| December 1, 2014 |
THE EARLY BIRD BRIEF |
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TODAY'S TOP 5
1. For Obama and the Pentagon, an uneasy relationship
(Associated Press) On a trip to Afghanistan during President Barack Obama's first term, Defense Secretary Robert Gates was stunned to find a telephone line at the military's special operations headquarters that linked directly back to a top White House national security official.
2. U.S. advisers stay out of harm's way in Iraq
(USA Today) In a concerted effort to avoid combat, U.S. advisers in Iraq are pioneering new techniques for calling in airstrikes against Islamic State militants
3. Editorial: Pick a SECDEF now
(Military Times) When President Obama tapped Chuck Hagel to serve as defense secretary, it was hard not to root for the former Army sergeant and Vietnam combat vet.
4. Afghan official: Attack on army base kills 6
(Associated Press) Nearly 30 insurgents, including seven suicide bombers, swarmed Camp Bastion in southern Helmand province in the early hours of Friday morning, said the deputy head of the Afghan National Army in the province, Ghulam Farooq Parwani.
5. Report: Loophole could allow transgender troops to serve under new DoD policy
(Military Times) A change to a Pentagon personnel policy three months ago loosens the rules barring transgender troops from serving in the U.S. military, giving the individual services leeway to retain these personnel.
DEFENSE NEWS WITH VAGO MURADIAN
Hagel's Departure and DoD Offset Strategy
(Defense News) Robert Martinage, Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments, and Ben FitzGerald, Center for a New American Security, on Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel's departure and DoD's Defense Innovation Initiative.
Obstacles to Change at DoD
(Defense News) Robert Martinage, Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments, and Ben FitzGerald, Center for a New American Security, on acquisition reform and future defense investment.
China and US's Asia-Pacific Role
(Defense News) Retired US Navy Rear Adm. Michael McDevitt, Center for Naval Analyses, on the Asia rebalance strategy.
Vago's Notebook: Afghanistan Strategy
(Defense News) There's more that's needed in Afghanistan than the US training troops and police.
ISLAMIC STATE
U.S. Adds Planes to Bolster Drive to Wipe Out ISIS
(New York Times) The United States is shifting more attack and surveillance aircraft from Afghanistan to the air war against the Islamic State, deepening American involvement in the conflict and presenting new challenges for the military planners who work here in central South Carolina, far from the targets they will pick for those aircraft.
US in talks over Arab boots on the ground
(The Hill) The U.S. and allies are discussing the possibility of deploying ground forces from Arab nations to combat the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS), according to a top Republican lawmaker on the House Armed Services Committee.
Iraq's divisions will delay counter-offensive on Islamic State
(Reuters) U.S. air support and pledges of weapons and training for Iraq's army have raised expectations of a counter-offensive soon against Islamic State, but sectarian rifts will hamper efforts to forge a military strategy and may delay a full-scale assault.
U.S. seeks to build lean Iraqi force to fight the Islamic State
(Washington Post) After learning hard lessons rebuilding foreign militaries over the past dozen years, the U.S. military is shifting its strategy against the Islamic State, choosing to train a smaller number of Iraqi soldiers rather than trying to stand up an entire army anew.
Did U.S. abandon tribe that fought ISIS?
(CNN) Iraqi forces in Anbar province say they need more weapons and airstrikes to keep ISIS at bay.
Investigation finds 50,000 'ghost' soldiers in Iraqi army, prime minister says
(Washington Post) The Iraqi army has been paying salaries to at least 50,000 soldiers who don't exist, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said Sunday, an indication of the level of corruption that permeates an institution that the United States has spent billions on equipping and arming.
Jihadists tout training camps for children in Iraq and Syria
(Long War Journal) The Islamic State, the Al Nusrah Front, the Islamic Front, and Junud al Sham have been showcasing camps in Iraq and Syria that are being used to indoctrinate and train children to wage jihad. The groups have recently advertised a number of training facilities for children, including one located in Ninewa province in Iraq and others in Aleppo, in and around the Islamic State's self-proclaimed capital of Raqqah, and other areas of Syria.
U.S., Turkey Near Deal on Islamic State Fight
(Wall Street Journal) U.S. and Turkish officials have narrowed their differences over a joint military mission in Syria that would give the U.S. and its coalition partners permission to use Turkish air bases to launch strike operations against Islamic State targets across northern Syria, according to officials in both countries.
