Wednesday, September 10, 2014

FW: Navy Times Early Bird Brief



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Robert Serge
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To all my fellow veterans friends and family my we all remember 



From: no-reply@navytimes.com
To: rserge1@outlook.com
Subject: Navy Times Early Bird Brief
Date: Wed, 10 Sep 2014 04:36:05 -0600


Defense News
COMPILED BY THE EDITORS OF DEFENSE NEWS & MILITARY TIMES
September 10, 2014

EARLY BIRD BRIEF
Get the most comprehensive aggregation of defense news delivered by the world's largest independent newsroom covering military and defense.

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TODAY'S TOP 5

1. Obama ready to strike at Islamic State militants in Syria, he tells policy experts
(Washington Post) President Obama is prepared to use U.S. military airstrikes in Syria as part of an expanded campaign to defeat the Islamic State and does not believe he needs formal congressional approval to take that action, according to people who have spoken with the president in recent days. 
2. Pentagon report says Iran is fielding anti-ship ballistic missiles
(IHS Jane's 360) Iran's Khalij Fars anti-ship ballistic missile (AShBM) - a weapon that could shift the military balance in the Gulf region - is being delivered to operational units, according to the US Department of Defense's annual report to Congress on the Islamic Republic's military capabilities. 
3. Why a War of Attrition Favors Us, Not ISIS
(Air Force Col. S. Clinton Hinote in Cicero Magazine ) The warning is delivered with an ominous tone: "You are no longer fighting an insurgency. We are an Islamic army, and a state..." 
4. ISIS is spreading, experts warn
(The Hill) Experts say the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) is spreading to other countries and inspiring terrorist groups toward greater acts of brutality.  
5. Investigations still open at 93 VA facilities
(Military Times) The Veteran Affairs Department's review of the wait times scandal at its Phoenix facility is over, but lawmakers and investigators are promising that department officials will still face intense scrutiny and criticism in coming months. 

INDUSTRY

Lockheed, Pentagon say near deal on next batch of F-35s
(Reuters) Lockheed Martin Corp (LMT.N) is in the final stages of negotiations with the Pentagon about an eighth batch of F-35 fighter jets, with an agreement weeks or perhaps only days away, a company executive and a senior military officer said Tuesday. 
Suit Names Sikorsky in Fatal Black Hawk Crash
(Defense News) Relatives of three US soldiers involved in a January Black Hawk helicopter crash have filed a lawsuit claiming assembly defects caused a mechanical failure, leading to the crash that killed one and injured the other two soldiers. 
Pratt sees clarity on 'root cause' of F-35 engine issue by end Sept.
(Reuters) United Technologies Corp's Pratt and Whitney unit said the "root cause" of the June 23 engine failure on a Lockheed Martin Corp F-35 fighter jet should be clear by the end of September, which would pave the way for over $1 billion in contracts for another 84 engines. 
US Clears Black Hawk Sale to Brazil
(Defense News) The US State Department has cleared a $145 million sale of UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters to Brazil, the Pentagon agency that coordinates foreign weapon sales said Tuesday. 
Aerial refueling under design for Advanced Hawkeye
(C4ISR & Networks) Under a $226.7 million contract awarded in 2013, Northrop Grumman is upgrading the E-2Ds to accommodate aerial refueling. The changes include new seats to enhance cockpit field of view, formation lights to avoid collisions, and improved flight control software to help pilots fly the aircraft while refueling. 
Special Ops Deal Tops Pentagon's Weekly Contracts
(DoDBuzz) A contract worth more than $100 million to extend contractor support for U.S. Special Operations Command and other government agencies topped the list of contracts announced by the Pentagon last week. 
New Turkish Fighter Could Involve Overseas Companies
(Defense News) Turkey's procurement administration has signaled it might rethink an ambitious indigenous fighter jet program, with a view to restructuring it and possibly adding foreign partners. 
Accenture wins $53 million in Army ERP contracts
(C4ISR & Networks) Accenture has been awarded two U.S. Army enterprise IT contracts worth a total of $53.1 million. 
Indian Navy May Walk Away From French Missile Deal
(Defense News) The Indian Defence Ministry has sent a global request for information for short-range, surface-to-air missiles (SRSAMs), throwing into question an existing deal with the French for the same weapon for the Indian Navy. 
French defense exports rise 42 percent
(Aviation Week) France's defense exports soared 42.7% in 2013 compared to those of 2012, according to a report to parliament released today. Orders worth 6.87B euros ($8.86bn) were taken by French companies, of which eight were worth more than 200m euros ($258m) compared to just three worth this amount or more in 2012. 
Interview: Frank Haun, CEO of Krauss-Maffei Wegmann
(Defense News) Germany's Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW) and French Nexter recently announced their intent to create a 50-50 joint holding company. The owners of the two European land defense systems providers met on July 1 in Paris to sign a heads of agreement. Before this deal can take effect, both future partners will be subject to a process of due diligence. The alliance project will be subject to legal and customary regulation approvals. State-owned Nexter will also have to be privatized. 
Polish Defence Modernization: Between strategic intent and spending reality
(Defense Industry Daily) The 22nd International Defence Industry Exhibition (MSPO 2014) was a good opportunity to take a closer look at the ambitious technical modernization program of the Polish Armed Forces. Poland is among the very few European countries that has been increasing its military spending, as part of a shift away from Soviet-era gear and toward modern Western systems.  
Russian Navy orders additional Su-30SM fighters
(IHS Jane's 360) Russia has ordered another seven Sukhoi Su-30SM multirole fighter aircraft for the Russian Navy, it was announced on 5 September. 
Italian Firms To Push For Homegrown SIGINT
(Defense News) Italy has decided to renew its lease of a signals intelligence (SIGINT) aircraft from Lockheed Martin, even as Italian defense firms consider offering a homegrown SIGINT plane they say would guarantee work domestically if purchased. 

