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: Mon, 11 May 2015 04:27:02 -0600

Having trouble viewing this email? | View it in your browser May 11, 2015 May 11, 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. Pentagon's quiet push for personnel reform (Military Times) Support for far-reaching military personnel reforms that would change some of the most traditional facets of troops' promotions and assignments is taking root at the highest levels inside the Pentagon. 2. Saudi Arabia Says King Won't Attend Meetings in U.S. (New York Times) Saudi Arabia announced on Sunday that its new monarch, King Salman, would not be attending meetings at the White House with President Obama or a summit gathering at Camp David this week, in an apparent signal of its continued displeasure with the administration over United States' relations with Iran, its rising regional adversary. 3. With Dunford, Obama Makes Popular Choice (Defense News) President Barack Obama's selection of Marine Corps Commandant Gen. Joseph Dunford as the next chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff seems to have done the impossible - created consensus in Washington. 4. Iraq's foreign minister addresses ties with both U.S. and Iran (Los Angeles Times) As Iraq's government attempts to reclaim territory seized by the extremist group Islamic State, it has accepted military aid from two rival powers, the United States and Iran. It is a difficult balancing act. 5. Military raises security measures at bases nationwide (Military Times) The four-star commander who oversees U.S. military operations in North America ordered domestic military bases nationwide to increase their force protection measures amid heightened concern about terrorist threats. Advertisement Defense News with Vago Muradian Vago's Notebook: NATO Must Counter Russia (Defense News) Washington must play a stronger leadership role in Europe, which is as important to its global security interests as Asia and the Middle East. Norway's Future Military (Defense News) Norway's chief of defense, Adm. Haakon Bruun-Hansen, discusses how global events shape Norway's military strategy. 2014 Military Strengths & Weaknesses (Defense News) Norway's chief of defense, Adm. Haakon Bruun-Hansen, talks about Norway's strengths and weaknesses highlighted in its annual military report. Changing Arctice Climate & Security (Defense News) Norway's chief of defense, Adm. Haakon Bruun-Hansen, on how the Arctic is changing and what it means for Norway's security. Bruun Hanssen Web Extra Interview (Defense News) Adm. Haakon Bruun-Hanssen, Norway's Chief of Defense, on how Russia, Afghanistan, Mali and other missions as well as a warming Arctic will shape his inputs for the new strategy being developed by Norwegian political leaders. Yemen Moroccan fighter jet goes missing ahead of Yemen cease-fire (Associated Press) A Moroccan F-16 fighter jet taking part in a Saudi-led coalition targeting Shiite rebels in Yemen has gone missing, the North African nation's military said Monday, a day ahead of the start of a proposed five-day humanitarian cease-fire. A look at nations involved in Saudi-led airstrikes on Yemen (Associated Press) A Saudi-led coalition has been targeting Shiite rebels and their allies in Yemen in a campaign of airstrikes since March 26. Here's a look at the Sunni Arab countries involved in the fighting so far, as well as others offering material support or backing the operation. Why so many children are fighting in Yemen's civil war (Washington Post) Abdullah Ali's 15-year-old son disappeared from home one morning three months ago. A week later, the boy called his horrified family to say he had joined the Shiite insurgents known as Houthis - becoming one of a growing number of underage soldiers fighting in Yemen's civil war. Yemen's Shiite insurgents, army rebels back 5-day cease-fire (Associated Press) Yemen's Shiite rebels and their allies in the country's splintered armed forces said Sunday they would accept a five-day humanitarian cease-fire to allow aid to reach civilians after more than a month of daily Saudi-led airstrikes. Saudi Arabia's Yemen War Unravels (The National Interest) Saudi Arabia's plunge into the civil war next door in Yemen to keep Iranian-backed factions from taking over is hugely popular at home right now, and the general public mood is decidedly hawkish. But after more than five weeks of a daily bombing campaign, some Saudis are beginning to wonder privately whether the declared goal of restoring their ousted allies to power is a step too far. UN officials unhappy with Saudi Arabia's plans for Yemen aid (McClatchy) The United Nations and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia are locked in a bitter dispute over Riyadh's insistence that humanitarian aid for Yemen be coordinated through Saudi authorities. Advertisement Islamic State Has ISIS Lost Its Head? Power Struggle Erupts with Al-Baghdadi Seriously Wounded (Daily Beast) As defectors confirm reports that al-Baghdadi is still in bad shape from a