TODAY’S TOP 5
1. IG: 1,700 Phoenix-area vets omitted from wait lists
(Military Times) More than 1,700 veterans were left off the official wait list for a primary care appointment at the Veterans Affairs Phoenix medical center, a purposeful omission that allowed hospital administrators to receive performance bonuses, the VA's inspector general has found.
2. 9,800 US Troops to Cost $20B; Pentagon Afghan Spending Request Will Be Higher
(Defense News) The Obama administration estimates that keeping 9,800 troops in Afghanistan in 2015 would cost about $20 billion, but the Pentagon is still expected to request tens of billions of dollars more for additional security operations in the region, according to sources and experts.
3. Not new, not improved, Obama rehashes his Walmart foreign policy
(David Rothkopf in Foreign Policy) Barack Obama is in the midst of his Reassure Our Allies World Tour. First, there was his Asia junket, during which he tried to simultaneously lower expectations for America's foreign-policy performance and promise allies we were still ready to lead. Then, a surprise visit to Afghanistan. Next week, he'll be in Europe on the beaches of Normandy, standing beside Vladimir Putin. The big stadium show of the tour took place today, however, right here in the United States at West Point
4. White House staff, Obama's top military adviser disagree on cyber strategy
(Inside Cybersecurity) The rift surfaced when Gen. Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, recently voiced concerns at the Atlantic Council about the nation's lack of preparedness for a cyber attack, cited strategic shortcomings and assigned blame to Congress.
5. Obama Is Betting His Whole Afghan Plan on These Commandos
(The Daily Beast) No matter how many troops President Obama keeps in Afghanistan, or how fast they leave, it'll be the Afghan forces that keep the country together-and its special operations troops that provide the teeth.
INDUSTRY
General Dynamics Pulls Out of AMPV Program, for Now; BAE Remains
(Defense News) On the day that final bids were due for the US Army's Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicle (AMPV) program, one of the two expected bidders - General Dynamics Land Systems - pulled out of the competition, leaving BAE Systems and its Bradley variant as the sole contender.
Face to Face With Boeing's Defense, Space and Security Head
(Aviation Week) When Chris Chadwick looks at the defense and space market through the lens of years of budget downturns, he sees several aerospace and defense companies that look the same as ever. His strategy for succeeding in the future hinges on breaking from the pack to create what he calls "true differentiation," he tells Aviation Week editors.
Discontent in Defense Sector Over Export Controls
(National Defense) Aerospace and defense firms have cheered the Obama administration's five-year effort to overhaul the U.S. export licensing system at a time when American manufacturers seek international growth.
Northrop: Global Hawk Sets Flying Hours Record
(Defense News) The Global Hawk family of unmanned systems set a record for flying hours in February, according to a release by contractor Northrop Grumman.
Textron to offer Scorpion jet to Swiss Air Force
(IHS Jane's 360) Textron Airland is to offer its Scorpion combat aircraft to Switzerland in the wake of the country's rejection of the Saab Gripen E earlier this month, national media reported on 27 May.
Elon Musk Will Unveil SpaceX's Next Generation Space Taxi In A Huge Media Event Tomorrow
(Business Insider) SpaceX CEO Elon Musk is set to introduce the Dragon V2 at a media event from Hawthorne, California, on Thursday, May 29. The Dragon V2 is a "next generation spacecraft designed to carry astronauts into space," according to a news release.
Security Insiders: Cyberspying Indictments Will Not Stop China From Hacking U.S. Businesses
(National Journal) The high-profile U.S. indictments against five Chinese military officers will not encourage China to stop hacking American businesses to steal valuable trade secrets, virtually all of National Journal's National Security Insiders said.
Military Spending Buoys Durable Orders
(Wall Street Journal) A large Pentagon order for nuclear submarines last month helped offset a broader drop in demand for big-ticket factory goods, the latest turbulence for the U.S. economy as it tries to pull out of its winter dive.
Australia could buy F-35B
(IHS Jane's 360) Australia will consider buying the short take-off and vertical landing (STOVL) variant of the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) in addition to the conventional take-off and landing (CTOL) variant to which it has already committed, a spokesman for Defence Minister David Johnston confirmed on 26 May.
Turkey Completes Predesign of Indigenous Helo
(Defense News) Turkey's national aerospace company, Tusas Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI), has completed critical predesign work for what will become the country's first indigenous utility helicopter, company officials said.
