Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- June 1, 2013

U.S. Re-balance To Asia-Pacific Gaining Steam, Pentagon Chief Says -- Reuters

(Reuters) - The U.S. military will devote more air power, ground troops and high-tech weaponry to the Asia-Pacific region as it moves ahead with a strategic rebalance, the U.S. defense chief said on Saturday in a speech that accused China of cyber incursions.

In remarks laying out his vision for regional security, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel assured allies and partners at the annual Shangri-La Security Dialogue in Singapore that the United States was fully able to continue its strategic pivot to the region despite budget constraints at home.

"It would be unwise and short-sighted to conclude ... that our commitment to the rebalance cannot be sustained," he said in prepared remarks, noting the United States represented 40 percent of global defense spending even under the "most extreme budget scenarios."

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MILITARY AND INTELLIGENCE NEWS BRIEFS

US to deploy more cutting-edge military tech in Asia in face of China's military growth -- Economic Times/New York Times

Hagel Warns China on Cyberattacks -- AP

Hagel, in Hawaii, praises 'value added' force integration -- US Air Force

Hagel Reassures Asian Allies in Face of China’s Military Growth -- New York Times

How talking at Asia security meet lessens US China tensions -- BBC

Breedlove: No-fly zone over Syria would constitute 'act of war' -- Stars and Stripes

NATO Secretary General rejects western military role in Syria -- CBS

Russia to sell 10 MiG fighter jets to Syria -- The Telegraph

Reports: Russian fighter jets headed to Syria, which asks for more -- CNN

U.S., Jordan discuss placing Patriot missile batteries in Jordan -- CNN

Obama: NATO To Meet Next Year On Afghanistan Withdrawal -- Voice of America

Japan Drafting Laws for a US-style National Security Council -- Defense News

Open competition best way to find Canada’s next warplane, defence companies say -- Canada.com

Argentina Names New Defense, Security Chiefs -- Defense News/AFP

U.N. official: ‘Just say no’ to killer robots -- Washington Times

Pentagon Works To Expand Aegis BMD’s Reach -- Defense Tech

Naval Air: Triton Takes Off -- Strategy Page

U.S. Navy to replace aircraft carrier at Yokosuka base -- Asahi Shimbun

U.S. military reveals timing of future F-35 fighter's use to Congress -- Reuters

Pentagon: First F-35s Operational in 2015 -- Defense News

US missile defense still plagued by technical doubts -- Space Daily/AFP

STRATCOM strives to build coalitions for space operations -- Space Daily

Panel: Give military power to prosecute all U.S. warzone contractors -- Politico

Put combat commanders in charge of prosecutions, report says -- Stars and Stripes

Retaliation prevalent in military, rape victim says 14 years after assault -- FOX News/AP

Boxer, with more women in Senate, pushes military to end sexual assaults -- McClatchy News

U.S. soldier at center of WikiLeaks case set to go on trial Monday -- Reuters

FY15 Guidance Takes Sequester Into Account -- Defense News

Track the CIA's Secret Rendition Flights with a New Interactive Map -- Motherboard

The CIA And The Comedy Of Errors -- Strategy Page

Hacking the Drone War’s Secret History -- David Axe, Danger Room

ANALYSIS: Why cyberwarfare is the great equalizer -- Brian Contos, USA Today/Special for CyberTruth

Report outlines ‘something that could still resemble victory’ in Afghanistan -- Karen DeYoung, Washington Post

McChrystal’s New Mission -- Swampland/Time

Building a Smarter, Smaller Army -- Michael E. O'Hanlon, Battleland/Time

Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- May 31, 2013

Gen. James F. Amos, commandant of the Marine Corps. Photo Credit: Marine Corps

Top Marine Sees A Future Of Perpetual War -- Sandra I. Erwin, National Defense

President Obama last week said the United States is ready to move beyond the war on terror. The nation's military, meanwhile, is preparing for a future of continuous combat.

“I don’t see any indication that things are going to settle down or become peaceful,” said Gen. James F. Amos, commandant of the Marine Corps.

Speaking at The Brookings Institution in Washington, D.C., May 29, Amos said he is convinced that the U.S. military during the next two decades will be just as busy as it has been during the past 12 years of war. When asked to forecast the Marine Corps’ future missions, Amos said, “I see much of what we’re going through right now. I don’t see any of it waning away. I don’t see major theater wars. I see thorny, difficult, challenging, human intensive — not necessarily technology intensive — conflicts.”