March bombing, Syrian and Iraqi factions vie for influence in the so-called Islamic State. IS Constructs A 'Can-Do' Image In Mosul (Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty) For the Islamic State (IS) group, appearances are everything. That's why, in recent days, the militant group has focused its propaganda efforts on positive developments in the Iraqi city of Mosul. Islamic State and Jihadi Realignments in Khorasan (The Diplomat) For the Taliban, IS poses a strategic, potentially existential, threat, as both appeal to similar recruits; but the Taliban leadership has been reluctant to take a stand against IS due to their similar ideological and political goals, and shared enemies. Afghan Officials: IS Militants Helping Taliban In Kunduz (Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty) Officials in northern Afghanistan say Taliban fighters who launched an offensive against government security forces last month have been joined by foreign fighters from the Islamic State (IS) militant group. Kurdish Leader Agrees to Accept Arms on U.S. Terms in Fight Against ISIS (New York Times) The politically charged debate over whether the United States should directly arm Kurdish fighters in their battle against the Islamic State appeared to have been eased on Friday when Massoud Barzani, the president of Iraq's Kurdish autonomous region, said he was prepared to accept weapons delivery "whatever way the administration chooses." In a propaganda war against Islamic State, US tried to play by enemy's rules (Washington Post) As fighters surged into Syria last summer, a video surfaced online with the grisly imagery and sneering tone of a propaganda release from the Islamic State. Santorum: Bomb ISIS 'back to the 7th Century' (The Hill) Former Sen. Rick Santorum (R-Pa.) said Saturday the military should damage the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) to the point of impotence. Iraq signs up 1,000 recruits for Sunni militia to fight IS (Associated Press) Iraqi authorities have signed up 1,000 recruits for a new Sunni militia in the western Anbar province, tasked with fighting the Islamic State group and retaking the insurgent stronghold of Fallujah. Russia-Ukraine Special Report: Russian soldiers quit over Ukraine (Reuters) Some Russian soldiers are quitting the army because of the conflict in Ukraine, several soldiers and human rights activists have told Reuters. Their accounts call into question the Kremlin's continued assertions that no Russian soldiers have been sent to Ukraine, and that any Russians fighting alongside rebels there are volunteers. Merkel Raps Putin Over Ukraine Conflict During Visit to Moscow (Wall Street Journal) German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Sunday confronted Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin over the Ukraine crisis, balancing a tribute to Soviet losses in World War II with a rebuke of Russia's policies today. Volunteers in Kiev aid Ukraine war effort (Stars & Stripes) While the fighting in the east has torn off bits of Ukraine into separatist enclaves, the conflict is awakening a dormant sense of national pride in Kiev and in western regions that have sought closer ties to Europe and the West. Battle Tested, Ukraine Troops Now Get U.S. Basic Training (New York Times) The exercise, one of the most fundamental in the military handbook, came off without a hitch. A soldier carrying a length of rope and a grappling hook ran to within 20 feet or so of a coil of concertina wire and stopped. Nemtsov Report On Putin And Ukraine War To Be Released (Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty) The report that Nemtsov never wrote has been finally completed by a group of opposition activists and journalists led by Yashin, who pieced together the trail that the slain former deputy prime minister left behind. Ukraine's U.S. Backers Use Cold-War Playbook (Wall Street Journal) Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko appeared before the U.S. Congress last September and pleaded for weapons to counter Russian advances. Afterward, members of his delegation sat down with two American supporters at a home in Georgetown. Why, the Ukrainians asked, was the Obama administration promising so much but doing so little? Putin takes swipe at U.S. in Victory Day speech (Associated Press) In his speech to the assembled troops and veterans, President Vladimir Putin said that the carnage of the war underlined the importance of international cooperation, but "in the past decades we have seen attempts to create a unipolar world." That phrase is often used by Russia to criticize the United States' purported aim to dominate world affairs. Ukraine president says almost 7,000 civilians killed in war (Associated Press) Nearly 7,000 civilians have been killed in the war in eastern Ukraine between government forces and Russian-backed separatists since fighting erupted in April last year, the nation's president said Friday. Industry Airbus A400M Aircraft Crashes in Spain (Defense News) An Airbus