| January 19, 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. DoD: 1,000 new trainers could deploy to Middle East
(Military Times) The U.S. force deploying to the Middle East later this year to train and equip moderate Syrian rebels may exceed 1,000, a Pentagon spokesman said Friday.
2. N.S.A. Tapped Into North Korean Networks Before Sony Attack, Officials Say
(New York Times) The trail that led American officials to blame North Korea for the destructive cyberattack on Sony Pictures Entertainment in November winds back to 2010, when the National Security Agency scrambled to break into the computer systems of a country considered one of the most impenetrable targets on earth.
3. God and country' recruit poster axed from Army office
(Army Times) A poster with the phrase "On a mission for both God and country" on display outside a Phoenix recruiting station was removed Friday morning, an Army Recruiting Command spokesman said, hours after the unapproved display was brought to the command's attention.
4. General: Praising the A-10 to Lawmakers is 'Treason'
(DoDBuzz) A top U.S. Air Force general warned officers that praising the A-10 attack plane to lawmakers amounts to "treason," according to a news report.
5. Schools on military bases struggle with maintenance
(Los Angeles Times) Water leaks stain the ceiling of Irving L. Branch Elementary School. Electrical wiring is exposed, and students are careful to avoid cracks in the playground's asphalt.
DEFENSE NEWS WITH VAGO MURADIAN Women in Combat
(Defense News TV) Military services are currently reevaluating physical standards for combat jobs. Juliet Beyler, director of officer and enlisted personnel management at the Defense Department, oversees the creation of gender-neutral standards across the forces.
Retaining Female Military Leaders
(Defense News TV) Juliet Beyler, director of officer and enlisted personnel management at the Defense Department, on efforts to open highly selective career fields to women and how to keep them in the military.
Defense Contractors and Budget Austerity
(Defense News TV) Byron Callan of Capital Alpha Partners discusses the financial performance of major Defense contractors.
Vago's Notebook: Naval Surface Forces
(Defense News TV) Naval Surface Forces finally has a comprehensive strategy.
CONGRESS US senators in Saudi, Qatar for talks on Syrian rebels
(Associated Press) A delegation of U.S. senators led by John McCain have met separately with Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Salman and Qatar's emir, part of a regional tour focused on training Syrian rebels. As they met, hundreds of civilians fled rebel-held areas near Damascus that had been blockaded for over a year.
Governors-Turned Sens Want 2-Year Budgeting
(Defense News) Two former governors are pushing legislation in the US Senate that would require presidents to submit two-year budget plans to Congress.
Intelligence chief: 'Unbelievable amount of data' coming after Paris attacks
(The Hill) Sen. Richard Burr (R-N.C.) said he expects that data will pour in over the next few months that will provide intelligence to better protect the U.S. and Europe against global terrorism threats.
Sen. Sanders: No Defense Increases at Expense of Domestic Programs
(Defense News) Senate Democrats' budget point man expects "fundamental differences" with his GOP colleagues, and vows to fight attempts to increase defense spending.
New Senate Intelligence chairman wants more from Middle East allies
(The Hill) A top Senate Republican said Sunday that if U.S. allies in the Middle East don't do more to help in the fight against terrorism, they should face consequences.
Governments Struggle to Respond to Hackers
(Defense News) The North Korean cyber hit on the network of Sony Entertainment in November is hardly the first state-sponsored bit of corporate hacking to strike the US or its allies, and experts say it is likely a harbinger of things to come.
Congressman reserves seat at SOTU for imprisoned Marine
(Marine Corps Times) Marine veteran Amir Hekmati will have a seat waiting for him in the House chamber for President Barack Obama's State of the Union Address next week, but barring a dramatic diplomatic breakthrough, it will go unfilled.
China-savvy tea partyer leads House panel on Asia
(Associated Press) The new leader of the House panel overseeing U.S. policy on Asia and the Pacific is a rarity in Congress: a deeply conservative Republican who shuns isolationism, favors closer ties with Asia and stands poised to praise as well as criticize China - and even do it in Mandarin.
Lawmakers propose update to Alaska's code of military justice
(Alaska Dispatch) Anchorage Democrats Rep. Chris Tuck and Sen. Bill Wielechowski are heading to Juneau with plans to beef up Alaska's Uniform Code of Military Justice. The effort is intended to improve the culture within the Alaska National Guard, which came under heavy criticism in 2014 by federal investigators for leadership failures.
Senator to push for Iran sanctions - or a say on any deal
(Associated Press) A leading Republican critic of President Barack Obama's foreign policy is pushing new sanctions against Iran over its nuclear program, unswayed by a White House veto threat and lobbying by Britain's leader.
Senator: Have to assume sleeper cells in US
(The Hill) A key U.S. senator said Sunday that Americans have to assume there are some "sleeper cells" within the U.S. that would like to carry out a terror attack.
INDUSTRY Shrouded in Mystery, New Bomber Makes Waves
(Defense News) With a winner expected to be selected this year, the Air Force's next-generation bomber remains shrouded in mystery.
Belgium Reveals Wish List For New Fighter
(Aviation Week) Could history and nuclear weapons push Belgium toward the F-35 for its future fighter?