U.S. will use psych evaluations, stress tests to screen Syrian rebels for training
(Washington Post) The U.S. military will subject Syrian rebels taking part in a new training program to psychological evaluations, biometrics checks and stress tests under a screening plan that goes well beyond the steps the United States normally takes to vet foreign soldiers, a sign of the risks the Obama administration faces as it expands support for armed groups in Syria.
ISIL reportedly attacks Syrian town Kobane from Turkey
(Al Jazeera America) The Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) launched an attack Saturday on the Syrian border town of Kobane from Turkey, a Kurdish official and activists said, though Turkey denied that the fighters had used its territory for the raid.
Conflicting Policies on Syria and Islamic State Erode U.S. Standing in Mideast
(New York Times) American and Syrian warplanes screamed over the Syrian city of Raqqa in separate raids this week, ostensibly against the same target, the Islamic State militants in control there.
Former al Qaida hostage recounts nightmare - of dealing with FBI
(McClatchy) The only thing as bad as being tortured for months as a captive of jihadists in Syria was dealing with the U.S. government afterward, according to one former American hostage.
I/ITSEC 2014
Interview: Gen. Robin Rand
(Defense News) As budget challenges continue to plague the US Air Force, the service has focused on simulation as a way to keep its personnel up to speed and combat-ready at a lower cost. Gen. Robin Rand, who took over at Air Education and Training Command (AETC) in October 2013, is the man charged with leading the service into the future of simulation.
Common Database Enhances Trainer Imagery, Flexibility
(Defense News) The manufacturer of the four ground-based simulators Israel is buying for its M-346 jet trainers will run more smoothly thanks to software developed for the US Special Operations Command (SOCOM).
Nordic Militaries Experiment With Modeling, Sharper Awareness
(Defense News) Interest is rapidly growing among Nordic militaries in developing technologies to improve situational awareness and model battlefield conditions, allowing command center staff to rapidly respond to an evolving operational environment.
Israel Air Force Preps Cadets for M-346 Fleet
(Defense News) Starting in January, Israel Air Force (IAF) cadets will take to the skies in new Lavi advanced trainers, the Alenia Aermacchi M-346 jets slated to replace A-4 Skyhawks by 2016 in Flying Tiger Squadron 102.
Obscure Start-Up Grabs Ground Training Niche in Israel
(Defense News) An obscure local start-up company is gaining competitive ground against Elbit Systems and other training and simulation giants as a leading provider of artillery and joint fires training for the Israeli Army.
Canada's Air Force Aims For 50% Sim Training For Transports, Helos
(Defense News) Canada's Air Force intends to purchase a series of simulators for its transport aircraft and helicopter fleets as it moves to provide 50 percent of pilot flight training on such systems.
Golden Era for Sims
(Defense News) The defense sector's interest in simulation capabilities is surging, with the confluence of improved technologies and shrinking defense budgets creating a perfect storm of interest from the Pentagon, in particular, the US Air Force.
INDUSTRY
Defense Firms Could Be Skeptical of Investing in Research
(Defense One) Despite a recent push by the Defense Department for companies to invest more in research projects, the Pentagon might continue having trouble getting firms to spend more of their own money for this, experts say.
Navy Awards PandW $105.5 Million for JSF Engine Support
(Seapower) Naval Air Systems Command has awarded a $105.5 million contract modification to Pratt and Whitney (PandW) Military Engines of East Hartford, Conn., for sustainment and services in support of the F135 engine that powers the F-35 Lightning II joint strike fighter (JSF).
Polar communications system passes review
(C4ISR) The Air Force's Enhanced Polar System (EPS) communications project is moving forward after passing a review by contractor Northrop Grumman.
Pentagon imposes strict standards on private security firms
(Washington Post) The Pentagon is for the first time requiring private security contractors to meet a series of certifiable standards that govern how their businesses are run and how they operate overseas, a move that some say is long overdue.
China's CX-1 Missile Now Exportable
(Defense News) China's new CX-1 supersonic anti-ship cruise missile is ready for export to America's friends and foes alike, with potential markets including Iran, Pakistan and African and South American countries.
China readies indigenous special mission aircraft production
(IHS Jane's 360) Chinese state-owned defence equipment firm China Electronics Technology Group Corporation (CETC) revealed that it has entered into an agreement with Austrian light aircraft constructor Diamond Aircraft Industries GmbH to indigenously develop and manufacture special mission aircraft based on the DA42 Multi-Purpose Platform (MPP) for the domestic and export market. The collaboration was showcased at the 2014 Airshow China exhibition held in Zhuhai from 11 to 16 November.
