TODAY’S TOP 5
1. Disgraced Army general, Jeffrey A. Sinclair, gets $20,000 fine, no jail time (With Video)
(Washington Post) A disgraced Army general who admitted carrying on a prolonged, turbulent affair with an officer under his direct command and having improper relationships with two other women was reprimanded and fined $20,000 by a military judge Thursday.
2. IG: Academy informant's expulsion not tied to work with OSI
(Air Force Times) An inspector general inquiry has found that agents with the Air Force Office of Special Investigations acted properly when they used an Air Force Academy cadet as a confidential informant.
3. The psychology of operational planning
(Cmdr. Tony Schwarz in Armed Forces Journal) As military planners formulate recommendations for their commanders, they draw upon many kinds of data: joint and service doctrine, friendly and enemy capabilities, personal and shared experience. But one category is often missing from their calculations: emotion.
4. Will Afghanistan security take backseat to Europe?
(Associated Press) With Russia pushing new hostilities to Europe's doorstep, U.S. and NATO officials are trying to gauge whether already dwindling resources and attention will be diverted from what, until now, has been a top security priority: Afghanistan.
5. US Considers Sanctions Against Russian Defense Sector
(Defense News) US President Barack Obama threatened sanctions against Moscow’s defense sector Thursday upon announcing the American government would punish 16 individuals in Russian President Vladimir Putin’s inner circle in response to the country’s invasion of Ukraine.
INDUSTRY
Poland speeds up missile defense plan amid Ukraine crisis
(Reuters) Poland has decided to speed up its tender for a missile defence system, a defence ministry spokesman said on Thursday, in a sign of Warsaw's disquiet over the tension between neighbouring Ukraine and Russia.
AH-64E looking increasingly likely for UK
(IHS Jane's 360) The UK looks increasingly likely to procure the Boeing AH-64E Apache Guardian attack helicopter, following comments made by a senior government minister on 17 March.
Finmeccanica Back in the Black Even as Revenue Dips
(Defense News) Italy’s Finmeccanica saw a return to profit in 2013, with new orders rising, even as revenue fell due to flat defense spending in the EU and US.
India To Buy More Pilatus PC-7 Mk. 2s
(Aviation Week) The Indian air force (IAF) has decided to “urgently” buy 106 PC-7 Mk. 2 Basic Trainer Aircraft (BTA) from Pilatus, pulling the plug yet again on state-run Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), which is also making an aircraft for training junior pilots.
Pentagon Asks Air Force About Russia Rocket Engine
(Bloomberg) Pentagon officials have asked the Air Force to review whether the use of Russian engines on rockets from a Lockheed Martin Corp.-Boeing Co. (BA) team creates a national security risk.
CONGRESS
Pentagon’s Gamble on Getting More Money Questioned
(Bloomberg) The Pentagon is betting that Congress will roll back $35 billion in automatic defense cuts scheduled to begin in fiscal 2016.
In Defense Budget Hunger Games, What's on Congress's Wish List?
(National Journal) Members of Congress can finally feel the political pain the hundreds of billions of defense budget cuts they signed into law will bring to their districts. And they want to escape it.
Counsel: Senate intel panel 'close' on cybersecurity information-sharing bill
(Inside Cybersecurity) The leaders of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence are "close" to reaching agreement on a cybersecurity information-sharing bill with liability protection for industry that is designed to win the support of 60 or more senators, according to Jack Livingston, the panel's minority counsel.
Udall pushes Obama on classified Senate CIA interrogation report
(The Hill) Recent events only intensify the urgency to release a classified Senate study on Bush-era CIA interrogations, Sen. Mark Udall (D-Colo.) wrote to President Obama on Thursday.
DEFENSE DEPARTMENT
Hagel launches review of medals process
(Military Times) The vexing question of how to honor drone pilots and cyberwarriors is prompting a Pentagon-level review of the entire military awards system.
Pentagon's Wish List Is All About Buildings, Training, and Aircraft
(National Journal) Pentagon officials have said time and time again that they are playing by the rules this year, submitting a budget request that is in line with congressional caps.
DOD delays rulemaking on rapid reporting of cyber penetrations
(Inside Cybersecurity) The Pentagon needs more time to develop highly anticipated draft regulations that would require defense contractors with security clearances to rapidly report penetrations of their networks and information systems.
Crisis in Ukraine Prompts Renewed Focus on U.S. Nuclear Posture
(National Defense Magazine) As tensions between Russia and Ukraine escalate, U.S. foreign policy hawks contend that Russian aggression merits a second look at the U.S. military’s uncertain nuclear modernization plans.
