Defense News Early Bird Brief

view email as webpage
COMPILED BY THE EDITORS OF DEFENSE NEWS & MILITARY TIMES
January 31, 2014 EARLY BIRD BRIEF Get the most comprehensive aggregation of defense news delivered by the world's largest independent newsroom covering military and defense. ADVERTISEMENT	ADVERTISEMENT TODAY’S TOP 5 1. Nearly half of missileers at Malmstrom now tied to cheating investigation (Air Force Times) Ninety-two officers are now connected to the cheating investigation at Malmstrom Air Force Base, Mont., the Air Force announced Thursday. 2. Poll: Grim assessment of wars in Iraq, Afghanistan (USA Today)  As two of the nation's longest wars finally end, most Americans have concluded that neither achieved its goals.  3. President Karzai’s Perfidies (New York Times) President Hamid Karzai of Afghanistan seems to have decided that there is nothing lost, and maybe something to be gained, in destroying his relationship with the United States. While such behavior may serve his interests, it does not serve his long-suffering country’s. 4. One year later, military criticized for progress on women in combat (Stars and Stripes) A year after the Pentagon opened combat jobs to female servicemembers, plans for integrating women into these jobs remain problematic, women’s advocates said this week. 5. Panel: Commanders should retain authority in sex assault cases (Military Times) Commanders should retain their authority to prosecute military sexual assault cases, a key subcommittee of a congressionally mandated Pentagon panel has concluded. INDUSTRY Northrop profit, sales top view; eyes higher EPS in 2014 (Reuters) Northrop Grumman Corp (NOC.N), maker of surveillance drones and other military equipment, on Thursday reported higher-than-expected quarterly earnings despite a drop in revenues and said share buybacks would drive earnings per share higher in 2014. Lockheed powers up second GPS III satellite (C4ISR & Networks) Lockheed Martin has powered up the second GPS III satellite. The satellite's power was turned on at the company's GPS III Processing Facility in Denver on December 19, 2013. Raytheon fourth-quarter earnings beat estimates, foreign sales strong (Reuters) U.S. arms maker Raytheon Co (RTN.N) reported higher-than-expected earnings in the fourth quarter on Thursday, although revenues fell short of estimates with U.S. military spending in decline. Lockheed, Army demo capabilities of unmanned vehicle convoys (United Press International) The ability of fully autonomous convoys made up of differing vehicles to operate in urban areas has been demonstrated by Lockheed Martin and the U.S. Army. Turkey Extends Deadline for US, European Missile Bidders (Defense News)  US and European bidders still interested in winning Turkey’s air defense contract now have until April 30 to submit their proposals, following a three-month extension instituted by Turkey. Growing UN Demands Spur Continued Expansion of Ghana Air Force Capabilities (Defense News) The Ghanaian Air Force (GAF) says it will soon acquire an undisclosed number of fixed- and rotary-winged aircraft. These are added to a shopping list that includes Airbus C-295 troop transports, Alenia Aermacchi C-27J Spartan transports, Mil Mi-35M Hind assault helicopters, Cessna Grand Caravan helicopters, HAI Z-9 utility and Airbus AS365 Dauphin utility helicopters to fulfill its airlift contract obligations with UN peacekeeping and stabilization missions across Africa. CONGRESS Issa to probe Navy bribery scandal (The Hill) House Oversight Committee Chairman Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) said Thursday that his committee would investigate the bribery scandal that rocked the Navy and ensnared senior officers. Military-pensions hearing raises alarm on cost of pay (Virginian-Pilot) The uproar last month over changes to military pensions may have worked – senators from both parties indicated Tuesday they want to repeal the measure and put money back into the pockets of working-age retirees. But another message came out of the Senate Armed Services Committee hearing, too: a warning that military pay and benefits can’t continue growing the way they have for the past decade. The Veterans-Benefits Bandwagon Is Getting Mighty Crowded (National Journal) Congress's effort to repeal its own $6 billion cut to veterans benefits has a bizarre problem: It has too much support. DEFENSE DEPARTMENT The Military Has Cataloged Its Ethical Failures, and They're Kind of Awesome (Foreign Policy) Did you hear the one about the first lieutenant who had to pay $120,000 in fines for accepting bribes from contractors he'd awarded with lucrative Defense Department deals? Or the Navy civilian who asked a defense contractor for a $5,000 payment so the contractor could be "recommended" for a $153,000 contract? What about the four senior officials, including two Air Force generals, a Marine general, and a Navy admiral, who extended their stay in Tokyo to play golf at an illegal cost of $3,000 to the government? Do the Military’s Nuclear Operators Need More Incentives? Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel summoned top leaders at the Pentagon on Wednesday to talk about ways to get a handle on the growing spate of scandals within the military’s nuclear enterprise. One possible solution? To give out more incentives and accolades to nuclear force workers who many say feel bored and underappreciated. No Plans In The Works To Close Base Commissaries, Says Top Military Official (KPBS, San Diego) The rumor mill has been circulating the same piece of information for months - that the Department of Defense plans to close all stateside base commissaries. However, Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman Gen. Martin Dempsey is denying the Pentagon has such plans in the works. ARMY Soldiers can use new online tool to get fit (Army Times) ArmyFit was launched by the Comprehensive Soldier and Family Fitness program. It provides videos, information and other resources based on a soldier’s individual needs. Proposed Army plan would cut Florida Guard, Reserve by 10 percent (The Florida Times-Union, Jacksonville, Fla.) The cuts would mean a reduction in force for the Florida arm of the Guard from roughly 10,000 to 9,000 soldiers, as well as a loss of helicopters often used for rescue missions. Fort Bragg soldier found unresponsive in Hope Mills home, later dies (Fayetteville Observer) A soldier with the 82nd Airborne Division was found unresponsive at his Hope Mills home early Tuesday and was later pronounced dead. Fort Carson troops learn how they could wing their way to war (Colorado Springs Gazette) Long tied to missions in Iraq and Afghanistan, troops at Fort Carson are learning a way to fight that will have them winging their way to battle against enemies. The philosophy isn't new; airborne units practiced rapid deployments throughout the Cold War. New rodent lab at Detrick could advance PTSD research (The Frederick News-Post, Md.) The red lights in the Army’s newest lab at Fort Detrick are not designed to set the mood. Rather, they allow human researchers to work without throwing off their subjects’ nocturnal nature. Formerly clandestine unit of Green Berets from Cold War gets public recognition (Fayetteville Observer) Detachment A Berlin Brigade was a clandestine unit of about 90 Green Berets based in West Berlin. They wore civilian clothes, spoke fluent German and stayed on high alert 24 hours a day. A Medal Of Valor, 30 Years In Coming (National Public Radio) The year was 1984: A Soviet defector dashed across the Korean border — chased by North Korean troops. American troops shielded him and opened fire on the North Koreans. There were dead and wounded on both sides. NAVY White House Pushing Against Proposed Pentagon Carrier Cut (US Naval Institute) According to sources familiar with the back and forth, administration officials asked the Pentagon on Wednesday evening to leave carriers alone and look for savings in other parts of the Defense budget.  