| January 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. Chuck Hagel eyes the exits on his own terms
(Politico) Chuck Hagel is going out like he came in: on his own. When the White House invited him to the ceremony where President Barack Obama nominated his successor, he didn't go. As members of Congress schedule their hearings about the Pentagon's new budget, they're getting his successor, not him.
2. 2 Marines identified in deadly California helo crash
(Associated Press) Two Marine Corps officers killed when their helicopter crashed during a training exercise in the Southern California desert were remembered Sunday as talented pilots.
3. Army looking to store tanks, equipment in Eastern Europe
(Stars & Stripes) U.S. Army Europe will soon dispatch a survey team to eastern Europe to scout locations for tanks and other military hardware as part of a broader effort to bolster the U.S. military presence in a region rattled by Russia's intervention in Ukraine.
4. Obama: Counterterrorism operations in Yemen not affected
(Associated Press) President Obama defended his counterterrorism strategy in tumultuous Yemen Sunday, as influential lawmakers from both parties suggested the U.S. may need to turn to special operations forces to root out terrorists from the Middle Eastern nation and elsewhere in the region.
5. DoD Business Panel Proposes $125B in Savings
(Defense News) The Pentagon's Defense Business Board (DBB) issued a series of recommendations on Jan. 22 calling on the Defense Department to slash $125 billion in spending over the next five years by reducing services from contractors, implementing early retirements, reworking contracts and reducing administrative costs.
DEFENSE NEWS WITH VAGO MURADIAN Preserving Naval History
(Defense News) James Kuhn, deputy director of the Naval History and Heritage Command, discusses the importance of naval history.
Implications of the Sony Hack
(Defense News) Jason Healey, Atlantic Council Cyber Statecraft Initiative, on the recent cyber attack on Sony.
Warrior Diplomat: A Green Beret's Battles
(Defense News) Michael Waltz discusses his book "Warrior Diplomat."
Vago's Notebook: Preserving Historic Ships
(Defense News) It's time for a long-term national plan to preserve historic Navy ships.
CONGRESS Lawmakers push to keep detainees in Gitmo after Yemen's collapse
(The Hill) The collapse of Yemen's Western-backed government has raised new concerns in Congress about President's Obama plan to close the Guantanamo Bay detention facility.
White House, Congress Stall on ISIS Sanction
(Defense News) The debate around a formal authorization of America's fight against the Islamic State is starting to resemble a game of political chicken. And though the president called for just that during his State of the Union address, a key lawmaker called it the "strangest" part of the speech.
Senators: More US special ops troops may be needed in Yemen
(Associated Press) Two influential senators are calling on President Barack Obama to send more U.S. ground troops to hotspots around the Middle East.
Menendez could delay Iran sanctions measure until March
(The Hill) Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) is considering delaying the introduction of his Iran sanctions bill until March, which would give him more time to gather support from wavering Democrats, according to a recent interview.
Cruz, Paul, Rubio spar on Cuba policy at desert forum
(Desert Sun) Three likely contenders for the Republican presidential nomination shared a stage in Rancho Mirage, Calif. on Sunday night, where they outlined similar visions for helping the middle class but differed sharply on foreign policy, including Cuba.
INDUSTRY SpaceX Enters Satellite Business
(Defense News) SpaceX, the upstart company led by Elon Musk, has already upended the space launch market. Now the company has its eyes turned toward the creation of a massive new satellite constellation, one that would have major repercussions for the commercial and military communications market.
MIL takes Navy satellite contract
(C4ISR & Networks) MIL Corporation has been awarded a $57.3 million satellite communications contract.
Northrop Focused on Future Production
(Defense News) As Northrop Grumman begins 2015, its aerospace division is preparing for a series of major airframe competitions while keeping one eye on requirements for a future fighter program.
Taiwan commissions 20,000-tonne combat support ship
(IHS Jane's 360) The Republic of China Navy (RoCN) took delivery of a newly completed fast combat support ship.
DCNS Loss To Trim Thales Profits ���100M
(Defense News) Defense electronics company Thales said Friday it would take a ���100 million (US $112 million) hit on 2014 operating profits due to an expected net loss of ���300 million at naval shipbuilder DCNS.