France Studies Nuclear Missile Replacement
(Defense News) France has launched studies for an airborne nuclear-tipped missile to replace the current weapon, with the focus on stealth and hypersonic technology on the next-generation atomic arms, Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said.
Airbus sells part of Dassault back to French planemaker
(Reuters) Airbus Group (AIR.PA) sold 8 percent of Dassault Aviation (AVMD.PA) back to the French planemaker in a deal worth 794 million euros on Friday - the first step toward unwinding an awkward 16-year-old link to its defense market rival.
Turkey Relies on Indirect Funding for New Gear
(Defense News) Turkey's "direct" defense budget for 2015 will climb modestly from the current year, but the country's procurement planners will rely on indirect and non-budgetary funding to finance new acquisitions worth about US $4 billion next year.
USAF, Raytheon to help Qatar develop missile defence capability
(IHS Jane's 360) Work on Qatar's ballistic missile defences appears to be picking up pace after the US Department of Defense (DoD) awarded a USD75.6 million contract to Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems to carry out the preliminary design work for an "air and missile defence operations system" for the emirate.
UK Logistics Deal Delayed Until 2015
(Defense News) Hardly had the dust settled from Babcock's selection as the winning bidder to acquire the British state-owned armored vehicle repair company Defence Support Group (DSG) when a newspaper report emerged claiming the firm is in line to secure a major deal with the Ministry of Defence to transform the purchase, storage and transportation of commodities.
French defence minister heads to Delhi with MMRCA on the agenda
(IHS Jane's 360) French defence minister Jean-Yves Le Drian will arrive in India for a two-day visit on 30 November, during which he will try to end the nearly three-year deadlock over the sale of 126 Dassault Rafale fighters to the Indian Air Force (IAF).
With Samsung Sale, Hanwha Is S. Korea's New 'Defense Giant'
(Defense News) The landscape of South Korea's defense industry has drastically changed, as Samsung sells off all of its defense arms.
Peru opts for second batch of C-27Js
(IHS Jane's 360) The Peruvian Ministry of Defence (MoD) has released funds to procure a second batch of two Alenia C-27J Spartan medium transports for the Peruvian Air Force (FAP), according to local press reports on 25 November.
Argentina's Jet Fighter Replacement Options Narrow
(Defense News) The UK's moves to block the sale of Gripen fighters to Argentina has triggered a round of angry accusations in Buenos Aires, while laying bare Argentina's dilemmas in replenishing its fighter fleet after years of neglect.
CONGRESS
Senators fight to save prior-enlisted officers' retirement pay
(Army Times) A group of 15 senators is calling on the Army to change its policy regarding prior-enlisted captains and majors who are being forced to retire at their highest enlisted rank.
Congress tackles aid to Egypt, Palestinians, Syrian rebels
(Al-Monitor) Congressional leaders return from Thanksgiving recess on Dec. 1 determined to pass a long-term spending bill - effective through the end of September 2015 - by Dec. 11, despite pressure from some Republicans to punt until the new GOP-controlled Senate takes over in January.
Incoming senators call for debate on fighting Islamic militants
(The Hill) Sen.-elect Thom Tillis (R) of North Carolina and Sen.-elect Gary Peters (D) of Michigan called on Congress Sunday to debate a measure authorizing military strikes against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS).
U.S. Rep.-elect Moulton's sights set on Armed Services panel
(Lowell Sun; Mass.) Congressman-elect Seth Moulton said that he's working to earn a spot on the House Armed Services Committee.
John Boehner Forges Ahead on the House Benghazi Probe
(The Atlantic) How did the speaker respond to a GOP-led report that supported the Obama administration? He reappointed his own select inquiry into the 2012 terrorist attacks.
DEFENSE DEPARTMENT
Ex-DoD official Carter leads list of SECDEF candidates
(Military Times) Within an hour of Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel's resignation announcement, defense watchers began looking to potential nominees to replace him. Within two days, two of the top contenders removed themselves from that list.
Bob Work Raises Profile as Possible Hagel Successor
(Military.com) The Pentagon sent what could be seen as a strong message on who is favored inside the building to succeed Chuck Hagel as defense secretary by having Deputy Defense Secretary Robert Work show up in Afghanistan for Thanksgiving with the troops.
