| December 31, 2014 |
THE EARLY BIRD BRIEF |
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TODAY'S TOP 5
1. DoD braces for political battle over military pay
(Military Times) The Pentagon is bracing for one of its biggest political battles in years as a blue-ribbon commission on military compensation and retirement nears the end of its two-year study and moves closer to releasing its proposals for change by Feb. 1.
2. Somalia Says Al-Shabaab Intelligence Head Killed in U.S. Strike
(Bloomberg) A U.S. air-strike in southern Somalia killed the intelligence chief of the al-Qaeda-linked al-Shabaab Islamist militant Group three months after a similar attack eliminated the group's leader, Somalia's National Intelligence and Security Agency said.
3. The Tragedies of James Fallows
(Cdr Salamander) It is easy at first blush to dismiss something by a speechwriter for Jimmy Carter being published in The Atlantic. That was my first reaction as well when I saw the headline from James Fallows's latest, The Tragedy of the American Military. The Atlantic. James Fallows. Yes, yes, yes; I know the terrain.
4. Green Berets cleared in Afghanistan friendly fire deaths
(Washington Times) The Army's top special operations officer has cleared two Green Berets of wrongdoing in the worst case of "friendly fire" fatalities in the long Afghanistan war.
5. Congress Slaps Restrictions on Most Iraqi Training Funds
(Defense News) Congress has approved an Obama administration plan to train and equip Iraqi forces to fight the Islamic State - but the White House won't get all the funds until it gives lawmakers a better sense of its plans.
ISLAMIC STATE
2-star on Iraq: 'Still a big fight going on here'
(Army Times) U.S. and coalition forces have started to train Iraqi soldiers at four sites across the country even as more American troops prepare to deploy to join the growing fight against the Islamic State extremist group, a top general said Tuesday.
U.S. Troops, Back in Iraq, Train a Force to Fight ISIS
(New York Times) The United States has begun training a first wave of Iraqi Army recruits, in recent days putting them through morning fitness exercises and instructing them in marksmanship and infantry tactics, in an effort to gather enough forces to mount a spring offensive against the extremists of the Islamic State.
The War Against ISIS, by the Numbers
(Wall Street Journal) The numbers say a lot about the U.S.-led intervention in Syria.
Iraqi forces 'retake Dhuluiyah from ISIL'
(Al Jazeera) Iraqi forces have completed the recapture of Dhuluiyah, parts of which had been held by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) for months, commanders have said.
Iran and Iraq Deepen Defense Ties, Sign Pact
(Defense News) As the United States and a handful of allies begin flowing thousands of troops into Iraq to train and equip Iraqi and Kurdish army brigades, Baghdad and Tehran have signed an agreement to continue Iranian training of Iraqi units, according to a report from the Iranian Fars news agency.
Islamic State releases interview with captured Jordan pilot
(Reuters) The hardline Islamic State group has released what it said was an interview with a Jordanian pilot captured last week after his plane crashed during U.S.-led coalition bombing in eastern Syria.
Iraqis bicker over liberating Mosul
(Al-Monitor) Plans to liberate Mosul, a key stronghold of the Islamic State (IS), are gaining momentum in Iraq. Many Sunni Arabs who initially tolerated IS are now seeking revenge for its killing families and friends and confiscating their property. Sunni Arab forces are being organized, trained and armed in Erbil to counter IS with the cooperation of the Iraqi federal government, the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), the Mosul provincial council and the US-led coalition. Still, this effort is complicated by intra-Sunni Arab disputes over leadership and relations with Baghdad and the Kurds, as well as Kurdish disinterest in liberating and protecting Sunni Arab territories. These disputes highlight the challenges of not only degrading IS, but stabilizing Mosul in a highly fragmented Iraqi state.