SSBN Replacement Program Receives First Tester Report (Seapower) The Navy’s program to replace its current force of Ohio-class ballistic-missile submarines received its first analysis by the Pentagon’s test directorate, which is analyzing the Navy’s Early Operational Assessment (EOA) conducted last year. Rogers Nominated To Helm NSA/Cyber Command (Defense News) President Obama has nominated Vice Adm. Michael Rogers, the US Navy’s cyber chief and long viewed as the likely successor to US Cyber Command (CYBERCOM) and National Security Agency (NSA) head Gen. Keith Alexander, to take over for Alexander when he retires later this year, the Defense Department announced late Thursday. AIR FORCE Commission: Move Manpower Into Reserve, Guard Components The US Air Force should look at moving as much manpower into the Reserve and Air National Guard components as possible, according to a new report from a congressionally mandated panel. AFSOC one-star relieved of command amid IG investigation into 'alleged inappropriate relationship' (Air Force Times) The one-star general who was in charge of the Air Force Special Operations Air Warfare Center was relieved of command earlier this month due to “loss of trust and confidence in his leadership,” according to Air Force Special Operations Command. Shaw captain considered a deserter apprehended in Alabama (Air Force Times) U.S. Marshals have arrested a captain from Shaw Air Force Base, S.C., whom the Air Force Office of Special Investigations considers a deserter. 13 more barrels dug up near Kadena schools (Stars and Stripes) The Japan Ministry of Defense said Thursday an additional 13 corroded barrels were found beneath a soccer field adjacent to Kadena Air Base’s primary and intermediate schools. MARINE CORPS The Marine Corps will be faced once again with doing more with less this year (Defense One) The Marine Corps are facing an uphill fight heading into 2014, as budget pressures tied to the Obama administration's sequestration plan will force the Corps to do more with less -- less troops, less training and less equipment -- just as service leaders are preparing to shift fire from the battlefields of Afghanistan to Asia, Africa and elsewhere across the globe. Sochi-Bound Marine Vet Strives for Gold in Paralympics (With Video) (ABC News) Growing up in warm Guadalajara, Mexico, winter cross country skies were not part of any sport for Omar Bermejo. It wasn’t until his family immigrated to Grand Rapids, Mich., that he was introduced to snow and winter sports. “We moved when I was pretty young. I was just about to start high school,” says Bermejo, 31. He loved the snow very much and became a recreational snowboarder. “Being in Michigan you grow up in the snow and I liked that kind of stuff,” he says. Young enlistees prepare for U.S. Marine Corps service at Laurel Highlands YMCA (Pittsburgh Tribune-Review) Jennifer Bensen, a fitness instructor at the Regional Family YMCA of Laurel Highlands, recently volunteered to work with 25 young men and women, as part of a U.S. Marine Corps boot camp training workout at the East Huntingdon facility. VETERANS Online complaints system will police colleges over GI Bill benefits (Stars and Stripes) Federal officials on Thursday launched an online complaints system designed to root out colleges taking advantage of student veterans and their military education benefits. Veterans group says military suicide rate is 'out of control' (Gannett Washington Bureau) Suicide prevention is the No. 1 legislative priority this year for the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, says Paul Rieckhoff, the group’s founder and CEO. A Troubled Marine's Final Fight (Time) His final firefight was on his suburban street 30 miles (48 km) southwest of Chicago, and the enemy was local police. When it ended, he'd traded 17 years in uniform for 16 years behind bars. Fresno teen accused of robbing, beating 92-year-old WWII vet to be tried as adult (The Fresno Bee) Found unfit to be tried as a juvenile, a 16-year-old Fresno boy made his first appearance Wednesday in Fresno County Superior Court in connection with the home-invasion robbery of 92-year-old World War II veteran Josef Martin. AFGHANISTAN Military yanks leash of critical government watchdog (USA Today) In an attempt to blunt a critical audit, U.S. military commanders in Afghanistan praised a hospital built in eastern Afghanistan with $600,000 in U.S. funds, although Army officials thought the hospital was in an area too dangerous to visit for an inspection, documents obtained by USA TODAY show. U.S. Aid to Afghans Flows On Despite Warnings of Misuse (New York Times) With billions of dollars in American aid increasingly flowing straight into Afghan government coffers, the United States hired two global auditing firms three years ago to determine whether Afghanistan could be trusted to safeguard the money. 2 al Qaeda commanders killed in December airstrike in Afghanistan (The Long War Journal) Two al Qaeda operatives who were associated with a top terrorist leader were among seven jihadists killed in a US airstrike along the Afghan-Pakistan border in December 2013. The al Qaeda operatives were traveling with members of the Afghan and Pakistani Taliban. Media: Ex-Canadian Top General in Afghanistan Detained (Defense News) A former Canadian brigadier general and head of Canadian forces in Afghanistan is being detained in Afghanistan for alleged gun smuggling, media said Thursday. VOA Exclusive: Report Shows Afghans Overwhelmingly Against Taliban Rule (Voice of America) A study obtained by VOA shows that Afghan citizens overwhelmingly oppose Taliban rule and believe their living conditions have improved over the last 10 years. After billions in U.S. investment, Afghan roads are falling apart (Washington Post) They look like victims of an insurgent attack — their limbs in need of amputation, their skulls cracked — but the patients who pour daily into the Ghazni Provincial Hospital are casualties of another Afghan crisis. IRAQ To retake cities, Iraq turns to Sunni tribes (Washington Post) In his battle against an al-Qaeda-led insurgency in western Iraq, Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki is providing arms and funds to unnatural bedfellows — Sunni tribesmen who complain of being neglected by his Shiite-dominated government. Fugitive Iraq VP warns Anbar conflict may spread over crackdown on Sunnis (Reuters) Iraq's fugitive vice president warned that an armed stand-off in Anbar province could spread to other parts of the country as Sunni Muslim opposition to Shi'ite Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki grows. Iraq's Abject Lessons for Mexico's Self-Defense Forces (Foreign Policy) Paramilitary groups are growing like weeds in the blood-soaked soil of Mexico's cartel hotspots. Across the country, self-defense groups have banded together to take on the country's cartels, and now the government faces a problem all too familiar to veterans of the American military adventure in Iraq. How to go about bringing these groups under the umbrella of the central government?   Baghdad, Erbil continue their struggle for authority (Al Monitor) What are the prospects of a permanent solution for governing relations between the Iraqi Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) and the federal government in Baghdad? This is a question without an answer in Baghdad or Erbil. With each successive crisis, the two sides exchange accusations and threats, which are followed by conciliation based on the principle of postponing the crisis instead of finding solutions to it. MIDDLE EAST Syria peace talks end first round in deadlock (The Daily Star, Lebanon) A first round of peace talks on Syria wraps up Friday with both sides in entrenched positions and the U.N. mediator expressing frustration that he had not even produced agreement for an aid convoy to rescue trapped civilians in a besieged city. Hagel urges Syria to comply with chemical weapons plan (The Hill) Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel urged Syria on Thursday to comply with a plan to destroy its chemical weapons, after failing to meet several deadlines.  Syria Talks May Yield Little, but Give Cover to Those Defying Hard-Liners (New York Times) The images from spotless, quiet Geneva were striking — Syrian government and opposition figures sitting down together for the first time to discuss ending their country’s war — but inside war-torn Syria, patience wore thin as the talks dragged on with few results. Peace plan would allow 75 percent of Jewish settlers to remain in West Bank, envoy says (Washington Post) Roughly three-quarters of Jewish settlers in the West Bank would be included in redrawn Israeli borders envisioned under U.S.