| February 16, 2015 |
THE EARLY BIRD BRIEF |
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Today's Top 5
1. Egypt Conducts Airstrikes on Islamic State Targets in Libya
(New York Times) The Egyptian military said on Monday that it had carried out airstrikes in Libya in retaliation for the beheading of more than a dozen Egyptian Christians by a branch of the Islamic State extremist group there.
2. Your new SecDef: What you need to know
(Military Times) The Senate overwhelmingly approved Ash Carter as the new defense secretary Thursday, clearing the way for him to take over the Defense Department's top job.
3. Iraq's pro-Iranian Shiite militias lead the war against the Islamic State
(Washington Post) Shiite militias backed by Iran are increasingly taking the lead in Iraq's fight against the Islamic State, threatening to undermine U.S. strategies intended to bolster the central government, rebuild the Iraqi army and promote reconciliation with the country's embittered Sunni minority.
4. Panel: Beef up troops' financial literacy
(Military Times) Service members need better and more frequent financial literacy training - to the tune of about $400 million over the next five years, a congressional commission has recommended.
5. The anatomy of a failed hostage rescue deep in Islamic State territory
(Washington Post) On the evening of Thursday, June 26, the Pentagon sent a bold hostage rescue plan to the White House for approval. Dozens of Special Operations forces would fly into Syria under the barest sliver of moonlight, set down in the heart of Islamic State territory and snatch four Americans being held by the militants.
Defense News with Vago Muradian
Carter's Top Priorities
(Defense News) Our roundtable of experts discuss Ash Carter's priorities as SecDef and the prospects for DoD's 2016 budget request on Capitol Hill.
Cutting Defense Programs
(Defense News) Our roundtable of experts discuss DoD's 2016 budget request on Capitol Hill.
Future of OCO Funding
(Defense News) Our roundtable of experts discusses the Overseas Contingency Operating fund.
Vago's Notebook: Carter Faces Many Challenges
(Defense News) New Defense Secretary Ash Carter must move fast to drive change.
Congress
For Carter, Plenty of Advice from Hill
(Defense News) There's no shortage of advice on Capitol Hill for the new defense secretary, and members have some rather lofty expectations.
Rep. Duncan Hunter: Strip secretary's power to revoke medals
(Military Times) U.S. Rep. Duncan Hunter tells Army Times he intends to introduce legislation that would strip service secretaries of the power to revoke awards from their troops.
Lawmakers query State, DoD on order to destroy Marine weapons in Yemen
(Marine Corps Times) Eight congressmen with military ties signed a letter sent to the heads of the departments of State and Defense pointedly questioning responsibility for the hasty departure of a Marine embassy security guard detachment from Yemen's capital this week, and reports that weapons and vehicles left behind were seized by Shiite rebels.
Boehner says he's willing to let DHS funding run out
(USA Today) House Speaker John Boehner said Sunday he's "certainly" willing to allow counter-terrorism funding to run out at the end of the month if the Senate won't take up a House bill blocking President Obama's immigration policies.
John McCain: Don't handcuff president
(Politico) Sen. John McCain said Sunday he opposes any ISIL war resolution that puts limits on the power of the president, saying on "Meet the Press" that such restrictions were "unconstitutional."
2 Dems seek end of 2001 authorization for military force
(Associated Press) Two Democratic senators want to terminate legislation approving the use of military force against perpetrators of the Sept. 11 attacks - effective in three years.
Elizabeth Warren takes care of defense business back home
(Politico) Elizabeth Warren's standing as a liberal warrior immune to the influence of Big Business hasn't stopped her from pushing the interests of major defense contractors back home.
Transgender Navy SEAL to primary Steny Hoyer
(The Hill) Kristin Beck, a transgender former Navy SEAL, is mounting a challenge against the second-ranking Democrat in the House.
Industry
Exportable Predator Sets 40-hour Endurance Limit
(Defense News) The export version of General Atomics' Predator UAV, the "XP" model, conducted a 40-hour test flight, the company announced Thursday.
SOCOM asks for tripwire motion sensors
(C4ISR & Networks) U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM) wants a camera with motion sensing capabilities that can be placed in front of friendly positions.
KAI-Lockheed Sole Bidder for Korean Fighter
(Defense News) The mega-competition to build South Korea's indigenous fighter jet, dubbed KF-X, kicked off on Feb. 9. But the first round of bidding in the country's largest-ever arms procurement deal failed due to an insufficient number of participants.
