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, 15 Oct 2014 05:01:32 -0600
COMPILED BY THE EDITORS OF DEFENSE NEWS & MILITARY TIMES
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TODAY'S TOP 51. WHO Sees Ebola Cases as High as 10,000 a Week in West Africa by Dec. 1(Bloomberg) The number of new Ebola cases in three West African nations may jump to between 5,000 and 10,000 a week by Dec. 1 as the deadly viral infection spreads, the World Health Organization said. 2. The Amos legacy: How the first aviator commandant will be remembered (Marine Corps Times) As Gen. Jim Amos neared the start of his final year leading the Marine Corps, his staff at the Pentagon asked a select group of senior officers for suggestions on how he and the service could improve. 3. Obama Is Working With the Wrong Partners in Iraq (Bing West in Defense One) By overreaching, America lost the first two wars in the 21st Century. In invading Afghanistan and Iraq, President George W. Bush set as the end goal the creation of two democracies. The U.S. military heartily agreed, creating a counterinsurgency doctrine that declared, "Soldiers and Marines are nation-builders as well as warriors." The primary purpose of military operations-boots on the ground-was not to destroy the insurgents or to train an indigenous army. Our troops were meant to protect and to persuade Iraqis and Afghans to support their new governments. The people were not the prize at war's end; instead, they were the means of winning the war. 4. These Web Sites Are Tracking the Spread of Ebola (NextGov) Clinicians, governments and humanitarian organizations fighting the Ebola virus can tap into online resources that range from clinical guidelines for health care workers to websites that crunch, map and display data on the spread of the disease in West Africa. 5. The Secret Casualties of Iraq's Abandoned Chemical Weapons (New York Times) The Pentagon kept silent as munitions left over from Saddam Hussein's war with Iran found new targets from 2004 to 2011: American and Iraqi troops. ISLAMIC STATECoalition defense officials meet to discuss Islamic State(Military Times) The top brass from 22 nations allied to fight Islamic State militants convened face to face for the first time Tuesday just outside Washington, D.C., but the historic meeting resulted in no major announcements about the American-led war in Iraq and Syria. Military chiefs: ISIL has 'tactical momentum' (Politico) The terrorists of the Islamic State have "tactical momentum on several fronts," but the U.S. and its allies believe they have "strategic momentum," the nations' defense chiefs agreed Tuesday. Serious disagreements remain in U.S.-led coalition battling the Islamic State (Washington Post) Two months after the start of its campaign against the Islamic State, the U.S.-led coalition conducting operations in Iraq and Syria has expanded significantly but remains beset by lingering strategic differences that threaten to undermine the fight. Ex-Fort Bliss commander Maj. Gen. Pittard to leave Iraq (El Paso Times) Former Fort Bliss and 1st Armored Division commander Maj. Gen. Dana J.H. Pittard will soon be leaving Iraq, where he has headed up an important U.S. mission this summer. Rights group: Iraq Shiite militias killing Sunnis (Associated Press) Iraq's Shiite militias have abducted and killed scores of Sunni civilians with the tacit support of the government in retaliation for Islamic State group attacks, Amnesty International said Tuesday, as a suicide car bombing claimed by the Sunni extremists killed 23 people, including a Shiite lawmaker. Turkish Airstrike Hits Kurds, Complicating Fight Against Islamic State (New York Times) In the face of increasing international pressure, Turkey took decisive military action on Monday - not against the Islamic State militants that Turkey's Western allies have urged it to fight, but rather against the Kurdish militant group that has been battling the Islamic State. Obama's long-term strategy against ISIS could hurt Dems in short term (The Hill) The White House on Tuesday defended President Obama's strategy for combating the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS), even as the terror network racks up substantial tactical gains and a top Pentagon official has conceded he is only "somewhat" confident Iraqi forces can hold Baghdad. Pentagon to release secret codename of anti-ISIS operation (CNN) The military operation against ISIS now does have a name but the Pentagon is not expected to reveal it until later this week, a U.S. official confirms to CNN. The name will not be made public until a formal 'execution order' covering the entire mission against ISIS is published by the Defense Department's Joint Staff perhaps as soon as Wednesday, General: Mexican army 'never mentioned anything to me about ISIL' (San Antonio Express-News) A San Antonio-based commander