DoD still hesitant about mobile devices
(C4ISR & Networks) The Defense Information Systems Agency’s work with other Defense Department components to develop an enterprise-wide mobile device network could help address longstanding concerns about mobile devices, according to Daniel Risacher, associate director of enterprise services and integration at DoD.
ARMY
New Army grooming, appearance regs leaked online
(Army Times) Details of the Army’s highly anticipated revisions to grooming and uniform regulations leaked online Thursday, just days before the document was set to go into effect.
Army Pvt. Chelsea Manning, formerly known as Bradley, to request legal name change
(Washington Post) The Army private who leaked a trove of classified military and diplomatic documents to the anti-secrecy group WikiLeaks is scheduled to ask a Kansas judge next month for a legal name change — the first step in her quest to be formally recognized as a woman.
Top enlisted leader of Army garrison in Wiesbaden relieved of duty
(Stars and Stripes) The top enlisted leader for the U.S. Army garrison in Wiesbaden has been relieved of his post more than three months after he was suspended over an alcohol-related incident off base.
Texas Guard would lose headquarters in budget plan
(San Antonio Express-News) A Texas Army National Guard brigade combat team that served in Kosovo and Iraq and responded to three hurricanes would lose its headquarters under a Pentagon proposal.
SMA: Funeral guard photo 'tarnished' the Army
(Army Times) Recent soldier buffoonery on social media has outraged not only other troops but the Army’s top enlisted official, who weighed in Thursday for the first time, saying an incident involving a flag-draped casket “tarnished the reputation of the rest of the Army.”
In Watertown, Sen. Schumer advocates for keeping the resources of Fort Drum (With Video)
(Watertown Daily Times; N.Y.) As the Army studies the effects of cutting potentially thousands of soldiers at Fort Drum, U.S. Sen. Charles E. Schumer said Wednesday that the post should avoid major reductions.
NAVY
Former Navy football player found not guilty of sexually assaulting fellow midshipman
(Baltimore Sun) A former Navy football player was found not guilty Thursday of sexually assaulting a fellow midshipman in a case that has drawn national scrutiny to the elite training ground for future officers of the Navy and Marine Corps.
Aircraft carrier Truman nearing end of deployment
(Virginian-Pilot) The ship, which departed Norfolk in July, launched the last of its planned sorties in support of the war in Afghanistan on Wednesday, the Navy said in a news release. The announcement indicates the carrier and its strike group will soon begin its return voyage.
Results of February courts-martial released
(Navy Times) As part of a pledge last year to be “active, open and transparent” when it comes to sexual assault prevention efforts, the Navy continued its monthly release of all court-martial verdicts, announcing February’s results for all cases, sexual assault-related and otherwise, late last week.
Georgia Navy deserter found in Wyoming
(The Shreridan Press; Wyo.) A man wanted on a federal warrant for deserting the Navy was arrested by police in Sheridan Monday.
Judge won't dismiss Ventura 'American Sniper' suit
(Associated Press) A judge on Wednesday allowed former Minnesota Gov. Jesse Ventura's defamation lawsuit against the widow of slain "American Sniper" author Chris Kyle to go to trial.
AIR FORCE
Confusion continues over TERA, VSP application approvals
(Air Force Times) Despite an announcement Saturday that the Air Force had decided to resume processing applications for voluntary separations and 15-year retirements after a “strategic pause,” airmen are still being told that processing is on hold, an airman told Air Force Times on Thursday.
Airman charged in a Universal City rape case
(San Antonio Express-News) An Air Force reservist was arrested Thursday at his job on Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland after a grand jury indicted him for allegedly beating and sexually assaulting a former live-in girlfriend.
Ex-MTI faces cruelty, other charges in Monday court-martial
(Air Force Times) A former military training instructor will stand trial Monday at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland on charges she mistreated basic trainees, the Air Force announced Thursday.
Officials identify man found dead at Minot air base
(The Bismarck Tribune; N.D.) Authorities on Wednesday said Senior Airman Chase Wathen was found dead in his base residence Monday night.
Ramstein airman gets 50 years for child molestation
(Air Force Times) A technical sergeant who pleaded guilty to abducting and molesting four children while assigned to Ramstein Air Base, Germany, has been sentenced to 50 years in prison.
MARINE CORPS
Health Agency Chief Resigns After Clash With Marines Over Camp Lejeune Problems
(National Journal) The head of a federal agency that investigates health problems linked to toxic-waste sites has stepped down after a clash with former Marines who believe their families were harmed by poisoned drinking water at Camp Lejeune.
