| February 6, 2015 |
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. ISIS putting price tags on Iraqi children, selling them as slaves, U.N. says
(CNN) ISIS is subjecting Iraqi children to a series of horrors, including torture, abduction and putting price tags on them for sale as slaves, the United Nations said.
2. Obama security plan highlights Russia threat
(Politico) President Barack Obama's new National Security Strategy calls out Russia for its aggression against Ukraine and also puts heavy emphasis on climate change as a growing threat to peace, according to details shared with POLITICO.
3. A-10 warplane tops list for friendly fire deaths
(USA Today) The Air Force A-10 attack jet has killed more U.S. troops in friendly fire incidents and more Afghan civilians than any other aircraft flown by the U.S. military, according to data declassified and obtained by USA TODAY.
4. Rebels, Ukrainian Forces Agree on Humanitarian Corridor
(Associated Press) Pro-Russia rebels and the Ukrainian authorities agreed Friday on a humanitarian corridor to evacuate civilians from the epicenter of fighting in eastern Ukraine as German and French leaders prepared to bring their peace plan to Moscow.
5. Internal Navy email: Safety of Sea Dragons in question
(Virginian-Pilot) More than a year after a Navy helicopter crashed off the coast of Virginia, killing three crew members, high-ranking military officials are worried not enough has been done to prevent a similar tragedy, according to confidential documents obtained by The Virginian-Pilot.
BRIAN WILLIAMS RECANTS STORY Inside the newspaper that broke the Brian Williams news
(Columbia Journalism Review) Stars and Stripes, the relatively unknown newspaper subsidized by the Pentagon, gets a big scoop
Vets assail Brian Williams over 'reprehensible' false claims
(The Hill) Prominent veterans service organizations are blasting Brian Williams over the NBC anchor's false claims that he was on a helicopter forced down by enemy fire in 2003.
Brian Williams's NBC News Bosses Are 'Hanging Him Out to Dry'
(Daily Beast) The anchor is the network's marquee face, but his bosses have offered no public support after his false claims about a helicopter attack. His colleagues are 'baffled,' says an insider.
Why Did Brian Williams Lie?
(Politico) BC News anchor Brian Williams deserves the public pillory he's currently enduring for having peddled a fabricated war story about himself-thereby joining an ignominious line that ranges from the Gipper to Hillary herself. However, Williams's tall tale has struck an especially raw nerve with a public accustomed to seeing him hold others to the highest standards. So what possessed him?
Leader of prominent veterans organization urges forgiveness for Brian Williams
(Washington Post) The leader of a prominent veterans organization on Thursday urged those who have served in the military to forgive NBC News anchor Brian Williams for repeatedly and falsely saying that he was in an Army helicopter that took enemy fire in Iraq, citing his record of support for veterans charities.
CONGRESS McCain to Pentagon: Don't let your aircraft carriers visit China
(Washington Post) As the Pentagon considers whether to allow a U.S. Navy aircraft carrier to make a historic port visit to China, the idea is drawing flak from Capitol Hill.
Lawmakers expect resistance to granting Obama war powers
(Associated Press) Republican and Democratic leaders in Congress will face some resistance in a vote to authorize President Barack Obama's war against Islamic State militants despite international outrage over video of militants beheading their captives and burning one alive.
White House 'Very Close' on Islamic State Authorization
(Defense News) The White House is close to sending a measure to Capitol Hill that would provide a legal framework for the US-led fight against the Islamic State group.
The defense industry's friend inside Congress and outside Congress
(Center for Public Integrity) It's a shocker -- the retired House Armed Services Committee chairman stays in Washington to work for industry clients
Key lawmakers want to boost Navy shipbuilding plan
(Navy Times) More ships and predictable budgets are top priorities for two leading lawmakers assigned to chair the House and Senate seapower subcommittees that oversee the Navy and Marine Corps.
Looming Defense Cuts Threaten GOP Budget Unity
(National Journal) The party has little room for error in its bid to pass a budget, and sequestration isn't making it any easier.