Croatia to sell surplus military aircraft
(IHS Jane's 360) Croatia is looking to sell a wide range of its surplus Croatian Air Force aircraft, with the state-owned Alan Agency issuing a new call to tender.
Russia's Military Modernization Under President Putin
(Aviation Week) Russia's ongoing military transformation became apparent in 2014
Ukraine restarting T-64-based IFV development
(IHS Jane's 360) Ukraine has renewed development of heavy infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs) based on the T-64 main battle tank (MBT), Ukroboronprom has announced.
F-35 Debut Hobbled by Flawed Software, Pentagon Tester Finds
(Bloomberg) Flawed software will hobble the first of Lockheed Martin Corp. (LMT)'s F-35 fighters to be called combat-ready, limiting the plane's ability to drop bombs, share data with other aircraft and track enemy radar, the Defense Department's chief weapons tester found.
Prison for defense contractor who bilked government out of $1.2 million
(Philadelphia Inquirer ) A Delaware County defense contractor was sentenced to more than three years in prison Friday for bilking the government out of $1.2 million tied to contracts his company received to supply parts for military helicopters.
Peru orders additional C-27J transports
(IHS Jane's 360) The Peruvian Air Force (Fuerza Aerea del Perú - FAP) has signed for a further two Alenia Aermacchi C-27J Spartan tactical airlifters under a USD100 million deal announced on 15 January.
Opinion: Joint Strike Fighter Debate Enters New Phase
(Aviation Week) "If you don't follow the defense business closely, then you can be excused for believing that the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) is in trouble," a Lockheed Martin consultant wrote five years ago, a few weeks before the program office director was fired in disgrace. His replacement found that the published schedule was 3-4 years adrift from reality.
Boeing awarded LRIP contract for Super Hornet IRST
(IHS Jane's 360) The US Navy (USN) has awarded Boeing a USD60.4 million contract for the procurement of six low rate initial production (LRIP) AN/ASG-34 infrared search-and-track (IRST) systems for the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet combat aircraft, the Department of Defense (DoD) announced on 16 January.
Canada Crafts Spec Ops Equipment Needs
(Defense News) Canada's special operations forces are focusing on acquiring ISR aircraft and new vehicles as it develops its future equipment needs, according to its commander.
First steel cut for third Brazilian submarine
(IHS Jane's 360) Brazilian state-owned firm Nuclebras Equipamentos Pesados (NUCLEP) has officially begun building the third of four Riachuelo-class (modified Scorpèn 2000) diesel-electric attack submarines, and cut the first steel for Tonelero (S 42) on 13 January in Itaguaí, State of Rio de Janeiro.
Russia Could Sue France Within Six Months Over Mistral Deal
(USNI News) The Russian defense minister said legal action could against France over the stalled delivery of two Mistral-class amphibious warships within six months, according to a report in the Russian TASS wire service.
Russia offers Indonesia defence offset co-operation
(IHS Jane's 360) Russia has reiterated an offer to Indonesia to expand defence industry collaboration in a bid to consolidate its position in the market.
VETERANS VA responsible for vet's suicide, Mom says
(Military Times) Since her son, a Marine, committed suicide in 2013, Janine Lutz has done a lot to help veterans with PTSD. But her son's death continues to gnaw at her. She believes the VA neither tracked his medication nor understood how certain drugs affected him.
Jane Fonda met with protest in Frederick; hopes for open dialogue with Vietnam-era veterans
(The Frederick News-Post) Jane Fonda said she hoped for an open dialogue with veterans after about 50 former military members and supporters protested the actress's appearance Friday evening at the Weinberg Center for the Arts.
After fatal shooting at El Paso hospital, VA police highlight nationwide security lapses
(Washington Post) After last week's fatal shooting of a psychologist inside an El Paso Veterans Affairs clinic by an Iraq war veteran, the VA's police force is renewing its long-running calls for more staff, better training and increased resources - from fixing broken radios and cameras to installing metal detectors and developing clear procedures for how to deal with agitated patients.
Vets groups unveil priorities for Congress
(Military Times) For veterans advocates, 2014 was a year of scandals and crises at the Veterans Affairs Department. Now, those outside groups want 2015 to be a year of fixing all the other pressing problems that have been ignored.
Hero denied Navy Cross sought by Waterbury veterans
(The Day) The Navy has rejected the Navy Cross for a chaplain who died ministering to sailors in shark-filled waters after a ship was torpedoed by a Japanese submarine in World War II.
Descendants of Civil War soldiers gather for Fort Fisher battle anniversary
(Star News) While staffers prepared the Fort Fisher State Historic Site for celebrations Saturday of the 150th anniversary of the Second Battle of Fort Fisher, descendants of some of the men who fought that battle were off on a basketball court, comparing notes.
Colorado Springs Pearl Harbor survivor to attend State of the Union
(Colorado Springs Gazette) A 101-year-old Pearl Harbor survivor from Colorado Springs will accompany Sen. Michael Bennet to the State of the Union address in Washington Tuesday.
Utah college returns statue of Confederate soldiers to creator
(Associated Press) A bronze statue of two Confederate soldiers removed from a southern Utah college campus two years ago has been returned to its creator. Under a settlement announced this week, Dixie State University in St. George returned "The Rebels" statue to Leeds artist Jerry Anderson in exchange for Anderson's donation of other artwork for permanent display on campus.