Brazil details new C295 acquisition
(IHS Jane's 360) The Brazilian Air Force (FAB) between 2016 and 2017 is scheduled to receive the three Airbus C295 military transport aircraft it purchased in April, a FAB spokesperson told IHS Jane's .
Omani navy receives third Khareef corvette
(IHS Jane's 360) The Royal Navy of Oman (RNO) officially received the third and final Project Khareef corvette in a ceremony held in Portsmouth, United Kingdom, on 28 May, announced manufacturer BAE Systems.
CONGRESS
Thornberry: Obama is Rushing to the Exit on Afghanistan
(Defense News) The leading candidate to take over a key US House panel is charging President Barack Obama with rushing to the exit in Afghanistan and making poorly reasoned national security decisions.
Accusations, renewed calls for Shinseki resignation at House VA panel
(Military Times) Angry House members accused Veterans Affairs officials of hiding subpoenaed documents and trying to cover up the depth of the veterans care delay scandal at an unusual evening hearing Wednesday, the latest bad news in a long day for the embattled department.
House intel chair: Chances bleak for cyber bill after August
(Defense News) Congress is unlikely to take up a sweeping cybersecurity bill this year if one is not moving in both chambers by August, says House Intelligence Committee Chairman Rep. Mike Rogers.
Congressional leaders question military healthcare following removal of Womack Army Medical Center commander
(Fayetteville Observer) A shakeup at Fort Bragg's hospital has elected officials concerned and asking questions.
House passes bills to provide veterans with sexual trauma support, jobs training
(The Hill) The House on Wednesday passed two bills that would provide veterans with support services for job training and sexual trauma.
Issue Tracker: 3 Senate Races
(CongressWatch) CongressWatch spoke with Kiplinger's David Morris about several Senate races to watch this year.
DEFENSE DEPARTMENT
New rules will halt imminent danger pay for 44,000
(Military Times) The world looks like it's getting safer - at least according to military compensation officials.
How DARPA's Augmented Reality Software Works
(The Atlantic) Six years ago, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) decided that they had a new dream. The agency wanted a system that would overlay digital tactical information right over the top of the physical world.
Budget proposes pay freeze for higher-ranking officers
(Military Times) The Pentagon brass has spent months urging lawmakers to support pay and benefits changes that could hurt troops' wallets. But those same top brass are also in line to take a hit to the wallet.
Federal board OKs release of 'forever prisoner' who learned yoga at Guantanamo
(Miami Herald) A government parole board Wednesday cleared for eventual release a yoga-practicing prisoner who was brought to Guantanamo as a Taliban foot soldier and wants to leave this prison for a fresh start in a third country rather than his native Yemen.
Obama outlines foreign policy built on engagement, restraint
(Military Times) President Obama affirmed Wednesday that the U.S. will use military force when necessary, but "the threshold for military action must be higher" for crises that do not pose a direct threat to the U.S.
Counterterrorism Fund could be big plus for Socom, experts say
(Tampa Tribune) During his speech at West Point, President Barack Obama announced his goal to create a Counterterrorism Partnership Fund of up to $5 billion to "train, build capacity, and facilitate partner countries on the front lines."
ARMY
Army drill sergeant accused of numerous sex assaults in Afghanistan and Missouri
(Washington Post) An Army staff sergeant is accused of sexually assaulting several female soldiers since 2011, including at least one while he was deployed to Afghanistan and others more recently while he served as a drill sergeant, according to military officials and court documents.
With fewer war injuries, Landstuhl becomes Level III trauma center
(Stars & Stripes) Three years after becoming the military's only Level I trauma center overseas, Landstuhl Regional Medical Center received official word Friday that it has been verified again as a trauma center, but at a lower classification: Level III.
More than 300 soldiers pack chapel for slain Spc. Kelli Bordeaux's memorial service
(Fayetteville Observer) More than 300 soldiers honored Fort Bragg Spc. Kelli Bordeaux during a memorial service inside the All American Chapel on Wednesday.
Germany-based Army officer convicted of raping three daughters
(Stars & Stripes) A Stuttgart-based Army officer has been sentenced to life in prison without parole after being convicted of raping his three daughters over a six-year period, the Army said.
Former Fort Drum soldier pleads guilty to manslaughter in infant's death
(Watertown Daily Times) A former Fort Drum soldier will spend two decades in prison for killing his ex-fiancee's infant last summer, under a plea agreement he accepted Tuesday in St. Lawrence County Court.
