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, 1 Oct 2014 04:42:14 -0600
COMPILED BY THE EDITORS OF DEFENSE NEWS & MILITARY TIMES
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TODAY'S TOP 51. First U.S. case of Ebola diagnosed in Texas after man who came from Liberia falls ill(Washington Post) A man who flew from Liberia to Dallas this month was diagnosed with Ebola on Tuesday, becoming the first person to board a passenger jet and unknowingly bring the disease here from West Africa, where it has killed thousands of people in recent months. 2. White House Stands by Dempsey After McCain Questions General's 'Credibility' (Defense News) US President Barack Obama is standing by his top military adviser amid sharp criticism from a prominent Republican senator. 3. We Don't Need And Won't Find Moderates to Defeat ISIL (Jonathan Lord in War on the Rocks) Who exactly is this Syrian opposition we are assisting and why? 4. Study finds troops aren't ready for civilian life (San Antonio Express-News) A new study released Tuesday says half of U.S. troops return to civilian life with untreated mental and physical illnesses, and one in every 10 has thought of suicide or planned to take their lives. 5. The Pentagon's Special War Funding Account Isn't Going Away (DefenseOne) The Pentagon will likely keep using a war spending account that is not subject to federal budget caps for the foreseeable future, but with some new strings attached, Deputy Defense Secretary Robert Work said Tuesday. EBOLAU.S. troops head to Africa for Ebola mission(Military Times) About 1,400 soldiers will head to Liberia in October to help support the fight against the Ebola virus that is spreading across West Africa, a Pentagon official said Tuesday. Stay Calm and Carry On: Why it's nearly impossible for Ebola to spread in the US (Quartz) Well, it finally happened: The US just got its first case of Ebola. Health officials have confirmed that a man recently admitted to a Dallas hospital has come down with the deadly virus, which has already killed more than 3,000 people in West Africa. The patient was admitted based on both symptoms and "travel history"-presumably he had been in West Africa-and is now being held in "strict isolation," say officials. US Ebola labs, health equipment arrive in Liberia (Associated Press) American mobile Ebola labs should be up and running in Liberia this week, and U.S. troops have broken ground for a field hospital, as the international community races to increase the ability to care for the spiraling number of people infected with the disease. Ebola Outbreak in Nigeria Appears to Be Contained (New York Times) With quick and coordinated action by some of its top doctors, Nigeria, Africa's most populous country, appears to have contained its first Ebola outbreak, the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Tuesday. African children orphaned by Ebola shunned, face death, UNICEF says (Fox News) Thousands of African children who have lost parents to Ebola are facing a "potential death sentence" as they are at risk of being shunned from society, UNICEF says. Ebola-stricken Liberia is descending into economic hell (Washington Post) Liberia, the West African nation hardest it by Ebola, has begun a frightening descent into economic hell. ISLAMIC STATECalls for brass to resign add to debate over Mideast policy(Military Times) Recent calls for the Pentagon's top brass to resign in protest of President Obama's policy toward Iraq and Syria may pack a political punch, but they rest on no actual historical precedent. Islamic State Dispersing Compels U.S. to Adapt Airstrikes (Bloomberg) Islamic State terrorists are dispersing and changing tactics to make it harder for U.S. airstrikes to target them, the Pentagon's spokesman said today. WH huddles as ISIS advances toward Turkey (The Hill) President Obama met Tuesday evening with his national security team amid reports that the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) was advancing toward toward the predominantly Kurdish town of Kobani on the border between Turkey and Syria. ISIS closes in on Kurdish town in Syria; Turkey debates sending troops (CNN) Turkish soldiers and tanks took up position along the border with Syria on Tuesday as its government debated whether to deploy troops to battle the Islamic State terror group, a move that comes as tens of thousands pour into the country to escape ISIS fighters. Turkey moves to use force in Syria and Iraq (USA Today) Turkey is moving to reverse its non-intervention stance and approve the use of force in Syria and Iraq to fight radical Islamic State militants who have advanced against cities along the Syrian-Turkish border. Iraq Pilots Mistakenly Gave Food, Ammunition to ISIS Militants (NBC) An investigation was underway Tuesday after Iraqi military pilots mistakenly gave food, water and ammunition to enemy ISIS militants instead of