said Tuesday that his military counterparts in the Mexican army have never said any thing to him about ISIL terrorists operating near the Rio Grande. Iran's Message to World: You Need Us to Fight Islamists (Bloomberg) In the fight against Islamic extremists, the commander of Iran's secretive special forces is turning into an unlikely celebrity. Islamic State publication seeks to justify slavery and sexual abuse (Los Angeles Times) In the latest edition of an English-language magazine published by Islamic State, the militants justify forcing ethnic Yazidi women into sexual slavery - a practice they say is encouraged under Islamic law. ISIS calls for targeting of police, media (CNN) FBI reports that ISIS chatter on the Internet is increasingly calling for the targeting of media and police officers. Panetta on Islamic State: 'We are engaged in a war' (Military Times) President Obama's meeting with military leaders from 22 countries Tuesday to coordinate strategies to counter the Islamic State, or ISIS, is an important first step in developing a "strong, coordinated operation," former Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said. Johnson: No Credible Intelligence ISIL Planning Biological Attacks Against Homeland (National Defense) The Islamic State, also known as ISIL, has made threats against the United States and its western allies, but there is no credible evidence that it is planning a biological attack, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson said Oct. 14. AUSAAt conference, Odierno describes an Army busier and more far-flung(Army Times) At his final AUSA conference as Army chief of staff, Gen. Raymond Odierno called on the Army to be ready for an era when the "velocity of instability is ever increasing around the world," and that time is now. Army Explores Its Armored Vehicle Options (Defense News) Nearly a year after the US Army canceled the Ground Combat Vehicle, officials defended the program as on-budget and called the decision to scuttle it a pragmatic move to improve further-along armored vehicle programs with available money. AUSA: New electronic warfare tool will aid planning (C4ISR & Networks) A web-based software solution is under development that will allow a maneuver commander to better understand the threats and opportunities in his electromagnetic environment. Army's Materiel Command Chief: Science and Tech Funding Key to Technical Edge (Defense News) There are few sacred cows left in the world of Army acquisition, as the service showed earlier this year in slashing the Ground Combat Vehicle from its list of development programs, even after chief of staff Gen. Ray Odierno repeatedly extolled the platform as a must-have capability to replace the Bradley Fighting Vehicle. Army to test new jungle, cold-weather gear (Army Times) The US Army will launch two extensive gear tests in the coming months in two very different locales: the humid tropics of Hawaii and the harsh Alaskan landscape. AUSA: Warrior HWH improves battlefield vision (C4ISR & Networks) A new infrared scope promises to allow imaging through dust, smoke or haze that would degrade some other viewers. ARCIC Chief Outlines Modernization Goals (Defense News) A super-lethal "firefight-ending capability" is among the Army modernization priorities set out in the service's new operating concept, according to Lt. Gen. H.R. McMaster, who runs the Army Capabilities Integration Center (ARCIC) and is chief of "futures" for Training and Doctrine Command. Odierno: Soldier's professional ethic is 24/7 (Army Times) The profession of being a soldier means you are a professional every hour, all the time, said the Army's top officer in a panel discussion Monday. Those who can't enforce the changing norms within the Army should leave, he said. Army Wrestles With Talent Amid Cyber Force Buildup (Defense News) As the US Army assembles a 6,000-person-strong cyber mission force in the next two years, officials are trying to determine the best way to attract, organize and maintain the cyber talent required to secure Defense Department networks. AUSA: Army targets adaptability in new operating concept (C4ISR & Networks) The Army's newly released Army Operating Concept (AOC), unveiled Oct. 13 at the annual AUSA conference in Washington, aims to provide a "vision of future armed conflict" and reinvent the force in the face of a changing world. A critical part of that future force is adaptability, according to top Army officials. Army codifying service ethic in single document (Army Times) The Army is putting into action what it means to be a profession and a professional, officials said Tuesday during the Association of the United States Army annual meeting. AUSA: Army, DHS leaders seek closer partnership (C4ISR & Networks) As threats from Ebola and the Islamic State group become global and more complex, the Army and the Department