and day care centers in August, officials said Wednesday. AIR FORCESix of Korea's F-16s practice low-level flights, 'real-war' training at Red Flag-Alaska(Air Force Times) The Republic of Korea Air Force was the special guest for Red Flag-Alaska 15-1, and it took a milestone in that service's history to get there. Up in the sky, a mystery space plane -- but why? (Associated Press) What looks like a mini space shuttle, can fly itself for millions of miles and goes by the name X-37B? TACP airman, nearly killed by drunken driver, turns hobby into Warrior Games gold (Air Force Times) Staff Sgt. Seth Pena remembers nothing about the day that changed everything. MARINE CORPSU.S. Marine charged with murder in the Philippines(Marine Corps Times) Philippine police charged a U.S. Marine with murder on Wednesday following the death of a Filipino transgender woman who was found dead in a hotel room in Olongapo City . Marine's Iraq story collection in finals for National Book Award (Marine Corps Times) A Marine veteran's fictional short story collection about the Iraq War is in the running for one of the nation's most prestigious awards for literature. UK Voyager refuels USMC Harriers for first time (IHS Jane's 360) The UK Royal Air Force (RAF) recently refuelled United States Marine Corps (USMC) McDonnell Douglas AV-8B Harrier II combat aircraft for the first time using its Airbus Defence and Space (DS) Voyager KC3 tanker-transport aircraft. Use it or lose it: New regulations could cost Marines 15 days of leave (Marine Corps Times) Marines have a year to burn up more of their leave time or risk losing it. AFGHANISTAN/PAKISTANAfghanistan Captures Two Top Militant Leaders(Wall Street Journal) Afghan security services captured two senior leaders of the Haqqani terrorist network, a hardline Islamist group that has carried out some of the most high-profile attacks against U.S. and international interests in the country, officials said. Afghanistan to weaponise MD 530F helos (IHS Jane's 360) The Afghan Air Force (AAF) is to arm its MD Helicopters Inc (MDHI) MD 530F helicopters to give them a dual role as both training and close-support platforms, the company confirmed to IHS Jane's on 15 October. Car Bomb Kills 8 Afghans From Unit Linked to C.I.A. (New York Times) Eight Afghan paramilitary soldiers were killed during an assault on a Taliban hide-out in eastern Afghanistan, Afghan officials said Wednesday. It was the latest of several clashes to take a heavy toll on the security forces as American combat forces leave the country. Pakistan army says Indian fire wounds 4 in Kashmir (Associated Press) Indian forces fired into the Pakistan-administered portion of the disputed Himalayan region of Kashmir, wounding four children, Pakistan's military said Wednesday, a sign of increasing tensions between two nuclear-armed rivals. MIDDLE EASTEgypt, UAE hold another joint exercise(IHS Jane's 360) In a reflection of the ever-closer defence ties between Egypt and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the two countries are holding their third military exercise in eight months. Kuwaiti Official: Gulf States Plan Joint Naval Force (Defense News) Arab states in the Gulf plan to launch a joint naval force, a top Kuwaiti defense official said on Wednesday, in a bid to protect waters shared with neighboring Iran. US drone strike kills AQAP commander in Shabwa (Long War Journal) Local officials in Yemen's southern Shabwa province reported that an American drone strike killed four al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) fighters today including a local emir. Today's strike is the first reported in Yemen in nearly three weeks. Saudi Arabia court sentences popular Shia cleric to death (Al Jazeera) A Saudi court sentenced prominent Shia cleric Nimr al-Nimr to death Wednesday, sparking fears of renewed unrest from his supporters in Saudi Arabia's troubled east and neighboring Bahrain. Bahrain activist detained for seven days: lawyer (Reuters) Bahraini authorities have ordered pro-democracy activist Zainab al-Khawaja to be detained for questioning for seven days after a judge accused her of insulting King Hamad by tearing up his picture, her lawyer said on Wednesday. U.S., E.U. hold grueling talks with Iran about its nuclear program (Washington Post) A grueling day of talks Wednesday between senior American, Iranian and European diplomats produced no breakthrough agreement on curbing Iran's nuclear program, but officials said they still aim to reach a deal by the Nov. 24 deadline. EUROPEUS forces in Europe to rehearse increased force protection(Stars & Stripes) Force protection conditions will be raised Thursday across the U.S. European Command area of operation as part of a planned security