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MILITARY AND INTELLIGENCE NEWS BRIEFS

Cyber threats pose 'stealthy, insidious' danger: defense chief -- Reuters

Air Force boosts cyber mission capabilities -- Air Force Times

‘We don’t need US military secrets’: Beijing slams White House theft claim -- RT

Russia Receives Payment Under Iraqi Arms Deal -- RIA Novosti

Russia Ready to Help Rearm Finnish Army – Defense Minister -- RIA Novosti

China dismisses US cyberspying paper -- Defense News/AFP

Indian navy eyes high-tech options for future aircraft carriers -- Business Standard

Asia-Pacific Defense Leaders Meet in Singapore; Hagel to Attend -- Defense News

Canadian navy announces designs for new ships, says the military has placed its future in industry’s hands -- National Post

Italy's ruling party divided over order for F-35 combat jets -- Reuters

Navy ships form first line of US missile defence against Iran and N. Korea -- Straits Times

Army Chief Outlines Worries About Allies, Terrorism, Budgets -- Defense News

F-15s deemed safe after crash off Okinawa, base says -- Stars and Stripes

U.S. Navy Details Amphibious Ship Mods Required For F-35 -- Aviation Week

Navy Developing Unmanned Mine-Detection Boat -- Defense Tech

LCS Pursues Next-Generation Submarine Sonar -- Defense Tech

Over 120 Lawmakers to US Army: Reverse Abrams Tank Plans -- Defense News

Push To Keep Lima Tank Plant Gathers Steam Before HASC Markup -- Breaking Defense

Army’s Fingerprint and Iris Databases Head for the Cloud -- Danger Room

Odierno: Don't rule out ground wars when cutting Army forces -- Stars and Stripes

Pentagon Furloughs Hit Hardest in Virginia, California -- Bloomberg

FY15 Guidance Takes Sequester Into Account -- Defense News

A sequestration sequel: DoD orders military to brace for bigger '14 cut -- Army Times

Dempsey: Military ready to trim numbers, perks of top brass -- Stars and Stripes

The do’s and don’ts of defense spending -- Michael Dodge, Washington Times

Rape Victim: Retaliation Prevalent in Military -- AP

DoD Launches Chat Room for Sexual Assault Victims -- Military.com

Panetta inks deal to write memoir -- The Hill

Petraeus lands job at investment firm -- The Hill

GOP’s War On Terror 2.0: More Drones, More Missiles, More Boots On Ground -- David Axe, Breaking Defense

Time to think carefully and strategically about a military profession in crisis -- Peter Feaver, Shadow Government/Foreign Policy

Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- May 30, 2013

F-35B IOC To Come ‘Latter Half of 2015,’ Marine Commandant Gen. Amos Says -- Breaking Defense

WASHINGTON: Just two days before the Pentagon is required by Congress to report when the different versions of F-35 will hit Initial Operating Capability, that mark when the services begin to deliver planes that are sort of ready for war missions and serious training, Marine Commandant Gen. James Amos told me that the Marines IOC date will be the “latter half of 2015.” The definition of IOC will be delivery of 10 planes with 10 crews. Full squadrons will comprise 15 planes, he said during an appearance at the Brookings Institution.

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MILITARY AND INTELLIGENCE NEWS BRIEFS

Marine Corps Speeds Up F-35B Development -- DoD Buzz

We Have No Idea What The Chinese Could Do To America's Weapons -- Business Insider

China’s Amphibious Game Changer? -- J. Michael Cole, The Diplomat

Britain may begin handover of Afghan prisoners at Camp Bastion to Kabul -- The Guardian

Afghanistan war has cost Britain more than £37bn, new book claims -- The Guardian

Merkel under fire again over Mideast arms sales -- Space Daily/UPI

Thales UK to service British navy sensors -- UPI

Russia to Build New Ships for Arctic -- USNI News

India and Japan boost maritime-security ties -- Al Jazeera

Germany Plans To Buy 16 Armed Drones -- Defense News/AFP

Report: Taiwan To Open New Cyberwar Unit -- Defense News/AFP

U.S. military launches probe into deadly assault in Afghanistan -- Washington Post

Why Pentagon has doubts about no-fly zone over Syria -- Anna Mulrine, Christian Science Monitor

US Army Creates NATO Rapid-Deployment Forces -- Military.com

Odierno: Don't rule out ground wars when cutting Army forces -- Stars and Stripes

The Army’s multibillion dollar ‘money pit’ -- Politico

Navy talks Pacific strategy -- Navy Times

LM, USMC misled public in 2010 -- Eric Palmer Blog

U.S. Navy Details Amphibious Ship Mods Required For F-35 -- Aviation Week

A-10s Move On -- Strategy Page

Radio Wars: General Dynamics Strikes Back -- Breaking Defense

Law Would Require Military to Use U.S.-Made Running Shoes -- Runners World

Yoga classes at Pentagon helping veterans combat PTSD -- CBS

Is Ft. Hood suspect physically fit enough to be his own lawyer? -- Larry Shaughnessy, CNN

Human error led to U.S. Marines' death in mortar mishap: probe -- Reuters

Taliban Strike Exposes Flaw in Proposed Drone Guidelines -- Max Boot, Commentary

'Killer robots' pose threat to peace and should be banned, UN warned -- The Guardian

Speak No Evil: Why Obama shouldn't have given that big drone speech. -- Aaron David Miller, Foreign Policy

Chuck Hagel sailing rather than flailing -- Stephanie Gaskell, Politico

At least 2,092 US military deaths in Afghanistan since 2001 -- AP

Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- May 29, 2013

Officials Downplay Report On China Hacking Military Secrets -- NBC

U.S. officials on Tuesday attempted to downplay a new government report that found Chinese hackers gained access to some of the country's major weapons systems, saying the compromised information was of "lower sensitivity."

“They aren’t building an F-35 in Beijing from what they got,” a senior U.S. official told NBC News, declining to give any real specifics.

