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: Wed, 13 May 2015 04:49:31 -0600

Having trouble viewing this email? | View it in your browser May 13, 2015 May 13, 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 Missing U.S. helicopter carrying Marines reportedly spotted in Nepal (Marine Corps Times) A U.S. military helicopter missing during an aid mission in Nepal reportedly has been spotted north of the capital, authorities said. But it will take time to reach the site where it has been located in the Tamakoshi region north of the capital of Kathmandu. The Huey helicopter was carrying six U.S. Marines and two Nepalese soldiers when it disappeared during a mission in a remote mountainous region in Nepal, a defense official said. Senate panel backs smaller military pay hike, retirement reform (Military Times) Senate lawmakers on Tuesday shook hopes for a larger military pay raise next year by recommending only a 1.3 percent hike in their draft version of the 2016 defense authorization bill, a move that could further widen the "pay gap" between troops and their civilian counterparts. U.S. Military Proposes Challenge to China Sea Claims (Wall Street Journal) The U.S. military is considering using aircraft and Navy ships to directly contest Chinese territorial claims to a chain of rapidly expanding artificial islands, U.S. officials said, in a move that would raise the stakes in a regional showdown over who controls disputed waters in the South China Sea. Sources: Navy's top nuke likely the next CNO (Navy Times) Senior Navy officials expect that Adm. John Richardson will be named Adm. Jon Greenert's successor as chief of naval operations, barring a last-minute shift from the White House, according to sources with knowledge of the deliberations. In House bill, arms makers wrote their own rules (Politico) In his bill set to pass this week to overhaul how the Pentagon buys weapons, the new chairman of the House Armed Services Committee relied heavily on those with most at stake: the nation's arms makers. Advertisement Nepal earthquakes Weeks After Deadly Nepal Quake, Another Temblor Revives Fears (New York Times) By early Wednesday, Nepal's National Emergency Operation Center had reported 65 deaths and 1,988 injuries from Tuesday's earthquake. The death toll from the April 25 quake, with a magnitude of 7.8, had reached 8,159 and was expected to rise. Yemen Iran warns Saudi, US against hindering Yemen aid ship (Associated Press) A senior Iranian military official has warned the Saudi-led coalition targeting Yemeni rebels that blocking an Iranian aid ship bound for Yemen will "spark a fire," as a five-day humanitarian cease-fire appeared to hold early Wednesday after going into effect the day before. A Cease-Fire in Yemen, but Fighting Is Persistent (New York Times) A precarious cease-fire took effect in parts of Yemen on Tuesday night, in the first negotiated halt to hostilities since Saudi Arabia started a bombing campaign against Yemen's Houthi rebels in late March. Raids hit Yemen capital, Iran sends cargo ship (Reuters) Saudi-led air strikes hit the rebel-held Yemeni capital Sanaa on Tuesday hours before a five-day humanitarian truce was set to begin, and Washington cautioned against "provocative actions" after Iran dispatched a cargo ship to Yemen. Islamic State Training for Iraq's Sunni tribesmen to fight Islamic State off to slow start (McClatchy) In response to mounting criticism that sectarian Shiite Muslim militias are committing crimes against the mostly Sunni Muslim residents of embattled Anbar province, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi has authorized training and arming Sunni militiamen to combat the Islamic State. Pentagon: 'No reason' to believe ISIS leader injured (CNN) CNN's Barbara Starr reports on why Pentagon officials are dismissing reports that ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi was injured in a coalition strike. The Price Of Freedom: Syrians Smuggle Yazidis From IS, At A Cost (Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty) Sunni Arab smugglers in Syria are helping to rescue Yazidi women and girls abducted from northern Iraq by Islamic State (IS) militants, but often charge large sums of money for their services, Yazidi activists say. Fighting Islamic State leaves wake of destruction that Iraq is struggling to cope with (Bloomberg) Ahmed al-Jabouri had hoped the worst was over after Iraqi forces drove Islamic State from his town near Baghdad. Instead, he returned six weeks ago to find bombed out homes, looted shops and a growing list of grievances. Russia-Ukraine US Army Plans Show-of-Force Exercise in Romania (Defense News) More than 350 American soldiers and 80 US Army vehicles - most of them Strykers - will begin a 400 