Marine Corps marksmanship symposium will discuss new targets, magazine policies
(Marine Corps) The Corps’ most prolific shooters will meet with top Marine leaders to discuss the service’s current state of marksmanship, where it’s headed and what needs to be improved.
Mayor Vows Jail Reforms on Rikers Island
(New York Times) Mayor Bill de Blasio on Thursday called the death of a mentally ill veteran in an overheated cell on Rikers Island “shocking and troubling” and vowed to make reforms to the city’s sprawling jail complex, where violence has surged in recent years.
Marine in recruiting ad hopes to inspire disadvantaged youths
(Marine Corps Times) A mustang captain is the new face of the Marine Corps’ “Fighting with a Purpose” recruiting campaign, which highlights diversity in the service ranging from minority leaders to varying mission types that are outside the combat zone.
Marine lost leg, but not passion for serving
(The Tennessean; Nashville) Two and a half years ago Lance Cpl. Jeremy Vanhoose lost his leg in an explosion in Afghanistan, but the Marine did not lose his purpose: to serve.
VETERANS
Post-9/11 veterans employment improves but still lags civilian rate
(Military Times) Employment for the latest generation of veterans improved in 2013 but still lags well behind that of civilians, according to a new government report.
Tuskegee Airman recalls his career and an aviation pioneer honored on a new stamp
(Washington Post) The U.S. Postal Service has released a stamp in honor of C. Alfred “Chief” Anderson, a black aviation pioneer who taught hundreds of Tuskegee Airmen as chief flight instructor at the historic Tuskegee Institute.
VA-DoD common records system may still be possible
(Military Times) After being jilted again and again by the Pentagon in pursuit of a common digital health records system, the Veterans Affairs Department is hoping a new makeover will finally get its own system noticed — and perhaps get defense officials to commit to a long-term relationship after all.
Veterans fight the organic fight at Delaware Valley College training program
(Philadelphia Inquirer) With his burly physique and woolly beard, Brandon Barnhart looks every inch the laid-back country kid from tiny West College Corner, Ind.
AFGHANISTAN/PAKISTAN
Taliban gunmen kill 9 at luxury Kabul hotel (With Video)
(USA Today) Nine people including four foreigners were killed execution-style in a landmark luxury hotel in Afghanistan's capital late Thursday, the latest high-profile attack by the Taliban who have vowed to disrupt upcoming elections.
Taliban claim suicide assault on Jalalabad police HQ
(The Long War Journal) The Afghan Taliban claimed credit for today's suicide assault on a police headquarters in Jalalabad in the eastern province of Nangarhar that killed 18 people.
Pakistan Taliban Demands Military-Free Zone for Peace Talks
(Bloomberg) Pakistan’s Taliban wants the government to withdraw troops from one of two areas in the country’s tribal northwest to create a venue for the first face-to-face talks aimed at ending a decade of violence.
Pakistanis sceptical of Taliban peace talks
(Al Jazeera) The Pakistani government is in peace talks with the Taliban, but the people of the Swat Valley remain sceptical.
MIDDLE EAST
Special Report: Iraqi forces, images testify to atrocities in new fighting
(Reuters) The video shows a male corpse lying in the dirt, one end of a rope tied around his legs, the other fastened to the back of an armored Humvee.
U.S. Cancels Summit With Divided Group of Gulf Nations
(Wall Street Journal) The White House canceled plans for a summit this month between President Barack Obama and Persian Gulf monarchs in Riyadh because of splits between Washington's closest allies in the region, according to diplomats briefed on the decision.
Behind Israeli strikes on Syria, a simmering battle with Hezbollah
(Christian Science Monitor) A spate of attacks against Israeli military targets in the Golan Heights has raised fears that Hezbollah is opening a new conflict with Israel after a hiatus of nearly eight years.
Syrian military captures Crusader castle from rebels
(Los Angeles Times) The Syrian military on Thursday captured a historic Crusader castle that had long been a highly symbolic rebel bastion, the latest victory in an ongoing offensive along the Lebanese border, according to government and opposition accounts.
Al Qaeda veteran appears in Al Nusrah Front video, criticizes rival
(The Long War Journal) A recently released video produced by the Al Nusrah Front features Abu Firas al Suri, an al Qaeda veteran who has waged jihad since the late 1970s. In his video debut, al Suri criticizes the Islamic State of Iraq and the Sham (ISIS), a jihadist group that has been disowned by al Qaeda's senior leadership.