A report prepared for the Defense Department by the Defense Science Board found that Chinese cyber spies have uncovered U.S. designs for combat aircraft and ships, as well as missile defense systems around the globe.

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MILITARY AND INTELLIGENCE NEWS BRIEFS

Pentagon aircraft, missile defense programs said target of China cyber threat -- Washington Post

China army to conduct first "digital" exercise -- Reuters

China Announces Digitalized Combat Forces -- Voice of America

MiG-21 Production Finally Ends -- Strategy Page

Russian Defense Ministry Grounds Mi-8 Helicopters after Deadly Crash -- RIA Novosti

Russia, China to Hold Antiterror Drills in August -- RIA Novosti

Russian Warplanes Go on 24-Hour Duty in Snap Alert Drill -- RIA Novosti

Iranian Navy warships to dock at Russia’s Astrakhan: Russian military -- Press TV

Queen Elizabeth Aircraft Carrier section completed -- Scotsman

US to Hold Defense Talks with Japan, S. Korea -- Defense News

INTERVIEW/ Mark Lippert: U.S. deploys high-end weapons in Pacific to meet China’s challenge, other contingencies -- Asahi Shimbun

In Asia, Hagel to promise 'follow-through' on US pivot -- AFP

Obama, NATO's Rasmussen to discuss Afghanistan at White House on Friday -- Reuters

Exclusive: Obama Asks Pentagon for Syria No-Fly Zone Plan -- Daily Beast

Russian Missile Plan Chills Chances for Syrian No-Fly Zone -- Voice of America

Navy in South Korea getting first female commander -- Stars and Stripes

Air Force grounds F-15s on Okinawa for inspections -- Stars and Stripes

Should the U.S. Army buy a hybrid tank? -- Max Ehrenfreund, Washington Post

Obama Formally Adds Armed Drones to Counterterrorism Arsenal -- Defense News

CONFIRMED: Somalian Extremists Have Captured A US Drone -- Business Insider

Pentagon confirms drone crash in Somalia -- Politico

Drone Strikes Mostly Transferred from CIA to DoD -- Daily Tech

Powell: Pentagon Should Run Drone Program -- Defense Tech

UCAS Misses A Flight Due To GOES Failure -- Aviation Week

Slowed by Debate and Uncertainty, New Rules Green Light Response to Cyber Attacks -- Defense News

Defense Science Board Hacking Report: China is Hacking Its Way Through U.S. Defenses -- Policymic

Pentagon Defends Weapons Despite Chinese Hacks -- Military.com

Why Chinese Hacking Is NOT An Act Of War -- Geoffrey Ingersoll, Business Insider

Hacker who accessed defense contractor pleads guilty, faces up to 10 years -- Washington Times

Obama Intelligence Agency Chairman Has His E-Mail Account Hacked By "Guccifer" -- The Smoking Gun

Ex-CIA chief says Boston bombings 'would not have happened' in New York because of NYPD's 'mosque crawling' - or spying on Muslim communities -- Daily Mail

Accused Fort Hood gunman plans to represent self at trial -- Reuters

DOD: Ft. Hood Massacre Likely 'Criminal Act of Single Individual,' Not International Terror -- ABC News

What can two Army veterans tell their daughter about serving? What do we tell children about the chances of sex assault? -- Donna McAleer, Best Defense/Foreign Policy

Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- May 28, 2013

Part of the building of Unit 61398, a secretive Chinese military unit, is seen in the outskirts of Shanghai. (Reuters)

Chinese Hackers Access U.S. Weapon Systems And Steal Blueprints To Australia’s New Spy HQ Months Before It Has Even Opened -- Daily Mail

* Hackers have 'compromised' U.S. designs for combat aircraft and ships
* They also accessed missile defenses vital for Europe, Asia and the Gulf
* Floorplans of Australia Security Intelligence Organisation's new $630m headquarters have also been stolen - before it has even been opened
* China has dismissed claims it is connected to the latest cyber attacks

Chinese hackers have accessed designs for more than two dozen U.S. weapons systems and stolen the blueprints for Australia's new spy headquarters which hasn't even been opened yet.

These latest strikes come after months of numerous computer security breaches involving Chinese hackers as the ongoing cyber war between China and the West intensifies.

Hackers have now 'compromised' U.S. designs for combat aircraft and ships, as well as missile defenses vital for Europe, Asia and the Gulf, it has emerged.

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MILITARY AND INTELLIGENCE NEWS BRIEFS

U.S., Australia reports allege new spying by China hackers -- CBC/Reuters

Russia says missile systems for Syria will deter intervention -- Reuters

Russian arms 'to deter foreign intervention in Syria' -- BBC

Japan set to sell US-2 plane to India, first sale of hardware used by military -- South China Morning Post

War memorials vandalised in central London -- The Guardian

EXCLUSIVE: Just 6% of British army uniforms are made in the UK while £75million of manufacturing is outsourced abroad -- Daily Mail

Seoul plans to purchase US weapons worth $1b -- Asia One/Korea Herald

Yemen accused of using anti-personnel mines -- Space Daily/AFP

Jordan to host major military exercise -- UPI

Israeli Haredim rebel against army draft plan -- Al Jazeera

Several countries interested in buying ex-Spanish Navy Aircraft Carrier Principe de Asturias -- Navy Recognition