kilometer "cavalry march" across Romania, with cover from US Air Force, this week, to kick off multinational exercises in Romania, the Pentagon announced Tuesday. Nemtsov Report Says More Than 200 Russian Soldiers Killed In Ukraine War (Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty) The estimated death toll is one of the main findings of the much-anticipated report on Russia's involvement in the Ukraine conflict, which was completed by allies of Nemtsov after his killing in February and released on May 12. No breakthrough as Kerry meets Russia's Putin (Associated Press) The United States and Russia emerged Tuesday from their most extensive, high-level talks in years vowing closer cooperation on Ukraine and Syria but unable to point to any breakthrough or new approach to bridge the major differences separating the two powers. Advertisement Polish lawmakers get military training for 'troubled times' (Associated Press) Dozens of Polish lawmakers traded in their suits and political bargaining for fatigues and military exercises on Tuesday, a mainly symbolic act as Poles grow nervous about the conflict next door in Ukraine and Russia's involvement in it. Foreigners could be allowed to serve in Ukrainian army (Associated Press) The Ukrainian parliament has given preliminary approval to allowing foreigners to serve in its army. Industry Airbus Holds First A400M Test Flight Since Crash (Agence France-Presse) Airbus on Tuesday carried out the first test flight of a new A400M since one of the military transport planes crashed in Spain over the weekend, killing four people. Judge dismisses Raytheon suit to block review of rival radar bids (Reuters) A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit filed by Raytheon Co, freeing the U.S. Air Force to re-evaluate bids it got for a new long-range radar won by Raytheon but challenged by rivals Lockheed Martin Corp and Northrop Grumman Corp, sources familiar with the decision said. Proglio Rejects Thales Chairman Appointment (Defense News) Henri Proglio has pulled out of a planned appointment as chairman of defense electronics company Thales, in response to the economy minister's concerns over his links to the Russian nuclear industry, afternoon daily Le Monde reported Tuesday. Spain halts Airbus A400M test flights pending crash cause (Associated Press) Spain on Tuesday withdrew permission for test flights of Airbus A400M military transport planes that are still in production until an investigation determines the cause of a deadly weekend crash, officials said. Northrop to receive $4bn worth of Global Hawk work through 2020 (Flightglobal) The US Air Force plans to award Northrop Grumman contracts valued at $4 billion to sustain and modernize the RQ-4 Global Hawk over the next five years as the high-flying unmanned aircraft emerges from the shadow of potential retirement into a normalised defence programme. US Army studying vendors' potential ULCV offerings (IHS Jane's 360) The army asked industry teams to respond by 11 May to a 'market questionnaire' as it seeks information on the availability, capabilities, and potential for building ULCVs. Boeing Loses Only Small Satellite Order (Wall Street Journal) Boeing Co. has dropped its only order for a new small satellite intended to expand its offering for communications and imaging services, the latest victim of the downturn in global energy and commodities markets. Next-Generation Harpoon Missile Offered to Navy (DoDBuzz) Boeing is trying to sell the Navy an upgraded anti-ship and land attack weapon designed to double the range of the service's existing Harpoon. Air & Missile Defense Radar sails through Critical Design Review (Market Watch) The U.S. Navy and Raytheon Company RTN, +0.31% have completed the AN/SPY-6(V) Air and Missile Defense Radar (AMDR) critical design review. The outcome confirms Raytheon's design and technologies as mature, producible and low risk; on track to meet all radar performance requirements, on schedule and within cost. Engine, Fuel System Focus Of A400M Crash Probe (Aviation Week) An investigation into the May 9 crash of an Airbus A400M airlifter is focusing on the aircraft's TP400 engines and associated fuel system. BAE Systems Australia makes further reductions to naval shipbuilding workforce (IHS Jane's 360) BAE Systems Australia has announced a further cut in its workforce at its Williamstown shipyard in Victoria. Sating the appetite for bandwidth (C4ISR & Networks) Although the military already depends on commercial suppliers for the vast majority of its communications bandwidth, it is expected that industry-supplied bandwidth will play an even greater role as U.S. foreign and military strategy pivots toward Asia and communication needs grow. Terma announces MoU with Aselsan (IHS