-backed peace negotiations, the lead U.S. envoy told American Jewish leaders on Thursday. ASIA-PACIFIC China Making Air Force Upgrades, U.S. Official Says (Bloomberg) China’s air force is fielding new precision-guided cruise missiles, long-range bombers and conventional and stealth drones in a modernization of its weaponry, according to a U.S. military intelligence official. North Korea: Kim Jong-Un Official Speaks (Sky News) A senior North Korean diplomat has told Sky News that the United States is to blame for the tense situation on the Korean peninsula but relations between the two countries could be "normalised" if Washington gave up its "hostile policy". Will American Troops Return to Philippine Bases? (Foreign Policy) When Typhoon Haiyan cut a devastating swathe of destruction through the central Philippines last November, the U.S. military was among the first to respond. In a matter of weeks and days, the United States delivered nearly 1,000 personnel, 50 ships and aircraft, and tens of millions of dollars of aid to the hardest hit areas. The relief effort was swift and substantial, but so too were the political maneuverings that followed. The Philippines Learns from US Marines (The Maritime Executive) Senior Philippine and US officials observed a maritime domain awareness demonstration at the Philippine Coast Guard Headquarters this week as part of the the first Philippine-US initiative to enhance Philippine security and defense capabilities. COMMENTARY AND ANALYSIS The Army's Combat Vehicle Mood Swings (Daniel Goure in Real Clear Defense) What is it with the U.S. Army and its inability to manage major acquisition programs? The history of Army acquisition over the last twenty plus years is littered with failed attempts to define, develop and build new armored fighting vehicles and tanks. Does anybody remember the Future Combat System (FCS), the system of systems which promised to deploy a set of lightly-armored vehicles that would rely on superior situational awareness and mobility rather than armor for survival? Falling short on Afghanistan (Washington Post Editorial Board) President Obama returned in his State of the Union address to a familiar slogan: The war in Afghanistan “is finally coming to an end.” That, of course, is not true: As 29 million Afghans could testify, there is no end to the conflict in sight. Mr. Obama equates the end of the war with the end of U.S. combat operations. “Together with our allies,” he told Congress on Tuesday, “we will complete our mission there by the end of this year.” Americans Can Be Proud of What Was Achieved in Iraq (Stephen J. Hadley in the Wall Street Journal) Iraq has returned to the headlines, with parts of Ramadi and Fallujah again under al Qaeda control. American servicemen and women who helped liberate these cities are understandably frustrated. Is everything they accomplished in Iraq unraveling? Enable the Warrior-Diplomat (Karl Kadon in War on the Rocks) Given the failed imposition of a centralized counterinsurgency approach to a decentralized problem in Afghanistan, this author would argue that the need for well-trained “warrior-diplomats” is key for future deployments in resource-constrained environments.  COIN doctrine itself was not the problem.  The strategy was the problem. The lack of a clearly defined political endstate gave rise to interagency parochialism and regional interpretations of “progress” and “stability.”

Defense News Early Bird Brief

view email as webpage
COMPILED BY THE EDITORS OF DEFENSE NEWS & MILITARY TIMES
January 30, 2014 EARLY BIRD BRIEF Get the most comprehensive aggregation of defense news delivered by the world's largest independent newsroom covering military and defense. ADVERTISEMENT	ADVERTISEMENT TODAY’S TOP 5 1. U.S. and NATO Plan Afghanistan Force Small Enough for Quick Exit (New York Times) American and NATO military planners, facing continued political uncertainty about whether foreign troops will remain in Afghanistan after December, have drawn up plans to deploy a force this summer that is tailored to assume a training mission in 2015 but is also small enough to withdraw if no deal for an enduring presence is reached, alliance officials said. 2. James: Air Force is addressing 'systemic' problem in nuclear force (Air Force Times) Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James said Wednesday the service will “get to the bottom” of a systemic problem in its nuclear force, where 14 percent of officers reportedly have been at least temporarily removed from active duty after allegations of cheating on a proficiency exam. 3. Dempsey’s Message on Women in Combat: Trust Transcends Gender (Gen. Martin Dempsey in Defense One) In the days following September 11, 2001, women and men took to the seas, to the skies and to the sands in defense of our country. It’s worth noting that women served in combat zones in Afghanistan and Iraq because they were needed. They shared a common commitment to their nation with their male counterparts in squadrons, ships, and squads.  4. No Sign of Political Thaw After State of the Union (Defense News)  There were few signs Wednesday morning that President Barack Obama’s State of the Union address will thaw in the chill that has so stymied the legislative process here.  5. Bunker-Buster Bomb Upgrades Effective, Pentagon’s Tester Says (Bloomberg) Upgrades that let the U.S. military’s most powerful precision-guided bomb hit more deeply buried targets have been successful, according to the Pentagon’s top weapons tester. INDUSTRY Boeing Profits Surge But Tougher 2014 Awaits (Defense News) US aerospace giant Boeing Wednesday reported a big jump in quarterly earnings, but signaled a leaner 2014 profit outlook after last year’s boom. Schumer Headlines Lockheed Rally For USAF Helicopter Program (Intercepts) With the fate of the US Air Force’s Combat Rescue Helicopter (CRH) effort still hanging in the 2015 budget balance, Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., has emerged as one of the program’s most powerful champions. Lockheed Martin to help develop Israeli cyber security companies (IHS Jane's Defence Industry) Lockheed Martin and EMC Israel announced on 27 January that they would launch a new technology incubator organisation to help develop cyber security products in association with Israel's Ben Gurion University. German Defense Producer and Industrial Plant Constructor Team Up (Defense News) Rheinmetall of Düsseldorf and Ferrostaal of Essen have created a joint venture to plan and build industrial facilities. Each company holds 50 percent of Rheinmetall International Engineering. Brazilian P-3AM upgrade to complete in 'coming months' (IHS Jane's Defence Weekly) Airbus Defence and Space (DS) is to deliver back to the Brazilian Air Force (Força Aérea Brasileira) (FAB) "in the coming months" the last of nine Lockheed Martin P-3AM Orion maritime patrol aircraft (MPA) it has been upgrading, an official told IHS Jane's in late January. CONGRESS McCain: SOTU 'empty' on national security (The Hill) Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) on Tuesday criticized President Obama for not fully addressing national security concerns with al Qaeda in his State of the Union address.  Packed hearing explores new accommodations for religious freedom (Stars and Stripes)  House legislators confronted Defense Department officials and chaplains in a heavily attended hearing Wednesday with the question of whether a new DOD policy to ensure religious freedom really does. House spending panel shuffles members (The Hill) The powerful House Appropriations Committee announced Wednesday that it has re-allocated membership in its subcommittees, bringing new faces and new priorities to crucial panels such as the one overseeing defense spending. DNI Clapper Endorses Expedited Supreme Court Ruling on NSA Surveillance (Defense News) Under questioning from a hard-nosed senator, America’s top intelligence official on Wednesday endorsed an expedited Supreme Court ruling on controversial NSA spying programs. DEFENSE DEPARTMENT UAE, Libya Request US Arms Purchases (Defense News) The US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DCSA) has notified Congress that it has approved key foreign military sales to the United Arab Emirates and Libya last week, bring the total worth of approvals to $7.1 billion. Pentagon, GSA map out acquisition cybersecurity; tester finds issues remain (Reuters) The U.S. Defense Department and General Services Administration on Wednesday mapped out six broad reforms to improve the cybersecurity of more than $500 billion in goods and services acquired by the U.S. federal government each year. Life at NDU: Gen. Martin said to threaten to fire anyone who questions his plans (Foreign Policy) Army Maj. Gen. Gregg Martin, the