U.K. Contracts Boeing For Chinook Digital Flight Control Upgrade
(Aviation Week) The U.K. defense ministry has signed a £150 million ($224 million) deal to further upgrade the Royal Air Force's (RAF) fleet of Chinook helicopters, this time with a Digital Automatic Flight Control System (DAFCS).
SpaceX, US Air Force Settle Lawsuit
(Defense News) SpaceX has reached an agreement with the US Air Force and will drop its lawsuit against the service, the company and Pentagon announced in a joint statement Friday evening.
Communications Networks a Top Priority for U.S. Military in Asia-Pacific
(National Defense) Thousands of U.S. soldiers train alongside troops from Southeast Asian countries as part of a larger strategy to strengthen alliances in the region and secure U.S. access to key seaports, airfields and bases during a crisis.
NATO Reaper Users Cooperate To Cut Costs
(Defense News) Air force officers from Britain, France, Italy and the US will meet in Paris this week in what could lead to joint MQ-9 Reaper training and other burden-sharing issues.
F-35's Gen-3 Helmet Display In Final Test Stages
(Aviation Week) Eliminating the head-up display and relying instead on a helmet-mounted display (HMD) was only one of the bolder design decisions for the Lockheed Martin F-35.
JF-17 Presses On After News of Egypt's Plans
(Defense News) News that Egypt may acquire the UAE's Mirage fighters is likely to scupper Pakistan's hopes of selling the JF-17, especially since Cairo is also reportedly negotiating for 20 Rafale fighters, and shown interest in the MiG-35. However, brisk development of the JF-17 continues alongside sales efforts.
Czech Republic seeks MRAPs
(IHS Jane's 360) The Czech Ministry of Defence (MoD) has launched a requirement for up to 62 mine resistant, ambush protected (MRAP) vehicles for the Army of the Czech Republic (ACR).
Canada Kicks Off Arctic Patrol Ship Program
(Defense News) Canada is finally moving ahead on building a fleet of Arctic patrol ships to provide a naval presence in the resource-rich north.
Turkish Jammer Program Indicates 'Urgent' Need
(Defense News) Although a local Turkish company has engaged in talks with foreign aircraft manufacturers to build a stand-off jammer (SOJ) system, the procurement office has launched a parallel program to procure similar systems from a foreign supplier.
VETERANS VA health summit draws lawmakers' attention
(Military Times) When officials from Concerned Veterans for America hold their summit on veterans health care next month, lawmakers will be listening.
Proposed center honors actions by nisei
(Honolulu Star-Advertiser) To preserve the firsthand accounts and memories of the villagers of Bruyeres liberated by Japanese-American soldiers more than 70 years ago, French tourism officials have taken the first step in what they hope will be a $12 million visitor center.
New charity aids military families' homes
(San Diego Union-Tribune) On Monday afternoon, Barry and Cheryl Barton will come home to a house that's been completely transformed over the past month by a new San Marcos charity for needy military families.
Corvias education grants available for military spouses
(Fayetteville Observer) The Corvias Foundation is offering education grants for military spouses looking to pay for additional schooling.
Macy's to save forgotten WWII plaque for Hudson's vets
(Detroit Free Press ) It was September 1947 when the J. L. Hudson Co. erected a large silver-toned plaque to honor its employees - its "Hudsonians" - who served their country in the military during World War II.
Army event honors fallen Hawaii soldier
(Honolulu Star-Advertiser) Ten years after a sniper's bullet killed his son in Iraq, Allen Hoe says the loss doesn't get easier.
70 years after WWII: Elegy of Japanese internment in Siberian labor camps
(The Yomiuri Shimbun (Tokyo)) This year marks the passage of 70 years since about 600,000 Japanese were taken to Siberia by the Soviet Union after the end of World War II and detained in labor camps.
Bill to prevent vets' suicides raises questions about funding
(McClatchy) Supporters of the legislation - among them Republican Sens. Jerry Moran of Kansas and Roy Blunt of Missouri - say extra funds aren't necessary to consolidate and improve the Department of Veterans Affairs' suicide prevention programs.
DEFENSE DEPARTMENT US Nukes Cost $348B Over Next Decade
(Defense News) The US government will spend an estimated $348 billion over the next decade to maintain, upgrade and operate its nuclear arsenal, according to a new estimate by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO).
