FW: Navy Times Early Bird Brief

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Robert Serge

VVA 17 Member

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

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From: no-reply@navytimes.com
To: rserge1@outlook.com
Subject: Navy Times Early Bird Brief
Date: Fri, 10 Oct 2014 04:41:02 -0600

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COMPILED BY THE EDITORS OF DEFENSE NEWS & MILITARY TIMES
October 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. ADVERTISEMENT	ADVERTISEMENT TODAY'S TOP 5 1. Air Force revokes medical coverage for 1,000 separating airmen (Air Force Times) The Air Force mistakenly issued medical benefits to more than 1,000 voluntarily separating airmen earlier this year, and is now revoking those benefits.  2. Strikes didn't end threat from Syrian terror cell (Associated Press) The barrage of U.S. cruise missiles last month aimed at a Syrian terrorist cell killed just one or two key militants, according to American intelligence officials who say the group of veteran al-Qaida fighters is still believed to be plotting attacks against U.S. and European targets.  3. Opinion: A better plan for Army aviation (Army Maj. Gen. David S. Baldwin and Maj. Gen. Jeff Burton in Army Times) The active component Army is working to implement a plan that will erode the National Guard, and they are doing it under the guise of "modernization." The Army Restructuring Initiative calls for removing all Apache attack helicopters from the Guard, an action that would undermine the operational capability of a reserve force that has served admirably during the past 12 years of sustained combat.  4. Panetta Regrets Musing Aloud on Possible Israeli Strike (Bloomberg) Former U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta acknowledges in his new book the "mistake of speaking too candidly" to a columnist when he suggested Israel might launch a preemptive strike on Iranian nuclear facilities.  5. Army Leaders Worldwide Adapt Operations To New Demands (Aviation Week) The rise of asymmetrical warfare, advances in weapons and systems, and the mundane but no less relevant impact of budget cuts are changing how many armies structure their forces and conduct operations.   ISLAMIC STATE US Pushing Turks to Join Anti-IS Coalition (Defense News) A team of top US officials has arrived in Ankara, Turkey for two days of talks in an attempt to prod the Turkish government into taking an active role in fighting the Islamist State group in northern Syria.  General Who Championed Air Power Challenges Pentagon on ISIS (Time) Architect of U.S. air war in Afghanistan says U.S. strikes too limited  Syria could threaten U.S. warplanes (Politico) Bashar Assad could make Barack Obama's war against the Islamic State a lot more complicated if he chose.  Big Red One boss outlines new Iraq missions (Army Times) As the 1st Infantry Division headquarters deploys to Iraq, one of its priorities will be to help the Iraqi Security Forces as they fight to reclaim their country, the division's top officer told Army Times.  Islamic State fighters are threatening to overrun Iraq's Anbar province (Washington Post) Islamic State militants are threatening to overrun a key province in western Iraq in what would be a major victory for the jihadists and an embarrassing setback for the U.S.-led coalition targeting the group.  No One's Really in Charge' in Hostage Negotiations (Foreign Policy) Insiders and administration officials tell Foreign Policy that efforts to free Americans held by the Islamic State are uncoordinated, inconsistent, and crippled by bureaucratic infighting.  U.S. Planes are Blowing the Hell out of ISIS at Kobani, But ... (The Daily Beast) Airstrikes that appear to be coordinated with Kurdish guerrillas have escalated dramatically, but they may not be enough to save the town.  ISIS gains raise doubts about strategy (The Hill) Officials say U.S.-led airstrikes are not stopping the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) from gaining ground in Iraq and Syria, raising questions as to whether President Obama's strategy against the terrorist group is working.   Turkey Faces Worst Kurdish Insurgency in 22 Years (Defense News) Tens of thousands of Kurds turned several Turkish cities into flames in order to protest the Ankara government's reluctance to save their kinship in Kobani, a northern Syrian city bordering Turkey and beseiged by Islamic radicals.  Are Iraq's renowned peshmerga fighters any match for Islamic State? (Los Angeles Times) Though a coalition of Western countries is training Kurdish forces in northern Iraq to more effectively fight Islamic State militants, Kurdish commanders and officers say the effort is moving slowly and not keeping up with the military strength and speed of their enemy.  