their own soldiers, a senior security official and a brigadier told NBC News. The supplies were supposed to help besieged Iraqi army officers and soldiers who had been fighting Islamist extremists for a week in Saglawyah and the village of Al-Sijar in the country's western province of Anbar. Al Qaeda leader claims key operative in so-called 'Khorasan group' was killed (Long War Journal) A senior al Qaeda leader known as Sanafi al Nasr (a Saudi whose real name is Abdul Mohsin Abdullah Ibrahim Al Sharikh) has claimed on his Twitter feed that Muhsin al Fadhli is now an al Qaeda "martyr." Al Fadhli has been publicly identified by US officials as a key operative in the so-called "Khorasan group," which was dispatched to Syria by al Qaeda's senior leadership. Many Missteps in Assessment of ISIS Threat (New York Times) By late last year, classified American intelligence reports painted an increasingly ominous picture of a growing threat from Sunni extremists in Syria, according to senior intelligence and military officials. Just as worrisome, they said, were reports of deteriorating readiness and morale among troops next door in Iraq. Islamic State ambushes Iraqi military column near Ramadi (Long War Journal) Fighters from the Islamic State in Anbar Province ambushed and destroyed a large Iraqi Army column in a village north of Ramadi. The successful attack occurred despite almost eight weeks of airstrikes by the US military on Islamic State forces throughout Iraq. Britain Carries Out First Air Strikes Against IS In Iraq (Agence France-Presse) British fighter jets on Tuesday bombed an artillery post and an armed truck used by the Islamic State group in Iraq in the Royal Air Force's first strikes in the US-led air campaign. Islamic State photos detail rout of Iraqi Army at Camp Saqlawiya (Long War Journal) The Islamic State released photographs of last week's rout of an Iraqi Army unit in the Saqwaliya area north of Fallujah in Anbar province. More than 300 Iraqi troops are reported to have been killed in the attack. Obama efforts to oust Assad pushed to back burner (Associated Press) By President Barack Obama's own admission, U.S. efforts to oust Syrian President Bashar Assad have been pushed to the back burner by a bombing campaign against Islamic State militants that could ultimately help him stay in power. What's in a Name: Obama's Anonymous War Against ISIS (U.S. News & World Report) The Defense Department is really good at naming stuff. The operations it carries out invariably seize a historical place in textbooks, speeches, and congressional budget requests, and specifically chosen titles can help shape how military action is perceived by enemy forces and the American public. Kurds seize Iraq/Syria border post; Sunni tribe joins fight against Islamic State (Reuters) Iraqi Kurdish troops drove Islamic State fighters from a strategic border crossing with Syria on Tuesday and won the support of members of a major Sunni tribe, in one of the biggest successes since U.S. forces began bombing the Islamists. Iraqi Arabs claim persecution by Kurds (Associated Press) When Sunni militants captured Mosul, Iraq's second largest city, in June, Abu Sara and his family feared their town of Taza, located some 50 kilometers southeast of the city, would inevitably be next. Government soldiers had dropped their weapons and abandoned their posts - forcing residents to fend for themselves. U.S. to greatly expand resettlement for Syrian refugees (Washington Post) The Obama administration will greatly increase the number of Syrian refugees approved for permanent resettlement in the United States next year, but has opted against a separate refugee program to serve victims of that intractable civil war, administration officials said Tuesday. INDUSTRYRaytheon wins $149 million deal to source Iron Dome parts(Reuters) U.S. defense contractor Raytheon Co on Tuesday said it had won a $149 million contract from Israel's Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd to provide key parts for the Tamir interceptor used in the Iron Dome missile defense system. U.S. Army Plans January Decision on Helicopter Deal (Wall Street Journal) The U.S. Army has revised plans to award a contract worth over $800 million to buy helicopters built in the U.S. by an arm of Airbus Group NV. The proposed deal has become a closely watched gauge of the Pentagon's efforts to promote competition. DARPA solicits better X-ray tech (C4ISR & Networks) Better X-ray technology for hunting weapons of mass destruction is the goal of a new DARPA research program. Boeing Delivers First New-Build Chinook for Special Operators (National Defense) The Boeing Co. delivered the first new-build MH-47G Chinook to U.S. Army Special Operations Command during a ceremony on Sept. 29. IPKeys gets DISA task order (C4ISR & Networks) The Defense Information Systems Agency has awarded IPKeys Technologies a task