FW: Early Bird Brief

Start by doing what's necessary; then do what's possible;

 and suddenly you are doing the impossible.

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From: no-reply@militarytimes.com
To: rserge1@outlook.com
Subject: Early Bird Brief
Date: Tue, 5 May 2015 04:45:54 -0600

Having trouble viewing this email? | View it in your browser May 5, 2015 May 5, 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. Dunford tapped for Joint Chiefs chairman, Selva for vice (Military Times) President Obama will announce Tuesday that he will nominated Marine Corps Commandant Gen. Joseph Dunford as the next chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, sources told Military Times. Obama will also announce that he will nominate Air Force Gen. Paul Selva, currently commander of U.S. Transportation Command, to serve as the next vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Stafff, sources said. 2. Exclusive: Pentagon Admits Our Anti-ISIS Strikes Killed Civilians (Daily Beast) For months, officials have said a relentless bombing campaign in Iraq and Syria isn't killing innocents. But now an internal military investigation concludes otherwise. 3. Racist remark ended general's career (Air Force Times) A racially charged comment forced Maj. Gen. Michael Keltz to resign last week, according to Air Education and Training Command. 4. ISIS claims responsibility for Texas shooting, threatens more attacks (CNN) ISIS has claimed responsibility for the attack outside the Prophet Mohammed cartoon contest in Garland, Texas -- and warned of more attacks to come. It is believed to be the first time that the group has claimed to have carried out an attack in the U.S. 5. Pentagon accused of withholding sex crimes info (Associated Press) The number of sex-related crimes occurring in U.S. military communities is far greater than the Defense Department has publicly reported, a U.S. senator said Monday in a scathing critique that asserts the Pentagon has refused to provide her information about sexual assaults at several major bases. Advertisement Yemen Airstrikes hit Yemen airports as Saudis ponder cease-fire (Al Jazeera America) Heavy Saudi-led airstrikes targeted several airports Monday across Yemen even as the kingdom's foreign minister said officials were considering a cease-fire to allow aid into the Arab world's poorest country, while Senegal announced it would be contributing troops to back the Saudi-led coalition. State: US trying to get Marshall Islands ship back from Iran (The Hill) The U.S. is trying to secure the release of a Marshall Islands-flagged ship from Iran, which has become the latest thorn in the U.S.-Iran relationship as both sides inch closer to a June 30 deadline for a nuclear deal. Islamic State Fertilizer, Also Suited for Bombs, Flows to ISIS Territory From Turkey (New York Times) The open transport of ammonium nitrate into Islamic State territory points to lingering questions about Turkey's commitment to isolating its jihadist neighbors. Yet for the people here, the cross-border trade offers some relief in an economy that has been battered by the war in Syria. $500M US program to train anti-Islamic State fighters appears stalled (Tribune News Service) Eleven months after President Barack Obama announced plans to arm opposition fighters to confront Islamic State militants in war-torn Syria, the $500 million program to train a proxy force has yet to begin, raising questions about its viability and effectiveness. Iraqi city still a ghost town a month after defeat of IS (Associated Press) Iraqi government forces drove the Islamic State group out of Abu Mustafa's hometown of Tikrit over a month ago, but he has yet to return, fearing the Shiite militias that now patrol its bombed and battered streets. Russia-Ukraine Germany-based Stryker brigade gets provisional OK for more firepower (Stars & Stripes) The 2nd Cavalry Regiment has received initial approval for more powerful guns to mount on the unit's Stryker vehicles, a move that comes after the Vilsek-based unit said it needed higher firepower, U.S. Army Europe said. Ukraine: Mediators set new peace talks as fighting reignites in east (Los Angeles Times) European mediators have called an urgent meeting in Belarus for Wednesday to try to salvage a nearly 3-month-old peace plan for Ukraine, where intense fighting has resumed in recent days and both sides are reported to be gearing up for new offensives. In Ukraine, the Triumph and Tragedy of Battlefield Medicine (Daily Signal) "I could be home relaxing, but I have to be here," he says. "I know the things I'm teaching them will save their lives." In Eastern Ukraine, Doctors Are 'Terrorists' and Antibiotics Are Herbs (Foreign Policy) Hospital 21, in Donetsk's Kievsky district, is only half a mile away from Donetsk's airport - the scene of a