CONGRESS

On Capitol Hill, Agreement About Islamic State Vote - But No Actual Votes
(Defense News) Republicans and Democrats on Capitol Hill finally agree on something. So, too, do many hawks and doves. Yet, there are no planned votes to approve US military action against the Islamic State. 
Cheney Urges House G.O.P. to Abandon Isolationism
(New York Times) On the eve of President Obama's address to the nation about plans for an escalation of military action in Iraq, former Vice President Dick Cheney came to Capitol Hill on Tuesday to urge House Republicans to embrace a strong military and reject a rising isolationism in his party, but did not discuss the specifics of confronting the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria. 
Republican Leaders Want Clear Islamic State Plan from Obama
(Defense News) Republican leaders opened their first full legislative day in five weeks by pressing the commander in chief to spell out his plan for fighting the Islamic State (IS). 
New Bill Could Give Rewards For Information On Killer Of James Foley, Steven Sotloff
(Huffington Post) A new bill proposed by Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) on Monday could require the Secretary of State to give rewards of up to $10 million for any information on James Foley and Steven Sotloff's killers. 
House of Representatives condemns Obama for Bergdahl swap
(Military Times) House members on Tuesday voted to condemn President Obama for failing to notify Congress about plans to exchange five Taliban detainees for prisoner of war Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl. 
Ferguson fallout: Do the police really need 12,000 bayonets?
(Christian Science Monitor) On Tuesday, the Senate weighed police use of military hardware provided for free by the Pentagon. The program, known as 1033, came to national attention in the wake of the Ferguson protests. 
New Combat Ship Briefing Delayed
(Defense News) One of the most eagerly-anticipated stories in naval circles this fall is what findings and recommendations a special US Navy task force has come up with for a new small surface combatant (SSC) warship. The task force's report was completed at the end of July, but the Navy so far has been relentlessly tight-lipped about its contents. 
Iraq vet Seth Moulton defeats nine-term Rep. Tierney in Mass.
(USA Today) Meet Seth Moulton, the Massachusetts Democrat who has done something no one else in his party has done in the 2014 primaries: He beat incumbent Rep. John Tierney. 

DEFENSE DEPARTMENT

The Military Wants a Vehicle That Can Dodge Missiles By Itself
(DefenseOne) The year is 2020; the setting, a battlefield in the Middle East. An armored Army vehicle bounds over low dunes on its way to a checkpoint when a local tribal leader fires a shoulder-mounted missile directly at the fast-moving truck.  
Security Expert Questions Accuracy of Military's Readiness Metrics
(Seapower) The military's traditional method of determining readiness by measuring the inputs, such as aircraft flying hours, ship steaming time and training days, does not accurately show how ready the services are for combat, a prominent national security think tank analyst said Sept. 9. 
Officials worry about 'cyber Fort Hood'
(Politico) The most dangerous cybersecurity threat facing U.S. military and intelligence agencies might not be another Edward Snowden aiming to steal secrets, but rather a rogue IT administrator bent on destruction of critical infrastructure, a senior Intelligence official told POLITICO. 