Russian Military Helicopter Crash Kills 1 -- AP

Russia developing counter-measures for European anti-missile shield -- Space Daily/UPI

Su-35 Could Steal Paris Fighter Limelight -- Aviation Week

Time Running Out for Taiwan if Russia Releases S-400 SAM to China -- Defense News

Japan Plans More Aggressive Defense -- Defense News

China-US relationship at critical juncture: Xi -- Space Daily/AFP

US Calls for Closer Military Ties with China -- Voice of America

White House security adviser calls for deeper China military ties -- Reuters

Budget cuts leave Air Force pilots twisting in the wind -- Stars and Stripes/Washington Post

US Military's Secretive Robot Space Plane Mission Passes 5-Month Mark -- Space.com

Congress Orders Next Generation Body Armor Study -- Kitup

Air Force May Accelerate F-35 Start Date -- DoD Buzz

PW cry for help with the F-35 program -- Eric Palmer Blog

A glimpse into the potential of the drone industry -- Market Place

iPhone And Android Approved For Pentagon Use -- Strategy Page

US Army's new portable charger brings power to soldiers in the field -- Gizmag

'Catastrophic' dangers of 3D printed guns -- The Telegraph

EXCLUSIVE: An Inside Look At Manufacturing Guns In Connecticut [PHOTOS] -- Business Insider

This Pentagon Project Makes Cyberwar as Easy as Angry Birds -- Danger Room

Marines punished for sexist, threatening posts -- USA Today

American Marines Seeking New Ideas -- Strategy Page

Meet The FBI Dream Team That Brings Together Ex-Green Berets And Navy SEALs -- Geoffrey Ingersoll, Business Insider

A Grim Task: Military-Death Notification -- NPR

How to replace your or a relative's military medals -- Stars and Stripes/The Roanoke Times, Va.

'Give this to the girl I love': Woman, 90, stumbles across the diary of her soldier sweetheart killed in WWII in a museum -- Daily Mail

Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- May 27, 2013

Obama Pays Tribute To America's Fallen: President Lays Wreath In Somber Ceremony As Memorial Day Is Honored Across The Country -- Daily Mail/AP

President Barack Obama has honored the nation's fallen military service members by laying a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknowns in a somber ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery.

Obama rode by motorcade from the White House to the hallowed burial grounds in suburban Virginia on a sun-splashed, but cool spring holiday as cannon fire was heard in the distance.

Surrounded by officials and families of service members, he carried out the Memorial Day tradition before reflecting silently on the lives lost to battle as he held his hand held to his chest.

Obama was joined by Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel, cemetery Executive Director Kathryn Condon and Maj. Gen. Michael Linnington, commander of the Army's military district of Washington.

The president will now deliver remarks at the Memorial Amphitheater.

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MILITARY AND INTELLIGENCE NEWS BRIEFS

Photos: Memorial Day ceremony at American Cemetery in France -- Stars and Stripes

Iran fields 'massive' number of missile launchers -- AP

Russia’s Aerospace Forces Hold Snap Alert Drill -- RIA Novosti

Weapons: Russia Always Delivers -- Strategy Page

Tammuz: Israel's Weapon of Choice Against Syrian Fire -- Defense News

Ultra-Orthodox Israeli battalion swearing-in -- The Telegraph

Military exemptions threaten Israeli coalition -- Miami Herald/AP

Jordan seeks to deploy Patriot missiles: minister -- Space Daily/AFP

Malian elite soldiers punished for insubordination -- Space Daily/AFP

Daily Mail Criticized For Publishing Photo Of Legendary British Sniper -- Angela Haggerty, Business Insider/The Drum

Amid Big F-35 Deal, P&W Sees Challenges -- Defense News

Stryker brigade in Hawaii needs review, Army general says -- Stars and Stripes/The Honolulu Star-Advertiser

Slowed by Debate and Uncertainty, New Rules Green Light Response to Cyber Attacks -- Defense News

Congress orders F-35 Software Plan -- Defense Tech

Smartphone upgrade keeps troops plugged in on the battlefield -- Stars and Stripes

Improved grenade design on the way -- Stars and Stripes

Quantum Technology & The Military -- Armed With Science/DoD Live

Boeing-built WGS-5 Satellite Enhances Tactical Communications for Warfighters -- Space War

DoD adviser sees shrinking military, 'broken' Congress -- Marine Times

Native American veterans push for recognition -- Stars and Stripes/AP

When all seems lost, MusiCorps helps change the tune for wounded warriors -- Washington Times

Undocumented military cadets molded for success, then cast adrift -- NBC

Unresolved grief can be hidden health risk, experts say -- USA Today

Sexual assault is a 'scourge' on U.S. military: Hagel -- Reuters

How the Military Can Change The Culture of Assault -- Rajiv Srinivasan, Time

How can Chuck Hagel fix military sexual assault epidemic? -- Mark Sappenfield, Christian Science Monitor

Republicans see Obama ‘retreat’ in war on terrorism; Sen. Graham calls it ‘tone deaf’ to threats -- Washington Times

Officials say UN nuke agency's Iran probe driven by intelligence from US and its allies -- FOX News/AP

US intelligence embraces debate in security issues -- AP

These children of 9/11 died fighting its war -- Stars and Stripes/USA Today

Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- May 25, 2013

Soldiers Place US Flags In Arlington Cemetery For Memorial Day -- Voice of America

ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA — On Memorial Day - Monday, May 27 this year - Americans remember those in the military who died while serving their country. Ahead of that day, soldiers place American flags in front of the more than 360,000 gravestones in Arlington National Cemetery, outside Washington.