Hagel worries about morale in today's force
(Military Times) Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said he is worried about low morale in today's military and believes it may take years to fully tackle the problems affecting the overall mindset and outlook of the force.
US-Saudi Military Relations Expected To Persist Under King Salman
(DefenseOne) King Abdullah's death and in Saudi Arabia should not alter the strong defense ties between the United States and the kingdom, a key American ally in a volatile region.
New US Concept Melds Air, Sea and Land
(Defense News) New US Concept Melds Air, Sea and Land
Commissary hours would be cut under draft budget proposal
(Military Times) Many commissaries would have to cut their hours and days of operation - as much as two days a week, in some cases - under a draft Defense Department budget document that details proposed reductions in the commissary budget for fiscal 2016.
Frustration ahead? Subcontractor parts ways with military car shipper
(Belleville News Democrat) For the second time in a month, a key subcontractor for the company that ships military members' cars overseas has parted ways with the firm because of a payment dispute.
The US Military Is Building Gangs of Autonomous Flying War Bots
(DefenseOne) For the Pentagon, drones are cheaper to buy and to operate than regular fighter jets. An armed MQ-9 Reaper drone runs about $14 million, compared to $180 million or more for an F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.
Pentagon agency wants drones to hunt in packs, like wolves
(Washington Post) The U.S. military is preparing for a series of meetings that could shake up how the Pentagon flies its fleet of drone aircraft and move them toward hunting together in packs.
ARMY Report: Hood shooter showed no early warning signs
(Army Times) An Army investigation into the April shooting at Fort Hood, Texas, did not find anything in the assailant's background, medical or military profiles that might have provided an early warning for potential violence, according to findings released Friday, however the soldier was undergoing treatment for several medical conditions.
Policy will force-out enlisteds slated to deploy
(Army Times) Involuntary separations of up to 12 months ahead of a soldier's ETS have been authorized for certain Regular Army enlisted soldiers who are assigned to units scheduled for deployment or deactivation, and who decline to re-enlist or extend as the Army draws down.
Fort Stewart MP charged with murder
(Army Times) A Fort Stewart, Georgia, soldier turned himself into authorities to face murder charges Monday, making him the third person charged in the murder of a 21-year-old found on Dec. 23.
More female drill sergeants help change cadence at Fort Leonard Wood
(St. Louis Post-Dispatch) The platoon of 70 greenhorn soldiers rested on the barracks tile floor during a recent evening of Army basic combat training, while their drill sergeant, Megan Slone, gave a final lesson for the day about how to sight a rifle.
Hood shooter to police: "You better kill me now."
(Army Times) As the military police soldier approached him, Spc. Ivan Lopez-Lopez took a few steps forward.
E-9s can compete for new fellowship, earn master's
(Army Times) The Army is launching a new fellowship program that allows qualified sergeants major to compete for scholarships to earn a master's degree through Pennsylvania State University.
On-the-spot bonus cap doubles; payouts up to $500
(Army Times) Army Secretary John McHugh has approved a policy change that doubles the top-tier payout for "on-the-spot cash awards" to $500.
I Corps commander on Pacific strategy: 'Army is not trying to be Marine Corps'
(Stars & Stripes) The Pacific rebalance requires all the military services and their capabilities, and the Army has increased its presence in the Pacific "exponentially" in the past year.
New radios to boost data capacity for dismounted troops
(Army Times) The Army plans to give more dismounted leaders better mapping, GPS and communications tools at their disposal in battle.
Rules updated for officer selection, assignments
(Army Times) The professional development guide for officers and warrant officers of the active and reserve components, DA Pamphlet 600-3, has been updated to reflect several recent changes to the Officer Personnel Management System, including the actions listed below.
Fort Lee course teaches service members to handle explosives
(The (Petersburg, Va.) Progress-Index ) Ever wondered how explosive devices are handled and destroyed? The students in Fort Lee's Explosive Ordnance Disposal course, part of the post's Ordnance School, learn how to safely identify and dispose of explosive devices in a highly challenging course.
NAVY New 'air boss' takes over Navy aviation
(Navy Times) Newly minted Vice Adm. Mike Shoemaker assumed command Thursday as the head of Naval Air Forces board the aircraft carrier John C. Stennis, whose strike group he once commanded.