ARMY

Army activates its first cyber protection brigade
(Army Times) The Army on Sept. 5 activated a new Cyber Protection Brigade - the first of its kind in the Army - at Fort Gordon, Georgia. 
Bergdahl waiting for word on investigation
(San Antonio Express-News) The attorney for Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl said Monday he hasn't been updated on an investigation that could lead to a court-martial for his client, who left his post in Afghanistan and later was held by the Taliban for five years. 
Fort Bliss tightens security
(Associated Press) The Army is ramping up security at Fort Bliss, its sprawling West Texas post near the U.S.-Mexico border. 
This future Army grenade could kill enemies hiding behind walls
(Washington Post) When U.S. combat troops are caught in a firefight, one of the quickest ways for them to turn the tide in their favor is to use grenades. The 40mm rounds can be fired from a launcher attached to a rifle, landing on enemies a few hundred meters away. But they have limitations, especially when enemy fighters take cover behind a wall or other obstacle. 

NAVY

U.S. Navy Gets Ready For Aviation-Centric America
(Aviation Week) As the future amphibious assault ship LHA 6 USS America makes its way past the countries of the Americas to get to San Francisco for its scheduled Oct. 11 commissioning, U.S. Navy leaders continue to tout the ship's aviation capabilities. 
Frigate Halyburton decommissioned after 30 years of service
(Navy Times) After more than 30 years of naval service, the frigate Halyburton was decommissioned in Mayport, Florida, on Sept. 6 in a ceremony attended by crew members, plankowners, family and friends. 
US Naval Academy works on accrediting cyber major
(Associated Press) A U.S. Naval Academy dean says he's hoping to have cybersecurity accredited as a major by 2016. No U.S. school currently has a cybersecurity degree accredited by a leading organization, and the academy hopes to be among the first. 
DDG and Hornet squadron COs win top leadership award
(Navy Times) The skippers of a destroyer and a fighter squadron are this year's recipients of the Navy's top leadership prize. 

AIR FORCE

Atheist airman must swear 'so help me God' or get out in November
(Air Force Times) An atheist airman at Creech Air Force Base in Nevada has until November to change his mind and swear a reenlistment oath to God, the Air Force said. 
Air Force seeks DOD ruling on re-enlistment oath
(Stars & Stripes) The Air Force said Tuesday it was awaiting a legal opinion from the Defense Department's top lawyer on whether an enlisted airman who's an atheist can opt out of the phrase "so help me God" in his re-enlistment oath. 
Report: Changes underway after Lackland AFB scandal
(San Antonio Express-News) A new GAO report issued Tuesday said the Air Force has yet to fully implement six of 46 recommendations made in a general's analysis of instructor misconduct in San Antonio that helped spark congressional hearings and a significant changes last year in U.S. military law. 
Troops guarding America's nuclear missile silos getting upgrades
(Washington Post) Widespread cheating by Air Force officers who oversee the U.S. nuclear missile arsenal embarrassed the service this year and prompted questions about what can be done to change their culture. But it also did something else: It gave rank-and-file troops who provide security at nuclear missile sites a voice to express concerns about their aging equipment. 
USAF rotates F-16s in Poland as tensions with Russia continue
(IHS Jane's 360) The US Air Force (USAF) has rotated its Aviation Detachment (AVDET) in Poland, with the arrival of an undisclosed number of Lockheed Martin F-16C/D Fighting Falcon fighters at Lask Air Base, the service announced on 8 September. 

MARINE CORPS

Marine held in Mexico on weapons charges set for third hearing
(Los Angeles Times) A U.S. Marine held in a Mexican prison on weapons charges since April 1 is slated to attend his third evidentiary hearing Tuesday in Tijuana where his attorney plans to argue that his rights were violated by the arresting officers. 
U.S. Marine denied engagement ring refund; he missed deadline while on deployment
(Staten Island Advance) Two days before being deployed overseas on a seven-month mission, Sgt. Alexander Divito of the U.S. Marines proposed to his sweetheart for Valentine's Day. He gave her a ring worth more than $3,200, which he purchased from Kay Jewelers in North Carolina. 
Eto pledges to move quickly on Futenma relocation
(Japan Times) New Defense Minister Akinori Eto said Monday the ministry will make every effort to achieve the "earliest possible" relocation of the Futenma base to the proposed site further north on Okinawa Island. 
Man found dead in Virginia identified as Camp Lejeune Marine
(WCTI; New Bern, N.C. ) Investigators say a man found dead in a motel in Virginia has been identified as a Camp Lejeune Marine. 

