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COMPILED BY THE EDITORS OF DEFENSE NEWS & MILITARY TIMES November 27, 2014 THE EARLY BIRD BRIEF Get the most comprehensive aggregation of defense news delivered by the world's largest independent newsroom covering military and defense. Happy Thanksgiving! Your Early Bird Brief returns Monday, Dec. 1st

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Early Bird Brief

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COMPILED BY THE EDITORS OF DEFENSE NEWS & MILITARY TIMES November 26, 2014 THE EARLY BIRD BRIEF Get the most comprehensive aggregation of defense news delivered by the world's largest independent newsroom covering military and defense. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT TODAY'S TOP 5 1. New, expanded rules for U.S. combat in Afghanistan in 2015 (Military Times) New rules for the 9,800 U.S. troops staying in Afghanistan next year will let commanders order airstrikes or night raids on Taliban forces who pose a significant threat to the Afghan government, defense officials said.  2. Exclusive: Flournoy Drops Out of Race to Be Next Secretary of Defense (Foreign Policy) Michèle Flournoy, the most widely rumored candidate to replace Chuck Hagel as the next secretary of defense, has taken herself out of the running for the job, according to sources familiar with the situation. The decision complicates what will be one of the most important personnel decisions of President Barack Obama's second term.  3. White House Needs Strategic Thinker at Pentagon, and Quickly, Former Official Says (Defense News) When the announcement came on Monday, with no successor named to be chewed over during the lame duck session of the 113th Congress, a litany of familiar names cropped up as Hagel's potential replacement.  4. U.S.-Led Raid Rescues Eight Held in Yemen (New York Times) In a predawn raid on Tuesday, United States Special Operations commandos and Yemeni troops rescued eight hostages being held in a cave in a remote part of eastern Yemen by Al Qaeda's affiliate there, officials from both countries said.  5. Missouri governor orders more Guard troops to Ferguson (Army Times) The governor of Missouri ordered additional National Guard troops to Ferguson, a day after rioting broke out following the grand jury decision not to indict police officer Darren Wilson for the shooting death of Michael Brown.  CONGRESS Hagel's replacement could face rough confirmation (Military Times) Whoever accepts the nomination to replace Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel should not expect a warm welcome on Capitol Hill.  Hagel's Dismissal Underscores White House Trust Deficit, Lawmakers Say (Defense News) Chuck Hagel was a Barack Obama mentor, which made him part of the US president's inner circle. But when the defense secretary drifted, he had to leave. And so it goes in Barack Obama's war cabinet.  Group Seeks to Restore Retirement Pay for Army Officers (New York Times) A bipartisan group of 15 senators has asked the Army to change a policy that strips some soldiers of their officer-retirement pay if the Army-wide drawdown forces them to retire. Currently, enlisted soldiers who become officers but have not served eight years before being forced to retire must retire at their highest enlisted pay - a difference of about $1,000 per month. In a letter to Army Secretary John McHugh, Senators Patty Murray, Democrat of Washington, and Johnny Isakson, Republican of Georgia, said that "to demote these soldiers in retirement is an injustice that devalues their service and will materially disadvantage them and their families for the rest of their lives."  Issue Tracker: Familiar Faces, New Places (Defense News) The 114th Congress started to take shape last week, with House lawmakers electing new committee chiefs and senators signaling which panel leadership posts they will take. Here's a rundown of some key moves, and what each means for the defense sector.  Dem applauds suspension of France-Russia warship sale (The Hill) The top Democrat on the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, Rep. Eliot Engel (N.Y.), welcomed news Tuesday that France was postponing the sale of a warship to Russia indefinitely.  INDUSTRY France Suspends Mistral Warship Delivery to Russia (Defense News) French President Francois Hollande has placed a hold on the delivery of the first Mistral helicopter carrier to Russia in view of the deadly conflict in east Ukraine, the president's office said on Tuesday.  New United Technologies Chief Faces Tough Challenges (Wall Street Journal) United Technologies Corp. Chief Executive Greg Hayes may have a different style than his predecessor, but there are few indications he will approach strategy much differently.  GEOINT market to reach $9.7B (C4ISR & Networks) The global market for geospatial intelligence is growing fast.  SpaceX may upset firm's monopoly in launching Air Force satellites (Los Angeles Times) Entrepreneur Elon Musk and his upstart company SpaceX are on the verge of upsetting a cozy and pricey military deal that for years has given two aerospace giants the exclusive right to launch the Air Force's most crucial satellites into orbit.  Raytheon demonstrates self-powered radar jammers (C4ISR & Networks) Raytheon and the U.S. Navy have tested a new, integrated electronic attack system.  Romanian Government To Invite Private Investors Into Defense Industry (Defense News) The Romanian government has unveiled plans to secure minority private investors for the country's state-run defense industry with emphasis on plant modernization.  Australia Hints It Will Look Overseas for New Submarine Fleet (Wall Street Journal) Australia has given its strongest signal yet it will look overseas for a 25 billion Australian dollar (US$22 billion) fleet of new conventional submarines, with the country's defense minister saying Tuesday he wouldn't trust local naval shipyards to "build a canoe."  General Dynamics to refresh radios for Canadian military (C4ISR & Networks) General Dynamics Canada has won several communications contracts recently.  ISLAMIC STATE Could Hagel resignation signal shift in US strategy against Islamic State? (Christian Science Monitor) Before his resignation, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel criticized US strategy in Syria against the Islamic State in a letter to National Security Adviser Susan Rice. However, the Pentagon maintains there is no connection between the two events.  FBI Accuses Two Young Minnesotans of Planning to Join Extremists in Syria (National Journal) An 18-year-old Minnesotan who is accused of conspiracy to provide material support to the Islamic State group was arrested on Tuesday following an FBI investigation. His friend, a Minnesotan two years his senior, is charged with actually providing that support. He is believed to have joined a terrorist organization in Syria.  Iraq to overhaul Baghdad security to stop bombings (Associated Press) Baghdad's neighborhood of Gorayaat, a small Shiite enclave on a bend in the Tigris River, exemplifies the failures of Iraq's security agencies trying to protect the capital from attacks by the Islamic State. The district has been a target for years, hit by so many bombings, suicide attacks, rockets and mortars that residents have lost count.  Key provincial capital in Iraq may be about to fall to Islamic State (McClatchy) Islamic State fighters on Tuesday penetrated to the core of Ramadi, the provincial capital of Iraq's largest province, prompting local security officials to warn that the city was on the verge of falling to the extremists. Such a gain would be the Islamic State's most significant victory in months.  Activists raise Raqqa strikes death toll to 95 (Associated Press) The death toll from a series of Syrian government airstrikes on the Islamic State group's stronghold in northeastern Syria has risen to at least 95, making it one of the deadliest attacks on the city of Raqqa in the past three years.  DEFENSE DEPARTMENT Rift between Chuck Hagel and the White House? Pentagon spokesman says no (Washington Post) The Pentagon's top spokesman sought Tuesday to squash the widely accepted narrative about Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel's forthcoming departure from the Defense Department - that he was fired or forced to resign by President Obama, rather than leaving on his own accord.  Hagel Exit Shows Obama Has Taken Power Away From Pentagon (Bloomberg) President Barack Obama pushed Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel out of his job yesterday after less than 21 months, with White House officials citing disagreements over Iraq and Syria policy.  Bug Accidentally Shut Down Military Open Source Software Portal (NextGov) A data center supporting Forge.mil executed computer instructions that accidentally "corrupted all Forge.mil systems," Defense Information Systems Agency officials said in a notice released early Monday.  New DoD cloud policy delayed (C4ISR & Networks) The plan was originally expected in mid-November.  Pentagon seeks protective bubble for Ebola patients (USA Today) To avoid problems caused by faulty biohazard suits used in tropical climates, the Pentagon is rushing to develop by January a portable "Care Cube" that would envelope patients infected with the Ebola virus while allowing caregivers to work without wearing the bulky suits, according to a newly released military document.  ARMY Command Sgt. Maj. killed in Afghanistan (Army Times) Command Sgt. Maj. Wardell Turrner, assigned to a key training command in Afghanistan, was killed Monday, according to a friend and Facebook posts.  Soldier from Grove City killed in Afghanistan bombing (Columbus Dispatch) Every now and then in a coach's career, a kid comes along who changes things.   The war after the war (Dallas Morning News) Wounded soldiers allege mistreatment in the Army's Warrior Transition Units  Bragg soldier killed in one-car wreck on post (Army Times) Spc. Nethaniel H. Wolfson died in a one-car accident during the early morning hours Sunday at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.  Insulted by treatment (Dallas Morning News) Deployed four times - twice to the war in Iraq - Ngala Benn was taking prescription drugs for post-traumatic stress disorder when he was put in charge of soldiers at Fort Hood's Warrior Transition Unit.  Applications open for West Point teaching duties (Army Times) Applications are being accepted from qualified mid-career officers who want to serve in prestigious broadening assignments on the staff and faculty of the U.S. Military Academy, West Point, N.Y.  NAVY Haley tapped for top job at AIRLANT (Navy Times) A career naval aviator with 3,500 flight hours and more than 1,000 carrier landings has been selected to command Naval Air Force Atlantic in Norfolk, Virginia, the Defense Department said Tuesday.  Hagel Will Still Make Final Call on LCS Follow On (USNI News) Despite the announcement of his resignation, Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel will continue to, "keep his foot on the pedal and moving forward," in his current role, Pentagon spokesman Rear Adm. John Kirby told reporters on Tuesday.  Special and general courts-martial results for October 2014 announced (Navy Times) The Navy has released results of special and general courts-martial for October 2014. The cases are listed by the Navy Region in which they were tried:  AIR FORCE Vice chief turns attention to prevention of sex crimes (Air Force Times) More than a year has passed since the military was rocked by a string of high-profile sexual misconduct scandals and a Defense Department report that showed a steep rise in the number of service members who said they'd experienced unwanted sexual contact.  Kadena airman dies in on-base motorcycle crash (Stars & Stripes) An airman from Kadena Air Base died Monday following an on-base motorcycle crash.  A-10s will support war against ISIS (The Hill) An Air Force A-10 fighter squadron that recently deployed to the Middle East will work with coalition forces to support the war against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS), the Air Force said Monday.   MARINE CORPS Study aims to improve MARSOC training, injury prevention (Marine Corps Times) A years-long study designed to prevent injury and improve training for MARSOC's elite critical skills operators is preparing to kick off in North Carolina.  