Pentagon sees FY16 weapons boost sustained through 2020
(Bloomberg) Inflation-adjusted increase of 13% from FY2015, or $20.4b, for weapons and research is "not the high point" or "a one-time peak" for weapons spending, DoD Comptroller Michael McCord says in briefing to reporters.
French Arms Exports Hit €8 Billion in 2014
(Defense News) France last year secured arms exports worth an estimated €8.06 billion ($9.1 billion), a level not seen since 2009, and this year is expected to continue that firm path, procurement chief Laurent Collet-Billon said on Feb. 9.
GenCorp CEO to head Aerojet Rocketdyne after Boley departure
(Reuters) GenCorp Inc on Friday said Warren Boley has left his position as president of the company's Aerojet Rocketdyne unit, and Scott Seymour would assume that role while continuing to serve as chief executive and president of the parent company.
Egypt Agrees to Buy French Rafales
(Defense News) Egypt has told French President Francois Hollande of the decision to buy 24 Rafale fighter jets and a multimission frigate, with a contract signing to be held in Cairo on Monday, the Elysee president's office said in a statement Thursday.
Defense Industry Pessimistic About Procurement Reforms
(National Defense) Contractors for years have pushed for business reforms that, they argue, will save the Pentagon money and accelerate the development of new systems. The industry's incessant drumbeat: Pentagon red tape thwarts innovation and there is little incentive for companies to invest private funding in defense technology.
BAE takes shipboard comms contract
(C4ISR & Networks) BAE has been awarded a contract to support communications for 13 Navy warships.
Finland Brushes Off Russian Overtures
(Defense News) Finland has further distanced itself from a standing Russian offer to develop a defense-industrial relationship following Defense Minister Carl Haglund's remarks that Russian fighter aircraft technologies are "untrustworthy."
Russia Wins Back China Deal By Annexing Pesky Shipyard
(Defense Industry Daily) It appears Russia is selling Zubr hovercrafts to China, although the last two units in the contract were already to be built in China, so the project is largely a technology transfer to spin up Chinese shipbuilding capacity.
In France, Relief Over Rafale Sale to Egypt
(Defense News) France appears to have won precious time on the Rafale program, with Egypt buying the twinjet fighters in an arms package worth €5.2 billion (US $5.9 billion), relieving domestic budgetary pressure.
Veterans
VA chief: Employees being held 'accountable'
(The Hill) Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Robert McDonald said Sunday that he is holding employees of his agency more responsible for their treatment of veterans after a scandal that engulfed the department last year.
Purple Heart recipient gets keys to free home in Va.
(The Daily Press) Retired Staff Sgt. Dominic Perrotte, wife Kayla and their 2-year-old son walked through their new home for the first time Friday.
Giffords, husband return Navy vet's uniform to family
( The Arizona Republic) Illinois residents Penny and David Welch had scheduled a getaway to Arizona for February. It would be a regular trip to visit some of David's relatives in the Tucson area - and also a welcome escape from the winter chill of their Sugar Grove home, about an hour west of Chicago.
37 years later, family of slain veteran hopes for justice
(The Island Packet ) Nearly 40 years after their father was killed on a Beaufort County highway one February night, sisters Mary Jane Cody and Trish Wardroup still have hope the person responsible will be found.
Chronology: Women's long history in the military
(San Diego Union-Tribune) Women have served in every major war in U.S. history. After proving their utility in combat, opportunities for female troops usually expanded following each conflict.
3 wars and a lasting love story: Maine couple's romance endures
(Bangor Daily News) Ben Willard gazes at a photo more than a half century old, smiles, and shakes his head. "She was gorgeous," he says, softly, describing the picture that accompanies the newspaper wedding announcement of Dorothea Pratt. "Just gorgeous." Nearby, the girl in the photo - now Dottie Willard, as she has been for the past 58 years - beams proudly.
CrossFit event raises awareness of veteran suicides
(Victoria Advocate) On Feb. 22, Crossroads residents can help support veterans by participating in one of two CrossFit events.
A veteran's dream, realized
(San Diego Union-Tribune) What was needed was a place for vets groups to hold meetings, classes, counseling sessions and celebrations. That's what Chuck Atkinson argued before the Oceanside City Council back in 2006.
Mystery photo unseen for 30 years may show Civil War gunship
(Associated Press) John Potter says he was browsing for antiques at a yard sale in south Georgia when he came across an old picture frame containing an enigmatic image - the dark silhouette of a person in a hat and coat standing to one side and a long, boxy structure looming in the background.
