TODAY’S TOP 5
1. Obama to nominate former Proctor and Gamble CEO as Veterans Affairs secretary
(Military Times) The White House on Monday will nominate former Procter and Gamble CEO Bob McDonald to take over as the next Veterans Affairs secretary, charged with fixing the ongoing veterans care delay scandal and restoring public faith in the department.
2. In Military Care, a Pattern of Errors but Not Scrutiny
(New York Times) Jessica Zeppa, five months pregnant, the wife of a soldier, showed up four times at Reynolds Army Community Hospital here in pain, weak, barely able to swallow and fighting a fever. The last time, she declared that she was not leaving until she could get warm.
3. Blame The Obama Doctrine For Iraq
(Stuart Gottlieb in The Daily Beast) Obama keeps trying to blame Maliki, but his administration left Baghdad vulnerable so he could claim in 2012 he'd ended the war he'd opposed all along.
4. Obama Poised to Yank Top Military Intel Pick
(Foreign Policy) The Obama administration is poised to abandon its pick to run the sprawling Defense Intelligence Agency amid two ongoing investigations into whether programs she had overseen have been marred by questionable and potentially illegal spending, according to administration officials and congressional sources with knowledge of the matter.
5. Interceptions Rise as Russia Boosts Air Power
(Defense News) The Russian Air Force is upgrading its long-range aircraft, making the decades-old planes more lethal amid increasing encounters near US airspace, a top US general responsible for defending the American and Canadian airspace said.
DEFENSE NEWS WITH VAGO MURADIAN
Norway's Relations with Russia
http://bcove.me/nttszbip
Climate Change in the North
http://bcove.me/plqhfqld
Israel's View of ISIL and Iraq
http://bcove.me/onwpg4hn
Vago's Notebook
http://bcove.me/4c3md8qx
IRAQ
Iraq Says Russian Experts Have Arrived to Help Prepare Jets for Fighting
(New York Times) Iraqi government officials said Sunday that Russian experts had arrived in Iraq to help the army get 12 new Russian warplanes into the fight against Sunni extremists.
Iraqi PM Nouri Maliki: Russian jets will turn tide
(BBC) Iraq's Prime Minister Nouri Maliki has told the BBC that he hopes jets from Russia and Belarus will turn the tide against rebels in the coming days.
Pentagon: We're Not Slow-Rolling F-16 Sale to Iraq
(Defense News) The Pentagon pushed back Friday on comments made by Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki that the US is slow-rolling a sale of Lockheed Martin F-16 fighters to Baghdad.
U.S. has armed drones over Baghdad, official says
(CNN) A U.S. official confirmed to CNN that armed American drones started flying over Baghdad in the previous 24 hours to provide additional protection for 180 U.S. military advisers in the area. Until now, U.S. officials had said all drone reconnaissance flights over Iraq were unarmed.
Iraqi Forces Stalled in Push Against Militants, Say Officials
(Wall Street Journal) Iraqi security forces were locked in a standoff outside the city of Tikrit on Sunday morning, local security officials said, as the military's most muscular effort to beat back a three-week-old Sunni insurgency appeared to stall.
ISIL declares new 'Islamic caliphate'
(Al Jazeera) Fighters in Syria and Iraq have announced the establishment of a "caliphate", referring to the system of rule that ended nearly 100 years ago with the fall of the Ottoman empire.
ISIS weapons windfall may alter balance in Iraq, Syria conflicts
(Los Angeles Times) Six months ago, Sunni Arab militants faced a daunting firepower imbalance in their uprising against the U.S.-equipped Iraqi army west of Baghdad.
Top Shiite Cleric Tells Iraq Leaders to Pick New Premier
(Bloomberg) Iraq's top Shiite religious leader stepped up pressure on politicians to agree on a new government intended to prevent a fracturing of the country, as the army battles militants who have seized major cities.
Pew Poll Finds Americans Deeply Skeptical of US Military Force
(Defense News) A new poll finds most Americans deeply skeptical about the effectiveness of US military force and eager for an increased focus on domestic affairs.
INDUSTRY
US Armored Vehicle Battle Intensifies
(Defense News) The US Army is threatening to slash modernization funding for Stryker, Abrams and Bradley vehicles if the service is forced to halt a $10 billion program to replace thousands of M113 infantry carriers.