Army Colonel James Markert places a flag at the tombstone of Christopher Henderson, who was killed in Iraq almost six years ago. Henderson’s widow, Jennifer, and their daughter have come to the cemetery as they have every year since he died.

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MILITARY AND INTELLIGENCE NEWS BRIEFS

Will 2013 be the year when India finally gets INS Vikramaditya from Russia? Russian Ambassador hints so -- India Today

Russian Navy To Upgrade Il-38 Patrol Fleet -- AIN Online

Russian Military Orders 6 Be-200 Amphibious Planes -- RIA Novosti

Russian Minister Urges Completion of 2 New Radars -- RIA Novosti

US Concerned About 'Continuing' Abuses by Nigerian Security Forces -- Voice of America

UK ordered to hold inquests into civilian deaths during Iraq war -- The Guardian

Spain's S-81 Isaac Peral Submarine Cost $680 Million To Build... And Can't Float -- Huffington Post

Airsea Battle With Chinese Characteristics -- James R. Holmes, The Diplomat

CNO: Pacific Pivot Works; Full Speed Ahead On Chinese Relations -- Breaking Defense

Near Iran, U.S. Hosts Huge Persian Gulf Wargame; 35 Ships, 41 Countries -- Breaking Defense

Communications satellite launched into space, to serve military -- AP

Air Force Reinstates Crew Sidelined After Nuke Snafu -- DoD Buzz

Lockheed Martin Completes Milestone for Training Element of United States Ballistic Missile Defense System -- Space Daily

Nuclear Arsenal Subject to Pentagon Cuts, But New Subs May Escape Ax -- Government Executive/Global Security Newswire

Long Range Navy ISR - Smart Choices -- Information Dissemination

Northrop Fights For Global Hawk As Triton Flights Start -- Aviation Week

Pentagon: Acquisition Reform Key to Strategic Choices Review -- DoD Buzz

Smart Money: The Venture Capitalists Who Stake Intelligence Technology -- Defense News

Petraeus biographer expresses remorse for 'harm' caused by affair -- The Guardian

Gary Sinise’s leading role: Actor’s commitment to troops goes beyond Memorial Day -- Washington Times

Fort Bragg honors fallen Special Operations soldiers -- Stars and Stripes/The News & Observer (Raleigh, N.C.)

Hagel pays tribute to fallen commander in speech -- Voice of America

Sexual misconduct investigation under way at Alaskan base, military officials say -- NBC

Military will look into whether judge’s comments meant tainted trials -- McClatchy

Obama decries military sex assaults at Navy graduation -- McClatchy News

Why the military needs to recruit and promote more women -- Anu Bhagwati, Washington Post

Nixon library hosts 40th reunion for Vietnam POWs -- Washington Times/AP

Guantanamo Bay: Obama Prescription Is At Odds With Top Military Advisers -- Michael McAuliff, Huffington Post

Fighting Sexual Harassment…and Suicides -- Leonard H. Le Blanc III, Time

Military Should Run Drone Strikes, Colin Powell Says -- Bloomberg

Obama won't ground aerial strikes that kill terrorists. Good. -- Chicago Tribune editorial

Former Intelligence Director Cordesman Says Obama Made 'Promise He Can't Keep' -- Radio Free Europe

Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- May 24, 2013

U.S. President Barack Obama speaks about his administration's counterterrorism policy at the National Defense University at Ft. McNair in Washington, May 23, 2013. REUTERS-Larry Downing

Obama Talks Drones: Will It Increase Transparency For Pentagon To Take Lead?

In a speech Thursday, President Obama acknowledged some of the complexities involved in the drone war. A new presidential directive released this week says that the Pentagon, rather than the CIA, should ‘have the lead for the use of force.’

In his widely anticipated foreign-policy speech Thursday, President Obama rejected the wisdom of a global “war on terror” and warned, in the words of President James Madison, that “No nation could preserve its freedom in the midst of continual warfare.”

Continual warfare has been the plight of the United States since 2001 – and for much of the past decade, the US government has used drones to prosecute its wars.