order through DISA's Global Information Grid (GIG) Services Management Engineering, Transition and Implementation contract. US SOCOM orders 7 aircraft, software upgrades, advanced surveillance and targeting turrets; Propeller contract. (Defense Industry Daily) GE Aviation Systems (actually Dowty Propellers) in Sterling, VA receives a sole-source $20.6 million firm-fixed-price contract for 42 C-130J propellers (P/N 69703900) and spare parts. All funds are committed immediately using FY 2012-2014 USAF aircraft budgets, and funds from Foreign Military Sales - but the announcement doesn't identify the foreign customers. Rockwell Collins delivers cryptographic radios (C4ISR & Networks) Rockwell Collins has delivered the first Modernized Type I Cryptographic Airborne radios to the U.S. Navy. Russia preparing legal action over French Mistral halt (IHS Jane's 360) Russia is preparing legal action against France over the country's halt in the delivery of the Mistral-class landing helicopter dock (LHD) Vladivostok , Russian sources have told IHS Jane's . Israel MoD Amasses $800 Million Debt to Industry (Defense News) Israel's MoD owes local industry more than US $800 million for work on Iron Dome, unmanned vehicles and other high-priority systems performed essentially on credit over the past 18 months. Thailand requests additional Lakota helicopters (IHS Jane's 360) Thailand has submitted a request to purchase additional Airbus Helicopter UH-72A light utility helicopters from the United States, the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) announced on 29 September. Interview: Bernard Gray, UK Chief of Defence Materiel (Defense News) Bernard Gray's scorchingly critical 2009 report on Britain's defense procurement performance sparked a chain of events that eventually resulted in the Defence Equipment and Support (DEandS) organization being reformed into a bespoke government trading entity starting in April. Yemen to acquire ScanEagle UAVs (IHS Jane's 360) Yemen is to acquire an Insitu ScanEagle unmanned aircraft system under a USD11 million contract announced by the US Department of Defense (DoD) on 29 September. Danish UAV Builders Make a Play for the Global Market (Defense News) Denmark-based Sky-Watch A/S has become the latest upstart producer of military-application UAVs to emerge from the Nordic region's fast-growing drone sector. Mexico orders additional UH-60M Black Hawk helos (IHS Jane's 360) Sikorsky has been awarded a USD93.3 million contract to build eight "uniquely configured" UH-60M Black Hawk utility helicopters for Mexico, the US Department of Defense (DoD) announced on 29 September. Pentagon upbeat on U.S.-India bid to deepen defense ties (Reuters) A top Pentagon official said on Tuesday he had "high expectations" for a joint U.S.-Indian effort to deepen defense ties, but it could take a while to reach agreement on specific weapons to develop or produce together. India develops long-edurance UAV (C4ISR & Networks) Indian scientists say they have developed the country's first low-altitude, long-endurance UAV. VETERANSVA red tape forcing veteran's family to live in tent(KOMO TV; Seattle) A military veteran and his family are having a hard time breaking through the red tape of Veterans Affairs. Houston VA worker accused of falsifying claims (Houston Chronicle) A Houston Veterans Affairs employee falsified documents affecting the claims of more than 100 veterans, according to a report published Tuesday by the Inspector General of the Veterans Affairs Administration. Another whistleblower in Augusta files VA complaint (Augusta Chronicle; Ga.) A whistleblower from the Augusta area has filed a retaliation complaint against the Department of Veterans Affairs over management in North Carolina allegedly using "ongoing human resources irregularities" to punish her for reporting understaffing concerns. Veteran's lifesaving procedure suddenly canceled (WSB-TV; Atlanta) A Navy veteran in need of a life-saving transplant says she found out 24 hours before she was supposed to begin treatment, that the VA won't cover the $350,000 procedure in Georgia. CBS46 Investigates: Veterans in debt after state agency approved questionable school (WGCL-TV; Atlanta) Navy veteran Ryan Grant expected getting an education on the GI Bill would prepare him for the future. He never anticipated it would leave him, his wife and children homeless. Rep. Coffman calls on VA to take swift action against Susan Taylor (Federal News Radio) Rep. Mike Coffman (R-Colo.), the chairman of the Veterans Affairs subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, is pressing VA Secretary Bob McDonald to live up to his word and deal with wrongdoers swiftly. Kin: Confederate's gravestone in Elmira has wrong name (Elmira Star-Gazette; N.Y.) The gravestone of a Confederate soldier who died at Elmira's Civil War prison camp has the wrong name on it, according to his