FW: Early Bird Brief

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From: no-reply@militarytimes.com
Subject: Early Bird Brief
Date: Tue, 12 May 2015 04:28:49 -0600

Having trouble viewing this email? | View it in your browser May 12, 2015 May 12, 2015     FOLLOW US Good morning and welcome to the Early Bird Brief. Please send news tips and suggestions to Early Bird Editor Oriana Pawlyk: opawlyk@militarytimes.com. Today's Top 5 1. Persian Gulf leaders to press Obama to strengthen U.S. security relationship (Washington Post) Persian Gulf leaders, set to convene at a Camp David summit this week, are pressing President Obama to strengthen the U.S. security relationship with the region and expand military assurances to address their growing concerns about Iran, U.S. and regional officials said. 2. After Kobani Victory, Troops Feel ISIS Threat at Home (U.S. News and World Report) For those Americans who contributed to retaking the town from the Islamic State group, also known as ISIS or ISIL, the triumph is laced with the bittersweet reminder that such an amorphous conflict likely isn't nearing an end, nor will it culminate in ticker-tape parades of red, white and blue. 3. U.S. officials fuming over Hersh account of Osama bin Laden raid (Politico) One of America's most revered investigative journalists has questioned the veracity of one of the Obama administration's proudest achievements - and the firestorm of criticism has been immediate and unforgiving, from the White House to the Pentagon to the CIA. 4. Kerry, Seeking Answers on Conflict in Syria, to Meet With Putin (New York Times) Secretary of State John Kerry traveled to Russia on Monday to meet with President Vladimir V. Putin and discuss whether it is possible for the two sides to work together on a political solution for the conflict in Syria, American officials said. 5. New Arab coalition discusses coming together to intervene in Libya (McClatchy) Three years after the toppling of Moammar Gadhafi, the military chiefs of seven Arab countries are expected to meet in Cairo next week to discuss whether they should intervene in Libya, which is split between two governments, controlled by rival militias and home now to a blossoming Islamic State affiliate. Advertisement Nepal earthquakes Four killed, buildings collapse in fresh Nepal earthquake (Reuters) At least four people were killed in a central Nepal town on Tuesday after a 7.3 earthquake shook the Himalayan nation, just weeks after a devastating temblor killed more than 8,000 people and damaged hundreds of thousands of buildings. Yemen Intense clashes in Yemen endanger prospects of humanitarian cease-fire (Washington Post) Clashes between Yemen's Houthi rebels and a Saudi-led alliance intensified Monday ahead of a planned humanitarian cease-fire, with coalition air raids pounding targets in Yemen's capital and the Houthis claiming to have downed a Moroccan fighter jet in the north. Did Malaysia Just Join the Saudi-Led Coalition in Yemen? (The Diplomat) According to the report, Malaysian forces arrived on Sunday at Saudi air bases to join Riyadh's military coalition. 4 Yemen al-Qaida leaders killed in suspected US drone strike (Associated Press) Islamic militant websites say four leading members of Yemen's al-Qaida branch have been killed in a suspected U.S. drone strike the previous day in an eastern Yemen province. Islamic State Iraq Counts on Magic Wands to Stop ISIS (Daily Beast) Despite warnings they didn't work, Baghdad bought $85 million worth of gadgets that supposedly detect explosives. Today, two years after the British con man who sold them was jailed, Iraqi police are still waving them around. Destroyed ISIS targets: vehicles, ships, aircraft, more (Military Times) Tanks, buildings and tactical vehicles are among the top targets hit by U.S. and coalition aircraft in the airstrike campaign in Iraq and Syria that is now entering its 10th month. A new Islamic State guide says every Western jihadist should carry a condom (Washington Post) The Islamic State has issued an e-book offering guidance to would-be jihadists operating in Western countries. The report, titled "How to Survive in the West: A Mujahid Guide," was circulated on Twitter starting in March and picked up last week by the Middle East Media Research Institute, which monitors jihadist online activity. Playing 'Telephone' With ISIS Central Asia Estimates (The Diplomat) No, there are probably not 4,000 Tajiks in Syria. Iraq says Islamic State demolishes ruins to cover up looting (Associated Press) The videos of Islamic State militants destroying ancient artifacts in Iraq's museums and blowing up 3,000-year-old temples are chilling enough, but one of Iraq's top antiquities officials is now saying the destruction is a cover for an even more sinister activity - the systematic