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MILITARY AND INTELLIGENCE NEWS BRIEFS

Obama tackles drones, Guantanamo in reset of war on terror -- Defense News/AFP

Obama seeks end to perpetual U.S. 'war on terror' -- Reuters

White House Quietly Shifts Armed Drone Program from CIA to DoD -- Defense News

British security services in spotlight after soldier murder -- Reuters

India PM pledges to clean up defense sector -- Defense News/AFP

Drone Program Collapse Has Berlin Under Pressure -- Spiegel Online

Russian Navy Shipbuilding Program ‘at Risk’ - Deputy PM -- RIA Novosti

Russia Hosts European Security Conference -- RIA Novosti

Netherlands requests F-16 pilot training and logistics support from US -- Air-Force Technology.com

Comparing NZ vs Oz Defence establishments -- Eric Palmer Blog

US Lawmakers Try to Block Sharing Missile Defense Data with Russia -- RIA Novosti

101st brigades among last in eastern Afghanistan -- Military Times

F-35 Cost Dips 1% to $391 Billion: Pentagon -- DoD Buzz

Lockheed F-35 Cost Declines 1.1%, Pentagon Estimates -- Bloomberg

Factbox: What does Lockheed's F-35 fighter jet really cost? -- Reuters

Pentagon sees doubled cost for rocket launch program -- Reuters

Shaw fighter pilot named best in the Air Force -- Shaw Air Force

Congress to Army: Get Your Own Cargo Drone -- Defense Tech

House Dem wants to kill failing missile defense program -- Washington Times

Panel rejects Pentagon's request for base closings -- Navy Times

K Street looking forward to BRAC fights -- Politico

Pentagon responds to GAO report on propaganda -- USA Today

Pentagon wants $450M for Guantanamo prison -- Washington Examiner

House blocks funding for Pentagon intelligence service -- The Hill

Lawmakers intensify push on military sexual assault problem -- Reuters

U.S. Sergeant Raped in Afghanistan Found Nowhere to Go -- Bloomberg

West Point video allegations add to Pentagon plague of sexual misconduct cases -- Christian Science Monitor

Pentagon to seek new veterans record system -- FOX News

One every 18 hours: Military suicide rate still high despite hard fight to stem deaths -- NBC

Soldiers Turn Entrepreneurs as One Million Exit Military -- Bloomberg

The entire globe is a battlefield for Pentagon -- Pepe Escobar, RT

Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- May 23, 2013

The rubble from a strike by a United States drone in southeastern Yemen in February. Khaled Abdullah/Reuters

Obama, In A Shift, To Limit Targets Of Drone Strikes -- New York Times

WASHINGTON — President Obama plans to open a new phase in the nation’s long struggle with terrorism on Thursday by restricting the use of unmanned drone strikes that have been at the heart of his national security strategy and shifting control of them away from the C.I.A. to the military.

In his first major speech on counterterrorism of his second term, Mr. Obama hopes to refocus the epic conflict that has defined American priorities since the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, and even foresees an unspecified day when the so-called war on terror might all but end, according to people briefed on White House plans.

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MILITARY AND INTELLIGENCE NEWS BRIEFS

China Space Program Ramping Up Capabilities, Pentagon Says -- Space.com

China’s nuclear program still shrouded in secrecy -- Michael Richardson, Japan Times

Iraqi government still using bomb detectors it knows are faulty -- Christian Science Monitor

German armed forces equipping for cyber war -- Stars and Stripes/Deutsche Presse-Agentur

France boosting security at facilities abroad -- Stars and Stripes/AP

US to continue supporting French air force ops in Mali -- Stars and Stripes

Russia Develops New Air-Defense Target Simulator -- RIA Novosti

Missile Defense Obstructs Nuclear Forces Cuts - General -- RIA Novosti

GOP lawmakers seek limits on missile defense cooperation with Russia -- Military Times

New Arms Bill In Congress Could Involve Major Sanctions On Russia -- Business Insider

McRaven Sets Future Course for Special Ops Command -- US Department of Defense

Minuteman III test missile launches from Vandenberg AFB -- US Air Force

Lawmakers Back Military’s Laser Weapon Programs -- Defense Tech

Northrop Grumman to Help Navy Mature Laser Weapon Systems -- Photonics

Air Force Picks First Three KC-46A Bases -- DoD Buzz

House Republicans Signal Support for Cadre of Military Spies -- Defense News

US House Panel Defends Global Hawk, Wants More Army UAV Use -- Defense News

NSA Deputy Warns Against Cyber Vigilantes; CISPA Execution Must Be ‘Exactly Right’ -- Breaking Defense

Anonymous Scared The US Government Into Shutting Down Gitmo's Wifi -- Business Insider

The Pentagon Is Wasting Billions Of Dollars Because It Can't Audit Its Own Contracts -- David Francis, Business Insider/The Fiscal Times

Hagel directs Pentagon to seek new software for health records -- Washington Post

Julian Assange sues US military over secrecy of Bradley Manning trial -- RT

Fort Hood shooting suspect asks to fire his lawyer -- CNN

A strategy to combat military sexual assaults -- Sen. Patty Murray and Sen. Kelly Ayotte, Politico

Experts Weigh In on Challenges of Closing Guantanamo Prison -- Voice of America

U.S. Air Force Team Climbs Mount Everest -- NBC

The $4 billion shipbuilding shortfall -- Rep. J. Randy Forbes, Politico

Nuclear Winter of Our Discontent -- Mark Thompson, Battleland/Time

'The Moscow Rules' Are Ten Simple Reminders For Covert CIA Operations -- Geoffrey Ingersoll, Business Insider

Why You Should Care about Pentagon Funding of Obama’s BRAIN Initiative -- John Horgan, Scientific American

Thoughts On Secrecy, Leaks And CIA Drinking Preferences -- Karl Shmavonian, Forbes

The C.I.A.’s Part in Benghazi -- New York Times editorial

How Petraeus Turned the CIA into the Good Guys in Benghazi -- Elspeth Reeve, The Atlantic

Did the Pentagon cry wolf over sequestration? -- James Rosen, McClatchy News

Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- May 22, 2013

Kim Kyok Sik (right) with the late North Korean leader Kim Jong Il in a 2007 file photo released by Korean Central News Agency. NPR

Hawkish General Makes Comeback As North Korea's Military Chief -- Reuters

(Reuters) - North Korea has reappointed a hardline and loyal general as military chief in a move experts said was part of young leader Kim Jong-un's attempt to tighten his grip on the armed forces.