W.Va. veteran with cancer gets wish to see son lecture at Pitt (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette) The speeches, the handshakes, the red-white-and-blue cake -- it was all a surprise, and a lot more public acclamation than retired U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Jeffrey Raymond Wheeler, a Vietnam War veteran with terminal lung cancer, was used to receiving for his service in Da Nang in the mid-1960s.   Corps' best corporals courses offer action, excitement (Marine Corps Times) New noncommissioned officers in Hawaii attended a beefed-up Corporals Course this year which culminated in four hours in the field recreating the combat experiences of Silver Star recipient Gunnery Sgt. Timothy Tardif.  VETERANS Phoenix VA director's firing leaves critics wanting more (Military Times) When former Veterans Affairs Department executive Sharon Helman was fired Monday, VA critics reacted swiftly and similarly to the news: Finally - but it's not enough.  Lawmakers want answers from VA on 'choice card' rollout (The Hill) New Hampshire Sens. Kelly Ayotte (R) and Jeanne Shaheen (D) are voicing displeasure with the Veterans Affairs Department over the rollout of legislation meant to give veterans greater access to medical care.  Time to address veterans' suicides, senator says (Associated Press) U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, D-Vt., who is wrapping up his time as chairman of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee, says he'll work to pass legislation before year-end to address high suicide rates among veterans.  Lawmakers seek to give veterans easier access to medical marijuana (Military Times) House lawmakers have introduced legislation that would make it easier for veterans to get medical marijuana in states where that is legal.  AFGHANISTAN/PAKISTAN Two powerful explosions rock Kabul (Washington Post) Two powerful explosions hit Kabul early Tuesday, one wounding six Afghan army soldiers, the latest in a series of insurgent attacks on high-profile targets.  Ghani warns against Afghan 'proxy war' at South Asia summit (Agence France-Presse) Afghanistan's new president told the leaders of India and Pakistan he would not let his country become the battleground of a proxy war Wednesday as the enmity between South Asia's arch rivals cast a shadow over a regional summit.  AGO freezes assets of Mahmood Karzai and Haseen Fahim (Khaama Press) The assets of Mahmood Karzai and Haseen Fahim have been frozen by the Attorney General Office (AGO) over the the outstanding payment of loans from Kabul Bank which collapsed in 2010.  MIDDLE EAST Egypt's Sisi Piles on to Hagel's Fractured Legacy (Foreign Policy) One day after announcing that Chuck Hagel is being dismissed as defense secretary, his greatest foreign-policy legacy -- relations with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi's government -- seems to be evaporating. Egypt's interior minister warned on Tuesday, Nov. 25, that police will not hesitate to use deadly force against Islamist protesters during a planned demonstration on Friday, which represents the first serious challenge to Sisi's government since elections in June.  What's behind surge in Israel violence? A push to let Jews pray at Muslim holy site (McClatchy) Once dismissed as a fringe group with limited public support, a movement of religious Jewish activists seeking to pray at Jerusalem's most sensitive holy site has provoked a wave of Palestinian violence that has raised fears of a slide into a religious war.  Breaking Silence, Ayatollah Says Iran Is Standing Up to West in Nuclear Talks (New York Times) The day after a deadline for concluding a nuclear agreement was extended for seven months, Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, delivered his first remarks on the negotiations, saying that the West had failed to bring Iran "to its knees."  EUROPE Pentagon: No arms for Ukraine's military (The Hill) The Defense Department has not changed its mind about providing lethal arms to Ukraine's military, an official said Tuesday.  Cash cut to Ukraine rebel areas in risky strategy (Associated Press) For hours, small crowds in Donetsk huddle hopefully in the cold around cash machines that never get filled, as artillery rumbles in the distance.  Failures Preceded British Soldier's Killing (New York Times) The two men who killed a soldier on a London street last year had figured in seven investigations by British intelligence agencies, and one of the men had threatened online to commit just such a murder five months before the attack, lawmakers said in a report issued on Tuesday.  ASIA-PACIFIC North Korean Leader Assails American 'Aggressors' (New York Times) North Korea's leader, Kim Jong-un, condemned American "aggressors" as cannibals on Tuesday, as his government orchestrated a huge outdoor rally in Pyongyang to protest an American-supported move at the United Nations to refer the North's leaders to an international court for human rights abuses.  Defector: Kim Jong Un's Aunt Killed Herself Last Year (Wall Street Journal) Where is Kim Kyong Hui?  U.S. Forces Japan revises liberty policy; curfew reduced by hour (Stars & Stripes) U.S. Forces Japan revised its liberty policy Wednesday, allowing servicemembers to stay out a little later starting next month.  AFRICA Ebola Is Changing Course In Liberia. Will The U.S. Military Adapt? (National Public Radio) The Ebola outbreak started in rural areas, but by June it had reached Liberia's capital, Monrovia.  Al-Shabab Doesn't Want a Truce With Infidel Powers' (The Atlantic) The violent campaign between Kenya's government and Somali militants is escalating. On Sunday, a day after members of the al-Shabab group executed 28 passengers on a Kenyan bus, Kenya's Vice President William Ruto announced that the country's military had crossed into Somalia and attacked al-Shabab camps where the bus attack was planned. The combined air and ground attack killed over 115 militants and, according to Ruto, "identified, followed and struck the perpetrators of these heinous crimes." A spokesman for al-Shabab denied Ruto's claim, and the attack could not be independently verified.  Two Suicide Bombers Kill Dozens in Nigeria (New York Times) Two suicide bombers, at least one of them a woman, blew themselves up on Tuesday at a crowded market in this northeast Nigerian city, killing dozens of shoppers and merchants, including some who witnesses said were decapitated by the explosions.  COMMENTARY AND ANALYSIS What Was Chuck Hagel's Biggest Mistake? (Politico) Was it his Syria policy? A distrusting White House? Poor management at the Pentagon? All of the above? As Chuck Hagel steps down as defense secretary, Politico Magazine asked top national security thinkers to tell us what his biggest mistake was-or what went wrong otherwise in his tenure-and here's what they had to say.  The Still Nearly Impossible Job of Secretary of Defense (Charles Stevenson in War on the Rocks) Since the job was created in 1947, there have been 24 secretaries of defense, counting Donald Rumsfeld twice. With Chuck Hagel's departure, nine of them have been fired or forced to resign.  Hagel's departure more about policy than the person (Mackenzie Eaglen in The Hill) One sentiment reigns a day after the news of Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel's early exit from the administration: Everyone, including the president, dislikes something about the U.S. strategy to combat the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS).  America Musn't Neglect Its Nukes (Elbridge Colby in The New York Times) Earlier this month the Pentagon released a devastating assessment of its own management of the nation's nuclear arsenal. The report, authored by two widely respected former four-star officers, judged that America's nuclear weapons complex - particularly the personnel who operate and maintain it - is near its breaking point, worn down by years of neglect, lack of funding and unnecessarily invasive and inquisitorial screening of employees. This malaise has been exacerbated by bouts of apathy and even hostility on the part of prominent voices in and out of government: The prevalent attitude is that there are more important national security priorities and, among some, that nukes are useless and should be left to rust.  How Military Advisers Can Avoid Mission Creep in Iraq (Peter Storey in Cicero Magazine) The term 'military adviser' is often applied by governments to troops conducting military operations in order to address domestic or international concerns stemming from military action in a foreign state. However, what does the continuing US military advisory mission in Iraq - Operation Inherent Resolve - actually mean for America? Will US operations inevitably "creep" once again towards large-scale troop commitments and another quagmire in Iraq?  NATO's Campaign in Libya Offers Salient Lessons for the Air War Against ISIL (Karl P. Mueller in Defense One) Three years have passed since the Autumn 2011 conclusion of Operation Unified Protector, the seven-month NATO air campaign that in concert with Libyan rebel forces defeated the dictatorial regime of Col. Muammar Qaddafi. It has received relatively little mention in public discussion of the three-month-old air campaign against the so-called Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL or ISIS), yet amidst their differences the two operations share important similarities, including the scale of the enemy, the nature of the air operations, and both campaigns' focus on protecting civilians from brutal regimes. At least five lessons of the Libyan air campaign deserve greater attention today:  The Islamic State's Stalled Offensive in Anbar Province (Daveed Gartenstein-Ross in War on the Rocks) In September, the Islamic in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) launched a devastatingly effective offensive in Iraq's Anbar province that for a time masked the losses the group was experiencing elsewhere (see two previous WOTR reports on ISIL's Anbar campaign). Beginning in late October, ISIL garnered even more headlines through its horrific slaughter of hundreds of members of the Albu Nimr, a Sunni tribe. However, there are signs that ISIL's attempts to crush the Albu Nimr under its boot have backfired, instead stiffening the tribe's resolve to fight the jihadist group. ISIL's campaign in Anbar now appears stalled.  Don't Tell Me We Lost The War In Afghanistan (Kyle Dykstra in Task & Purpose) There seems to be a fickle measure of success when it comes to the discussion of whether we won or lost the war in Afghanistan. With six weeks remaining until the official end of major U.S. combat operations, the popular talking point among some is that the war in Afghanistan was lost. While President Barack Obama has announced a nearly 10,000 service-member contingent will remain to train Afghan forces, many have dismissed the 13-year war as a failed, listless expedition.  China's ADIZ at One Year: International Legal Issues (Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative) This week marks a year since China abruptly declared an Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) covering a large area of the East China Sea, including islands the legal possession of which China disputes with Japan. Especially because China has sent signals that it might enact another such zone in the South China Sea, this anniversary provides a moment to reflect on the international legality of the East China Sea ADIZ and international rules applicable to it. In general, China's establishment of an ADIZ is not per se illegal as a matter of international law; however, the requirements China has declared for its East China Sea ADIZ are much broader than recent customary practice by others and China could enforce it in particular ways that would violate international law. Because international law does not yet have much to say about ADIZs, the practices worked out between China, the United States, Japan and others in this case will serve as important baselines for future ADIZs in Asia.  The Asia-Pacific Is Really a Land Theater (Daniel Goure in Real Clear Defense) North America and East Asia are the two regions that will dominate the world in the 21st Century. Separating them is the Pacific Ocean. Because the Pacific is so vast and U.S. interests, allies and competitors are at the opposite end, it is no surprise that many strategists have assumed that future conflicts in this region will be air and sea power centric.