great-great-grandson. JBLM aiming to give Vietnam veterans the homecoming they deserved 50 years ago (Tacoma News Tribune) Curtis Thompson was on his own when he came back from the Vietnam War. The Army handed him a plane ticket, wished him well and sent him on to Seattle. CONGRESSSenator: POV moving company's problems linger(Military Times) The chairwoman of the Senate Budget Committee wants military officials to consider dumping a defense contractor responsible for moving troops' personal vehicles to and from overseas bases when they move on reassignment orders, citing significant delays and problems with the process. Rep. Paul Ryan: Stay 'Medium' in Working With Obama on Fiscal Deal (Defense News) Go big or go home? Not so fast, says a key US House lawmaker. He wants, as former Washington Redskins coach Jim Zorn once advised, to just "stay medium" in pursuit of a sequester-addressing fiscal deal. Dem: Critics trying to 'stoke a conflict' between Obama, intel officials (The Hill) Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) on Tuesday defended President Obama from critics who say the commander in chief is trying to shift blame to the intelligence community for the rise of the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS). Liberal doves run as war hawks (Politico) Democrat Kay Hagan didn't mince words about the Iraq War during her 2008 Senate campaign against Republican Elizabeth Dole. DEFENSE DEPARTMENTED cases among troops double since 2004(Military Times) Erectile dysfunction diagnoses have skyrocketed in the U.S. military in the past decade, with the rate among troops more than doubling from 2004 to 2013. Tab for trucks Pentagon doesn't need could top $100M (USA Today) The Army and Marine Corps may have wasted more than $100 million returning vehicles from Afghanistan that they don't need over just a one-year period, according to a Government Accountability Office report released Tuesday. DoD Steps Forward To Credible Audits (Breaking Defense) For decades, critics have rightly nailed the Pentagon for the fact it doesn't know how much money it's spending or where that money really goes. Pressure has grown and grown for the Pentagon to prove it is worthy of the money taxpayers grant it by producing books an accountant can comb through and produce a proper audit to exacting government standards. Pentagon to toughen background checks for daycare centers (The Hill) Military child care providers would face more rigorous criminal background checks under new rules from the Department of Defense that could cost millions of dollars to implement. Pentagon's 'Combat Cloud' Concept Taking Shape (Aviation Week) The Pentagon has been bitten by the Steve Jobs bug. Obama goal of Gitmo closure stalled at Pentagon (Associated Press) The transfer of prisoners out of Guantanamo Bay has ground to a halt amid a slow Pentagon approval process, causing deep frustration within the administration and raising doubts that President Barack Obama will be able to fulfill his campaign promise to close the offshore prison for terrorism suspects. DISA's storefront to roll out this fall (C4ISR & Networks) What if the military services and agencies had the ability to order their IT services a la carte, as though shopping for household goods on Amazon.com? That's the ultimate goal of the Defense Information Systems Agency's storefront capability, expected to begin rolling out this fall. ARMYHackers charged with stealing Apache training software(Army Times) Two members of what the Justice Department calls an "international computer hacking ring" pleaded guilty to charges related to the theft of $100 million in intellectual property - including software used to train Apache helicopter pilots. Soldier will face charges for alleged cover-up of Iraqi deaths (Tacoma News Tribune) An Army paratrooper will not face murder charges in the shooting of two young Iraqis seven years ago, but still could go to jail for his alleged attempts to squash investigations into the killings. Army intel bucks Homeland, warns anew of possible Islamic State attack on U.S. soil (Washington Times) While the Department of Homeland Security downplays possible U.S. threats from the Islamic State, Army intelligence has issued its own warning to military personnel about the possibility of an attack against them on U.S. soil. Garuda Shield: Apaches take center stage in US-Indonesia exercise (Stars & Stripes) This year's Garuda Shield exercise in Indonesia has included large doses of jungle-training tactics and integrating Stryker operations from two armies. NAVYBoxer CO fired after short stint in charge(Navy Times) Capt. Wayne Brown's big deck command tour was short-lived. Carl Vinson nears Persian Gulf, will relieve Bush group (Stars & Stripes) The aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson is headed to the Persian Gulf to conduct air operations against militants in Iraq