Kim Kyok-sik, widely believed to have been behind the shelling of a South Korean island in 2010 that killed four people, was named "chief of the KPA (Korean People's Army) General Staff" by state news agency KCNA in a report on Wednesday.

The four-star general, in his 70s, held that position for two years until 2009.

The 30-year-old Kim Jong-un, the third of his family to rule North Korea, has been reshuffling the military in an attempt to stamp his power on the army after formally assuming power a year ago.

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MILITARY AND INTELLIGENCE NEWS BRIEFS

Iraqi spokesman: PM orders shakeup among military commanders in wake of deadly attacks -- FOX News/AP

North Korea's Kim Jong Un's send top party-military official to China as 'special envoy' -- FOX News/AP

Russian Premier Calls For Better Weapons -- RIA Novosti

Putin Calls on Shipbuilder to Speed Up Naval Deliveries -- RIA Novosti

World's biggest Russian nuke-submarines to be scrapped -- India Today

Russia, Peru to Sign MiG-29 Jet Upgrade Deal -- RIA Novosti

Ukraine destroys Soviet-era missiles -- UPI

BrahMos supersonic missile successfully test fired off Goa coast -- NDTV

Libya receives 30 French patrol boats, expects 25 more from South Korea -- Defence Web

Philippines To Spend $1.8B on Defense To Resist 'Bullies' -- Defense News/AFP

Ark Royal leaves Portsmouth for scrap yard -- BBC

China’s Cyber Attacks Threaten Social Order: Analyst -- Defence Tech

As Chinese Leader’s Visit Nears, U.S. Is Urged to Allow Counterattacks on Hackers -- New York Times

Kyrgyzstan bent on evicting US air base in 2014 -- AP

US Defense Secretary Meets Russian Security Council Chief -- RIA Novosti

S. Korea, Japan, US defense chiefs to meet -- Defense News/AFP

U.S. House Subcommittee Supports Raising Carrier Cost Cap -- Defense News

Aircraft Carrier’s Cost Draws U.S. Lawmakers’ Concerns -- Bloomberg

HASC Seapower OKs New Carrier $, Boosts Oversight; CNO Replies -- Breaking Defense

Navy Adopts Hybrid-Electric Amphibious Assault Ships -- DoD Buzz

U.S. Military Seeks to Reduce Energy Costs and Carbon Footprint Through Aggressive Push Into Renewable Energy -- Daily Beast

US to boost military manhunt capabilities with RFID satellites -- RT

House Panel Shoves Pentagon-China Satellite Deal Out of the Airlock -- Danger Room

Congress Smashes Pentagon’s New Den of Spies -- Danger Room

Coast Guard To Navy: Arctic’s Covered; White House OKs Arctic Icebreaker -- Breaking Defense

Troops to see 1.8 percent pay raise if proposed budget bill passes -- Stars and Stripes

House panel poised to approve plan to stem growing epidemic of sexual assault in military -- Washington Post/AP

Lawmakers move to address U.S. military sex assault problem -- Reuters

Pentagon faces another sex scandal -- McClatchy News

The Military’s Culture of Sexual Violence -- Margaret Carlson, Bloomberg

Petraeus’s role in drafting Benghazi talking points raises questions -- Washington Post

Parts of Bradley Manning trial to be closed to public -- Washington Post

Two defense contractors sentenced in Navy air base bribery scheme -- Stars and Stripes/L.A. Times

Military Not Created Equal Under Sequestration -- Paul D. Shinkman, US News and World Report

4 Questions Obama’s Big National Security Speech Should Answer -- Spencer Ackerman, Danger Room

At least 2,091 US military deaths in Afghanistan since 2001 -- FOX News/AP

Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- May 21, 2013

Video: F-35B Conducts First Ever Vertical Take Off -- Defense Tech

Lockheed Martin released the video of the first ever Vertical Take Off conducted by an F-35B Short Takeoff/Vertical Landing (STOVL) Lightning II test aircraft. The test was completed May 10 at Naval Air Station Patuxen River, Md.

The historic, albeit brief, flight occurred just a month after the Joint Strike Fighter program completed the first ever F-35B short takeoff and vertical landing during a night-time test mission. the F-35B is the Marine Corps version of the Joint Strike Fighter.

The vertical take off is not a combat capability, however, it is a requirement for the fielding of the F-35B fleet. The vertical take off capability will used rarely, likely only to move the aircraft’s position on a flight deck. The majority of the time, the F-35B will complete a short take off.

Read more ....