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Early Bird Brief

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COMPILED BY THE EDITORS OF DEFENSE NEWS & MILITARY TIMES November 25, 2014 THE EARLY BIRD BRIEF Get the most comprehensive aggregation of defense news delivered by the world's largest independent newsroom covering military and defense. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT TODAY'S TOP 5 1. When Hagel leaves, new SecDef faces big questions about the military's future (Military Times) President Obama's new pick to run the Pentagon will face a dizzying set of challenges affecting the Defense Department's mission, budget and culture.  2. Senate Source: 'Logistically Impossible' to Move SecDef Nomination This Year (Defense News) The US Senate, with a scant amount of days left this session and a busy agenda, will leave the nomination of a new defense secretary to the next Congress, according to a senior Senate source.  3. A Shake-Up Stops at One (Mark Landler in The New York Times) Shortly after President Obama announced the resignation of Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel at the White House on Monday, he walked over to a meeting of his entire National Security Council staff, where he told the embattled group that they were critical to an ambitious foreign policy agenda.  4. Who Will Be the Next Secretary of Defense? (Defense One) Following Monday's surprise announcement from the White House, the Pentagon will soon be led by its fourth defense secretary since President Barack Obama took office in 2009. Here's a brief review of some of the names being tossed around as possible replacements for the soon-to-be-departing Chuck Hagel, who will leave office after less than two years on the job.  5: VA fires Phoenix hospital director (Associated Press) The head of the troubled Phoenix veterans' hospital was fired Monday as the Veterans Affairs Department continued its crackdown on wrongdoing in the wake of a nationwide scandal over long wait times for veterans seeking medical care and falsified records covering up the delays.  HAGEL RESIGNS Chuck Hagel's resignation underscores defense rifts (Politico) As President Barack Obama searches for his fourth defense secretary in six years, Chuck Hagel's resignation Monday only confirms the perception of how tightly the White House controls the most important national security decision making.  Reed not interested in Defense secretary job (The Hill) Sen. Jack Reed (D-R.I.) is taking himself out of the running for secretary of Defense, saying he wants to remain in the Senate.   Pentagon Policy, Budget Issues Not Likely to Change in Wake of Hagel Firing (National Defense) But as rumors swirl about Hagel's potential successors, defense insiders say it really does not matter who steps in to run the Defense Department because the White House National Security Council is going to continue to set the agenda on most major issues. Further, Hagel's successor would have limited influence on key issues such as military budgets before a new administration takes over in 2017  How Obama and Chuck Hagel reached the end of the line (The Hill) Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel's exit from the Obama administration came after weeks of discussion with President Obama over what role he would play in shaping defense policy over the last two years of his term.  McCain: Hagel 'Frustrated' With Obama's National Security Policies (Defense News) US Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel revealed to an old friend his frustrations with the Obama White House just days before he announced his resignation.  Hagel was meant to cut military; Islamic State's rise changed that (McClatchy) As the Pentagon absorbed the shock of Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel's unexpected resignation Monday, another realization set in: Neither Hagel's departure, just like those of his two predecessors, nor the arrival of his successor promises major changes in the administration's approach to national security policy.  Hagel Takes a Bullet for Obama: Inside the Defense Secretary's Sudden Firing (The Daily Beast) From practically the day he took office as the 24th Secretary of Defense less than two years ago, Chuck Hagel was a marked man. After one of the more brutal confirmation hearings of a senior Cabinet official in recent memory-Hagel had to apologize for saying a "Jewish lobby" in the U.S. exercised political influence by intimidation, and he erroneously described the Obama administration's Iran policy as "containment"-Washington was filled with whispers that Hagel wasn't up to the job and wasn't long for it, either.  Hagel Latest Defense Secretary to Clash With White House (Wall Street Journal) Mr. Hagel complained about the slow pace of decision-making and clashed privately with White House national security officials over strategies in Ukraine and Syria, U.S. officials have said. In turn, Mr. Hagel's predecessors, Robert Gates and Leon Panetta, leveled harsh criticisms at President Obama in their memoirs and accused him of micromanaging the Pentagon.  First Take: Hagel exit signals a return to war footing (USA Today) President Obama's decision to replace Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel reflects, among other things, the administration's reluctant return to a wartime footing.  Requiem for Chuck Hagel's many Pentagon reviews (Washington Post) Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel and President Obama announced the Pentagon chief's resignation on Monday, capping weeks of speculation about Hagel's future and raising questions about just how much he butted heads with White House officials.  INDUSTRY United Technologies CEO To Retire (Defense News) Louis Chenevert, chairman and CEO of United Technologies, plans to retire, according to a company statement released Monday.  Hagel move not seen scuttling efforts on innovation, warships (Reuters) Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel's resignation will not derail a major Pentagon technology initiative unveiled this month and should not delay a decision on how to improve a new class of smaller warships, U.S. defense officials said.  Is Oshkosh Weighing a Spin-off of its Defense Unit? (Wall Street Journal) Is Oshkosh Corp.OSK -0.17%, the specialty truck manufacturer that successfully managed to fend off Carl Icahn's campaign to split up the company, weighing a spinoff?  Israeli Panel Rejects Proposed Increase Of F-35 (Aviation Week) An Israeli cabinet panel has rejected a decision of the defense minister to procure an additional 31 F-35 Joint Strike Fighters and limited the procurement of Israel's second batch of JSFs to only 13.  DAM: A GPS-INS Add-on Adds Accuracy to Airstrikes (Defense Industry Daily) Israel is buying 3,000 JDAM tail kits with "the ultra-tightly coupled capability," using a maximum $82.6 million firm-fixed-price contract modification. This isn't Israel's first buy (q.v. Dec 12/10 request, April 12/13).  Meeting to Appoint New Thales Chairman Postponed (Defense News) Monday's board meeting to appoint the successor to Thales Chairman Jean-Bernard Levy has been postponed until Wednesday, a company executive said.  UK orders first operational F-35 combat aircraft (IHS Jane's 360) The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) has signed for its first four operational Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) aircraft as part of the Low-Rate Initial Production (LRIP 8) production lot, it was announced on 21 November.  BMC Speeds Up Production of MRAPs for Turkish Army (Defense News) Turkish armored vehicles maker BMC has increased the pace for production of the Kirpi, the country's first mine-resistant, ambush-protected (MRAP) vehicle, after it was penalized ���8 million (US $9.9 million) for late deliveries.  CONGRESS Senator: Extend medical benefits for post-9/11 vets (Military Times) In one of his final acts as a U.S. senator, Iraq War veteran and Montana Democrat John Walsh implored the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee to double the period of automatic medical benefits for post-9/11 combat veterans.  Cruz to Obama: Pick Lieberman for Pentagon (The Hill) Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) on Monday suggested President Obama nominate former Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) to replace outgoing Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel.  The Iran Nuclear Deal Extension Has Powerful Republicans Fuming (National Journal) The seven-month extension gives Iran and the U.S. more time to discuss an agreement on Iran's nuclear program. It also gives Congress ample time to intervene.  Rand Paul Calls for a Formal Declaration of War Against ISIS (New York Times) Senator Rand Paul is calling for a declaration of war against the Islamic State, a move that promises to shake up the debate over the military campaign in Iraq and Syria as President Obama prepares to ask Congress to grant him formal authority to use force.  Cruz wants tax break for soldiers exposed to Ebola (The Hill) Cruz introduces S. 2965, the Operation United Assistance Tax Exclusion Act, which would extend an existing tax break for soldiers in combat zones to those who undergo a 21-day quarantine.  ISLAMIC STATE 2 Democrats open to 'spotters' helping to fight ISIL (Politico) President Barack Obama has ruled out sending a large ground force to the fight against the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant, but support is growing in Congress for dispatching small numbers of U.S. troops near the front lines of combat against the militant group.  Islamic State toughens tactics in Iraq's Anbar, targeting potential enemies (McClatchy) A recent Islamic State offensive in Iraq's Anbar province suggests that the extremist organization is changing tactics, relying less on local Sunni Muslim tribes for support and carrying out what one coalition strategist called a "counterinsurgency campaign" intended to undercut any U.S.-led effort to enlist tribes against it.  Humanitarian Catastrophe Looms In Anbar Province As IS Pushes To Take Ramadi (Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty) An RFE/RL correspondent in Iraq reported on November 22 that the humanitarian situation in Anbar Province is the worst it has been for nine months. Anbar residents are not able to leave or enter residential districts because roads have been cut, and local people are concerned about the complete lack of food and fuel, the correspondent said.  