looting of Iraq's cultural heritage. $2.1 Billion Spent & 9 Months In: How Goes the Air War Against ISIS? (Council on Foreign Relations/The National Interest) U.S. officials have gone to great lengths to emphasize the contribution of coalition members in conducting airstrikes against IS, and, in September, even refused to expand the scope of its targets until those partners publicly committed their support. Russia-Ukraine NATO Chief Jens Stoltenberg Says Russia Has Violated Ukraine Cease-fire (Wall Street Journal) The cease-fire agreement in eastern Ukraine is being routinely violated, both sides agree, but Western officials say they don't see any other option for resolving the crisis there peacefully. Advertisement Georgia hosts joint military exercises with U.S. (Reuters) U.S. and Georgian forces began two weeks of military exercises in the South Caucasian republic on Monday, a move that is likely to irritate Georgia's former Soviet master Russia. Ukraine port ready for war as locals steered to bomb shelter (Bloomberg) Ukraine's eastern port of Mariupol is bracing for attack. Lessons From Iraq Help US Troops Train Ukrainians (Daily Signal) At a former Soviet military base outside of the western Ukrainian town of Lviv, about 300 U.S. Army paratroopers from the 173rd Airborne Brigade, which is based in Vicenza, Italy, are training the Ukrainian National Guard. Hammer and sick of It: Ukraine tries to ditch communist past (Associated Press) A hulking steel statue of a victorious female warrior bearing aloft sword and shield looms in dour majesty over the Ukrainian capital. The Motherland Monument's shield bears the Communist hammer and sickle - but maybe not for much longer. Industry TKMS Commits to $181M Offsets in 4-Ship Deal (Defense News) After more than five years of negotiations, Israel's Ministry of Defense hailed "maximum achievements" in a€430 million corvette package signed Monday with the German government and its strategic shipyard in Kiel. Aerojet Rocketdyne, others look at keeping Atlas 5 rocket in use (Reuters) Aerojet Rocketdyne and two other firms on Monday said they are exploring options for obtaining the data rights to the Atlas 5 launch vehicle and swapping out its Russian-built engine with the AR1 engine that Aerojet Rocketdyne is developing. UK Set To Start C-130J Upgrade Flight Tests (Defense News) A Royal Air Force C-130J Hercules is set to take to the air in the next few days to recommence trials of a major upgrade to the aircraft that is so late it has already been rolled into a subsequent improvement program. France could sell those Russian Mistral warships to China (Business Insider) The ongoing saga over France's potential sale of two Mistral-class helicopter carriers to Russia took a new turn Monday with Chinese media reporting that representatives from the French in Shanghai could propose a deal to sell the warships to China. SH-60B ends 30 years of service as USN transitions to MH-60R (IHS Jane's 360) The US Navy (USN) on 11 May marked the retirement of the Sikorsky SH-60B Sea Hawk anti-submarine warfare (ASW) helicopter at Naval Air Station North Island in Coronado, California. France Offers Subs, Cruise Missiles to Poland (Defense News) Following an announcement by Tomasz Siemoniak, Poland's deputy prime minister and defense minister, that the government aims to buy cruise missiles for three new submarines it plans to buy, France has offered to supply its Missile de Croisiere Naval should Warsaw opt for French-designed Scorpene subs. ARC seeks to boost its relevance with V-22 acquisition (IHS Jane's 360) India's Aviation Research Centre (ARC), responsible for electronic surveillance and signals intelligence along the country's borders with Pakistan and China, wants to acquire Bell-Boeing V-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft to augment its operational capabilities. Deal Will Bring Selex Infrared Tech to US (Defense News) As the market grows for infrared search and track (IRST) sensors that can function like radars on fighters, one American firm has signed a deal with a European counterpart that will bring to the US infrared technologies already honed on the Eurofighter. Air Force: SpaceX certification expected next month (Air Force Times) The Air Force expects to certify SpaceX no later than June to compete for space launches, under an updated agreement that streamlines the certification process. Manpack radios to slim down (C4ISR & Networks) The Army is moving forward with a fresh round of acquisitions for its multichannel portable Manpack radio which will call for lighter weight and greater battery life. Elbit Touts New ISTAR Capability (Defense News) Israel's Elbit Systems has launched a new division aimed at riding what executives here say is the next big wave to hit the intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance (ISTAR) market: the ability to traverse space and time. Iberia readies final Saudi MRTT for delivery later this year (IHS Jane's 360) What is believed to be the last of the six Airbus Defence and Space A330-200 MultiRole Tanker Transport (MRTT) aircraft for the Royal Saudi Air Force (RSAF) has been spotted leaving the plant of converters Iberia Mantenimiento near Madrid Barajas airport. A brief history of time (and navigation) (C4ISR & Networks) How navigation technology hass evolved from ancient times to now. Lithuania Says Deal Reached to Buy German Howitzers (Sputnik News) The Lithuanian military claims that the German artillery systems will significantly boost the combat capabilities of the country's army and increase the distance of its firepower. Congress House GOP lending amendment draws White House ire (Military Times) The White House is accusing some House Republicans of looking out for payday lenders instead of military families with new rules restrictions under consideration in this week's defense authorization bill debate. GOP senator presses DOD on sports promotions (The Hill) Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) is demanding answers from the Defense Department following reports that the Pentagon spent $5.4 million in federal funds to 14 NFL teams from 2011 to 2014 to honor service members during games. Pentagon's Budget, Middle East Summit Add Up to A Big Week in Washington (DefenseOne) The House and Senate take up their respective defense authorization bills while the White House welcomes Gulf leaders for a two-day summit at Camp David. Senate passes resolution for release of Americans in Iran (Associated Press) The Senate on Monday unanimously passed a resolution calling on Iranian officials to immediately release three Americans held in Iran and help locate a fourth. Does Congress really listen to what the intelligence community says threatens America? (Aki Peritz in The Washington Post) Lawmakers and national security officials don't seem to be paying attention to each other anymore. Fraternal Order of Police pushing back on police 'militarization' bill (St. Louis Post-Dispatch) The Fraternal Order of Police, the world's largest organization of law enforcement officers, is objecting to parts of Sen. Claire McCaskill's bill coordinating federal programs on the use of surplus military equipment and other aid to local police departments. Veterans Bill to cut veterans' education benefits sparks furor (San Antonio Express-News) The Legislature is poised to restrict the number of veterans' dependents who qualify for free tuition at state colleges, a change that supporters say will reduce heavy financial losses at the schools but that veterans groups slam as a betrayal. Starting in business: Advice from veterans & pros (Medill News Service) Going from service member to CEO is a more natural transition than many veterans realize. A large support network has sprung up to help vets start their own businesses, but many don't know it exists. Lawsuit blames Phoenix VA hospital for veteran's suicide (Arizona Republic) The lawsuit says U.S. Army veteran Gene Spencer was at the Phoenix VA Medical Center on Oct. 5, 2012, when a physician told him cancer had metastasized in his lungs and he should go home to prepare for the end. Veterans Battle for Jobs on the Home Front (New York Times) Recently, in the midst of an effort to persuade store managers to hire veterans, I talked to a human resources executive at a major retail chain. She told me she wanted to do the right thing and hire veterans, but added that she was also concerned by reports that many had returned home with post-traumatic stress disorder and other problems. She worried that a veteran could possibly pose a threat to customers and other employees. Court overturns conviction of sabotage against nun, Army veterans (Reuters) An 85-year-old nun and two Army veterans sent to prison after breaking into a U.S. defense site for storing enriched uranium for nuclear bombs did not commit sabotage and should be re-sentenced, an appeals court has ruled. The VA's Hepatitis C Problem (Newsweek) Martin Dames is a highly decorated veteran of the Vietnam War. He received the Bronze Star for heroism in the combat zone and three Purple Hearts for injuries he suffered while fighting. He made it out alive, only to find out years later that those combat wounds got him infected with the hepatitis C virus (HCV), a deadly blood-borne pathogen discovered in 1989 that claims about 19,000 lives annually, a large number of them veterans. That number is growing every year. VA awards $93 million in SSVF grants (Herald Independent ) Secretary of Veterans Affairs Robert A. McDonald announced the award of nearly $93 million in Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) three-year