TODAY’S TOP 5
1. 'Friendly Fire' Strike Kills 5 Special Operations Soldiers in Afghanistan
(New York Times) Five American Special Operations service members and at least one Afghan soldier were killed when a coalition aircraft accidentally unleashed an airstrike on their position in southern Afghanistan, one of the deadliest instances of friendly fire in more than a decade of war, Afghan and American officials said Tuesday.
2. Audit: More than 100,000 vets had long waits for medical care
(Military Times) More than 100,000 veterans have been identified as experiencing long wait times for medical appointments with nearly a quarter of those waiting 90 to 120 days for care, according to an audit released Monday by the Veterans Affairs Department.
3. Moral Injury and the American Soldier
(Army Lt. Col. Douglas A. Pryer in Cicero Magazine) A growing number of mental health experts argue for the existence of a condition called "moral injury" that may better explain my symptoms than "PTSD."
4. Police officer safety or surplus zeal: Military equipment spurs debate
(Indianapolis Star) In a pole barn in Franklin, sharing space with a motorcycle and a boat, sat an imposing military vehicle designed for battlefields in Iraq or Afghanistan, not the streets of Johnson County.
5. White House Calls Notion of 'Ad Hoc' Counterterror Program 'Absolutely False'
(Defense News) The White House is defending a proposed multibillion dollar counterterrorism (CT) program against questions over its need and claims it was hastily conceived.
ARMY SGT. BOWE BERGDAHL RELEASED
Mattis: Bergdahl release makes Taliban vulnerable
(Military Times) The Taliban and other militants have lost their strategic trump card now that Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl has been released, retired Marine Gen. James Mattis said.
Cruz calls for 'freeze' of prisoner swaps
(The Hill) Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) said he would introduce legislation that would prevent President Obama from making any more prisoner swaps.
Miss USA contestant asked about Bergdahl swap: 'I don't feel it's right'
(Washington Times) Miss Louisiana Brittany Guidry said during Sunday night's Miss USA pageant that she didn't fully agree with the Obama administration's decision to trade five terrorist prisoners for Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl.
Bowe Bergdahl and the Impossible Choices Families of Hostages Face
(The Atlantic) The furor surrounding the exchange of five Taliban prisoners for Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl last week has exposed the murky world-and impossible choices-of the families of Americans taken captive by militants.
Critics of P.O.W. Swap Question the Absence of a Wider Agreement
(New York Times) The question is why the five were released without any commitments to a larger agreement, under which the Taliban would renounce international terrorism, and begin a process of reconciliation with the government of Afghanistan.
INDUSTRY
Lockheed Plans To Boost RandD Spending
(Defense News) Lockheed Martin plans to boost its internal research-and-development (RandD) spending by more than $30 million over the course of the year, Marillyn Hewson, the firm's chairman, CEO and president, said Monday.
Lockheed sees next U.S. F-35 fighter contract early this summer
(Reuters) Lockheed Martin Corp expects to sign a contract with the U.S. government early this summer for an eighth batch of F-35 fighter jets, but the deal is unlikely to match price reductions seen on the last few contracts, the company's top financial officer said Monday.
U.S. Shifts On Allowing Defense Data In Cloud
(Wall Street Journal) The U.S. is loosening its policy on how companies may store sensitive defense data, allowing use of cloud services like Google Inc.'s Gmail, provided adequate security steps are taken, according to U.S. State Department officials.
Learn from Google, Airbus chief warns aerospace industry
(Agence France-Presse) The aerospace industry must embrace competition from technology companies such as Google and SpaceX which are already having a revolutionary impact on the sector, the head of the Airbus Group told AFP in an interview.
Senate Bill Spells Second Chance For Eclipse On T-1A Replacement
(Aviation Week) Language in the recently approved Senate Armed Services Committee markup of the fiscal 2015 defense spending bill is giving new hope to nascent business jet manufacturer Eclipse Aerospace in its bid to replace the Air Force's Raytheon T-1A Jayhawk trainer with new or leased Eclipse 550s very light jets
CACI takes Army Guardrail/Common Sensor support contract
(C4ISR & Networks) CACI has won a $41 million contract to support the U.S. Army Guardrail/Common Sensor signals intelligence (SIGINT) system.