Boeing completes MSA systems fit ahead of trials and customer demos
(IHS Jane's 360) Boeing has recently completed missions systems and sensor installation of the Bombardier Challenger 604 Maritime Surveillance Aircraft (MSA) testbed, ahead of ground and flight trials which in turn will lead onto customer demonstrations, a Boeing official disclosed on 27 June.
Snowdrifts and Skis: US Army Updates Land-Nav Trainer
(Defense News) The US Army has upgraded its land-navigation simulator, which helps teach a variety of outdoor skills, to take advantage of a new version of its underlying battlefield simulation system.
Lockheed Martin develops hybrid cloud for Air Force
(C4ISR & Networks) Lockheed Martin is developing a hybrid cloud that will enable the U.S. Air Force to migrate to a cloud-based system. Lockheed claims that this will offer lower costs, better service and greater agility for 800,000 Air Force users.
Despite Lawsuits, Disagreements, SpaceX and USAF Moving Forward
(Defense News) On a muggy day in DC, Elon Musk, the founder and CEO of SpaceX, stood in front of a gaggle of reporters and openly questioned the organization that could be his biggest customer.
What motivates defense contractors? Four lessons for government leaders
(Washington Post) Competition was the main theme of the Defense Department's second annual report on acquisition performance, released earlier this month. Declining budgets may be pushing defense contractors to look for work outside the government, but the Pentagon's emphasis remains on promoting competition, according to Frank Kendall, the undersecretary of defense for acquisition, technology and logistics.
BAE Reorganizes Portfolio of Saudi Arabia Industrial Interests
(Wall Street Journal) Defense firm BAE Systems PLC (BA.LN) Monday announced a reorganization of its portfolio of interests in a number of industrial companies in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and an enhancement of its existing relationship with Riyadh Wings Aviation Academy LLC.
Poland orders Tytan soldier system
(IHS Jane's 360) The Polish Armament Inspectorate signed two contracts on 27 June for the Tytan (Titan) future soldier system worth more than USD1.5 billion.
Poland orders new Rosomak 8x8 variant
(IHS Jane's 360) Poland has ordered 34 WRT engineering reconnaissance variants of its Rosomak (Patria AMV) 8x8 armoured fighting vehicle.
Eyes on defense deals, Western powers rush to court India's Modi
(Reuters) Western governments are rushing to visit India's new Prime Minister Narendra Modi, drawn by the prospect of multi-billion-dollar deals as the government prepares to open the nascent defense industry to foreign investment.
Bangladesh Navy to receive K-8W, Mi-171Sh aircraft
(IHS Jane's 360) The Bangladesh Navy will take delivery of nine K-8W training aircraft from China by the end of 2014, Minister for Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives, Sayed Ashraful Islam said on 22 June.
VETERANS
'Corrosive culture,' weak leadership cripple VA, report says
(CNN) The Veterans Affairs health care system needs to be overhauled because of unresponsive leadership and a "corrosive culture" that affects the delivery of medical care, said a report delivered Friday to President Barack Obama.
GI Bill funds flow to for-profit colleges that fail state aid standards
(Center for Investigative Reporting) Over the last five years, more than $600 million in college assistance for Iraq and Afghanistan veterans has been spent on California schools so substandard that they have failed to qualify for state financial aid.
Whistleblower brings scrutiny to Lakewood lab that handles veterans' blood
(Tacoma News Tribune) Last February medical lab technicians at the VA's American Lake hospital in Lakewood flagged a compromised batch of blood samples because it had been frozen and thawed one too many times.
VA investigates Atlanta enrollment office
(Atlanta Journal-Constitution) National eligibility office alleged to have purged thousands of veteran applications, AJC investigation reveals.
The VA's Secret Claims
(National Journal) The long-standing slog within the Veterans Affairs Department to cut down its mountain of disability claims has been well documented. Or has it?
Surge in patients outpaces Fayetteville's VA health care's building boom
(Fayetteville Observer) The Fayetteville VA Medical Center has been playing catchup for years.
Vietnam veteran fabricated heroic acts during trial
(Augusta Chronicle) Chavous, 63, was in the Marines and was in combat during his one-year tour of duty in 1970. But there was no Navy Cross, no Distinguished Service Cross, no five Purple Hearts, and no escape from a North Vietnamese prison camp, according to records The Augusta Chronicle obtained from the National Archives
CONGRESS
Republicans Say Obama's War-Funding Request 'Cries Out for Oversight'
(Defense News) Senior congressional Republicans are vowing to closely scrub President Barack Obama's new war-funding request, with one saying it "cries out for oversight."