Defense Department & National Security
DoD spends $84M a year on Viagra, similar meds
(Military Times) A report published online last week by the Washington Free Beacon and picked up by Fox News and the U.K.'s Daily Mail noted that the Pentagon spent more than $500,000 for Viagra in 2014.
How a Homeland Security Shutdown Would Imperil US Cyber Defense
(NextGov) An agency official told House lawmakers a partial shutdown at the Department of Homeland Security would do more than just slow a timely response to critical threats.
Spouses: Hostile tweets produce reverse effect
(Military Times) When Lori Volkman got the tweet and the Facebook message from someone claiming to be CyberCaliphate, she admits to being "pretty scared at first."
Analysts: Carter To Focus on Threats, Hill
(Defense News) Key defense-minded lawmakers are hopeful the incoming defense secretary will force Pentagon reforms, but analysts say domestic politics and crises abroad will dominate his tenure.
DARPA's New Search Engine Puts Google in the Dust
(NextGov) After only one year in use, DARPA's Memex search engine has already played a key role in nearly 20 different investigations.
Army
DoD study: Army aviation plan saves money, less risky
(Army Times) A Defense Department study of the Army's controversial Aviation Restructuring Initiative found the service's plan saves more money and presents less "risk" compared with the National Guard's proposed alternative, according to findings obtained by Army Times.
Army tracks most-wanted fugitives on new website
(Army Times) Army officials officially launched a website tracking the service's top fugitives Wednesday, publishing photos and case details as a way both to inform the public of potential danger and to seek its help in bringing wanted men to justice.
Army's top NCO tells of 'stress' in the force
(Stars & Stripes) Sgt. Maj. Daniel Dailey was sworn in as the new sergeant major of the Army on Jan. 30, becoming the Army's top noncommissioned officer and the service chief's No. 1 adviser on matters affecting enlisted soldiers.
US Army Developing Missile Defense Dashboard
(Army Times) In the worst nightmares of the US military's missileers, a foreign foe hits the homeland with a complex barrage of ballistic and cruise missiles, armed UAVs, decoys and electronic attacks, forcing the nation's stove-piped missile defense systems into a dizzying game of whack-a-mole.
Fort Carson hospital reforms enacted after investigation into care of mental health patient
(Colorado Springs Gazette) A mental health patient's audiotaped encounters with Fort Carson doctors led to a sweeping investigation of Evans Army Community Hospital and a series of reforms in patient care, documents obtained by The Gazette show.
Officer names announced for promotion in March
(Army Times) Active component officers have been selected for promotion in March, the Army announced Friday.
Farewell to Kiowa helicopters for Hawaii Army unit
(The Honolulu Star-Advertiser) It's the end of the flightline for an Army scout helicopter that's flown out of Wheeler Army Airfield for at least 15 years.
Paratroopers to test new ruck
(Army Times) Paratroopers of the 82nd Airborne Division found their two options for rucksacks either too small or too big. So the Army has created a new design that's just right. And while they were at it, Army officials were able to lighten the load and make the rucks easier to access, without having to de-rig.
Navy
Navy brass try to improve ship overhaul schedules
(Navy Times) As the Navy faces a crunch in deployable aircraft and ships spend more time than planned in the yards, the brass are trying to improve predictions about how much time vessels and aircraft need for maintenance.
3-star ratchets up MH-53 inspections to prevent crashes
(Navy Times) The Navy and Marine Corps are more thoroughly inspecting MH-53E Sea Dragons and CH-53E Super Stallions after a board determined standards put in place last year would not significantly reduce risks.
Bismarck officials approve city's name for high-speed Navy vessel
(Associated Press) A Navy-owned ship that will be used to transport troops will soon carry the name of the city of Bismarck.
Mad Foxes' return from their first P-8A deployment
(Navy Times) The sailors of Patrol Squadron 5 are back home as of Thursday for their first deployment with the Navy's shiny new maritime patrol aircraft, a deployment marked by joint training, community outreach, and an international incident with the Chinese.
CNO says ship basing in Australia under consideration
(Navy Times) A new push to expand training and exercises with Australia may soon find sailors based with their Marine brothers in the land Down Under.
Sailor found dead at California base identified
(Associated Press) Navy officials say a service member found dead this week at a California base was a Virginia man who first enlisted in 1995.
Incentives offered for sailors who take key jobs
(Navy Times) For ratings in which the Navy needs to put butts in billets, the service has got money to sweeten the pot. Here's a look at what the Navy's asked for in fiscal year 2016 for special pay, bonuses, and education bucks:
Ex-Navy air boss: F-35s 'essential' for carrier air wings
(Navy Times) Retiring Vice Adm. David H. Buss, who stepped down as the Navy's "air boss" Jan. 22, has guided the Navy's F-35C Lightning II through some difficult times.