Let contractors fight the Islamic State, Blackwater founder Erik Prince says (Washington Post) As the fight against the Islamic State unfolds, the take of Erik Prince, the founder of the former private security firm Blackwater, is straightforward: If the United States is unwilling to send in ground troops, "let the private sector finish the job."  EBOLA Troops fighting Ebola will earn up to $400 extra per month (Military Times) U.S. troops deploying to West Africa for the Ebola mission could earn up to $400 a month in special pays, according to Defense Department officials.  US military planes arrive at epicenter of Ebola (Associated Press) Six U.S. military planes arrived in the Ebola hot zone Thursday with more Marines, as West Africa's leaders pleaded for the world's help in dealing with a crisis that one called "a tragedy unforeseen in modern times."  How hard would it be to weaponize Ebola? Pretty hard. (Christian Science Monitor) The Ebola outbreak has sparked concerns that terrorists could attempt to use the virus for nefarious purposes. However, Pentagon officials maintain that such risk is extremely low.  Training changes as US troops head to West Africa (Associated Press) Forgoing combat rifles and body armor, U.S. troops preparing to fight Ebola in Liberia were instead stepping gingerly Thursday into white germ-proof suits and pulling on thick, blue rubber gloves and gas masks.  The CDC Is Relying on People To Tell the Truth About Contact with Ebola (DefenseOne) People traveling to the United States from West Africa through five of the nation's busiest airports could now face temperature screening and enhanced questioning.  Small drugmakers try to scale up to meet Ebola crisis (Washington Post) The manufacturer of the experimental Ebola drug ZMapp said Friday that it is trying to squeeze more production out of the tobacco plants used to create the medication and develop other ways of making the drug in an effort to boost supply.  UN chief: 20 times more Ebola aid needed (Associated Press) The presidents of three Ebola-stricken West African nations made urgent pleas for money, doctors and hospital beds Thursday and representatives of nations gathered for financial meetings promised more help.  Heart-Rending Test in Ebola Zone: A Baby (New York Times) Peering inside a red Nissan hatchback that had pulled up to the gate of an Ebola treatment center here, a guard saw an older woman holding a tiny newborn, a young woman sprawled in the back seat and a man in his 60s crouched in the rear, gripping her clothing so she did not slide off.  INDUSTRY Former AgustaWestland Head Cleared of Corruption Charge, Sentenced for False Bookkeeping (Defense News) An Italian court sentenced the former head of AgustaWestland to two years for false bookkeeping on Thursday, but cleared him of a more serious charge of international corruption related to a 560 million euro deal to sell helicopters to India.  Northrop faked tests of GPS systems, whistle-blower suit claims (Los Angeles Times) An employee of defense giant Northrop Grumman Inc. claims in a lawsuit that the company's workers repeatedly took risky shortcuts and faked tests of navigational systems made for use in military fighter jets, drones and submarines.  3DELRR Latest in String of Radar Losses for Northrop (Aviation Week) Raytheon's win of the U.S. Air Force's Three-Dimensional Expeditionary Long Range Radar contract sealed the company's dominance in the Pentagon's large-face surface-to-air radar work and shut out competition from Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman - for now.  U.S. Navy underscores need for 'lasting fix' for F-35 engine issue (Reuters) The U.S. military needs a "lasting" fix to the engine issue that grounded the F-35 fighter fleet for several weeks this summer, given the importance of the most advanced U.S. fighter jet for decades to come, a top U.S. Navy official said this week.  Navy eyes new anti-ship missile (Navy Times) It's been nearly 40 years since the Navy started its relationship with the Harpoon missile, but now the service seems to have eyes for another surface-to-surface anti-ship missile: A younger, more agile Norwegian.  Questions Ahead for JSTARS Replacement (Defense News) The service's joint surveillance target attack radar system (JSTARS) aircraft fleet is due for a replacement, but questions remain whether the program is viewed as a large enough priority in Congress to secure funding.  DRS Unveils Very Small SIGINT Sensor (Breaking Defense) Imagine reconnaissance teams operating in enemy territory being able to hump in their own tiny signals intelligence (SIGINT) sensors, able to gather intel on both electronic emissions (ELINT) and communications (COMINT). Ok, they don't have to hump them in because each one weighs roughly two-and-half pounds. Sound like science fiction?  