of Homeland Security must work closer together to provide security and respond to problems, senior leaders said. INDUSTRYPentagon Announces Contract Agreement with Pratt for F-35 Engines, Modifications(Defense News) The F-35 joint program office (JPO) announced Tuesday evening that it has reached an agreement with engine manufacturer Pratt & Whitney on two key milestones -- identifying the root cause of an engine issue that caused a fire in June, and on a contract for the next lot of engines for the stealthy fighter. Pratt and Whitney signs deal with Pentagon for next F-35 engines (Reuters) The Pentagon on Tuesday said it had finalized a contract with Pratt and Whitney, a unit of United Technologies Corp (UTX.N), for a seventh batch of F135 engines for the Lockheed Martin Corp (LMT.N) F-35 fighter jet, and the company had agreed to pay to fix an engine issue that grounded the F-35 fleet this summer. Sikorsky, Boeing Expect To Fly JMR Demonstrator in '17 (Defense News) The SB-1 Defiant, being developed by Boeing and Sikorsky for the Army's Joint Multi-Role (JMR) program, is on track for first flight in fiscal 2017, executives for the companies said Tuesday. Army Sees Rising Global Demand for Helicopters, Missiles (DoDBuzz) The U.S. Army had a record year for foreign military sales, with rising demand in the Middle East and elsewhere for such weapons systems as Apache attack helicopters, as well as Patriot and Javelin missiles, a top general said. GE Conducts Sand Testing for ITEP Program (Defense News) GE Aviation is turning to sand testing for its next-generation engine program that it hopes one day will power the Army's fleet of Black Hawk and Apache helicopters. Army Will Buy More Strykers with Double V-Hulls (DoDBuzz) The U.S. Army is outfitting another one of its Stryker Brigade Combat Team with Double V-Hull vehicles to better protect them from enemy bombs. ATEC Successfully Tests Second ITEP Engine (Defense News) The Advanced Turbine Engine Company (ATEC) has successfully completed a second test of its HPW3000 engine, its offering for the Army's Improved Turbine Engine Program (ITEP) program. NAVSEA selects Textron for LCS Unmanned Influence Sweep System (IHS Jane's 360) Textron Systems has won out in the competition to develop a new unmanned surface vehicle (USV)-based influence minesweeping system for the US Navy to equip the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) mine countermeasures (MCM) Mission Package. 3DELRR Illustrates New Export Reality (Defense News) When the US Air Force selected Raytheon to produce its next-generation expeditionary radar system last week, it represented a big win for the Massachusetts-based company. But it was also a milestone for the Pentagon. Finmeccanica wins 400 million euro helicopter deal with China's Baic (Reuters) Italian defence conglomerate Finmeccanica (SIFI.MI) said on Tuesday it has won a 400 million euro ($505 million) contract to sell 50 helicopters to China's Beijing Automotive Industrial Corporation. Airbus CEO Deepens Critique of German Arms Policy (Wall Street Journal) Airbus Group EADSY +1.16% NV Chief Executive Tom Enders on Tuesday sharpened his criticism of the German government's armaments policy amid a debate in the country over the future of defense equipment plans. Russia: No Formal Refusal From France On Two Ship Mistral Deal (USNI News) Despite strong language from the French President Francois Hollande, Russia has not received formal notification from France suspending or cancelling the $1.53 billion deal for two Mistral-class amphibious warship deal, Russian officials said on Tuesday. Latest GQM-163 SSST contract includes first sale to Japan (IHS Jane's 360) Orbital Sciences has received a USD27.7 million contract from the US Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) for an eighth Full Rate Production (FRP-8) lot of GQM-163A Coyote Supersonic Sea Skimming Target (SSST) vehicles. Elbit Pushes Recce-Strike For Tactical Forces (Aviation Week) Elbit Systems is demonstrating a reconnaissance-strike package for mobile land forces to U.S. users, including the special operations community, the company said Oct. 13 at the Association of the U.S. Army convention in Washington. Indian Analysts Rap Plan To Buy Homemade 130mm Artillery Gun (Defense News) As the US Army assembles a 6,000-person-strong cyber mission force in the next two years, officials are trying to determine the best way to attract, organize and maintain the cyber talent required to secure Defense Department networks. KC-390 enters production phase of development (IHS Jane's 360) The Embraer KC-390 tanker-transport aircraft has entered into the production phase of its development schedule that includes the series manufacture of 28 aircraft for the Brazilian Air Force (Forca Aerea Brasileria - FAB), the service reported on 10 October. VETERANSIG clears VA clinic of