Rep. Hunter to Obama: Send Jordan the Predator XP
(Defense News) A US lawmaker who met with Jordan's King Abdullah earlier this week is calling on the president to send Jordan surveillance drones he says the administration previously refused to send.
Senators receptive to changes in military benefits
(The Hill) Senators on the Armed Services Committee are open to the recommendations of a blue-ribbon panel that called for reforming military pay and compensation, suggesting that the proposals could be adopted in next year's defense budget.
Senate panel to take up Gitmo bill next week
(The Hill) The Senate Armed Services Committee next week will mark up Republican-backed legislation to effectively bar the Obama administration from transferring more detainees from Guantanamo Bay.
Lawmakers to Obama: Arm Ukraine now
(The Hill) The White House came under bipartisan pressure from both sides of the Capitol to provide weapons to Ukraine Thursday.
Dem bill would give troops free birth control
(The Hill) A California Democrat has introduced a bill that gives women in the armed forces access to birth control and counseling with no health insurance copay.
Rules for Benghazi panel fuel Democrats' suspicion of political motive
(Washington Post) A congressional investigation of the 2012 attacks on U.S. facilities in Benghazi, Libya, is operating outside rules that require other House committees to disclose publicly how much money they spend and the issues they intend to pursue, according to Democrats on the panel.
U.S. lawmakers begin push for more sanctions on North Korea
(Reuters) U.S. lawmakers introduced legislation on Thursday to broaden sanctions against North Korea by imposing stiffer punishments on foreign companies doing business with Pyongyang, a measure that could impact mostly on Chinese firms.
INDUSTRY GM Names Former Lockheed Martin Executive to Its Board
(Wall Street Journal) General Motors Co. said Thursday Linda Gooden, a former Lockheed Martin Corp. executive, is joining its board of directors.
Defense Analyst Nadol Killed in Rail Crash
(Defense News) Joe Nadol, a 42-year-old defense and aerospace analyst at JPMorgan Chase, was among six people killed Tuesday in a commuter rail accident in New York.
Navistar Details Post-Turnaround Plans
(Truckinginfo.com) Top executives of Navistar International Corp. have detailed how the truck, bus and engine manufacturer will "build on" the ground it said it gained during its 2012-14 "turnaround" campaign to ensure it will develop a "sustainable competitive advantage over the next five years.
Boeing poised for $15.6 billion in Air Force work on tanker
(Bloomberg) Boeing Co. may reap as much as $15.6 billion through 2020 from the U.S. Air Force for development and production of its KC-46 aerial refueling tanker, according to estimates by the service.
Newport News yard gets $224M for carrier overhaul
(Virginian-Pilot) The Navy has awarded Huntington Ingalls Industries a $224 million modification to a previously awarded contract for advanced planning for the midlife overhaul of the carrier George Washington.
Air Force wants armor for IP networks
(C4ISR & Networks) The Air Force is seeking ways to protect tactical IP networks.
Here's What You'll Find on the Fighter Jet of 2030
(DefenseOne) On Monday, President Barack Obama's budget request for the Pentagon featured more than $5 million dollars for an item tagged "Next Generation Fighter." If you haven't heard of it, it's the plane of the future meant to replace the F/A-18 Super Hornet and EA-18 Growler aircraft by 2030. Much like the future itself, it's been a source of much speculation but exists only as an idea.
Northrop Pivots To Clean-Sheet T-X Trainer
(Aviation Week) A Northrop Grumman-led team is dashing its plan to propose a modified BAE Systems Hawk trainer for the U.S. Air Force's T-38 replacement program, opting instead for a clean-sheet design for the $1 billion program.
Sikorsky sees spike in helicopter demand from Eastern Europe
(Reuters) Sikorsky Aircraft, a unit of United Technologies Corp, is seeing a big spike in demand for its UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters from Eastern Europe, a top company executive said on Thursday.