Dem lawmaker 'open' to Defense secretary post
(The Hill) Rep. Adam Smith (D-Wash.) on Saturday said he is "open" to replacing outgoing Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel
Resignation Capped Tense Year for Defense Secretary Hagel
(Wall Street Journal) Two months before he was pushed out as defense secretary, Chuck Hagel penned a private letter to the White House, arguing for new measures to rein in Russian President Vladimir Putin and greater efforts to reassure anxious European allies, according to officials briefed on the matter.
After Hagel Exit, Innovation Drives Expected to Continue at Pentagon
(Defense News) In the last major address he delivered as defense secretary - just nine days before President Barack Obama announced his resignation - Chuck Hagel focused on two initiatives that may come, if successful, to define his brief tenure.
Veterans and Troops Lament Losing Advocate in Hagel
(Defense One) Chuck Hagel arrived in the Pentagon as a soldier's defense secretary, a former Army sergeant and Vietnam vet with the shrapnel still in his chest to prove it. And even if Hagel had problems articulating the White House's elusive strategic goals on a world stage, he was most comfortable talking to the troops for whom he worked quietly to advocate. And now after his resignation Monday, veterans groups and military service organizations said they worry his departure could leave some of their issues in limbo.
Here's What the Rewrite of DOD's Cloud Strategy will Look Like
(NextGov) An update to the Defense Department's cloud computing strategy aims to decentralize the process for purchasing commercial cloud solutions away from the Defense Information Systems Agency and toward individual agencies, according to a draft document of the retooled cloud strategy obtained by Nextgov.
Why the Military Has a Budget Message Problem
(National Defense) President Obama's fourth secretary of defense soon will be taking the reins at the Pentagon where discontent has been brewing over spending cuts, expanding missions and the growing realization that the generals' stop-the-sequester campaign has been politically ineffective.
National Archives backs away from CIA email destruction proposal
(Federal Times) The National Archives and Records Administration is backing away from a CIA proposal to destroy some employee emails.
Book highlights USA TODAY work, pervasive corruption
(USA Today) A new book about the pervasive corruption in the American political and economic system highlights USA TODAY's reporting that exposed the Pentagon's practice of hiring retired senior officers working for defense contractors to advise current commanders while not revealing their conflicts of interest.
ARMY
Army struggles with war-zone inventory
(Defense News) As the Defense Department retrogrades mountains of equipment from Afghanistan, the Army has failed to effectively report $419.5 million worth of equipment that may have gone missing, according to a recent DoDInspector General's (DODIG's) audit.
Ex-lieutenant convicted of killing two Afghans seeking clemency
(Fayetteville Observer) A former Army lieutenant convicted last year of murdering two Afghans in the war zone is seeking clemency from Brig. Gen. Richard D. Clarke, the 82nd Airborne Division commander.
Applications being accepted for MSC Flight Training
(Army Times) Selections for the upcoming Medical Service Corps flight training program again will be limited to commissioned officers and West Point and Reserve Officer Training Corps cadets who have been branched to the MSC.
"This coat belonged to Frank:" Army pilot's widow carries on his giving spirit
(Tacoma News Tribune) Two weeks ago Kryste Buoniconti cleared out some of the clothes she had been keeping since the death of her Amy pilot husband three years ago.
4th ID headquarters deploying to Europe
(Army Times) About 100 soldiers from the 4th Infantry Division headquarters will deploy to Europe early next year to support Operation Atlantic Resolve, officials announced Wednesday.
Army's return to full-spectrum training hampered by budget cuts
(Stars & Stripes) After a decade of counterinsurgency, the Army is trying to retrain the force to fight other types of conflicts. But budget cuts threaten that effort.
Mega re-up bonuses available to certain senior NCOs
(Army Times) Cash bonuses of up to $150,000 are being offered to certain senior NCOs of the Regular Army who extend their careers in select specialties of the special operations and military intelligence career management fields.
Barricaded soldier surrenders on Fort Eustis
(Virginian-Pilot) A soldier who barricaded himself inside his home at Fort Eustis on Thursday evening surrendered peacefully to police and was taken to a medical facility, according to the Joint Base Langley-Eustis Facebook account.
Army testing load-lightening exosuits
(Army Times) The futuristic exosuits being tested by Army researchers won't help soldiers outrun locomotives, and it'll still take more than a single bound to clear a tall building.