INDUSTRY
Defense 2015 Preview: Downturn Ends but Industry Troubles Not Over
(National Defense) Pentagon contractors are entering the new year with a mix of caution and optimism. Military spending is about to hit bottom and is projected to inch up over the next several years. With Ashton Carter as defense secretary, the Pentagon gains a leader who has been an ardent critic of budget cuts and will again be on the front lines of that fight.
Navy orders laser mine detection system
(C4ISR & Networks) Northrop Grumman has been awarded a $35.5 million Navy airborne laser mine detection contract.
Navy Advances Design for New Destroyer Radar
(DoDBuzz) The Navy is making progress developing a more sensitive, next-generation radar system engineered to integrate onto new Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyers by 2023, service officials said.
Marty Meehan's D.C. links help fuel UMass Lowell's rise
(Boston Globe) Since retiring from Congress in 2007 and taking over UMass Lowell, Meehan has presided over one of the most effective networks for securing taxpayer funds and corporate research dollars for a university, drawing especially from the Pentagon and defense companies such as Waltham-based Raytheon.
India Requires Russia, S. Korea to Partner With Local Firms in Helo Contest
(Defense News) India's Defence Ministry has decided that South Korea and Russia must partner with Indian firms in order to take part in its helicopter competition, despite offers of complete technology transfer, according to an MoD source.
Saudi Arabia offers surplus F-5s for sale
(IHS Jane's 360) Saudi Arabia is looking to offload its remaining Northrop F-5E/F Tiger II combat aircraft, according to a solicitation posted online on 18 December.
Report: Russia May Supply Su-24 Aircraft To Argentina In Exchange For Food
(Defense News) Russia and Argentina are eyeing a deal under which Moscow would lease 12 Sukhoi Su-24 Fencer aircraft to Buenos Aires in return for beef and wheat, the London-based paper Sunday Express has claimed.
VETERANS
A Veteran's Chemical Burns Expanded Military Doctors' Knowledge, but His Care Faltered
(New York Times) Daniel Mould's sense of abandonment was profound.
Retired Marine sergeant major seeks answers for illness
(Tampa Bay Times) The illness hit Marine Corps Sgt. Maj. William A. Hines in 2010 like no enemy he had ever experienced.
Veterans stunned by discovery of human remains on VFW grounds
(Boston Herald) The grisly discovery of two sets of human remains on the grounds of a Brockton VFW has stunned members of the post, who say they've seen enough death.
All-terrain chair gives measure of freedom to wounded warrior
(Fayetteville Observer) Injuries from a mortar blast that left a young soldier blinded and partially paralyzed, kept him from his favorite outdoor activities - until now.
DEFENSE DEPARTMENT
Pentagon meets resistance on benefit cuts
(The Hill) The Pentagon is planning another push to whittle down benefits for troops when it submits its 2016 budget to the White House in February over fierce opposition from military groups and some in Congress.
Pentagon, moving to close Guantanamo, sends five prisoners to Kazakhstan
(Washington Post) The U.S. military has sent five detainees from the prison at Guantanamo Bay to Kazakhstan, the Pentagon announced late Tuesday, capping a year of intensified efforts by the Obama administration to shut down the detention center.
Pass-Through Contracts for War Zones Need Monitoring, GAO Finds
(Government Executive) Three agencies working overseas that together spent $322 billion on contracting in fiscal 2013 need to improve guidance given contracting officers to reduce risk of overpayments, a watchdog found. Two-thirds of that money is funneled through prime contractors to smaller contractors who perform most of the work.
Intelligence, defense whistleblowers remain mired in broken system
(McClatchy) When Ilana Greenstein blew the whistle on mismanagement at the CIA, she tried to follow all the proper procedures.
ARMY
Virtual training upgrade with facial scans
(Army Times) New technology, aimed at beefing up the Army's virtual training program, can capture vivid facial features down the pores of the skin.