Japan Prepares for Defense Exports as China Looms
(Defense News) Following an April decision to rewrite its export laws to allow broader sales of defense products, Japan is preparing for a new wave of deals as it tries to strengthen security bonds in the face of rapid Chinese military growth and continued regional tensions.
AgustaWestland, Havelsan to collaborate on helicopter simulators
(IHS Jane's 360) Anglo-Italian helicopter maker AgustaWestland and Turkey's Havelsan have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to collaborate and jointly market and sell their complementary training products and capabilities, AgustaWestland announced on 9 June.
With Saab Contract, Sweden Sets Sights on Recapturing Sub-building Expertise
(Defense News) The Swedish government's stated aim of re-building an indigenous submarine design and production capacity has come one step closer following the awarding of initial $70 million in construction and production plan orders to Saab covering the next generation A26 submarines and mid-life updates to the Royal Swedish Navy's Gotland-class submarines.
Switzerland choses Hermes UAV to upgrade fleet
(C4ISR & Networks) Switzerland has chosen Elbit's Hermes 900 HFE as its new UAV. It will replace the ADS 95 Ranger, which the Swiss have operated since 2001. The contract is valued at 250 million Swiss francs (US $279 million).
Eurofighter jet crashes in southern Spain
(Agence France-Presse) A Eurofighter jet crashed on Monday while landing at the Moron air base in southwestern Spain near Seville, a defence ministry spokeswoman said.
Eurofighter Studying Missiles To Give Typhoon Maritime Attack Capability
(Defense News) Eurofighter is looking at giving the Typhoon a maritime attack capability and is investigating at least three missiles to meet potential requirements for export, according to the executive leading Airbus Defence and Space combat aircraft sales effort.
MiG revenues up 68% in 2013
(IHS Jane's 360) Russian Aircraft Corporation MiG had revenues of RUB30.3 billion (USD880 million) and profits of RUB4.5 billion in 2013, according to figures issued by Russia's United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) on 9 June.
Pratt and Whitney Inaugurates Turkish Engine Plant
(Defense News) US Engine maker Pratt and Whitney inaugurated its Turkish partnership with local aviation company Kale to produce critical engine parts for the F-35 fighter.
Ecuador Increases C295 Fleet by 3 Aircraft
(Defense News) Ecuador has added three C295 transports to its fleet of Airbus Defence and Space military aircraft. The European aerospace company announced June 9 that it had already delivered the first aircraft from its factory here.
VETERANS
IG: 69 VA facilities probed for manipulating appointments
(Military Times) The Veterans Affairs Department's inspector general is investigating 69 medical facilities for manipulation of appointment wait times and has contacted the Justice Department in cases where staff has found evidence of potential criminal or civil wrongdoing.
VA Halted Visits to Troubled Hospitals (Paywall)
(Wall Street Journal) The Department of Veterans Affairs stopped sending teams of turnaround experts to underperforming hospitals at the same time a growing number of VA facilities showed consistently high death and complication rates, internal agency records and interviews reveal.
Sanders: Fire 'incompetent' VA staff now
(The Hill) The chairman of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee called Monday for the immediate dismissal of "incompetent administrators and those who have manipulated wait-time data," following the release of a VA healthcare audit.
Patients at Fayetteville VA Medical Center have longest wait times in the country, audit says
(Fayetteville Observer) Patients at Fayetteville's VA Medical Center have the longest wait times in the country, according to a nationwide audit released Monday.
House votes to boost VA inspector general
(The Hill) The House on Monday passed legislation that would pressure the Department of Veterans Affairs to follow up on problems outlined by its inspector general.
Man who stole from veterans charity gets 10 years
(The Tennessean) A former treasurer of the Disabled American Veterans was sentenced Friday to 10 years in custody for stealing more than $100,000 from the charity.
DEFENSE DEPARTMENT
Fort Sill to shelter children coming across the border illegally
(Army Times) The Defense Department is loaning training barracks facilities at Fort Sill to the Department of Health and Human Services to house the children, Pentagon spokesman Army Col. Steve Warren confirmed in a statement Monday. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel has approved the use of Fort Sill for up to 120 days in anticipation of their arrival this week.
Air shows' link to military recruitment iffy
(Pittsburgh Tribune-Review) A Tribune-Review analysis of Defense spending on the Blue Angels and the Air Force's Thunderbirds puts combined annual expenses at $70 million to $140 million, depending on how the budgets are calculated. The budget for the Army's Golden Knights is $303,000 this year without personnel costs, down 25 percent since 2012.