2ID seeks bar owners' help in curbing troop misbehavior
(Stars & Stripes) The 2nd Infantry Division is asking bar owners for help in reducing troop misbehavior after several incidents sparked negative publicity and calls from local officials for the U.S. military to rein in soldier conduct.
NAVY
Navy nominates officer to take over for hamstrung 3-star intel boss
(Navy Times) After a year in limbo, the Navy has decided to move ahead and replace the service's top intelligence officer, whose tenure has been hamstrung by suspected ties to a disgraced defense contracting firm.
As Sailor Fights For His Life, Detectives Search For Shooter
(WFOR-TV) Anthon Adams, 29, is listed in critical condition. He's undergone several surgeries but he lost a lot of blood from being shot multiple times
Norfolk-based cruiser to sail around the world
(Navy Times) The passageways are cleanly swept and smell of fresh paint; colorful life jackets and flight deck gear is laid out in neat rows in the helicopter hanger; and the forecastle and fantail are draped with tightly coiled lines: Normandy is preparing for INSURV.
New London honors USS Thresher crew at memorial dedication
(The Day; New London, Conn.) When, at 33 years old, Lt. John Smarz Jr. left home to report to the USS Thresher - which was stationed at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard located in Kittery on the southern boundary of Maine - he told his mother, "Mom, we're going to make history."
Sailors, airmen celebrate Thanksgiving amid Ebola quarantine
(Navy Times) A Seabee chief mid-way through a 21-day quarantine after a West Africa deployment said spirits are high for the nearly 90 troops going through the Ebola quarantine - the first of its kind for military troops in the United States.
CNO spends Thanksgiving with USS Carl Vinson sailors
(Stars & Stripes) Even as the U.S. Navy's top officer was serving cake to enlisted sailors on the mess decks during a special Thanksgiving Day meal, flight deck crews were launching aircraft in support of the ongoing strikes against Islamic militants in Iraq and Syria.
17 ideas from sailors to fix physical fitness assessments
(Navy Times) When the Navy's command fitness leaders came up with a list of nine recommendations three months ago to improve physical fitness assessments, their proposals rocketed through the ranks.
Allow Navy's best to take sabbaticals?
(San Diego Union-Tribune) Vice Adm. Bill Moran says the moment is ripe for change, after years of debate over U.S. military benefits.
$1.8M verdict upheld in "American Sniper" case
(Associated Press) A judge has rejected a request from the widow of "American Sniper" author Chris Kyle to order a new trial or toss a jury's verdict in favor of former Minnesota Gov. Jesse Ventura.
AIR FORCE
Osan Air Base lockdown precautionary
(Stars & Stripes) Osan Air Base is investigating whether a reported phone call to the base high school Monday morning that triggered an installation-wide lockdown and search for a possible gunman was a hoax or a misunderstanding.
The Military's Rough Justice on Sexual Assault
(New York Times) Col. Don Christensen, the chief prosecutor of the United States Air Force, sat in economy class on a flight to Venice and studied the folder of the sexual-assault case that would ultimately end his career. It was August 2012, and he was en route to Aviano Air Base to try a court-martial. Looking over the case, he could see why the judge advocate general, or JAG, at the base had requested him. Christensen had prosecuted more sexual-assault courts-martial than any other lawyer in the Air Force, and this case called for someone with experience. There would most likely be generals testifying. The accused himself was a senior officer. Even Christensen had seldom handled cases involving men of high rank. There was a simple reason for this: Victims were reluctant to report such officers, who enjoyed their own set of rules in the military justice system.
AF chief prosecutor leaves service for victims advocacy group
(Air Force Times) The Air Force's former chief prosecutor, who won a sexual assault conviction against an F-16 pilot that was later overturned by a three-star general, is leaving the military for high-profile victims advocacy group Protect Our Defenders.
Kadena AFB officials ID serviceman killed in motorcycle accident
(Stars & Stripes) Kadena Air Base officials have identified the serviceman killed in a motorcycle accident as Airman 1st Class Quincy Jackson, 21, of Greensburg, Pa.
2011 Afghan insider attack subject of new online program
(Air Force Times) The April 2011 Afghan insider attack that left eight U.S. airmen and one U.S. contractor dead inside the 438th Expeditionary Wing in Kabul is the latest subject of online news program "For the Record" that first aired Nov. 26 on The Blaze TV.
Dover fliers key to Afghanistan gear recovery
(News-Journal; Wilimgton, Del.) A combination of better load planning and the C-5M's powerful engines have allowed the Air Force to move remaining U.S. gear out of Afghanistan much faster than anticipated.
