FW: Early Bird Brief

Start by doing what's necessary; then do what's possible;

 and suddenly you are doing the impossible.

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From: no-reply@militarytimes.com

Subject: Early Bird Brief
Date: Fri, 8 May 2015 04:35:37 -0600

Having trouble viewing this email? | View it in your browser May 8, 2015 May 8, 2015     FOLLOW US Good morning and welcome to the Early Bird Brief. Please send news tips and suggestions to Early Bird Editor Oriana Pawlyk: opawlyk@militarytimes.com. Today's Top 5 1. US Begins Syrian Training; Questions Linger (Defense News) The US has formally begun training "moderate opposition" forces in Syria, Secretary of Defense Ash Carter announced Thursday. 2. Dunford's Marine background prepped him for Joint Chiefs role (Marine Corps Times) Gen. Joseph Dunford's nomination to succeed Army Gen. Martin Dempsey as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff leaves the Marine Corps in need of a new top officer for the second time in less than a year. But it also represents history in the making for the Corps: If confirmed by the Senate, Dunford will become only the second Marine general in history to hold the prestigious position. 3. Saudis offer five-day cease-fire in Yemen to ease humanitarian crisis (Los Angeles Times) Saudi Arabia announced Thursday that it was willing to suspend airstrikes in Yemen for five days to allow aid to reach millions of civilians caught in fierce fighting, but said any truce would depend on the cooperation of rebels who control large parts of the country. 4. Report: Golsteyn allegedly admitted to killing Afghan (Army Times) Newly surfaced Army documents allege that Maj. Mathew Golsteyn told the CIA he killed an unarmed Afghan bombmaker in his custody in 2011, and later conspired with others to destroy the body. The documents also allege Golsteyn, who has never faced criminal charges, knew what he did was illegal. 5. David Cameron on course to lead a majority Conservative Government after extraordinary and unexpected night (The Independent) David Cameron is on the verge of celebrating an extraordinary and unexpected general election victory today as election results are set to deliver him a second term as Prime Minister and the first majority Conservative government for nearly 20 years. Advertisement Yemen As hundreds of civilians killed, Saudis propose pause in Yemen fighting (CNN) Saudi Arabia proposed a five-day ceasefire Thursday in Yemen so that humanitarian aid can be distributed. Top al-Qaeda militant Nasser al-Ansi 'killed' in Yemen (BBC News) A US air strike in Yemen has reportedly killed Nasser al-Ansi, a top militant of al-Qaeda in the Arab Peninsula. Yemen rebels to pay dearly for Saudi bombardments: coalition (Agence France-Presse) Yemeni rebels have crossed a "red line" and will pay a high price for deadly bombardments of Saudi Arabia, the Saudi-led coalition said Thursday, hours after the kingdom proposed a humanitarian ceasefire. Yemen's Pro-Houthi forces may have committed war crimes, says rights group (Al Jazeera America) Actions by Yemen's pro-Houthi forces in the embattled southern seaport city of Aden may amount to war crimes, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said Thursday. Islamic State FBI director says Islamic State influence growing in U.S. (Reuters) In a dramatic assessment of the domestic threat posed by the Islamic State, FBI Director James Comey said Thursday there are "hundreds, maybe thousands" of people across the country who are receiving recruitment overtures from the terrorist group or directives to attack the U.S. Vulnerable Islamic State Still Winning Online Battle (Video) (Voice of America) Setbacks on the battlefield seem to be doing little to dent the success the Islamic State is having in the world of social media. And that's prompting a new outcry from U.S. lawmakers, who say Washington's online strategy is off-base. VOA's National Security Correspondent Jeff Seldin reports. Russia-Ukraine An uneasy friendship (The Economist) The crisis in Ukraine is drawing Russia closer to China. But the relationship is far from equal. Former top Russian general: Russia will defend eastern Ukraine, even if it means taking Kiev (Vox) "If Russia starts a war, it never stops until it takes the capital" EU Energy Chief Sefcovic Eyes Russia-Ukraine Gas Deal by June (Bloomberg) The European Union will seek to broker a new natural gas agreement between Russia and Ukraine by the end of next month to keep the heating fuel flowing next winter, the bloc's energy chief said. Germany's Steinmeier presses for Ukraine progress on Russia visit (Reuters) German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier called for a swift resolution to the Ukraine conflict on a visit to Volgograd on Thursday, expressing hope a peace deal agreed in Minsk would