four-month-long battle between fighters from the separatist Donetsk People's Republic (DNR) and Ukrainian forces. Industry Turkey's Havelsan to Acquire Quantum3D Assets (Defense News) Turkey's state-controlled military software concern Havelsan will acquire flight simulation assets of US-based Quantum3D, a developer of visual computing solutions, Turkish officials announced. Next-generation of GPS nears testing phase (C4ISR & Networks) The third generation of global positioning system satellites is coming together at Lockheed Martin. Advertisement Russia's new Armata tank makes debut in parade rehearsal (Associated Press) Russia's new Armata tank appeared in public for the first time Monday, rumbling down a broad Moscow avenue on its way to Red Square for the final rehearsal of the Victory Day parade. Debate over UCLASS capabilities increases programme risk, auditors warn (IHS Jane's 360) The US Navy's (USN's) indecisiveness over requirements for its Unmanned Carrier-Launched Airborne Surveillance and Strike (UCLASS) aircraft in the wake of congressional criticism is delaying its development. Company introduces wireless video for aerostats (C4ISR & Networks) Drone Aviation Corp. has developed an integrated wireless system for aerostats. European Tanker Program Close To Issuing RFP (Aviation Week) The Netherlands, Norway and Poland will issue a request for proposals "in days" to Airbus Defense and Space, paving the way for a joint purchase of A330 multi-role tanker transport aircraft. F-35 concurrency cost rises slightly, but trend stabilises (Flightglobal) The Lockheed Martin F-35 Joint Strike Fighter programme's concurrency cost has ticked up by $40 million since last year's estimate by the Pentagon to $1.69 billion, according to a report recently sent to US lawmakers. India tops list of drone-importing nations (IANS) With 22.5 percent the world's unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) imports, between 1985 and 2014, India ranks first among drone-importing nations, followed by United Kingdom and France. Rafale Fighter Jet Negotiations to Start This Month (NDTV) Ahead of French Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian's visit, India on Monday said that negotiations for the procurement of Rafale fighter jets for the Indian Air Force (IAF) will begin this month, and the multi-billion dollar deal will be finalised "as early as possible." Raytheon Awarded $559 Million for SM-3 Block IB Missiles (Seapower) The Missile Defense Agency has awarded Raytheon Co. a contract for fiscal 2015 valued at $559.2 million for Standard Missile-3 Block IBs, which are guided missiles used by the U.S. Navy to provide regional defense against short- to intermediate-range ballistic missile threats. First RAAF JDAM wing kits delivered (Australian Aviation) The first production set of Australian-designed and manufactured range-extending wing kits for the Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) for use by the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) has been delivered. Argentina begins P-3 Orion update (IHS Jane's 360) The Argentine Navy has begun a service-life extension programme for its four Lockheed Martin P-3B Orion maritime patrol fleet. Submarines Resurface as Growth Business (Wall Street Journal) The Swedish-German sub spat is part of a new current for military contractors: Diesel subs have resurfaced as a growth business, thanks to shifting geopolitics and innovation. Congress Lawmakers agree to limit power to revoke valor awards (Army Times) The House Armed Services Committee approved on Wednesday a proposal to restrict service secretaries' ability to revoke valor awards as an amendment to the National Defense Authorization bill. Lawmakers to SecDef: End 'racial-based' hazing now (Army Times) Lawmakers representing the Asian, black and Hispanic caucuses in Congress are calling on the Defense Department to end racial hazing within the military following allegations of a practice called "Racial Thursdays" among a platoon of soldiers in Alaska. Democrats May Delay GOP Defense Bill Until Spending Caps Are Lifted (National Journal) In both chambers, the minority wants to stop the majority from passing bills that skirt or exceed funding caps. Defense bill asks if contractors are gaming bid protests (Federal Times) Lawmakers want to know if Defense Department contractors are gaming the bid protest process, according to language included in the National Defense Authorization Act. Congress, White House on Collision Course Over Guantanamo (DefenseOne) GOP lawmakers are trying to block Obama's last chance to close the prison. McCain backs 401(k)-style military retirement (The Hill) Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman John McCain (R-Ariz.) said Monday that the 2016 defense policy bill will be "revolutionary" for military