A400M military transport aircraft, which had been ordered by Turkey, crashed Saturday near the Seville airport, Airbus Defence and Space said. Firms To Compete for Canadian Ship Program (Defense News) European and US firms will compete to win a multibillion-dollar contract to design the Royal Canadian Navy's future combat ship and integrate its combat systems. Highlights From Turkey's 2015 International Defence Industry Fair (Aviation Week) Aviation Week's Dan Katz shares these photo highlights from the floor of Turkey's 2015 International Defence Industry Fair. DHS picks Booz Allen Hamilton for cyber contract (C4ISR & Networks) Booz Allen Hamilton has been awarded a $39 million DHS cybersecurity contract. Germany grounds Airbus A400M after Spain crash (Reuters) Germany has grounded its Airbus (AIR.PA) A400M military transport aircraft after a similar plane crashed in Spain during a test flight on Saturday, the defense ministry said. Surge in Jet Purchases Reshuffles Market (Defense News) In the span of just a few weeks, a flurry of orders has reset the global fighter market. Lockheed Martin urges more X-47B testing (Flightglobal) Lockheed Martin wants to see the continuation of the X-47B demonstrator programme led by Northrop Grumman as the US Navy's unmanned carrier-launched airborne surveillance and strike competition enters a "waiting period" with no firm requirements. UK halts Airbus A400M usage after Seville crash (The Guardian) An MoD spokeswoman said: "The UK's A400M aircraft operations have been paused while an investigation into the crash in Seville is carried out. Our thoughts are with the family and friends of those involved in the incident." Turkey Signs $1B Deal for Landing Platform Dock (Defense News) The Turkish government announced it signed a nearly $ 1 billion deal with a local shipyard to produce the country's first Landing Platform Dock (LPD). AIM-120D deployed by U.S. Navy to Pacific? (Alert 5) Last month, it was reported here that the U.S. Navy plans to deploy the AIM-120D later this year. However, a photo taken at Atsugi, Japan seems to show a CATM-120D on a VFA-195 F/A-18E on May 5. BAE wins night vision contract (C4ISR & Networks) BAE has been awarded an Army night vision contract worth up to $434 million. U.S. Air Force Kills Key Space Control Program (Aviation Week) The U.S. Air Force is terminating one of its flagship defensive counterspace programs-one designed to identify sources of satellite communications interference-due to "cost and performance" issues. Navy Ramps Up SM-6 Production (DoDBuzz) The Navy is ramping up production of its Standard Missile-6 as part of a broader effort to acquire up to 1,800 of the surface-to-air launched supersonic missiles, Raytheon officials said. Israel Aerospace Industries sees big future for UCAVs (Flightglobal) The head of Israel Aerospace Industries' military aircraft division believes its future profits reside in the market for unmanned combat air vehicles (UCAV). However, Shaul Shahar says that it could take 15 to 20 years for militaries to begin giving serious consideration to replacing manned platforms for the combat role. U.S. report details China's work on anti-satellite weapons (Reuters) China has the most rapidly growing space program in the world, and continues to develop lasers, satellite jammers and other weapons aimed at the space-based assets of adversaries. Congress Iran letter divides Democrats (The Hill) The warning from Democrats to Republican leaders about undermining President Obama's Iran diplomacy has split party leaders. It's Reid vs. McConnell as Trade Vote Nears (Wall Street Journal) Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell's efforts to complete fast-track trade legislation by the end of the month are running into an old nemesis: Harry Reid. Mike McCaul warns of growing U.S. terrorist threat (Politico) More people are being recruited by terrorist groups than the FBI estimates, the chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee said on Sunday. Veterans Post-9/11 vet jobless rate up slightly (Military Times) Unemployment for post-9/11 veterans ticked up somewhat in April to 6.9 percent, government data show. U.S. Capitol flyover marks 70th anniversary of V-E Day (Military Times) Fifty-six vintage aircraft of World War II filled the skies over the nation's capital Friday in tribute to the 70th anniversary of Victory in Europe (V-E) Day. Some 15 flying formations formed near Leesburg, Virginia, and followed the Potomac River southeast toward Washington. Forget Deflategate: Here's the real NFL scandal (Star-Ledger) This is the news that the NFL has been paid - or should I say, has accepted - $5.5 million of taxpayer dollars to salute military veterans over the past four years. Yes, the U.S. Armed Forces - using your tax dollars - pay for all that flag unfurling and parading out of Iraq and Afghanistan combat vets. Your tax dollars. Spared from the kennel: These rescue dogs now help vets (Army Times) The non-profit, K9s For Warriors, based in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, trains rescue dogs to become service dogs for veterans with post-traumatic stress or traumatic brain injury. WWII soldier's gift to mom, lost for 73 years, returns home (Associated Press) This is the story of a loving tribute from a soldier preparing for war to his mother on the other side of the continent, who didn't know if she would ever see her boy again. Hundreds of Special Olympians compete at Keesler (Sun Herald) More than 1,000 athletes from all over Mississippi competed in a day's worth of Special Olympic events Saturday on Keesler Air Force Base for medals and adulation from sponsors and family. 