president of the National Defense University, announced -- not proposed -- to his senior subordinates last Friday a series of abrupt and sweeping changes in the structure of the institution. To top it off, by some accounts, he then threatened to terminate anyone who even questioned the changes. Unresolved Budget Issues Continue to Cast Cloud Over Military Strategy (National Defense Magazine) Unsettled matters such as the future size of U.S. military forces and funding levels beyond 2015 are putting major decisions on hold at the Defense Department. Among them are how to reorganize the armed forces under the “pivot to Asia” strategy and how to modernize the military for its post-Afghanistan future. ARMY Toxic general hires help to hide career blemishes (Army Times) Retired Lt. Gen. Patrick O’Reilly has got a tarnished reputation as a toxic leader and bad boss, but maybe not for long. Brigade to families: Don’t send porn, Nerf guns to troops (Colorado Springs Gazette) Leaders Fort Carson’s 2nd Brigade Combat Team took to Facebook Wednesday with a plea to families to take more care with their care packages. U.S. Army Aviation Plan Emphasizes Multirole Capability (Aviation Week) With the ink still fresh on the Army's aviation restructuring, questions are already surfacing about the assumptions behind a proposal to retire the Bell OH-58D and TH-67 fleets in the next five years. Sisters killed last week are laid to rest (Killeen Daily Herald) eila and Zeinab Ezzeddine were beautiful, cheerful and girly, said their uncle, Jose Santisteban. NAVY 4 senior enlisted counseled after 2013 chief-select PT fiasco (Navy Times) Four Hawaii-based senior enlisted sailors were formally counseled in the wake of a grueling Aug. 30 physical training session that sent 12 chiefs-select at Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii, to the hospital for extreme exhaustion, according to a Navy investigation. 306-Ship Navy in the Balance in LCS Fight (Roll Call) While the Littoral Combat Ship would fill three distinctive Navy needs — countering submarines, mines and fast small boats — it plays a far larger role for lawmakers and some Navy officials and experts that isn’t laid out in its military specifications. Navy to Set Up Expeditionary Combat Headquarters in Guam (Seapower) The Navy will stand up an operational staff in Guam in 2015 to command units of the Navy Expeditionary Combat Command in the U.S. Seventh Fleet area of operations. Navy’s Laser Gun Nears Critical Test (National Defense Magazine) A laser gun that looks like a telescope will go to sea later this year aboard a Navy warship. Over a 12-month trial deployment in potentially hostile waters, sailors will attempt to prove whether laser beams can serve as legitimate weapons against approaching small aircraft or high-speed boats. John Glenn to attend ship christening (San Diego Union-Tribune) John Glenn, the first American astronaut to orbit Earth, is scheduled to visit General Dynamics-NASSCO in San Diego on Saturday to attend the christening of a Navy logisitics ship that bears his name. AIR FORCE Exclusive: Nuke Cheating Scandal Puts Promotions for Air Force Brass on Ice (Foregin Policy) The widening cheating scandal roiling the Air Force's nuclear force has put all of the promotions for its senior officers on hold, including at least one colonel who had been nominated to become a general officer, Foreign Policy has learned. U.S. Air Force, Boeing confident tanker program still on schedule (Reuters) U.S. Air Force and Boeing Co officials on Wednesday expressed confidence that a $52 billion air refueling program would deliver its first 18 planes by August 2017 as scheduled, despite a Pentagon report warning that testing of the new aircraft could be delayed by at least six to 12 months. Little Rock AFB drops Christian marriage video from Wingman Day (Air Force Times) Little Rock Air Force Base, Ark., has dropped an evangelical Christian video series on marriage from a day of self-help activities after its religious components drew objections from some airmen stationed there. Retired Air National Guard colonel subject of federal fraud probe (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette) The Air Force has completed a financial fraud investigation into the conduct of a former top officer at the 171st Air Refueling Wing at Pittsburgh International Airport and turned over its results to the Justice Department. Air Force Academy mourns captain killed in crash (Colorado Springs Gazette) Three weeks after he died in a helicopter crash in England, Capt. Christopher Stover was brought home to the Air Force Academy. MARINE CORPS Marine claims court reps unfit (San Diego Union-Tribune) Sgt. Lawrence Hutchins III, the Camp Pendleton Marine being retried for the slaying of an Iraqi man at the height of the war, requested a new military defense team Wednesday on opening day of his latest general court-martial. Former commandant: Fall of Fallujah makes U.S., Iraqi policy look 'weak' (USA Today) As a three-star general, James Conway commanded Marines during the first battle of Fallujah in April 2004, when coalition forces first entered the city after a mob set upon and killed four American contractors. US Rep. Dan Kildee talks with Obama about ex-Marine held in Iran (Lansing State Journal) A Michigan congressman says he spoke briefly with President Barack Obama after the State of the Union address about an ex-Marine held in Iran on spying charges for more than two years. US Activists Rally Against Okinawa Base Plan (Defense News) Prominent US liberal activists on Wednesday pledged solidarity with Okinawa residents opposed to a US military base, despite efforts by Japan and the United States to finalize a relocation plan. VETERANS Corporate jobs initiative meets 100,000 vet hiring goal (USA Today) A coalition of companies that vowed in 2011 to hired 100,000 veterans within a decade has made its goal seven years early, announcing today that 117,439 former service members have since been provided jobs. Veterans’ groups disappointed in Obama on veteran benefits (Washington Times) While President Obama talked about many initiatives to help veterans during his State of the Union address Tuesday night, veterans’ groups criticized him Wednesday for not demanding a full repeal of cuts to military retirement benefits. Gastrointestinal backlog reported at second east Georgia VA hospital (The Augusta Chronicle, Ga.) The Charlie Norwood Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Augusta isn’t the only hospital of its kind in east central Georgia to delay consultations for gastrointestinal patients. AFGHANISTAN/PAKISTAN Hagel hints at US impatience with Karzai (Associated Press) Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel hinted Thursday at growing U.S. impatience with Afghan President Hamid Karzai for not signing an accord permitting American troops to remain in his country after the U.S. combat mission ends in December. Report: U.S.-funded hospital in Afghanistan lacks clean water, basic equipment (Stars and Stripes)  More than half a million dollars in U.S. aid money went toward building a hospital in rural Afghanistan that lacks clean water and sufficient electricity and is failing to provide minimum health care for its patients, according to a report released Wednesday by an American government watchdog. Report Says Afghanistan Can’t Be Trusted to Prevent Misuse of U.S. Aid (New York Times) With billions of dollars in American aid increasingly flowing straight into Afghan government coffers, the United States hired two global auditing firms three years ago to determine whether Afghanistan could be trusted to safeguard the money. Karzai ‘welcomed’ Obama’s comments on Afghanistan (The Hill) Afghan President Hamid Karzai took a more upbeat tone toward the U.S. on Wednesday, saying he “welcomed” President Obama’s Afghanistan remarks in the State of the Union. Hard-Line Taliban Leaders Exploit U.S.