foul play in rescheduling dead Marine's appointment(Washington Post) An inspector general has cleared the Department of Veteran Affairs' medical clinic in Minneapolis of foul play in the case of a 25-year-old ex-Marine whose neurology appointment was mysteriously rescheduled after he died. Goodlettsville vet who pleaded for quicker care has cancer (The Tennessean) The same gut instinct that helped Robert Morgan survive war in the jungles of Vietnam spurred him to stand up and plead for quicker medical care at a public meeting. New Mexico VA leaders got bonuses amid complaints (Associated Press) Five top administrators in the Veterans Affairs' health care system in New Mexico received more than $24,000 in bonuses in 2013 despite complaints from veterans about lapses and delays in care. VA exec at center of FedBid procurement scandal retires (Federal News Radio) Susan Taylor, the Veterans Affairs Department's executive at the center of the reverse auction procurement scandal, is leaving government before she could be fired. Former Augusta VA director awarded nearly $18,000 in bonuses despite deaths (Augusta Chroncile; Ga.) Performance pay awarded to Rebecca Wiley, the former director of the Charlie Norwood Veterans Affairs Medical Center, totaled nearly $18,000 from 2007 to 2011, the year three cancer patients died in the Augusta hospital's gastrointestinal clinic. $6.5 million in bonuses go to Ohio VA employees (Dayton Daily News) Nearly $6.5 million in bonuses went to more than 6,000 employees of Veterans Affairs hospitals in Ohio the same year allegations of lengthy wait times hidden by scheming bureaucrats toppled the agency's top brass, an I-Team investigation has found. Sinise to narrate film about vets' work skills (Military Times) Gary Sinise's next movie will have him co-starring with airplane engines, corporate servers and widgets from 3-D printers. Army vet to knife-wielding man at Pathmark: 'I don't want to shoot you' (Philadelphia Daily News) WILLIAM LAWLER didn't want to shoot the man who threatened his girlfriend and him with a 13-inch knife Sunday outside a Pathmark store near his Northeast Philadelphia home. Tactical Veteran: Heal your wounds to prepare for civilian life (Military Times) Separating from the military is tough enough in and of itself, but many veterans leave the military with issues that make their transition much more difficult. Vet takes WWII tank combat to the big screen in 'Fury' (Military Times) Director David Ayer went to great pains to make sure his upcoming war film "Fury," which opens in theaters on Oct. 17, gives audiences an authentic look at life and death in combat. CONGRESSRep. Duckworth retires from the military(The Hill) Rep. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) is retiring from the military after 23 years, the Illinois National Guard announced in a statement on Tuesday. Senate candidate killed in plane crash (Des Moines Register) An official with Mercy Medical Center in Dubuque has confirmed the death of emergency physician Doug Butzier, who was running as the Libertarian Party of Iowa's candidate for United States Senate. Senator 'concerned' by Pentagon's autism spending cuts (The Hill) A Senate Democrat is coming to the rescue of military families who could lose medical help for their autistic children. DEFENSE DEPARTMENTPentagon backlash: Why are top military leaders attacking Obama's foreign policy?(Christian Science Monitor) On Tuesday, Gen. Ray Odierno, the US Army Chief of Staff, publicly questioned President Obama's plan to reduce the size of America's ground-combat forces, joining a growing chorus of current and former administration officials speaking out against Obama's foreign policy. Military's war colleges take steep budget hits (Military Times) As the Defense Department grapples with cutbacks across its broad budget, one of the military's premiere war colleges is feeling the pinch, with a funding drop of 29 percent in the past few years. DOD says POV shipments improving, but delays continue (Stars & Stripes) Defense transportation officials say chronic delays shipping troops' private vehicles are clearing up, but persistent complaints and new concerns in Congress raise questions about the progress being made in fixing the massive delivery system. Defense employees less happy with bosses, leadership (Federal Times) Defense Department employees are increasingly frustrated with senior leaders and management, according to new survey results. ARMYThe Army's Answer to Its Identity Crisis(National Journal) Service leaders laid out what the future looks like without a large ground operation and with a smaller budget. Reserve, Guard May Deploy Against Ebola: New Missions, New Tensions (Breaking Defense) Even as the first wave of 4,000 Army regulars deploys to West Africa, the service's mobilization command is preparing for a possible call-up