retirement. Clinton agrees to testify on her emails, Benghazi later this month (McClatchy) Former secretary of state Hillary Clinton agreed Monday to testify on Capitol Hill later this month about using personal email for government business and about the attacks in Benghazi, Libya. GOP lawmaker: Congress may nix plan to arm Kurds (The Hill) Congress may scrap a provision in an upcoming defense policy bill to send weapons directly to Iraq's Sunnis and Kurdish peshmerga in their fight against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS), a senior House Republican said over the weekend. Veterans Caring for veterans: A higher calling (Robert McDonald, Secretary of Veterans Affairs, in Federal Times) At VA, we're reminded every day of veterans' outsized contributions to our country. It's our pride and privilege to care for those "who shall have borne the battle," in Lincoln's famous words. Without question, it's the best, most inspiring mission in government, serving for the best, most deserving people in the nation. Local veterans are marking anniversary of first Iraq war as it turns 25 this year (Daily Journal) This year is the 25th anniversary of the Persian Gulf War and veterans across the country are marking the anniversary. Cordial no more: Lawmakers unhappy with VA's McDonald (Stars & Stripes) As subpoenas fly, the cordial correspondence between lawmakers and VA Secretary Bob McDonald is turning ugly. Suicide rates increasing for both veterans and nonveterans (MedicalXpress) Veterans who used services provided by the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) had much lower suicide rates than veterans who did not use those services, according to a new analysis of a decade of suicide data. Veterans face losing food stamp benefits (Politico) With unemployment lower than it has been in seven years, federal lawmakers are looking forward to the end of a waiver that gave single adults long-term access to food stamps even if they weren't working. Illinois medical marijuana approved for PTSD (Associated Press) An Illinois advisory board has voted to recommend that post-traumatic stress disorder among military veterans be added to the list of qualifying conditions in the state's medical marijuana program. Veteran Tells Congress VA Fails at Providing Maternity Care (Military.com) When combat-wounded veteran Dawn Halfaker learned she was pregnant, she thought that the Department of Veterans Affairs would help coordinate her care and pay related bills. Bush wants to privatize some veterans' health benefits, but in Florida it didn't go so well (CNN) Jeb Bush's effort as governor to partially privatize veterans health care services in Florida went so poorly it was ended shortly after Bush left office. Veterans issues: Agent Orange pressure mounts (Columbus Dispatch) Pressure is increasing by the day for the Veterans Administration to heed its own commissioned report released in January by the Institute of Medicine that said flight and maintenance crews such as the one that DeSanto was part of were exposed to high levels of dioxin. VA watchdog never finished an inquiry into Aurora hospital (Denver Post) From 2010 through 2014, the internal watchdog at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs issued more than 1,500 reports on the sprawling federal agency - each intended to investigate, improve or fact-check the VA. Another View of Vietnam Veterans (New Yorker) Americans' attitudes toward veterans of the Vietnam War have been characterized by tension between a sense of virtue and a sense of shame. New Vietnam Spy Tale Sheds Light on How the U.S. Lost the War (Newsweek) According to a four-part series published in an obscure Hanoi military journal in April, Pham was a key double agent in an operation that led to the capture or deaths of scores of CIA and U.S. military-controlled spies for nearly a decade during the war. Defense Department & National Security Column: Strikes from manned aircraft draw much less scrutiny than drones (Washington Post) It is time to have a serious discussion about the use of drones - the unmanned weapons directed from far away that the U.S. government calls remotely piloted aircraft. No Top US Acquisition Officials At Paris Air Show; No F-35s Either (Breaking Defense) Frank Kendall, the head of Pentagon acquisition, will not visit the Paris Air Show next month. In contrast to the flurry of senior American leaders who made it to the Farnborough Air Show last year when the F-35 was expected to make its first public appearance overseas, the Paris show looks to be a considerably lower key affair for the United States. Pentagon: Texas has nothing to fear from upcoming military exercises (McClatchy) Defense officials Monday dismissed as "wild speculation" an Internet-fueled claim that a massive summertime exercise called Jade