AFGHANISTAN/PAKISTAN

Afghanistan's Karzai calls for candidates Abdullah, Ghani to put aside differences
(Washington Post) Afghan President Hamid Karzai said Tuesday that his successor must be chosen soon to "salvage the country," which appeared to grow more volatile as the day progressed. 
Karzai strongly condemns civilian casualties in US airstrike
(Khaama Press) Afghan President Hamid Karzai strongly condemned civilian casualties following an airstrike by US forces in eastern Kunar province of Afghanistan. 
Pakistan Navy Foils Terrorist Attack on Naval Base
(Defense News) The Pakistan Navy Monday night revealed it had foiled a waterborne terrorist attack on a naval facility in Karachi on Sept. 6, killing two of the attackers and apprehending four more. However, a Navy petty officer was killed in the attack, and an officer and six sailors lightly wounded. 
Pakistani Official: Waziristan Operations Close to Finished
(Defense News) Pakistan's ambassador to the United States told an audience Tuesday that his country is about a month away from finishing its operations in North Waziristan.  

MIDDLE EAST

Arrow-2 Intercept Test Inconclusive, Israel Says
(Defense News) The outcome of today's test of the US-Israel Arrow-2 interceptor is inconclusive and will remain so, officials here say, until data is fully analyzed over the next few days. 
Kerry in Iraq to congratulate new premier, build alliance against Islamic State
(Washington Post) Secretary of State John F. Kerry came to Iraq on Wednesday to congratulate a new Iraq government on which the United States is basing much of its emerging strategy to counter Islamic State militants. 
Longtime Rivals Look to Team Up to Confront ISIS
(New York Times) As the United States and its allies look to fight the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, longtime adversaries with a common fear of the radical movement are scrambling to see if they can cooperate to defeat the rising threat. 
U.S., Allies Step Up Efforts to Choke Off Islamic State's Funding
(Wall Street Journal) The U.S. Treasury Department and Washington's allies are ramping up efforts to hit Islamic State's finances, particularly focusing on steps to choke off its oil sales, its donations from the Persian Gulf and its extortion rackets. 
Tough road ahead for Iraq leader after govt formed
(Associated Press) Iraq's new prime minister, Haider al-Abadi, has a daunting task ahead of him: With the world watching, the Shiite politician must unify a deeply divided country against Sunni militants who have seized much of its territory. 
Blast Decimates Leadership of Syrian Rebel Group
(New York Times) An explosion tore through a secret meeting of one of Syria's strongest and most enduring rebel groups on Tuesday, killing a dozen of its top leaders, including its head, and striking another blow against the forces seeking to topple President Bashar al-Assad. 
Al Qaeda members mourn Ahrar al Sham, Islamic Front leaders on Twitter
(Long War Journal) Not long after the news broke that more than one dozen senior leaders in Ahrar al Sham and the Islamic Front had been killed in Syria earlier today, several influential al Qaeda figures took to their Twitter accounts to mourn their fallen allies. And one of them claimed that the Islamic Front's political head had been in contact with Ayman al Zawahiri, the leader of al Qaeda. 
Combat Reversals Pressure Syria's Assad, Complicating Efforts Against Islamic State
(Wall Street Journal) Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, who four months ago seemed on the verge of defeating rebel forces, is now mired in defensive battles on several fronts, complicating efforts to fight the Islamic State militant group. 
Frustration drives Arsal's FSA into ISIS ranks
(Daily Star; Lebanon) Free Syrian Army commanders around Arsal vehemently deny any involvement in recent clashes with the Lebanese security forces, but admit to cooperating with Islamist groups in military operations along the Syrian-Lebanese border. 
Syrian Kurdish fighters pushing back Islamic State on their own
(Los Angeles Times) The Kurdish fighter perched on the roof of a schoolhouse pocked with holes from bullets and tank rounds, pointing across a rubble field toward several grain silos blasted open by shell fire. 
US fears Islamic State group attack on Jordan
(Associated Press) Worried that Jordan could be vulnerable to the Islamic State militant group, the U.S. is stepping up its intelligence cooperation with one of its most stalwart Middle East allies. 
AQAP releases video and pictures of attack in Hadramout
(Long War Journal) Today, a Twitter account linked to al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) released a video and pictures documenting an attack from April of this year targeting a military checkpoint near the coastal city of Mukallah in eastern Hadramout province. 