Textron Fury kills ground targets during initial flight tests (IHS Jane's 360) Textron Systems Weapon and Sensor Systems has made two live-fire demonstration launches of its Fury lightweight guided glide weapon from an Unmanned Systems Shadow 200 unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). Conducted in August, but not announced at the time, the trials took place at the US Army's Yuma Proving Ground in Arizona.  USN's New Range Aircraft: G550 CAEW (Defense Industry Daily) The US Navy is replacing its 2 NP-3D "Billboard" external link range monitoring aircraft with a new plane, which will use the same core design as the modern AWACS aircraft bought by Israel, Italy, and Singapore: "a Gulfstream G550 long-range business jet with the Conformal Airborne Early Warning (CAEW) structural modifications."  SBIRS GEO-4 integration under way (IHS Jane's 360) Lockheed Martin has delivered the payload for the US Air Force's (USAF's) fourth Space Based Infrared System (SBIRS) Geosynchronous Earth Orbit (GEO) satellite, the company announced on 8 October.  Air And Ground Robots Add Battlefield Capabilities (Aviation Week) With the evolution of modern satellite-based navigation, miniaturized inertial measurement systems, advanced electro-optical and laser sensors and powerful yet compact computing and advanced data links, robots are becoming smart enough to carry out autonomous missions as efficiently as, or better than, their human counterparts.   BAE To Cut 440 Management Jobs (Defense News) BAE Systems is to ax up to 440 management jobs at its Military Air and Information (MAI) business in the UK, the company said Thursday.  Thyssen to manage Airbus Helicopters supply chain (Reuters) German industrial group ThyssenKrupp (TKAG.DE) has agreed a deal with Airbus (AIR.PA) to manage the supply chain of metallic raw materials for Airbus Helicopters.  France says $3bn arms sale to Lebanon will proceed (IHS Jane's 360) French president Francois Hollande has approved the sale of defence and security equipment to Lebanon under a USD3 billion Saudi grant, French defence minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said on 8 October.  Saab Adds Capabilities In New Recoilless Rifle (Aviation Week) Saab Dynamics used its first ground combat systems demonstration day here to show the newest iteration of the Carl-Gustaf M4 recoilless rifle, a man-portable, multirole weapon system. Also on display at the event last month were new rounds for the 84-mm weapon and its sister system, the disposable, shoulder-launched AT4 anti-armor weapon. Brazil to set aside BRL1bn in 2015 for Gripen purchase (IHS Jane's 360) The Brazilian government has indicated its intention to set aside around BRL1 billion (USD417 million) in the 2015 draft annual budget law for the acquisition of the 36 Saab Gripen NG multirole combat aircraft being purchased under the FX-2 Project.  VETERANS Scrutiny over latest VA firings likely just the start (Military Times) Four Veterans Affairs senior executives being dismissed this month are the first to face the department's controversial new firing authorities, approved by Congress in July.  The $1,000 Pill That Could Cripple the VA's Budget (CNBC) The Department of Veterans Affairs, still reeling from a scandal over the negligent treatment of veterans seeking medical care that may have contributed to some deaths, has a new problem on its hands.  Veteran housing project Freedom's Path files for funding again (Augusta Chronicle; Ga.) The developers of Freedom's Path, a low-income housing complex aimed at ending veteran homelessness in the Augusta area, have filed a new tax-credit application for the state's 2014 funding cycle, after a legal dispute last year threatened to kill the project.  CONGRESS McKeon: 'I Know' U.S. Commanders Have Pressed Obama for More Ground Troops (Defense News) America's top generals have informed President Barack Obama they need more ground troops deployed to Iraq, says a top lawmaker with ties to Pentagon brass.  House OKs defense funds for Ebola mission (Military Times) House lawmakers are ready to shift nearly $1 billion in defense funds to fight the Ebola outbreak in Africa.  Congress Holds Up Most of the Funding for Defense Department's Ebola Fight (Wall Street Journal) Congress has held up most of the Defense Department's request to spend up to $1 billion to combat the Ebola outbreak, with some lawmakers holding back funds until the administration provides more information on its strategy.  Pentagon to brief Congress on Ebola plan (The Hill) Pentagon officials are briefing congressional staff this week on how they intend to spend the $1 billion requested to fight the Ebola virus, as the U.S. ramps up its response to the deadly disease.  