The fatal intersection of Navy SEAL Chris Kyle and the Marine veteran who killed him
(Washington Post) The Rough Creek Lodge and Resort is a remote, 11,000-acre luxury vacation spot where Chris Kyle had helped design the rifle range. It was a place where the former Navy SEAL, depicted in the recent movie "American Sniper," hung out with fellow veterans, some of them struggling to find their places in civilian life. They bonded over a shared passion: shooting.
Air Force
Air Force's first female four-star to retire
(Air Force Times) Gen. Janet Wolfenbarger, the Air Force's first female four-star general, will retire this summer, Chief of Staff Gen. Mark Welsh announced on Friday.
Cody to airmen: Speak up before you burn out
(Air Force Times) The words "I can't" are generally not in an airman's vocabulary, but airmen need to let their chain of command know if they are overworked, Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force James Cody says.
Airman nominated for Silver Star for actions in Afghanistan
(Carlsbad Current-Argus) It was like a scene you would watch in a war movie, except somehow, every American soldier came out alive. This is how Kari Tawater described the Afghanistan chain of events that got her brother, Sgt. Kristopher Kyle Parker, nominated for a Silver Star, the third-highest military combat decoration.
A-10s make emergency landing in Amsterdam
(Air Force Times) Two A-10s en route to Germany had to land at Amsterdam on Friday when one of the planes had an in-flight emergency, according to U.S. Air Forces in Europe.
Report: Air Force lab has $500 million impact in NM
(Albuquerque Journal ) Research on lasers, microwaves, satellites and other space technology at Kirtland Air Force Base is generating more than half a billion dollars in economic activity annually in New Mexico, while supporting 3,700 jobs, according to a new report from the University of New Mexico.
AF looking to reserves to train active-duty pilots
(Air Force Times) The Air Force is asking Congress to let it use reserve pilots to train active duty, a move both to increase the number of available instructors and to draw on experienced pilots to train young active-duty fliers.
The Tale Of The Unclaimed T-X Aggressor
(Aviation Week) In the midst of a major budget crunch at the Pentagon, the U.S. Air Force is ill-equipped to explain just how a request for $220.5 million for a "red air" aggressor aircraft got into the fiscal 2016 budget plan sent to Congress Feb. 2.
Airmen outraged after Tyndall nixes 'Taps,' reveille
(Air Force Times) Tyndall Air Force Base in Florida has decided to stop playing "Taps" and reveille in and near residential areas - and airmen are furious.
Air Force major trains for 1,000-mile sled dog race
(Air Force Times) For 36 hours, Maj. Roger Lee led a team of sled dogs over 200 miles of snow and frozen river in air that peaked at 17 degrees and plummeted to 30 -below.
Delaware Air Guard members home, and headed out
(The News Journal) It wasn't the sort of homecoming Americans have become accustomed to seeing the nation's troops receive as they return from overseas wars. There were no crowds, no flags, no fire trucks, no bands or proud dignitaries.
Gen. Welsh Defends F-35 For Close Air Support; Hopes Summit Will 'Reset'
(Breaking Defense) Sequestration. Base closures. Readiness. Modernization. ISIL. Russia. The list of challenges faced by Air Force leaders is long. But none may be more intractable or politically difficult than retiring the A-10 "Warthog" close air support fleet.
Marine Corps
Deadlier rifles and ammo may be on the way
(Marine Corps Times) If the Marine Corps' top marksmanship experts get their way, Marines are going to get a rifle retooled with an array of upgrades that will make them deadlier shooters.
Marines fire Wounded Warrior chief amid investigation
(Marine Corps Times) The commanding officer of the Marine Corps' Wounded Warrior Regiment has been removed from his post, Marine officials confirmed Friday.
Spokesman: Equipment malfunction caused 29 Palms mishap
(Associated Press) Nearly two dozen Marines were treated for exposure to a fire retardant gas Thursday after an extinguishing system accidentally went off in an assault vehicle during a training exercise, but there were no serious injuries, officials said.
New flight rules recommended after Marine's fall from Osprey
(Marine Corps Times) MV-22B Ospreys with a North Carolina squadron are spending more flight hours with their entry ramps securely closed after a Marine's fatal tumble from one of the aircraft last year.
Spec-ops Marines, crisis response units may join forces
(Marine Corps Times) The Marine Corps' new crisis-response forces in Africa and the Middle East may soon begin working with elite special operations teams tasked with teaching them how to best collaborate with special forces in theater.