Pratt says growth in F-35 production will help cut costs
(Reuters) The Pentagon's plans to fund 50 percent more F-35 fighter jets in fiscal 2016 will help drive down the price of the new plane and its engine, a top official with enginemaker Pratt and Whitney, a unit of United Technologies Corp, said Thursday.
VETERANS 'American Sniper' murder trial: Jury screening begins in case of Kyle's accused killer
(Washington Post) Potential jurors were gathering in Texas on Thursday in advance of the trial of Eddie Ray Routh, the Iraq War veteran accused of fatally shooting Navy SEAL sniper Chris Kyle at a gun range in 2013.
Coming Home to Damaging Stereotypes
(New York Times) Now, veterans like Mr. Marvin and veteran-run nonprofit groups are pushing back against the stereotype, often by urging fellow veterans to volunteer in their communities. And his organization, Got Your 6 - a fighter-pilot phrase meaning "got your back" - is essentially the marketing arm of that movement, going behind the scenes in the entertainment industry to push writers, television networks and Hollywood executives to present characters that show the full scope of veterans' experiences.
Vet Groups: More Suicide Prevention Tools Needed after Clay Hunt Bill
(Military.com) Veterans' advocates said the Senate's passage of the Clay Hunt Veteran Suicide bill will not end their push for improving mental health services for veterans.
DEFENSE DEPARTMENT New White House Strategy Tackles Changed World
(Defense News) For the first time in almost five years, the White House on Friday will release a new National Security Strategy when National Security Adviser Susan Rice unveils the document at the Brookings Institution here.
Washington Unveils NATO Weapon-Sharing Plan
(Defense News) The US State Department and the Pentagon's office for selling military equipment to foreign allies announced on Wednesday that they are embarking on a program that will for the first time allow NATO members to acquire and share American military hardware among members of the alliance.
Hagel concerned about possible split in NATO
(Associated Press) Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said Thursday he is worried about a potential division within NATO as countries in the north want to focus on the growing threat from Russia, while other alliance members in the south are more worried about the influx of foreign fighters from northern Africa.
White House 'Very Close' on Islamic State Authorization
(Defense News) The White House is close to sending a measure to Capitol Hill that would provide a legal framework for the US-led fight against the Islamic State group.
Tricare Nurse Advice Line averages 1,700 calls daily
(Military Times) Since the full rollout of Tricare's Nurse Advice Line last August, more than 366,000 calls have poured in at an average rate of about 1,700 a day, mainly from Tricare Prime beneficiaries seeking medical care and advice for minor illnesses, Defense Department data show.
Global Hawk, Reaper reap gains in 2016 budget
(C4ISR & Networks) The Air Force wants to spend $208 million on research, development, testing and evaluation for the Global Hawk UAV which, combined with the Navy's $227 million, makes the platform one of the largest UAV investments requested in the 2016 budget.
Military sex offenders can fly under states' radar
(USA Today) A loophole in military law allows troops convicted of crimes such as rape or child molestation to avoid states' sex-offender registries.
Defense secretary nominee Ash Carter: What he said and what he meant
(Washington Post) Defense Secretary Ashton Carter testified in a marathon confirmation hearing on Wednesday, offering his views on everything from how the United States should handle Islamic State militants to what the Pentagon should do with its aging nuclear weapons arsenal.
McCain expects Defense nominee Carter to be confirmed next week
(The Hill) Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman John McCain (R-Ariz.) is planning for Ash Carter to be confirmed as the new Defense secretary by the end of next week.
ARMY Active Army drops below 500,000 soldiers
(Army Times) Army drops below 500,000 soldiers for the first time in 10 years.
Officers named for command roles for next year
(Army Times) The Army has announced the names of Regular Army officers designated for colonel- and lieutenant colonel-level command in fiscal 2016.
Congressman pushes Army on why it revoked Green Beret's Silver Star
(Army Times) The Army, citing an investigation but little else, has revoked a Green Beret's Silver Star and rescinded a previous decision to upgrade his award to the Distinguished Service Cross. The service also stripped the officer's Special Forces tab.