grants that will help approximately 45,000 homeless and at-risk veterans and their families. Defense Department & National Security Defense bill mandates huge cuts in DoD HQ workforces (Federal Times) The Defense Department would be required to cut its headquarters budget and personnel by 20 percent over the next few years, under legislation to be voted on in the House this week. US Cyber Commander: Hackers Will 'Pay a Price' (Defense News) US deterrents to cyber attacks could include a range of responses, including conventional force and economic sanctions, the chief of US Cyber Command said Monday. Arms control advocates rally to prevent development of killer robots (McClatchy) In the world of high-tech robotics, the idea that a human operator would be considered a selling point seems anachronistic. But a growing movement of diplomats, arms control campaigners and international humanitarian law experts have begun pressing the United Nations to move now to ban what they fear is the next step in mankind's pursuit of ways to destroy his fellow man: killer robots that can be programmed in advance to recognize a target, then pull the trigger on their own without any human intervention. JBC-P unties commanders from network limits (C4ISR & Networks) Maneuver commanders can expect to stop worrying about network limitations as the Joint Battle Command - Platform becomes more and more capable, said COL Mark Elliott, director of LandWarNet Mission Command. Former CIA Officer Jeffrey Sterling Sentenced to 3 1/2 Years for Leak to Times Reporte (NBC News) A former CIA officer was sentenced Monday to 3 ½ years in prison for leaking details of a secret mission to thwart Iran's nuclear ambitions, a sentence that was received with a measure of relief from his legal team and paled in comparison to the decades-long term that had been on the table. Pentagon Reports On China's Satellite Killers (Breaking Defense) From space weapons to armed drones, Chinese technology is accelerating into worrying new arenas, warns the Pentagon's annual report on Chinese military power. But that doesn't mean China is overtaking the US, a leading space expert cautioned, and a panicked over-reaction could drive bad policy. DISA CIO: What's in store for the sustainment center? (C4ISR & Networks) Dave Bennett discusses his ambitions in his new role at DISA. Army Hunter Disputes Alleged Murder Admission by Army Special Forces Major (Military.com) Army Special Forces Maj. Matthew L. Golsteyn allegedly admitted to the CIA that he murdered a suspected Afghan bomb maker and later burned the body to cover up evidence, according to Army documents. The Fighting Season' follows all aspects of Afghan war (Army Times) "The Fighting Season," a six-part docu-series produced by Ricky Schroder that debuts May 19 on DirecTV's Audience Channel (Channel 239, 9 p.m. Eastern/Pacific), does both, granting access to the operational and the tactical, the election security and the night raids, the politics and the profanity, over a three-month span in Afghanistan in the spring of 2014. Fort Bliss sustainment brigade changes name, gets ready to deploy to Afghanistan (El Paso Times) The name has changed, but the mission is staying the same. The 15th Sustainment Brigade reflagged, or changed its name, last week to the 1st Armored Division Sustainment Brigade during a ceremony in front of about 200 military and civilian dignitaries. At West Point, warriors are shaped through Plutarch and Shakespeare (Los Angeles Times) So crisp in the morning light they were, nine cadets, dressed in fatigues and sand-colored boots, hearing the curious news that the poet would outlive the warrior. Shakespeare's rhyme lingered as if a sacrilege on a campus where soldiers have been mythologized for generations and graduates have been pressed into heroes and presidents. How the Army Is Trying To Predict-and Prevent-the Next Suicide (NextGov) There's more than just $65 million riding on a five-year effort to locate at-risk soldiers and get them the help they need before it's too late. Navy Navy Sustains Strong Presence in Straits of Hormuz after Iran Tensions (Military.com) The U.S. Navy is maintaining a stepped-up military presence in the Straits of Hormuz following recent tensions with Iran in the region -- a situation which led the U.S. to formally accompany ships through the waterway. Military to Test Floating Seaport During Culebra Koa Exercise (Honolulu Star-Advertiser) Thousands of sailors and Marines, but also Army and Air Force personnel, will participate in exercise Culebra Koa, May 18-21, to practice large-scale expedition- ary operations. The centerpiece of the test is an unlikely Navy vessel. Essex Amphibious Ready Group, 15th MEU Set to Deploy Monday from San Diego (USNI News) The three-ship