Fort Bragg hospital chief relieved of command
(Army Times) The leader of the Army hospital at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, has been fired after senior Army medical leaders "lost trust and confidence in his command," according to a statement from Army Medical Command.
NAVY
Navy Phoenix Express exercise includes countries from southern Europe, north Africa
(Stars & Stripes) The U.S. Navy has kicked off the active portion of its annual maritime exercise with Mediterranean nations, bringing together naval and police forces from southern Europe and North Africa, including problem-plagued Libya.
USS Cole trial at Guantanamo won't start until at least February
(Miami Herald) An Army judge has reset the start of the USS Cole terror trial for next year, a delay attributed to the prosecutor's effort to shield details of the CIA's secret detention program from the alleged terrorist's lawyers.
From F/A-18s to Fox News
(Navy Times) Lea Gabrielle brings a well-honed skill to cable news' lights and cameras: a fighter jock's composure.
Suit filed against Navy Federal Credit Union claims 'off-the-clock' work went unpaid
(Las Vegas Review-Journal) A member services representative filed a federal lawsuit Tuesday in Las Vegas that accuses Navy Federal Credit Union of failing to compensate him and other employees for "off-the-clock work."
AIR FORCE
Biden challenges graduating Air Force Academy cadets to create a 'new world order'
(Colorado Springs Gazette) Under a blazing sun, Vice President Joe Biden challenged graduating Air Force Academy cadets to help create a "new world order for the 21st century."
Civilian pilots still straying into restricted airspace
(USA Today) Thirteen years after the 9/11 attacks, military aircraft are scrambling more than once a week, on average, to intercept civilian planes that stray into restricted airspace, military statistics show.
Murkowski hopeful that Eielson AFB will house F-35s
(Air Force Times) Eielson Air Force Base likely will be on a narrowed list of potential locations for two squadrons of new F-35 Joint Strike Fighters, U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski said.
101-year-old Veteran robbed at gunpoint Memorial Day Weekend
(Reno Gazette-Journal) Two suspects were arrested Wednesday in the robbery of a 101-year-old Carson City veteran at his home over the Memorial Day weekend.
MARINE CORPS
Marine vet in Mexico jail drops lawyer
(San Diego Union Tribune) Andrew Tahmooressi, a 25-year-old Marine Corps veteran, will wait a little longer to make his case against weapons-possession charges after dropping his defense attorney at a brief hearing Wednesday in a Tijuana courthouse.
Marine Lance Cpl. Steven Hancock escorted to Morris
(Morris Daily Herald) American flags waved in the breeze along highways and streets for miles Wednesday as communities honored the late Lance Cpl. Steven Hancock as he was escorted to Morris.
U.S. Marines Move Closer to Libya Following Unrest
(USNI News) The Pentagon is moving an amphibious warship closer to Libya following an attack on the prime minister's home, a defense official told USNI News on Wednesday.
The crosses are back: after wildfire, 100 Marines restore Pendleton memorials
(Battle Rattle blog) Last week, we wrote about one Marine's valiant mission to save a beloved Camp Pendleton memorial site from the wildfires that were burning through the base.
VETERANS
Parents of military suicide victims applaud proposed law
(Indianapolis Star) If U.S. service members knew their mental health information would be kept private in medical files, more might seek help, says the Hoosier father of one serviceman who committed suicide.
VA inspector general confirms Texas probes
(San Antonio Express-News) The VA's inspector general confirmed Wednesday that his office is investigating reports of patient waiting-list fraud at clinics in San Antonio, Austin, and a Temple hospital.
Gov. Scott to sue VA; seeks inspection of hospitals
(Associated Press) Gov. Rick Scott says he plans to sue the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs because it will not let state hospital officials inspect federal medical care facilities in Florida.
Syracuse launches vet student study
(Military Times) Syracuse University's veterans research arm has launched a new study to learn more about the experiences of vets in higher education, and the group is calling for student vets across the country to participate.
'All he needed was help,' friends say of Iraqi war vet killed in incident with KC police
(Kansas City Star) Issac Sims left Iraq alive, but not unscathed.
Primary Loss Means End of Era for World War II Veterans in Congress
(New York Times) Combat veterans of World War II have served in every Congress for the last 70 years, shaping foreign policy and a vision of the United States as the world's benevolent leader, willing to use its economic and military might as a global force for freedom.
AFGHANISTAN/PAKISTAN
U.S. and NATO to Hammer Out Postwar Afghanistan Plan Next Week
(USNI News) Western European military leaders and their counterparts in Washington will convene next week to hammer out the details of the White House's recently unveiled postwar plan for Afghanistan.