CSM and key billet lists to be released Feb. 10
(Army Times) Selection lists containing the names of Regular Army and Army Reserve senior NCOs designated for brigade and battalion command sergeant major tours and sergeant major key billet assignments in fiscal 2016 will be released Feb. 10.
Officers named for command roles for next year
(Army Times) The Army has announced the names of Regular Army officers designated for colonel- and lieutenant colonel-level command in fiscal 2016.
Chaplain's film to chronicle soldiers at war
(Army Times) U.S. Army Chaplain (Capt.) Justin Roberts knows very well the difficulties soldiers encounter connecting with the civilian world after successive combat deployments.
Active Army drops below 500,000 soldiers
(Army Times) Personnel strength of the Regular Army has dropped below 500,000 for the first time in 10 years, with 498,642 soldiers being listed on active duty in the most recent official headcount of the force.
In a historic first, five women qualify for Army Ranger School
(Christian Science Monitor) The first wave of women could be on their way to the United States Army's prestigious Ranger School later this year after passing a two-week-long qualifying course.
First Five Women Green-Lighted for Ranger School
(Military.com) Five female soldiers have passed the pre-Ranger course at Fort Benning, Ga., making them the first women who will attend U.S. Army Ranger School this spring.
Fort Bragg Report: Gates in Fayetteville to honor Green Berets, new and old
(Fayetteville Observer) Former Secretary of Defense was in Fayetteville Thursday to welcome the newest Special Forces graduates.
Fayetteville, military leaders voice concerns over potential Fort Bragg troop cuts
(Fayetteville Observer) Leaders in Fayetteville on Thursday spoke in glowing terms of the relationship between Fort Bragg and surrounding municipalities.
NAVY Key lawmakers want to boost Navy shipbuilding plan
(Navy Times) More ships and predictable budgets are top priorities for two leading lawmakers assigned to chair the House and Senate seapower subcommittees that oversee the Navy and Marine Corps.
Augmented reality headsets could make sailors' jobs easier
(Navy Times) Imagine you're an aviation electronics technician standing on top of a helicopter chained to the flight deck of a destroyer on a stormy day, trying to keep your holdas the wind blows through a repair manual you're using to troubleshoot the bird's rotors.
3-star: 'Lot of work' before railgun arrives in fleet
(Navy Times) The Navy's weaponeers have built a working railgun. Now it falls to Vice Adm. William Hilarides to figure out what to do with it.
Navy Considering Railgun for Third Zumwalt Destroyer
(USNI News) Engineering studies to include an electromagnetic railgun on a Zumwalt-class destroyer (DDG-1000) have started at Naval Sea Systems Command, NAVSEA's head said Thursday.
NAVSEA Commander: Exotic Weapons Must Be Adapted to Warship Space, Power Capacity
(Seapower) The commander of Naval Sea Systems Command said the Navy is looking forward to next year when it will demonstrate the electromagnetic rail gun at sea - "getting it wet" - but noted that "now I've got to fit it on a destroyer."
ONR Study Charts Retreating Arctic Ocean Ice
(Seapower) Scientists sponsored by the Office of Naval Research (ONR) revealed the latest findings from a study on Arctic sea ice - with one expert noting that summer sea ice levels could potentially fall to zero before the end of this century, ONR reported in a Feb. 5 release.
AIR FORCE Air Force may cut 10,000 airmen if budget cuts return
(Air Force Times) The Air Force is the smallest it's ever been, but it may have to cut 10,000 more airmen if budget cuts return, an Air Force two-star said.
Groups want two-star fired for alleged 'treason' rant
(Air Force Times) A group of government watchdog and social advocacy groups are calling for Maj. Gen. James Post to be relieved of command for reportedly warning officers that they would be "committing treason" if they voiced support to Congress for keeping the A-10 in service.