enter its "next phase". EU digital boss says he 'sure' Russia spied during Gazprom talks (Reuters) Spies regularly target the European Commission, the region's digital economy boss said on Thursday, specifically suggesting that Russia had listened in during negotiations last year over gas supplies to Ukraine. Advertisement Industry Italian Ship Production Deal Signed (Defense News) Italian state shipyard Fincantieri and Italian defense group Finmeccanica have signed a long-awaited contract to start work on a flotilla of new ships for the Italian Navy. Saudi Arabia To Build Antonov Cargo Planes (Defense News) Saudi Arabia will manufacture aircraft within two years after the kingdom signed a deal with Ukrainian manufacturer Antonov on Wednesday. Boeing, Kuwait Near Super Hornet Deal (Defense News) Boeing could be the latest international aircraft-maker to garner a deal for more fighter aircraft, with word that the US government is nearing agreement to sell up to 40 F/A-18 E and F Super Hornet strike fighters to Kuwait. Air Force Global Hawk cleared for acquisition (C4ISR & Networks) The Air Force RQ-4 Global Hawk UAV is now cleared for acquisition. The Defense Acquisition Executive has granted Milestone C approval, the final step before acquisition can proceed. Raytheon wins $77 million weather contract from FAA (Boston Globe) Raytheon Co., the Waltham-based defense contractor, has won a $77 million contract to improve the Federal Aviation Administration's weather tracking system. Kongsberg, Raytheon NSM teaming targets USN's future frigate programme (IHS Jane's 360) With the US Navy (USN) firming up its future frigate acquisition approach, Kongsberg Defence Systems and Raytheon Missile Systems see their recent teaming on Norway's Naval Strike Missile (NSM) as providing an anti-ship missile option to meet the programme's over-the-horizon lethality requirement. Northrop Grumman ABSAA system completes key demos (IHS Jane's 360) The US Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) has completed flight demonstrations of the Northrop Grumman Multiple Intruder Autonomous Avoidance (MIAA) programme, an airborne sense-and-avoid (ABSAA) technology that would provide unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) with the ability to automatically detect and avoid collisions with other airspace users. Lockheed Martin (LMT) on Thursday was upgraded to an "A-" credit rating (Denver Post) Lockheed Martin (LMT) on Thursday was upgraded to an "A-" credit rating and assigned a two-star rating out of five by stock market analyst Morningstar. Lockheed Martin injects millions into cyber firm (The Hill) Defense contractor Lockheed Martin is making a multimillion-dollar investment in Cybereason, a security firm founded by former elite Israeli digital warriors. Despite Kuwait deal, Boeing's F/A-18 jet faces uphill global climb (Post-Dispatch) Boeing Co. will struggle to boost international sales of its F/A-18E/F Super Hornet fighter jets despite a $3-billion-plus deal expected soon with Kuwait, analysts and industry executives said. Congress Waste report: Guard's racecars, bomb-sniffing elephants (Military Times) A new report on wasteful government spending is ridiculing $49 million spent by the National Guard on professional sports advertising and $50,000 on researching the bomb-detecting skills of elephants as partial evidence of too-lax congressional oversight. Senate Votes for Congressional Iran Review (Defense News) The US Senate on Thursday approved a measure that would establish a framework for Congress to examine and potentially vote on any agreement with Iran over its nuclear program. Forbes to Carter: You're Not IRS Boss (Defense News) A senior House Armed Services Committee Republican has a stern message for Defense Secretary Ash Carter: Worry about the US military, not the IRS. Corker: War bill won't change 'one iota' of ISIS fight (The Hill) "Let's face it, whatever the AUMF says ... [at least] the way it's been thought about, it's not going to change one iota of activities on the ground," he told reporters. Defense chief rebuffs Congress on Iraqi arms (The Hill) Defense Secretary Ashton Carter on Thursday said he opposes an effort in Congress to directly arm the Kurdish peshmerga and Sunni tribal fighters in their fight against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syri (ISIS). John McCain Targets Rabbit Massages, Puppetry in 'America's Most Wanted' Spending Report (Bloomberg) Wanted: Elephants suspected of bilking American taxpayers. Veterans Another lawsuit filed over VA's informal claims charges (Military Times) Another coalition of veterans groups is suing the Veterans Affairs Department over its changes to the informal claims process, saying officials have created "a rigid and veteran-unfriendly system." Reports: Nonprofit VETPAW kicked out of Tanzania (Military Times) A small but splashy veterans group with lofty plans to take on African poachers has been kicked out of Tanzania in the wake of what appears to be a self-inflicted publicity blitz run amok. Prosecutors: Veteran fought off attackers on Seattle Metro bus (Seattle Post-Intelligencer) Two Seattle residents accused of attacking a veteran aboard a downtown bus now face assault charges. Kokomo veteran files complaint after local business turns away service dog (WTHR) You wouldn't know it to look at her lounging at her owner's feet in a living room in Kokomo, but Ella, a 16-month-old shepherd mix, has a job. MTSU to build new center for veterans (The Tennesseean) Veterans have been a priority at Middle Tennessee State University for years, and this summer officials are planning to boost their investment in the specialized student group. Defense Department & National Security Military compensation reform proposals face new critique (Military Times) The slate of proposed changes to military pay and benefits is facing a new round of criticism for failing to fully tackle the long-term problems confronting the military personnel system. The Man Under the Flattop: Who is Paul Selva? (DefenseOne) Among officers of the same rank, Air Force Gen. Paul Selva seems to have always been the youngest guy in the room. NSA program on phone records is illegal, court rules (Washington Post) A federal appeals court ruled Thursday that the National Security Agency's collection of millions of Americans' phone records violates the USA Patriot Act, marking the first time an appellate panel has weighed in on a controversial surveillance program that has divided Congress and ignited a national debate over the proper scope of the government's spy powers. Defense Department's Benefits Website Set to Receive Facelift (Military.com) The military's primary online family resource will be getting a facelift by the fall of this year in an effort to make the site easier to use, a top Defense Department official announced Thursday to a group of military spouses. Is the Poor Man's Predator the Future of Armed Drones? (DefenseOne) If the U.S. loosens its rules on the export of armed drones, the biggest names won't necessarily be the biggest winners. Army Names announced for promotion to master sergeant (Army Times) The Army released Thursday the names of Regular Army and Active Guard and Reserve (Army Reserve) sergeants first class selected for promotion Leaked report: Golsteyn allegedly admitted to murder (Army Times) Newly surfaced Army documents allege that Maj. Mathew Golsteyn told the CIA he murdered an unarmed Afghan bombmaker in his custody in 2011, and later conspired with others to destroy the body. The documents also allege Golsteyn, who has never faced criminal charges, knew what he did was illegal. WWII hero gets second chance at Medal of Honor (Army Times) Army 1st Lt. Garlin Murl Conner once saved his unit from an oncoming assault of hundreds of German infantrymen - but that was not enough to get him Medal of Honor. 3rd Infantry brings situational awareness to company level (C4ISR & Networks) Beginning in June, BG James Blackburn, Jr., the deputy commanding general for maneuver for the 3rd Infantry Division, will begin training brigade combat teams and certifying battalions in the use of digital command posts. It's the next step in a program that extends digital command capabilities to the company level. Army successfully destroys historic munitions at Schofield Barracks (KHON) Ten historic munitions have been successfully destroyed at Schofield Barracks. Bill would award state Purple Heart to Fort Hood shooting victims (Kileen Daily Herald) Thirty-eight survivors of the 2009 Fort Hood shooting were awarded the federal Purple Heart Medal or its equivalent in April, but members of the 84th Texas Legislature also want to show appreciation to the soldiers and civilians who were wounded in the attack. Fort Sill Drill Sergeant Of The Year Stands Tall And Proud At 4-Feet-10 (The Lawton Constitution) Fort Sill's 2015 Drill Sergeant of the Year provides a perfect example of what people mean when they say "It's not the size of the dog in the fight, it's the size of the fight in the dog." Navy U.S. PACOM Official: Destruction in Nepal 'Could Have Been Even Worse' (USNI News) As terrible as the loss of life and damage has been since the April 25, Gorkha earthquake in Nepal, an American and Nepalese training exercise a week before the quake predicted an even worse result, U.S. officials involved with the relief effort told USNI News on Wednesday. ONR Scientist Named American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics Fellow (Seapower) Joining a community that includes iconic figures like aviation pioneer Orville Wright, astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin and astronomer