Helm 15 for special operations commandos is a covert operation by President Barack Obama to take over Texas. Why physical standards still dog the fight about women in combat units (Washington Post) Puckett's views are common among combat veterans as the military examines how to integrate women into more combat units. A decades-long ban on women serving in direct ground combat assignments was lifted in January 2013, but top Pentagon officials gave the services until later this year to research whether it should submit requests to keep some jobs closed. Could Cyber Attacks Lead to Nuclear War? (The Diplomat) A co-authored paper, seen in draft by The Diplomat, argues that "cyber weapons and strategies have brought us to a situation of aggravated nuclear instability that needs to be more explicitly and more openly addressed in the diplomacy of leading powers, both in private and in public." National Security a Top Issue for Republicans, Poll Finds (Wall Street Journal) Members of the two political parties are split over which issues are most important for the government to address, with Republicans giving much higher priority to national security issues than do Democrats, a new Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll finds. No evidence Russian hack of White House breached visitor personal data (Washington Post) A senior lawmaker has asked the White House whether the Russian hack of its unclassified computer networks last fall compromised personal data of ordinary Americans that was submitted by e-mail before a White House meeting, tour or social function. Army XVIII Airborne Corps welcomes new commander (Army Times) The XVIII Airborne Corps will welcome a new commanding general Tuesday. Police investigating death of soldier in Alaska (Army Times) Local police are investigating the death of a soldier in Alaska, officials from U.S. Army Alaska said May 4. Viral video: This U.S. soldier refused to give up on an Army road march (Washington Post) In the closing moments of a grueling 12-mile road march, Army Capt. Sarah Cudd fell to her knees. She was exhausted, bowed over by the heavy pack on her back and seemingly unable to continue. NCO vanishes before court-martial on child porn charge (Army Times) A soldier facing court-martial on child pornography and other charges went missing the day before his scheduled courtroom appearance at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, and remains on the loose. Blind active-duty officer plans Ironman triathlon, film (Army Times) As his career in uniform draws to a close, the Army's first blind active-duty officer hopes to continue spreading a simple message: "You can do things that may seem impossible." Fort Knox to show off energy independence at ceremony (Associated Press) Fort Knox will display its ability to operate without external power during a ceremony this week, an achievement expected to save the post $8 million a year and prompted by a crippling ice storm a few years ago. Best Scout Squad competition kicks off Tuesday (Army Times) Nineteen teams will compete this week at Fort Benning, Georgia, for the title of Best Scout Squad. Navy Strike fighter squadron CO fired for 'maltreatment' (Navy Times) The commanding officer of an F/A-18 squadron in California was fired May 2 following accusations he mistreated a sailor. Navy Not Following Marines' Lead in Developing V-22 Osprey Tanker (USNI News) The Navy has no immediate plans to explore using its planned fleet of V-22 Ospreys carrier onboard delivery aircraft to refuel its carrier aircraft, while the Marines are actively looking to include a tanking capability in its own tilt-rotor V-22s by 2017 Hill To Navy: Hurry Up On Rail Guns, Lasers (Breaking Defense) Rail gun bullets move seven times the speed of sound. Laser beams fire at the speed of light. But Pentagon procurement? Not so fast. But with both Congress and the Navy Secretary expressing impatience, the Navy is accelerating its efforts to move both lasers and rail guns from the test phase into the fleet. Inspector General gives Naval Academy passing grades (Capital Gazette) These lapses and others were reported after a routine inspection of the Naval Academy in September. That inspection, however, was most revealing in what it didn't find - significant failures. Blue Angels announce new commanding officer (Pensacola News Journal) The U.S. Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron, or the Blue Angels, announced the appointment of a commanding officer for the 2016 and 2017 seasons at a press conference at the National Museum of Aviation onboard Pensacola Naval Air Station. Navy: Fewer Sexual Assaults in '14, But More Reports (Virginian-Pilot) The Navy appears to be making progress in efforts to prevent and prosecute sexual assault within its ranks, according to data released Friday. Taya Kyle's story: New book serves as next chapter in 'American Sniper' saga (Washington Post) It is one of the most wrenching passages in Taya's new book, "American Wife: A Memoir of Love, War, Faith and Renewal." Released Monday, it covers the life of a family that has been under a microscope ever since the SEAL, credited as the most deadly sniper in U.S. military history, published a memoir in 2012 that was turned into the blockbuster movie "American Sniper." Air Force Recruit dies in Lackland training run (San Antonio Express-News) An Air Force recruit died Monday after collapsing during a physical fitness run during her first week of training at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland. AF foots the bill for credentials that ready you for industry jobs (Air Force Times) The Air Force is going to make it easier for you to get a good job when you become a civilian again. AF, NATO quiet on expanding Incirlik's role in Inherent Resolve (Air Force Times) The head of U.S. European Command is mum on negotiations to base search and rescue crews at an Air Force base in Turkey following pushback from Ankara. Hearings scheduled for two Malmstrom officers (Great Falls Tribune) These charges are the result of an investigation that began in late 2013 and led to the discovery of cheating among missile crew officers at Malmstrom. OSI: Alleged deserter's last known location is Ethiopia (Air Force Times) The Air Force Office of Special Investigations is looking for an alleged deserter whose last known location is in Ethiopia. Wright-Patterson Hospital Low on Patients, Partners with VA (Dayton Daily News) The Medical Center signed a five-year patient-sharing agreement yesterday with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs that will expand the number of VA patients who can seek treatment at the base hospital. Follow these steps to find COOL opportunities (Air Force Times) Interested in the Air Force Credentialing Opportunities On-Line, or Air Force COOL, program? Follow these steps. Marine Corps Army, Marines face new pressure to use same ammunition (Marine Corps Times) The Army and Marine Corps will conduct comprehensive testing this year to determine the viability of adopting common rifle ammunition, a potential cost-cutting initiative that could have serious implications for troops on the battlefield. Marines earn medal for typhoon relief in the Philippines (Marine Corps Times) Marines who rushed to assist people in the Philippines following the deadly 2013 typhoon there are eligible for the Humanitarian Service Medal. USMC Examining Simulated Training Effectiveness, Capability Gaps (USNI News) With a new focus on LVC training, the Marine Corps Training and Education Command (TECOM) is in the midst of several efforts to ensure its LVC training capabilities are supporting the right skills and in the right quantities. Pendleton choppers practice fighting wildfires amid drought (Stars & Stripes) Marine and Navy aircraft practiced fighting wildfires Thursday, scooping up water from Pulgas Lake and dropping it on a nearby hill as smoke from the real thing billowed in the distance. National Guard N.Y. Air National Guard opens new training center (Associated Press) The 108th Attack Squadron of the New York Air National Guard has opened a new $3.5 million facility at Hancock Field near Syracuse to train students to operate the MQ-9 Reaper weapon system. Afghanistan/Pakistan Taliban kill 17 Afghans even as they 'welcome' peace push (Associated Press) Taliban militants who have been waging war on the Afghan government for more than a decade on Monday expressed a willingness to soften their position on a range of issues, an apparent shift that could eventually lead to peace talks. NATO Official Says Afghan Troops Will Prevail In Kunduz (Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty) A NATO official says Afghan security forces will defeat a Taliban insurgency near the northern city of Kunduz that has caused thousands of people to flee their homes. Afghan Talks Agree On Reopening Taliban Political Office (Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty) Afghan government officials and members of the Taliban have agreed that insurgents should open a political office for negotiations. Leveraging Impact Investment in Post-2014 Afghanistan (The Diplomat) Unlocking Afghanistan's very real potential will require significant investment. Foreign Voices Ring Out In Afghan Spring Offensive (Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty) Residents of northeast Afghanistan are accustomed to seeing the launch of the Taliban's annual spring offensive, but there is something foreign to this year's edition. Afghans increasingly frustrated with Ashraf Ghani over security, economy (Los Angeles Times) Ghani's unity government has faced a series of stiff