U.S. moves pilot rescue aircraft closer to battlefield
(Air Force Times) The U.S. military has moved search-and-rescue crews to northern Iraq in recent days, following an uproar over the killing of a Jordanian pilot captured in Syria by Islamic State fighters, defense officials said Thursday.
10 of the best military pilot selfies
(Air Force Times) It's the souvenir of a lifetime, and the Internet is just the scrapbook.
Air Force urged to remove officer over A-10 'treason' comments
(The Hill) A coalition of a dozen nonprofit groups is asking Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James to take action against a service major general who allegedly said airmen who talk to Congress about the retirement of the A-10 have committed "treason."
Air Force serviceman gets prison for enticement
(Tampa Tribune) An Air Force serviceman was sentenced to 10 years in prison today after pleading guilty to trying to entice a minor into sex acts, U.S. Attorney A. Lee Bentley III said.
MARINE CORPS Deadline approaches for some Marines' re-up bonuses
(Marine Corps Times) Time is running out for first term and career Marines in just over 40 military occupational specialties to secure selective re-enlistment bonuses.
Corps extends VSP into 2016, revises eligibility
(Marine Corps Times) The Marine Corps extended its Voluntary Separation Pay program for another year Wednesday, while also revising the specialties that are eligible for the buyout in fiscal 2015 and 2016.
Cherry Point Marines return from Middle East
(Havelock Times) Charlie Hutson's big green sign was a jumble of letters, the kind a bright 4-year old might make as he learns to read and write. But the message was clear to Gunnery Sgt. Cameron Hutson. "Welcome home Daddy. I love you. Charles."
Memorial service for Marine vet
(Atlanta Journal-Constitution) A memorial service for the Marine veteran who killed her three children at their Cobb apartment and then ended her own life is scheduled for Friday morning at a southwest Atlanta church.
Marine amphibious vehicles take to Hawaiian mud flats
(Associated Press) he Kaneohe Bay Marines mounted their heavily armed amphibious assault vehicles Wednesday and zipped and romped their way around the base's Nuupia Ponds mud flats. In doing so, the 26-ton battle machines kicked up heavy showers of mud as some ride-along passengers held on like they were riding a mechanical bull.
COAST GUARD Officials: Coast Guardsman shot 2 colleagues, ambushed cops
(Associated Press) A Coast Guard member shot two colleagues at a Cape Cod condo complex early Thursday, lit a car on fire to hamper police, planted fake bombs and then opened fire on officers, authorities said.
CSI Cape Cod: Coast Guard Guy Goes On Murderous Rampage
(Daily Beast) Adrian Loya is alleged to have exploded a car in order to prevent cops from getting to him after he shot two fellow members of the Coast Guard. Then, authorities say, he started shooting at police.
Coast Guard to Move Air Station from Los Angeles
(Seapower) The Coast Guard is planning to close its helicopter base in Los Angeles and move its aircraft and personnel to a city farther up the California coast.
Coast Guard Museum Association honors 'First 100' donors to fundraising campaign
(The Day) With more than $24 million in hand, the National Coast Guard Museum Association on Thursday night held a decorative event at Union Station honoring "The First 100" donors who contributed to the campaign to build a National Coast Guard Museum downtown, as well as its chairman, James Coleman Jr., who secured a big win for the association with the purchase of the train station for $3 million last week.
ISLAMIC STATE US moves pilot-rescue aircraft closer to battlefields
(Associated Press) The gruesome killing of a Jordanian pilot who had crashed in Islamic State territory laid bare a problem of the U.S.-led coalition - there's no sure way to rescue an airman who's down behind enemy lines. Now, in response, the U.S. has moved search-and-rescue aircraft closer to the battlefield, defense officials said Thursday.
Jordanian pilot Muath al-Kasaesbeh's wife: I found out on Facebook that my husband had been burned alive by Isis
(The Independent) When her mother first called her in tears, Anwar Tarawneh knew immediately that something was wrong. Her husband, Lieutenant Muath al-Kasaesbeh, was in the hands of Isis, after being shot down while flying an F-16 over Syria on 24 December.