DEFENSE DEPARTMENT Paying Respects, Pentagon Revives Vietnam, and War Over Truth (New York Times) It has been nearly half a century since a young antiwar protester named Tom Hayden traveled to Hanoi to investigate President Lyndon B. Johnson's claims that the United States was not bombing civilians in Vietnam. Mr. Hayden saw destroyed villages and came away, he says, "pretty wounded by the pattern of deception."  Judge sets Oct. 17 deadline for U.S. to redact Guantanamo force-feeding videos (Miami Herald) A federal judge Thursday gave the Obama administration an Oct. 17 deadline to comply with her order to redact for release dozens of videos of a Guantanamo captive being tackled, shackled and forced-fed at the prison camps in Cuba.  6 military-related charities join Combined Federal Campaign (Military Times) Six charities that serve the military community in a variety of ways - from providing legal services to veterans seeking federal benefits, to linking pets with troops and veterans - have joined the two military-related charity federations under this year's Combined Federal Campaign.  Military health review verifies a pearl: secure doctor-patient email (Military Update) The recent 90-day review of the Military Healthcare System found it "comparable in access, quality and safety to average private-sector health care," Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel told a press conference last week.  Videos: Driving the Pentagon's high-tech vehicle of the future (Washington Post) The Pentagon's Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency announced in August that it is pursuing a new, high-tech project that would develop a vehicle capable of not only reducing the size and weight of combat vehicles by 50 percent, but boost speed by 100 percent and vastly reduce the enemy's ability to detect it coming.  ARMY Bergdahl investigation finished (San Antonio Express-News) The Army said Thursday it has completed an investigation into Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl's disappearance from a base in Afghanistan five years ago.  Army Needs More Money To Refit Strykers (DoDBuzz) The Stryker Fighting Vehicles were billed as the wave of the future in land warfare when they started coming off the General Dynamics assembly lines in the early 2000s, but then Iraq, Afghanistan and sequestration happened.  View the Army's tough, new NCOER (Army Times) The new Noncommissioned Officer Evaluation Reporting system, slated for a fall 2015 fielding, will feature separate forms for soldiers of different ranks, and new responsibilities for raters and senior raters.  Fort Carson brigade getting acquainted with firepower this week (Colorado Springs Gazette) Those booms that can be heard from the south are the sounds of an Army brigade getting to know its gear.  NAVY Frigate CO fired after allegedly groping chief's wife (Navy Times) The commanding officer of the frigate Vandegrift has been relieved amid an investigation into an alleged sexual assault that occurred during a port visit to Panama City, Panama.  Navy captain accused of viewing child porn at work (Virginian-Pilot) Investigators say they found close to 300 images of pornography and bestiality on Capt. Richard Frey's work computer at Norfolk Naval Station, including dozens that were possibly child porn.  Navy to commission missile defense base in Romania (Stars & Stripes) The Navy will commission its new missile defense base in southern Romania on Friday, one of two European land-based interceptor sites for a NATO missile shield vehemently opposed by Russia.  USS Cole to Enter Black Sea On Friday (USNI News) The U.S. is sending the guided missile destroyer USS Cole into the Black Sea on Friday as part of an ongoing presence mission in the region since Russia seized the Crimea region of Ukraine in March.  Search called off for missing Atlantic Beach boater (Florida Times Union) Peter Rodrigues, 57, a former Navy SEAL and a construction contractor, was on a solo outing aboard his 27-foot Sea Witch. He was planning to repair an antenna in the boat's cabin, according to a final text he sent Sunday.  Navy battling rhino beetles infestation at Hawaii base (Stars & Stripes) There's a war raging at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, and the Navy is bringing in real firepower.  AIR FORCE Sex offenses now part of airmen's permanent record (Air Force Times) Airmen found to have committed a sexual offense - whether by court-martial conviction, non-judicial punishment or administrative action - will have the offense documented in their permanent personnel records, the Air Force announced Sept. 30.  