military and economic challenges that have led to increasing disenchantment after the first peaceful transfer of power in Afghanistan's modern history. Middle East Report Cites Shift in Israeli War Doctrine (Defense News) Eyewitness accounts published Monday from last summer's war in Gaza paint a disturbing portrait of overzealous, often indiscriminate fire on the part of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). Syria conflict: Aleppo civilians suffer 'unthinkable atrocities' (BBC) Civilians in Syria's second city of Aleppo are suffering unthinkable atrocities, Amnesty International says. Gulf States Want U.S. Assurances and Weapons in Exchange for Supporting Iran Nuclear Deal (Wall Street Journal) Regional leaders seek quid pro quo of fighters, missile batteries, surveillance equipment. Kerry to visit Saudi Arabia amid regional unrest (The Hill) Secretary of State John Kerry will visit Saudi Arabia later this week for talks with senior government officials about security issues in the region, the State Department announced Monday. Syrian Forces Kill Attackers in Damascus (New York Times) Security forces battled insurgents in a heavily guarded area of Damascus on Monday, killing two attackers as one blew himself up, local news media reported, in a clash that was unusually intense for the center of the capital even after more than four years of war in Syria. In the face of Islamic State successes, al-Qaida adapts, grows stronger (Associated Press) When al-Qaida overran the Yemeni port city of Mukalla last month, the group's commanders immediately struck a deal to share power with the area's tribesmen. No jihadi banners were raised. Al-Qaida even issued a statement denying rumors that it had banned music at parties or men wearing shorts. No One Jailed In Iran For Their Opinions? Many Take To Social Media To Disagree (Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty) Former political prisoners and others were quick to take to social media to dismiss Zarif's claim as a "lie," pointing out that dozens of political prisoners -- including journalists, bloggers, and political activists -- are languishing in Iranian prisons. Israeli Foreign Minister Says He Won't Join Netanyahu's New Government (New York Times) Avigdor Lieberman, Israel's foreign minister, stunned the political establishment Monday by announcing he would not join the next government, leaving Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with two fraught options: a conservative coalition whose razor-thin majority would be inherently unstable, or a unity government riven over how to deal with the state's critical challenges. France, Saudis Warn Against Destabilizing Deal With Iran (Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty) France and Saudi Arabia warned on May 4 that any future nuclear deal between Iran and six major powers must not destabilize the region further and threaten Iran's neighbors. Soldier Becomes Unlikely Face of Ethiopian-Israeli Discontent (New York Times) A slender and boyish-looking Israeli soldier, wearing a skullcap and an army shirt with sleeves too long for him, has become the unlikely and unwitting face of an outburst of anger and violent protests that have shaken Israel. Israeli Soldiers: Lax Rules In Gaza War Led To Indiscriminate Fire (National Public Radio) More than 60 Israeli soldiers who took part in last summer's war in Gaza have offered firsthand combat stories. Many said they felt their orders went too far, leading to indiscriminate fire and Palestinian civilian deaths. Europe Norway Adds $500M To Bolster High North (Defense News) Norway has decided to invest $500 million in two new programs intended to strengthen its military capability in the High North. Under-fire German spy chief says his agency not a 'US tool' (Associated Press) Germany's top spy has rejected opposition charges that the country's foreign intelligence agency acted against national interests in cooperating with U.S. counterparts. Will Russia Field Robo-Soldiers in 5 Years? (The Diplomat) "I think that in about five years we will have the neural interface to control exoskeletons and prostheses through the electric potentials of the brain," according to Aleksander Kulish, head of the medical equipment development and manufacturing department of Russia's United Instrument Manufacturing Corporation (UIMC). Long-shot Miliband now the favorite to become Britain's prime minister (Washington Post) Even before the election campaign began, the verdict was in on Ed Miliband: He was too weak and too weird to be Britain's prime minister. NGOs in Russia suffer as Putin targets 'foreign agents' (Al Jazeera America) Seeing Western meddling in protests against his disputed re-election in 2012 and involvement of U.S.