Turkey, US Agree to Train and Arm Syrian Opposition (Defense News) Turkey and the US have narrowed their differences and agreed to train and arm opposition fighters in Syria   Saudis Link Deadly Attack to Islamic State (Wall Street Journal) The leader of an attack that killed eight people in a small Shiite village this month was connected to Islamic State militants, the government said, as it announced the arrest of 77 people it linked to the assault.  ARMY U.S. Army Europe looks to add 100 more armored vehicles (Army Times) The head of U.S. Army Europe expects more than 100 armored vehicles to be added to Europe by the end of 2015.  First flight of quarantined troops from West Africa to arrive Tuesday at JBLM (Tacoma News Tribune) A group of military service members coming home from recent missions in Liberia will spend the next few weeks in a containment area at Joint Base Lewis-McChord while the Army monitors their health for signs of Ebola infection, the Army announced Monday.  Soldiers with Fort Bragg's 1st Brigade Combat Team return from Afghanistan (Fayetteville Observer) About 100 paratroopers from 1st Brigade Combat Team arrived at Fort Bragg Monday afternoon after a nine-month deployment in Afghanistan.  Army PME now gives you more college credits (Army Times) Soldiers can now earn up to two years' worth of college credits toward their bachelor's degrees - just by attending Army professional military education courses.  Fort Sam Houston lockdown lifted; man in custody (KSDK; St. Louis) Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio was put on lockdown for several hours Sunday evening while authorities investigated a vehicle that failed to stop at an entrance checkpoint, officials said.  NAVY Senate delay slows Navy command changes (Stars & Stripes) The nominee to lead the Navy's fleet in Europe and Africa continues to await Senate confirmation, resulting in a backup in command changes at several top military billets.  Grand jury indicts Norwich man on federal assault charges (The Day; New London, Conn.) The indictment alleges that on Nov. 13 Brunache assaulted two Department of Defense police offers at the Naval Submarine Base in Groton. During the assault, Brunache wielded a knife, which he used to stab one of the officers in the leg.  System admin sentenced for hacking Navy database (C4ISR & Networks) A former nuclear systems administrator with the Navy was sentenced to two years in prison for his role in the 2012 hacking of the Navy's Smart Web Move database and publicly releasing personal records of some 222,000 service members.  AIR FORCE OSI completes CMSGT Eric Soluri investigation (Air Force Times) Investigators have completed their probe into a technical sergeant's rise to the highest enlisted rank following his 2006 conviction and six-month jail sentence, an Air Force spokesman said Monday.  Lackland ends practice of intubating ferrets (San Antonio Express-News) The Pentagon has scaled down its controversial use of live animals in training, but the practice will not end completely, and one program in San Antonio will continue to use live goats.  Air Force: General did not send tweet criticizing Obama (Air Force Times) Brig. Gen. Kathleen Cook, the Air Force's public affairs director, on Monday denied she retweeted a Fox News tweet criticizing President Obama's immigration policy.  Moving Targets: Old F-16s make 'really good bad guys' when converted for unmanned flight (Panama City News Herald; Fla.) Not a lot of people crash three planes in a day and call it a job well done.  A leaner force: Key changes emerge after tough year of airmen cuts (Air Force Times) They're the Air Force's steepest force cuts in two decades. And a close look at where the force management programs have shed airmen provides a glimpse into how the Air Force is changing.  MARINE CORPS Corps' new seminar grooms lance corporals to become NCOs (Marine Corps Times) At zero-six hundred, lance corporals with 8th Engineer Support Battalion dressed in physical training gear took turns staring into a cardboard box filled with assorted office supplies in a race to memorize every detail about the contents before their 30-second time limit was up.  The impact of grounding "Pedro" on local EMS departments (WCTI; New Bern, N.C.) The Marine Corps may soon ground its four "Pedro," search and rescue helicopters at MCAS Cherry Point and disband its crew.  Bradenton Korean War veteran receives Purple Heart 63 years later (Bradenton Herald; Fla.) The retired Marine received his first Purple Heart for shrapnel wounds in his left hand he got while on patrol near Hon Son in May 1951. He has also received the Bronze Star and was recommended for a Navy Cross. Blomely is considered one of the "Chosin Few," a nickname given to those who survived the deadliest battle during the Korean War on Nov. 27, 1950.  AFGHANISTAN/PAKISTAN As Bombing Toll Rises, Afghan Villagers Direct Anger at Government (New York Times) Three years ago, villagers from the dusty Afghan district of Yahya Khel, near the Pakistani border, rose up against the Taliban, driving the insurgents away. They say they did it on their own, winning themselves a degree of security that felt tolerable.  Haqqani Network launched suicide attack at soccer game, Afghan intel claims (Long War Journal) The National Directorate of Security (NDS), Afghanistan's intelligence service, accused the Pakistan-supported Haqqani Network of executing yesterday's mass-casualty suicide attack at a soccer match in Paktika province. The accusation has been made just as the US has extended the US military's combat mission in Afghanistan for one year.  Peace Effort With Taliban Is Excluding Women, Report Says (New York Times) Afghan women have been systematically excluded from the government's efforts to start peace talks with the Taliban, according to a report released on Monday by the international aid group Oxfam.  MIDDLE EAST Iran nuclear talks extended for 7 months amid impasse ahead of deadline (Washington Post) World powers and Iran agreed Monday to extend negotiations over Iran's nuclear program for up to an additional seven months after they failed in a last-minute push to conclude a broad deal by a midnight deadline.  A Nuclear Deal for U.S. and Iran Slips Away Again (New York Times) By the time Secretary of State John Kerry and his Iranian counterpart checked into a luxury hotel near the famous beaches of Oman earlier this month, a long-sought deal that has eluded the last two American presidents to roll back Tehran's nuclear program seemed to be slipping out of reach.  Twitter account associated with Iran leader hits out at 'arrogant' powers (Reuters) A Twitter account Iran experts believe is run by the office of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on Tuesday "arrogant" powers had tried hard to bring the Islamic Republic to its knees but had failed.  EUROPE Russia to develop A-100 AWACS based on upgraded Il-76MD-90A airlifter (IHS Jane's 360) Russia is to begin developing a prototype Airborne Warning And Control System (AWACS) aircraft based on the upgraded Ilyushin Il-76MD-90A (Il-476) airframe, it was announced on 21 November.  Russia gets greater control over Black Sea region (Associated Press) Russia tightened its control Monday over Georgia's breakaway province of Abkhazia with a new treaty envisaging closer military and economic ties with the lush sliver of land along the Black Sea.  Poroshenko: Ukrainians will vote on joining NATO years from now (Los Angeles Times) The divisive issue of whether Ukraine should join NATO will be put to a vote years from now, after the necessary reforms have been completed, President Petro Poroshenko announced Monday.  Further Strains in Unresolved War Between Armenia and Azerbaijan Over Disputed Territory (New York Times) Armenia announced on Monday ceremonial funerals for three soldiers killed this month when Azerbaijani forces shot down a helicopter in the fiercely disputed territory of Nagorno-Karabakh, an event that signaled a grave escalation in the more than 25-year-long conflict.  ASIA-PACIFIC U.S-Philippine Military Pact Defended in Court (Wall Street Journal) The Philippine government told the country's Supreme Court Tuesday that it should be free to implement a new security pact allowing U.S. troops to deploy to Philippine bases.  North Korea Threatens Retaliation Over UN Rights Resolution (Voice of America) North Korea has issued a strongly worded statement warning of catastrophic consequences for the United States and other countries that supported the recent U.N. resolution condemning North Korea's human rights record. North Korea's threat to retaliate could signal that it intends to soon conduct a new nuclear test.  Hong Kong authorities begin clearing Mong Kok protest site (Los Angeles Times) Under the watch of more than 200 police officers, the clearance action remained peaceful. Many protesters had removed most of their tents and other belongings overnight.  AFRICA U.S. Buys Up Ebola Gear, Leaving Little for Africa (Wall Street Journal) Protective suits were running low in Sierra Leone this month, when a Christian charity decided ship some over. The charity turned to American medical-wear suppliers, which came back with bad news: The suits needed to treat Ebola are running low in America, too.  Second air strike hits airport in Libya's capital (Reuters) An air strike hit the last functioning commercial airport in Libya's capital Tripoli for a second day running on Tuesday, residents said, as a power struggle in the oil-rich nation intensified.  Libya is destroying itself' (Deutsche Welle) Libya is at risk of becoming a failed state. The country is threatened by both militias and jihadis made up of disaffected young Libyans with a radical agenda, says conflict expert Andreas Dittmann.  COMMENTARY AND ANALYSIS How Did Chuck Hagel End Up as the White House's Scapegoat? (Peter D. Feaver in Foreign Policy) The news that Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel is stepping down has been foreshadowed for weeks, so it does not qualify as a shock. But neither does it qualify as an obvious and logical next move for an administration so clearly struggling to manage myriad foreign policy challenges.  