Air Force pilot who ejected from F-15D released from hospital (Stars & Stripes) A U.S. Air Force pilot who ejected from an F-15D figher jet during a training exercise Wednesday is out of the hospital and "in fine spirits," an Air Force spokesman said.  Global Strike Looking at AFSOC Acquisition Model (Defense News) The head of Air Force Global Strike Command wants to modernize his fleets at a rapid pace, and he believes Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) may be the model to follow.  NASA: Secret X-37B space plane will use shuttle hangars (Florida Today) NASA today confirmed long-known plans for a secretive military space plane program to take over the use of two former shuttle hangars at Kennedy Space Center.  MARINE CORPS MARSOC officers get their own career path (Marine Corps Times) MARSOC is creating a new career path for officers by converting the 0370 Special Operation Officer free military occupational specialty into a primary MOS.  Paxton: Special MAGTFs Are "Feet Dry" for Lack of Amphibs (Seapower) The recent movements of two Special-Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Forces (SP-MAGTFs) highlight a shortage of amphibious warfare shipping (amphibs), said the assistant commandant of the Marine Corps.  Marine vet imprisoned in Mexico could face charges in California (Marine Corps Times) Marine veteran Andrew Tahmooressi's legal problems might not end in Mexico.  Marine comes to mom's aid after man grabs purse (Associated Press) A 19-year-old southeast Missouri man is facing a felony robbery charge after police say he tried to steal a woman's purse at a Walmart parking lot but was chased down by the victim's son, a former Marine Corps military policeman.  NATIONAL GUARD Governor reviews award of medal to guardsman implicated in scandal (Alaska Dispatch News) Gov. Sean Parnell is reviewing the awarding of a high-level Alaska National Guard honor to a guardsman embroiled in the toxic culture of harassment and misconduct that has plagued the guard for years.  Ex-Guardsman guilty of stealing recruiting bonuses gets probation (Associated Press) A Kanawha County man has been ordered to pay $13,500 in restitution for stealing recruiting bonuses from the West Virginia National Guard.  AFGHANISTAN/PAKISTAN DLA junks multimillion planes for Afghan Air Force, sells scrap for 6 cents a pound (Air Force Times) Sixteen unusable transport aircraft that the U.S. government bought for the Afghan Air Force have been scrapped for pennies on the dollar, according to the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction.  One Afghan officer who fled Cape granted bail (Boston Globe) In immigration court here Wednesday, everyone agreed that Afghan army Major Jan Arash is not a threat to national security. He had passed a polygraph test to come to the United States. Until he and two other Afghan soldiers left a conference on Cape Cod last month and tried to flee to Canada, he had never been in jail.  U.S. airstrikes in Afghanistan hit two-year high (Air Force Times) As the U.S. approaches the end of major combat operations in Afghanistan, the number of airstrikes there hit their highest point in two years in August.  US drones strike al Qaeda hub in Pakistan's tribal areas (Long War Journal) Today, the US launched its fifth drone strike in Pakistan's Waziristan region in the past five days. Four people are reported to have been killed in today's strike.  Premier of Pakistan Visits Troops in Tribal Area (New York Times) Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif of Pakistan visited a military camp in the tribal district of North Waziristan on Thursday in what was seen as a pointed show of support and an attempt to bolster his troubled relationship with the country's top generals.  India and Pakistan trade blame over shelling across disputed Kashmir border (Washington Post) Leaders in India and Pakistan traded blame Thursday for cross-border attacks that officials said have killed at least 18 civilians in recent days and forced thousands from their homes.  NSC meets: PM Nawaz calls upon India to honour ceasefire agreement (Dawn.com; Pakistan) A meeting of the National Security Committee took place on Friday with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in the chair and condemned unprovoked firing from across the Line of Control (LoC) and working boundary by Indian security forces.  Insurgents in Pakistan Stepping Up Iran Strikes (New York Times) Sunni insurgents in Pakistan increased attacks on Iranian border posts in the southeast of the country this week, employing methods similar to those used by Islamic State militants in Syria and Iraq.  