-funded NGOs in the revolution that toppled Ukraine's President Viktor Yanukovych last year, the Kremlin has ratcheted up a campaign to rein in outside forces. Europe Could Be Getting Turkmen Gas By 2020 (The Diplomat) Turkmenistan and Europe are keen to get the gas flowing, but it could just be a pipe dream. EUCOM Chief: Aegis Ashore Site On Track for Operation in Romania (Seapower) The Aegis ballistic missile defense (BMD) site being built in Romania is on track to begin operations later this year, according to the commander of U.S. European Command. Asia-Pacific Problem: China Still Wants Russia's Deadly Su-35 (The National Interest) China still wants the Russian-made Sukhoi Su-35 multirole fighter jet despite launching a new fighter jet last week. U.S. student held in North Korea tells CNN: 'I wanted to be arrested' (CNN) Joo says he crossed into North Korea near the Great Wall of China in Dandong, an area near the border that offers views of the reclusive nation, which tightly controls access for foreign visitors. North Korea might be courting Russia, but China still looms larger (Washington Post) After months of "will he, won't he?" speculation, it's now clear. He won't. Kim Jong Un will not be traveling to Moscow on Saturday for Russia's Victory Day celebrations marking the end of World War II in Europe. Nepalese family braves earthquake-ravaged terrain to bring help home (Al Jazeera America) Whatever help has come has been delivered, often at great physical effort, by a diaspora of family and community members bearing supplies from the outside. Thailand's 87-Year-Old King Makes Rare Appearance (Associated Press) Thailand's revered King Bhumibol Adulyadej made a rare public appearance Tuesday to mark the 65th anniversary of his coronation. Map may hold key to lost World War II bones at Pacific battle site (Los Angeles Times) Unlike in the U.S. military, which tries to recover its dead from war zones, tens of thousands of Japanese soldiers were left where they fell or were interred in crude, often unmarked graves on islands and atolls across the Pacific. Now, pressed by aging war veterans and their families, and assisted by faded maps and photos from U.S. archives, Tokyo is starting to put aside its reluctance to revisit its painful World War II history. Africa John Kerry Lands in Somalia, First-Ever US Secretary of State to Visit (NBC News) John Kerry made an unannounced visit to Somalia on Tuesday - the first U.S. secretary of state ever to travel to the country. On Kerry's visit to Kenya, U.S. pledges extra $45 million to help with refugees (Washington Post) The United States will provide an extra $45 million for the United Nations to help an overwhelmed Kenya cope with 600,000 refugees fleeing civil unrest, terrorism and violence in Somalia and South Sudan, Secretary of State John F. Kerry said Monday. Somalia's government ban al-Shabab name from media (BBC) The Somali government has told media houses to stop referring to militant group al-Shabab by their name. Nigeria's offensive against Boko Haram slowed by landmines (Reuters) Nigeria's military is confident it has Boko Haram cornered, but a final push to clear the Islamist militants from their forest hideouts is being hampered by landmines. Coverage of sect tragedy underlines how far Angola is from press freedom (The Guardian) With world press freedom day on the horizon, blatantly partial reporting on the incident in which police killed members of a sect on Angola's Mount Sumi offers a salutary reminder of the need for journalistic independence. Nigerian military releases photos of freed women and girls (Los Angeles Times) The women and girls sit huddled on one side of a large compound, covered in long flowing gowns, small children huddled close, as two soldiers stand by. The Americas FBI Had Investigated Accused Texas Gunman for Years (Associated Press) Since 2006, the FBI had been investigating Elton Simpson - one of the men suspected in the Texas shootings outside a contest featuring cartoons of the Muslim Prophet Muhammad. Carly Fiorina: 'Yes, I am running for president' (The Week) In an interview on ABC's Good Morning America, Carly Fiorina formally announced that she will seek the Republican presidential nomination in 2016. Canada seeks to block former Gitmo detainee's release (Al Jazeera America) The Canadian government announced Monday that it would seek an emergency stay on bail granted by a Canadian judge to former Guantanamo detainee and Canadian national Omar Khadr, who has spent almost half his life behind bars. Ben Carson Launches 2016 Presidential Campaign (Time) Retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson launched a bid for the Republican presidential nomination, promising to run a different kind of campaign and proving the point with one of the most unusual campaign launches in recent memory. Commentary and Analysis The Military's Problem With