Signs found of Sherman's weapons dump in downtown Columbia, S.C., river
(The State in Columbia, S.C.) On their way out of town, Union troops led by William T. Sherman dumped loads of captured Confederate ordnance - from cannonballs to ball cartridges, rammers, sabers, bayonet scabbards and knapsacks - into the Congaree River. Now, through the science of sonar and metal detection, historians and researchers have better evidence of precisely where the munitions were dumped.
Lubbock advocates, DA's office moving forward on push for veterans court
(Lubbock Avalanche-Journal) About 65 to 75 veterans are arrested in Lubbock County each month. Under the current law, on average, about 11 or 12 of them would qualify for the veterans court.
Vet entrepreneur to attend State of the Union
(Tribune News Service) Steve Buchanan says there's an easy way for Americans to show their patriotism: Hire a military veteran to clean your house, get your groceries, help you move.
Bill would create dog training program for veteran therapy
(The Hill) Rep. Steve Stivers (R-Ohio) has introduced legislation that would establish a dog training program for veterans with post-traumatic stress.
Devil's Brigade' vets to be honored in Washington
(Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier ) The U.S.-Canadian First Special Service Force -- the "Devil's Brigade" -- will receive the Congressional Gold Medal at Emancipation Hall in the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. U.S. House Speaker John Boehner has announced.
DEFENSE DEPARTMENT DoD: Military suicide rate declining
(Military Times) The suicide rate among active-duty U.S. military personnel dropped in 2013 to roughly the same rate as the civilian population adjusted for similar demographics, according to a new Pentagon report.
Hagel: Allow upright nonprofits on bases
(Military Times) Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel has directed installation commanders to make it easier for legitimate nonprofit groups to gain access to military installations to help troops and families.
Interview: Derek Chollet
(Defense News) It has been a busy two and a half years for Derek Chollet, as events have left the White House and Pentagon scrambling to deal with complex issues in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, driven in large part by groups of non-state actors. As the principal adviser on international issues to the US defense secretary and undersecretary, Chollet has been in the middle of it all.
Private groups seek to take over MIA search duty from Pentagon
(Honolulu Star-Advertiser ) As the Pentagon seeks to recover 27,000 missing American war dead, it may turn away from Hawaii - where much of that government effort has been centered - and to private organizations to outsource some research, recovery and identifications.
ARMY Soldier of the Year to attend State of the Union
(Army Times) An Army Ranger honored as the 2014 Military Times Soldier of the Year has been invited to attend the State of the Union address Tuesday in Washington, D.C.
Report: Military mishandled Fort Leonard Wood complaints
(Associated Press) A newspaper review of military sexual assault programs found that reporting lapses and other mistakes contributed to a climate in which a Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., drill sergeant preyed on female subordinates.
Soldiers selected to be warrant officer candidates are announced
(Army Times) The Army has named the enlisted soldiers and commissioned officers selected to attend Warrant Officer Candidate Course this year.
Army parachute rigger's jump marks end of 40-year career
(Fayetteville Observer) The Army's top parachute rigger has retired and plans to move back to Fayetteville, where he has spent most of his 40-year career.
(Imagine) Dragons Versus Apaches
(Intercepts by Defense News) If you ever wondered who would win in a battle versus an AH-64 Apache helicopter and a dragon, you have a few of choices.
Beretta: Army never communicated M9's perceived flaws
(Army Times) The Army's long-time pistol supplier, Beretta, is criticizing the service for failing to communicate perceived shortcomings of the M9 sooner - a move the gun maker says would have led to improvements to the weapon, saving the Army time and potentially millions of dollars.
Fitness model, West Point grad struck and killed by train in California
(Associated Press) George Plitt Jr., who appeared on more than 200 magazine covers, Bravo's reality television show "Work Out" and NBC's daytime soap opera "Days of Our Lives," was struck and killed by a train while filming on the tracks in Southern California. He served five years in the Army after graduating from West Point, Plitt's website said.
Your awards and badges can be revoked for misconduct
(Army Times) Army commanders, in a new message, have been reminded they have the power to revoke a soldier's awards and ribbons if their subordinates fail to maintain professional standards.
Louisiana National Guard drone training center at Fort Polk
(Associated Press) The Louisiana National Guard has opened a drone training center at Fort Polk.
4 female Army boxers begin path to 2016 Olympics
(Army Times) The road to the 2016 Summer Olympics for four Army boxers begins Monday in Spokane, Washington.
Imperial Brigade: 75 soldiers from Fort Bliss air-defense brigade HQ deploying to Qatar
(El Paso Times) The Army's largest air-defense brigade has been in one of its busiest phases since 2008, so it's only fitting that it is getting ready for another deployment.
NAVY Navy: China has not attacked U.S. aircraft carrier
(Navy Times) The aircraft carrier George Washington has not been attacked, and World War III has not begun, despite what tweets from United Press International say, the Navy has confirmed.
Navy bribery probe far from over despite key figure's plea
(Associated Press) The Malaysian defense contractor who pleaded guilty in one of the Navy's worst bribery cases was a main point of contact for its ships at ports across Asia for more than two decades.