Navy wants to increase use of sonar-emitting buoys off Pacific Coast
(Associated Press) The Navy is seeking permits to expand sonar and other training exercises off the Pacific Coast, a proposal raising concerns from animal advocates who say that more sonar-emitting buoys would harm whales and other creatures that live in the water.
EOD command master chief fired for fraternization
(Navy Times) The command master chief of Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit 12 was fired Jan. 23 for fraternization that occurred at a previous duty station.
Navy struggles with 4G LTE at sea
(C4ISR & Networks) Almost a year after its first successful pilot of a ship-to-ship high-bandwidth, high-speed telecommunications network, the Navy continues to explore a range of challenges in taking 4G LTE (Long Term Evolution) afloat.
Navy reveals new recruiting ad
(Navy Times) The Navy debuted its latest recruiting commercial to TV and web audiences Friday night, but it's likely to take viewers a few moments to figure out what's going on in the arresting spot.
Undersea Technologies Are Threat, Opportunity
(Defense News) A new generation of technologies is emerging with the potential to change the nature of undersea warfare, warns one naval analyst, and the US Navy needs to not just develop and employ the new tools, but also needs to change its operational concepts.
AIR FORCE 62 airmen selected for supplemental promotion
(Air Force Times) The Air Force has selected 62 airmen for supplemental promotion, the Air Force Personnel Center said Jan. 21.
Red Flag training exercise to begin at Nellis Monday
(Air Force Times) Aircraft from 21 Air Force and Marine Corps squadrons, as well as aircraft from the United Kingdom and Australia, will take part in three weeks of combat training exercises beginning Monday at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada.
Air Force cadets gobble up vegetables as academy moves to healthier meals
(Colorado Springs Gazette) The restaurant describes its main course portions in ounces. All 40,000 of them. That's a ton and a quarter of a light lunch, not counting the side dishes and salad.
43rd Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron commander relieved of command
(Air Force Times) The commander of the 43rd Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron was relieved of duty Thursday based on investigators' findings regarding a July training accident that left one squadron member dead.
Former staff sergeant gets Purple Heart after 45 years
(Air Force Times) Former Staff Sgt. John C. Campbell will finally receive his Purple Heart on Sunday, 45 years after he was wounded in Laos.
MARINE CORPS Marines to kick off month-long exercise with Japan
(Marine Corps Times) On Monday, Marines will begin a month-long exercise in Southern California with Japan's Ground Self-Defense Force. The event is designed to test Japan's command and control capabilities while improving one of the strongest military relationships in the Pacific.
CMC's planning guidance emphasizes regional missions
(Marine Corps Times) Marine Corps Commandant Gen. Joseph Dunford released his long-awaited planning guidance Friday, emphasizing development of the Marines' noncommissioned officer ranks, and new missions for each of the three Marine expeditionary forces that operate worldwide.
Marine Prowler officers will soon operate drones
(Marine Corps Times) As the EA-6B Prowler flies into retirement and the Corps takes a new approach to electronic warfare, Marines who spent their careers in the radar-jamming aircraft will be transferred to other military occupation specialties.
Sexual assaults dominate caseloads aboard Lejeune
(Jacksonville Daily News���) On any given weekday morning, the size of Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune and Marine Corps Air Station New River combined could swell to about 100,000 people, making it roughly the size of a city, according to base officials.
Next Marine rotation Down Under to include more helos
(Marine Corps Times) The next rotation of Marines to deploy to Australia's Northern Territory will include the largest aviation combat element to date, equipped with attack and utility helicopters.
Corps buys hyper-realistic virtual marksmanship sims
(Marine Corps Times) The Corps' next-generation simulated marksmanship trainers are now on their way to the fleet, and they'll thrust Marines into realistic training scenarios that mimic the complexities of the battlefield.
AFGHANISTAN/PAKISTAN Afghan Air Force to receive additional MD warrior helicopters
(Khaama Press) The Afghan Air Force is expecting to receive additional MD 530F Cayuse Warrior helicopters from United States by the end of this year.