and Syria, the Navy's top official said Tuesday. Mabus: Review of women joining SEALs on track (Navy Times) A U.S. Special Operations Command report on integrating women into the elite Navy SEAL community was due back in July, but officials aren't able to confirm whether it's been completed or when leadership will be briefed. Still, the the service is on track to make a final decision about admitting women to the teams by 2016, said the service's top civilian. And it's an effort he supports. Carrier Roosevelt sailors assist with rescue off Fla. (Virginian-Pilot) Sailors aboard the carrier Theodore Roosevelt assisted another Navy vessel with the rescue of two fishermen about 90 miles off the Florida coast Monday. Fake Army Ranger who comforted SEAL's family pleads guilty to gun charge (Houston Chronicle) A Conroe man who authorities said passed himself off as an Army Ranger to get closer to the inner circle of ex-Navy SEAL Marcus Luttrell - the storied war hero portrayed in the book and movie "Lone Survivor" - pleaded guilty Monday to being a felon in possession of a firearm. 300 restricted for nuke training lapses at naval shipyard (Virginian-Pilot) About 300 employees at Norfolk Naval Shipyard have been placed on restricted duty after officials there discovered that the workers had been given credit for nuclear training that they had not actually attended. Bridge dedicated to fallen Navy SEAL from Edgewater (Capital Gazette; Annapolis, Md.) Patrick Feeks was a storyteller. AIR FORCEVice chief to airmen: How do we cut costs?(Air Force Times) Vice Chief of Staff Gen. Larry Spencer has collected thousands of suggestions from airmen about how to cut costs Air Force-wide and at the unit level - some were so good that the Air Force has already adopted them. Massachusetts pilot to be buried at Air Force Academy (Colorado Springs Gazette) A Massachusetts Air National Guard pilot who was killed in the crash of an F-15C fighter jet will be buried at the Air Force Academy in Colorado. Air Force Keeps Pilots Alive with iPlane Upgrade (Time) Have you downloaded the newest iOS 8 operating system to your iPhone recently? The Air Force is doing the same kind of thing to its F-16 fighters. In fact, its new M6.2+ Operational Flight Program gives those fighter pilots an especially nifty new feature: it keeps them from flying into the ground and killing themselves. How an Eisenhower-era jet refuels an F-22 (Stars & Stripes) The F-22 Raptor may be the most technologically sophisticated fighter plane ever to serve in combat. But when it gets thirsty, it relies on a plane that has been doing its job since the Eisenhower administration. MARINE CORPS5th Marine Regiment will lead new crisis response unit in Middle East(Marine Corps Times) The Marines' new crisis response unit in U.S. Central Command will reach initial operating capability tomorrow with Camp Pendleton's 5th Marine Regiment as its headquarters element, military officials said today. Detained U.S. Marine vet's mental health evaluated (San Diego Union-Tribune) A federal judge in Tijuana is expected to receive reports this week on the mental state of Andrew Tahmooressi, a U.S. Marine veteran behind bars since he drove into Mexico with firearms and ammunition on March 31. Marine museum plans major expansion (The Free Lance-Star; Fredericksburg, Va.) The National Museum of the Marine Corps announced plans Tuesday for an expansion that will nearly double the size of the facility. Marines establish three new staging locations in West Africa (Marine Corps Times) The Corps has established three new staging outposts in Senegal, Ghana and Gabon that will help Marines respond to crises in Africa more quickly. Ex-Marine lawyer gets top job overseeing Guantanamo war court (Miami Herald) The Pentagon disclosed Tuesday that it had installed a recently retired Marine lawyer to run the war court at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. COAST GUARDFormer Coast Guard Commandant: U.S. and Russia Working Together In Arctic(USNI News) The former commandant of the Coast Guard said that while "we work with Russia now" on fisheries agreements and more, "we really need them for the [Arctic Council] to be effective" in ensuring safe economic development, mitigating climate change, and assisting those living in the region. Coast Guard acting on sexual assault complaints (The Day; New London, Conn.) The U.S. Coast Guard Sexual Assault Prevention Council says in a recent report that it is taking steps to better respond to sexual assault complaints, the number of which more than doubled from 2010 to 2012. AFGHANISTAN/PAKISTANAmerica's Longest War Could Get Even Longer(Foreign Policy) Senior Afghan and Pakistani officials, as well as Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, are urging Barack Obama's administration to reconsider withdrawing U.S. troops from Afghanistan, pointing to the chaos and violence