rehearsal, EUCOM said in a news release. U.S. sends 'Ironhorse' tanks to NATO's nervous Baltic front line (Reuters) Latvia welcomes U.S. troops and tanks taking part in a cross-Baltic NATO training mission. Deborah Lutterbeck reports. Ukrainian: Mariupol attacks signal trouble ahead (USA Today) Russian-backed separatists continue to fire on Ukrainian government forces and appear to be preparing a new advance on this front-line city near the Russian border, a top commander of the Ukrainian National Guard said Wednesday. ASIA-PACIFICFBI warns industry of Chinese cyber campaign(Washington Post) The FBI on Wednesday issued a private warning to industry that a group of highly skilled Chinese government hackers was in the midst of a long-running campaign to steal valuable data from U.S. companies and government agencies. Video of apparent police beating of Hong Kong protester sparks outrage (Los Angeles Times) A video apparently showing at least six plainclothes Hong Kong police officers dragging a handcuffed pro-democracy protester into a dark corner then kicking and beating him captivated and enraged many in the semi-autonomous Chinese territory on Wednesday. Hong Kong leader ready to talk with protesters (USA Today) Hong Kong's leader is ready to participate in talks with pro-democracy protesters, the city's embattled Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying said Thursday. Indian Su-30 crashes near Pune (IHS Jane's 360) The Indian Air Force (IAF) suffered its sixth crash this year on 14 October when a Sukhoi Su-30MKI multirole aircraft crashed 20 km from Pune. AFRICAGeneral Escalates Libya Attack(New York Times) A Libyan general who has led a six-month campaign to rid the country of Islamists sharply escalated his attacks on Benghazi on Wednesday, with a concerted ground assault and airstrikes - pledging to give up command if he succeeds. Libyan army backs ex-general in battle with Benghazi Islamists (France 24) Libya's army said Wednesday it had thrown its weight behind renegade former general Khalifa Haftar after his forces launched a new assault to retake the country's second city Benghazi from Islamist militias. Blast in Somali Capital Kills at Least 5 (New York Times) At least 5 people were killed and 10 others were wounded in Mogadishu when a car loaded with explosives blew up outside a popular cafe on Wednesday evening, witnesses said. COMMENTARY AND ANALYSISOffset Strategies and Warfighting Regimes(Shawn Brimley in Beyond Offset) Today's headlines are reinforcing the alarms sounded by defense policymakers and analysts warning of the perils of cuts to the defense budget, the blind meat-axe of sequestration, and the risks to America's global position. From the cancerous spread of the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) to Iran's intransigence on nuclear negotiations, to Russia's invasion of Crimea and eastern Ukraine, to China's slow but steady push into contested areas of the East and South China Seas, the United States seems to be on its heels. A Trail of UN Malfeasance in Afghanistan (Katrin Park in Cicero Magazine) The correspondence between the chief of the U.S. watchdog on Afghanistan reconstruction and the administrator of the UN's development agency over a trust fund, bankrolling the Afghan police force, is an entertaining read. In a series of letters, John Sopko, special inspector general, alleged that the UN agency mismanaged the trust fund, known as LOTFA, allowing the Afghan interior ministry to milk $200 million in "deductions." Since 2002, the trust fund has channeled $3.17 billion in salaries and operating costs. The U.S. has paid $1.2 billion of it. The Fight Goes on in Anbar: ISIL vs the World (Daveed Gartenstein-Ross in War on the Rocks) Over the past week, the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) has been able to build on its previous gains in Iraq's Anbar province. The situation in the province has rapidly deteriorated. At this point, the districts of al-Qa'im, Anah, Hit, Fallujah, and Karmah are all under the control of anti-government forces-which amounts to about 80% of the province. As was the case for last week's report, this new contribution draws heavily on regional Arabic-language reporting to chronicle ISIL's continuing victories in Anbar. What Could US Boots on the Ground Do in Iraq and Syria? (Brian Jenkins in Defense One) "These boots are made for walking, and that's just what they'll do. One of these days these boots are gonna walk all over you." Nancy Sinatra's 1966 hit song, "These Boots Are Made for Walking," became wildly popular with GIs during the Vietnam War, where the lyrics took on a more bellicose meaning. ISIS Has a Bigger Coalition Than We Do (Michael Daly in The Daily Beast) In