Jane's 360) Danish company Terma signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Turkish company Aselsan in February at the 2015 IDEX conference, the company announced on 12 May. Security Needs Drive Australian F-35 Base Program (Aviation Week) Australia has begun building the infrastructure it will need to support its planned force of at least 72 Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightnings, with much of the work driven by U.S. demands for tightened security of the aircraft and their systems. Procurement of Refueller Aircraft From Airbus on Track: Parrikar (Indian Express) Plan to acquire mid-air refueller aircraft for the Air Force from Airbus is still on track even as CBI is investigating alleged irregularities in an Rs 8,000 crore deal with the European major for supplying 43 planes to erstwhile Indian Airlines, Rajya Sabha was informed today. Congress House chairman criticizes speed, size of Syrian rebel training (The Hill) House Armed Services Committee Chairman Mac Thornberry (R-Texas) is criticizing the Defense Department for the speed and size of its effort to train moderate Syrian rebels to fight the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS). Thornberry Downplays White House Veto Threat (Defense News) House Armed Services Committee Chairman Mac Thornberry on Tuesday downplayed a White House veto threat of defense legislation that proposes to increase military spending. Senate Subpanel OKs Funds for Reaper Drones (Defense News) A Senate subcommittee voted to support the Obama administration's nearly $11 billion funding request for America's most elite military forces. Senate Democrats block Obama's trade bill (McClatchy) Despite heavy lobbying by the White House, rebellious Senate Democrats delivered a major blow to President Barack Obama's trade agenda Tuesday, blocking debate on a bill aimed at speeding passage of a 12-nation trade pact, the largest in history. Rubio's foreign policy evolution from moderate to ultra-hawk (Bloomberg) The Florida Republican will return Wednesday to the Council on Foreign Relations for the first major foreign policy speech of his presidential campaign, where he is expected to complete a dramatic shift from moderate to ultra-hawk. Some NDAA Amendments Target Syria Program (Defense News) US House members want to use the annual Pentagon policy bill to alter the White House's program to train and equip Syrian rebels - or end it. House Armed Services chief declines to pick side in immigration fight (The Hill) The head of the House Armed Services Committee on Tuesday said House GOP leaders will have to determine what happens next in the fight over whether illegal immigrants should be able to serve in the military. Issue Tracker: NDAA Hits House Floor (Defense News) The House this week will take up a massive Armed Services Committee-approved Pentagon policy bill that would add billions to a list of Defense Department weapon programs and keep alive some targeted for cuts by the services. Veterans Report: Vets' job expecations may be unrealistic (Military Times) Veterans' post-service employment problems may have as much to do with their own unrealistic civilian job expectations as their new employers' unfamiliarity with the military, Vet commits suicide on VA administration grounds (Fox 10) A veteran drove to the Phoenix VA headquarters this weekend, and then committed suicide in the parking lot. VA, Congress work to change VA Choice eligibility (Military Times) Congress and the Veterans Affairs Department are working to change eligibility rules and open the VA Choice program to veterans who can't get needed medical care at their closest VA facility. Ranger Up, Article 15 plan movie with 2 MOH recipients (Army Times) "Hollywood wants this movie, but their way sucks. So we're going to do it ourselves." Hospital apologizes to vet after telling him to call 911 when he couldn't get inside (Seattle Times) When Donald Siefken drove up to the Seattle VA hospital emergency room earlier this year with a broken foot, all he asked for was a little help getting inside. California Veteran Shares Story of Gender Transition (Fox 40) A local transgender veteran is sharing her story of transitioning with FOX40. Boise veteran returns from Nepal after canceled Everest climb (KTVB) Friends and family members gathered at the Boise Airport Monday night to welcome Marine Staff Sgt. Charlie Linville home. Watch robots write these thank you notes to troops (USA Today) KIND Snacks is teaming up with Bond to create handwritten notes of thanks for service members. During May, Bond's robots will be turning tweets into notes that will be hand delivered to veterans and military personnel around the world. Ammo parts found in Allenhurst, Loch Arbour beaches (Asbury Park Press) Components of World War I-era ammunition have been found on the beaches in Allenhurst and Loch Arbour, where a $38 million sand replenishment project was underway. Vet saves dog in hot car, but gets arrested anyway (USA Today) A Georgia man who saved a dog from a hot car wasn't rewarded for his action. Instead, the move landed him behind bars. "I heard someone say there was a dog in distress in a hot car," said Michael Hammons, a Desert Storm veteran. Panama City Beach Business Pulls Support for Wounded Veterans Retreat (WCTV) Organizers of a retreat for veterans in Panama City Beach are searching for a new venue after they say a property management group pulled its support following an April incident in which veterans say they were harassed by fraternity members. 9/11 flag's last stop is San Diego (San Diego Union-Tribune) The striking, 700-square-foot 9/11 Memorial Flag waved and flapped Tuesday morning in downtown San Diego, its last stop on a 13-year worldwide journey aimed at honoring those who died in the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. 15 veterans taking the comedy world by storm (We Are The Mighty) Here are 15 veterans currently making names for themselves on stages and elsewhere around the country. Defense Department & National Security DoD spending on NFL events draws high-level probe (Military Times) The National Guard has launched a review of its advertising relationship with the National Football League amid allegations that some military officials paid for game-day tributes that spotlighted service members and thanked them for their service. Pentagon Credit Cards Used at Adult Clubs (Bloomberg) An audit found that military and civilian personnel used the cards, intended for authorized government travel, to charge $952,258 at casinos and $96,576 at adult clubs in the year that ended on June 30, 2014. Former VCJCS James Cartwright: U.S. Risks Obsolesce in Future Space Programs Without More Adaptation (USNI News) Speaking at a forum on the future of civilian and military space efforts, the former vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff told the audience at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, D.C., that the question is coming down to "do you go hard now or wait to invest" in deciding how to proceed on the governmental side and the commercial side of space. Jade Helm 15 explored on TV: Checkpoint challenges the conspiracy theories (Washington Post) As debate and conspiracy theories continue to percolate about the new military exercise Jade Helm 15, Checkpoint has been asked to help explain what the operation is - and is not. Pentagon looking for future threats beyond ISIL (USA Today) After missing the early stages of the Islamic State's rise into one of the world's most threatening militant groups, the Pentagon has begun a review to help anticipate possible threats beyond the Islamic State, military records show. Army U.S. Army Withdraws Flawed And Plagiarized Manual About "Cultural Understanding" (Buzzfeed) The U.S. Army withdrew its just-published "cultural understanding" manual for soldiers on Tuesday, after anthropologists and BuzzFeed News raised questions about plagiarism and botched explanations of culture in the document. Update: New retention bonuses and reclassification rules (Army Times) An updated menu of Selective Retention Bonuses and reclassification opportunities, as defined in "in/out" calls, becomes available May 20, replacing bonus and job-switch data released earlier this year. Vice chief: Army readiness has a long way to go (Army Times) The Army has "a long way to go" to reach its readiness goals, and all the gains it has made in the last 18 months could be lost if sequestration returns in October, the Army's No. 2 officer said Tuesday. Green Beret honored for valor in combat in Afghanistan (Associated Press) A Green Beret was awarded the third-highest medal for valor in combat at Joint Base Lewis-McChord for his role in turning back an attack on his base in Afghanistan in 2013. Soldier detained for running onto field during Korean baseball game (Stars & Stripes) Police say a U.S. soldier was detained after rushing onto the field during a professional baseball game in Seoul in they called a "heroic" attempt to impress his girlfriend. Navy Mabus to push big changes to PT, career opportunities (Navy Times) Fair fitness standards, less online training, more educational opportunities and a better balance of work and family life. Those hot button issues for sailors and Marines are now at the forefront of a new campaign by the Navy's top civilian to boost quality of life and recruit more women into the ranks. 