Essex Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) and the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) will deploy today from Naval Station San Diego, Calif. for a deployment to the Western Pacific and the Middle East. LPGA pro visits Norfolk, hosts clinic for kids (Navy Times) Professional golfer and Navy brat Paula Creamer on Monday visited Norfolk's sailors and families, and gave a free golf clinic to dozens of military kids who participate in "The First Tee," a youth organization that promotes life skills and leadership through golf. Veteran competes on NBC's American Ninja Warrior (The Daily Star-Journal) A Navy veteran who works as a nurse anesthetist can now add television game show contestant to his resume. Air Force The heroics behind combat controller's Air Force Cross, Silver Stars (Air Force Times) The team had been repeatedly warned: Fighters in Helmand Province were different than in other parts of Afghanistan. These Taliban fought until the death. They were better trained, and unafraid of aircraft. He saved 80 lives: Why not the Medal of Honor? (Air Force Times) The Air Force is the only service that does not have a Medal of Honor in the Global War on Terror, and with another airman's heroic action in battle resulting in an Air Force Cross, experts are again asking: What does an airman have to do? Air Force to base Ospreys at Yokota (Air Force Times) The Air Force will station a squadron of CV-22 Ospreys in Japan beginning in 2017, the Defense Department announced Monday. AFA cuts off access to Santa Fe Trail (KOAA5 News) The Air Force Academy will no longer allow people without a Department of Defense-issued ID to use the portion of the Santa Fe Trail that crosses their land, according to a spokesperson for the school. Air Force cadet set for trial in Boulder sex assault case (Boulder Daily Camera) A cadet at the U.S. Air Force Academy accused of raping a fellow cadet while the two were visiting Boulder last year is set for trial in October after entering a plea of not guilty Friday. Marine Corps Military attack helicopter forced to land in RIVER after in-flight emergency (Express.co.UK) The US Marine Corps helicopter was on a routine flight when one of its critical cockpit instruments dropped below normal levels. Corps identifies Marine found dead in Okinawa barracks (Marine Corps Times) Corps officials have identified the Marine who was pronounced dead after she was found unresponsive in her Japan barracks last week. Marine convicted of hazing, has rank reduced (Associated Press) A decorated Marine accused of humiliating and physically abusing those under his command has been convicted of one count of hazing and was sentenced to a reduction in rank, the military said Monday. Marines 'return' pilfered park foliage (San Diego Union-Tribune) For years, a story has circulated that in 1926 or 1927 Marine Maj. Gen. Smedley Butler had offered weekend passes to any Marines who contributed trees and plants to help landscape the barren yard of his new headquarters. Lush landscaping soon began to appear. Marine to compete on 'American Ninja Warrior' (Jacksonville Daily News) Capt. Kristin Dalton, 30, was chosen to compete on a special military episode of NBC's "American Ninja Warrior." Middle East Despite Displeasure With U.S., Saudis Face Long Dependency (New York Times) Persian Gulf leaders, led by King Salman of Saudi Arabia, are sending increasingly public messages of displeasure with the Obama administration over its policies in the Middle East, even as the president seeks to reassure them this week in meetings at Camp David. White House summit is no summit: 4 of 6 countries not sending top leaders: (McClatchy) Though the meeting is being billed as a summit - a meeting of top leaders - only two of the six Gulf counties will send their leaders, Qatar and Bahrain. Shaky Assad Sacks an Intel Chief (Daily Beast) Setbacks on the battlefield and palace intrigues by Iran are rattling the Syrian government to its core. In Sign of Palestinians' Mood, Hamas Wins Vote at a West Bank University (New York Times) The nod to Hamas was broadly interpreted as another indication of just how unpopular President Abbas and his government have become. Europe U.K. Election Result Boosts Royal Navy Ballistic Missile Submarine Program (USNI News) Right up to the moment the polling stations closed at 10 p.m. last Thursday in the U.K., the political pundits were unwavering in their forecasts: neither Prime Minister David Cameron's Conservatives nor the opposition Labour Party wielded enough firepower for an outright win in Britain's 2015 parliamentary elections. Russia, China Grow Closer With New Cyber Agreement (The Atlantic) Xi Jinping's appearance at Vladimir Putin's side at the Victory Parade in Moscow signifies a deepened relationship based on a