Fort Carson exploring addition of armed drone unit
(Colorado Springs Gazette) Under the plan, 12 Gray Eagle unmanned aerial systems and 128 soldiers would come to Fort Carson as part of a regiment that would belong to the post's combat aviation brigade. The Army is requesting public comment on the proposal, which details the aircraft, how and when they would operate and the necessary changes to accommodate them.
Ranger Regiment to decide whether weekend gunshots at JBLM lead to criminal charges
(Tacoma News Tribune) The Army has not yet determined whether to pursue criminal charges against the soldier who reportedly fired a gun several times into the air at Joint Base Lewis-McChord early Sunday.
Hearing set for former Fort Bragg soldier convicted of rapes and murders; Ronald A. Gray is on military death row
(Fayetteville Observer) A federal court in Kansas has set a February hearing for Ronald A. Gray, a former Fort Bragg soldier sitting on military death row for a series of rapes and murders that began nearly 30years ago.
NAVY
LCS, P-8 Standing By to Help with Downed Airliner
(DoDBuzz) U.S. Pacific Command has authorized the Navy's USS Fort Worth Littoral Combat Ship for potential assistance in ongoing search and recovery operations regarding AirAsia Flight QZ8501, Pentagon officials said.
Congress again denies SEALs "performance center"
(Virginian-Pilot) For the second year in a row, Congress declined to pay for a couple of "Human Performance Centers" for Navy SEALs based in Hampton Roads.
U.S. allocates a whopping $65 million for new Guantanamo school
(Miami Herald) The base with the most expensive prison on earth is getting one of the world's priciest schools - a $65 million building with classroom space for, at most, 275 kindergarten through high school students.
AIR FORCE
Wing commander relieved of post in Germany
(Air Force Times) The commander of the 52nd Fighter Wing at Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, was relieved of command Tuesday over a loss of faith and confidence in his leadership.
Air Force captain dissents from military sex assault policy, and commanders take notice
(Washington Post) With just a few weeks left in her Air Force career, Capt. Maribel Jarzabek decided to vent a little. She posted a few messages on a U.S. senator's Facebook page, supporting the lawmaker's push to overhaul the military justice system for sexual-assault cases.
Andrews Air Show to return in 2015
(Air Force Times) The popular Andrews Air Show will return in 2015, with a performance by the Air Force's Thunderbirds aerial demonstration team.
Hans Mueh saying farewell to Air Force Falcons as athletic director
(Denver Post) With a tip of his hat to the accomplishments of the Air Force football team this year, Hans Mueh is leaving his post as athletic director with peace of mind as well as anticipation of what will come in the next stage of his life.
MARINE CORPS
IG investigation: Marine generals remain at odds over sniper video scandal
(Washington Post) The recently retired commandant of the Marine Corps and a three-star general remain at odds over the handling of a scandal that bruised the commandant's reputation and led to allegations of abuse of power, according to the results of a Defense Department inspector general report obtained by The Washington Post.
Officer recommended for separation takes Marine Corps to court
(Marine Corps Times) A New York district court judge has ordered the Marine Corps to answer allegations of wrongdoing in the administrative hearing of Maj. Jason Brezler, a Reserve civil affairs officer recommended for separation last year despite testimony from defenders who called him an exceptional Marine.
U.S. calls for release of Americans in Iran, denies swap deal
(Reuters) The United States called on Tuesday for the release of U.S. citizens held in Iran, but denied a report that Washington had proposed a prisoner exchange for a former U.S. Marine.
Working dogs are Marines' new 'force multiplier' on ships
(Marine Corps Times) Marine Corps military working dogs may be spending more time aboard ships after three highly trained canines returned from nearly nine-months at sea.
AFGHANISTAN/PAKISTAN
McCain: Afghanistan on Verge of Becoming Another Iraq
(Defense News) A top US senator is warning the Obama administration's plans for Afghanistan could lead to a repeat of the instability and violence that has plagued Iraq.