of Reserve and National Guard troops to replace them in six months, Lt. Gen. Michael Tucker told me today. "There are no orders yet," the First Army commander cautioned, just precautionary planning. But with Ebola on the rise and most of the Army's medical personnel resident in the so-called Reserve Component, a spring 2015 deployment looks likely. Medal of Honor recipient Bennie Adkins shares his unusual path to the Army (Washington Post) Recent Medal of Honor recipient and Vietnam War hero Bennie G. Adkins's path to the military wasn't all that straight-forward: He joined the U.S. Army in 1956 only after facing academic probation in college and frustrating his father, who was paying for his classes, he said. 6 formerly 'hot jobs' in restricted status (Army Times) The Army has moved several military occupational specialties that previously were on the service's "hot jobs" list into a restricted status that will require incumbent soldiers to undergo a special screening before they are approved for re-enlistment. Fort Drum family seeks help raising money for son's service dog (Watertown Daily Times) A canine lifeline for a severely autistic 4-year-old boy is about two weeks away from arriving in the north country, as his family looks for support for the final expenses to bring the dog home. This new suit for soldiers recharges batteries with no wires (Washington Post) The U.S. armed forces have been grappling for years with how to reduce the weight ground troops carry with them on patrol. The problem: the "Christmas tree effect," in which radios and a variety of other electronics are increasingly hung on their body armor like ornaments, weighing them down in the field. NAVYNavy, Marines, Coast Guard to release revised maritime strategy(Stars & Stripes) For the first time in seven years, the Navy and its sister services soon will release an updated version of their global maritime strategy, the service's top officer said Tuesday. US Warship Arrives in Georgia as Tensions Rise Over Ukraine (Agence France-Presse) A US warship docked in Georgia's Black Sea port of Batumi Tuesday, the US embassy said, as tensions in the region remain high over Russia's role in the conflict in Ukraine. Missing Navy worker presumed dead (San Diego Union-Tribune) The Navy has ended the search for an employee missing at San Clemente Island, and he is presumed dead. Verdicts in September courts-martial (Navy Times) The Navy has published the results of special and general courts-martial tried in September - 33 verdicts in all. AIR FORCERobins airman charged with killing pregnant fiancee faces death penalty(Air Force Times) A senior airman from Robins Air Force Base, Georgia, faces the death penalty if convicted of killing his fiancee and her unborn child, the court-martial convening authority has ruled. Money for Argentina's C-130s, not a dime for Delaware's (News Journal; Wilmington, Del.) The Delaware Air National Guard would sure like a piece of this action: a $68.87 million Pentagon award to Argentina so it can modify five aging C-130 cargo airplanes. IG inspection gives Air Force Academy athletic department a 'C' (Air Force Times) An inspection of the Air Force Academy's athletic department by the school's inspector general has found nothing requiring a follow-up legal investigation, the academy said Tuesday. Cold War spy plan isn't ready to retire (Roll Call) The iconic U-2 spy plane, with its long, sagging wings and a reputation for being challenging to fly and harder to land, is one of the oldest aircraft in the U.S. fleet, with a storied history to match: The downing of Francis Gary Powers is a touchstone moment in the Cold War, and many a UFO rumor can be attributed to the plane's early flight tests at the government's secret Area 51 in the Nevada desert. Air Force to step up recruiting, shorten training for cyber airmen (Air Force Times) The Air Force may shorten the training time for cyber airmen to move them into their jobs faster - and airmen with existing cyber certifications would get a head start. Officer in viral marriage proposal to NFL cheerleader is Air Force Academy grad (Colorado Springs Gazette) The airman who brought the bloom of romance to the sidelines of an NFL game Sunday in Glendale, Ariz., learned some of his suave moves at the Air Force Academy. Nuclear missileers medal available in March, retroactive to 1991 (Air Force Times) The Air Force has released the criteria for a new service medal for airmen directly supporting the beleaguered nuclear missile community. MARINE CORPSMarine suspect named in Philippine homicide, Navy ships held in port(Marine Corps Times) Philippine government officials have named Marine Pfc. Joseph Pemberton as the primary suspect in a homicide case there after a transgender woman was found dead on Saturday. Five Navy vessels will also remain in port as the investigation continues, with