-Afghan Rift (Wall Street Journal) A rift between Kabul and Washington has empowered hard-line Taliban commanders at the expense of a faction that pursued peace talks, further reducing the prospect of a negotiated settlement to the 12-year war. Sharif Offers 'Last Chance' Talks to Pakistan's Taliban (Wall Street Journal) Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif told parliament Wednesday that he would give Taliban militants "one last chance" to halt their spree of killings and bombings and join peace talks. IRAQ Iraqi army declares its control of Khalidiya (Al Monitor) The Iraqi army has declared that it gained control over the Jazira area of Khalidiya, which is halfway between Fallujah and Ramadi in Anbar province. With this gain, the army has acquired a strategic point that al-Qaeda has been using for years to maintain its presence and movement in a complex area that extends from Anbar to Salahuddin and Mosul in the north, and to Baghdad and Diyala in the east. Iraq militants take hostages at Baghdad building (BBC) Militants have stormed a building in Baghdad next to the Iraqi ministry of human rights and taken a number of people hostage, officials say. Arming Syrian rebels means supporting terrorism in Iraq: Al-Maliki (Indo Asian News Service) Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al- Maliki said Wednesday that providing arms to rebels in Syria would only mean sending weapons to terrorists in the country. MIDDLE EAST Exclusive: Syria ships out less than 5 percent of chemical arms (Reuters) Syria has given up less than five percent of its chemical weapons arsenal and will miss next week's deadline to send all toxic agents abroad for destruction, sources familiar with the matter said on Wednesday. Clapper: Syria becoming ‘huge magnet’ for foreign terrorists (The Hill) Director of National Intelligence James Clapper on Wednesday said that Syria has become a “huge magnet for extremists,” including a flood of foreign fighters. Petraeus: Terrorists With Missiles Could Down Global Air Traffic (Time) Just three days after extremists aligned with al-Qaeda posted a video of militants using a shoulder-fired missile to down an Egyptian military helicopter in the Sinai peninsula, some of the West’s most seasoned counter-terrorism officials gathered in Tel Aviv for an annual security conference. There was no shortage of topics—Iran’s nuclear ambitions and the Palestinian-Israeli peace talks featured prominently. But former CIA Director David Petraeus grew most animated laying out the implications of the Sinai strike. Israel MoD Boss Blasts US Mideast Missteps (Defense News) Two weeks after apologizing for a scathing attack on US Secretary of State John Kerry and the US-led Mideast peace drive, Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon delivered a relatively temperate, yet no less critical assessment of US policy and its impact on the region. Israeli general says al Qaeda's Syria fighters set up in Turkey (Reuters) Some of the al Qaeda militants going to fight in Syria have bases in neighbouring Turkey and can easily access Europe from the NATO member state, Israel's military intelligence chief said on Wednesday. Turkish troops fire on Al Qaeda-affiliated militants in Syria (Los Angeles Times) Turkish troops opened fire this week on a convoy of Al Qaeda-linked militants across the border from Turkey in northern Syria, Turkish news media reported Wednesday. ASIA-PACIFIC Cavalry battalion arrives in Korea for 'plus-up' deployment (Stars and Stripes)  A U.S.-based cavalry battalion, complete with tanks and Bradley fighting vehicles, has arrived in South Korea for a nine-month rotational deployment. N. Korea Warns Against War Games in Rare News Conference (Voice of America) North Korea's ambassador to China warned South Korea and the United States Wednesday against upcoming joint military drills on the peninsula. U.S. Intel Chief Confirms Growing North Korean Reactor Relaunch (National Journal)North Korea appears to have restarted a Soviet-era plutonium production reactor, the top U.S. intelligence official told lawmakers on Wednesday. Institute: North Korea Enlarging Site for Bigger Missiles (Defense News) North Korea appears to be expanding its main launch site to permit more advanced missiles which may eventually be able to reach the United States, a think tank said Wednesday. U.S. Dependence on Space Assets Could be a Liability in a Conflict with China (US Naval Institute) Challenges the United States faces in space “are on a par with cyber,” the chairman of a key U.S. House panel said as witnesses described China’s advances in an area where “some vulnerabilities we just can’t escape”—acknowledging the two nations are now engaged in a “long-time competition” that cannot be firewalled from other domains. Japan Navy Admits Losing Unmanned Submarine (Defense News) Japan admitted Wednesday that its navy lost a $5 million unmanned submarine during a survey last year, with a nine-day search of the ocean floor yielding nothing. AFRICA Alleged S. Sudan coup plotters flown to Kenya (Associated Press) Seven men detained for allegedly plotting a coup in South Sudan were flown to Kenya and granted political asylum, President Uhuru Kenyatta said Wednesday of a breakthrough expected to foster negotiations to end the South Sudan conflict that has killed thousands and driven 700,000 people from their homes. French struggle to stop C. African Republic mobs (Washington Post)  The French patrol in two armored personnel carriers showed up just as the bystanders started pulling out their mobile phones to photograph what moments ago had been a human being. Somali President: AMISOM Operations Against Al-Shabab to Begin Soon (Voice of America) Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud says the Somali military and African Union peacekeepers will soon launch operations against al-Shabab in areas still under the militant group’s control. Hassan also welcomed the addition of Ethiopian troops into the AMISOM force. EUROPE U.S. Says Russia Tested Missile, Despite Treaty (New York Times) The United States informed its NATO allies this month that Russia had tested a new ground-launched cruise missile, raising concerns about Moscow’s compliance with a landmark arms control accord. NATO Transformation Chief: Without Good Training 'No Need' for New Platforms (Defense News) The general in charge of NATO’s training and strategic planning recognizes the budgetary problems afflicting member states, but believes the organization must focus on training and interoperability to remain effective after the drawdown in Afghanistan, he said during a roundtable with reporters Wednesday. Ukrainian President Takes Sick Leave Amid Crisis (New York Times) Ukraine's embattled president Viktor Yanukovych is taking sick leave as the country's political crisis continues without signs of resolution. Swiss To Vote in May on Gripen Fighter Deal (Defense News) Switzerland’s plan to buy 22 fighter jets from Sweden will be put to the Swiss public in a referendum on May 18, the Alpine country’s government announced Wednesday. German Leader Criticizes U.S. Over Pervasive Surveillance (New York Times) Chancellor Angela Merkel took perhaps her sharpest swipe yet at pervasive American intelligence surveillance, saying on Wednesday that Washington had endangered its standing by violating the freedom of the individual, a value for which it is admired abroad. COMMENTARY AND ANALYSIS Shooting the Pentagon in the Foot (Mackenzie Eaglen in US News & World Report) Since the defense budget peaked in 2010, Congress has been quick to approve proposed cuts to the military's top line. But Congress has been just as swift to oppose specific proposals made once those vague budget cuts trickle down to become real-world, tangible consequences.  20YY: The Future of warfare (Paul Scharre and Shawn Brimley in War on the Rocks) The U.S. military is at a critical juncture. With the end of two wars and a sharp drawdown in defense spending, investments over the next several years will set the military’s course for decades to come. The Pentagon can make smart investments now to prepare for the future, or it can continue to cling to “wasting assets,” legacy platforms and concepts that will be less and less survivable in a future of widely proliferated precision-guided weapons. Without a clear vision of what future force to build, however, bureaucratic inertia and existing programs of record will carry the day. A Partnership Forged in Hell (Ryan Neely and Kevin Lawhon in Small Wars Journal) This article recounts the success, failures, trials, and tribulations of one Engineer Company and the unique circumstances of the security force assistance mission they attempted, and ultimately succeeded in from March to September of 2013 in the Devil’s Elbow. Their lessons were hard learned and their approach was unconventional, but it had an enduring impact on the battle space. The cast of characters is too many to list; what is more important is what they collectively achieved and the lessons they learned.