Pakistani airstrikes kill 35 militants in tribal region
(Associated Press) Pakistani warplanes pounded militant sanctuaries near the northwestern Afghan border Sunday, killing 35 militants, the army said; Elsewhere in Pakistan, thousands of protesters from a conservative religious movement rallied Sunday in the cities of Lahore and Karachi against the French magazine Charlie Hebdo.
MIDDLE EAST White House Gaffe Outs American Held by the Islamic State
(Foreign Policy) U.S. officials routinely ask media outlets to keep the identity of the 26-year old American woman held hostage by Islamic State a secret. White House Chief of Staff Denis McDonough mistakenly ignored the administration's own policy Sunday morning when he mentioned her first name on national television.
AQAP releases infographics detailing attacks
(Long War Journal) A Twitter account affiliated with al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) has released two infographics detailing the terror group's activity for the first quarter of 1436, the current year according to the Islamic or Hijri calendar. Being that the current Islamic year began on October 25, 2014, these infographics purportedly represent terrorist attacks carried out by AQAP in the three months since.
World leaders in Saudi Arabia to pay tribute to late king
(BBC) World leaders have gathered in Saudi Arabia to pay their respects following the death of King Abdullah on Friday.
At Least 18 Die in Egyptian Violence
(New York Times) At least 18 people were killed in political violence on Sunday, the fourth anniversary of the Arab Spring uprising, a reminder of the ruthless crackdown the military-backed government has used to silence any echoes of that revolt.
In the Mideast, Chaos and Questions
(Defense News) The leadership crisis in Yemen and the death of Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz has raised alarms all over Middle Eastern capitals concerning the Gulf Cooperation Council's (GCC's) security setting.
Saudis Expand Regional Power as Others Falter
(New York Times) The rulers of Saudi Arabia trembled when the Arab Spring revolts broke out four years ago. But far from undermining the Saudi dynasty, the ensuing chaos across the region appears instead to have lifted the monarchy to unrivaled power and influence.
RUSSIA-UKRAINE Ukraine conflict: Poroshenko vows to 'calm' Mariupol fighting
(BBC) Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has vowed to "calm" fighting with pro-Russia rebels in east Ukraine after 30 people were killed there on Saturday. "This attack, unfortunately, was made by terrorists supported by Russia" he said.
Ukraine Holds Day Of Mourning After Mariupol Attack
(Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty) Ukraine is holding a day of national mourning on January 25, following a series of rocket attacks in the southeastern city of Mariupol that killed 30 people and injured more than 90 others.
Russian ruble tumbles after violent weekend in east Ukraine
(Associated Press) The Russian currency has fallen by more than 3 percent after escalated fighting in eastern Ukraine over the weekend.
Duma Speaker Says Russian Court Must Decide Ukrainian Pilot's Guilt
(Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty) Sergei Naryshkin, the speaker of the State Duma, Russia's lower house of parliament, told reporters in Strasbourg that the decision whether to free detained Ukrainian pilot Nadiya Savchenko would be made by a Russian court.
The Chilly Fallout Between Putin and His Oligarch Pals
(Bloomberg) Vladimir Putin isn't just angering leaders from Berlin to Washington. He's irking some of his richest friends, too, by snubbing their pleas to end the conflict in Ukraine and ostracizing all but a handful of hardliners.
UN Security Council faces Ukraine, Yemen emergency meetings
(Associated Press) Diplomats say the U.N. Security Council will hold emergency meetings Monday on the crises in Yemen and Ukraine.
Obama 'deeply concerned' about latest violence in Ukraine
(Associated Press) President Obama says his administration is "deeply concerned" about the latest deadly flare-up in eastern Ukraine, but he says he won't change how he's handling the situation.
EUROPE Greece Chooses Anti-Austerity Party in Major Shift
(New York Times) Greece rejected the harsh economics of austerity on Sunday and sent a warning to the rest of Europe as the left-wing Syriza party won a decisive victory in national elections, positioning its tough-talking leader, Alexis Tsipras, to become the next prime minister.
Helicopters Power French Security Operations
(Defense News) The key role of military helicopters in underpinning French national security was highlighted in the police assault on the two brothers who killed the journalists at the Charlie Hebdo weekly, with four helicopters assigned to the deadly task.