Marines and sailors aboard confined to their ships. Report sees flaws in case against vanishing Marine (Associated Press) Prosecutors could have a difficult time proving the desertion case against a U.S. Marine who vanished from his unit in Iraq a decade ago, according to a military report. Charges dropped against Parris Island Sgt. Maj. who confronted protester (Marine Corps Times) A municipal judge has dismissed an assault and battery charged filed against Paul Archie, a Marine Corps sergeant major who charged an Obama protester at Parris Island, S.C., earlier this year. Appeals court rejects Camp Lejeune water lawsuit (Associated Press) A federal appeals court has dealt the victims of contaminated drinking water at Camp Lejeune a setback, ruling that a state law passed this year cannot retroactively reinstate their health claims against the U.S. government. Marines break ground with ship-to-shore ops during PHIBLEX (Marine Corps Times) Things can get kind of routine after 31 years, but a large joint exercise between Marines and their Filipino counterparts broke new ground this year, as they completed some of the most complex amphibious training yet. COAST GUARDCoast Guard to Close Two Air Facilities(Seapower) The Coast Guard is planning to close two aviation facilities by Nov. 30 in order to streamline operations in response to budget constraints. U.S. Coast Guard in the genes: 2 rear admirals, 2 cadets (The Day; New London, Conn.) For nearly three quarters of a century, a member of the Ratti family has been enlisted as an officer or cadet in the U.S. Coast Guard. AFGHANISTAN/PAKISTANDanish AW101 damaged in Afghan crash(IHS Jane's 360) A Danish AgustaWestland AW101 Merlin utility helicopter was damaged in a crash landing in Afghanistan, the Danish Ministry of Defence (MoD) announced on 12 October. Jolting Some, Afghan Leader Brings Wife Into the Picture (New York Times) For more than a decade, the Afghan first lady, Zeenat Karzai, was virtually invisible. Sequestered deep inside the high-walled presidential palace, she appeared to have abandoned her career in medicine and was only rarely allowed out in public by President Hamid Karzai. Wounded AP reporter vows a return to Afghanistan (Associated Press) Associated Press correspondent Kathy Gannon says the shooting that nearly killed her and took the life of colleague Anja Niedringhaus will not deter her from returning to Afghanistan. Gannon says a "crazy gunman' will not determine her future. Pakistan, U.S. appear once again to be cooperating on drone strikes (McClatchy) A series of CIA drone strikes launched last week against Taliban insurgents in Pakistan's northwest tribal areas provide the clearest demonstration yet that the U.S. intelligence agency and Pakistani security forces are once again cooperating on defeating the insurgents. Pakistani Taliban leaders pledge allegiance to Islamic State (Washington Post) In another sign of the Middle East-based Islamic State's expanding influence, the chief spokesman for the Pakistani Taliban and five regional commanders declared allegiance Tuesday to the group and its chief, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. Pakistani, Indian armies discuss border clashes (Associated Press) Top Pakistan and Indian military officials spoke Tuesday about recent clashes along the border with the Himalayan region of Kashmir, hoping to end violence that killed 20 people in the past week, two Pakistani army officials said. MIDDLE EASTUS worker killed by ex-colleague in Saudi Arabia(Associated Press) A Saudi-American dual national who was recently fired from a U.S. defense contractor shot two American ex-colleagues in Saudi Arabia's capital, killing one and wounding the other in what appeared to be a settling of scores, security and diplomatic officials said. MRAP sale to Emirates may enable regional military force (USA Today) The tiny, oil-rich nation United Arab Emirates could be laying the foundation for an Arab peacekeeping force by seeking to buy more than 4,500 roadside-bomb protected trucks from the Pentagon, according to a U.S. government official. Houthi rebels seize parts of Yemeni port city (Al Jazeera) Rebels make gains in southern city of al-Hudaydah on Red Sea while secessionists garner unprecedented support. US offers $45M reward to find al Qaeda leaders (The Hill) The U.S. government is offering up to $45 million in reward money to help find the leaders of Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula. Yemen separatists urges oil firms to stop exports from south (Reuters) Southern separatists seeking to split from Yemen's north set an ultimatum for the government to evacuate its soldiers and civil servants before Nov. 30 and asked all foreign firms producing oil and gas in the region to halt exports immediately. Abdullah Azzam Brigades leader calls on Lebanese people to attack Hezbollah (Long War Journal) The leader of the Abdullah Azzam Brigades (AAB), an al Qaeda-linked group, has called on Sunnis in Lebanon to attack Hezbollah, the Iranian-backed terrorist organization. Viewing Gaza damage, U.N. chief implores Israel, Hamas to avoid another war (Washington Post) The first truckload of cement to rebuild the Gaza Strip arrived Tuesday as U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon toured bombed-out neighborhoods nearly two months after the end of a punishing war. Syrian lawmaker assassinated in central province (Associated Press) Syria's state-run news agency and a government official say gunmen have assassinated a lawmaker in the restive central province of Hama. C.I.A. Study of Covert Aid Fueled Skepticism About Helping Syrian Rebels (New York Times) The Central Intelligence Agency has run guns to insurgencies across the world during its 67-year history - from Angola to Nicaragua to Cuba. The continuing C.I.A. effort to train Syrian rebels is just the latest example of an American president becoming enticed by the prospect of using the spy agency to covertly arm and train rebel groups. EUROPEUkrainian President Appoints National Guard Commander New Defense Minister(Defense News) Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has appointed Col. Gen. Stepan Poltorak the country's new Defense Minister. Prior to taking the helm of the ministry, Poltorak served as the commander of the National Guard of Ukraine. Parliament approved the move on Tuesday. Clashes erupt outside Ukraine's parliament in Kiev (Associated Press) Clashes broke out Tuesday between demonstrators and police in front of Ukraine's parliament in Kiev as deputies inside repeatedly voted down proposals to recognize a contentious World War II-era Ukrainian partisan group as national heroes. Russia to help fight Islamists in the Middle East (Washington Post) The United States and Russia will share intelligence on Islamic State militants in Syria and Iraq and work together to combat the threat of terrorism that hangs over the region, U.S. Secretary of State John F. Kerry said Tuesday after meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. Spain Exposes Holes in Plans to Treat Ebola (New York Times) The scene conveyed a First World precision: A 75-year-old Spanish priest, stricken with Ebola in Liberia, arrived in Madrid on a special military jet. A helicopter buzzed overhead as ambulances transported him for treatment. Expressing confidence in the preparations, a Spanish health official said the risk of the virus's spreading was "virtually nil." Bosnian Elections Reinforce Longstanding Ethnic Divisions (New York Times) The stranglehold of parties representing narrow ethnic interests in Bosnia and Herzegovina was set to continue after elections over the weekend, analysts said Tuesday, reinforcing long-simmering divisions in the country and slowing its progress nearly 20 years after a brutal war. ASIA-PACIFICNorth and South Korea Said to Hold High-Level Military Talks(New York Times) Military generals from South and North Korea met on their border on Wednesday in a rare meeting that followed exchanges of fire recently between troops of both sides, the South Korean media reported. China-Indonesia sign remote-sensing MoU (IHS Jane's 360) The China National Space Administration (CNSA) and the Indonesian Maritime Security Coordinating Board (IMSCB) have signed an agreement supporting the latter's efforts to enhance offshore security. Hong Kong police, protesters clash (USA Today) Hong Kong police clashed with democracy protesters early Wednesday as officers cleared a park encampment and a tunnel that demonstrators had blocked on a major road outside the city's government headquarters. Video of Apparent Beating of Protester in Hong Kong Stirs Anger (New York Times) In a video that quickly transfixed and outraged many in Hong Kong and beyond, a group of police officers appeared to take a pro-democracy demonstrator into a dark corner early Wednesday morning and kick him repeatedly while his hands were bound. Malaysia increases 2015 defence budget by 10% (IHS Jane's 360) The Malaysian government announced on 10 October a 2015 defence budget of MYR17.76 billion (USD5.4 billion), a year-on-year increase of 10 percent. The allocation amounts to 6.5 percent of projected yearly government expenditure and around 1.5 percent of GDP. Malaysia arrests 13 people suspected of Islamic State links (Reuters) Malaysian authorities said on Wednesday they had arrested 13 Malaysians suspected of having links to Islamic State and who were planning to leave for Syria. COMMENTARY AND ANALYSISIs ISIS Using Chemical Weapons?