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, 2 Oct 2014 04:42:08 -0600
COMPILED BY THE EDITORS OF DEFENSE NEWS & MILITARY TIMES
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TODAY'S TOP 51. Crewmember missing after MV-22 mishap in Arabian Sea(Navy Times) The Navy and Marine Corps are searching for a missing crewmember who bailed out of an MV-22 Osprey that temporarily lost power during takeoff over the Arabian Gulf, according to a 5th Fleet press release. 2. Civilian casualty standard eased in Iraq, Syria (Associated Press) President Barack Obama announced in May 2013 that no lethal strike against a terrorist would be authorized without "near-certainty that no civilians will be killed or injured." 3. The Air Campaign Against ISIS: Understanding What Air Strikes Can Do-and What They Can't (Air Force Col. Clint Hinote in the Council on Foreign Relations ) The air strikes in Syria signify a departure from military operations over the past thirteen years and a return to strategic concepts that date back to Desert Storm. While supporting ground forces in both Iraq and Afghanistan, air forces largely used dynamic targeting, where a commander on the ground directs air attacks according to the situation. Because there are no ground forces in Syria, coalition forces are using deliberate targeting there, where numerous forms of intelligence are brought together to analyze the enemy and determine where strikes will have the most effect. 4. Pentagon, Congress Left in Dark About Obama's $5 Billion Counterterrorism Fund (Foreign Policy) With the U.S. Military Academy at West Point as his backdrop, President Barack Obama unveiled a new $5 billion fund to fight terrorism in May. Although the announcement was welcomed at the Pentagon and State Department, there were immediate questions about what exactly the money was for. Four months later, those questions remain largely unanswered. 5. Afghan soldiers who fled Cape feared death at home (Boston Globe) They watched a YouTube video to find the best way to cross the border into Canada. They made their getaway during a group outing to Walmart. And they spent more than $1,600 on taxis to travel from Cape Cod to a border checkpoint in Niagara Falls - just steps away, they hoped, from asylum and a new life. ISLAMIC STATEWhat will be ISIS' downfall?(CNN) General John Allen, picked to lead the U.S. coalition against ISIS, discusses the fight ahead with CNN's Elise Labott. Bombs slam into Islamic State stronghold on Iraq-Syria border (USA Today) Cheers erupted as the bomb dropped. Treasury official outlines plan to bankrupt ISIS (The Hill) A Treasury Department official on Wednesday said the administration is trying to cut off funding to the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) by leveling sanctions against people who do business with the group. Islamic State Fighting Strains Pentagon Budget (Wall Street Journal) President Barack Obama's expansion of airstrikes in the Middle East is creating new strains on Pentagon planners who thought the days of costly military operations in that region were over-at least for now. Troops not eligible for campaign medal in fight against ISIS (The Hill) The troops President Obama has deployed to Iraq are not eligible for certain medals because the U.S. has not officially designated their efforts a military campaign. Turkey to approve a bigger military role in Iraq and Syria - but not on American terms (Washington Post) Turkey's president on Wednesday criticized U.S. airstrikes in Iraq and Syria as offering only a "temporary" solution to the problem of terrorism, tempering expectations that Turkish military participation in the U.S.-led international coalition against the Islamic State could be imminent. ISIS Takes a Kurdish Village in Syria as Car Bombs Kill Dozens in Homs (New York Times) Islamic State militants swept into a Kurdish village in Syria on Wednesday just across the border from this Turkish hamlet, as farther south, in the western Syrian city of Homs, twin car bombs killed at least 45 people, including 41 children, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an antigovernment monitoring group. Too Many, Too Late (Foreign Policy) Syria's beleaguered moderate rebels have been begging for U.S. airstrikes for years. Now that the bombs are falling, they wish Washington would send its planes back home. Pro-al Qaeda ideologues propose truce between Islamic State, rivals (Long War Journal) Leading jihadist ideologues, including several allied with al Qaeda, have proposed a truce between the Islamic State and its rivals. The initiative, which is being promoted on Twitter, aims to bring together the warring jihadist factions in Iraq and Syria against the West. Iraqi Kurds fight Islamic State with aged weapons (Associated Press) The exhausted Kurdish fighters leaned against a pair of antiquated green cannons on a hill overlooking this northern Iraqi village, the ground around them littered with shrapnel from fierce battles with Islamic State militants. Iraqi Army shows off new Russian air defence systems (IHS Jane's 360) The Iraqi Ministry of Defence (MoD) revealed on 30 September that it has taken delivery of Pantsyr-S1 mobile short-range air defence systems and Igla-1 (SA-24) man-portable air defence systems (MANPADS) from Russia. New hostage crisis for Turkey: Islamic State surrounds troops at shrine (McClatchy) A new potential conflict arose Tuesday between Turkey and the Islamic State when militants surrounded Turkish troops assigned to guard an ancient tomb in a small Turkish territory inside Syria. Iraq violence killed at least 1,119 last month (Agence France-Presse) Acts of violence across Iraq killed at least 1,119 people last month, according to UN figures released Wednesday excluding the restive western province of Anbar and casualties among jihadists. Australian aircraft to support U.S.