MIDDLE EAST Satellite imagery shows Parchin explosion aftermath (IHS Jane's 360) Satellite imagery indicates that there was an explosion at Iran's Parchin military research, development, and production facility on 5 October, raising fears about safety precautions at a site where nuclear weapons research allegedly has been carried out.  Explosion at Key Military Base in Iran Raises Questions About Sabotage (New York Times) A spectacular explosion on Sunday night outside Tehran took place deep inside the Parchin military base, where Iran produces crucial elements of its missiles and other munitions, raising new questions about whether the blast was an accident or sabotage.  Iran refused to let in U.S. member of U.N. nuclear team: sources (Reuters) A United Nations atomic agency official recently denied entry into Iran as part of a team investigating suspected bomb research is believed to be an American nuclear weapons expert, diplomatic sources said.  Fear of Sunni Extremists Grows After Fatal Blast in Yemen's Capital (New York Times) A suicide bomber attacked a crowd of protesters here in the capital on Thursday, killing at least 47 people and adding to fear that Sunni extremists were mobilizing new attacks against a Shiite rebel group that took control of Sana last month.  IDF steps up tunnel warfare training following Gaza war (IHS Jane's 360) The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) is prioritising tunnel warfare training as part of the lessons learned during the 50-day conflict with Hamas and Islamic Jihad in the Gaza Strip in July and August.  EUROPE A Hollow Ukrainian Ceasefire (The Atlantic) Nearly one-tenth of all reported deaths in the crisis have happened since Moscow and Kiev agreed to stop fighting.  Army Chief Remakes Swedish Force (Aviation Week) It is a new day for the Swedish army. Chief of Staff Maj. Gen. Anders Brannstrom is restructuring the service as a modern force, one that provides national defense and engages in global missions. Defense spending is increasing to meet evolving military needs-including a perceived threat from Russia-but challenges abound. Contributing Editor Francis Tusa asked Brannstrom about his plans for the army during a recent interview in Sweden.  First in New Class of British Attack Boat Completes Maiden Deployment (USNI News) HMS Astute (S-94) - the first in class of the U.K. Royal Navy's nuclear attack boats (SSNs) - has returned to Scotland after its first operational deployment, the Royal Navy announced on Thursday.  Former Soviet Leader Gorbachev Hospitalized (Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty) Russian media report former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev has been hospitalized.  ASIA-PACIFIC No show: North Korea's leader Kim misses Party birthday (USA Today) The wait continues - and the speculation mounts - after North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un failed to show up Friday for a key political anniversary in Pyongyang.  New star emerges in North Korea amid speculation over Kim (Reuters) The man in the olive drab uniform and oversized Soviet-style military cap who strode through South Korea's main airport last week has climbed from an obscure desk job in North Korea to the most powerful position outside the ruling Kim family.  Is South Korea ready to take over control of troops on peninsula? (Stars & Stripes) Almost a decade ago, OPCON was heralded as a symbol of South Korea's rise from a poor, war-torn nation into an economic power capable of defending itself.  Chinese fisherman killed in South Korean coastguard raid (Reuters) A Chinese fisherman was killed on Friday in a South Korean coastguard operation to apprehend his vessel which was operating illegally off South Korea's west coast, the South Korean coastguard said, drawing an angry response from China.  China Deploys A Mechanized 'Peace Mission' (Aviation Week) At 7,000 troops, the Peace Mission 2014 military exercise of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) was not large militarily. But its geopolitical importance was considerable: It was the biggest exercise to date for a budding anti-democratic alliance that includes two nuclear powers and could soon gain three more.   Hong Kong government backs out of talks; students vow renewed protests (Washington Post) The government in Hong Kong backed out of talks with leaders of the pro-democracy protests Thursday, saying that it would not meet with them after they had called on their supporters to come back to the streets to keep up pressure on the authorities.  AFRICA What It's Like to Be Snatched by the Delta Force (The Daily Beast) Swarmed, Tasered, and trundled into a vehicle blindfolded-and that was just the beginning for alleged al Qaeda member Abu Anas al-Liby. Now he's complaining about his treatment.  