Report: F/A-18E crash during maneuvers 'preventable'
(Navy Times) Investigators have determined a Jan. 15, 2014, crash during a dogfighting exercise, which destroyed an $85 million F/A-18E Super Hornet and seriously injured the pilot, was "preventable," according to a new report.
STRATCOM's Haney: China Not Transparent with Nuclear Weapons Policy
(USNI News) While Russia continues to steadily invest in strategic capabilities, the head of U.S. Strategic Command (STRATCOM) said there is some transparency in what they are spending money on because of treaty requirements. But with China the story is very different, Adm. Cecil Haney told the Atlantic Council in Washington, D.C.
Report: V-22 Osprey to take over carrier deliveries
(Navy Times) The days of catapult shots and arrested landings will soon be coming to an end for mail, parts and passengers headed to and from aircraft carriers, as the Navy plans to phase out its aging C-2A Greyhounds in favor of the V-22 Osprey for carrier on board delivery missions.
San Diego to lose 2 ships
(San Diego Union-Tribune) Transfers will take cruiser Chancellorsville and cutter Sherman to other ports.
Aircraft carrier Theodore Roosevelt records its 200,000th trap
(Navy Times) The aircraft carrier Theodore Roosevelt on Jan. 15 recorded its 200,000th trap.
Decommissioned USS Constellation arrives in Texas for scrap
(Associated Press) The decommissioned USS Constellation has reached a South Texas shipyard where it will be scrapped.
Surface Navy to start up 'Top Gun' style center
(Navy Times) The surface Navy is taking a page out of the airdale book and standing up a "Top Gun"-style school for black shoes.
Spike in aircraft crashes sparks Navy concerns
(Virginian-Pilot) A year after two Navy aircraft crashes in the same week off the coast of Virginia Beach - one killing three sailors - a look at the 2014 data shows a sharp spike in the number of the most serious flight accidents.
AIR FORCE A-10 Performing 11 Percent of Anti-ISIS Sorties
(Defense News) The A-10 Warthog jet has performed 11 percent of US Air Force sorties against the Islamic State militant group, also known as ISIS, according to service figures. The fact that the A-10 is being used so heavily against ISIS will undoubtedly be raised by those who support keeping the plane.
Air Force UFO files hit the web
(Air Force Times) The fabled Project Blue Book, the Air Force's files on UFO sightings and investigations, have tantalized and frustrated extraterrestrial enthusiasts for decades. But this week, nearly 130,000 pages of declassified UFO records - a trove that would make Agent Fox Mulder's mouth water - hit the web.
Airman asks judge to quit murder trial over Pentagon's 'Guantanamo-first' rule
(Miami Herald) The defense lawyer for an airman awaiting a capital court martial in Georgia asked the case judge, Air Force Col. Vance Spath, to step down from the death-penalty trial in a court filing that calls a Jan. 7 Pentagon order requiring military judges to put the war court first unprecedented.
Airmen help write plan to prevent sex assaults
(Air Force Times) Lucinda Perez knew it sounded naive. She had, after all, attended mandatory sexual assault prevention and response training at Cannon Air Force Base, New Mexico, where she works as a squadron secretary. She'd heard about cases involving airmen victimized by their colleagues.
Air Force wants apps for UAV sensor processing
(C4ISR & Networks) An SBIR proposal puts out the call for open-architecture applications.
Moody set to begin training Afghan pilots
(Air Force Times) The future of close air support in Afghanistan officially begins in February, as the first Afghan Air Force pilots train under U.S. Air Force pilots on their new aircraft in Georgia.
Airman who rushed church shooter awarded for heroism
(Standard-Examiner) When Gregory Bartel heard the completely unforeseen but certainly unmistakable sound of a gunshot echo through the nave of his church, he acted on an instinct that most would consider the exact inverse of human nature - he ran toward the sound.
Agent Orange report comes after years of VA denials
(Air Force Times) A new Institute of Medicine report that found veterans were exposed to Agent Orange while flying in C-123 aircraft after the Vietnam War came three years after another federal agency reached a similar conclusion.
Senator: The Dakotas OK'd for airspace expansion
(Associated Press) The Air Force on Friday approved a proposal to expand a bomber training area over the northern Plains, a move that helps keep a South Dakota base open but has raised concerns over loud, low-flying aircraft disrupting civilian flights and damaging rural economies.
Five questions: Air Force Sgts Assoc. CEO Robert Frank
(Air Force Times) Troops' pay and other benefits are on the chopping block. And Rob Frank, the new CEO of the Air Force Sergeants Association, wants to push back against any effort to cut compensation.
Forensics, photo evidence to come in AFN murder trial
(Stars & Stripes) The first week of the court-martial of an American Forces Network technician charged with killing a colleague saw testimony from several key witnesses, but the panel who will decide the Air Force staff sergeant's fate has yet to see forensic evidence.
SpaceX releases video of rocket crash-landing on ocean barge
(Associated Press) SpaceX has released dramatic footage of its booster rocket trying to land on a floating ocean barge after a launch - an unprecedented attempt that ended in a fiery explosion.
Air Force Drone Pilot Crisis Years in the Making
(National Defense) Military drone pilots at Creech Air Force Base, Nevada, celebrated a big milestone in May when they launched their 65th "combat air patrol" over a foreign war zone. That marker was a significant "mission accomplished" moment for an Air Force that had been under intense political pressure for four years to build up its drone forces.