100 enlisted picked to attend Officer Training School
(Air Force Times) The Air Force has selected 100 enlisted airmen to attend Office Training School and have the opportunity to become second lieutenants.
Air Force offers details of bomber training zone
(Associated Press) Any given location across a sprawling area of the Northern Plains could see up to nine low-altitude overflights by military aircraft annually under a proposed expansion of an Air Force bomber training area detailed Friday.
Underground nuclear launch pods get first 'deep clean'
(Air Force Times) First Lt. Dawn Sanderson, a 25-year-old nuclear officer who works 24-hour shifts in the Air Force's underground missile-launch command posts, admits that there is a funny smell down there.
MARINE CORPS
Meet the female Marines of Corps' integration test
(Marine Corps Times) As they began their proficiency training in combat specialties with the Corps' Ground Combat Integrated Task Force, several female task force volunteers opened up about criticism, training challenges and their own reasons for being part of the project.
Officers to receive up to $20,000 to join the Reserve
(Marine Corps Times) Select officers who are early in their careers will be eligible for up to $20,000 as part of the service's efforts to draw young leaders to the Reserve and fill critical billets.
Criteria for next SMMC includes combat experience
(Marine Corps Times) The commandant has begun his search for the next sergeant major of the Marine Corps, releasing specific criteria for prospective candidates.
E-to-O opportunities hold steady for enlisted Marines
(Marine Corps Times) There is good news for enlisted Marines hoping to earn a commission. Despite the active-duty drawdown, the service's enlisted-to-officer programs are holding steady this year.
Amateur historians dispute Corps' record of iconic WWII photo
(Marine Corps Times) Two history buffs made waves this week for challenging the official story behind the iconic photograph of the raising of an American flag atop Mount Suribachi, but Marine historians and Corps officials remain unconvinced.
Study aims to improve MARSOC training, injury prevention
(Marine Corps Times) A years-long study designed to prevent injury and improve training for MARSOC's elite critical skills operators is preparing to kick off in North Carolina.
Australia deployment guide: Training, drinking, and avoiding crocodiles in the Outback
(Marine Corps Times) Thousands of Marines have now rotated through Australia on one of the Corps' newest and most sought after deployments - and they have some advice for other leathernecks on tap for a six-month adventure Down Under.
VETERANS
Selling VA: New boss works to update his outfit's image
(Military Times) Robert McDonald was the CEO of a Fortune 50 company with $80 billion-plus in annual sales. But since McDonald took over his latest job - Veterans Affairs secretary - he has pressed the "ordinary guy" routine, insisting that staff, patients, reporters and even lawmakers call him Bob.
Vets Seek Help for PTSD Decades After War
(Wall Street Journal) Nightmares of a friend dying beside him in a bunker years ago now waken Donald Vitkus. "There is stuff that you carry from the war," the 71-year-old Vietnam veteran said.
GAO: Labor Department better at handling USERRA claims
(Military Times) A second head-to-head matchup engineered by Congress to see which government agency is best at investigating and resolving employment-related complaints on behalf of veterans gives the nod to the Labor Department.
Success of VETS GWAC spurs development of VETS II
(Federal Times) Despite significant drops in spending on the Veterans Technology Services (VETS) contract, the General Services Administration lauds the program and is in the early stages of preparing to launch VETS II when the current vehicle period runs out in 2017.
Removal of son's name from war memorial upsets parents
(Detroit Free Press) Organizers say the war memorial wall wasn't designed to hold the additional names from more recent wars and as more soldiers died, they decided to erect a separate monument.
VFW looks to update its image to attract younger vets, women
(Military Times) Veterans of Foreign Wars officials have heard criticism for years that they're not changing fast enough to attract younger members.
AFGHANISTAN/PAKISTAN
Taliban video shows training and planning for Camp Bastion attack
(Long War Journal) A video of the Taliban fighters who are currently attacking Camp Bastion in Helmand province has been making the rounds in jihadist circles on the Internet. The fighting at Camp Bastion, which was the hub for British forces in Afghanistan until it was turned over to Afghan forces on Oct. 26, began on Nov. 27 and at the time of publishing this entry is still underway. [See LWJ report, Taliban assault Camp Bastion, storm foreign guest house in Kabul.]