common adversary: the U.S. Tories Name Not-So-New MoD Team (Defense News) Defence Secretary Michael Fallon and Procurement Minister Philip Dunne will both continue in their pre-election posts under the new government being formed by the ruling Conservative Party following the May 7 general election. Former UK Defense Chief Slams F-35 as 'White Elephant' (DoDBuzz) The United Kingdom's former defense chief is using some colorful language to criticize the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. Dutch F-35 Pilots To Train on Italian M-346 (Defense News) The Netherlands Air Force has struck a deal with Italy to send F-35 pilots to train in Italy on the AleniaAermacchi M-346 jet trainer, officials said on Monday. Czech President Breaks Ranks With Moscow Visit (Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty) When Russia hosted leaders from Cuba's Raul Castro to Zimbabwe's Robert Mugabe for May 9 Victory Day celebrations in Moscow, Czech President Milos Zeman was one of only two EU heads of state in town. Most Romanians OK with mandatory military service (Agerpres) More than half of Romanians, 58.4 percent, believe Romania should reintroduce the mandatory military service, according to a poll conducted by Inscop Research at the request of Adevarul daily. In Belarus, China Seeks Gateway to Europe (The Diplomat) Xi Jinping's visit to Belarus is the latest indication of the strategic importance Eastern Europe has for China. Asia-Pacific Japan Boosts ISR Abilities Across Domains (Defense News) Japan's defense budget for 2015 prioritizes intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) improvements as the Ministry of Defense attempts to bolster, in particular, its ability to protect Japan's far-flung southwestern island chain, Nansei Shoto. China, Russia join forces for joint naval maneuvers in Mediterranean (Los Angeles Times) Neither Russia nor China has one inch of coastline on the Mediterranean Sea, which made their decision to hold their first joint naval maneuvers in Europe's backyard all the more provocative, a pointed demonstration to the West of the global reach of a powerful new alliance being forged by the eastern giants. Bangladesh blogger Ananta Bijoy Das hacked to death (BBC) A secular blogger in Bangladesh has been hacked to death in north-eastern Bangladesh in the third such deadly attack since the start of the year, police say. China Warns Its Soldiers: Wearable Tech Could Leak Secrets (Quartz) The Chinese military said fitness trackers and watches could send private and strategic data to hackers who've gained access to the vulnerable devices. China's (Not So Scary) Drone Army (Breaking Defense) Beijing doesn't need cutting edge tech to get real benefits. While the US is experimenting with highly autonomous and swarming robots, it's worth remembering that the unarmed surveillance version of the Predator drone entered service 20 years ago. Africa Libyan military shells Turkish cargo ship, crew member killed (Reuters) Forces loyal to Libya's internationally recognized government said on Monday they shelled a Turkish ship off the Libyan coast after it was warned not to approach, and one crew member was killed in what Turkey described as a "contemptible attack". Obama's pick to be US ambassador to Somalia turns down nomination (Associated Press) President Obama's pick to be the first U.S. ambassador to Somalia in nearly 25 years is withdrawing her nomination. South African mercenaries' secret war on Boko Haram (The Telegraph) Mercenaries from South Africa have proved quietly decisive in helping the Nigerian military turn around its campaign against Boko Haram, writes Colin Freeman in Abuja. W.H.O. Needs Reforms in Wake of Ebola Crisis, Report Says (New York Times) The World Health Organization needs structural reform and a radical change of culture to enable it to cope with future health emergencies, a panel of experts said in a preliminary report issued Monday that was critical of the agency's delayed reaction to the Ebola crisis. Thousands of refugees pour into Rwanda from Burundi (Washington Post) Two decades after the end of Rwanda's civil war, thousands of refugees are pouring in from neighboring Burundi, seeking refuge from their own volatile political situation. The Americas Jeb Bush Bets Voters Care More About Obama's Iraq Than His Brother's (DefenseOne) With the U.S. public again finding its appetite for intervention, the real question facing Jeb Bush for 2016 is: What would you do about Iraq now? Shell gets approval to try again in Arctic drilling (McClatchy) The Obama administration on Monday conditionally agreed to allow Shell to resume exploring for oil in the Arctic Ocean, three years after safety and environmental violations marred the company's offshore Arctic drilling program. Scott Walker says he will