EUROPE
Pentagon proposes cuts to Ukraine military aid
(USA Today) The Obama administration proposed a 28% spending cut for a Pentagon program that supports modernizing the military of Ukraine and other former Soviet Union republics, Pentagon budget records show. The move could endanger efforts to boost Ukraine's armed forces as they face threats from Russia.
USS Bush departs Mediterranean, enters Mideast
(Stars and Stripes) The aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush has departed the Mediterranean Sea and entered the Middle East, less than a week after the Pentagon extended its stay in European waters.
Defense minister says Russian troops won't take aggressive action
(The Hill) Russia’s defense minister Sergei Shoigu said Thursday that thousands of Russian troops on the eastern and southern borders of Ukraine were there for exercises only, would not cross into the rest of Ukraine, and would take no aggressive action.
Ukraine Naval Commander Released; EU Mulls Further Sanctions
(Wall Street Journal) A top naval commander detained in Crimea during a standoff with pro-Russian forces has been released, Ukraine's acting president said Thursday, as Russia pressed on with plans to formally annex the breakaway Ukrainian region.
Ukraine Sets Deadline for Militias to Surrender Illegal Guns
(New York Times) In an effort to stabilize Ukraine and extend its authority, the interim government has set a deadline of Friday for turning in the illegal firearms that are now carried openly by so-called self-defense groups in Independence Square, the politically important plaza in the center of the capital.
Ali Abu Muhammad al Dagestani, the new emir of the Islamic Caucasus Emirate
(The Long War Journal) As the Islamic Caucasus Emirate announced the death of its founder and first emir, Doku Umarov, the group also named his successor, Ali Abu Muhammad al Dagestani. Ali Abu Muhammad al Dagestani, the new emir of the Islamic Caucasus Emirate.
ASIA-PACIFIC
Japan and North Korea Said to Agree to Formal Talks
(New York Times) Japan and North Korea agreed on Thursday to hold formal talks for the first time in more than a year, Japanese officials said, as the government of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of Japan tried to achieve a coveted diplomatic success.
Thailand in political limbo after court annuls election
(Reuters) Thailand's Constitutional Court on Friday annulled last month's general election, leaving the country in political limbo without a full government and further undermining a prime minister faced with impeachment over a failed rice subsidy scheme.
Advanced U.S. aircraft combs Indian Ocean for Malaysia Airlines jet
(Los Angeles Times) The U.S. Navy dispatched its most technologically advanced search aircraft to an empty quarter of the Indian Ocean on Thursday to look for two large pieces of debris that may provide the first physical evidence in the investigation of Malaysia Airlines Flight 370.
Burma tries to overhaul its iron-fisted police
(Washington Post) As a mob of angry young men approached a platoon of fresh-faced police recruits on the dusty outskirts of Rangoon one recent day, the officers kept their cool. Even as the crowd started hurling water bottles, commander Thein Toe Zaw attempted to negotiate over a loudspeaker. His men calmly pushed the crowd back until it dispersed — no batons drawn or beatings delivered.
COMMENTARY AND ANALYSIS
America Needs More Ships: Scrap LCS, Double Virginia Sub Buy, & Move Design Back To Navy
(Retired Navy Cmdr. Kirk Lippold in Breaking Defense) The US Navy needs more ships. The United States cannot protect the world’s sealanes, let alone “pivot to the Pacific,” if we further downsize our military. Especially given other nations’ growing anxiety about whether the US will still shoulder the leadership role of protecting them, the Navy must grow, not become smaller.
Commentary: Rethinking the QDR
(Roger Zakheim and Mackenzie Eaglen in Defense News) Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee Rep. Buck McKeon recently rejected the Pentagon’s latest defense strategy within hours of its release, saying the 2014 Quadrennial Defense Review (QDR) failed to meet statutory requirements. While McKeon intends to introduce legislation requiring another report, the secretary of defense is unlikely to comply.
Learning to Live with a Cold Peace
(David Rothkopf in Foreign Policy) Senior U.S. officials are deeply troubled by Russia's annexation of Crimea, but self-interest may drive both sides to freeze this crisis before it gets too hot.
How Western Bureaucrats Stirred Putin’s Petulance into a Cold War Crisis
(James Kitfield in Defense One) In recent days Russia has revealed the gambit that opened with a $15 billion bailout for a client in Kiev and morphed into the seizure and annexation of Crimea, all part of Vladimir Putin’s risky defense of what he sees as Moscow’s privileged “sphere of influence.”
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