ISAF soldier killed in Afghanistan chopper crash
(Agence France-Presse) A member of the US-led NATO coalition in Afghanistan has been killed in a helicopter crash in the south of the country, the force said Thursday.
Hagel: Afghan anti-terror planning still underway
(Associated Press) Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said Wednesday it was not clear yet how many troops the U.S. will use to battle terrorists in Afghanistan in the coming two years, but he expressed some confidence that the Afghan forces will improve enough to secure and govern their own country.
Hayden: Obama Afghan timetable is 'dangerous'
(MSNBC) Top Talkers: After 13 years of war, President Obama is ushering in the beginning of the end of American operations in Afghanistan. The Morning Joe panel discusses the move. Ret. Gen. Michael Hayden joins the discussion.
Amid Drawdown, Fears of Taliban Resurgence and Economic Collapse
(New York Times) In recent years, the growing resentment in Afghanistan toward American forces' raids and airstrikes has been balanced, in part, by concerns about what might happen after foreign troops leave.
Relief in Afghanistan after Obama makes troop commitment
(Stars & Stripes) President Barack Obama's announcement that the U.S. plans to keep nearly 10,000 troops in Afghanistan past the end of the year brought relief to Afghans worried a full withdrawal would leave a security vacuum.
Pakistani Taliban splits into two amid infighting
(Washington Post) The Pakistani Taliban, riven by infighting, splintered into two major groups Wednesday as the leader of its dominant faction announced that it was severing ties with chief Taliban commander Maulana Fazlullah.
MIDDLE EAST
Iranian hackers are targeting U.S. officials through social networks, report says
(Washington Post) A group of Iranian hackers has waged a creative campaign of cyber-espionage, targeting hundreds of high-ranking U.S. defense, diplomatic and other officials who are lured to fake Web sites through an elaborate social media network that features a bogus online news site, according to a new report.
Iran fires new Nazeat rocket variant
(IHS Jane's 360) The Iranian military test-fired what appears to be a new, spin-stabilised variant of the Nazeat heavy rocket with a separable warhead during Exercise 'Beit ol-Moqaddas 26' (Jerusalem) on 23-24 May.
Iraq may serve as cautionary tale for Afghanistan
(USA Today) The United States has been funneling tons of weapons into Iraq, including sniper rifles , tank rounds and missiles, but the country's U.S.-trained military has not been able to dislodge Jihadists who have seized control of territory in parts of western Iraq and held it for much of this year.
KADEX 2014: Syrian MiG-29 numbers, delivery firm up
(IHS Jane's 360) Twelve MiG-29M/M2 multirole fighters ordered by Syria will be delivered in 2016-17, according to RAC MiG CEO Sergei Korotkov.
Israel Suspends Soldier in West Bank Shooting Investigation
(New York Times) The Israeli military suspended a soldier who was captured on video this month firing his rifle at protesters in the occupied West Bank. Video evidence showed that the soldier fired his weapon within seconds of a Palestinian boy's collapsing to the ground with what proved to be a fatal gunshot wound.
Sisi's crushing presidential election in Egypt undercut by turnout
(Los Angeles Times) Victory celebrations erupted by backers of Abdel Fattah Sisi, who easily won election as Egypt's next president, according to unofficial talllies released by his campaign early Thursday.
Egyptian TV Swayed Public Against Morsi, in Favor of Sisi
(Wall Street Journal) The dramatic shift in popular opinion that is expected to lift a former army chief to president of Egypt traces, in part, to an incident outside a TV station last year.
EUROPE
Ukrainian government vows more military action against separatists
(Washington Post) Ukraine's government continued efforts to put down a separatist rebellion in eastern reaches of the country on Wednesday, as military forces battled rebel holdouts near the airport here and the newly elected president was quoted as saying he would seek U.S. military aid to help end the crisis.
Russia Urges 'Emergency Steps' Over Ukraine After Rebel Losses
(Bloomberg) Russia called for unspecified "emergency" measures to halt the violence in eastern Ukraine after separatist militias suffered the heaviest casualties of their insurgency.
Presidential Building Is Stormed in Restless Georgian Region
(New York Times) Hundreds of demonstrators occupied the presidential headquarters of Abkhazia, a breakaway enclave of Georgia, on Wednesday, demanding the resignation of the region's leader and the dismissal of the government in the latest tumult to grip a separatist area supported by Russia.