2 Navy aviators rescued after Hornet crash off carrier TR (Navy Times) Two naval aviators aboard the Super Hornet, assigned to Strike Fighter Squadron 211, ejected from the jet and were quickly recovered by search and rescue personnel, 5th Fleet said Tuesday. Navy criminal investigators looking into reported assault (Associated Press) The Navy's criminal investigative service is looking into a reported assault of a female sailor aboard the Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier in Newport News. 7 sailors headed to trial for sub Wyoming shower videos (Navy Times) Out of a dozen submariners originally suspected of trading videos of their female shipmates in a shower changing area last year, seven are headed to court-martial, according to charge sheets recently provided to Navy Times. Dept. of the Navy Developing its Own 'Wikipedia' To Track Wargames Lessons (USNI News) A line in Mabus' wargaming memo may change the way the Navy and Marine Corps learn from these experiments: the memo directs the services to "establish a mechanism to share actionable insights from wargames across the department, with a particular focus on cross-event and longitudinal analysis." Double change of command scheduled for Pacific region (Honolulu Star-Advertiser) A double change of command for two of the Pacific's highest-ranking military members will show off some four-star power May 27 at Pearl Harbor now that the Pentagon's top military job is sorted out. Petty officer lists expected before Memorial Day (Navy Times) Big news for petty officers and hopefuls is just around the corner. Thousands of sailors will find out if they made E-4, E-5 and E-6 when the spring advancement lists come out the week before Memorial Day weekend. USS Pittsburgh returns to Naval Submarine Base after 6-month deployment (New London Day) Pittsburgh returned from the European Command areas of responsibility where the crew executed maritime security operations in support of national security interests. A Navy Pilot's Death Reflects the Everyday Hazards of the Job (New York Times) The Navy's investigation into Lieutenant Poloski's fatal crash - a copy of which was obtained by The New York Times through a Freedom of Information Act request after it was completed last month - reveals new details about the collision as well as larger insights into the dangerous business of carrier operations, even when a ship and its aerial armada are not at war. Essex ARG, 15th MEU deploy for 7th, 5th Fleets (Navy Times) More than 4,500 sailors and Marines from the Essex Amphibious Ready Group and the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit left San Diego Monday for a deployment to Asia Pacific and the Middle East. Air Force Twice as many sex assault victims opting out (Air Force Times) The number of Air Force sexual assault victims who declined to participate in the military justice process doubled last year. Laughlin captain accused of adultery, fraternization (Air Force Times) A former Air Force instructor pilot is accused of having sex with a married student pilot at Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas, and fraternizing with three enlisted airmen at other locations, according to the 47th Flying Training Wing. Military Stalls on Efforts to Repair Drone Troubles Depicted in 'Good Kill' (US News and World Report) New Air Force data shows a troubling trend for the future of unmanned aerial vehicle crews. All airmen accounted for after latest quake in Nepal (Air Force Times) All 192 airmen deployed for the Nepal mission, including some who were in Nepal, have been accounted for following the latest earthquake Tuesday, according to Col. David Honchul, Pacific Air Forces director of public affairs. No U.S. Air Force aircraft were in Nepal at the time, he said. Fly Now, Pay Later Costs Airman More Than He Bargained (Detroit Free Press) Five months later, the airman first-class firefighter still is paying off this loan. Osan airman remembered as 'a gentle soul' (The Lima News) Kevin Bittinger, formerly of Wapakoneta, died at Osan Air Base while serving in South Korea as a member of the U.S. Air Force. Though the circumstances surrounding his death remained under investigation, his family was trying to come to terms with their loss. He was 24 years old. Marine Corps Inside the Marine Corps' gender experiment: All-female grunt teams get innovative during combat tests (Marine Corps Times) Part one in a series on the Marine Corps' integrated task force. | The goal of the task force is to develop gender-blind job-specific standards for each ground combat arms military occupational specialty that remains closed to female Marines. But there's a broader underlying question: Can female Marines do the job at all? The Marine Corps' answer to that question is likely to be a nuanced one. U.S. vows to 'work tirelessly' to find missing