Bumbling Start, White House Micromanagement Doomed Hagel (George E. Condon Jr. in National Journal) Much of official Washington was surprised when news broke Monday that Chuck Hagel was out as Defense secretary. They shouldn't have been. For both personal and systemic reasons, Hagel's tenure was always destined to be as troubled as it was short.  What Chuck Hagel Got Right (Michael O'Hanlon in The Wall Street Journal) I was not convinced two years ago that Chuck Hagel was the strongest choice for defense secretary, but he is, to an extent, being scapegoated. Ultimately, most of the mistakes in the administration's foreign policy-which, I would argue, still has considerable strengths-have been in and from the White House.  Is a National-Security Shakeup Coming? (Max Boot in Commentary Magazine) So Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel is gone but the nuclear talks with Iran seemingly go on and on and on. Tell me: How much has changed?  Chuck Hagel's Rise and Fall Had Nothing to Do With Foreign Policy (Peter Beinart in The Atlantic) The media didn't understand that the defense secretary's role is not to set a course, but to execute it. Hagel never did that well.  Changing World Shrunk Hagel's Appeal to Obama (Gerald F. Seib in The Wall Street Journal) Chuck Hagel was chosen to be the secretary of defense who could help his boss, President Barack Obama , complete the exit from conflicts in the Middle East. It was his misfortune to arrive just when the president instead needed to consider re-entering conflicts in that tortured region.  Commentary: Don't Forget Defense (Former Air Force Secretary Michael Donley in Defense News) US defense leaders have been warning since 2012 about the destructive effects of the 2011 Budget Control Act (BCA). The BCA set in motion approximately $1 trillion in defense reductions over 10 years from projected budget baselines, including a midyear sequestration in fiscal 2013 that grounded air wings, halted training and maintenance across the military, and furloughed civilian personnel.  DoD Can't Command Industry to Innovate (Daniel Goure in Real Clear Defense) Like King Canute ordering the tides to recede, the Department of Defense (DoD) has ordered its contractors to provide more innovation. Earlier this month, Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel announced the Defense Innovation Initiative, described as an ambitious, department-wide effort to identify and invest in innovative ways to sustain and advance America's military dominance for the 21st Century. In part, the Initiative will focus on identifying areas for investment.  Here's Why Women in Combat Units is a Bad Idea (Anna Simons in War on the Rocks) Three problems plague the debate over whether all combat units should finally be opened to women. (Actually, there are four problems: The fourth and most important being the likelihood that there will be no real debate, something that I hope this article will help to mitigate). Most career soldiers and officers I know believe the integration of women into Special Forces teams, and into SEAL, Ranger and Marine infantry platoons, is already a forgone conclusion. From their perspective, politicians in uniform (namely, top brass) don't have the intestinal fortitude to brook the vocal minority in Congress - and the country, really - who think mainstreaming women into ground combat units is a good idea.  Male-Female Cohesion in the Military: Yes, It's Possible (Jessica Scott in War on the Rocks) Another day, another article arguing why women shouldn't be allowed to serve in combat units. I've already written about it elsewhere, so I'm not going to rehash my arguments in depth, but let's take a look at the arguments in Anna Simons' recent War on the Rocks article, "Here's Why Women In Combat Units is A Bad Idea."  Rethinking the Role of Religion in Counterinsurgency (Jason Klocek in Cicero Magazine) Insurgent violence in the name of religion dominates our headlines. This summer, Boko Haram advanced rapidly across northeastern Nigeria in pursuit of its announced goal to create an Islamic state in the region. ISIS enjoyed similar success when it combined threats against Western involvement in the Middle East with the gruesome beheading of journalists and aid workers. More recently, the threat of domestic terrorism inspired by foreign guerrillas has surfaced in Ottawa and just last week, a horrific attack on worshippers in a Jerusalem synagogue resulted in the city's deadliest mass killing in years.

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Early Bird Brief

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COMPILED BY THE EDITORS OF DEFENSE NEWS & MILITARY TIMES November 24, 2014 THE EARLY BIRD BRIEF Get the most comprehensive aggregation of defense news delivered by the world's largest independent newsroom covering military and defense. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT TODAY'S TOP 5 1. Afghan mission for U.S. to continue under new authorities (Washington Post) The United States will remain in an armed conflict in Afghanistan - essentially at war - after the end of this year under rules for combat operations the Pentagon requested, and President Obama approved, early this month.  2. Senior GOP Senator: Immigration Order Could Derail Full-Year Pentagon Spending Bill (Defense News) President Obama's end-run around lawmakers on immigration could derail hopes for a measure that would fund the federal government - including the Pentagon - through September.  3. Iraq's Five Catalysts for Civil War (Retired Army Lt. Col. James Dickey in the Georgetown Security Studies Review) Revolutions and counter-revolutions embroil Iraq, providing the impetus for rebellion against the central government. While not all of these civil wars are 'hot' at any given time, no one movement has achieved complete victory, nor has any been completely defeated or appeased by Baghdad. Further, the myriad of ethnic and sectarian factions can and do shift between five competing motives for war as they seek to survive and profit in Iraq's 'full-contact' political environment. For peace inIraq all of these competing political impulses must be addressed. Outside entities, which do not recognize the complexity of the interplay between competing desired outcomes, risk perpetuating the unstable and unsustainable status quo.  4. Afghanistan Quietly Lifts Ban on Nighttime Raids (New York Times) The government of the new Afghan president, Ashraf Ghani, has quietly lifted the ban on night raids by special forces troops that his predecessor had imposed.  5. VA secretary: VA can't do this job by itself (Military Times) Veterans Affairs Secretary Bob McDonald says he understands skepticism that he can reform and rebuild his embattled department.In fact, he welcomes it.  DEFENSE NEWS WITH VAGO MURADIAN National Security Threats (Defense News) Robert Work, deputy secretary of defense, discusses the Pentagon's latest offset strategy, which is designed to counter technological advances of US foes.  New Offset Strategy and Industry (Defense News) Robert Work, deputy secretary of defense, discusses industry and the offset strategy.  DoD Nuclear Review (Defense News) Robert Work, deputy secretary of defense, discusses how to fund the country's nuclear infrastructure modernization.  Vago's Notebook: Offset Strategy (Defense News) The Pentagon is on the right track to tackle technological advances by foes, but reform is needed.  CONGRESS Sen. Corker: White House 'Not Really Ready' on Islamic State Authorization (Defense News) White House officials "are not really ready" to craft an authorization measure for the Islamic State conflict, says a key senator.  Defense Cuts Stirring Republican Congress Confronting New Budget (Bloomberg) Military supporters are counting on a new Republican-led Congress to roll back defense-spending cuts required by a 2011 budget agreement. First, they'll have to get past Jeff Sessions and his allies.  New chairmen poised to challenge Obama on national security (The Hill) Senate Republicans are preparing to use their new majority to press President Obama on a number of national security challenges.  New Benghazi report says security flaws were known, but not why Stevens was there (McClatchy) A House Intelligence Committee investigation of the Sept. 11, 2012, attacks on U.S. outposts in Benghazi concludes that while the Central intelligence Agency had properly secured its compound in the Libyan city, the State Department knew its security precautions were inadequate at the U.S. Special Mission where U.S. Ambassador Chris Stevens died.  GOP senator calls House panel's Benghazi report a 'bunch of garbage' (Los Angeles Times) Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina said that in compiling its report the committee accepted a "complete bunch of garbage" and allowed more finger-pointing within the administration about responsibility for the fatalities at the consulate.  Sen.-elect Thom Tillis to fight to keep Fort Bragg's 440th Airlift Wing (Fayetteville Observer) Airmen with Fort Bragg's 440th Airlift Wing may have lost an advocate to keep their unit in Fayetteville when U.S. Sen. Kay Hagan lost her seat in November, but Sen.-elect Thom Tillis said he will fight to keep it in place.  ISLAMIC STATE Colt M4 Carbines Top U.S. Arms List for Iraqi, Kurdish Forces (Bloomberg) The Defense Department plans to arm Iraqi and Kurdish forces and Sunni tribesmen with weapons such as Colt M4 Carbines and equip them with trucks, radios and satellite-guidance devices under a $1.62 billion request that President Barack Obama has sent to Congress.  More jihadist training camps identified in Iraq and Syria (Long War Journal) Four new terrorist training camps in Iraq and Syria, three of them operated by the Islamic State, have been identified by The Long War Journal. The identification of these camps, three in Syria and one in Iraq, brings the total number of jihadist-run camps identified in the two countries to 46.  