Can Obama ever close Gitmo?
(The Hill) President Obama vowed to close the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay on his second day in office, but it is increasingly unlikely he can deliver on that promise.
Congress Moves To Halt Palestinian Funding
(Defense News) The US Congress is targeting the Palestine Authority (PA) with a cutoff of funds unless US President Barack Obama can justify how continued support to Ramallah advances national security needs.
Senators Drafting Bill That Could Extend Life of Chemical Security Program
(Global Security Newswire) Senators are working on a bill that could extend the life of a controversial chemical security program, but details still remain under wraps.
Bill aims to aid Camp Lejeune contamination victims
(Associated Press) Sen. Kay Hagan and U.S Rep. G.K. Butterfield said Friday the measure would pre-empt states from limiting the time frame in which damages can be recovered in pollution lawsuits.
DEFENSE DEPARTMENT
'Magic Money': DoD's Overseas Contingency Budget Might Dry Up
(Defense News) While the US Defense Department's Afghanistan war budget is expected to receive little resistance from lawmakers, the Pentagon is under pressure from the White House Office of Management Budget to lower, then eliminate supplemental requests, sources said.
Report: DOD lacks realistic plan to cut costs at management headquarters
(Stars & Stripes) The Pentagon has produced no realistic plan for cutting costs at its many management headquarters, according to a report released Thursday by the Government Accountability Office.
Keeping pace with cyber training
(C4ISR & Networks) Report after report continues to surface warning about the shortage of properly skilled cyber security resources. Last year, the DHS inspector general reported that the National Cybersecurity and Communications Integration Center "does not have sufficient resources to provide specialized training to incident responder."
Powerful Radar Blimp To Surveil Washington, Baltimore, Out to Sea
(Defense News) If a US combatant commander stationed somewhere around the globe feels his command lacks the ability to detect missiles, airplanes and drones up to 350 miles away, the US Army might have the solution.
ARMY
Tactile belts let soldiers feel their way through the field
(Army Times) Soldiers may develop a sixth sense for combat, but the Army's not done working on the other five.
Amy Adams gives U.S. soldier a surprise first-class upgrade
(Los Angeles Times) Amy Adams quietly did a cool thing on an airplane Friday -- and the world would have been none the wiser except for a tweet from another passenger outing the actress' wish-I'd-done-that-too goodness.
QandA: First woman to wear Jungle tab talks training, warrior royalty
(Army Times) About six months after opening, the Army's Jungle Operations Training Course in Hawaii graduated its first female soldier.
Jury rejects death penalty in Williams murder case
(Honolulu Star-Advertiser) A federal court jury in Honolulu rejected the death penalty on Friday for former Schofield Barracks soldier Naeem J. Williams, who instead will spend the rest of his life in prison for killing his 5-year-old daughter Talia in 2005.
North Pole man pleads guilty to shooting fireworks at Army helicopters
(Fairbanks Daily News-Miner) A North Pole man who shot fireworks at Army helicopters flying over his house and shined a spotlight at them pleaded guilty Friday to a misdemeanor count of assaulting U.S. military personnel performing official duties.
NAVY
Navy Engineers LCS Changes
(DoDBuzz) The Navy is implementing specific design and engineering improvements to its Littoral Combat Ship following the construction of the first two vessels, the Freedom and the Independence.
Inquiry board recommends retaining Navy captain
(Virginian-Pilot) He is a decorated Navy doctor with almost 30 years of service - a man one general says he would serve with again in a heartbeat. * But after sequestration grounded the hospital ship Comfort last year, Capt. Kevin Knoop found himself fighting to save his career.
New apps put Navy fitness in your pocket
(Navy Times) Whether you're looking to get jacked, take on your first mud run or just stay in shape during deployment, the Navy has an app for that.
Stealthy warship Zumwalt is soon getting jet fuel
(Associated Press) Bath Iron Works is getting ready to bring fuel aboard the Navy's biggest destroyer in preparation for firing up some of the world's largest marine turbines this summer.
New paint could mean lighter workloads - and lighter ships
(Navy Times) The Navy is hoping that a new paint slathering its way into the fleet will mean a little less chipping and painting for sailors.
'Rogue drone' report blames range, glitch for November crash
(Navy Times) A new report faults a control glitch and the drone's operators for an unusual November mishap where the telemetry target crashed into the cruiser Chancellorsville during at-sea testing, sidelining the ship for months and causing millions in damages.