Ministry of Interior rejects Gen. Zahir's resignation
(Khaama Press) The Kabul police chief Gen. Zahir Zahir will continue to serve as Kabul police chief after his resignation was rejected by the Ministry of Interior
Afghanistan: Suicide attack at funeral kills 9
(Associated Press) An Afghan official says a suicide bomber detonated his payload at a crowded funeral, killing two police and seven civilians.
Tucano attack plane built in Jacksonville's Embraer plant comes under scrutiny
(Florida Times Union) Embraer rolled its first A-29 Super Tucano attack plane out of its Jacksonville facility to grinning politicians and military brass in September as part of the U.S. Air Force's contract to supply Afghanistan with its own ground-support capability.
As ranks thin in Afghanistan, troops take on more chores
(Fayetteville Observer) The 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade has a little more than a dozen soldiers at a secretive outpost in what was formerly one of the Afghanistan war's most dangerous hot spots.
MIDDLE EAST
AQAP claims IED attacks on US Embassy in Sanaa
(Long War Journal) On Nov. 28, a Twitter account linked to al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) claimed credit for bombing the US Embassy in the Yemeni capital Sanaa during the evening of Nov. 27, coinciding with Thanksgiving, using two improvised explosive devices (IEDs). The last time AQAP has claimed credit for directly targeting the US Embassy in Sanaa was in late September, after fighters from the terrorist group launched rockets that reportedly fell about 100 meters away from the embassy.
Egypt militant group says it killed US oil worker
(USA Today) An Egyptian militant organization which was reported to have sworn allegiance to the Islamic State group has claimed responsibility for the killing of an American oil worker.
Israel Names Infantryman as New IDF Chief
(Defense News) Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu today endorsed Maj. Gen. Gadi Eisenkott to become the next chief of staff of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) once Lt. Gen. Benny Gantz, current IDF Chief, retires early next year.
Egyptian Judges Drop All Charges Against Mubarak
(New York Times) An Egyptian court dropped all remaining charges against former President Hosni Mubarak on Saturday, raising the possibility that he could go free for the first time since being removed from office in the 2011 uprising that defined the Arab Spring revolt
EUROPE
Nordic-Baltic States To Deepen Cooperation
(Defense News) The governments of the Nordic and Baltic states have approved a new plan to deepen both defense cooperation and readiness between the militaries of the seven NATO and non-aligned nations.
US squadrons 'may use UK carrier' for operations
(BBC) The Royal Navy may ask US squadrons to fly off its new aircraft carrier following delays to its new F35B fighters, BBC Newsnight has learned.
West struggles with Russia's 'ambiguous warfare' tactics
(Reuters) When Russians crossed the border to fight with rebels in eastern Ukraine earlier this year, Moscow said the soldiers had not been deployed but had gone on their own vacation time.
ASIA-PACIFIC
N. Korea makes progress in building asymmetric capability: USFK chief
(Yonhap News Agency) North Korea has achieved progress in building asymmetric military capabilities, which requires South Korea and the United States to build further momentum in strengthening intelligence and ballistic missile defense system, the chief of the U.S. forces here said Tuesday.
Report: Kim Jong Un's sister given senior North Korea government role
(CNN) The sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has been named as a senior government official by state media.
USFK 'juicy bar' ban has owners up in arms
(Stars & Stripes) A month-old U.S. Forces Korea policy banning servicemembers from buying drinks for "juicy bar" workers in exchange for companionship has angered some bar owners, who say it unfairly labels them as "pimps" and is hurting other establishments that cater to troops.
Liberty rules eased for U.S. troops based in Japan
(Military Times) Restrictions imposed on many service members heading off base, ship or air station in Japan soon will relax following the release of a revised liberty policy released by the commander of U.S. troops there.
AFRICA
EU to train another 1,200 Somali soldiers in 2015
(IHS Jane's 360) The European Union Training Mission in Somalia (EUTM Somalia) aims in 2015 to approximately match the number of soldiers it trained in 2014, although mission personnel say the security situation in Mogadishu, where the training is taking place, remains "very dangerous".
Central African Republic: militia lays down arms
(Associated Press) A Christian militia in Central African Republic is abandoning its armed fight and transforming itself into a political party, according to a top official in the group.
Militants attack Nigeria's Yobe state capital, fighter jet circling: residents
(Reuters) Suspected Boko Haram Islamist militants attacked Nigeria's Yobe state capital Damaturu early on Monday, residents said.