Corps, FDA: Caffeine powder can be deadly
(Marine Corps Times) Quantico officials have released a Corps-wide warning about the dangers of pure caffeine powder, a teaspoon of which can contain the equivalent of about 25 cups of coffee and result in a dangerous overdose.
Extra space on the America enhances flight ops
(Marine Corps Times) The Navy's newest amphibious assault ship, America, has some of the fleet's most advanced command and control capabilities and electronic warfare technology, but one low-tech asset has won over sailors and Marines who have been underway: space.
Dunford's Marine Corps seabasing plan due soon
(Marine Corps Times) The Marine Corps will, in a matter of weeks, have the first draft of a comprehensive plan for sending Marines to sea on nearly every vessel in the Navy's fleet.
Coast Guard
Coast Guard veteran surprised at receiving honorary chief title
(Times-News, Burlington, N.C.) An 85-year-old Green Level man who received a high honor from the Coast Guard late last year has since been awarded by Gov. Pat McCrory with the Order of the Long Leaf Pine.
Islamic State
Sisi warns of response after Islamic State kills 21 Egyptians in Libya
(Reuters) Islamic State released a video on Sunday that appeared to show the beheadings of 21 Egyptian Christians in Libya and President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi warned that his country would respond to the deaths as it saw fit.
Attack on al-Asad no threat to U.S. troops, Pentagon says
(Military Times) No U.S. troops were injured Friday morning when about 25 Islamic militants dressed in Iraqi army uniforms attacked the perimeter of al-Asad Air Base in Anbar province, Iraq, a defense official said.
Islamic State 'province' in Libya claims capture of town
(Long War Journal) One of the Islamic State's so-called "provinces" in Libya claims to have captured the town of Nawfaliyah. The group has released a photo set showing a large convoy entering the town. The military-style parade likely took place earlier this month. One of the photos can be seen above and the rest are at the end of this article.
Mosul Eye' Claims City 'Quietly Slipping Away' From IS
(Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty) A "drastic social change" is taking place in the Islamic State (IS)-controlled Iraqi city of Mosul following the killing of captured Jordanian pilot Muath al-Kasasbeh, with more and more religious residents expressing resentment and anger toward the militants, a local resident-turned-anonymous blogger has reported.
Afghanistan/Pakistan
Afghanistan Wakes Up To Islamic State Threat
(Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty) After consistently rejecting the idea, Kabul could no longer ignore what self-declared recruiters and fighters had been telling them for months -- the Islamic State (IS) group had indeed arrived in Afghanistan.
Movement of the Taliban in Pakistan suicide assault team attacks Peshawar mosque
(Long War Journal) The Movement of the Taliban in Pakistan claimed responsibility for Friday's suicide assault that targeted a Shiite mosque in the northwestern provincial capital of Peshawar. At least 20 people were reported killed in the deadly attack.
Middle East
Netanyahu Urges 'Mass Immigration' of Jews From Europe
(New York Times) Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel said on Sunday that his government was encouraging a "mass immigration" of Jews from Europe, reopening a contentious debate about Israel's role at a challenging time for European Jews and a month before Israel's national elections.
Sunni Lawmakers Boycott Iraqi Parliament After Killing
(Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty) Iraqi Sunni lawmakers said on February 15 that they were boycotting parliament after the killing of a senior tribal leader blamed on Shi'ite militia.
Houthi rebels in Yemen eye oil-rich province, sparking fears of all-out civil war
(Washington Post) The Shiite insurgents who have toppled Yemen's government are threatening to take over a key oil-producing province to the east of the capital, triggering fears that the country could explode in all-out civil war.
Pending Israeli PM Speech on Iran Raises Ire
(Defense News) As Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's divisive speech to Congress looms, the daylight between Israel and Washington on the Iranian file and their growing ideological rift became increasingly apparent.
UN Security Council to hold emergency meeting on Yemen
(Associated Press) The United Nations Security Council was set to meet in emergency session Sunday evening to vote on a resolution demanding that Shiite rebels relinquish control of Yemen's government, as Arab countries pressed for the use of military force against what they call the rebel group's "illegitimate seizure of power."
Fighting in Yemen kills 16 Shiite rebels, 10 Sunni tribesmen
(Associated Press) Yemeni security and military officials say fighting between Shiite rebels and Sunni tribesmen in the country's south has left 26 dead.