70 years after VE Day marked the end of World War Two, veterans lead silent tribute to their fallen comrades (Daily Mail) Veterans led the nation in a silent tribute remembering the sacrifices made to win the Second World War on the 70th anniversary of VE Day. Defense Department & National Security Gen. Stanley McChrystal's Lessons Learned (Wall Street Journal) Five years after his firing, the former U.S. commander in Afghanistan on modern warfare, Islamic State and applying military lessons to the business world. Commissaries focus on shoppers amid proposals for change (Military Times) Amid a swirl of proposals for historic changes to the commissary benefit, the Defense Commissary Agency is dealing with more immediate issues - like making sure products get to store shelves CIA veteran Morell: ISIS' next test could be a 9/11-style attack (USA Today) The Islamic State simply inspired the deadly assault by two men on an exhibit of cartoons depicting the prophet Mohammed near Dallas last week, CIA veteran Michael Morell says. But it's only a matter of time before the jihadist group is likely to be in a position to direct more elaborate attacks on American soil that could result in mass casualties. What the Pentagon Thinks of China's Military (The Diplomat) The U.S. Department of Defense's 2015 report on China's military offers a detailed look into the PLA. The 9 Strangest Flying Robots from the World's Biggest Drone Show (DefenseOne) At a drone conference in Atlanta, everyone was looking for the next big thing in UAV design. Here's a look at some of the most interesting, innovative and outlandish drones Defense One came across. Exclusive: Former Bush National Security Official To Be NSA's Top Lawyer (Daily Beast) Matthew Waxman defended the Geneva Conventions when he was at the Pentagon under President George W. Bush. Now he will defend Obama's NSA. New push to give Pentagon the lead on drone strikes (Associated Press) Proponents of moving the drone program to the military worry that the CIA's focus on hunting and killing has allowed its spying muscles to atrophy. Apple to DoD: Here's What To Do If Terrorists Take Down the Cell Network (NextGov) The iPhone company says there's a way to keep communicating during a catastrophe. Homeland Security chief: Be vigilant (Politico) "The so-called lone wolf could strike at any moment," Jeh Johnson says. Army 7 ways enlisted leaders want to fix the force (Army Times) Fix the fitness test. Improve education and training opportunities for enlisted soldiers. Enforce standards. Come up with an "Army brand" that the service can stand behind. Eight women, 101 men will retake Ranger School phase (Army Times) All eight female Ranger School students are being recycled and will not move forward this weekend to the mountain phase of the two-month course, Special Forces first to use new parachute system (Fayetteville Observer) Special Forces soldiers on Fort Bragg are the first to use a new parachute system that promises to give them greater mobility and the ability to carry heavier loads. West Point names barracks for black graduate who was shunned (Associated Press) Benjamin O. Davis Jr. entered West Point in 1932 as its only black cadet and spent the next four years shunned. He roomed alone, and no one befriended him. The future Tuskegee Airman and trailblazing Air Force general later said he was "an invisible man." Best Scout Squad crowned in competition (Army Times) A team from the 2nd Cavalry Regiment has won the title of Best Scout Squad after four days of competition at Fort Benning, Georgia. The US Army Is Serious About Developing Invisibility Cloaks (Quartz) If the U.S. Army is happy with a soldier donning a garment that makes her look like a shadow among other shadows, it might have an 'invisibility cloak' in less than two years. Navy Navy to begin testing new female dress uniforms at Naval Academy graduation (Navy Times) More than 200 female midshipmen, chiefs and officers will don the new service dress whites in the first of a series of wear tests slated to last through the summer. Report: 2014's deadly F/A-18 collision was an accident (Navy Times) Pilot Lt. Nate Poloski's untimely death over the Pacific last year has been ruled an accident, but a command investigation into the fatal crash offers few answers about why he collided with another aircraft that day. Navy to lease land on Guam for 