Westboro Baptist Church brings anti-gay message to the Pentagon
(Stars & Stripes) Members of the Westboro Baptist Church, known for protesting at military funerals, came to the Pentagon on Monday to spread their anti-gay message.
ARMY
Army-licensed action figures, minus the firepower, target preschoolers
(Army Times) They may be cute. They may be intended for ages 4 and up. They may brandish zero firepower and nothing more dangerous than a pair of binoculars.
Army judge says leadership influence did not affect court-martial on sexual assault charges
(Fayetteville Observer) An Army judge said today that leadership influence did not affect the court-martial of an 82nd Airborne Division captain who is accused of beating and sexually assaulting a fellow female soldier.
Brass tactics: Gen. Casey's advice for transitioning vets
(Army Times) Troops leaving the military benefit from a country that is supportive and appreciative of their service as well as military training that has equipped them well to deal with the uncertainties presented by the modern world, says retired Gen. George Casey, a former Army chief of staff. He delivered his "six tips" for success as a civilian at this year's Student Veterans of America annual meeting
2nd ID sergeant stole taxi, South Korean police say
(Stars & Stripes) A 2nd Infantry Division soldier could be facing criminal charges after South Korean police say he stole a taxi near U.S. Army Garrison Yongsan late last month.
NAVY
Navy opposes USS Oklahoma exhumations to identify remains
(Stars & Stripes) The Navy has notified family members of sailors who died aboard the USS Oklahoma during the attack on Pearl Harbor that it opposes any further testing to identify the remains.
Pushing for more spot promotions
(Navy Times) If you're afleet sailor, your skipper can show up unexpectedly at morning quarters and spot advance you to the next petty officer rank - a surprise that brings many shouts and tears.
Records: Va. Navy stabbing occurred in barracks
(Associated Press) A stabbing at a Virginia Navy installation that led to a massive manhunt occurred in the facility's barracks, not at the Navy Exchange, according to court records filed Monday.
Who is the real Lt. Daniel Kaffee? A debate still rages
(Virginian-Pilot) As a group, they were young and had little trial experience to handle the charges.
The U.S. Navy's Secret Counter-Stealth Weapon Could Be Hiding in Plain Sight
(USNI News) The Northrop Grumman E-2D Advanced Hawkeye maybe the U.S. Navy's secret weapon against the emerging threat of enemy fifth-generation stealth fighters and cruise missiles.
New Heads Selected for NAVAIR Unmanned Office and Naval Research
(USNI News) Rear Adm. Mathias Winter will relinquish his role as the U.S. Navy's top unmanned aircraft development officer to Rear Adm. Mark Darrah.
AIR FORCE
Congress Told of Possible Gap in Air Force's Nuclear Strike Capability
(Global Security Newswire) A new congressional report highlights the potential for a shortfall to emerge in the Air Force's ability to mount long-range nuclear bomber attacks.
New EPR feedback form, guidance begin July 1
(Air Force Times) The Air Force released the new Airman Comprehensive Assessment for enlisted airmen and officers Monday, along with updated guidance on how the feedback forms will be used as part of performance evaluations beginning July 1.
New commander appointed at Grissom
(Kokomo Tribune; Ind.) The Air Force Reserve has named a new commander at Grissom Air Reserve Base, replacing the former base leader who was removed from the position in March during an investigation of his job performance.
Arizona National Guard gets first female general
(Associated Press) The Guard says Air Force Brig. Gen. Kerry Muehlenbeck's promotion was the occasion for a ceremony Saturday in legal offices of the 161st Air Refueling Wing at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport.
MARINE CORPS
Sergeant major of Parris Island recruit depot resigns following altercation with protester
(Marine Corps Times) Marine Sgt. Maj. Paul Archie has tendered his resignation and voluntarily stepped down from his post as senior enlisted adviser at Parris Island recruit depot, Marine Corps Times has learned.
In Benghazi chapter, Clinton says Marines were in Tripoli
(CNN) Discussing the most controversial part of her tenure at the State Department in her new book, "Hard Choices" - the attacks on the U.S. compounds in Benghazi, Libya, on the night of September 11, 2012 - former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton seems to gloss over the fact that Marines were not sent amid a worsening security situation in Libya, and were only sent after the attack.