C.I.A. Is Said to Have Bought and Destroyed Iraqi Chemical Weapons
(New York Times) The Central Intelligence Agency, working with American troops during the occupation of Iraq, repeatedly purchased nerve-agent rockets from a secretive Iraqi seller, part of a previously undisclosed effort to ensure that old chemical weapons remaining in Iraq did not fall into the hands of terrorists or militant groups, according to current and former American officials.
Russia-Ukraine
5 Ukrainian security forces killed after ceasefire, army official says
(CNN) Five Ukrainian security forces were killed and 22 wounded in fighting with pro-Russian separatists after a ceasefire between the two sides went into effect at midnight Saturday, a Ukrainian army spokesman told CNN Monday.
Ukraine crisis: Monitors to try to reach Debaltseve
(BBC) Observers are to try again to reach the besieged Ukrainian town of Debaltseve, where fighting has continued despite a ceasefire.
Ukraine rebels disavow ceasefire at encircled town
(Reuters) Ukraine's rebels disavowed a new truce on Sunday hours after it took effect, saying it did not apply to the town where most fighting has taken place in recent weeks.
Russia says it will not release key Ukrainian prisoner
(Associated Press) Russian investigators say there are no grounds to release a key Ukrainian prisoner despite claims by Ukraine's president that she would soon be freed.
Ashamed' Russian Students Ask Ukraine To 'Forgive Us'
(Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty) A group of Russian students has a message for Ukraine: "Forgive us."
Europe
Reports: Police charge 2 in Copenhagen attacks
(USA Today) Danish police have charged two men suspected of helping the gunman who carried out two shooting attacks which killed two people over the weekend in Copenhagen, according to media reports.
NATO's Plans for its Next Force Taking Shape
(Defense News) NATO's Plans for its Next Force Taking Shape
Rallies in Greece, around world ahead of eurozone ministers' bailout talks
(Al Jazeera America) Tens of thousands of people gathered in central Athens on Sunday to support the newly elected government's push for a better deal on Greece's debt. Similar rallies were held in several other Greek cities, and about 40 other anti-austerity demonstrations were planned to show solidarity across Europe and in Australia, Brazil and the United States.
Italian Army Lays Out Future Vision
(Defense News) The Italian Army has launched a strategy and technology blueprint that stresses the role of civilian emergency operations and gives details of planned helicopter and vehicle procurements.
Turkish Indigenous Laser Weapon Advances
(Defense News) Procurement officials have confirmed press reports that Turkish engineers recently successfully tested the first prototype of a laser weapon similar to a US-developed system.
Carnival parade in Germany canceled because of terrorism threat
(Associated Press) Police in the German city of Braunschweig cancelled a popular Carnival street parade on Sunday because of fears of an imminent Islamist terror attack.
Turkey Raises $1.5B from Conscription-Exemption Plan
(Defense News) Turkish authorities announced the government raised an additional $1.5 billion to fund procurement programs through a plan that exempts citizens from conscription for a fee.
Asia-Pacific
Federal judge dismisses lawsuit over U.S. base in Japan
(Associated Press) A federal judge in San Francisco dismissed a lawsuit that sought to stop construction of a U.S. military base in Japan that it said would harm the Okinawa dugong, an endangered marine mammal related to the manatee.
Australia hints at tourism boycott if Indonesia executes two citizens
(Los Angeles Times) Indonesian officials on Friday rebuffed pleas from the Australian government and a top United Nations human rights official to call off the imminent executions of two Australians convicted of attempted drug smuggling a decade ago.
Top China official to face prosecution for corruption
(BBC) Former senior official Su Rong has been expelled from the Chinese Communist Party for corruption and faces prosecution, said the country's top anti-corruption body.
Myanmar says rebel clashes near Chinese border kill dozens
(Associated Press) Battles between Myanmar troops and Kokang rebels near the Chinese border have killed 47 soldiers and wounded more than 70 others, state media said Friday, in a setback for the government as it steps up efforts to sign a nationwide cease-fire with ethnic insurgents.
Africa
U.S. airmen train with African air forces
(Air Force Times) For five days this month, U.S. airmen deployed from New Jersey and Germany to Djibouti to train with airmen there and from Burundi, Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.
Female suicide bomber kills 16 in northeast Nigeria
(Associated Press) A teenage female suicide bomber blew herself up at crowded bus station in northeast Nigeria on Sunday, killing at least 16 and wounding 30 others.
The Americas
Canada Seeks Naval Supply Ship Lease
(Defense News) Canada will look to domestic or international firms to lease commercial vessels as it tries to deal with a capability gap in resupplying warships at sea.