Carl Sagan, Dr. Thomas Beutner of the Office of Naval Research (ONR) was named a Fellow by the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) for his distinguished aerospace career. Air Force Four new career fields set for developmental jobs (Air Force Times) The Air Force set up four new career field categories for senior master sergeants and chief master sergeants in developmental positions. Air Force C-17 pilot describes mission to Nepal (Air Force Times) Capt. Matthew Hall flew his C-17 from Qatar to Kathmandu delivering a search-and-rescue team from Fairfax County, Virginia, as part of the Nepal earthquake relief effort. Combat controllers receive Air Force Cross, Silver Stars (Air Force Times) Three combat controllers who refused to let their team be taken during a September battle in Afghanistan, were honored during a ceremony here Wednesday. Air Force's newest fighter gets first female pilot (CNN) The F-35 is the Air Force's newest fighter plane, and the service says it needs some of its most experienced aviators in the cockpit of the jet. Marine Corps Obama's Perfect Chairman (Politico) Gen. Joseph Dunford knows how to maneuver in war-and in Washington. Marine Corps Captain Becomes First Woman to Fly with Blue Angels (Military.com) That time she was a child, at an air show, and a Marine recruiter promised a T-shirt if she could hang for a minute from a pull-up bar. National Guard Guardsman honored for aiding victims of fiery wreck (Army Times) In the aftermath of a fiery head-on crash on an isolated South Carolina road, Capt. Kyle Franklin of the National Guard peered into a Ford Ranger already engulfed in flames. A woman, about to drive away to find a cell signal so she could call emergency services to the scene, yelled at him to get back. Middle East Impounded Cargo Ship in Strait of Hormuz Is Released by Iran (New York Times) A Maersk Line cargo vessel impounded at gunpoint more than a week ago by Iran's naval patrol boats in the Strait of Hormuz was released on Thursday after talks between the shipper and the Iranian authorities. Syrian army, Hezbollah advance in areas along Lebanon border (Reuters) Syrian army bombing in the mountainous area along the border with Lebanon killed dozens of insurgents and helped regain hilly territory overlooking Hezbollah strongholds, the Lebanese group said on Thursday. India-Israel Ties Under Narendra Modi (Foreign Policy) Despite a cordial closeted relationship for decades, India and Israel are now making their private affair public - thanks in large part to the unprecedented embrace of the Jewish state by Narendra Modi. Is this stark departure one of style or substance? New suspected chemical attacks reported in Syria, dozens injured (The Guardian) Three chlorine attacks reported in Idlib province with nearly 80 people said to have been affected Europe Russia's Progress cargo spacecraft set to crash to Earth (The Guardian) Scientists say only 20-40% of uncrewed cargo vessel likely to survive heat of re-entry and risk of people being hit is smaller than being hit by lightning Russian super-tank 'stalls' on rehearsal parade in Moscow (BBC News) Russia's new high-tech battle tank has ground to a halt during a rehearsal for 9 May Victory parade in Moscow, prompting speculation of a breakdown. British election results produce seismic political shift in Scotland (Washington Post) The 2015 British election will be remembered for much more than which party ran first in the overall voting. It will be known at least as much as the election that produced a seismic political shift in Scotland that changed the face of British politics. France: Claims of Abuse by Troops Prompt an Inquiry (New York Times) French judges will formally investigate allegations that French troops sexually abused children during peacekeeping operations in the Central African Republic, the Paris prosecutor's office said Thursday. France's message to Brussels: we're reforming (EU Observer) France is no longer the bad pupil of the Eurozone class: It is doing its homework, and people should know it. That's the message French finance minister Michel Sapin tried to convey in Brussels on Thursday (7 May). Germany Limits Cooperation With U.S. Over Data Gathering (New York Times) Germany has curbed its cooperation with United States intelligence, pushing back against a key ally amid new revelations of spying on Germans and other Europeans that have set off a domestic firestorm. Asia-Pacific U.S. military boosts earthquake relief efforts in Nepal (Marine Corps Times) Marines and airmen are flying MV-22B Ospreys, UH-1Y Venom helicopters and C-17s to assess damage in Nepal caused by the 7.8-magnitude earthquake, which killed more than 7,000 people. North Korea warns of 'targeted strikes' against South's navy (Reuters) North Korea's military warned on Friday of "unannounced