Pentagon operation name for Islamic State fight inspires criticism (Los Angeles Times) The branding effort took weeks, involved a classified Pentagon computer system called NICKA, consultations with military officers in Baghdad and Washington, approval by two dozen partner nations, and the endorsement of top Pentagon brass.  Iraqi premier, US look to aid Islamic State battle (Associated Press) Iraqi forces battling the Islamic State group focused their offensive Sunday on the city of Ramadi, backed by Sunni tribal fighters that the U.S. plans to arm.  Group: Death toll of U.S.-led airstrikes in Syria tops 900 (CNN) In the two months since the United States and coalition allies first launched airstrikes against ISIS targets inside of Syria, the missions have killed more than 900 people, nearly all militants, a monitoring group said Saturday.  Graft Hobbles Iraq's Military in Fighting ISIS (New York Times) One Iraqi general is known as "chicken guy" because of his reputation for selling his soldiers' poultry provisions. Another is "arak guy," for his habit of enjoying that anis-flavored liquor on the job. A third is named after Iraq's 10,000-dinar bills, "General Deftar," and is infamous for selling officer commissions.  Control of Syrian Oil Fuels War Between Kurds and Islamic State (Wall Street Journal) Plumes of black smoke billow on the horizon of this border town in northeast Syria, a thumb-shaped corner of the country that pokes into neighboring Turkey and Iraq.  Militant video shows Egyptian armour being overrun (IHS Jane's 360) The severity of the insurgency facing the Egyptian military in the Sinai Peninsula has been highlighted by a video showing the attack that reportedly killed at least 30 Egyptian soldiers on 24 October.  Gitmo 'Poet' Now Recruiting for Islamic State (Weekly Standard) An ex-Guantanamo detainee based in northern Pakistan is leading an effort to recruit jihadists for the Islamic State, an al Qaeda offshoot that controls large portions of Iraq and Syria.  AQAP rejects Islamic State's 'caliphate,' blasts group for sowing dissent among jihadists (Long War Journal) Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), an official branch of al Qaeda, has released a video rejecting the Islamic State's announced caliphate and chastising the group for sowing discord among jihadists.  INDUSTRY Pentagon, Lockheed Finalize 8th F-35 Lot (Defense News) The Pentagon Friday announced it has reached a final agreement with Lockheed Martin on the eighth low-rate initial production (LRIP-8) lot of F-35 joint strike fighters.  Boeing Stays In F-16 Upgrade Race (Aviation Week) Boeing plans to continue competing with Lockheed Martin for F-16 upgrade business despite the cancellation of BAE Systems' contract to modernize Korea's F-16s, according to company officials attending the Defense IQ International Fighter conference here.  A NATO Fighter? (Defense News) Just imagine it: Airbus teams up with Lockheed Martin or Boeing on a program to build a NATO fighter.  What the Navy's Next Generation Amphibious Ship Could Look Like (USNI News) Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) has revised its plan to use the hull form of the San Antonio-class amphibious warship (LPD-17) as a candidate for the Navy's next generation amphibious warship- LX(R), company officials outlined to USNI News on Tuesday.  With AESA Radar, Eurofighter Strengthens Export Push (Defense News) Typhoon added its name to the list of fighters able to offer active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar capability last week when the four European partner nations in the program finally put their signature to an £800 million (US $1.25 billion) deal to develop and integrate the sensor.  Despite Contracting Reforms, Pentagon Seen As Unfriendly to Business (National Defense) Pentagon officials have been emphatic about "lowering the barriers" to potential vendors - especially those on the cutting edge of technology - in order to spur competition in a market dominated by big conglomerates.  Japan Officially Selects Osprey (Defense News) Japan has officially decided to procure the V-22 Osprey for its military tilt-rotor requirement.  Japan Prepares Designs For Its Next Fighter (Aviation Week) Flying far is more important than flying fast, Japanese fighter technologists have found in studies aimed at defining their country's next combat aircraft. Looking for ways for their air force to fight outnumbered, researchers are also emphasizing that Japan's next fighter should share targeting data, carry a big internal load of large, high-performance missiles and be able to guide them while retreating.  Turkey May Restart Missile Defense Program (Defense News) Turkey's procurement bureaucracy is rethinking a multibillion dollar program to build the country's first air and missile defense program, keeping "all options open," including scrapping the existing competition and merging it with a longer-range program with better capabilities.  Lockheed sees buyer for hybrid cargo airship in 2015 (Reuters) Lockheed is the Pentagon's No. 1 supplier, but it is targeting a commercial market for the slow-moving airships that have four hovercraft-like landing pads and can set down on nearly any flat surface, including sand, snow and even water.  China's Anti-Stealth Radar Comes to Fruition (Defense News) The one great testament to China's anti-access/area denial efforts were weapon and sensor systems on display at the recent China Airshow in Zhuhai.  BAE wins DARPA anti-jamming contract (C4ISR & Networks) BAE has been awarded a $3.2 million DARPA contract to develop jam-resistant communications.  Thales Board To Select New Chief Executive (Defense News) Thales will hold a board meeting on Monday to choose a successor to Chairman Jean-Bernard Levy, who is leaving the defense electronics company to take the top job at utility giant Electricite de France (EDF), a company executive said.  Kremlin allies behind sales of crucial RD-180 engine to U.S. (Japan Times) He has money, media power and the ear of President Vladimir Putin. Such is his influence that some observers have described Yuri Kovalchuk as the Rupert Murdoch of Russia.  Orsi: Finmeccanica Will Bounce Back (Defense News) Giuseppe Orsi, the former CEO of Finmeccanica who was acquitted last month of offering bribes to Indian officials, says the Italian group was never humbled by the kickback scandal and will bounce back.  Ukraine and Poland continues defence co-operation discussions (IHS Jane's 360) Ukraine and Poland have held their first military-technical economic co-operation forum; an event that followed discussions in May this year concerning increased defence industrial collaboration between the neighbouring countries.  VETERANS VA to expand facility access to service dogs (Military Times) Two years after Congress ordered the Veterans Affairs Department to increase access for service dogs to its facilities, the department is moving to alter its policies.  Bipartisan bill would expand veterans' access to medical marijuana (The Hill) Reps. Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.) and Dana Rohrabacher (R-Calif.) introduced legislation to allow Department of Veterans Affairs doctors to make recommendations on patients' use of medical marijuana.  VA's Aggressive Plan for Shedding Its 'Back-to-the-Future' Era Scheduling System (NextGov) The Department of Veterans Affairs is now taking bids for commercial software to replace a clunky 1980s-era system for scheduling veterans' medical appointments.  Burial delays prompt push for VA oversight in Congress (Stars & Stripes) A bill aimed at decreasing recent delays in veteran burials by giving Congress new VA oversight got a push forward from lawmakers Thursday.  Last of World War II vets leaving Congress (Dallas Morning News) With Texan Ralph Hall's defeat and Michigander John Dingell's retirement, Congress is saying goodbye to its last World War II veterans.  DEFENSE DEPARTMENT DoD Shifts Acquisition, Tech Efforts Toward Major Powers (Defense News) After spending 13 years fighting non-state actors in Iraq, Afghanistan and Syria, the US Defense Department is shifting its institutional weight toward developing a new acquisition and technology development strategy that focuses more on major state competitors, the Pentagon's No. 2 told Defense News on Nov. 21.  Pentagon considers changes to recruitment policies (The Hill) The Pentagon is working on ways to begin enlisting people with family members who could be living in the country illegally.  Pentagon's suicide reports fall short, watchdog says (Military Times) The Pentagon's annual analysis of military suicides contains gaps in information that likely hampers the Defense Department's understanding of the complex problem of suicide, the DoD Inspector General found.  Hagel rallies chairmen around defense budget (The Hill) Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel met quietly with congressional leaders of three defense committees on Thursday as lawmakers prepare the Pentagon's budget for next year.  Rand: Civilian mental health providers don't 'get' the military (Military Times) A new survey by an influential think tank finds that civilian mental health care specialists sorely lack an understanding of military culture and appropriate treatments for service-related health care needs.  Military families blitz Congress over proposed benefits cuts (The Hill) Military families and their advocates are blitzing Congress with calls and emails this week, urging them to not cut their housing and healthcare benefits.  DoD: Troops can't use allotments to buy items on credit (Military Times) Active-duty troops will no longer be able to use allotments - direct payments to specific creditors - to purchase, lease or rent consumer items after Jan. 1, defense officials announced Friday.  Saudi Arabia fetches former 'forever prisoner' from Guantanamo (Miami Herald) The U.S. military released to Saudi Arabia this week a captive who was held at the U.S. prison camps in Cuba for a dozen years, categorized as a "forever prisoner," but was never charged with a crime.  Higher-paid DoD contractors pay more for child care (Military Times) Taxpayers no longer subsidize child care for the highest-paid DoD contract employees under a DoD policy change that went into effect this fall.  Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel interview with Charlie Rose (PBS) An hour with Chuck Hagel, United States Secretary of Defense.  