Defense News Early Bird Brief

view email as webpage
COMPILED BY THE EDITORS OF DEFENSE NEWS & MILITARY TIMES
January 30, 2014 EARLY BIRD BRIEF Get the most comprehensive aggregation of defense news delivered by the world's largest independent newsroom covering military and defense. ADVERTISEMENT	ADVERTISEMENT TODAY’S TOP 5 1. U.S. and NATO Plan Afghanistan Force Small Enough for Quick Exit (New York Times) American and NATO military planners, facing continued political uncertainty about whether foreign troops will remain in Afghanistan after December, have drawn up plans to deploy a force this summer that is tailored to assume a training mission in 2015 but is also small enough to withdraw if no deal for an enduring presence is reached, alliance officials said. 2. James: Air Force is addressing 'systemic' problem in nuclear force (Air Force Times) Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James said Wednesday the service will “get to the bottom” of a systemic problem in its nuclear force, where 14 percent of officers reportedly have been at least temporarily removed from active duty after allegations of cheating on a proficiency exam. 3. Dempsey’s Message on Women in Combat: Trust Transcends Gender (Gen. Martin Dempsey in Defense One) In the days following September 11, 2001, women and men took to the seas, to the skies and to the sands in defense of our country. It’s worth noting that women served in combat zones in Afghanistan and Iraq because they were needed. They shared a common commitment to their nation with their male counterparts in squadrons, ships, and squads.  4. No Sign of Political Thaw After State of the Union (Defense News)  There were few signs Wednesday morning that President Barack Obama’s State of the Union address will thaw in the chill that has so stymied the legislative process here.  5. Bunker-Buster Bomb Upgrades Effective, Pentagon’s Tester Says (Bloomberg) Upgrades that let the U.S. military’s most powerful precision-guided bomb hit more deeply buried targets have been successful, according to the Pentagon’s top weapons tester. INDUSTRY Boeing Profits Surge But Tougher 2014 Awaits (Defense News) US aerospace giant Boeing Wednesday reported a big jump in quarterly earnings, but signaled a leaner 2014 profit outlook after last year’s boom. Schumer Headlines Lockheed Rally For USAF Helicopter Program (Intercepts) With the fate of the US Air Force’s Combat Rescue Helicopter (CRH) effort still hanging in the 2015 budget balance, Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., has emerged as one of the program’s most powerful champions. Lockheed Martin to help develop Israeli cyber security companies (IHS Jane's Defence Industry) Lockheed Martin and EMC Israel announced on 27 January that they would launch a new technology incubator organisation to help develop cyber security products in association with Israel's Ben Gurion University. German Defense Producer and Industrial Plant Constructor Team Up (Defense News) Rheinmetall of Düsseldorf and Ferrostaal of Essen have created a joint venture to plan and build industrial facilities. Each company holds 50 percent of Rheinmetall International Engineering. Brazilian P-3AM upgrade to complete in 'coming months' (IHS Jane's Defence Weekly) Airbus Defence and Space (DS) is to deliver back to the Brazilian Air Force (Força Aérea Brasileira) (FAB) "in the coming months" the last of nine Lockheed Martin P-3AM Orion maritime patrol aircraft (MPA) it has been upgrading, an official told IHS Jane's in late January. CONGRESS Report: Software Issues May Delay F-35 for US Marine Corps (Defense News) The F-35 Joint Strike Fighter is often touted as the most advanced fighter in the world, whose complex systems are held together by millions of lines of code. So when the Pentagon’s top weapons tester declares the current software “unacceptable,” it tends to make waves in the defense world. Lockheed F-35 Develops Cracks in Test, Pentagon Tester Says (Bloomberg) Lockheed Martin Corp. (LMT:US)’s F-35 jet developed cracks in testing of the fighter’s durability and wasn’t sufficiently reliable in training flights last year, the Pentagon’s chief tester found. South Korea To Finalize F-35 Jet Fighter Deal This Year (Defense News)  South Korea plans to finalize the purchase of 40 next-generation F-35 jet fighters from US aerospace giant Lockheed Martin later this year, Seoul’s military procurement agency said. A-12 settlement won't extend Boeing's F/A-18 production line (Reuters) A settlement of a dispute over the canceled A-12 aircraft calls for Boeing Co to build three more EA-18G electronic attack planes for the U.S. Navy, but those jets will not extend the F/A-18 production line in St. Louis, according to Navy officials and company executives. Both Sides Optimistic Ahead of French-UK Summit (Defense News) An upcoming Anglo-French summit could breathe fresh life into a bilateral defense relationship seen as faded, with industry waiting to hear if there is progress on an anti-ship missile and a future combat drone for the two nations. India close to buying Japan-made military aircraft (Reuters) India is set to become the first country since World War Two to buy a military aircraft from Japan, helping Prime Minister Shinzo Abe dismantle a ban on weapons exports that has kept his country's defence contractors out of foreign markets. DEFENSE DEPARTMENT UAE, Libya Request US Arms Purchases (Defense News) The US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DCSA) has notified Congress that it has approved key foreign military sales to the United Arab Emirates and Libya last week, bring the total worth of approvals to $7.1 billion. Pentagon, GSA map out acquisition cybersecurity; tester finds issues remain (Reuters) The U.S. Defense Department and General Services Administration on Wednesday mapped out six broad reforms to improve the cybersecurity of more than $500 billion in goods and services acquired by the U.S. federal government each year. Life at NDU: Gen. Martin said to threaten to fire anyone who questions his plans (Foreign Policy) Army Maj. Gen. Gregg Martin, the president of the National Defense University, announced -- not proposed -- to his senior subordinates last Friday a series of abrupt and sweeping changes in the structure of the institution. To top it off, by some accounts, he then threatened to terminate anyone who even questioned the changes. Unresolved Budget Issues Continue to Cast Cloud Over Military Strategy (National Defense Magazine) Unsettled matters such as the future size of U.S. military forces and funding levels beyond 2015 are putting major decisions on hold at the Defense Department. Among them are how to reorganize the armed forces under the “pivot to Asia” strategy and how to modernize the military for its post-Afghanistan future. ARMY Toxic general hires help to hide career blemishes (Army Times) Retired Lt. Gen. Patrick O’Reilly has got a tarnished reputation as a toxic leader and bad boss, but maybe not for long. Brigade to families: Don’t send porn, Nerf guns to troops (Colorado Springs Gazette) Leaders Fort Carson’s 2nd Brigade Combat Team took to Facebook Wednesday with a plea to families to take more care with their care packages. U.S. Army Aviation Plan Emphasizes Multirole Capability (Aviation Week) With the ink still fresh on the Army's aviation restructuring, questions are already surfacing about the assumptions behind a proposal to retire the Bell OH-58D and TH-67 fleets in the next five years. Sisters killed last week are laid to rest (Killeen Daily Herald) eila and Zeinab Ezzeddine were beautiful, cheerful and girly, said their uncle, Jose Santisteban. NAVY 4 senior enlisted counseled after 2013 chief-select PT fiasco (Navy Times) Four Hawaii-based senior enlisted sailors were formally counseled in the wake of a grueling Aug. 30 physical training session that sent 12 chiefs-select at Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii, to the hospital for extreme exhaustion, according to a Navy investigation. 