-led air strikes in Iraq: PM (Reuters) Australian aircraft will join the U.S.-led coalition in air strikes against Islamic State insurgents in Iraq in an initial support role, Prime Minister Tony Abbott said on Wednesday, ahead of a final decision to undertake bombing missions. Islamic State influence spreads beyond Iraq and Syria (USA Today) In Pakistan, some are slapping pro-Islamic State bumper stickers on their cars and writing chalk graffiti on walls exhorting young people to join the terrorist group. INDUSTRYAerojet Rocketdyne Enters RD-180 Replacement Competition(Defense News) Aerojet Rocketdyne is poised to enter the US Air Force's competition for a next-generation rocket engine, announcing it has submitted information on its AR1 system in response to the service's request for information. Fiscal 2014 Ends With Flurry of DoD Contracts (Seapower) The end of the 2014 fiscal year brought a flood of contracts from the armed services and Defense Department (DoD) agencies with 93 contracts worth a total of $2.85 billion. That included 31 contracts from the Navy Department with a total value of about $700 million. US Army chooses teams for DVE mitigation ground testing (IHS Jane's 360) The US Army has selected nine participants for early 2015 ground testing of sensors designed to help helicopter pilots see through degraded visual environments (DVEs), the army's Aviation and Missile Research Development and Engineering Center (AMRDEC) announced on 29 September. NASA awards SEWP V IT contracts (Federal Times) Forty-three companies have won a combined total of 56 awards under the Solutions for Enterprise Wide Procurement (SEWP) V contracts, NASA announced Wednesday. SEWIP Block 2 set for at-sea operational test (IHS Jane's 360) Lockheed Martin Mission Systems and Training has completed the installation of a first SLQ-32(V) shipborne electronic warfare (EW) system upgraded under Block 2 of the US Navy's (USN's) Surface Electronic Warfare Improvement Program (SEWIP). Surveillance system gets update (C4ISR & Networks) Rockwell Collins has upgraded its Patrol Persistent Surveillance System (PPSS) with radar and UAS. US State Department Clears Saudi Patriot Missile Sale (Defense News) The US State Department has cleared a potential sale of enhanced Patriot air defense system missiles to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Reforms Push New Day for US Foreign Military Sales (Defense News) The Pentagon office in charge of leading the sales of US defense equipment to foreign governments released a strategy document Wednesday aimed at streamlining the foreign military sales (FMS) process, while helping Washington to equip NATO partners in contingency operations. UAE requests more HIMARS, tactical ballistic missiles (IHS Jane's 360) The US government has approved the sale of an additional 12 High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) launchers and 100 Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS) to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the US Defence Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) announced on 29 September. BAE, Babcock Win $5.2B for UK Naval Base Management (Defense News) BAE Systems and Babcock have been handed GBP3.2 billion (US $5.2 billion) worth of contracts to continue management of the Royal Navy's three main bases in the UK and the maintenance and repair of warships and nuclear submarines. Germany: Eurofighter Has Manufacturing Fault (Agence France-Presse) A manufacturing fault has been discovered in the Eurofighter Typhoon warplanes, Germany said Tuesday, announcing it was suspending deliveries of the sophisticated jets. RAAF Growler programme boss says deliveries on track for 2017 (IHS Jane's 360) Australia opted to purchase 12 newbuild EA-18Gs under Project 5349 Phase 3 in 2013 after an Air Combat Capability Transition Review. Since then, Australia's future Growler aircrew and engineering and other personnel have been training with the US Navy in the continental United States, said Group Captain Glen Braz. Japan To Make Major Switch on Sub Propulsion (Defense News) Japan has decided to power its new batch of Soryu-class submarines with Lithium-ion batteries instead of air-independent propulsion (AIP) technology - a move that could raise eyebrows after similar types batteries were faulted for fires aboard the Boeing 787 Dreamliner. South Korean developer