journalist Tice (Reuters) The United States vowed on Tuesday to "work tirelessly" to bring home missing American journalist Austin Tice, who disappeared in Syria in 2012, and appealed to his captors to free him. National Guard Governors to Congress: Don't make cuts to National Guard (The Hill) The nation's governors on Tuesday urged Congress to reject any personnel or equipment cuts from the Army National Guard, as lawmakers craft the defense bill that authorizes spending and activities in 2016. National Guard Helicopters Help Cattle Stranded By Flood Waters (News 9) Rescuers resort to extreme measure to save lives after parts of the state received flooding rains last week. Afghanistan/Pakistan Gunmen kill 43 in attack on Shiite minority in Pakistan (USA Today) Gunmen killed 43 people on Wednesday aboard a bus in southern Pakistan bound for a Shiite community center, in the latest attack targeting the religious minority, police said. Central Asian Militants Return To Northern Afghanistan (Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty) Afghan officials, particularly those in the affected provinces, have noticed an upsurge in violence across the north during these last 12 months and have linked recent fighting to the arrival of "foreign militants." Pakistan, Afghanistan pledge to fight terrorism together (Associated Press) Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and Pakistan's Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif renewed their nations' vows on Tuesday to jointly combat the mutual threat of militant groups operating along the two countries' shared border. Middle East Inspectors in Syria Find Traces of Banned Military Chemicals (New York Times) International inspectors have found traces of banned toxic chemicals in at least three military locations in Syria, four diplomats and officials said, less than two years after President Bashar al-Assad agreed to dismantle the country's chemical arsenal. Saudi King's Absence at Obama Summit Moves Spotlight to Mysterious Son (Time) His son, also known as the Minister of Defense, as well as president of the royal court. Mohammad bin Salman may be 29, as some accounts have it, or 34, the age offered in other reports. Or somewhere in between. Persian Gulf nations unlikely to embrace democracy despite Obama push (McClatchy) When President Barack Obama meets with representatives of Saudi Arabia and five other Persian Gulf emirates at Camp David on Thursday, he's expected to raise the topic of political liberalization in their nations to make them more receptive to internal dissent. Gulf Summit Not Expected to Yield US Sales (Defense News) Wednesday's US-Gulf leaders summit is not expected to yield any major announcements of foreign military sales, though it could spark increased military cooperation, US officials said Tuesday. Israel Says Hezbollah Positions Put Lebanese at Risk (New York Times) Viewed from the air, Muhaybib looks like a typical southern Lebanese village - a cluster of about 90 houses and buildings punctuated by the minaret of a mosque and surrounded by fields. Netanyahu's new government will be one of Israel's most hawkish (McClatchy) As he prepares to present his new government to the Israeli parliament, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is poised to lead a narrow and unstable rightist coalition that he would prefer to expand. U.S. Will Remain Tough on Iran, Obama Tells Arab Newspaper (New York Times) Ahead of a two-day meeting with senior officials from a half-dozen Persian Gulf countries, President Obama on Tuesday defended his efforts to reach a nuclear deal with Iran, but promised that the United States would not stop trying to prevent Iranian aggression against other nations in the region. Europe A new Swedish message to Russian submarines: 'This way if you are gay.' (Washington Post) On Monday, the Swedish Peace and Arbitration Society (SPAS), a group dedicated to the study and promotion of peace, released details of their plan in a video on their Web site. Germany, Israel Mark 50 Years of Ties (Defense News) Invoking their tragically unique history as a springboard for ever-strengthening strategic ties, leaders from Germany and Israel, in parallel meetings in Tel Aviv and Berlin on Tuesday, marked 50 years since the establishment of formal relations on May 12, 1965. Israel, Greece and US to Conclude Maritime Drill (Defense News) Israeli, Greek and US naval forces are wrapping up a two-week annual exercise aimed at honing maritime proficiencies and interoperability for potential joint missions in the Mediterranean. EU mission helicopter crashes in Kosovo, injuring 1 (Associated Press) Officials say a helicopter belonging to a European Union mission in Kosovo has crashed at the country's main