Paris attacks: Amedy Coulibaly buried near Paris
(BBC) An Islamist militant shot dead by French special forces two weeks ago after he attacked a Jewish supermarket has been buried near Paris.
France Scales Back Military Job Cuts by 7,500
(Defense News) France will scale back by 7,500 a planned cut of 34,000 military personnel as the government announced plans to recruit security and surveillance staff to counter terrorist attacks, the president and prime minister said.
Suspected jihadists held in Spanish territory
(BBC) Four suspected members of an Islamist militant network have been arrested in the Spanish territory of Ceuta, which borders Morocco.
Will Russia's Sub-Building Boom Matter?
(Defense News) The Russian Navy's submarine force is on a roll.
New far-right anti-immigrant sentiment hits German streets
(Washington Post) Ahmed, a 36-year-old Moroccan, hoped to find a better life in Europe's economic powerhouse, Germany. But these days in Dresden, he said, he is afraid to walk the streets.
ASIA-PACIFIC Two Japanese Hostages, as Different as Can Be, Linked by Fate in Syria
(New York Times) The fates of the the two Japanese hostages held by Islamic State militants became even more tightly bound over the weekend, when an image was released showing one holding what appeared to be a photograph of the other's decapitated body, and the Islamic State announced on its Al Bayan radio station that it had killed one of the men. An Islamic State-affiliated radio station confirmed late Sunday that one of the hostages had been murdered.
Obama makes history at India's Republic Day festivities
(USA Today) President Obama became the first American leader to be honored as chief guest at India's annual Republic Day festivities Monday, taking in a grand display of military parades and elaborately-dressed camels under an overcast sky.
US sends its most senior visitor to Thailand since coup
(Associated Press) The Obama administration is sending its highest-level diplomatic visitor to Thailand since last year's military coup, although a return to democracy there remains a distant prospect.
Chinese Spies Expand Operations in Taiwan
(Defense News) As relations continue to expand between China and Taiwan since the election of Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou in 2008, so does espionage.
Retrieval of more than 30 slain Filipinos commandos underway
(Associated Press) Philippine police have recovered at least 21 bodies of the dozens commandos who were mowed down by Muslim rebel gunfire in a far-flung southern village where they moved in over the weekend to hunt down one of southeast Asia's most-wanted terrorists, officials said Monday.
Obama and Modi announce nuclear 'breakthrough' during India visit
(Al Jazeera America) U.S. President Barack Obama and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled a deal on Sunday aimed at unlocking billions of dollars in nuclear trade, a step that both sides hope will help establish an enduring strategic partnership.
Malaysia Airlines site hacked by 'Cyber Caliphate'
(USA Today) Malaysia Airlines officials were trying to restore the carrier's website Monday after it was hacked by a group calling itself "Lizard Squad" and "Cyber Caliphate."
AFRICA Boko Haram launches offensive on Nigeria's Maiduguri
(Al Jazeera America) As Secretary of State John Kerry arrives in Nigeria for talks, Boko Haram also attacks northern town of Monguno.
Reserve mobilization canceled for Ebola mission
(Military Times) Military officials said Friday that the mission to help contain the Ebola virus in West Africa will not require the mobilization of several hundred reservists who had been on tap to deploy.
Libyan extremist group Ansar al-Shariah says leader has been killed
(Associated Press) Benghazi-based extremist Islamic militant group Ansar al-Shariah said Saturday its leader Mohammed al-Zahawi has been killed.
First batch of Ebola vaccine set to arrive in Liberia
(Al Jazeera America) New drug aimed at preventing spread of virus shipped to West Africa amid hopes that disease could be waning.
Boko Haram releases photos showing children in training
(Long War Journal) A media organization linked to Boko Haram, al Urwa al Wuthaqa, has released two images purporting to show children training somewhere in northeastern Nigeria.
THE AMERICAS High-value Guantanamo detainees call home for the first time in nearly a decade
(Washington Post) The prison's most dangerous are allowed to speak with their families in heavily monitored calls.
Obama's renewed push to close Guantanamo prison is seen as promising
(Los Angeles Times) President Obama has recharged his campaign for closing the Guantanamo Bay detention center with a strategy legal experts say holds out new hope of achieving that signature objective of his presidency.