40-megawatt solar power array (Stars & Stripes) The U.S. Navy is planning to lease about 192 acres of land on Guam to the local electric company for construction of a system of photovoltaic solar panels in eight locations to generate about 40 megawatts of power. NAS Lemoore prepares for F-35 arrival, more F/A-18s (Navy Times) The Navy's transition to the F-35C Lightning II - coupled with the U.S. military's shift to the Pacific - is helping to turn this somewhat remote air station into the largest strike fighter hub in the Navy. NCIS investigates alleged assault aboard carrier Ford (Navy Times) Criminal Investigative Service is investigating an alleged assault of a female sailor aboard the carrier Gerald R. Ford on the morning of May 3. Officials said the sailor was uninjured. Norfolk Navy commander's Mother's Day video goes viral (Virginian-Pilot) It's a clear Mother's Day marketing ploy, designed to sell flowers: A staged reunion. Dramatic music. A man in uniform. A sappy story. Watch it, though, and try not to cry. Cruiser sailors awarded for heroism after drone strike (Navy Times) Fire Controlman Second Class (SW) David Gentry was sending an email to a tech-rep in the cruiser Chancellorsville's main computer room 18 months ago when he heard an enormous bang. Four chief-selects to be honored as sailors of the year (Navy Times) Four freshly advanced chief-selects are heading to Washington, D.C., the week of May 11 to be honored at the Navy Memorial as the service's official sailors of the year. Air Force Audit: Air Force sexual assault teams skipped training, missed background checks (News Tribune) A large majority of Air Force personnel chosen to work with victims of sex assault were not properly trained or did not go through background checks before beginning their assignments, according to an April 2014 audit obtained by The News Tribune. 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. Lt. Gen. Michelle Johnson: Air Force Academy tries new ways to beat developmental plateaus (Lt. Gen. Michelle Johnson in the Colorado Springs Gazette) Many readers have heard about disruptive innovation - a change that creates an entirely new way of doing business. Exponential energy, driverless vehicles and wearable technology are all examples. Sustainment Center commander to retire (Air Force Times) Lt. Gen. Bruce Litchfield, commander of the Air Force Sustainment Center, announced Thursday he will retire. Air Force, Navy come out to honor Doolittle Raider (Pensacola News Journal) Retired Air Force Lt. Col Richard Cole, one of the two living of the original 80 Doolittle Raiders, refused to sit while signing autographs Friday at Pensacola Naval Air Station. Organizers of the event brought a chair for the 99-year-old Texas resident to sit on. Academy closes campus to most visitors to increase security (Air Force Times) The Air Force Academy has indefinitely closed the campus to visitors, except those who have a Defense Department escort. 31 enlisted airmen picked for supplemental promotion (Air Force Times) The Air Force Personnel Center on Thursday said that 31 enlisted airmen have been selected for supplemental promotion. Marine Corps Marines, Special Forces train for joint African missions (Marine Corps Times) As Marines bolster their presence in Africa, they are sparking a close relationship with Army Green Berets who have long-time experience on the continent. Hundreds of US Marines heading to Central America (Miami Herald) Some 280 U.S. Marines are landing in Central America any day now. The operation has no code name, but it's the fruit of about a year's planning by the U.S. Southern Command to insert a newly formed expeditionary outfit into the U.S.-run swath of the Soto Cano air base in Honduras for about 200 days, the longest, largest known Marine deployment onto Central American turf in years. Marines in Hawaii see huge drop in rifle-qual failures (Marine Corps Times) Marines in Hawaii are using rubberized shooting mats on the rifle range, a comfort upgrade officials credit with dramatically reducing failures during annual marksmanship qualifications. Marine Corps Osprey community readies for expansion (Marine Corps Times) The Marine Corps is downsizing personnel, but the MV-22 Osprey community is poised for significant expansion. Marines teach African allies military intel tactics (Marine Corps Times) Marines recently wrapped up a two-month-long mission in Uganda where they taught basic military intelligence tactics to African troops who are battling piracy, terrorism and insurgencies. Marine leaders carve out more training time at sea (Marine Corps Times) With tighter budgets and fewer amphibious assault ships, Marine Corps leaders are working hard to boost shipboard training opportunities and make them count. Okinawa-based Marine found dead in barracks (Marine Corps Times) A second Marine in recent weeks was found unresponsive in a barracks room and later declared dead, officials say. Tennessee man steals Marine vet's flags, goes streaking (Military Times) Veteran