Egypt, Libya announce deeper security cooperation to 'fight terrorism' (Reuters) Egypt will train Libyan forces to fight terrorism and help secure a shared border, the prime ministers of the two states announced in Cairo on Wednesday, stepping up efforts against Islamist insurgents in both countries.  UN: 1st peacekeeper killed in C African Republic (Associated Press) The United Nations on Thursday reported its first peacekeeper death in the Central African Republic since it took over the duties of trying to calm months of unprecedented violence between Christians and Muslims.  COMMENTARY AND ANALYSIS Learning from the Air Force: Why The Army Needs a Congressional Commission (Retired Army Lt. Gen. David Barno in War on the Rocks) Over recent months, tensions between the active U.S. Army and the U.S. Army National Guard have escalated dramatically. Instead of working as a team to manage the deep cuts to Army force structure and end strength, the two sides have withdrawn to their corners, donned their boxing gloves, and sparred bloodily about topics ranging from restructuring aviation assets to the degree of interchangeability between active and reserve forces.  Opinion: U.S. Army Must Develop A Force for Modern Warfare (Douglas Macgregor in Aviation Week) The world is on fire and the U.S. Army's response is to announce plans to rebuild its Cold War-era, 10-division force with all the trimmings. Whenever the Army is pressed for new ideas, senior leaders seem inclined to dust off yet another version of the Future Combat System (FCS).   Military Adaptive Leadership: Overcome or Overcompensate? (Army Maj. John McRae in Cicero Magazine) The commander was surprised by the incredible number of enemy forces that greeted him as he surveyed the enemy's camp. Despite intelligence that estimated the adversary at roughly the same as his own 700 men, nearly ten times that number stood before him.   Column: Does The War Machine Have Brakes? (John T. Bennett in Defense News) Checks and balances. Remember those?  The Islamic State's Anbar Offensive and Abu Umar al-Shishani (Daveed Gartenstein-Ross in War on the Rocks) The recent gains in Iraq's Anbar province by the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) have, justifiably, garnered a great deal of media attention. McClatchy noted on October 3 that following the group's gain of several cities in Anbar, its fighters had now "become a major presence in Abu Ghraib, the last Anbar town on the outskirts of the capital." Based on these advances, International Business Times openly wondered if ISIL was close enough to attack Baghdad. However, Western media coverage lacks the analytic usefulness of Arabic-language sources for discerning the story behind ISIL's recent victories.  Turkey Will Pay for Abandoning the Kurds (Bloomberg) In blocking the resupply of the Kurdish fighters who are trying desperately to hold off a siege by Islamic State in Kobani, Syria, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is making a decision that may haunt Turkey for years to come.  Fear, Inertia, and Islam (G. Murphy Donovan in Small Wars Journal) The conventional wisdom about strategic inertia, doing little or nothing, is that whatever might be done might make things worse. No proof is ever offered for such reasoning because none ever exists. The future is unknowable.  President Obama's Historic Middle East Opportunity (Robin Laird in Breaking Defense) President Obama was recently depicted on the cover of The Economist as the new George W. Bush, forced to head back to Iraq. One can correctly argue that the President and his national security team have spent more time distancing themselves from Bush's administration than looking hard into the future and shaping the strategic space within which American values and interests can be met.  The Law and Policy of Ebola Interdiction (Paul Rosenzweig in Lawfare) A few days ago President Obama announced his intention to do greater screening of passengers arriving in the United States, as a way of interdicting the spread of the Ebola virus.  The Nightmarish Politics of Ebola (John Cassidy in The New Yorker) In a hardware store in downtown Brooklyn on Wednesday, the guys behind the counter were discussing Ebola and the death of Thomas Eric Duncan, the Liberian man who flew to Dallas. One of the salesmen passed along a suggestion he'd heard on talk radio. Rather than trying to treat the victims, which endangered medical personnel and emergency responders, the government should just gather all the sick people together and euthanize them. His boss didn't disagree, but he thought more drastic action was called for. We should take one of those nuclear bombs and wipe Liberia off the map, he said. That would put an end to it.

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