Jihadi Preacher Lashes out Against Islamic State Methods
(Associated Press) A prominent jihadi preacher lashed out Friday against Islamic State militants for burning to death a Jordanian pilot, saying this is "not acceptable in any religion."
Islamic State in Syria seen under strain but far from collapse
(Reuters) Islamic State's defeat in Kobani and other recent setbacks in Syria suggest the group is under strain but far from collapse in the Syrian half of its self-declared caliphate.
Syrian air strikes kill 70 people after rebel rocket attack - monitor
(Reuters) Syrian air force strikes killed at least 70 people in an opposition district outside Damascus following rocket attacks by rebels that had hit the government-controlled centre of the Syrian capital, a monitoring group said on Friday.
Islamic State punishes cleric who objected to pilot's killing: monitor
(Reuters) An Islamic State cleric who objected to the group's decision to burn to death a captive Jordanian pilot has been removed from his post and will be put on trial, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said on Friday.
Experts: Pilot video shows militants are raising stakes
(Associated Press) A video of a Jordanian pilot being burned to death was exceptional in its brutality, even for the Islamic State group, and also was a sign that the militants intend to raise the stakes in their propaganda efforts, experts say.
Jordanians: 'We Want Nothing Now, Only To Get Daesh Out'
(DefenseOne) Sidelined no more, as King Abdullah's military strikes ISIS for al-Kasasbeh's death, Jordanians vow, 'We are fighters. We will devour them.' Syria / Middle East / Iraq
Jordan launches new airstrikes after vowing harsh war on IS
(Associated Press) Dozens of Jordanian fighter jets bombed Islamic State training centers and weapons storage sites Thursday, intensifying attacks after the militants burned to death a captured Jordanian pilot.
Jordan hits Islamic State with airstrikes as king visits family of pilot burned alive
(Washington Post) After Jordanian warplanes carried out airstrikes Thursday against the Islamic State in Syria, the fighter jets returned to perform a teeth-rattling "victory lap" above this farm town that has been cloaked in grief.
ISIS expanding 'international footprint' with affiliates in more countries, officials warn
(Fox News) The Islamic State, despite being driven by Kurdish fighters from its one-time Syrian stronghold in Kobani last week, nevertheless is extending its reach well beyond Iraq and Syria, military officials and analysts warn -- represented, by some estimates, in nearly a dozen countries.
Japan pledges help in terrorism fight - but no troops
(Stars & Stripes) Japan told the world's nations Thursday it will never give in to terrorism and will continue providing non-military assistance for the fight against the Islamic State and other extremist groups - but not military troops or equipment "at this point."
U.N. Report: Islamic State Has Buried Children Alive
(Wall Street Journal) Just when you thought Islamic State could be no crueler, a United Nations report charges that the extremist group has buried children alive, crucified some and beheaded others.
AFGHANISTAN/PAKISTAN US, coalition conduct 1st Afghan airstrikes since end of combat mission
(Stars & Stripes) U.S. and allied aircraft struck Taliban forces in eastern Afghanistan last month, according to a coalition spokesman, in the first confirmed airstrikes in support of Afghan forces since the end of the international combat mission.
ISIS Infiltration into Afghanistan
(Khaama Press) It has been a month or so that Afghan National Security Forces ANSF officials from different parts of Afghanistan raise their voice about ISIS activities and recruitment campaign. In overall the government of Afghanistan has on various occasions rejected the reports. In recent days, some senior officials in southern Zabul province and in the Northeastern Kunduz province clearly admitted that ISIS has a marginal presence in their areas and are in the process of establishing camps and recruitment of fighters.
9 foreigners among 43 insurgents killed in military operations
(Khaama Press) Nine foreigners including 43 insurgents killed in military operations in past 24 hours, according to a statement issued by the Ministry of Defense on Thursday morning.
kidnappers killed, bodies hanged on advertisement board in Helmand
(Khaama Press) Civilians have killed three kidnappers in fighting and hanged their bodies on an advertisement board in southern Helmand province.