Political Correctness (Carl Forsling in Task & Purpose) Being too politically correct prevents us from having honest conversations about those embarrassing the military community. After the fall of the Soviet Union, the U.S. tried to help Russians (Washington Post) Mr. Putin's remarks reflect a deep-seated paranoia. It would be easy to dismiss this kind of rhetoric as intended for domestic consumption, an attempt to whip up support for his war adventure in Ukraine. In part, it is that. But Mr. Putin's assertion that the West has been acting out of a desire to sunder Russia's power and influence is a willful untruth. The Anti-Access Challenge You're Not Thinking About (David Barno and Nora Bensahel in War On The Rocks) When you hear the phrase "anti-access," what region of the world do you think of? Most likely it's the Asia-Pacific. Maybe the Persian Gulf, or if you think a lot about land forces, even Europe. You almost certainly don't think about the Arctic. But in today's world, you unquestionably should. Europe's Next Ukraine Nightmare: A Massive Financial Default (Yuri Poluneev, National Interest ) As the government of Ukraine and the IMF inked the deal, Moody's Investors Service and the Standard & Poors rating agency downgraded Ukraine's credit rating. The bad marks signal the obvious: the loan failed to convince investors that Ukraine can restore its creditworthiness in the near future. 3 Ways The Military Can Improve Recruitment And Retention Rates (Rob Callahan, Task & Purpose) Unfortunately, trends such as the expansion of the Air Force's Aviator Retention Pay program in the year after a drawdown suggest that the deal is not working. But if money isn't enough to fill critical positions in the military, what would be? The Admiral in the Library: The Millions Interviews James Stavridis (Marcia Desanctis, The Millions) "Reading is integral to my life. And I think, in the end, we solve global problems not by launching missiles, it's by launching ideas. So as a tool for understanding the world and for understanding how you can change the world, I find fiction incredibly important." In Yemen, Trying to Save People Without Selling Out (Lara Jakes, Foreign Policy) Yemenis desperately need hundreds of millions of dollars in humanitarian aid being offered by Saudi Arabia. But relief workers are wary of taking the money while Saudi airstrikes continue. Squeezing the Walter Whites of Pyongyang (Soo Kim, Overt Action) Each year, the State Department publishes the International Narcotics Control Strategy Report (INCSR), giving an update on foreign countries' efforts to reduce the production, trafficking, and use of illicit narcotics. This year's INCSR noted an increase in North Korea's production and use of illegal drugs, in particular, methamphetamines or "ice." We can safely assume that the money will be used to fund Pyongyang's not-so-honorable activities, such as its WMD program. The US intelligence community and its international partners need to bolster their efforts to identify and restrict the activities of North Korean drug networks and transactions, thereby cutting off a major source of revenue for the Kim Jong Un regime. Stumbling Into a Wider War (New York Times) It is essential that further expansion of the campaign against ISIS and other militant groups be debated rigorously and openly by Washington and its coalition partners. For one thing, it is dangerous and unwise to assume that "affiliates" pledging support for ISIS are controlled by ISIS, share its resources or can duplicate its ruthless skills. American Declinism Debated (Frank Hoffman in War On The Rocks) In Washington at least, no pastime is more common and American than the debate over whether the United States is in decline. It is fitting that America's most prominent scholar of international power should chime in. In this concise and soothing little booklet, Joseph Nye attempts to convince an increasingly pessimistic world that its reluctant protector, the United States, is not in decline. I doubt readers will be convinced. Instead, this reviewer found Nye's complacency understandable but startling. Iran is no Irrational 'Martyr State' (Josh Cohen in Cicero Magazine) Many American leaders are nonetheless hostile to the possibility of reaching a final deal with Iran. One oft-deployed argument is Tehran is guided overwhelmingly by religious ideology rather than rationality. Winners, losers in $612B defense bill (Martin Matishak, The Hill) The $612 billion defense bill approved by the House Armed Services Committee this week is a major victory for proponents of two jet programs and lawmakers arguing the military must reform its policies on sexual assault. Here's a look at the biggest winners to emerge on the House side, as well as some of the losers. 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