unveils Asia's first 0.5 m resolution satellite (IHS Jane's 360) South Korean satellite developer Satrec Initiative (SI) unveiled the SpaceEye-X, Asia's first electro-optical (EO) small satellite with a resolution of less than 1 m, at the 65th International Astronautical Congress in Toronto. VETERANSSurvey: 65% of vets likely to leave 1st civilian job within 2 years(Military Times) Roughly two-thirds of veterans are likely to leave their first post-military job within two years because of problems like low job satisfaction and limited opportunities for advancement, according to a new survey by employment specialists. VA hospital lacks PJ's, sheets and toothbrushes, yet spends millions on new furniture, TVs and solar (Watchdog.org) Veterans at the Shreveport, La., Veterans Administration hospital have been going without toothbrushes, toothpaste, pajamas, sheets and blankets while department officials spend money on new Canadian-made furniture, televisions to run public service announcements and solar panels, a Watchdog investigation has revealed. Highly publicized homeless veterans housing program hits snags (St. Louis Post-Dispatch) Two months ago, amid much fanfare, Mayor Francis Slay kicked off an effort that put 51 homeless veterans into their own apartments in one day. CONGRESSPelosi: Expect a war authorization vote in lame-duck session(The Hill) House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Md.) said Wednesday that Congress should get ready to debate and vote on an authorization for war against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) in the lame-duck session. U.S. not ready to launch offensive cyber attacks, charges Congressman (Federal Times) Despite calls for action, the private sector is not prepared for the ramifications of an offensive cyber attack by the U.S. government against antagonistic nation states and rogue foreign organizations, according to Rep. Mike Rogers (R-MI), chairman of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. House chairman fears 'political tantrums' could sink cyber bill (The Hill) The head of the House Intelligence Committee is worried about the fate of legislation to protect the country's cyber networks. Can Rand Paul Have It All? (National Journal) As Rand Paul lays groundwork for 2016 as a man in the mainstream of Republicanism, he keeps getting pulled back toward the libertarian roots that first catapulted him to political stardom. DEFENSE DEPARTMENTReport: Military hospitals show broad disparities in patient care(Military Times) A comprehensive review of the military health care system finds that overall, the military health system is functioning on a par with private-sector care, but patients face broad disparities in appointment wait times and quality of care - and have little way of finding out how their Defense Department hospital or clinic measures up regarding safety or potential harm to their health. U.S. Takes Asteroid Threat Seriously (Wall Street Journal) Some U.S. nuclear-warhead components, scheduled for disassembly in the next year, have gotten at least a temporary new lease on life. The reason: possible use in defending the Earth against killer asteroids. Measure troops' readiness by results, random tests, report says (Military Times) A new report suggests the Pentagon needs to rethink military readiness the same way the former general manager of the Oakland A's revolutionized baseball in the 1990s by focusing on nontraditional metrics that revealed how players actually play and how games are actually won. NGA: Products are out, analysis is in (C4ISR & Networks) The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency is transitioning from an organization that has traditionally focused on providing geospatial products, such as maps, to a supplier of geospatial data analysis. New online tool helps troops overseas vote (Stars & Stripes) With the midterm elections approaching, voting activists have developed a new online tool to make it easier for servicemembers deployed overseas to cast their votes. With first JRSS, DoD reaches for the cloud (C4ISR & Networks) The Pentagon has taken a big step forward in its massive network overhaul, launching the first joint regional security stack (JRSS) of the cloud-based Joint Information Environment (JIE), officials said. ARMYColonel found dead of apparent gunshot wound at Redstone Arsenal(Army Times) A 51-year-old Army Contracting Command officer was found dead of an apparent gunshot wound in his Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, residence Saturday, according to an ACC news release. Foul play is not suspected. Army general, accused of sexual assault by senior adviser, retired quietly with demotion (Washington Post) A two-star Army general who was fired from his job in Djibouti last year after allegedly groping a female adviser was allowed to retire quietly with a demotion in rank at the same time that a sexual assault case against another Army general received international attention, according to Army officials and military documents. Guard officials plead guilty in recruiting, bribery scam (USA Today) Two retired