in Iraq and warning that Afghanistan could suffer a similar fate if all the Americans go home by 2016, as planned. Afghan pact signed amid questions on Iraq pullout (Associated Press) After lengthy delays, U.S. and Afghan officials signed a security pact Tuesday to keep American troops in Afghanistan beyond year's end, aiming to prevent the country from descending into the kind of chaos that has plagued Iraq following the Pentagon's withdrawal. Taliban condemns BSA conclusion, vows to continue fighting (Khaama Press) The Taliban militants group in Afghanistan condemned the conclusion of the Bilateral Security Agreement (BSA) between Kabul and Washington. UK deploys Watchkeeper UAV to Afghanistan (IHS Jane's 360) The first operational flight of the Thales WK450 Watchkeeper tactical unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) has taken place in Afghanistan only three months before UK forces are due to withdraw from the Southwest Asian country. 2 suicide bomber attacks in Kabul kill 7, wound 21 (Associated Press) Two suicide bombers in the Afghan capital targeted two buses carrying Afghan army troops on Wednesday, killing seven and wounding 21 people, police said. MIDDLE EASTThe Case Against Qatar(Foreign Policy) The tiny, gas-rich emirate has pumped tens of millions of dollars through obscure funding networks to hard-line Syrian rebels and extremist Salafists, building a foreign policy that punches above its weight. After years of acquiescing -- even taking advantage of its ally's meddling -- Washington may finally be punching back. Indian company says it will build new Omani airbase (IHS Jane's 360) The Indian company Larsen and Toubro (LandT) announced on 18 September that it had been awarded a contract by the Omani Ministry of Defence to build the new airbase, but provided no further details. Kuwait, Fighting Dissent From Within, Revokes Citizenship (New York Times) Moving to grind out political dissent at home while the world's attention is focused on fighting militant extremists in Iraq and Syria, the government of Kuwait is increasingly wielding a penalty that was once rare here: revoking citizenship. Israelis Rethink Life Along Gaza Border After War (Wall Street Journal) The mortar shell hit the roof of the Tragerman family home in the last days of fighting between Israel and Hamas. Their cars were already packed to flee, but it was too late for their 4-year-old son Daniel who lay on the floor dead. EUROPEItaly's Air Force Restructures Special Ops Brigade(Defense News) Through a shake-up of its bases, the Italian Air Force is streamlining its special operations and rescue operations, trimming costs as new aircraft come into service, and reflecting what officials describe as a shift in the type of mission they are handling in the 21st century. Spain to increase defence spending (IHS Jane's 360) Spain's headline defence budget is set to rise in 2015, for first time in seven years, by 1% to EUR5.71 billion (USD7.2 billion). Ukraine Forces Repel Two Fresh Assaults on Donetsk's Airport (Wall Street Journal) Ukrainian forces repelled two fresh assaults by pro-Russia rebels on the airport in the eastern city of Donetsk on Tuesday, a military spokesman said, as fighting for the strategic site showed no sign of ending despite a cease-fire signed nearly a month ago. Bulgaria buys more Textron Commando 4x4s (IHS Jane's 360) Bulgaria has ordered additional Textron Systems Commando Select 4x4 wheeled armoured vehicles, it has been revealed. Balkans launch fight against jihadist recruitment (Agence France-Presse) With the world on high alert over foreign fighters joining jihadist ranks in Syria and Iraq, Balkan states are launching efforts to clamp down on recruiting in their region, considered fertile ground by Islamists. ASIA-PACIFICTop DoD Official: US Will 'Respond' if Japan-China Dispute Escalates(Defense News) The US will respond with military force if allies in the Pacific region are threatened, Deputy Defense Secretary Robert Work said on Tuesday in response to questions about Japan's dispute with China over the Senkaku Islands. Chinese Submarine Headed to Gulf of Aden For Counter Piracy Operations (USNI News) China has sent a submarine to the Gulf of Aden to help in counter piracy operations - a first for the People's Liberation Army Navy's (PLAN) submarine fleet, according to the Chinese Ministry of National Defense. In a press briefing last week, ministry spokesman Col. Geng Yansheng confirmed a PLAN submarine was headed off the coast of Somalia to join a Chinese task force effort to piracy in the region. China facing growing U.S. pressure over Hong Kong protests (Reuters) China is facing growing U.S. pressure to show restraint during mass pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong, with the issue to be raised in high-level bilateral talks, and a prominent U.S. lawmaker has expressed "grave concerns" over the troubles. Holiday turnout for Hong Kong protests could sway future of democracy protests (Washington Post) On the eve of what could be the biggest turnout yet in Hong Kong's continuing protests, and a crucial test of wills on both sides, a demonstration that began with physical confrontation between authorities and pro-democracy demonstrators shifted Tuesday into a public relations duel aimed at the mass of undecided residents here. COMMENTARY AND ANALYSISA renewed U.S.