end defense cuts if elected president (The Hill) Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, a potential Republican presidential contender, on Saturday said he supports ending the cuts to defense spending under sequestration. Commentary and Analysis The many problems with Seymour Hersh's Osama bin Laden conspiracy theory (Max Fisher, Vox) Hersh's story is amazing to read, alleging a vast American-Pakistani conspiracy to stage the raid and even to fake high-level diplomatic incidents as a sort of cover. But his allegations are largely supported only by two sources, neither of whom has direct knowledge of what happened, both of whom are retired, and one of whom is anonymous. The story is riven with internal contradictions and inconsistencies. Stop Assaults on Military Campuses (Ashley Anderson and Elizabeth Deutsch in The New York Times) These incidents expose the entrenched sexism that is tolerated at the three military services academies overseen by the Department of Defense - West Point, the Naval Academy and the Air Force Academy. They also help explain repeated reports that the academies have not taken complaints of sexual assault and harassment seriously. Editorial: Why no Air Force Medal of Honor for recent conflicts? (Air Force) The Air Force is the only service that has not awarded a Medal of Honor for the Global War on Terror. Kill Ibrahim? The Pros and Cons of Targeting ISIL's Leadership (Benjamin Runkle in War On The Rocks) For the third time in the last six months, reports are emerging from Iraq that Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the self-proclaimed caliph and leader of the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) has narrowly survived a U.S. airstrike. Preparing for the next war, and always spending that extra billion to do so (Walter Pincus, Washington Post) Last week's celebrations memorializing the end of World War II in Europe should remind us that in the 70 years since victory was declared, this country has been preparing for the next great war while actually fighting smaller ones. The Lessons Obama Could Learn From V-E Day (Josef Joffe, Wall Street Journal) America after World War II practiced containment. U.S. foreign policy now is self-containment. Commentary: A Dear John (McCain) Letter (Harlan Ullman in Defense News) Dear Sen. John McCain: You know as well as anyone, the Department of Defense and the US military are at greater risk today than at any time since Sept. 11. The principal threat is not al-Qaida, Da'esh or a resurgent China or Russia, although a good part of the world remains dangerously unstable. Nor is sequestration, despite its irrationality, the mortal danger, although it will harm the forces. When Is The Right Time To Merge The Army National Guard And Reserve? Never. (Angry Staff Officer in Task & Purpose) The question of whether to merge the Army National Guard the Army Reserve has a long and bitter history in the United states. Can China and the EU Cooperate on International Security? (Greg Austin, The Diplomat) There is ample room for Brussels to deepen the conversation with Beijing on security goals of mutual interest. Commentary: Workforce Challenges to Better Buying Power 3.0 (Alex Haber and Raj Sharma in Defense News) When Acquisition Undersecretary Frank Kendall released Better Buying Power 3.0 last month, he charged the roughly 150,000 DoD acquisition professionals with a mammoth responsibility: Preserve the American military's "technological superiority." To do so, they will have to create operational efficiencies and concrete innovations from 33 pages of text, written from the highest perch in the Pentagon. Is Afghanistan Turning a Corner? (Cicero Magazine ) The news since 2001 from Afghanistan has been steady drumbeat of bleak headlines. With the exception of the occasional "good news" story about advancements in women's rights, much of the news out of Afghanistan follows a predictable pattern - billions of dollars wasted, countless lives lost, barely a budge in improved governance, despite the flood of foreign attention. Editorial: The Right Cooperation Message (Defense News) The United States and many of its allies face the same problem: Costs are growing faster than budgets. Review: A Realist Manifesto? (Frank Hoffman in War On The Rocks) Dueck, an associate professor at George Mason University, offers an alternative grand strategy that should satisfy both realists and conservatives within the GOP. I predict presidential candidates for 2016 will mine this book for its clarion call for strategic change. To forward this e-mail to a friend, click here Click to Unsubscribe from this Newsletter or Customer Service: 1-800-368-5718 or cust-svc@gannettgov.com © 2015 Military Times, a division of Gannett Government Media 6883 Commercial Drive, Springfield, VA 22159