Army National Guard officials and a civilian have pleaded guilty in a bribery scheme involving millions of dollars in contracts for marketing and recruiting, the Justice Department announced Wednesday. Dual Survival' star stripped of SF Association membership (Military Times) Discovery Channel's "Dual Survival" reality star Joseph Teti, a former Army and Marine Corps special operator, has been disavowed by the Special Forces Association and stripped of his membership with the group. NAVYRandy Forbes to CNO Greenert: 'The Navy Desperately Needs A Strategy'(USNI News) Rep. Randy Forbes (R-Va.) is "concerned at the deficit of strategic thinking" in the Navy and how long time institutional restrictions inside the Pentagon produce, "flag officers who are focused on managerial concerns such as budgeting and engineering rather than executive concerns such as strategy," according to a July letter sent to Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Adm. Jonathan Greenert and recently obtained by USNI News. Navy stands up first cyber type command (Navy Times) Submarines have a three-star type commander who oversees their force. So do ship crews, aviation squadrons, and expeditionary sailors likes Seabees and divers. Triton, Poseidon, and UCLASS: The Navy's ISR Balancing Act (Breaking Defense) The future of Navy long-range reconnaissance, the recently arrived MQ-4C Triton drone, sprawls across its hangar here, with a wingspan 13 feet wider than a Boeing 737 but a body that's 80 percent lighter. Independent study delves into why sailors leave service (Virginian-Pilot) Longer deployments and distrust of senior leaders are among likely reasons sailors leave the military, according to an independent survey organized by an officer concerned about the Navy's future. AIR FORCEDoD IG Criticizes Air Force Reaper Buy(Breaking Defense) The Air Force planned to buy 401 Reaper drones for $76.8 billion but didn't know why it was gong to buy that many, the Pentagon's Inspector General says in a new report. America's Advanced Stealth Jet Flies on 1990s Tech (The Daily Beast) The U.S. Air Force's $150 million F-22 Raptor stealth fighter, which made its combat debut last week, is the most advanced operational warplane on Earth. But under the Raptor's hood is dated computer hardware that's creakier than your grandpappy's cellphone from last century. Air Force details top 5 best and worst ideas from airmen (Air Force Times) Air Force leaders have approved dozens of suggestions from airmen for saving money. The ideas cover a wide range of areas and savings - to date saving the Air Force $76.6 million, said spokeswoman Capt. Erika Yepsen. Fight against Islamic State raises Air Force's profile during funding crunch (Stars & Stripes) President Barack Obama's decision to keep ground troops away from the battlefield in Iraq and Syria has thrust the Air Force into the premier role in America's latest fight against Islamic militants, bolstering the service's stature during a time when all branches of the military are competing for limited funds. RIF board to cut fewer captains, majors (Air Force Times) The Air Force expects it will cut 355 captains and majors under a reduction in force board scheduled to convene this month. 1,882 officers selected for captain (Air Force Times) The Air Force announced today that 1,882 first lieutenants were selected for promotion to captain in the quarterly selection for calendar 2014. 397 officers moving up in October (Air Force Times) Nearly 400 captains through lieutenant colonels will move up in October as part of the monthly promotions that continue throughout the year. MARINE CORPSMarine vet's release from Mexican jail coming, lawmakers say(Military Times) The chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee said he is "confident" that Mexican authorities will release Marine veteran Andrew Tahmooressi, potentially ending the ongoing saga of his imprisonment. Kyle Carpenter plans to break a world record to start the Marine Corps Marathon (Marine Corps Times) It was impressive enough when Medal of Honor recipient Kyle Carpenter, who survived jumping on an enemy grenade, ran the Marine Corps Marathon last year. Ex-Marine who caught jumper among Carnegie Heroes (Associated Press) A retired Marine who caught a woman as she jumped from the upper deck of a stadium following an Oakland Raiders game was among 21 people honored with medals and cash from the Pittsburgh-based Carnegie Hero Fund Commission. AFGHANISTAN/PAKISTANAfghan interpreters demand promised US visas(Al Jazeera) Distinguishing which coalition force the 30 or so Afghan interpreters protesting outside the US embassy in Kabul had worked for was not difficult. Afghan Deal Rekindles Questions on U.S. Pace in Leaving (Bloomberg) The signing of a long-delayed security agreement marks both an end and a beginning for the U.S. in Afghanistan. New Afghan Leader, Putting Focus on Graft, Revives Bank Fraud Inquiry (New York Times) Signaling his intent to improve the Afghan government's poor reputation on corruption, President Ashraf Ghani on Wednesday ordered a new examination of the stagnant Kabul Bank