Quiet brawler: Everything you need to know about the next commandant
(Marine Corps Times) He commanded the unit that led the 2003 invasion of Iraq, oversaw the bulk of the politically fraught drawdown of combat operations in Afghanistan, and earned a spot this year on Fortune Magazine's list of the world's 50 greatest contemporary leaders.
Ship carrying Marines rescues 280 from sinking boat
(Marine Corps Times) A Navy ship with Marines aboard became a rescue craft in the Mediterranean, coming to the aid of passengers aboard a sinking boat.
Court rules against homeowners in toxic water case
(Associated Press) The Supreme Court ruled Monday that a group of homeowners in North Carolina can't sue a company that contaminated their drinking water decades ago because a state deadline has lapsed, a decision that could prevent thousands of other property owners in similar cases from recovering damages after being exposed to toxic waste.
AFGHANISTAN/PAKISTAN
The untimely search for a new Afghanistan War commander
(Checkpoint) The selection of Gen. Joseph F. Dunford as the next commandant of the Marine Corps was greeted widely last week by most Marines as a fantastic choice. Frequently called "the smartest general in the Marine Corps" by his peers, Dunford is known as unflappable and fair, and has a wealth of operational experience that led to his nickname, "Fightin' Joe."
Afghans worry as U.S. spending boom comes to an end
(Washington Post) Zabi Tamanna's life was transformed by the U.S. war in Afghanistan.
Analysts: Pakistan Airport Attack Could Be First of Many
(Defense News) Developments over the past couple of weeks have led analysts to expect "a wave of attacks" by the Pakistani Taliban (TTP), of which the assault on the airport in Karachi from Sunday night into Monday appears to be the first.
Insurgents Attack Pakistani Airport Again Amid Military Raids
(New York Times) Insurgents attacked an airport training facility in Karachi Tuesday, two days after the Taliban carried out a daring raid on Karachi's international airport. The latest attack came as the Pakistani military carried out airstrikes on nine militant hide-outs in a remote valley in the northwestern Khyber tribal region.
Pakistan Weighs Strike Against Taliban Over Airport Attack
(Wall Street Journal) The Pakistani Taliban's deadly attack on a Karachi airport appears to have ended hopes for a peace deal, pushing the government closer to an army operation against the militant group's strongholds, officials and analysts said on Monday.
MIDDLE EAST
Insurgents in Iraq overrun Mosul provincial government headquarters
(Reuters) Insurgents overran the headquarters of the provincial government in Iraq's northern city of Mosul late on Monday, making further gains in a fourth day of fighting in the country's second-largest city.
Syrian Chemical Delivery Leaves for U.S., Finland
(Global Security Newswire) International monitors said a Norwegian cargo ship is on its way to Finland and the United States with Syrian chemical arms slated for destruction.
Assad issues a post-election amnesty to Syrian prisoners, though to whom isn't clear
(Washington Post) President Bashar al-Assad followed his triumph in last week's election by announcing a general amnesty Monday for at least some prisoners, though it was unclear whether the thousands of people jailed for opposing his rule would be included.
Peres, at 90, Is Ready to Leave the Israeli Presidency, but Not to Retire
(New York Times) Reaching the end of a red carpet after landing here for the latest of his more than 60 trips abroad as Israel's president, Shimon Peres faced the group of journalists awaiting him.
EUROPE
Ukraine orders police deployment in east
(Washington Post) As sporadic firefights continued between Ukrainian troops and separatists, the government announced Monday that it was deploying police officers to the east and would fire those who refuse to go.
Ukraine President Calls for 'Rescue Corridors' for Civilians
(Wall Street Journal) Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko ordered officials to create "rescue corridors" to allow civilians to leave areas where government forces are carrying out a military operation to flush out armed pro-Russia rebels who control much of the country's easternmost regions, his office said Tuesday.
No Gas Deal Between Kyiv, Moscow
(Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty) No deal has been reached between Ukraine and Russia to settle Kyiv's outstanding energy bills and agree on a price for future gas deliveries.
Russians Find Few Barriers to Joining Ukraine Battle
(New York Times) It was at a barbecue outside a city in southern Russia, this Russian war veteran recalled, that he and some friends met an envoy for the separatist rebels in eastern Ukraine. They were fighting for their families, the envoy said, against the "neo-Nazis and ultranationalists" who had seized power in Kiev in a February coup.