-India partnership for the 21st century(Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and U.S. President Barack Obama in The Washington Post) As nations committed to democracy, liberty, diversity and enterprise, India and the United States are bound by common values and mutual interests. We have each shaped the positive trajectory of human history, and through our joint efforts, our natural and unique partnership can help shape international security and peace for years to come. The Pivot to India (Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., in Foreign Policy) The May election of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has transformational potential. Indians are hungry for bold change, and they gave a once-in-a-generation mandate to a leader eager to deliver it. This change is already extending to India's foreign policy, including the strategic partnership between our countries. How to take full advantage of this unique moment will be the key question when Modi meets with President Barack Obama this week in Washington. Obama's Pass-the-Buck Presidency (Josh Kraushaar in National Journal) In attempting to downplay the political damage from a slew of second-term controversies, President Obama has counted on the American people having a very short memory span and a healthy suspension of disbelief. The time-tested strategy for Obama: Claim he's in the dark about his own administration's activities, blame the mess on subordinates, and hope that with the passage of time, all will be forgotten. Harry Truman, the president isn't. He's more likely to pass the buck. Dana Milbank: For a grievously wounded soldier, a better side of America (Dana Milbank in The Washington Post) In the first days of the Iraq war 11 years ago, Army reservist Jay Briseno was shot in the back of the head at a Baghdad market. The bullet left him blind, brain-damaged, paralyzed from the neck down and unable to communicate, eat or breathe on his own. There is a military solution for everything (Robert Caruso in The Hill) We are at war with extremism. It is a long war, and will continue well past my 50th birthday. The debate centered around the efficacy of force and cries for transparency into how it is used invariably create more problems than they solve. Going forward, it will be necessary to be far more secretive about the scope, location and duration of coalition actions throughout the region. The enemy gets a vote, but our objective should be to ensure he votes "not present." What Truman's Israel Policy Can Teach Obama About ISIL (James Fromson in War on the Rocks) In early 1948, Harry Truman's policy of support for the partition of Palestine - and thereby the creation of the state of Israel - appeared dead in the water. As an Israeli defeat at the hands of joint Arab forces seemed inevitable, State Department Arabists - with CIA and the Department of Defense in tow - seized the moment to scuttle the president's policy. For ISIS, Slaughter Is an End in Itself (Roger Cohen in The New York Times) In a famous passage from "Survival in Auschwitz," Primo Levi relates an incident upon arrival in the Nazi death camp that captures the intersection of the human with the inhuman. He and other Italian prisoners have been held in a shed as they await their fate. Levi looks around in search of some means to quench his thirst: Which Deaths Matter? (Jacoba Urist in The Atlantic) The past several months have been scarred by international crisis and turmoil, from strife in Gaza to the downing of Flight MH17 and the gruesome murders of the American journalists James Foley and Steven Sotloff. Why China doesn't feel the need to back down in Hong Kong (Gwynn Guilford in Quartz) Tear gas versus umbrellas-it's a pretty unfair fight. But alas, the Hong Kong police's crackdown on pro-democracy protesters over the last few days reflects a larger power imbalance between Hong Kong and its Communist Party overlords. Al Shabab's Internal Split (Murithi Mutiga in The New York Times) At ceremonies here to mark the first anniversary of the shooting rampage at the Westgate Mall by four Al Shabab gunmen that left 67 people dead, Sgt. Godfrey Emojong offered a remarkable tale of survival. He was one of the first policemen to arrive at the scene that Sept. 21, one of the lightly armed officers who believed they were responding to a robbery. | |||||
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