306-Ship Navy in the Balance in LCS Fight (Roll Call) While the Littoral Combat Ship would fill three distinctive Navy needs — countering submarines, mines and fast small boats — it plays a far larger role for lawmakers and some Navy officials and experts that isn’t laid out in its military specifications. Navy to Set Up Expeditionary Combat Headquarters in Guam (Seapower) The Navy will stand up an operational staff in Guam in 2015 to command units of the Navy Expeditionary Combat Command in the U.S. Seventh Fleet area of operations. Navy’s Laser Gun Nears Critical Test (National Defense Magazine) A laser gun that looks like a telescope will go to sea later this year aboard a Navy warship. Over a 12-month trial deployment in potentially hostile waters, sailors will attempt to prove whether laser beams can serve as legitimate weapons against approaching small aircraft or high-speed boats. John Glenn to attend ship christening (San Diego Union-Tribune) John Glenn, the first American astronaut to orbit Earth, is scheduled to visit General Dynamics-NASSCO in San Diego on Saturday to attend the christening of a Navy logisitics ship that bears his name. AIR FORCE Exclusive: Nuke Cheating Scandal Puts Promotions for Air Force Brass on Ice (Foregin Policy) The widening cheating scandal roiling the Air Force's nuclear force has put all of the promotions for its senior officers on hold, including at least one colonel who had been nominated to become a general officer, Foreign Policy has learned. U.S. Air Force, Boeing confident tanker program still on schedule (Reuters) U.S. Air Force and Boeing Co officials on Wednesday expressed confidence that a $52 billion air refueling program would deliver its first 18 planes by August 2017 as scheduled, despite a Pentagon report warning that testing of the new aircraft could be delayed by at least six to 12 months. Little Rock AFB drops Christian marriage video from Wingman Day (Air Force Times) Little Rock Air Force Base, Ark., has dropped an evangelical Christian video series on marriage from a day of self-help activities after its religious components drew objections from some airmen stationed there. Retired Air National Guard colonel subject of federal fraud probe (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette) The Air Force has completed a financial fraud investigation into the conduct of a former top officer at the 171st Air Refueling Wing at Pittsburgh International Airport and turned over its results to the Justice Department. Air Force Academy mourns captain killed in crash (Colorado Springs Gazette) Three weeks after he died in a helicopter crash in England, Capt. Christopher Stover was brought home to the Air Force Academy. MARINE CORPS Marine claims court reps unfit (San Diego Union-Tribune) Sgt. Lawrence Hutchins III, the Camp Pendleton Marine being retried for the slaying of an Iraqi man at the height of the war, requested a new military defense team Wednesday on opening day of his latest general court-martial. Former commandant: Fall of Fallujah makes U.S., Iraqi policy look 'weak' (USA Today) As a three-star general, James Conway commanded Marines during the first battle of Fallujah in April 2004, when coalition forces first entered the city after a mob set upon and killed four American contractors. US Rep. Dan Kildee talks with Obama about ex-Marine held in Iran (Lansing State Journal) A Michigan congressman says he spoke briefly with President Barack Obama after the State of the Union address about an ex-Marine held in Iran on spying charges for more than two years. US Activists Rally Against Okinawa Base Plan (Defense News) Prominent US liberal activists on Wednesday pledged solidarity with Okinawa residents opposed to a US military base, despite efforts by Japan and the United States to finalize a relocation plan. VETERANS Corporate jobs initiative meets 100,000 vet hiring goal (USA Today) A coalition of companies that vowed in 2011 to hired 100,000 veterans within a decade has made its goal seven years early, announcing today that 117,439 former service members have since been provided jobs. Veterans’ groups disappointed in Obama on veteran benefits (Washington Times) While President Obama talked about many initiatives to help veterans during his State of the Union address Tuesday night, veterans’ groups criticized him Wednesday for not demanding a full repeal of cuts to military retirement benefits. Gastrointestinal backlog reported at second east Georgia VA hospital (The Augusta Chronicle, Ga.) The Charlie Norwood Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Augusta isn’t the only hospital of its kind in east central Georgia to delay consultations for gastrointestinal patients. AFGHANISTAN/PAKISTAN Hagel hints at US impatience with Karzai (Associated Press) Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel hinted Thursday at growing U.S. impatience with Afghan President Hamid Karzai for not signing an accord permitting American troops to remain in his country after the U.S. combat mission ends in December. Report: U.S.-funded hospital in Afghanistan lacks clean water, basic equipment (Stars and Stripes)  More than half a million dollars in U.S. aid money went toward building a hospital in rural Afghanistan that lacks clean water and sufficient electricity and is failing to provide minimum health care for its patients, according to a report released Wednesday by an American government watchdog. Report Says Afghanistan Can’t Be Trusted to Prevent Misuse of U.S. Aid (New York Times) With billions of dollars in American aid increasingly flowing straight into Afghan government coffers, the United States hired two global auditing firms three years ago to determine whether Afghanistan could be trusted to safeguard the money. Karzai ‘welcomed’ Obama’s comments on Afghanistan (The Hill) Afghan President Hamid Karzai took a more upbeat tone toward the U.S. on Wednesday, saying he “welcomed” President Obama’s Afghanistan remarks in the State of the Union. Hard-Line Taliban Leaders Exploit U.S.-Afghan Rift (Wall Street Journal) A rift between Kabul and Washington has empowered hard-line Taliban commanders at the expense of a faction that pursued peace talks, further reducing the prospect of a negotiated settlement to the 12-year war. Sharif Offers 'Last Chance' Talks to Pakistan's Taliban (Wall Street Journal) Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif told parliament Wednesday that he would give Taliban militants "one last chance" to halt their spree of killings and bombings and join peace talks. IRAQ Iraqi army declares its control of Khalidiya (Al Monitor) The Iraqi army has declared that it gained control over the Jazira area of Khalidiya, which is halfway between Fallujah and Ramadi in Anbar province. With this gain, the army has acquired a strategic point that al-Qaeda has been using for years to maintain its presence and movement in a complex area that extends from Anbar to Salahuddin and Mosul in the north, and to Baghdad and Diyala in the east. Iraq militants take hostages at Baghdad building (BBC) Militants have stormed a building in Baghdad next to the Iraqi ministry of human rights and taken a number of people hostage, officials say. Arming Syrian rebels means supporting terrorism in Iraq: Al-Maliki (Indo Asian News Service) Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al- Maliki said Wednesday that