Are the military's Ebola precautions excessive? (Military Times) All U.S. troops returning from West Africa are required to spend 21 days in quarantine to make sure they do not bring Ebola back to the U.S. or their military bases overseas.  ARMY Enlisted soldiers who became officers fight for pension benefits, with senators' help (Tacoma News Tribune) Washington Sen. Patty Murray and other U.S. senators, troubled by reports of career soldiers poised to lose thousands of dollars a year in retirement pay, are urging the Army to extend their service a little longer so they can leave the military with full pensions.  The End in Their Sights (Washington Post) To get to a place where the Afghanistan war is something not yet forgotten, drive from civilian America onto this 164-square-mile military base. Pass the armed guards who check for military identification and the four-story Warrior Transition building that houses wounded soldiers, and keep going into one of the base's residential neighborhoods of identical two-story houses.  Jurors in S.A. convict visiting lieutenant colonel of child sex trafficking (San Antonio Express-News) A federal jury on Friday convicted an Army officer of a charge that he participated in the sex trafficking of a minor by hiring a 15-year-old prostitute in San Antonio.  Post cracks down on skimpy clothes, facial hair (Army Times) Fort Leonard Wood' Maj. Gen. Leslie Smith, the Missouri post's commanding general, issued new appearance standards in a Nov. 10 policy update.  No prison time for Army Sgt. Barbera for phone threat against reporter's wife (Pittsburgh Tribune-Review) Army Sgt. 1st Class Michael Barbera, who professed innocence on his social media sites, pleaded guilty Thursday to threatening the wife of a Tribune-Review reporter in a failed attempt to prevent publication of a report about his fatal shootings in March 2007 of two unarmed, deaf Iraqi brothers.  Junior enlisted eligible for West Point nominations (Army Times) The Army has provided guidance to commanders who want to nominate outstanding junior enlisted soldiers for possible admission to the U.S. Military Academy as cadets, and subsequent commissioning as Army officers.  Firepower: Fort Bragg tests new rocket system (Fayetteville Observer) Fireballs lit the dark sky over Fort Bragg as artillerymen fired their first live rounds from new rocket system launchers.  Enlisted soldiers wanted for medical school (Army Times) Applications are being accepted for a special program that provides an academic helping hand to Regular Army enlisted soldiers who want to attend medical school.  Army awaits German approval for Ebola monitoring facility (Stars & Stripes) The U.S. Army's monitoring facility in Germany is ready to receive personnel returning from the Pentagon's Ebola mission in Africa, but it's not clear when - or if - the complex will open for business.  NAVY Sub Jefferson City leaves Guam for new homeport (Navy Times) After five months tied up in Guam, the attack submarine Jefferson City departed Nov. 15, bound for repairs in Pearl Harbor, its new home port, Navy officials confirmed.  Admiral denies role in counterfeiting casino chips (Associated Press) An admiral linked by Navy investigators to counterfeit casino chips denied Sunday that he played any role in making them.  Fleet boss: 'Painful' budget cuts threaten push for shorter cruises (Navy Times) A second round of sequestration cuts set for fiscal 2016 could unravel the Navy's plan to cap deployments at seven months, the fleet's top officer warned, as the service is on the path to cut deployments and boost training.  Should Navy captain advance? (San Diego Union-Tribune) The Navy ship captain partially blamed for the September 2013 accident that killed two Coronado-based helicopter pilots is in line for another, even bigger, at-sea command.  4-star talks LCS, new deployment plan and more (Navy Times) In his two years leading the fleet, Adm. Bill Gortney grappled with the budget cuts that canceled deployments, fast-tracked the fleet's new flame-resistant coveralls and developed a new deployment plan that's had a shaky start.  47 Seconds From Hell: A Challenge To Navy Doctrine (Breaking Defense) Someone shoots a cruise missile at you. How far away would you like to stop it: over 200 miles out or less than 35?  Advancement list released early (Navy Times) The chief of naval personnel officially released the fall petty officer advancement list Friday to command leadership, allowing notification of sailors to start days earlier than had been planned.  Seabees' morale high despite long Ebola quarantine, congressman says (McClatchy) There were no hugs or handshakes just in case Ebola germs lurked, but Rep. Steven Palazzo found 15 Navy Seabees from Mississippi in "good spirits" Friday as they waited out a 21-day isolation period at Virginia's Langley Air Force Base after a seven-week stint building treatment facilities in disease-ravaged Liberia.  Line and staff officer promotions announced (Navy Times) The Navy has announced active-duty promotions to captain, commander, lieutenant commander, lieutenant and chief warrant officer in the line and staff corps.  Mids get their career assignments (Baltimore Sun) The senior midshipmen of the Naval Academy's 19th Company piled into their wardroom in Bancroft Hall on Thursday, cramming four or five abreast on brown couches. After nearly four years of study, they were about to learn whether they would get their dream jobs.  Navy issues call for tax-help volunteers (Navy Times) The Navy is looking for a few good beancounters to help shipmates do their taxes next calendar year - and save them from tax preparation fees.  AIR FORCE Leaders monitor burnout among intel analysts (Air Force Times) The airmen who walk the halls of the 480th Intelligence, Reconnaissance and Surveillance Wing headquarters are among the 6,000 airmen around the globe committed to fighting a new type of war where the margin between victory and defeat lies in massive amounts of information.  New Leader Tasked With Upping Profile Of Air University (Defense News) On Nov. 10, military officials, civic leaders and community notables from around Montgomery, Alabama, gathered to watch Lt. Gen. Steven Kwast take command of Air University, the center of education for the world's largest Air Force. Although it's a scene oft-repeated throughout the service whenever one commander leaves and another takes over, this handover may represent more than just a change on the masthead. If Kwast succeeds, it could represent a turning point in how the service relates to Air University, or AU, a crucial part of the Air Force often regarded as a backwater by the Beltway crowd.  Retreats at Mildenhall focus on the family (Air Force Times) On the final day of the weekend retreat near Royal Air Force Mildenhall in England, the Watts family - Laura, her master sergeant husband and their three children who range from ages 2 to 15 - brainstormed the values and priorities they held dearest and wrote them down.  Air Force reservist apparently settles firing lawsuit against U.S. Steel (Pittsburgh Tribune-Review) Sgt. Rebecca Jackanic, 33, of Coraopolis sued the company in July under state and federal laws that protect reservists' jobs while they're deployed. She said the company fired her while she was training to become a flight engineer for the 911th Airlift Wing in Moon.  Del. National Guard member stole $103,800 (News Journal; Wilmington, Del.) Authorities have quietly prosecuted a Delaware Air National Guard sergeant and given him probation for stealing more than $100,000 in a double-dipping scam involving disability payments that might involve another member, The News Journal has learned.  MARINE CORPS Corps' aviation plan calls for armed Ospreys (Marine Corps Times) The Marine Corps' most unique aircraft is going to get a bigger punch.  Women Sweat The Test To Show Marines They're Combat-Ready (National Public Radio) Sgt. Kristy Rodriguez is sprinting on a treadmill. She's wearing dark green shorts, a matching T-shirt, and white sneakers. The pace keeps getting faster.  Pendleton business course preps transitioning Marines (Marine Corps Times) Leaving the Corps for the corporate world might be as unfamiliar as moving to Mars. The military's strict hierarchy and protocols are gone. The emphasis isn't on accomplishing the mission, but on costs and revenues. It's not something Marines are used to.  Marine Corps Finds It Tough To Shut Down Sexist Facebook Groups (National Public Radio) For veterans like Katherine Keleher, Facebook can be a nightmare.  Virtual reality, 3-D modeling help design new gear at Quantico (Marine Corps Times) Developers at Quantico will be able to project realistic images of new equipment as they build it, print 3-D parts on demand, and tour vehicle prototypes in a virtual reality room, thanks to a new 2,700-square foot modeling and simulation facility that opened its doors this month.  After Loss, Marine's Parents 'Gained 20-Something Other Sons' (National Public Radio) Lance Cpl. Brian Parrello was the only member of his platoon who didn't make it home from Iraq. They were patrolling near the Haditha dam when Brian was killed by an IED, at the age of 19.  New bonus rules for Marines who speak foreign languages (Marine Corps Times) The way Marines earn extra cash through foreign language proficiency bonuses has changed to reflect Defense Department-wide revisions - and while it will lead to extra money for some, others will lose a bit.  Study links contaminated water to adverse birth outcomes (Jacksonville Daily News) Pregnant women exposed to contaminated drinking water aboard Camp Lejeune might have experienced adverse birth outcomes, according to documents released this week.   Blindfolded Marines learn to clear firearm malfunctions (Marine Corps Times) Members of the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit are getting ready for combat - blindfolded. The exercise, which may seem odd to the outside observer, has a real combat application.  New sergeant major takes over at Parris Island (Island Packet) Sgt. Maj. Angela Maness officially took over as new sergeant major at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island on Friday, according to a news release.  