Ebola Death Toll in Three West African Countries Most Hit by Virus Nears 7,000
(Wall Street Journal) Nearly 7,000 people have died from the Ebola virus disease in the three West African countries most affected by the current outbreak, according to new data from the World Health Organization.
COMMENTARY AND ANALYSIS
Firing Hagel won't fix Obama's foreign policy team
(Micahel Crowley in Politico) It isn't often that left, right and center agree about the Obama White House. But the firing of Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel this week produced a near-unanimous reaction: President Obama's foreign policy team is dysfunctional and in need of a stronger tonic than the exit of a low-profile cabinet member with a light policy footprint.
Obama's war Cabinet problem
(Brent Budowsky in The Hill) President Obama is going to have great difficulty recruiting the best people to serve in his Cabinet on matters of national security because a) most of the best qualified people in the national security field disagree with many current policies and b) few of the best qualified national security leaders will want to put up with the backstabbing and interference from the White House staff that has offended all three of Obama's secretaries of Defense.
Column: Is Congress the Answer to Hagel Replacement?
(John T. Bennett in Defense News) Cabinet secretaries come and go. But you wouldn't think it watching the Obama White House.
Wrestling With an Aging Arsenal
(New York Times Editorial Board) What do a wrench, a blast door and an intercontinental ballistic missile have in common? They are part of an American nuclear weapons program plagued by operational, personnel and leadership problems. Evidence of dysfunction has been mounting since 2007 when six nuclear missiles went missing for 36 hours after a crew at Minot Air Force Base in North Dakota mistakenly loaded them onto a plane and flew them across the country. Two recent Pentagon reports suggest that things have not improved.
Why The Pentagon Must Not Lose The Innovation Arms Race
(August Cole in Defense One) The sight this year of an X-47B drone and a Navy F/A-18E operating in tandem aboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt was a jaw dropper. Pulling off one of the most difficult and carefully orchestrated moves in military aviation without a pilot onboard is a proud milestone years in the making. Once the applause dies down for the military's latest melding of man and machine, however, it is time for some serious reflection on the defense industry's next big thing.
Opinion: A case for doing more for Ukraine
(Retired Army Lt. Gen. Mark Hertling in Army Times) During the latter part of my military career, I saw Ukraine's Army on exercises, in Balkan Peacekeeping Operations, and in combat. Early assessment: they had tough soldiers, and extremely bad senior officers. In the Balkans, they siphoned gas and sold it on the black market. In Iraq during the Sadr uprising of 2004, they never left their bases, and they sold ammunition to the insurgents.
Foreign Culture and its Effect on US Department of Defense Efforts to Train and Advise Foreign Security Forces
(Aaron Taliaferro, Wade P. Hinkle, and Alexander O. Gallo in Small Wars Journal) Recently revised, Department of Defense (DOD) Directive 3000.07 (Irregular Warfare) still directs DOD to be able to train and advise foreign security forces, and military doctrine guiding US military departments how to train their members for this activity (Joint Publication 3-22; Foreign Internal Defense) has its origins in the Kennedy administration. Indeed, for decades, DOD has sought to strengthen capabilities of America's security partners. However, the majority of the lessons learned, and training provided to general purpose forces, civilians, and contractors still largely rest and rely upon US experience in building partner capabilities during the Cold War. This experience is premised on management and governance theories grounded in Western cultural norms of interpersonal interaction-characteristics not present in the Near East, Central and Southeast Asia, or across the Maghreb and the Horn of Africa where post-9/11 US security sector assistance is focused. In these locations, the private sector and intergovernmental organizations (IGOs) have experience DOD should learn from and adapt into its training and education programs.
The U.S. plan to destroy the Islamic State must also take down Bashar al-Assad
(Sen. Robert Casey, D-Pa., in The Washington Post) President Obama made the right decision to review the U.S. strategy against the Islamic State. Two months ago, he laid out a comprehensive strategy for degrading and ultimately defeating the brutal terrorist organization. His administration has started to implement that strategy, making progress through airstrikes, support for local groups ready to combat Islamic State fighters, diplomacy and sanctions enforcement.
Sunni vs. Shi'ite: Why the U.S. plan to save Iraq is doomed to fail
(Peter Van Buren in Reuters) If the United States was looking for the surest way to lose Iraq War 3.0, it might start by retraining the failed Iraqi Army to send north - alongside ruthless Shi'ite militias - into Sunni-majority territory and hope that the Sunnis will welcome them with open arms, throwing out the evil Islamic State.
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