Afghans' War Remains Fierce After Coalition Ends Combat Mission
(Wall Street Journal) For Haji Shir Khan, the war in Afghanistan has never been closer. In recent weeks, the Taliban beheaded his father and burned down his house as part of a violent offensive in his remote home valley.
Afghanistan conflict: Taliban declares 'defeat' of Nato
(BBC) Taliban fighters in Afghanistan have declared the "defeat" of the US and its allies, a day after the coalition officially ended its combat mission.
Mumbai suspect rearrested in Pakistan
(Associated Press) Pakistani police have rearrested the main suspect in the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, officials said Tuesday, quashing expectations that he might soon be freed.
MIDDLE EAST
Palestinian statehood resolution fails at U.N. council, U.S. votes against
(Reuters) The U.N. Security Council on Tuesday rejected a Palestinian resolution calling for an Israeli withdrawal from the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem and the establishment of a Palestinian state by late 2017.
Egypt-Qatar rapprochement rattles Hamas
(Al-Monitor) At a time when Hamas is mending its relationship with Iran, Egypt and Qatar are also in the process of rapprochement after more than a year of tension. Resumed ties between them will likely have an impact on Hamas, but questions remain as to whether the Palestinian Islamist movement stands to gain or lose from this important regional development.
Saudi Arabia reportedly blocks arms shipment from Pakistan to Nigeria
(IHS Jane's 360) Saudi Arabia is refusing to allow cargo aircraft loaded with defence items to fly from Pakistan to Nigeria through its airspace, This Day reported on 29 December.
Large Explosion Targets Yemeni Shiite Rebels
(Associated Press) Witnesses say a strong explosion has struck a gathering of Shiite rebels in the central Yemeni city of Ibb.
EUROPE
Russia threatens to halt cooperation with U.S. on Iran, Syria
(Los Angeles Times) Russia warned Tuesday that it may halt cooperation with the United States on Iran and Syria in response to a continuing stream of U.S. sanctions.
Putin foe Alexei Navalny avoids jail but decries Kremlin for punishing his brother
(Washington Post) President Vladi-mir Putin's foremost opponent defiantly challenged the Kremlin on Tuesday evening, hours after a court ruling that seemed cunningly designed to keep him in check.
Russia says Ukraine deal to buy U.S. nuclear fuel poses safety risks
(Los Angeles Times) Russia's Foreign Ministry accused Ukraine of endangering public safety in Europe with its decision to buy nuclear fuel for its Soviet-built nuclear plants from a U.S. supplier, saying Ukrainian leaders had failed to learn anything from the 1986 Chernobyl disaster about safe nuclear energy usage.
Backlash in Berlin over NSA spying recedes as threat from Islamic State rises
(Washington Post) In a crescendo of anger over American espionage, Germany expelled the CIA's top operative, launched an investigation of the vast U.S. surveillance programs exposed by Edward Snowden and extracted an apology from President Obama for the years that U.S. spies had reportedly spent monitoring German Chancellor Angela Merkel's cellphone.
AFRICA
11 Wounded in Bombing Outside Libyan Parliament in Tobruk
(Voice of America) A suicide bomber detonated a car laden with explosives outside the hotel where Libya's internationally recognized parliament was in session in the eastern city of Tobruk on Tuesday, wounding three deputies and at least eight others, the assembly's spokesman said.
Ansar al Sharia Libya showcases spoils of war, key personalities in video
(Long War Journal) Ansar al Sharia, an al Qaeda-linked group in Libya, has released a six-minute-long video showing its spoils won during a recent battle against forces loyal to General Khalifa Haftar. The group claims to have captured tanks and heavy armaments during a Dec. 26 raid on one of Haftar's camps.
'A Ground Invasion of the Capital Is Imminent'
(Foreign Policy) All-out war is coming to Libya, as rebel militias and a government-in-hiding begin a battle for control of the country.
Gambia president returns home after reports of attempted coup
(Reuters) Gambia's President Yahya Jammeh arrived back in Banjul on Wednesday, official sources said, one day after gunfire erupted around the presidential palace and the government denied media reports of a coup attempt.