airport, injuring one member of the mission. Asia-Pacific North Korea Didn't Launch Submarine Missile, U.S. Officials Say (Bloomberg) North Korea didn't launch a ballistic missile from a submarine, contrary to its government proclamations and news reports, according to two U.S. officials. China looks to join US, France with military base in Djibouti (Stars & Stripes) One year after the U.S. reached a long-term deal to extend its lease of a critical base in the tiny Horn of Africa nation of Djibouti, China is reported in talks to establish a military outpost in the strategic country. Report: North Korea's defense minister executed in public (The Week) Around April 30, North Korea executed its defense minister, Hyon Yong Chol, by firing squad, the South Korean news agency Yonhap reports. What's for sale as Japan eases military exports rule (Associated Press) As Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe oversees an increase to the country's military capability, he has also eased a decades-old ban on military exports, enabling defense contractors to expand their markets beyond Japan's Self-Defense Forces. Here are some export or technology transfer deals Japan is pursuing. China wants stealthy UAVs along with fifth-gen fighters (Flightglobal) The Pentagon thinks China will prioritise development of stealthy unmanned aircraft for air-to-ground combat along with its pursuit of fifth-generation fighter aircraft like the J-20 and J-31 to rival the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. Philippines seeks U.S. help in stopping China land reclamation (Associated Press) The Philippines' top diplomat said Tuesday he is seeking more U.S. help in stopping massive land reclamation by China that could give Beijing effective control of the South China Sea. 6.8-magnitude earthquake hits Japan (Al Jazeera America) A 6.8-magnitude earthquake struck Japan on Wednesday in the same region devastated by a major quake and tsunami in 2011. Authorities said there was no risk of tsunami. China commissions fourth ASW-capable Type 056 corvette (IHS Jane's 360) Chinese state television images suggest that the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) commissioned its latest Type 056 Jiangdao-class corvette in the week of 4 May. Africa Burundi police fire on anti-Nkurunziza protesters (BBC) Police in Burundi's capital have opened fire on a big crowd of protesters in unrest over the president's re-election bid, witnesses say. Liberia's Military Tries to Remedy Tension Over Ebola Quarantine (New York Times) The chief of staff for the Armed Forces of Liberia, Brig. Gen. Daniel D. Ziankahn Jr., hung up his navy blue suit, put on a bright yellow jersey and shorts, then bounded toward a sandy field. West backs Libyan 'national unity' (Agence France-Presse) The United States and five European nations reaffirmed their commitment to Libyan "territorial integrity and national unity" Monday, as the North African nation works toward a unity government to emerge from chaos. Boko Haram fight 'hampered by poor Chad-Nigeria co-ordination' (BBC) Chad's President Idriss Deby has said the fight against Boko Haram militants is being hampered by poor co-ordination between his country and Nigeria. Dozens killed in tribal clashes in Sudan's East Darfur: MP (Agence France-Presse) Fighting broke out between the Rezeigat and Maaliya groups around the Abu Karinka area of East Darfur state, the latest in a series of bloody ethnic and tribal conflicts in the region. The Americas Bush draws criticism from right on Iraq (The Hill) Likely Republican presidential contender and former Gov. Jeb Bush (Fla.) is attracting heat from conservatives for his recent declaration that he, too, would have invaded Iraq in 2003 if he had been president. Amtrak Train Derails in Philadelphia, Killing at Least 5 and Injuring Dozens (New York Times) At least five people were killed and dozens more were injured when an Amtrak train carrying 243 people derailed here on Tuesday, shutting down service in the Northeast region, the authorities said. Colombian Army Black Hawk helicopter crashes, killing four (UPI) Four Colombian military personnel died and two were injured after a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter crashed near the town of La Uribe, Colombia, on Sunday. Commentary and Analysis Incoming: Thank You for Your Service (Adm. James Stavridis, USN (Ret.) in Signal Magazine) So often these days, as I sail along in my second year of retirement, people-very nicely-say to me, "Thank you for your service." I appreciate that deeply, and I think every veteran does. Some veterans have served just a year or two, of course, and some grizzled folks like me stayed in for well over three decades. But regardless of the length of service, we all