Spain to extend AV-8B Harrier service life
(IHS Jane's 360) The Spanish Navy has been promised EUR70.3 million (USD95.7 million) for extending the lifespan of its Harrier EAV-8B carrier-borne strike aircraft beyond 2025.
AFRICA
Libyan Strongman Battles Militias for Control
(New York Times) The road to the general's base is filled with soldiers who salute, wear matching uniforms and drive glinting new Toyotas, in a display of martial discipline and power rare for this country.
Rebel Leader's Visit to Sudan Sets Back Peace Talks
(Wall Street Journal) South Sudan rebel leader Riek Machar's impending visit to neighboring Sudan is raising tensions with the South Sudanese government and has set back talks to end a five-month conflict, diplomats and officials said.
New Mali defence minister named after Kidal fiasco
(Agence France-Presse) A retired airforce colonel was appointed Wednesday as Mali's defence minister after his predecessor resigned over last week's deadly rebel takeover of the northern city of Kidal.
Shabaab takes credit for double suicide bombings in Djibouti
(Long War Journal) Shabaab has officially opened a new front in the Horn of Africa. The al Qaeda branch unsurprisingly has claimed credit for the double suicide attack in Djibouti on May 25 that killed one person and wounded several Westerners. Shabaab spokesman Ali Dheere claimed that attack in a speech today.
ASIA-PACIFIC
Burden Sharing is the Future of Asian Missile Defense, Pentagon Official Says
(Defense News) Just minutes before US President Barack Obama unveiled a new foreign policy initiative focused on training and advising US allies in the Middle East and North Africa, the Pentagon's No. 2 military officer on Wednesday also touted the need for allies in describing missile defense in the Pacific region.
China Warns on Proposed New Missile Defense System for Seoul
(Wall Street Journal) China warned against the deployment of a proposed U.S. missile-defense system in South Korea, saying such a move would unnecessarily raise regional tensions.
President's Choice for South Korea Premier Steps Aside
(New York Times) A former justice handpicked to be South Korea's new prime minister stepped aside on Wednesday, dealing a blow to President Park Geun-hye's efforts to regroup her government in the wake of a fatal ferry disaster.
Indian Air Force loses another MiG-21 fighter
(IHS Jane's 360) An Indian Air Force (IAF) MiG-21 'Fishbed' combat aircraft crashed during a routine training sortie on 27 May, killing the pilot.
Thailand's Military Rulers Make Policy Moves
(Wall Street Journal) Thailand's military stepped up its propaganda effort and appointed hawkish generals to key advisory roles, tightening its grip on power as it tries to steer the economy away from the brink of recession.
COMMENTARY AND ANALYSIS
America's Purpose and Role in a Changed World
(Retired Air Force Gen. Michael V. Hayden in World Affairs) I had never been a big fan of American exceptionalism. It was too self-referential, self-identifying, self-focused for my personal comfort.
Conditions on the Ground, Not Deadlines, Should Dictate Afghan Withdrawal
(Gayle Tzemach Lemmon in Defense One) When President Barack Obama spoke about Afghanistan at the White House at West Point this week, four words were noticeably absent: "conditions on the ground."
This Is How Wars End in the 21st Century'
(Major Garrett in National Journal) Most wars involving the United States since World War II have ended vaguely, ingloriously, or semi-ceremonially. In the first instance, think Korea-it's technically still a war because there was no peace treaty, only an armistice. In the second instance, think of the frantic U.S. pullout from Saigon. In the third, the end of the first Gulf War carried a surrender, but with it came flinching (in the eyes of neoconservative hawks), unfinished business defined by no-fly zones and a trade embargo.
To Ramadi and Back
(Mark Murphy in War on the Rocks) Ten years ago this week our brigade learned it was being deployed from South Korea to Ramadi, Iraq.
Who Cares About Shinseki? Let's Focus on Understanding Vets
(Mark Thompson in Time) Washington relishes nothing more than dumping someone's career into a centrifuge and punching "puree"-it separates the good from the bad, and leaves Americans, with plenty of help from the media, to focus on the bad.
The Ill-Fated Mission of the USS Pueblo
(Christopher Lee in War on the Rocks) In Act of War: Lyndon Johnson, North Korea, and the Capture of the Spy Ship Pueblo, former Los Angeles Times political reporter Jack Cheevers recounts North Korea's 1968 seizure of the USS Pueblo, a U.S. intelligence-gathering ship; the ordeal the crew suffered while in detention; and the behind-the-scenes efforts to end the crisis
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