COMMENTARY AND ANALYSIS Sarah Palin probably doesn't want this photo to go viral
(DeadState) A reader of the news site Mediaite shared an interesting photo of Sarah Palin taken during her recent trip to Las Vegas. In the photo, Palin and Medal of Honor recipient Dakota Meyer hold up a sign that reads, "Fuc_ You Michael Moore," with the two Os in Moore's name replaced with crosshairs.
President Obama's 'successful' counterterrorism strategy in Yemen in limbo
(Thomas Joscelyn & Bill Roggio in Long War Journal) When announcing the US strategy to "degrade and ultimately destroy" the Islamic State in both Iraq and Syria, President Barack Obama said he would model it after America's counterterrorism strategy in Somalia and Yemen, "one that we have successfully pursued...for years."
Column: Flexing Their Muscles
(Defense News) President Barack Obama, with his forceful State of the Union address, won the week. At least according to Official Washington's pundit class.
Pentagon tweaks the 15-ton Massive Ordnance Penetrator amid Iran talks
(James Drew in War is Boring) If diplomatic efforts to halt Iran's nuclear program fail, the country's underground nuclear facilities could expect a surprise package delivery from Uncle Sam and his stealthy B-2 bomber.
DOD cutbacks in Europe boost case for domestic BRAC
(Steven Beardsley in Stars & Stripes) One motive behind the Pentagon's plan to close more European installations is to strengthen the case for similar closures in the U.S., which officials say could save billions of dollars over time.
News Analysis: How Best To Help Ukraine Is The $50 Billion Question
(Robert Coalson in Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty) The one thing it seems that everyone can agree on is that Ukraine is in a lot of trouble. Economic output is expected to decline by 10 percent in 2015, public debt will rise to 100 percent of GDP, and the currency has been devalued by over 60 percent.
American Snipers are No Cowards
(Matt Victoriano in Cicero Magazine) As a U.S. Marine and former Scout/Sniper, I have trained, operated, and learned in turn from America's best warriors. These include Navy SEAL's, U.S. Marines Force Reconnaissance, U.S. Army Rangers, Delta, Green Berets, among others. The recent portrait of Chris Kyle in Clint Eastwood's American Sniper, along with the controversy surrounding it, has been fueled by comments on the morality or even intestinal fortitude of military professionals such as me.
Stay Scary, America
(Whitney Kassel in Foreign Policy) When it comes to the U.S. response to extremists abroad, it is far better for America to be feared, and to be loved.
This Is America's Best Shot To Fix the Relationship With Saudi Arabia and Fight Terrorism
(Sarah Chayes in DefenseOne) President Obama flies to Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, cutting short a visit to key democratic ally India, which recently organized the largest free and fair election in human history.
Watch A Ridiculous Action Figure Hilariously Explain Marine Corps Culture
(Task & Purpose) When someone asks you why you joined the military - do you ever just want to slap them in the face? If the answer is no, you're reading the wrong article. This article lives in a ridiculously motivated fantasy world where the right answer sounds like this.
Haqqani Network and Jamaat-ud-Dawa: Banned or not?
(Bill Roggio in Long War Journal) It is very rare that I read an editorial on a subject that I am deeply vested in and agree with every point made. Dawn, the Pakistani newspaper, hit the nail square on the head with an editorial, titled "Banned or not?".
What the Ayatollah's Letter to Western Millennials Was All About
(Esfandyar Batmanghelidj in Quartz) A few days ago, the Supreme Leader of Iran, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, announced on Twitter that he had written-in English-a letter addressed "To the youth in Europe and North America."
Greece's Hope and Change Moment
(Yiannis Baboulias in Foreign Policy) The charismatic, far-left Alexis Tsipras is poised to take back parliament and stick it to the Germans. And Greeks are loving it.
Vets Who Want To Fight ISIS Can Learn Something From Old Fights In The African Bush
(Task & Purpose) Many foreign volunteers see combating ISIS as simply an extension of the missions they were tasked with in Iraq and Afghanistan. But this isn't the first time American veterans left their country to fight outside the purview of the military. Decades ago, after the end of the Vietnam War, a few American servicemen found themselves on the battlefields of a tiny former African nation: Rhodesia.