enjoy that momentary sense of being part of something far larger than just ourselves-Navy, Army, Marine Corps, Air Force, Coast Guard, and so on. But lately, I have been thinking about the many ways people serve their nation. Analysis: At Camp David, Obama will find Gulf nations willing to assert themselves (Tom Hussain and Anita Kumar, McClatchy) The meeting of President Barack Obama and Gulf Arab envoys Thursday comes at a time when the monarchies that dominate the region are determined to shed their image of rich layabouts dependent on American military protection and replace it with one that demonstrates their willingness to project military power beyond their borders. How PTSD Became a Problem Far Beyond the Battlefield (Sebastian Junger, Vanity Fair) Though only 10 percent of American forces see combat, the U.S. military now has the highest rate of post-traumatic stress disorder in its history. Sebastian Junger investigates. Frozen Assets in the Arctic: The Newest Front in Global Espionage (James Bamford, Foreign Policy) While the world's attention today is focused largely on the Middle East and other obvious trouble spots, few people seem to be monitoring what's happening in the Arctic. Over the past few years, in fact, the Arctic Ocean countries have been busy building up their espionage armories with imaging satellites, reconnaissance drones, eavesdropping bases, spy planes, and stealthy subs. What The B-3 Bomber Should Be (Robbin Laird, Breaking Defense) There has been an inversion of the strategic and tactical with the evolution of bombers, whereby small groups of aircraft can deliver strategic effects while conducting what would normally be described as tactical missions. Any new bomber like the Long Range Strike Bomber - generally becoming known as the B-3 - will be born in a period where the tactical and strategic are being redefined. The Army And Marine Corps' Ammo Debate Is About More Than Bullets (Christian Beekman, Task & Purpose) The procurement clash over the Army's M855A1 and and the Corps' Mk318 ignores a fundamental truth about combat shooting. Getting the GCC to Cooperate on Missile Defense (Thomas Karako in War On The Rocks) In the context of the P5+1 nuclear negotiations aimed at suspending or slowing Iran's nuclear weapons program, the GCC would be wise to heed this advice - if only because many of them doubt the anticipated nuclear deal will go far enough in restraining Iran's nuclear programs and other regional ambitions. 2016 National Defense Authorization Act: 4 Big Takeaways (Daniel R. DePetris, The National Interest ) Here are some of the more interesting elements of the NDAA passed by the House Armed Services Committee. The Confused Person's Guide to Yemen (Karl Sharro, The Atlantic) It's simply a Saudi-Iranian-American-Yemeni-al-Qaeda civil/proxy war. Obama's Arab Summit Can Succeed With the Right Mix of Granularity and Grand Strategy (Melissa Dalton in DefenseOne) U.S. and Arab leaders can launch a framework for security cooperation easily enough, but enduring success will require deeper thinking. An Epic Congressional Failure on Defense (Dakota L. Wood in War On The Rocks) Although not a spending document itself, the NDAA sets the legal framework within which the defense budget will be debated this summer and, with luck, enacted in the fall. It also tells the Department of Defense what it must or cannot do in various areas. Review: 'Team of Teams': Good on JSOC in Iraq, but not that much new for business types (Gautam Mukunda, Foreign Policy) Team of Teams has some significant weaknesses, but its description of how a remarkably gifted leader transformed an organization in the most challenging of circumstances both adds to our understanding of the Iraq War and is likely to be helpful and occasionally inspiring for executives. So You're A Veteran - Now What? (Kyle Dykstra, Task & Purpose) An Army veteran shares his thoughts on how this generation of veterans can contribute to their communities once they're home. Geopolitics Is Back-and Global Governance Is Out (Stewart Patrick and Isabella Bennett in The National Interest) As the Middle East implodes and the planet bakes, one wishes the world would stand still long enough for governments to catch up. Today's most burning issues-from terrorism to climate change-loom larger than ever. Worse, by definition, these transnational problems cannot be solved with national approaches alone. They require unprecedented cooperation among the world's most influential countries. To forward this e-mail to a friend, click here Click to Unsubscribe from this Newsletter or Customer Service: 1-800-368-5718 or cust-svc@gannettgov.com © 2015 Military Times, a division of Gannett Government Media 6883 Commercial Drive, Springfield, VA 22159