providing arms to rebels in Syria would only mean sending weapons to terrorists in the country. MIDDLE EAST Exclusive: Syria ships out less than 5 percent of chemical arms (Reuters) Syria has given up less than five percent of its chemical weapons arsenal and will miss next week's deadline to send all toxic agents abroad for destruction, sources familiar with the matter said on Wednesday. Clapper: Syria becoming ‘huge magnet’ for foreign terrorists (The Hill) Director of National Intelligence James Clapper on Wednesday said that Syria has become a “huge magnet for extremists,” including a flood of foreign fighters. Petraeus: Terrorists With Missiles Could Down Global Air Traffic (Time) Just three days after extremists aligned with al-Qaeda posted a video of militants using a shoulder-fired missile to down an Egyptian military helicopter in the Sinai peninsula, some of the West’s most seasoned counter-terrorism officials gathered in Tel Aviv for an annual security conference. There was no shortage of topics—Iran’s nuclear ambitions and the Palestinian-Israeli peace talks featured prominently. But former CIA Director David Petraeus grew most animated laying out the implications of the Sinai strike. Israel MoD Boss Blasts US Mideast Missteps (Defense News) Two weeks after apologizing for a scathing attack on US Secretary of State John Kerry and the US-led Mideast peace drive, Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon delivered a relatively temperate, yet no less critical assessment of US policy and its impact on the region. Israeli general says al Qaeda's Syria fighters set up in Turkey (Reuters) Some of the al Qaeda militants going to fight in Syria have bases in neighbouring Turkey and can easily access Europe from the NATO member state, Israel's military intelligence chief said on Wednesday. Turkish troops fire on Al Qaeda-affiliated militants in Syria (Los Angeles Times) Turkish troops opened fire this week on a convoy of Al Qaeda-linked militants across the border from Turkey in northern Syria, Turkish news media reported Wednesday. ASIA-PACIFIC Cavalry battalion arrives in Korea for 'plus-up' deployment (Stars and Stripes)  A U.S.-based cavalry battalion, complete with tanks and Bradley fighting vehicles, has arrived in South Korea for a nine-month rotational deployment. N. Korea Warns Against War Games in Rare News Conference (Voice of America) North Korea's ambassador to China warned South Korea and the United States Wednesday against upcoming joint military drills on the peninsula. U.S. Intel Chief Confirms Growing North Korean Reactor Relaunch (National Journal)North Korea appears to have restarted a Soviet-era plutonium production reactor, the top U.S. intelligence official told lawmakers on Wednesday. Institute: North Korea Enlarging Site for Bigger Missiles (Defense News) North Korea appears to be expanding its main launch site to permit more advanced missiles which may eventually be able to reach the United States, a think tank said Wednesday. U.S. Dependence on Space Assets Could be a Liability in a Conflict with China (US Naval Institute) Challenges the United States faces in space “are on a par with cyber,” the chairman of a key U.S. House panel said as witnesses described China’s advances in an area where “some vulnerabilities we just can’t escape”—acknowledging the two nations are now engaged in a “long-time competition” that cannot be firewalled from other domains. Japan Navy Admits Losing Unmanned Submarine (Defense News) Japan admitted Wednesday that its navy lost a $5 million unmanned submarine during a survey last year, with a nine-day search of the ocean floor yielding nothing. AFRICA Alleged S. Sudan coup plotters flown to Kenya (Associated Press) Seven men detained for allegedly plotting a coup in South Sudan were flown to Kenya and granted political asylum, President Uhuru Kenyatta said Wednesday of a breakthrough expected to foster negotiations to end the South Sudan conflict that has killed thousands and driven 700,000 people from their homes. French struggle to stop C. African Republic mobs (Washington Post)  The French patrol in two armored personnel carriers showed up just as the bystanders started pulling out their mobile phones to photograph what moments ago had been a human being. Somali President: AMISOM Operations Against Al-Shabab to Begin Soon (Voice of America) Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud says the Somali military and African Union peacekeepers will soon launch operations against al-Shabab in areas still under the militant group’s control. Hassan also welcomed the addition of Ethiopian troops into the AMISOM force. EUROPE U.S. Says Russia Tested Missile, Despite Treaty (New York Times) The United States informed its NATO allies this month that Russia had tested a new ground-launched cruise missile, raising concerns about Moscow’s compliance with a landmark arms control accord. NATO Transformation Chief: Without Good Training 'No Need' for New Platforms (Defense News) The general in charge of NATO’s training and strategic planning recognizes the budgetary problems afflicting member states, but believes the organization must focus on training and interoperability to remain effective after the drawdown in Afghanistan, he said during a roundtable with reporters Wednesday. Ukrainian President Takes Sick Leave Amid Crisis (New York Times) Ukraine's embattled president Viktor Yanukovych is taking sick leave as the country's political crisis continues without signs of resolution. Swiss To Vote in May on Gripen Fighter Deal (Defense News) Switzerland’s plan to buy 22 fighter jets from Sweden will be put to the Swiss public in a referendum on May 18, the Alpine country’s government announced Wednesday. German Leader Criticizes U.S. Over Pervasive Surveillance (New York Times) Chancellor Angela Merkel took perhaps her sharpest swipe yet at pervasive American intelligence surveillance, saying on Wednesday that Washington had endangered its standing by violating the freedom of the individual, a value for which it is admired abroad. COMMENTARY AND ANALYSIS Shooting the Pentagon in the Foot (Mackenzie Eaglen in US News & World Report) Since the defense budget peaked in 2010, Congress has been quick to approve proposed cuts to the military's top line. But Congress has been just as swift to oppose specific proposals made once those vague budget cuts trickle down to become real-world, tangible consequences.  20YY: The Future of warfare (Paul Scharre and Shawn Brimley in War on the Rocks) The U.S. military is at a critical juncture. With the end of two wars and a sharp drawdown in defense spending, investments over the next several years will set the military’s course for decades to come. The Pentagon can make smart investments now to prepare for the future, or it can continue to cling to “wasting assets,” legacy platforms and concepts that will be less and less survivable in a future of widely proliferated precision-guided weapons. Without a clear vision of what future force to build, however, bureaucratic inertia and existing programs of record will carry the day. A Partnership Forged in Hell (Ryan Neely and Kevin Lawhon in Small Wars Journal) This article recounts the success, failures, trials, and tribulations of one Engineer Company and the unique circumstances of the security force assistance mission they attempted, and ultimately succeeded in from March to September of 2013 in the Devil’s Elbow. Their lessons were hard learned and their approach was unconventional, but it had an enduring impact on the battle space. The cast of characters is too many to list; what is more important is what they collectively achieved and the lessons they learned.