Troubling Secessionist Models for Ukraine
(Council on Foreign Relations) The longer Ukraine's central government continues to struggle to gain control of separatist areas in its southeast, the more chance they have of splitting off indefinitely, says Charles E. King, an expert on so-called "frozen conflicts" in the former Soviet Union.
ASIA-PACIFIC
Philippines to receive retired South Korean corvette
(IHS Jane's 360) The Philippine Navy (PN) will receive a decommissioned Po Hang-class guided missile corvette from South Korea by the end of 2014, the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs said on 5 June.
Sunken Submarine INS Sindhurakshak Raised Out of Water
(NDTV) Five months after the salvors were appointed, the ill-fated Russian-made Kilo-class Indian Navy Submarine Sindhurakshak has been raised out of the water.
Russia lays down Vietnam's final Kilo-class submarine
(IHS Jane's 360) The sixth Improved 'Kilo' (Project 636)-class diesel-electric submarine (SSK) on order for the People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN) Navy was laid down on 28 May at the Admiralty Shipyards in St Petersburg, Russia, according to local media reports.
A brand new 27,000 tonne Australian Navy ship was damaged during maiden sea trials
(news,com.au) A CIVILIAN contract crew made two serious errors during sea trials for the navy's biggest ever ship, damaging its hull and melting down electrical systems
Romeos Give Royal Australian Navy a Big Boost
(Defense News) Among a row of hangars and offices that house US Navy helicopter squadrons at one end of this sprawling base, one sign doesn't quite fit in. "725 Squadron" reads the awning out front, with a conspicuously non-US, fisted crest above the doorway.
Australia seeks 'eye in the sky' for patrol ships
(IHS Jane's 360) Australia's Defence Materiel Organisation (DMO) is exploring options for the possible acquisition of an organic unmanned airborne ISR system for the Royal Australian Navy's Armidale-class patrol vessels.
THE AMERICAS
Mexican cartel kingpin reported dead -- of a heart attack
(Los Angeles Times) He was the most discreet of Mexican cartel kingpins, the opposite of the high-living, mass-killing capo. If Juan Jose Esparragoza Moreno, also known as "El Azul" or "The Blue," ordered massacres of enemies, it wasn't well known.
White House to request $2 billion to handle border influx of children
(Los Angeles Times) A rush of young children crossing alone and illegally into the United States from Texas is so large and unexpected that senior officials with the Obama administration said Monday the White House is asking Congress for about $2 billion to grapple with what is being called a humanitarian crisis.
COMMENTARY AND ANALYSIS
Opinion: Don't judge Bowe Bergdahl, that's the Pentagon's job
(Military Times) If the evidence strongly indicates that then-Pfc. Bowe Bergdahl abandoned his post in Afghanistan in 2009, then he should be prosecuted on the appropriate charges.
Thinking About Thinking About the Army's Future: Paradigms and the Wicked Problem of "Landpower"
(Army Maj. Dan Maurer and Capt. Paul Thomas in Small Wars Journal) The Chief of Staff of the Army, the Commandant of the Marine Corps, and the Commander of U.S. Special Operations Command recently agreed-perhaps for their own distinct, if not compelling, institutional reasons-to begin a study of what they called "strategic landpower."
Opinion: The A-10 needs to go
(Army Lt. Col. Paul Darling in Air Force Times) The Air Force is correct in trying to kill the A-10 fleet. It is an archaic vestige reflecting a technology, and a style of warfare, that is outdated by a generation.
The Dangerous Aircraft Carrier Definitional
(Robert Farley in Real Clear Defense) The "aircraft carrier" designation has become a bit of a joke among defense commentators on Twitter, with one Popular Science writer deciding to avoid controversy by referring to everything from the Japanese Izumo to the USS Nimitz as a "floaty movey flyer holder."
Rebuilding Bipartisan Consensus on National Security
(Michele Flournoy and Richard Fontaine in Defense One) Politics, despite the saying, has never really stopped at the water's edge. But these days, it seems, policymakers cannot even get to the beach before the sniping begins.
The ISI's Great Game in Afghanistan
(Omer Aziz in The Diplomat) For four decades, Pakistan's spy-generals have played Afghanistan like a powerful chip in a consequential game of poker. They know the important local militants, have open channels to their favorite groups, and regularly play various groups against the Western coalition.
Walang komento:
Mag-post ng isang Komento