EUROPE

Amid Intensifying Requests, American Military Aid to Ukraine Stalls
(New York Times) Despite appeals from the Ukrainian armed forces, the United States has so far provided only a modest package of nonlethal assistance to the Kiev government, and much of it has yet to arrive. 
Dutch report says Flight 17 broke up in air after being hit by 'high-energy objects'
(Washington Post) The Dutch Safety Board on Tuesday released its preliminary report on the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17, saying the Boeing 777 broke up in the air as a result of structural damage caused by "a large number of high-energy objects" that penetrated it. 
Estonian Officials Meet With Detained Security Officer in Russia
(Wall Street Journal) Estonian officials said Tuesday they had met with Eston Kohver, the Estonian security officer at the center of rising tension between Tallinn and Moscow, who is being held in a Russian jail accused of spying. 
Russia Test Of Troubled Missile 'A Success'
(Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty) Russia says it successfully test-fired an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) that is to be a key element of its nuclear arsenal for decades but has been plagued by problems. 
NATO Ship in Black Sea Buzzed By Russian Planes, Russia Disputes Account
(USNI News) The Canadian Navy frigate HMCS Toronto (FFH-333) was overflown by three Russian planes - two fighters and a surveillance aircraft - on Sunday, according to a Monday statement from Canadian Defence Minister Rob Nicholson. 
UK launches new Rivet Joint flight test programme
(IHS Jane's 360) A new UK-US flight test programme is being launched to help provide additional data to allow the Royal Air Force's (RAF's) three Boeing RC-135 Rivet Joint electronic intelligence gathering aircraft to receive their full flight safety certification. 
French Jihadi Mehdi Nemmouche Is the Shape of Terror to Come
(The Daily Beast) The French holy-warrior wannabe who tortured Western prisoners in Syria and attacked a Jewish museum in Brussels is a poster boy for the threat now facing the West. 

ASIA-PACIFIC

Susan Rice seeks China cooperation against Islamic State as Beijing visit ends
(McClatchy) National Security Adviser Susan Rice met with Chinese President Xi Jinping for 45 minutes on Tuesday, concluding a three-day visit to Beijing that was billed as a preparatory mission for President Barack Obama's visit to China in November but saw her pressing China to join a coalition to combat Islamic State insurgents in Syria and Iraq. 
Korea drill will test war, natural disaster evacuation procedures
(Stars & Stripes) Military family members and a number of civilian employees in South Korea soon will take part in the annual Courageous Channel evacuation drill, essentially a dress rehearsal in case of war or natural disaster on the Korean peninsula. 
Australia deploys military personnel on PLAN hospital ship
(IHS Jane's 360) In a sign of growing co-operation between the armed forces of both countries, the Australian Defence Force (ADF) revealed that it has deployed two medical officers on board the Peoples' Liberation Army Navy's (PLAN's) Type 920 Anwei-class hospital ship Daishandao (T-AH 866), more widely known as Peace Ark , since 31 August. 

AFRICA

Official: U.S. military's response to Ebola hampered by lack of expertise with virus
(Washington Post) Despite President Obama's call for increased involvement of the U.S. military in the fight against the rapidly escalating Ebola epidemic in West Africa, the United States is hamstrung by a lack of military medical personnel with expertise dealing with the deadly virus, a top official in charge of coordinating the U.S. response said Tuesday. 
Under militia power, Libya closer to failed state
(Associated Press) After three years of chaos since Moammar Gadhafi's fall, Libya is further crumbling into a failed state after Islamist-allied militias took over the capital Tripoli and other cities and set up their own government, driving out a parliament that was elected over the summer. 
France ups rhetoric on 'terrorist hub' Libya
(Agence France-Presse) France on Tuesday issued a clarion call to the rest of the international community to act in Libya, amid growing fears the country is becoming a major "terrorist hub" on Europe's doorstep. 
French call for action on Libya unlikely to have military results say Italians
(Libya Herald) A French call for joint action with other European states to bring about peace in Libya and stamp out terrorists is unlikely to result in any direct military action, the Libya Herald has been told. 
UN: Crashed helicopter in S. Sudan was shot down
(Associated Press) A United Nations helicopter that crashed in South Sudan last month was shot down after a rebel commander alleged that U.N. aircraft were being used to transport government troops, the mission in South Sudan said Tuesday. 
Tanzanian president outlines military modernisation
(IHS Jane's 360) The Tanzania People's Defence Force (TPDF) will become a smaller, but more sophisticated force, according to President Jakaya Kikwete. 
New Somali extremist leader rose amid purge
(Associated Press) The new leader of Somalia's al-Shabab extremist rebels, Ahmad Umar, is described as a compelling leader who is expected to maintain the Islamic militant group's violent attacks against the Mogadishu government and other targets. 