Reserve, FTS chief petty officer list released
(Navy Times) Active-duty sailors weren't the only ones facing a more difficult path to make chief this year.
US Navy Shows Off Ideas About 2025 Workplace
(Defense News) The US Navy is trying to give developers and operators a look at the workplace of 2025 - a space full of unmanned vehicles, gesture-controlled robots, virtual meetings and 3D data visualization. Some of the technology hasn't even been invented, much less fully fleshed out, but officials hope to get people excited about the possibilities, rapidly develop ideas in virtual environments and lay the groundwork for swift adoption of technologies as they arrive.
Navy: SOCOM No Longer Interested in Oceanographic Survey Ship
(Seapower) Military Sealift Command's (MSC's) oceanographic survey ship USNS Sumner (T-AGS 61) no longer is destined for acquisition by U. S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM).
COAST GUARD
Coast Guard court martial alleging sexual assault underway in Miami
(Miami Herald) A petty officer is facing charges dating back to 2010 in South Carolina; the proceedings are at District 7 headquarters in Miami.
Evans takes command of U.S. Coast Guard research center
(The Day; New London, Conn.) Command of the U.S. Coast Guard Research and Development Center passed from Capt. Alan Arsenault to Capt. Dennis Evans in a ceremony today at the center.
AIR FORCE
10 cadets found guilty in academy cheating scandal, another resigns
(Air Force Times) An Air Force Academy investigation into a cheating scandal has found 10 cadets violated the honor code, academy superintendent Lt. Gen. Michelle Johnson said Thursday. Another cadet who was under investigation has resigned, Johnson said.
America's $400 Billion Stealth Jet Fleet Is Grounded
(The Daily Beast) The U.S. Air Force has grounded its fleet of stealthy Lockheed Martin F-35 Joint Strike Fighters (JSF) after one aircraft caught fire on takeoff Monday at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida. While the pilot got out of the stricken jet without injury, the roughly $200 million machine could be a total loss.
Death penalty suggested in case against airman facing murder charges
(Air Force Times) An Air Force investigating officer is recommending the death penalty for a Robins Air Force Base, Georgia, senior airman charged with killing his fiancee and unborn child.
Handlers find loyal kennel companions at Peterson Air Force Base
(Colorado Springs Gazette) Dogs have accompanied man on the hunt since time immemorial. Though the bow and spear has given way to the rifle, and hunting is no longer necessary, dogs continue to prove their dedication on the nation's battlefields.
1,318 selected for promotion to major, lt. col., col
(Air Force Times) More than 1,300 officers have been selected for promotion to major, lieutenant colonel or colonel, the Air Force said Friday.
Culture shock after the first block: 'Doolies' get rude awakening on first day at Air Force Academy
(Colorado Springs Gazette) The air was so silent on the bus loaded with fresh, wide-eyed Air Force "Doolies" one could hear a beret drop. But only until it turned the corner, out of the sight of friends, family end everything familiar.
MARINE CORPS
Camp Lejeune Marine Who Died During Fitness Test Named
(WITN; Greenville, N.C.) A U.S. Marine lieutenant colonel was two days away from assuming command of a school at Camp Johnson has died after collapsing during a physical fitness test.
Minor injuries, damage after CH-53 hard landing in Afghanistan
(Marine Corps Times) A Marine CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter was damaged during a hard landing at Camp Bastion, Afghanistan June 1, according to new data released by the Marine Corps.
Marine who disappeared in Iraq in 2004 back in US
(Associated Press) A Marine who was declared a deserter nearly 10 years ago after disappearing in Iraq and then returning to the U.S. claiming he had been kidnapped, only to disappear again, is back in U.S. custody, officials said Sunday.
Obamas attend evening parade at Marine Barracks Washington
(Stars & Stripes) President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama were among the guests at Friday's evening parade at Marine Barracks Washington.
Marine Harrier pilot sticks incredible landing on tiny bench at sea
(Marine Corps Times) A new video from the amphibious assault ship Bataan shows a Marine AV-8B Harrier pilot executing the precision landing of a lifetime after his aircraft malfunctioned in mid-flight.
Marine Corps Strategy Reflects Lean Times
(National Defense) Marines are coming to grips with the reality that they will not have the big-ticket hardware that they had hoped for. So they are adjusting their plans and strategies with the knowledge that they will have to live with existing equipment and lower-cost alternatives.