fraud prosecutions. Americans Hand Over Base Keys to Afghan Military (Wall Street Journal) Afghanistan marked a historic transition this week with pomp and circumstance: Foreign delegations flew to Kabul for a presidential inauguration on Monday and the ceremonial signing of a pair of security agreements on Tuesday. MIDDLE EASTIran's 23 mm Gatling gun emerges from the shadows(IHS Jane's 360) The Asefeh rotary cannon that Iran says it is developing for use in a close-in weapon system (CIWS) was finally seen in its entirety on 28 September. Obama team warns Israel over settlements (USA Today) The White House issued a sharply worded warning to Israel on Wednesday over proposed settlements in a disputed part of east Jerusalem, hours after President Obama met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Saudi Arabia fears Yemeni tumult may boost its main foe Iran (Reuters) The capture of Yemen's capital by rebels with ties to Iran has jolted Saudi Arabia, prompting a scramble by Riyadh to prevent its Shi'ite Muslim rival from exploiting the takeover to make trouble in the kingdom's backyard. Egypt Seizes Newspapers to Censor an Article (New York Times) The Egyptian authorities on Wednesday confiscated all the copies of one of the country's largest private newspapers in order to censor an article, just days after President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi vowed in an American television interview that there was "no limitation on freedom of expression in Egypt." Salafist danger spawns pan-Shiite solidarity (Al-Monitor) Shiite Muslims are spread around the world, from the Indian subcontinent to the Arabian Peninsula and the Mediterranean region. They belong to various nationalities, have diverse cultures and sometimes even have different religious doctrines. Historically, they have never been under a single government nor have they enjoyed a single cohesive identity. EUROPENew Polish PM Unveils Plans To Hike Defense Spending(Defense News) Polish Prime Minister Ewa Kopacz has unveiled plans to increase defense spending from 1.95 percent to 2 percent of the country's gross domestic product (GDP) by 2016. The funds will be used to acquire new weapons and military equipment, Kopacz said in her inaugural speech at the Polish parliament Wednesday. New NATO chief: better ties with Russia possible (Associated Press) NATO's new secretary-general struck a more conciliatory tone Wednesday on Russia, saying there's a chance now for improved relations between Moscow and the West. Fighting intensifies in Ukraine as pro-Russian rebels move on Donetsk airport (Washington Post) Fighting intensified in eastern Ukraine on Wednesday despite a fragile cease-fire, as pro-Russian rebels appeared to be close to capturing the strategically important Donetsk airport. Czech Republic launches air defence radar tender (IHS Jane's 360) The Czech Ministry of Defence (MoD) launched international tender on 30 September for 3D mobile air defence radar (MADR) systems worth up to CZK1.7 billion (USD70 million). ASIA-PACIFICSatellite Shows North Korea Has Upgraded Launch Station(New York Times) Recent commercial satellite imagery indicates that North Korea has completed a yearlong project to upgrade its main satellite launching station, which is widely believed to be a test site for its intercontinental ballistic missile program, a United States research institute said on Wednesday. U.S. considering sending THAAD battery to S. Korea: deputy defense secretary (Yonhap News Agency) The United States is considering deploying a THAAD missile defense battery to South Korea to better cope with threats from North Korea, a top American defense official confirmed Tuesday. Interview - 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. Indian Leader Modi Moves Closer to U.S. as Differences Persist (Wall Street Journal) The U.S. and India agreed to forge closer defense and security ties at a White House meeting between President Barack Obama and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, but the talks didn't produce a breakthrough on disagreements that have hobbled ties in recent years. India reacts cautiously to PLAN submarine visit to Sri Lanka (IHS Jane's 360) India has reacted cautiously to the docking of a People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) submarine in Sri Lanka from 7-14 September. In Hong Kong protests, both sides are wondering how this will end (Washington Post) As many thousands of Hong Kong residents kept up their occupation of the streets Wednesday night, leaders on both sides began strategizing with an eye toward the endgame. Hong Kong Government's Strategy on Protesters: Wait Them Out (New York Times) Crowds of pro-democracy protesters thinned noticeably by Thursday morning after the Hong Kong government adopted a more conciliatory stance of trying to wait out the demonstrators. Deputy PM Minh: 'No Two Countries Have Worked Harder' To Repair Relations Than U.S. And Vietnam (USNI News) "No two countries have worked harder," to overcome differences than the United States and Vietnam, said the Southeast Asian country's deputy prime minister