MARINE CORPS IOC drops 2 female Marines as integration project ends
(Marine Corps Times) The window of opportunity for female volunteers to participate in the Marines' infantry officer course is rapidly closing.
New guided bullet could make Marine snipers deadlier
(Marine Corps Times) The agency responsible for developing the Defense Department's next generation, science fiction-like technology is working to bring guided bullets that can change direction mid-flight to the military's most elite marksmen.
Early-out options for enlisted Marines extend into 2016
(Marine Corps Times) While enlisted Marines nearing the end of their contract will have the opportunity to leave the Corps months before their term ends in 2016, those in dozens of fields will have a harder time doing so.
Marines considering change to social media policies
(Marine Corps Times) Marine officials have revealed little about their strategy to counter Marines' participation on social media pages with abusive or misogynistic content, but change may be on the way.
Marine Prowlers fight Islamic State over Iraq, Syria
(Marine Corps Times) They're old, gray and approaching retirement - but the Marine Corps' EA-6B Prowlers are still fighting terrorists.
INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM EU calls for anti-terror alliance with Arab countries
(Associated Press) The European Union on Monday called for an anti-terror alliance with Arab countries to boost cooperation and information-sharing in the wake of deadly attacks and arrests across Europe.
As Europe Moves Aggressively Against Terrorism, New Challenges Emerge
(New York Times) After a series of police raids and a deadly gun battle, arrests of terror suspects in Belgium, Germany and France late Thursday and Friday highlighted the scope and complexity of the challenge facing European intelligence agencies and security services in confronting the expanding threat from radical jihadists, many of them battle-hardened in Syria and Iraq.
European police move against alleged terror cells in 6 countries
(McClatchy) After years of watching and worrying about the prospect of terror attacks as hundreds of residents returned from Syria with fresh combat skills, security officials across Europe moved Friday to roll up jihadi cells they'd apparently been monitoring for months.
A year on, Islamic State group still rules Iraq's Fallujah
(Associated Press) Nearly every night for a year, mortar and sniper fire from Islamic State group militants has pinned down outgunned Iraqi troops on the edge of Fallujah.
Failure to stop Paris attack was 'intelligence failure,' former defense secretary says
(Washington Post) Former Defense Secretary Leon Panetta called Sunday for improvements to be made in how terrorists are tracked and information is shared between the United States and its allies, saying that the failure to stop recent attacks in and around Paris was an intelligence failure.
German Anti-Immigrant Rally Canceled as Leader Is Threatened
(New York Times) An anti-immigrant movement whose weekly rallies in Dresden have swelled to 25,000 participants called off on Sunday this week's scheduled rally, citing warnings of a terrorist threat to its leader.
Pakistanis rallying against Charlie Hebdo clash with police
(Associated Press) A rally by Pakistani students against a French satirical weekly's latest publication of a Prophet Muhammad cartoon turned violent on Friday, with police firing warning shots and water cannons to disperse the demonstration. A photographer with the Agence France-Presse was shot and wounded in the melee.
The Islamic State knows that American kids use toy guns, right?
(Washington Post) In the 1983 movie classic "A Christmas Story," 9-year-old Ralphie Parker wants only one thing: "an official Red Ryder, carbine action, two-hundred shot range model air rifle!" He's repeatedly told there is no way it'll happen because - gasp! - he'll shoot his eye out.
From Amateur to Ruthless Jihadist in France
(New York Times) In the year after the United States' invasion of Iraq, a 22-year-old pizza delivery man here couldn't take it anymore. Sickened by images of American soldiers humiliating Muslims at the Abu Ghraib prison, he made plans to go fight United States forces. He studied a virtual AK-47 on a website. Then he took lessons from a man, using a hand-drawn picture of a gun.
Islamic State group releases 200 captive Yazidis in Iraq
(Associated Press) The Islamic State group released about 200 Yazidis held for five months in Iraq, mostly elderly, infirm captives who likely slowed the extremists down, Kurdish military officials said Sunday.
Eight Israeli Arab Men Are Charged With Aiding Islamic State
(New York Times) The men, seven Arab citizens of Israel, most arrested in November and December and residents of Galilee, have been charged with membership and activity in an illegal organization, support for a terrorist organization and efforts to contact a foreign agent - namely the Islamic State, the extremist group that has captured large parts of Syria and Iraq. The group, which aims to reinstate a caliphate and is notorious for its beheadings, has been officially outlawed in Israel since September.
Diplomat says more than 800 Russians fighting alongside Islamic State
(Associated Press) A senior Russian diplomat says far more than 800 Russians are fighting alongside the Islamic State group.
Two French citizens arrested in Yemen may have ties to Paris attacks
(Los Angeles Times) Two French citizens arrested in Yemen are believed to have links to the Paris attack on the offices of the satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo, according to top Yemeni security officials.
Palestinians hurl eggs at Canadian foreign minister's convoy
(Associated Press) Dozens of Palestinian protesters hurled eggs and shoes at the convoy of the visiting Canadian foreign minister Sunday in a show of defiance toward Canada's perceived pro-Israel stance.