COMMENTARY AND ANALYSIS
Rebrand it however you want, but Afghanistan is still at war
(Max Boot in The Los Angeles Times) Imagine President Franklin Roosevelt announcing at the end of 1944, after the liberation of France but before the final defeat of Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan, that World War II was over and that U.S. forces were ending combat operations. Instead we would support our allies, from Britain to China, in their fight against the Axis powers.
This Is The Way Afghanistan Officially Ends - With An Absolute Whimper
(Brian Adam Jones in Task & Purpose) The war in Afghanistan, the longest war in American history, formally ended Dec. 28, 2014. Leaders of the International Security Assistance Force lowered and cased their flags in a quiet ceremony in the Afghan capital of Kabul. Should anyone wonder how the end of the war in Afghanistan impacts the American consciousness, they need look no farther than how the nation's publication of record, the New York Times, covered the occasion.
It ain't over 'til it's over.
(Doctrine Man) Doctrine Man!!'s Photos
Kabul was eerie and dangerous under the Taliban. It feels that way again.
(Pamela Constable in The Washington Post) Many winters ago, I stood in a vast, empty intersection of central Kabul. The only sounds were the jingle of passing horse carts and the ticking spokes of old bicycles. There were no other Westerners on the streets, and all eyes were upon me. Despite being wrapped in many layers of modest clothing, I felt naked.
The Afghan war that didn't really end yesterday ended in defeat
(Dan Murphy in the Christian Science Monitor) None of the claimed long term objectives for the war in Afghanistan, either from the Bush or Obama administrations, have been achieved.
Blunt-Force Military Cuts Need Revisiting
(Norbert R. Ryan Jr. in The Wall Street Journal) With new congressional leadership stepping into key defense oversight committees and subcommittees, this is the right time for Congress to address budget sequestration and its effects on military personnel. Balancing the nation's budget on the backs of those in the uniformed services is unacceptable.
Needed Now: A Realistic Strategy Force Structure for the 21st Century
(Harlan Ullman in War on the Rocks) Congress has finally passed, and President Barack Obama signed, a defense bill for fiscal year 2015. With the base budget ($496 billion) and add-ons for overseas contingency operations (OCO) and a presidential increase, defense spending will come in at about $600 billion or so. And the Pentagon hopes that sequestration, which cuts half a trillion dollars from defense over 10 years, will be reversed.
Rethinking The Ground-Based Strategic Deterrent
(Air Force Col. Robert S. Spalding III and Adam Lowther in Breaking Defense) The United States Air Force needs to replace the Minuteman III ICBM fleet at the three nuclear missile bases in Wyoming, Montana, and North Dakota. Critics decry the cost of a proposed replacement, thought to be in the range of several hundred billion dollars. Their main argument against replacing ICBMs is not the cost of replacing the Minuteman III. The critics say we just don't need them. They are, they say, a "Cold War relic."
John Kerry won't call the Islamic State by its name anymore. Why that's not a good idea.
(Shadi Hamid and Will McCants in The Washington Post) "Daesh claims to be fighting for Islam but its actions are an insult to Islam," Secretary of State John F. Kerry said recently, using the Arabic acronym for the Islamic State.
Denial And Disinformation Will Shape Future Warfare
(Bill Sweetman in Aviation Week) 2014 was a year in which world peace broke out as long as your standard for conflict was declared and open war between nation-states. The actual picture was very different, with two major wars in the Middle East and a European state facing the real threat of being dismantled.
Pie: Europe Must Cooperate on Research, Priorities
(Jan Pie, secretary-general, AeroSpace and Defence Industries Association of Europe, in Defense News) Europe is not in good shape. The economic situation differs greatly among individual EU member states, but Europe as a whole was hard hit by the financial crisis and is still struggling to find its way back to sustainable growth.
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