targeted strikes" against South Korea's navy, accusing the South of violating its territorial waters off the peninsula's west coast, the scene of deadly naval clashes in the past. Nepalis find community in tent city, but few resources (Washington Post) On a vacant field in the middle of this quake-ravaged capital, a community of 600 survivors has formed. Everyone in it is homeless, and many escaped their apartments with little but their lives. Most are strangers, stranded far from village roots in a devastated city where they moved to work or study. With U.S. Eyes on Iran, North Korea's Nuclear Arsenal Expanded (New York Times) While the Obama administration spent the past two years getting within striking distance of a deal to delay Iran's race for a nuclear bomb, North Korea went on an atomic spending spree: an expansion officials here fear Washington has little hope of stopping. Why China's slowdown matters (BBC News) The economy grew at an average rate of 10% a year for the three decades up to 2010. China Excavating at Tomb to Reveal More Terra Cotta Warriors (New York Times) China is expanding the ranks of the famed Terra Cotta Warrior army with new excavations expected to yield hundreds more of the ancient life-size figures. No Offense to Royals: Monkey in Japan Keeps Name Charlotte (New York Times) A monkey born in a Japanese zoo will keep its name Charlotte, after all. Africa From Nigeria to Greece: The migrant who lost it all at sea (Video) (BBC News) Kingsley is one of these migrants, who ended up sleeping rough on the Greek island of Leros, until he could get some cash to carry on. UNHCR Concerned as Niger Forces Out Nigerians (Voice of America) The United Nations refugee agency expressed concern that Niger is forcing Nigerians away from Lake Chad and their livelihoods in the wake of a deadly battle with the Boko Haram extremist group. Political crisis raises fears of widespread bloodshed in Burundi (Washington Post) A growing political crisis is threatening to plunge Burundi into renewed bloodshed a decade after it emerged from civil war, with over 40,000 people already fleeing the country, officials say. The Americas Omar Khadr, Former Guantánamo Detainee, Is Released on Bail in Canada (New York Times) Despite a vigorous protest from the Canadian government, a court in Alberta released Omar Khadr, a former child soldier in Afghanistan, on bail Thursday while he appeals his conviction by an American military tribunal. Anger could derail Mexico's economic recovery (Business Insider) Revulsion with the government of Mexican president Enrique Peña Nieto over pervasive corruption and insecurity has become widespread in Mexico. The Betrayal of Brazil (Bloomberg) As a massive corruption scandal unfolds, Brazilians are facing some stark truths: The powerful and connected are still dividing the country's riches among themselves. The past decade's economic miracle was in large part a mirage. And the future is again on hold. Commentary and Analysis Europe Requires More than Symbolic Defense (DefenseOne) A recent 1,200-mile U.S. Army convoy across European roads was a stirring sight, but it won't be enough to deter Russian aggression David Cameron may have won the election, but it's for wrecking the Union that he'll be remembered (The Independent) He roused such resentment across the border that Scotland has made itself a virtual one-party state - to the crippling cost of Labour. Protecting our service members against sexual assault (Washington Post) A defense Department report this month found that fewer men and women in uniform said they were subjected to unwanted sexual attention last year and that there has been an increase in victims reporting sex-related crimes. The improvements are, at best, incremental and overshadowed by the unsettling statistic that 62 percent of women who filed sexual assault complaints last year said they faced retaliation for doing so. Democracy, Police, and U.S. Foreign Assistance (War On The Rocks) Last month the incumbent president of Burundi, Pierre Nkurunziza, was selected as his party's nominee in the presidential elections to be held in late June. This would be Nkurunziza's third term, in violation of Burundi's peace agreement and constitution. Even though the nomination was validated by the constitutional court, it appears that this decision was obtained through threats and intimidation. While these political machinations are worrisome, the public unrest and the police response to that unrest are more worrisome as Burundi faces the worst political and violent crisis since the end of its civil war in 2005. Refuting a Retired General's Misguided Message (John Q. Public) Don't look now, but a retired Air Force 4-star just proved that you can achieve the highest rank in the military and still be wrong. To forward this e-mail to a friend, click here