Patriot Act Idea Rises in France, and Is Ridiculed
(New York Times) The arrests came quickly after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. There was the Muslim man suspected of making anti-American statements. The Middle Eastern grocer, whose shop, a tipster said, had more clerks than it needed. Soon hundreds of men, mostly Muslims, were in American jails on immigration charges, suspected of being involved in the attacks. They were not.
Charlie Hebdo attacker buried in undisclosed location
(Al Jazeera America) Officials in a city east of Paris have said one of the brothers who carried out the attack at the office of satirical weekly newspaper Charlie Hebdo has been buried in the town of Reims, despite objections from local authorities.
AP Source: Greek police detain 4 alleged terrorists
(Associated Press) Greek police have detained four suspected terrorists, including one who could be the man wanted by Belgian authorities as an alleged ringleader of a jihadi cell, a police official told the Associated Press Saturday.
Belgium: Suspect Is Sought From Greece
(New York Times) Belgian prosecutors are seeking the extradition of a person arrested in Greece over a possible link with a foiled Islamist plot to attack the Belgian police, officials said Sunday. Greek and Belgian officials had said earlier that there was no connection between the arrest of more than half a dozen people on Saturday in Athens and events last week in Belgium.
Escape to Syria of Charlie Hebdo suspect shows Turkey's role as jihadi highway
(McClatchy) Once Hayat Boumeddiene, 26, got to Turkey, she followed the path of hundreds, perhaps thousands, of other European jihadi volunteers before her - into the self-declared Islamic State.
Afghans protest French weekly's prophet cover for third day
(Associated Press) Several hundred Afghans have burned the French flag as they chanted "Death to France" during a rally against the satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo's latest publication of a cartoon of the Prophet Muhammad, which devout Muslims deem an insult to Islam.
The terrorist recruiter in your living room
(The Cincinnati Enquirer) At first blush, the online magazine looks like any other slick electronic publication. The color graphics are eye-catching, the production values are good, and the layout could have been done by a design school grad.
AFGHANISTAN/PAKISTAN Marine 1-star: Signs of Taliban fractures in Afghanistan
(Marine Corps Times) The last commander of Marines in Afghanistan said he remains guardedly optimistic about the Afghan National Security Forces' ability to defend against insurgents in the south. He can also see a potential future, he said, in which the Taliban fracture and eschew violence in favor of political participation.
Afghan officials say 5 arrested for Pakistan school massacre
(Associated Press) Afghan security services have arrested five men in connection with the massacre at a Pakistan military school last month that killed 150 people, most of them children, officials said Saturday.
Gen. Murad rejects Gen. Dostum's plan to fight Taliban
(Khaama Press) The commander of Afghan National Army Ground Forces Gen. Murad Ali Murad has rejected the plan by first vice president Gen. Abdul Rashid Dostum to fight the Taliban insurgents.
New year brings new season of buzkashi to Afghanistan
(Stars & Stripes) The game was banned under the Taliban, but has made a comeback since the regime's fall in 2001.
MIDDLE EAST Hezbollah commanders killed in suspected Israeli airstrike
(Long War Journal) Hezbollah announced the death of six of its commanders and fighters, including the son of its slain former military chief Imad Mughniyah, in what is believed to be an Israeli airstrike in southern Syria.
UAE Offers Mirage Fighters to Iraq
(Defense News) The United Arab Emirates may be offloading up to 10 Mirage 2000-9s to the Iraqi Air Force in March, according to a UAE government source.
Egypt's ban on Jewish festival is a reflection of nation's attitudes
(Los Angeles Times) Not so long ago, this time of year would have brought the echo of songs and chants to the winding streets of this somnolent village in Egypt's Nile Delta - joyous celebrations honoring a 19th century Jewish sage.
Combat Leaks, Post-War Probes Stir Soul-Searching in Israel
(Defense News) TEL AVIV - Leaks from last summer's Gaza war dramatize the forces at play here when democracy and commitment to international law appear to clash with obligations to those fighting on the fog-laden front lines.
Clashes Between Yemeni Forces and Houthis Break Out in Capital
(New York Times) Heavy fighting broke out near the presidential palace and several other parts of Yemen's capital early Monday, in a sharp escalation of the conflict between government forces and militiamen known as the Houthis.
Netanyahu Courts Asian Markets Amid European Hostility
(Defense News) JERUSALEM - Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and a 100-strong delegation of Japanese government and business leaders arrived here Sunday in a visit hailed by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as part of his plan to cultivate markets in Asia as a hedge against increasing hostility in Western Europe.
EUROPE France Evaluates Bids for Anti-Mine Study
(Defense News) A team led by BAE Systems, DCNS and Thales is in the lead in a competition for a study to develop an unmanned underwater system to fight against sea mines, a key project for Anglo-French defense cooperation, three industry executives said.
Pro-Russia rebels claim to control Donetsk airport after battle
(Los Angeles Times) Pro-Russian rebels in eastern Ukraine claimed Monday that they have seized control of the Donetsk airport after days of intense fighting. Ukrainian officials have not confirmed a retreat.
Germany Seeks To Revive Euro Hawk Program
(Defense News) The German military intends to revive its controversial Euro Hawk unmanned aerial vehicle program after it was canceled in 2013 due to spiraling costs and airworthiness issues.