MIDDLE EAST In Iran, as in U.S., Nuclear Deal is Hotly Debated
(BBC) In the chamber of Iran's parliament recently, consternation mounted quickly over what hard-liners saw as a grave development: The foreign minister had taken a private stroll through a Geneva garden with his American counterpart, John Kerry, during a break in nuclear negotiations.
Car bomber kills two, wounds around 20 in Libya's Benghazi: medics
(Reuters) A car laden with explosives killed two people, as well as the driver, and wounded around 20 in Libya's second biggest city, Benghazi on Friday, medics and military officials said.
Iran Says US is 'Begging' for a Nuclear Deal
(Arutz Sheva) A senior Iranian military officer claims that U.S. officials have been "begging us" to sign a nuclear deal during negotiations over Tehran's nuclear program, according to recent comments made to the Iranian state-controlled media.
As a curfew is lifted, Baghdad is at long last partying again
(Washington Post) The Iraqi government on Thursday abolished the nighttime curfew imposed on Baghdad by U.S. troops in 2003, heralding another small milestone in the city's recent - and surprising - revival.
Drone Strike in Yemen Said to Kill Senior Qaeda Figure
(New York Times) A senior member of Al Qaeda who had issued a statement saying the group had encouraged the terrorist attacks in Paris last month was killed in a drone strike on Saturday, the militant group said on Thursday.
RUSSIA-UKRAINE Ukraine crisis: Hollande and Merkel set for Putin talks
(BBC) French President Francois Hollande and German Chancellor Angela Merkel are due to hold talks in Moscow to try to end escalating fighting in east Ukraine.
Ukrainian, rebel convoys head for rail town to evacuate civilians
(Reuters) Convoys of buses converged from two sides on the town of Debaltseve in eastern Ukraine on Friday after separatist rebels and government forces appeared to have patched together a truce to allow civilians to be evacuated.
Rebels, Ukrainian forces agree on humanitarian corridor
(Associated Press) The pro-Russia rebels in Ukraine reached agreement with government forces on a humanitarian corridor to evacuate civilians from the epicenter of fighting on Friday as German and French leaders prepared to bring their peace plan to Moscow.
Top NATO general warns of Russian reaction to arming Ukraine
(Associated Press) The top NATO commander warned Thursday that any move to provide Ukraine with lethal defensive weapons must take into account any possible angry reaction from Russia.
White House mum on report that Putin has Asperger's syndrome
(The Hill) The White House on Thursday refused to comment on reports that the Pentagon prepared a study theorizing Russian President Vladimir Putin has Asperger's syndrome.
EUROPE NATO To Boost Eastern Defenses
(Defense News) NATO was set Thursday to agree a major boost to its defenses to include six bases in eastern Europe and a spearhead force of 5,000 troops in response to what it called Russian aggression in Ukraine.
Promise of Europe Lures Syrians and Smugglers
(New York Times) He left his home in Syria over a year ago and set out more than a dozen times, he said, on perilous and ill-fated seaborne journeys to the promised lands of Western Europe. He never made it. In his last attempt, the fishing boat he was on capsized, killing 44 people, including one of his best friends.
ASIA-PACIFIC China suspected in major hacking of health insurer
(Washington Post) The massive computer breach against Anthem, the nation's second-largest health insurer, exposes a growing cyberthreat facing health-care companies that experts say are often unprepared for large attacks.
China warns S. Korea against deploying U.S. missile defense system
(Yonhap) China warned Thursday that the possible deployment of an advanced U.S. missile defense system in South Korea could undermine the "overall interest of bilateral relations" between Seoul and Beijing, underscoring a long-standing rift between the neighbors despite their growing warmth on bilateral ties.