After Criticisms, Obama Speaks Out on Killings of Muslims in N.C.
(Foreign Policy) Following the FBI's decision to investigate the deadly shootings of three Muslim students in North Carolina, President Barack Obama spoke out against religious discrimination in a statement on Friday.
Commentary and Analysis
Column: AUMF Spawns Strange Bedfellows
(Defense News) The national Republican Party is famous for its "big tent" composition. You've got spending hawks, defense hawks, big-government hawks, tax hawks, the social conservatives, the religious right and other factions.
Chuck Hagel's exit much like his tenure: Low-key, Nebraskan
(Omaha World-Herald) Chuck Hagel wrapped up his time at the Pentagon this week in the same understated manner that has marked his two years as defense secretary.
Things a War Correspondent Should Never Say
(Peter Kann in The Wall Street Journal) Amid all the breathless media coverage of the fall of NBC's rock-star anchor, Brian Williams, perhaps one postscript remains to be added. The banished anchor's problem was not just that he exaggerated and lied about his brief foray into a war zone; it is that he chose to talk about it-frequently and egocentrically-at all.
Leon Panetta blasts 'total dysfunction in Washington'
(Politico) "It's the - the total dysfunction in Washington, the fact that so little can be done by the Congress," he said in an interview aired Sunday on CNN's "State of the Union."
The Islamic State Inches Toward a Showdown With the U.S. Marine Corps
(Foreign Policy) After cutting through poorly armed tribal fighters in a nearby town, jihadis are now targeting a remote U.S. training base in western Iraq.
For Those Who Fought In Marjah, It Was More Than Just A Battle
(James Clark in Task & Purpose) Five years ago coalition forces launched the largest military operation in the history of the war in Afghanistan, second only to the initial invasion. It was an all out assault on the Taliban-held city of Marjah spearheaded by the men of 1st and 3rd Battalions, 6th Marine Regiment. I was attached to Bravo Company 1/6 when we inserted into the city in the dead of night via helicopter and documented the operation from that first week of heavy fighting, to the end of the deployment in July 2010.
Corruption in China's Military: One of Many Problems
(Dennis J. Blasko in War On The Rocks) Corruption in the People's Liberation Army (PLA) has been the subject of great attention in the Chinese and international media for several years.
Amid the Brian Williams furor, here's one truth: Tall tales are a common story
(Dave Helling in The Kansas City Star) A public figure rides in the back of an aircraft as it enters hostile airspace.
Political cartoonists face threats worldwide
(Al Jazeera America) Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoonist Jeff MacNelly once said that if political cartoonists couldn't draw, they probably would have become hired assassins - sharp words that underscore the provocative nature of a cartoonist's work.
Military Medical Implications of Future Megacity Operations
(Michael A. Bailey and Colonel John D. Via in Small Wars Journal) Given global urbanization trends, the Army must be prepared to confront challenges arising in megacities to remain a relevant instrument of national power.
Reinventing The Army Via 'Pacific Pathways'
(Breaking Defense) From hunting jungle animals to communicating across the ocean, US Army soldiers learned much in the first Pacific Pathways wargames that Iraq and Afghanistan never taught them. Those exercises are part of the service's effort to reinvent itself as it shrinks, heading from a wartime peak of 570,000 to 450,000 or below.
Dr. Dave's Hypothetical Institute for the Advanced Study of Stupid Shit
(David Betz in War On The Rocks) President Obama's overarching guidance on foreign policy has been reported to be "don't do stupid shit."
A Cautionary Tale of American Intervention
(John Fitzpatrick in Small Wars Journal) The U.S. President is on the horns of a dilemma. On the one hand, the polity is war-weary, the nation's economy is struggling to gain momentum, and many members of Congress are suspicious of executive overreach.
Putin's Frozen Conflicts
(Robert Orttung and Christopher Walker in Foreign Policy) Each of Russia's reform-minded neighbors is plagued by separatism. It's no coincidence.
The Dangerous Perception That Is Hurting The Veterans Community
(Chad Storlie in Task & Purpose) Creating false standards around what should be considered honorable military service hurts veterans and our public image.
Fool Me Twice, Shame on Minsk
(Lionel Beehner in Cicero Magazine) What is our red line in Ukraine? I can't seem to find any mention of one in any of the president's or his senior staff's statements. Closest thing I could find was his former defense secretary telling Der Spiegel, "At some point, we are going to have to draw a line. Based on all kinds of historical lessons, it's better to draw that line earlier rather than later." That's sound advice. So why isn't anybody in the administration listening? All we keep hearing is that there is no military solution to the conflict.