Ukraine leader vows to retake separatist-held east
(Associated Press) Ukraine's president vowed Sunday to reassert government control over eastern regions as the army unleashed a counter-offensive against Russian-backed separatist fighters vying for command over the airport in the city of Donetsk.
US, UK to stage joint cyber 'war games' to ramp up cyberdefenses
(Associated Press) The United States and the U.K. will stage cyber "war games" together, starting this year, to boost both countries' resistance to cyberattacks.
Audit Cites UK's Strides on Procurement Fixes
(Defense News) The UK Defence Ministry has mostly gotten budget overruns and procurement delays under control, the National Audit Office (NAO) said on Tuesday. But the ministry could be storing up significant problems by underestimating costs and potential savings.
Lithuania: Stay calm in case of foreign invasion
(Associated Press) Lithuania's defense ministry is advising its citizens how to react in case of war, reflecting jitters over neighboring Russia's intervention in Ukraine and a recent increase of reported airspace violations in the Baltic region.
Engineering Shortage a Threat to UK Aviation Safety
(Defense News) A shortage of engineers and other skilled personnel is an imminent threat to British military aviation safety, according to a high-ranking safety official.
India frowns on European resolution on Italian marines
(Associated Press) India criticized a European Parliament resolution Friday for calling the detention of two Italian marines for nearly three years without charge a violation of human rights.
Syrian opposition to snub Moscow peace talks invite
(Al Jazeera America) A Russian initiative to revive Syria's dormant peace process in Moscow later this month appears to be on the verge of collapse, as questions about Russia's role as arbiter threatens to extinguish even a dim flicker of hope for an end to Syria's bloody civil war.
Britain Appoints Security Exec as DSO Head
(Defense News) A security industry expert has been appointed as the new head of the British government's defense and security export support organization.
ASIA-PACIFIC Experts: Japan Budget Boost Still Won't Meet Goals
(Defense News) While Japan's newly unveiled defense budget represents the third small hike in a row after decades of low spending, experts say such spending remains insufficient to fund Tokyo's plans for "dynamic defense forces."
Korean city irked by slow handover of vacated US base
(Stars & Stripes) Angered by the U.S. military's continuing possession of a long-vacated base, a city near the North Korean border is taking steps to "show its will," from canceling friendship activities to forcing troops to go to municipal hall to register their cars.
Prominent N. Korean defector Shin Dong-hyuk admits parts of story are inaccurate
(Washington Post) Shin Dong-hyuk, a North Korean prison camp survivor who has become the symbol of human rights injustices suffered in that country, has changed key parts of the story of his ordeal.
US ex-officials conclude nuke talks with N. Korean diplomat
(Associated Press) A former senior U.S. official says an American delegation urged the resumption of official nuclear talks during two days of informal meetings with North Korea's senior nuclear envoy.
AFRICA Boko Haram strikes in Cameroon as foreign troops arrive from Chad
(CNN) Boko Haram insurgents have kidnapped 80 people in northern Cameroon, officials said, an attack that comes as troops from neighboring Chad entered Cameroon to join the fight against the terrorist group.
Libya Militias Agree to Halt in Fighting, With Caveats
(New York Times) The main factions fighting in Libya agreed to a provisional cease-fire on Sunday, apparently in response to pressure from the United Nations Security Council.
U.S.-built Ebola treatment centers in Liberia are nearly empty as outbreak fades
(Washington Post) Near the hillside shelter where dozens of men and women died of Ebola, a row of green U.S. military tents sit atop a vast expanse of imported gravel. The generators hum; chlorinated water churns in brand-new containers; surveillance cameras send a live feed to a large-screen television.
Morocco Crushed Dissent Using a U.S. Interrogation Site, Rights Advocates Say
(New York Times) After landing at the Rabat airport in 2010, Zakaria Moumni, a former kickboxing world champion, was distressed when he was taken aside by security agents, arrested, blindfolded and taken on a ride under a blanket in the back seat of a car to a secret facility. He says he was held there for four days, during which he was deprived of food and water.
Surrendered LRA commander held by international court
(Washington Post) A commander of a notorious Ugandan rebel group was turned over to the International Criminal Court on Saturday and is expected to be flown to the Netherlands to face international war crimes charges, following his surrender in a remote corner of the Central African Republic, authorities said.
THE AMERICAS Heroic homecoming for Cuban agents brings speculation about future in politics
(Washington Post) Since their return to Havana last month after 16 years in U.S. federal prison, the remaining three members of the spy ring known as "the Cuban Five" have been a frequent presence on state television. Wherever they go - visiting universities or attending outdoor concerts in their honor - they are celebrated as "Heroes of the Republic."
US delegation to Cuba could meet with Raul Castro
(Associated Press) A U.S. congressional delegation sits down with Cuban officials on Monday in meetings that may include President Raul Castro, making them the highest-level contacts between the two nations since the declaration of detente last month.
U.S. kept secret law enforcement database of Americans' calls overseas until 2013
(Washington Post) The U.S. government amassed a secret law enforcement database of Americans' outbound overseas telephone calls through administrative subpoenas issued to multiple phone companies for more than a decade.