The Dilemma of an African Soldier
(Jeffrey Meiser in War On The Rocks) Two days before the world entered 2015, a handful of former officers from the Gambian Armed Forces attacked the State House in Banjul, The Gambia. Published accounts call Lamin S. Sanneh, a former Gambian military officer, the ringleader of the aborted coup. Accounts vary, but 3-4 of the dissidents were killed, including Sanneh. He was my friend, and as I write these words, I still can't believe that he is dead.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT Reports: ISIL video claims Japanese hostage beheaded
(USA Today) The Islamic State reportedly released a new video Saturday claiming one of the two Japanese captives had been beheaded and issuing new demands for the other hostage's release.
Rockets kill 21 in Ukraine city as rebel offensive begins
(Associated Press) Indiscriminate rocket fire slammed into a market, schools and homes Saturday in the eastern Ukrainian city of Mariupol, killing at least 21 people, authorities said
Jetliners examined over security concerns
(USA Today) The incidents came a day after bomb threats targeted two jets on Saturday bound for Atlanta, prompting F-16 fighter jets to escort the planes.
Kerry meets with Iran's foreign minister on nuclear talks
(McClatchy) Secretary of State John Kerry met with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif late Friday on the sidelines of the annual World Economic Forum to try to advance efforts to secure a final nuclear deal ahead of a new July 1 deadline.
Army: Fort Hood lacked system to ID threat of 2014 rampage
(Associated Press) The Army's tools for identifying troubled soldiers would not have flagged the man who shot to death three people and wounded 16 others before killing himself at Fort Hood last year, despite previous signs of instability, a U.S. Army report said Friday.
The latest for the F-35: A Pro Bowl flyover
(Intercepts, Defense News) The game planned for the first-ever F-35 joint strike fighter flyover of a sporting event.
Mosul airstrikes are start of new effort against Islamic State
(Associated Press) An uptick in airstrikes in northern Iraq this past week marks the beginning of a broader effort to disrupt Islamic State supply lines ahead of an expected operation later this year to take back the city from militants, U.S. military officials said Friday.
Canadian pleads not guilty in terror case that killed 5 US soldiers
(Associated Press) A Canadian man pleaded not guilty Saturday to U.S. charges that he sent money and provided other long-distance support to Tunisian jihadists believed responsible for a 2009 suicide attack in Iraq that killed five American soldiers.
Army boxers make U.S. semis, miss Olympic trial berth
(Army Times) Two of the four active-duty soldiers participating in the 2015 USA Boxing Elite National Championships came within a victory of an automatic spot in the Team USA Olympic trials, falling in semifinal action Friday night.
Pentagon: Training for Iraqi, Syrian forces moving ahead
(Associated Press) The Pentagon says U.S. efforts to train Iraqi forces and moderate Syrian rebels to fight Islamic State militants are moving forward, but that insurgents still control about 21,000 square miles of Iraq.
Navy working to free grounded container ship off Japan
(Navy Times) The maritime prepositioning ship Sgt. Matej Kocak, which ran aground six miles off the coast of Okinawa, was still stuck despite several high tides early Saturday morning, Japan time, leaving Navy officials puzzling over how to best free the 49,000 ton vessel.
Colonel behind Marine Corps Marathon dies
(Marine Corps Times) James L. Fowler, who saw a marathon as a way to bridge the gap between civilians and the military following the divisive Vietnam War, died of heart failure on Tuesday. He was 84.
Fort Sill dedicates new air defense training facility
(Associated Press) Officials at Fort Sill have dedicated the post's new Terminal High-Altitude Air Defense training facility.
Anne Hathaway cast as drone pilot in play
(Flightlines) Actress Anne Hathaway, who won the 2012 Academy Award for her supporting role in "Les Miserables," is going to star in an off-Broadway one-woman play about an Air Force fighter pilot who is reassigned to fly a drone.
Former JBER soldier sentenced to 62 years for killing wife
(Associated Press) A former Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson soldier was sentenced to 62 years in prison for the murder of his wife in their Anchorage home.
Kosovo police fire teargas in anti-government protest
(Reuters) Kosovo police fired teargas on Saturday evening to disperse thousands of protesters throwing stones at a government building in a demonstration called by ethnic Albanian opposition parties.
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