the '30s, Spain attracted the world's romantic idealists. Now the 'caliphate' is drawing psychopathic losers from countless countries-and they'll risk all to feel like winners. Double Trouble: American Strategic Options Regarding ISIS (Daniel L. Davis in The National Interest) On September 10, President Barak Obama announced that he had ordered the United States military to conduct airstrikes against the Islamic State (known as ISIS and ISIL). He said, "Our objective is clear: We will degrade, and ultimately destroy, ISIL through a comprehensive and sustained counterterrorism strategy... That means I will not hesitate to take action against ISIL in Syria, as well as Iraq." Many well-known former US officials, both Democrat and Republican, were quick to share their opinions regarding how the President's plan might be adjusted to ensure success. The recommendations offered by a number of these senior officials, however, exposes a troubling lack of understanding of critical on-the-ground fundamentals and an almost disregard for a decade's worth of physical evidence. If this advice were to be acted upon in the future, the current bad situation could deteriorate into disaster. Obama, Not Bush, Is the Master of Unilateral War (Jack Goldsmith and Matthew Waxman in The New Republic) Late in the summer of 2013, President Barack Obama pulled back from his announced plans to use unilateral military force against Syria and stated that he would instead seek Congress's approval. "I believe our democracy is stronger when the president acts with the support of Congress," and "America acts more effectively abroad when we stand together," he said. "This is especially true after a decade that put more and more war-making power in the hands of the president ... while sidelining the people's representatives from the critical decisions about when we use force." Stop Saying the Pentagon Can't Pay for Our Wars (Ethan Rosenkranz , Erica Fein and Stephen Miles in Defense One) Recent flare-ups around the world have Washington politicians and their sympathizers predictably sounding the alarm bells over sequestration and calling for an increase in the Pentagon's budget. Dire warnings by credible and powerful voices deserve to be taken seriously. Yet, a closer look reveals that the Pentagon has plenty of money sitting around with which to fund new contingencies. Column: Wait 'Til Next Year (John T. Bennett in Defense News) Just wait. This year was disappointing. But next year is going to be the year. Opinion: Helping VA do better (Former U.S. Sen. Bill Frist, R-Tenn., in Military Times) In his second inaugural address, President Lincoln articulated a clear principle to guide our nation's commitment to military veterans. The goal, he said, should be "to care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow and his orphan." Troops Need To Start Job Hunting Before They Leave the Military (James Schmeling and Nicholas Armstrong in Defense One) When it comes to veterans' employment, it is time to do more than asking companies to step up and hire. It is time for senior military leaders to start telling service members they need to get serious about their job searches before leaving the military. According to two recent studies, nearly half of veterans stayed in their first post-separation position for 12 months or less (and two-thirds for two years or less) and eight in 10 veterans did not have a job when they left the military. The Air Force's Terrifying Replacement for Cluster Bombs (James Drew in Real Clear Defense) The U.S. Air Force is developing a terrifying new weapon to replace cluster bombs. Psychology and Basic Combat Training (Army Lt. Col. Robert G. Dixon in Small Wars Journal) As long as there have been armies, there has been a need to train the men and women that occupy their ranks. For thousands of years, a special class of warriors has endeavored to impart the tools and skills of combat to new members of their formations. Combat instructor is one of the few professions that has as its output the survival of its students and the societies they represent. Small Drones: The IEDs of the Next War (Daniel Goure in Real Clear Defense) In the next insurgency, U.S. and coalition forces could find themselves facing a new equally dangerous and disruptive threat: unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), often called drones. I am not referring to the large, high-flying, long-range and sophisticated unpiloted aerial vehicles such as the U.S. Reaper or Global Hawk or the Israeli Heron. Rather, I am speaking of relatively small and very simple drones that would fly low, have limited range and carry a payload measured in pounds. | |||||
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