Obama's Cuba Tourism Blunder
(Jose Cardenas in Foreign Policy) With the announcement this week of federal regulations governing President Barack Obama's alterations in U.S.-Cuba policy, it is clear the administration is continuing its bad habit of using executive action to circumvent laws it simply doesn't like.
COMMENTARY AND ANALYSIS A Radical Solution To Force Reduction Cuts
(Task & Purpose) Many reports detail Pentagon budget cuts that could have a dangerous impact on the overall readiness of our military at a time when we can least afford it. Whether it's the rise of ISIS, the continued al Qaeda terror threat, Putin's aggression toward Russia's neighbors, or China's global ambitions, the worldwide threats to America's national interests and security are only increasing. This reality is in opposition to current domestic priorities.
Opinion: How to end the 'disturbing' number of vet suicides
(Army Times) An estimated 22 veterans commit suicide a day, a shocking and disturbing number. Even more alarming, this statistic does not include active-duty members, 75 of which have committed suicide between January and March of this year according to the Pentagon's quarterly Suicide Event Report.
Column: Rep. Price Focusing on Spending Cuts
(Defense News) To say Rep. Tom Price, the newly installed House Budget Committee chairman, has an ambitious agenda is putting it mildly. To say that agenda includes providing more dollars for the Defense Department, as the pro-military wing of his party wants, appears a stretch.
The Hire More Heroes Act is misguided. There is no veterans' unemployment crisis.
(Peter Gudmundsson in Washington Post ) Last week, the House of Representatives unanimously approved the Hire More Heroes Act, which would exempt businesses from counting newly hired military veterans toward the 50-worker threshold at which they must provide health insurance or pay a fine under the Affordable Care Act. Although the bill calls veterans "heroes," it treats them as victims.
Analysis: Syria's alleged secret reactor site
(IHS Jane's 360) Syria has continued its nuclear weapons programme at an underground facility located in mountains close to the Lebanese border, according to "secret information" cited by Spiegel Online.
Is Egypt on the Verge of Another Uprising?
(Thanassis Cambanis in The Atlantic) Four years after the revolution he helped lead, Basem Kamel has noticeably scaled back his ambitions. The regime he and his friends thought they overthrew after storming Tahrir Square has returned. In the face of relentless pressure and violence from the authorities, most of the revolutionary movements have been sidelined or snuffed out.
Flexible and fast; the Raven Concealment Eidolon
(GearScout, Military Times) Talk about modular. The new Raven Concealment Eidolon holster system is now the protean king of inside-the-waistband holsters.
An unusual war cartoon
(Thomas Ricks in Foreign Policy) An unusual animated cartoon about a Marine in Iraq. As the person who sent it to me said, "Brace yourself."
The Foreign Policy Essay: Ceci n'est pas une guerre
(Jeremy Shapiro in Lawfare) The mind reels at the horror of the terrorist attacks in France. The body politic demands a reaction. And so a reaction there will be.
The US Military Is A Friend To The Islamic Community
(Task & Purpose) All too many people in the Middle East believe that America and its military are anti-Muslim. To make matters worse, terrorist organizations like ISIS feed on this storyline in their attempts to win over new recruits. This false narrative must be countered. The U.S. military is anything but anti-Muslim.
The Problem With Libya's Peace Talks
(Amanda Kadlec in Foreign Policy) The United Nations is making a last-ditch drive to head off Libya's civil war. Don't hold your breath.
Counterinsurgency: Planning Demobilization, Rehabilitation, and Reintegration First
(Phil Walter in Small Wars Journal) As a young second lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps, I was taught helicopter operations at the Basic Officer Course and the Infantry Officer Course. Fifteen years later, I revisited the five stages of planning for helicopter operations: Ground Tactical Plan, Landing Plan, Air Movement Plan, Loading Plan, and Staging Plan.
Distributed Lethality: The Navy's Fix For Anti-Access?
(James Holmes in War On The Rocks) Disperse, disperse, and disperse again. Disperse firepower among surface warships, making every vessel a combatant. Disperse the fleet into compact surface action groups. Disperse surface action groups across embattled theaters. That's how you cope with contested waters and skies, the offshore zone where anti-access forces roam.
Mitt Romney: Still Wrong on Russia
(Sam Kleiner in Foreign Policy) In 2012, Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney possessed no real foreign-policy experience. But that didn't stop him from attacking President Barack Obama as weak on national security. With Osama bin Laden dead and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan poised to wind down, Romney looked elsewhere for a place where Obama was failing: Russia.
The Worst Gear Idea Of 2015 Is Already Here
(Task & Purpose) The tactical gear industry has grown immensely in the past decade, bringing with it a diverse market of equipment and new innovations and improvements. But amid all the great new products are some real terrible ideas. And 2015 has already set the bar high for bad gear with Perceived Carry Devices, which I came across over at Soldier Systems.
Don't Believe The Defense Acquisition Reform Hype
(Alex Ward in War On The Rocks) The likely nomination of Ashton Carter as Secretary of Defense has increased expectations of substantial reform in the Pentagon's acquisition system. Conventional wisdom holds that the quintet of Carter, Robert Work, Frank Kendall, John McCain, and Mac Thornberry will work together to bring about meaningful - almost revolutionary - change in the way the Department of Defense obtains its weaponry.
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