USMC to reduce Shadow budget to fund Blackjack engine upgrade
(IHS Jane's 360) The US Marine Corps (USMC) has requested that the US Congress allow it to shift USD18.75 million from its RQ-7B Shadow unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to its RQ-21 Blackjack UAV programme in order to extend the latter's range.
Navy Cross recipient who outed military fakers dies
(Marine Corps Times) Retired Marine Lt. Col. Tom Richards received the Navy Cross, but he was most proud of the Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal that he received as an enlisted Marine, said his wife, Diane Richards.
Prison for contractors in 'godfather' bribery scheme
(San Diego Union-Tribune) Two contractors were sentenced to prison Friday for their bribery scheme with a construction supervisor who called himself the "Godfather of Camp Pendleton."
Terminal Lance creator goes darker with new graphic novel
(Marine Corps Times) Fans of the Marine Corps-centric "Terminal Lance" helped its creator Max Uriarte raise the seed money for his newest project, a graphic novel set to debut this summer. But don't expect the sardonic, absurdist humor of Terminal Lance here.
Marine receives combat medal in ceremony at crowded Chili's restaurant
(Marine Corps Times) It was the perfect ambush. Cpl. Randy Mann, an assault amphibious vehicle crewman on terminal leave, was lured to a Southern California Chili's by his Marine buddies who said they wanted to bid him farewell before he departed for Texas, his home state, the next day.
Marine drone community gets more officers
(Marine Corps Times) Results of the latest selection board for officers making a lateral move into the burgeoning unmanned aerial vehicle officer specialty show the community continues to grow.
AFGHANISTAN/PAKISTAN
Afghanistan on the brink
(San Diego Union-Tribune) Among his many military titles, one might add "Chief of Busting Chops" to Lt. Gen. Joseph Anderson's resume.
Pakistani military kills local Taliban leader, captures al Qaeda bomb expert
(Long War Journal) The Pakistani military said it killed the Movement of the Taliban in Pakistan's commander for the town of Miramshah in North Waziristan and captured an al Qaeda explosives expert during its ongoing offensive in the tribal agency.
Pakistani Cobra Crash Further Stresses Tired Fleet
(Defense News) The fatal crash of a Pakistan AH-1F Cobra helicopter gunship during a night training mission Wednesday has further whittled down the well-worn fleet at a time when it is engaged in efforts to cleanse North Waziristan of the Taliban and its allies.
MIDDLE EAST
Qatar Emiri Air Force Through The Lens
(Aviation Week) Like most Middle Eastern air arms, the Qatar Emiri Air Force is extremely camera-shy.
Militants Leverage Iraq Gains in Syria
(Wall Street Journal) The extremist group known as the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) is expanding its foothold in Syria after recent gains in neighboring Iraq, intensifying its clashes here against other Islamist rebel factions.
Saudi king sacks deputy defence minister - royal court
(Reuters) Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah sacked the deputy defence minister on Saturday less than two months after he was appointed, the state news agency reported.
Iran, Qatar to cooperate against 'terror'
(Agence France-Presse) The leaders of Shiite Iran and Sunni Qatar vowed Sunday to cooperate to fight "terrorism in the region", President Hassan Rouhani's office reported as Iraqi forces counter a militant onslaught.
Israeli air strikes hit targets in Gaza
(Al Jazeera) The Israeli military has carried out airstrikes in the Gaza Strip after rockets were launched towards Israel, the military said, and Israel's foreign minister suggested reoccupying the Hamas-ruled territory to stop the rocket fire.
Martin Indyk, U.S. envoy for Israeli-Palestinian negotiations, to step down
(Washington Post) Martin Indyk, the former U.S. diplomat who has served for the past year as Secretary of State John F. Kerry's point man in failed efforts to forge an Israeli-Palestinian peace agreement, is returning to his regular job at the Brookings Institution, Kerry announced Friday.
EUROPE
Second French FREMM completes sea trials
(IHS Jane's 360) The French Navy's second Aquitaine-class multimission FREMM (Fregate Europeenne Multi-Missions) frigate Normandie has completed sea trials and returned to the DCNS shipyard in Lorient, France, for final work prior to delivery later in 2014.
Finland Appoints 'NATO Hawk' as New PM
(Defense News) The appointment of Alexander Stubb, dubbed a "NATO hawk" by the opposition Finns Party, as Finland's new prime minister has raised expectations that the non-aligned Nordic state will accelerate a path toward NATO.