Marine Staff Sgt. Daniel Brashears was enjoying a weekend away from his Murfreesboro, Tennessee, home with his wife and friends when an alleged thief ran off naked with his U.S. and Marine Corps flags. Coast Guard Last Coast Guard inspection team returning from Afghanistan (Associated Press) After more than a decade of war in Afghanistan, the Coast Guard is finally bringing home the last of its inspection teams that help the military send cargo back to the U.S. Coast Guard eases body composition standards (Navy Times) The Coast Guard is making it easier for all its members to pass height-and-weight standards and for larger recruits to enter the service. National Guard F.E. Warren, Wyoming National Guard may avoid cuts, lobbyist says (Wyoming Tribune-Eagle) A Washington, D.C.-based lobbyist said he is hopeful that F.E. Warren Air Force Base and the Wyoming National Guard can avoid major budget cuts in the near future. Afghanistan/Pakistan Video: Taliban downed Pakistan helicopter carrying diplomats (Associated Press) A militant video purports to show Taliban fighters with a surface-to-air missile, claiming they used a similar one to shoot down a Pakistani helicopter carrying diplomats. Bodies From Pakistani Helicopter Crash Recovered (Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty) The bodies of seven people killed in a helicopter crash in Pakistan on May 8 have arrived at a military base near the capital. As U.S. withdraws from Afghanistan, darkness falls on Taliban's birthplace (Washington Post) Inside a former U.S. military combat outpost, still ringed by curled barbed wire and blast walls, several massive generators are silent. Outside, factories that depend on the machines for electricity are either shuttered or on the brink of closing. Middle East Arab Chiefs To Meet on Libya Intervention (Defense News) An unpublicized meeting by Arab chiefs of staff will take place in Cairo on May 18 to coordinate plans for a Libyan intervention, an Arab League source revealed. France and Italy may also play a role, the source said. Secret Tapes of the 2013 Egypt Coup Plot Pose a Problem for Obama (Daily Beast) Ever since the overthrow of Egypt's elected president, the U.S. administration has tried to avoid the word "coup." Hard to do that now, but it's still trying. How long would it take Iran to develop nukes? No one knows the answer for sure (The Hill) Experts aren't sure how long it would take Iran to develop a nuclear weapon.The timeframe is key to the debate surrounding the administration's negotiations with Iran and other countries on a nuclear deal that would place limits on Iran's program in exchange for the lifting of sanctions. Dozens of inmates dead, others escape in Iraq prison break (The Week) At least 30 inmates and a half-dozen guards are dead following a prison break in eastern Iraq, authorities reported to The Associated Press on Saturday. Europe Poland feels sting of betrayal over CIA 'black site' (Los Angeles Times) Revelations contained in a U.S. Senate Intelligence Committee report five months ago provided the final pieces of evidence confirming the complicity of Polish leaders, who had steadfastly denied knowledge of the prison after hints of their complicity were disclosed in a 2006 European Parliament investigation and a Polish inquiry still underway eight years after it was launched. Nordic, Baltic States To Share Capabilities (Defense News) The destabilizing impact of Russia's aggression in Ukraine, coupled with its continuing militarization in the High North and Baltic Sea region, will lead to a significant increase in the level of strategic ambition driving future Nordic defense cooperation. Report: EU To Propose Mandatory Migrant Quotas (Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty) A British media report says the executive body of the European Union will propose that the 28 member states share responsibility for housing thousands of refugees arriving in Europe from across the Mediterranean. Sweden's Sub-Building Capability Resurfaces (Defense News) It's been 18 years since Swedish industry delivered a new submarine. The shipyard in Malmö that delivered Gotland-class submarines is closed. But the cloud that hung over the Kockums shipbuilders who designed and built those subs has been lifted. Russia Tests Distant Waters, Resurfacing Cold War Fears (New York Times) The growing catalog of similar incidents - off Sweden, Finland, Norway and the Baltic States - has raised questions about Moscow's more assertive stance, and about the ability of Britain and other NATO countries to defend their skies and waters. Spending And Review Top Tory Defense Priorities (Defense News) Britain faces a defense and security review dominated by budget issues instead of strategy, according to analysts here just hours after the Conservative Party secured power for a second term in the May 7 general election. Legal Fight May Hinder Global Sat System (Defense News) The scheduled entry into service of a satellite-based global communications system, which has