(Joseph Cirincione and Paul Walker in Defense One) Has the most-publicized terrorist group in the world gotten hold of chemical weapons? Maybe. If so, they may not have gotten them from where you think. The fall of Kobane: The impact on Turkey, Kurds and the United States (Chase Winter in War on the Rocks) The stakes are high. The long-anticipated Kurdish spillover from Syria hit the streets of Turkey last week in the form of riots, leaving more than 30 dead and at least 350 wounded. The F-22 Over Syria: Efficiency and Effectiveness (Retired Air Force Col. Eric Jorgensen in Cicero Magazine) After being criticized for not using the F-22 Raptor previously, the U.S. Air Force has now taken a drubbing for using F-22s over Syria, in the coalition fight against the Islamic State. Critics are judging long-term strategic investments based on short-term tactical results, while misapplying the distinction between efficiency and effectiveness. The sound bites may play well, but critiquing excess capabilities in the air over ISIS targets in Syria is short-sighted armchair quarterbacking. Hypersonic weapons could create new arms race (Air Force Lt. Col. Jeff Schreiner in Stars and Stripes) With nuclear technology the adage that "you can't put the genie back in the bottle" is widely used. What if we are standing at the threshold of a technology that we could keep in the bottle before it runs amok in the international system? The recent failure of the U.S. Advanced Hypersonic Weapon test on the heels of an unsuccessful Chinese test of their WU-14 vehicle provides the world a chance to reflect on this technology and its possible strategic implications. Pentagon Needs to Build Cybersecurity Into the Acquisition Process (Michael L. Papay, Frank J. Cilluffo and Sharon L. Cardash in NextGov) If you were asked to name one of the most pressing issues facing the Pentagon in the next five years, chances are you wouldn't specify the intersection of cybersecurity, acquisition and the sometimes small but always vital electronic components that make up battlefield systems. Internationally, Obama must be feared as well as admired (Richard Cohen in The Washington Post) Tell me something: What do you think would happen if the United States concludes that Iran has been cheating and delaying and is about to pop a fully functional nuclear weapons program? Would President Obama respond by joining Israel to bomb the Iranian nuclear facilities to smithereens, or would he stall and equivocate? My bet is the latter and also, just to double down, what I bet the Iranians are betting. They have taken the measure of Obama. He lacks menace. Is America's Military Too Small for Obama's New War on Terror? (Politico) Does the United States need a new defense budget to fight Obama's new war on terror? And if so, what should that new budget look like-where should the Pentagon cut, and where should it add? We asked a dozen top military thinkers, and here's what they had to say. Why We Should Send Vets Back to Iraq and Afghanistan (Jake Wood and Ken Harbaugh in Time) When we heard the news of former Army Ranger Peter Kassig's capture by ISIS terrorists, it felt like a punch in the gut. We never served alongside Peter, but as veterans who spent time in that part of the world, we know why he returned. Indeed, many of our buddies from the military have expressed a similar desire to go back. Peter is not an aberration. His determination to fight for the weak and to aid the suffering is a trait common to almost every veteran we know. Discussing the Continuities of War and the Future of Warfare: The Defense Entrepreneurs Forum (Army Lt. Gen. H.R. McMaster in Small Wars Journal) Thank you to Nate Finney for the opportunity to participate again in support of the Defense Entrepreneurs Forum (DEF). I thought that I might build on the previous essay I wrote for DEF on how to develop an understanding of war and warfare through the study of military history in width, depth, and context. The Master Strategist is Still a Myth (Lawrence Freedman in War on the Rocks) Where is the master strategist we have all been waiting for? Why Nigeria Was Able to Beat Ebola, but Not Boko Haram (Matt Schiavenza in The Atlantic) Six months after 276 girls were kidnapped, President Goodluck Jonathan hasn't been able to bring them back. So why was the country so effective in combating Ebola? China's Dangerous Game (Howard W. French in The Atlantic) The country's intensifying efforts to redraw maritime borders have its neighbors, and the U.S., fearing war. But does the aggression reflect a government growing in power-or one facing a crisis of legitimacy? Why advocacy-driven reports on drones in Pakistan can be trusted (Donald Campbell in The Washington Post) Last week, in a piece titled "Ethical and Methodological Issues in Assessing Drones' Civilian Impacts in Pakistan," Georgetown Prof. Christine Fair took aim at human rights organizations for what she called their "advocacy-driven" investigations into the covert U.S. drone program in Pakistan. | |||||
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