Turkey Could Double Its Arms Budget
(Defense News) Turkey, which has been spending around US $4 billion a year on weapons and upgrades, may double that to meet procurement goals for 2023.
French Minister's Visit to India To Feature Talks on Rafale Sale
(Defense News) Discussions to resolve contract differences on India's planned purchase of Dassault Rafale fighters for its $12 billion Medium Multirole Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) program are likely to top the agenda when French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius begins a two-day visit to New Delhi on June 30.
Italy Seeks Bigger JSF Workshare
(Defense News) Italy's defense minister, during a Friday meeting with US Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel, will ask the US to boost the Italian workshare on the Joint Strike Fighter program at its final assembly line, even as Italy reduces spending on the aircraft.
ASIA-PACIFIC
North Korea launches two missiles, defies U.N. ban
(Reuters) North Korea fired two short-range ballistic missiles into seas east off its coast on Sunday, South Korea's military said, defying a U.N. ban on the isolated country testing such weapons.
New landmine policy will not affect Korea's DMZ
(Military Times) A major change in U.S. policy on landmines should not affect the mines in the Demilitarized Zone separating North and South Korea.
India signs nuclear inspections protocol after five-year delay
(IHS Jane's 360) India has finally ratified another element of its international nuclear safety obligations after a five-year delay.
Vietnam inducts DHC-6 aircraft into air naval brigade
(IHS Jane's 360) The People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN) Navy inducted a Viking DHC-6 twin turboprop aircraft into its 954 Air Force-Naval Brigade on 17 June, in a ceremony at Cam Ranh City presided over by PAVN Deputy Commander Rear Admiral Le Minh Thanh.
AFRICA
U.S. trims Nigeria surveillance flights seeking abducted girls
(Reuters) The United States said on Friday it had decreased its surveillance flights in the search for more than 200 schoolgirls abducted by Islamist militants in Nigeria, but added that the overall effort was unchanged due to more flights by other countries.
Gunmen Attack Nigerian Churches, Killing at Least 30
(Wall Street Journal) Gunmen on Sunday attacked services at three churches near the Nigerian village where 276 schoolgirls were abducted in April, part of a pounding of a Christian pocket in the predominantly Muslim north.
German troops to stay in Mali
(Deutsche Welle) Parliament in Berlin has extended German participation in the UN mission in Mali for another year. Up to 150 German soldiers can continue to serve in the West African country. Doubts about the mission persist.
A Rogue Libyan General Tries To Impose Order With An Iron Fist
(National Public Radio) No one is safe in Libya these days. Judges, activists, human rights defenders and former officers in Moammar's Gadhafi's army are being silenced with bullets and knives.
COMMENTARY AND ANALYSIS
Obama's Last Best AUMF Reform Moment
(Defense News) If success really largely is about timing, it is tough to imagine a better political scenario in which President Barack Obama could achieve his own goal of updating America's legal framework for fighting violent Islamic groups.
The End of an Era in the Philippines?
(Lt. Cmdr. Mark Munson in War on the Rocks) Last week U.S. Pacific Command announced that the Joint Special Operations Task Force - Philippines (JSOTF-P) would be phased out and replaced by "a dozen or so advisers" forming a "PACOM Augmentation Team." And with JSOTF-P's departure, the basis of the U.S.-Philippine relationship is changing.
The Law's Vital Role in America's Intelligence Debate
(Butch Bracknell and Morris Davis in Real Clear Defense) In his essay, "National Security Lawyers a National Security Threat," Marshall Erwin disparages national security lawyers for, in his view, putting the nation's security at risk. In the process of doing so, Erwin inadvertently makes a compelling case for why national security lawyers play a vital role in helping to guide those who make and execute national security policies.
Opinion: The Wrong Debate on Coping with ISIS
(Air Force Lt. Col. David Abba in USNI News) Since the dawn of military aviation, proponents and skeptics of air power have vigorously debated its efficacy, often focusing on whether air power is capable of winning wars by itself. Not surprisingly, this debate is surfacing again as we consider whether and how the United States should be involved in the current crisis in Iraq.
The IMU Ascendant: How Uzbek Autocracy Empowers Terrorist Entrepreneurs
(Luke Lischin in Small Wars Journal) After approximately one decade spent in the shadow of the Afghan Taliban, the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU) claimed ownership over what appear to be increasingly frequent waves of violence focused in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and at the borders of Central Asia