cost the US military $7.6 billion, is in danger of slipping thanks to legal battles in Sicily. Asia-Pacific China Is Building 42,000 Military Drones: Should America Worry? (The National Interest) This would be an astronomical rate of growth. Indeed, by way of comparison, the Pentagon itself only operates 7,000 aerial drones, according to the Friends Committee on National Legislation, although others have estimated it has more. The estimate of 7,000 drones also doesn't include underwater UAVs. North Korea tests submarine ballistic missile (USA Today) Under the watchful eyes of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, North Korea says it conducted an underwater test-firing of a submarine ballistic missile, the Korean Central News Agency reported Saturday. U.S. Official: China island building now totals 2,000 acres (Associated Press) China's rapidly expanding campaign to construct artificial islands, potentially for military use or airstrips, now totals about 2,000 acres and could far outstrip that amount as the year goes on, a senior defense official said Friday. Chinese army delegation visits JBLM, Camp Murray (News Tribune ) Officials from the Chinese military visited Joint Base Lewis-McChord and Camp Murray on Friday for discussions on preparations for natural disasters with Army and National Guard leaders. DODEA schools in Korea adopt new schedule (Stars & Stripes) Department of Defense Education Activity middle and high school students in Seoul will attend classes on a "hybrid" schedule next year that combines traditional seven-period days and block-scheduled days within a single week, officials announced last week. India Grounds Most of Original Arjun Tanks (Defense News) Most of India's homemade Arjun Mark-1 battle tank fleet has been grounded because of technical snags and lack of imported components, an Indian Army official said. Africa The Nigerian military is so broken, its soldiers are refusing to fight (Washington Post) As the Nigerian military battled Boko Haram over the past year, scores of soldiers made a decision that would put their lives in grave danger - they refused to fight. Liberia Is Declared Free of Ebola, but Officials Sound Note of Caution (New York Times) The World Health Organization declared Liberia free of Ebola on Saturday, making it the first of the three hardest-hit West African countries to bring a formal end to the epidemic. BMP Upgrades Drive Algerian Modernization (Defense News) Russia's KBP Instrument Design Bureau says it has started upgrading 360 BMP-1 infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs) for the Algerian Army in a follow-up order to more than 400 upgraded IFVs recently delivered to the North African country. Armed Groups in CAfrican Republic Sign Disarmament Deal (Associated Press) Rival armed groups in Central African Republic signed a deal Sunday to lay down their arms and end a conflict that has killed thousands, the United Nations said. Tens of thousands flee fighting In South Sudan, say aid groups (Al Jazeera America) Tens of thousands of people have fled fierce fighting in South Sudan's northern Unity State and humanitarian organizations have withdrawn staff from the area, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and other aid groups said on Saturday. The Americas Jeb Bush: I would have invaded Iraq - and Hillary would have too (The Week) Jeb Bush says he would have invaded Iraq in 2003 were he president, even given what we know now about Iraq's lack of weapons of mass destruction. However, he said he thinks "almost everybody" else would have authorized the invasion as well. Walker: I'd end sequester, not cut military (McClatchy) Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker said Saturday he would end the budget sequester requiring automatic defense and domestic spending cuts if he became president, a critical issue in South Carolina, a state with a large military economy and site of the first primary in the South. Debate continues over release of Guantanamo detainee force-feeding tapes (McClatchy) Graphic videotapes of a Guantanamo Bay detainee being removed from his cell and force-fed will remain secret for some time to come, an appellate court hearing made clear Friday. Commentary and Analysis Civilian Casualties, Drones, Airstrikes and the Perils of Policy (Charles Dunlap in War On The Rocks) For the sake of argument, accepting the worst case figures as the Syrian group did (and even adding earlier allegations of "dozens" more from other sources), the numbers still reflect an astonishing - and even unprecedented - precise and discriminate application of force given the thousands of targets struck. 