Chinese State-Sponsored Hackers Suspected in Anthem Attack
(Bloomberg) Investigators of Anthem Inc.'s data breach are pursuing evidence that points to Chinese state-sponsored hackers who are stealing personal information from health-care companies for purposes other than pure profit, according to three people familiar with the probe.
Thailand boosts military ties with China amid US spat
(World Bulletin) China and Thailand agreed on Friday to boost military ties over the next five years, from increasing intelligence sharing to fighting transnational crime, as the ruling junta seeks to counterbalance the country's alliance with Washington.
Some Japanese see slain hostages, Abe as troublemakers
(Associated Press) In Japan, where conformity takes precedence over individuality, one of the most important values is to avoid "meiwaku" - causing trouble for others. And sympathy aside, the two Japanese purportedly slain by the Islamic State group are now widely viewed as troublemakers.
South Korea presses diplomatic offensive with North
(Stars & Stripes) Even as the U.S. and South Korea prepare for their annual spring war games, a diplomatic offensive is taking place as Seoul presses for talks with the North and outlines steps it hopes will lead to reunification.
AFRICA Special Ops Staying Put in the Horn - For Now
(Foreign Policy) The United States' top special operations officer raised eyebrows Jan. 27 when he suggested that America might replace its special operations forces in the Horn of Africa, a hotbed of Islamist fighters, with conventional troops - a major shift that could make it harder for the United States to track and kill some of its most dangerous adversaries.
Boko Haram, and Massacres Ruled by Whim
(New York Times) They came in the dead of night, their faces covered, riding on motorcycles and in pickup trucks, shouting "Allahu akbar" and firing their weapons.
Bank to close Somalia fund service over al-Shabab terror fears
(BBC) A bank which handles money transfers between US-based Somalis and their families in east Africa is to close its service over concerns the funds are being channelled to militants.
COMMENTARY AND ANALYSIS Jordan's response to ISIL must look beyond revenge
(AlJazeera) The real war that must be waged to wipe out ISIL and its ilk requires eradicating the three principal drivers in Middle Eastern societies that have incubated such criminal groups: Arab autocracy and socioeconomic mismanagement that have left majorities of Arabs in conditions of poverty, vulnerability and political helplessness; the continuing humiliation and waste of the Arab-Israeli conflict; and the repeated damage caused by foreign military attacks and interventions across the Middle East.
Is Brian Williams tale a case of 'stolen valour'?
(BBC) As it turns out, the helicopter Brian Williams was in didn't crash and burn. His professional reputation, on the other hand, may not be so lucky.
How Not to Close Guantanamo: Bring It Here
(Lawfare) For purposes of rapprochement with Cuba closing Guantanamo may have to mean U.S. out of Guantanamo altogether. That's not going to happen anytime soon, since our interests in the place stem well beyond detaining suspected terrorists to monitoring and interdiction of Caribbean drug traffic and population flows.
The Bush Administration Wanted to Close GTMO Because (in Part) of its Propaganda Value to Jihadists
(Lawfare) Senator Tom Cotton, whom I like, doesn't support the closure of the Guantanamo Bay detention center. As the SASC hearing today he said of the Guantanamo detainees, "every last one of them can rot in hell, but since they don't do that, they can rot in Guantanamo Bay." Senator Cotton served in the U.S. Army for five years and is entitled to his opinion. But I think he is wrong when he questions the Obama administration's claims about the "propaganda value that terrorists get from Guantanamo Bay." I also think he is wrong when he says that the Obama administration's claims about GTMO's propaganda value are "a pretext to justify a political decision."
America Needs To Demand Service For Credibility
(Task & Purpose) Any person who can't answer, "So, how did you serve your country?" through any form of public service should feel ashamed.
The Islamic World Versus the Islamic State
(Foreign Policy) The war against the Islamic State, and the brand of extremist violence it exemplifies, won't be won or lost on the battlefield. Defeating the group, U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein said Thursday, will instead first require debunking the ideological propaganda the group spews to justify its killing.
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