In Case You Missed It
Christian hostages beheaded in Islamic State video
(USA Today) A video purporting to show the mass beheading of Egyptian Christian hostages was released Sunday by militants in Libya claiming loyalty to the Islamic State group.
2 deadly shootings within hours in Copenhagen; manhunt on as police draw parallels to Paris
(Associated Press) A shooting at a free speech event featuring an artist who had caricatured the Prophet Muhammad and a second shooting hours later outside a synagogue left two dead and five police officers wounded in Copenhagen, stirring fears that another terror spree was underway in a European capital a month after 17 people were killed in Paris attacks.
Hundreds of Graves Desecrated at Jewish Cemetery in Eastern France
(Wall Street Journal) As many as 300 graves were desecrated at a Jewish cemetery in eastern France, officials said Sunday, the latest escalation in a wave of anti-Semitic violence in Europe.
Marine sniper Rob Richards interred at Arlington
(Marine Corps Times) A Marine Corps combat veteran who died suddenly last summer after an ugly legal battle with the service's senior leadership was interred at Arlington National Cemetery on Friday during a blustery ceremony attended by the late scout sniper's friends, family and admirers.
Air Force Reserve engineer unit to close
(Shreveport Times) An Air Force Reserve engineer squadron at Barksdale Air Force Base since the closing days of the Vietnam War will close later this year.
Fort Campbell veterinarians honing skills at Nashville Zoo
(Associated Press) At home in Fort Campbell, Army veterinarians mostly treat military working dogs and family pets. But once deployed, they could be called upon to treat just about anything.
FAA unveils drone rules; Obama orders policy for agencies
(USA Today) The Federal Aviation Administration released Sunday its long-awaited proposal for governing small commercial drones, setting a plan for remote-controlled aircraft to share the skies with passenger planes.
Shadow of 2002 Iraq War authorization hangs over 2016 hopefuls
(Associated Press) In 2002, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton cast a vote in favor of the Iraq war that would later come to haunt her presidential campaign.
Army Recruiting and Retention School opening at Fort Knox
(Fayetteville Observer) The move of the Army's Recruiting and Retention School from Fort Jackson, South Carolina, to Fort Knox, Kentucky, is complete.
Bomb-sniffing K9, Marine reunited after tour in Afghanistan
(The Augusta Chronicle) Richmond County Sheriff's Sgt. John Gray and former Marine Cpl. Paul Robbins both became emotional over now-retired bomb dog Max this month, but for different reasons.
'American Sniper' trial: 'I shot them because they wouldn't talk to me.'
(Washington Post) Eddie Ray Routh, who killed former Navy SEAL Chris Kyle and his friend two years ago, said later in his jail cell that he did so because they wouldn't talk to him during a long ride to a rifle range, a witness testified Friday.
Ex-soldier nicknamed Rambo pleads guilty in hit plot on DEA agent
(Associated Press) A former U.S. soldier known as Rambo who was accused of conspiring to kill a federal agent in an $800,000 hit pleaded guilty Friday, agreeing to spend from 10 years to life in prison.
DoD, Twitter work to strengthen accounts
(Military Times) Cyber Caliphate hackers who took over Newsweek's Twitter page did not breach Defense Department networks, the Pentagon said last week.
Soldier wanted for desertion arrested after standoff
(Army Times) Police in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, arrested a soldier wanted for desertion Thursday after the man had barricaded himself in a hotel room for hours.
Love is in the Air, MH-60S Delivers Surprise Engagement
(USNI News) Naval Aircrewman (Helicopter) (AW) Thomas Fint was one of four crew members Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 8 (HSC-8) tasked with the Feb. 7 mission to deliver the MH-60S from North Island Naval Air Station in Coronado to the San Diego Convention Center. The rescue swimmer realized he could turn the short mission into a major milestone: Asking his girlfriend to marry him.
Man admits producing fake military ID cards
(Associated Press) A western New York man has pleaded guilty to producing and possessing counterfeit military identification cards.
A year later, Malmstrom team recovers
(Great Falls Tribune) Airmen at Malmstrom Air Force Base and throughout the nuclear force are "cautiously optimistic" about the changes made so far and the changes still coming in the wake of the cheating investigation that was announced in January 2014.
Pit bulls fight stigma to become service dogs
(Associated Press) When Marine veteran Joe Bonfiglio starts thrashing in his sleep, his pit bull service dog jumps on the bed, climbs on top of him and wakes him to end the flashback.
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