35 Years On, It's Time to Extend the Carter Doctrine (Derek Chollet in DefenseOne) The upcoming Camp David summit may produce a long-sought framework for security in the Middle East. "Insubordinate" Reactions (Tony Carr, John Q. Public) As I wrote recently, I didn't dig retired Gen. Roger Brady's letter to the Air Force Times, in which he insisted airmen exercising their federally protected right to confer with Congress should be thought of as insubordinate renegades. Turns out, I wasn't the only one with a negative opinion of Brady's anachronistic screed. Column: A Dysfunctional Dynamic (Defense News) Why mince words? The relationship between Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) Ranking Member John McCain and outgoing Joint Chiefs Chairman Martin Dempsey was at best dysfunctional and at worse poisonous. How Military Spouses Are Impacting Retention Rates (Katherine Kidder in Task & Purpose) Shifting family dynamics are impacting retention as couples wrestle how to optimize their options as a unit. The Killing of Osama bin Laden (Seymour M. Hersh in London Review of Books) The White House's story might have been written by Lewis Carroll: would bin Laden, target of a massive international manhunt, really decide that a resort town forty miles from Islamabad would be the safest place to live and command al-Qaida's operations? He was hiding in the open. So America said. Googling Iran: The Sources of Mistrust (Richard Klass in War On The Rocks) If you want to understand the mistrust and animosity between Iran and the United States, Google the four topics below. 3 Big Trends That Will Shape the Arab World (Maha Yahya in National Interest) Arab countries are in the midst of violent convulsions that are fundamentally reshaping the region. While it's impossible to predict exactly how the chaos will unfold, there are three major trends that will define the future. All three promise more catastrophic scenarios over the next few years unless governments reverse course. An open letter to my ex-lover, the USMC (Peter Lucier in Foreign Policy) In our hubris, perhaps we believed the myths that had sprung up around us. We went on as we always had, running faster and faster, our arms outstretched, running to the stories of our past. We lost. Five Signs Afghanistan Is Becoming An American Success Story (Loren Thompson, Forbes) Fourteen years into waging a frustrating counter-insurgency campaign in Afghanistan, there is at least one thing that every military expert who has studied the country can agree on: Osama bin Laden really knew what he was doing when he picked Afghanistan as a sanctuary for his murderous band of jihadists. What Have 9 Months of Airstrikes Against ISIS Achieved? (Micah Zenko, Council on Foreign Relations) There's no end in sight for an air campaign that has killed some 8,500 militants and cost more than $2 billion. In Case You Missed It Michelle Obama addresses Tuskegee University graduates (Associated Press) Michelle Obama on Saturday invoked the storied history of Tuskegee University as she urged new graduates to soar to their futures, saying the past provides a blueprint for a country still struggling with the "age-old problems" of discrimination and race. Ramstein airman killed in car crash identified (Stars & Stripes) The Ramstein airman who died in a two-vehicle crash Friday has been identified as Airman 1st Class Michael Hill, according to base officials. Navy Spends $1.6B to Upgrade Carrier and Amphib Ship Defenses (Military.com) The Navy is working on a $1.6 billion technological upgrade overhauling ship defense systems onboard amphibs and aircraft carriers to include interceptor missiles, streamlined radars and software improvements, service officials said. In leaked report, Army alleges Green Beret confessed to murder (Washington Post) A year after Army Maj. Mathew L. Golsteyn survived the bloody Battle of Marja in Afghanistan, he sat down in 2011 at CIA headquarters for a job interview. It was a fateful decision. Obama Presents Air Force Academy Football Team with Trophy (Associated Press) President Barack Obama has congratulated the U.S. Air Force Academy football team on winning the Commander-in-Chief trophy. 29 Years After Chernobyl Nuclear Disaster, Life Slowly Returns to Normal (Daily Signal) Though the Chernobyl nuclear power plant no longer produces electricity (one reactor at the site continued to run until 2000), the facility still bustles with workers in contamination suits putting the finishing touches on a 100-foot-tall metal cocoon called the Chernobyl New Safe Confinement, which will be slid on top of reactor No. 4 and should contain its radiation for 100 years. The project is slated to be finished in 2017. Official: UN Planning to Act on Its Own Against Congo Rebels (Associated Press) The U.N. peacekeeping mission in Congo is planning to go ahead and take action against a rebel group in eastern Congo even without the full cooperation of the Congo military, the U.N. peacekeeping chief said, as relations remain chilly with the country's authorities. NSA surveillance ruling splits GOP presidential hopefuls (McClatchy) A court decision Thursday that declared the National Security Agency's bulk collection of telephone metadata to be illegal revealed a sharp split among several Republican presidential hopefuls over the scope of the surveillance. 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