Statue honoring iconic Fallujah photo unveiled at Pendleton (Marine Corps Times) A Gold Star dad brought the iconic "Hell House" image from the Battle of Fallujah to life by casting a new bronze statue that now sits outside the site where some of the Marine Corps' most severely wounded warriors receive their care.  Noise from F-35B comparable to F/A-18s, new study says (Island Packet) The new F-35B fighters flying over Beaufort might not sound like their older counterparts, but they are no louder, according to data released last month by the F-35's Joint Program Office.  Marine Corps weighs eliminating vehicle decals (Marine Corps Times) Marine Corps officials are developing plans to eliminate the vehicle decals required to access bases and air stations.  COAST GUARD Coast Guardsman convicted of lewd act with minor (Honolulu Star-Advertiser) A Coast Guard aviation mechanic in Hawaii was sentenced to five years in a military brig and given a dishonorable discharge Thursday for threatening and committing a lewd act on a minor in 2013.  Coast Guard's Little Creek mascot works like a dog (Virginian-Pilot) The office of Blake Kilbourne, a master chief petty officer at Coast Guard Station Little Creek, looks a lot like most: desk, chair, computer, plaques on the walls.  AFGHANISTAN/PAKISTAN Hour's Drive Outside Kabul, Taliban Reign (New York Times) The explosion ripped through the floor of the Humvee, tearing a hole in the armored vehicle and injuring the district governor. The crack of Taliban gunfire followed.  NATO says 2 service members killed in Afghanistan (Associated Press) NATO says that two of its service members have been killed in an attack in eastern Afghanistan.  Afghan military welcomes expanded U.S. combat role as Taliban threat intensifies (Washington Post) The 18 Afghan soldiers were trapped in a mountainous outpost about 50 miles south of the capital, running out of ammunition. Taliban insurgents had surrounded them. There was only one way out: the Americans.  Suicide Bomber Kills Dozens At Afghan Volleyball Tournament (Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty) Afghan officials say a suicide bomber has killed at least 50 people and injured about 60 others at a volleyball tournament in the country's eastern province of Paktika.  MIDDLE EAST Thousands of Iraq Chemical Weapons Destroyed in Open Air, Watchdog Says (New York Times) The United States recovered thousands of old chemical weapons in Iraq from 2004 to 2009 and destroyed almost all of them in secret and via open-air detonation, according to a written summary of its activities prepared by the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, the international body that monitors implementation of the global chemical weapons treaty.  Internal Study: Israeli Deterrence Needs Overhaul (Defense News) Israeli deterrence is due for a wholesale overhaul, from basic theory and language to practical matters of intelligence targeting and operational planning up to the way the military fights and advises government leaders.  Israeli officer charged in shooting death of Palestinian teen (McClatchy) An Israeli border policeman was charged with manslaughter on Sunday in the fatal shooting of a Palestinian teenager during a protest in the West Bank, a rare case in which a member of the security forces has been prosecuted for killing a Palestinian.  Former Commander: Israel Made 'Strategic Mistake' (Defense News) Israel's latest Gaza operation illustrates the strategic consequences of crossing that Clausewitzian-inspired line of culminating deterrence, where tactical actions aimed at containing escalation ended up dragging it into an unwanted war of attrition.  Yemen Ends Mutiny Inside Elite Paramilitary Unit (Associated Press) The Yemeni government has ended a mutiny by officers suspected to be loyalists of the country's ousted leader against the top commander of an elite paramilitary unit.  es and Europe on Thursday to help the Libyan army in its fight against Islamist militants now to save the country from requiring intervention on the scale of Iraq and Syria.  EUROPE U.S. troops to remain in Baltics, Poland next year (Reuters) The United States will keep troops in Poland and the Baltic states for at least the next year as tensions with Russia remain, the commander of U.S. land forces in Europe said on Sunday.  Special Ops medical team trains Ukrainian soldiers (Air Force Times) About a dozen medical specialists from Special Operations Command Europe deployed earlier this week to Western Ukraine to coach Ukrainian soldiers on basic battlefield medical procedures, European Command officials announced Friday.  US delivers anti-mortar radars to Ukraine: Pentagon (Agence France-Presse) The US military has delivered three radars to Ukraine designed to detect incoming mortar fire, the Pentagon said Friday, amid appeals from Kiev for Washington to send weapons to help fight pro-Russian rebels.  Russia flies first radar- and avionics-upgraded Tu-160 bomber (IHS Jane's 360) The first upgraded Tupolev Tu-160 'Blackjack' strategic bomber aircraft made its maiden flight on 16 November, Russian state media has announced.  Finland feeling vulnerable amid Russian provocations (Washington Post) Wedged hard against Russia's northwestern border, peaceable Finland has long gone out of its way to avoid prodding the nuclear-armed bear next door.  ASIA-PACIFIC China building airstrip-capable island on Fiery Cross Reef (IHS Jane's 360) China is building an island at least 3,000 m long on Fiery Cross Reef that could be the site for its first airstrip in the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea.  Obama to visit India in January (McClatchy) President Barack Obama will travel to India in January at the invitation of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the White House said.  Excavation begins in Okinawa field where barrels previously found (Stars & Stripes) Workers began excavation Friday on an additional 66 spots at the Okinawa City soccer field where barrels containing toxic herbicides were found last year.  AFRICA Somali Islamists execute 28 non-Muslims on Kenyan bus (Reuters) The Somali Islamist militant group al Shabaab said it had staged an attack in Kenya on Saturday in which gunmen ordered non-Muslims off a bus and shot 28 dead, while sparing Muslim passengers.  Freed Somalia Towns Feel Besieged (Wall Street Journal) Women slip into this southern town in the middle of the night with sacks of rice for sale-a lifeline for residents and a move that demonstrates the continued threat from surrounding Islamist militants.  Tunisia Vote for Leader Likely to Go to a Runoff (New York Times) Tunisians turned out in steady, orderly lines on Sunday to vote in their first free and democratic presidential election, voicing confidence that they were turning the page on the often-fractious transition after the revolution of 2011.  War against Ebola in West Africa remains a tough fight (USA Today) A snapshot of the Ebola epidemic raging across West Africa shows a wildfire of infections only slightly contained.  COMMENTARY AND ANALYSIS Stopping an Awakening in Iraq before it can start (David Ignatius in The Washington Post) A centerpiece of President Obama's strategy for defeating the Islamic State is mobilizing tribal fighters to join the Iraqi military in retaking Anbar province and others dominated by Sunnis. But new research shows that the jihadists have been working since 2009 to gut the very Sunni tribal leadership on which Obama's rollback depends - making the U.S. campaign much more difficult.  ISIL Is The Symptom, Syria's al-Assad Is The Disease (James Kitfield in Breaking Defense) The enemy of my enemy is....who exactly? That is the question U.S. Central Command planners confronted recently when they targeted the Khorasan Group, a hardcore Al Qaeda cell in Syria suspected of planning terrorist attacks against the United States and Europe. Not surprisingly, the U.S. strikes also killed fighters from the Al-Nusra Front, Al Qaeda's official Syrian affiliate who were playing host to the Khorasan cell.  Column: The More Things Change ... (John T. Bennett in Defense News) "I am very confident that the Armed Services Committee, under the leadership of John McCain next year, that we're going to make some corrections [to] sequestration." - Retiring SASC member Saxby Chambliss, R-Ga.  America's 500th Drone Strike (Micah Zenko in the Council on Foreign Relations) The most consistent and era-defining tactic of America's post-9/11 counterterrorism strategies has been the targeted killing of suspected terrorists and militants outside of defined battlefields.   How the United States can counter the ambitions of Russia and China (Ely Ratner and Thomas Wright in The Washington Post) The unraveling of the Middle East under the weight of the Sunni-Shiite rivalry and the rise of the Islamic State is enough of a national security challenge to keep the United States busy for a decade or more. But with more and more American advisers on the ground in Iraq - and a steady stream of videotaped atrocities on the Internet - there is a risk that Washington will once again revert to a foreign policy focused disproportionately on that region.  Suicide Bombers and T-72s: Using Mission Orders to Defeat the Hybrid Threat (Christopher Baldwin and Jeffrey Baldwin in Small Wars Journal) In the summer and fall of 2014 fighters of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant and Russian sponsored Ukrainian separatists offered an unmistakable demonstration to the United States and its allies of the danger posed by hybrid threats. The West once again confronted the deadly combination of guerrilla tactics, conventional military operations, and organized crime.  Turkey And The United States: Death By A Thousand Slights (Steven A. Cook in the Council on Foreign Relations) The relationship between the United States and Turkey has hit the skids. The controversy over Kobani has revealed deep fissures and deep mistrust between Washington and Ankara.  American Witnesses of the Nazi Rise to Power (Cicero Magazine) Andrew Nagorski, author of 'Hitlerland: American Eyewitnesses to the Nazi Rise to Power'', describes what lessons that period of history holds for totalitarianism today.

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