on Wednesday. COMMENTARY AND ANALYSISWhat ISIS Could Teach the West(Nicholas Kristof in The New York Times) As we fight the Islamic State and other extremists, there's something that President Obama and all of us can learn from them. For, in one sense, the terrorists are fighting smarter than we are. Two Speeches and a Tragedy (George Packer in The New Yorker) In his first year in office, President Obama gave two speeches-one in Cairo, the other in Oslo-that bear directly on the crisis in the Middle East today. How America Helped ISIS (Andrew Thompson and Jeremi Suri in The New York Times) The Islamic State terrorists who have emerged in Iraq and Syria are neither new nor unfamiliar. Many of them spent years in detention centers run by the United States and its coalition partners in Iraq after 2003. Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the leader of the Islamic State, spent nearly five years imprisoned at Camp Bucca in southern Iraq. A majority of the other top Islamic State leaders were also former prisoners, including: Abu Muslim al-Turkmani, Abu Louay, Abu Kassem, Abu Jurnas, Abu Shema and Abu Suja. A Strategic Scorecard For Afghanistan (Christopher D. Kolenda in Foreign Policy) With Monday's inauguration of Ashraf Ghani as the new Afghan President, Afghanistan has the chance to move forward. Whether that movement will be toward disaster or success will be determined by outcomes on five critical issues: Political Transition, Afghan National Security Forces, Regional Diplomacy, Economic Progress, and Peace Process. The red on the scorecard is forward-looking at issues that need to be addressed, rather than backward-looking at past progress.Follow-on articles will examine each issue. Why 'Call of Duty' May Not Help Us Predict Future Wars (Adam Elkus in War on the Rocks) The Atlantic Council, seeking to enhance its exploration of the Future of Warfare with some new blood, recently hired Call of Duty: Black Ops series director Dave Anthony for an unpaid position as a senior fellow. America's Big Military Mistake: Cutting Land Forces Too Quickly (Michael O'Hanlon in The National Interest) In recent years, ground warfare has again gotten a bad name in the United States. Congress's sorry dereliction of duty (Katrina vanden Heuvel in The Washington Post) In a Washington paralyzed by partisan division, there is apparently one area of bipartisan agreement: Congress should ignore its constitutional mandate to vote on war with the Islamic State, a conflict that President Obama admits will take years. Veterans' Needs Must Come First (Sen. Mark Begich, D-Alaska, in Roll Call) Oct. 1 marks an anniversary many of us prefer to forget - the start of the 16 day partial government shutdown of 2013. Among the disruptions caused by the shutdown, work stopped on more than 250,000 veterans' disability claims awaiting appeals, burials at national cemeteries were scaled back and vital medical and prosthetic research projects were threatened. Had it continued a couple weeks longer, even veterans' disability compensation checks might have stopped. Don't Hype the Threat of Returning Jihadists (Daniel Byman and Jeremy Shapiro in Foreign Affairs) On May 24, 2014, a man opened fire inside the Jewish Museum in Brussels, quickly killing three people and fatally wounding a fourth before disappearing into the city's streets. The alleged perpetrator, a French citizen named Mehdi Nemmouche, who has since been arrested and charged with murder, had spent the previous year fighting with jihadist opposition groups in Syria. His attack appeared to mark the first time that the Syrian civil war had spilled over into the European Union. Many security officials in Europe and the United States fear that this strike foreshadowed a spate of terrorist attacks that the chaos in Syria-and now Iraq-could trigger. China, Russia and the Great Game in Central Asia (Virginia Marantidou & Ralph A. Cossa in Real Clear Defense) One of the main criticisms against Washington's attempt to sanction and otherwise punish Russian President Vladimir Putin for his aggressive actions in Ukraine is that this is driving Russia and China closer together in an anti-American axis. Such concerns are unfounded, first because the two are already close strategic partners, but more importantly, because neither really trusts the other ... nor should they. The truth is, when Russia and China get in bed together, they both sleep with one eye open! Be Careful What You Wish For: Commerce and Security in the U.S.-China Relationship (David Chmiel in War on the Rocks) "Food security is national security." That was the sentiment expressed by Senator Debbie Stabenow when she recently called for greater scrutiny of Chinese investment in the U.S. agribusiness sector. Looks Like China's Sending a Stealth Fighter to Sea (David Axe in War is Boring) A full-scale model of China's J-31 stealth fighter prototype has appeared on the flight deck of the Chinese navy's aircraft carrier mock-up, fueling speculation that the radar-evading jet could become part of China's carrier air wing. | |||||
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