COMMENTARY AND ANALYSIS

How Arkansas' Senate Race Impacts Defense
(Dustin Walker in Real Clear Defense) An incumbent defense appropriator faces an Iraq War veteran and rising GOP foreign policy star in a race that Republicans must win to take control of the Senate. 
Is Obama Leading or Being Led?
(Ron Fournier in National Journal) Consider this paradox: Americans overwhelmingly support President Obama's actions against the Islamic State so far-airstrikes and humanitarian assistance without ground troops-and yet they disapprove of Obama's handling of the ISIS crisis. Why the split mind? 
Column The GOP's Iraq quandary
(Doyle McManus in The Los Angeles Times) For most of the summer, Republicans had it easy when it came to the Islamic State. All they had to do was complain that President Obama wasn't tough enough, accuse him of lacking strategic vision and demand that he do more. 
Observations on the Long War
(Conrad Crane in War on the Rocks) For more than a decade, I have been recording reflections about the course of the so-called "Long War" launched after the tragic events of 9/11. 
Yet Another Iraq War Powers Letter, and a Response to Lederman
(Jack Goldsmith in Lawfare) Yesterday the President sent his seventh Iraq-related War Powers Resolution (WPR) letter since June, and the fourth in about a month. The new letter concerns U.S. Armed Forces using "targeted airstrikes in the vicinity of the Haditha Dam in support of Iraqi forces in their efforts to retain control of and defend this critical infrastructure site from ISIL 
America's resumption of 'the long war'
(Michael Gerson in The Washington Post) As the United States pivots back to the Middle East - in belated recognition that its enemies never pivoted from their intention to establish a territorial expression of radical Islamism - President Obama is more likely to change his policy than to change his rhetoric. We are more likely, in other words, to see "boots on the ground" in Iraq (already more than 1,000 troops are in supportive roles) than we are to hear an admission that the administration's foreign policy approach has shifted. 
Hopes for Iraq's New Government
(New York Times) The Iraqi Parliament put in place an important building block of an anti-ISIS strategy on Monday when it approved, in record time, a new power-sharing government led by Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi. 
Send in the Guerrillas
(Whitney Kassel in Foreign Policy) The White House is enthusiastically touting its plans to put together a coalition to fight the Islamic State that will include Britain, Turkey, and, among others, Poland. But the United States' most recent wars in Afghanistan and Iraq have demonstrated the limits of even the broadest-based coalition warfare -- over 40 countries in the case of Afghanistan -- in places where the host government has its own ideas about what an acceptable end state could and should look lik 
Russian Reactions to the NATO Summit
(Dmitry Gorenburg in War on the Rocks) The NATO summit in Wales was treated in Russia with a great deal of equanimity. The official reaction was quite predictable, with the Foreign Ministry putting out a statement that claimed that interfering in the affairs of foreign states was part of NATO's "genetic code" and flowed directly from the organization's desperate search for a role in the global security system after the end of the Cold War. 
Russia and the Menace of Unreality
(Peter Pomerantsev in The Atlantic) At the NATO summit in Wales last week, General Philip Breedlove, the military alliance's top commander, made a bold declaration. Russia, he said, is waging "the most amazing information warfare blitzkrieg we have ever seen in the history of information warfare." 
Are There Parallels Between 1914 and the Ukrainian Crisis?
(Daniel Grandet in War on the Rocks) It is currently fashionable to use the centenary of the outbreak of the First World War for all sorts of comparisons reaching from power dynamics in East Asia to the Euro Crisis. As the Ukrainian crisis coincides with the 100th anniversary of the First World War, there is also plenty of opportunity to think about differences and similarities of developments between the July Crisis in 1914 and the escalating situation in Ukraine. 
China's Military Gets More Bang for the Buck
(Noah Smith in Bloomberg) Whenever anyone brings up the rising military power of China, Russia and other U.S. rivals, some pundit usually pops up to remind us that America is still overwhelmingly dominant both in terms of military capability and spending. The pundit will generally offer you a chart like this one, which shows American military spending dwarfing everyone else's. The message, of course, is that the U.S. outspends all its rivals, ensuring its continued military dominance. 




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