MILITARY AND INTELLIGENCE NEWS BRIEFS

Helmet for Britain's new F-35 fighter has 'significant technical deficiencies' -- The Telegraph

Exclusive: U.S. Air Force to move forward target date for F-35 use -- Reuters

Australia's Defence Department to spend more in 2013 and 2014 -- The Telegraph (Australia)

Syria: Iran Shows How It Is Done -- Strategy Page

Iran develops new air defense system -- Press TV (Iran)

Iraq Reopens Russian Arms Deal Probe -- RIA Novosti

Iraq will overhaul it security policies - Al-Maliki -- Voice of Russia

French Industry Focuses on Costs -- Defense News

€530m bill for Spain's 'sinking submarines' -- The Local

Kerry in Oman To Help Ink $2.1B Defense Deal -- Defense News/AFP

Former UK aircraft carrier towed to Turkey for scrap -- Express Tribune/AFP

President Karzai to Discuss Enhancing Defense Ties with India -- Voice of America

China deploys Su-27 fighters in Tibet, can target key Indian air bases -- IBN Live

Japanese mayor: South Korean soldiers 'abused women in wartime'. -- The Telegraph

Two Warships Join Russia’s Mediterranean Task Force -- RIA Novosti

U.S: Navy: Replacing Carriers With Cruise Missiles -- Strategy Page

Pentagon to Take Over Some CIA Drone Operations : Sources -- New York Times/Reuters

SEALs Succumb To Sig Sauer -- Strategy Page

US Spec Ops Leaders Look Beyond Land Wars -- Defense News

With New Mini-Satellites, Special Ops Takes Its Manhunts Into Space -- Danger Room

Militaries’ growing use of ground robots raises ethics concerns -- Trib Live

U.S. Takes Steps to Add Security at Embassies -- New York Times

Another CR, More Sequestration Misery Coming: Top Budget Expert -- Breaking Defense

Army Up, Navy Down, & Pakistan Makes Us Pay In 2013 Reprogramming Request -- Breaking Defense

The 'S' Word: US Military Can Stay Best Despite Sequestration -- Defense News

The US Military Has The Most Sophisticated Casualty Evacuation System In The World -- Business Insider

Video: Watch a Navy missile interceptor scream into the sky -- FOX News

Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- May 20, 2013

(Click on Image to Enlarge)

Australia Heaps Praise On F-35, Says Rivals Years Behind -- Reuters

May 16 (Reuters) - Lockheed Martin Corp is well on the way to fixing the F-35s performance and helmet problems, Australian military chiefs said on Thursday, rejecting criticism the troubled jet will be overmatched by newer Russian and Chinese aircraft.

In testimony to parliament on the F-35, for which Australia is one of the largest international buyers with plans for up to 100, Australia's air force chief Air Marshal Geoff Brown said rivals were years behind the Lightning II's development.

Critics of the F-35 have predicted the aircraft, for which many performance data are classified, will be outflown by emerging aircraft like Russia's Sukhoi T-50 PAK FA and China's J-20, as well as existing fighters like the Su-35, citing computer modelling of known abilities.

"Let me tell you, I don't think that they have the level of stealth that's available in U.S. fifth generation aircraft, and it's by a significant factor," Air Marshal Brown told lawmakers.

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MILITARY AND INTELLIGENCE NEWS BRIEFS

A Critical Analysis On The F-35: Quick-leap, Quickstep, Quick-sand? -- Eric Palmer Blog

Israel is world's largest drone exporter -- The Guardian

Iran says producing new air defense missile -- AP

North Korea Launches Missiles for 3rd Straight Day -- New York Times

Honeybees trained in Croatia to find land mines -- AP

Chinese Hackers Resume Attacks on U.S. Targets -- New York Times

US military praises Pakistan’s steps to curb fertilizers used in Afghanistan bombs -- Washington Post/AP

F-35 Training Capability Slowly Expanding -- Aviation Week

Northrop Proposes Cost Cuts, Sensor Change To Save Global Hawk -- Aviation Week

DoD Examines 3 Budget-Cut Scenarios -- Defense News

Common Ground: The U.S. Army's Col. Charles Wells on Integrating Intel -- Defense News

Navy dolphins make amazing torpedo find -- USA Today

Robot Guns, Combat Facebook: The Tech of the Army’s ‘Last’ Afghanistan Brigade -- Danger Room

White House nominates new Korea commander -- The Hill

Two FBI agents with Hostage Rescue Team killed in training accident -- FOX News

FBI turns away many applicants who fail lie-detector tests -- McClatchy News

Students have flocked to the Navy's EOD school in recent years -- Stars and Stripes/Northwest Florida Daily News

US bio-warfare adviser on board of firm that sold anthrax drug -- AP

Report: Combat troop discharges increase sharply -- Military Times

Navy Freezes Funding for Challenge Coins -- DoD Buzz

Military wife's surprise weight loss leaves Army husband a big winner -- FOX News
Does social media add fuel to servicemembers' degrading actions? -- Jennifer Hlad, Stars and Stripes

Is This the Twilight of the Defense Industrial Base? -- Sandra I. Erwin, National Defense

Obama to address Guantánamo and drones in major defence speech on Thursday -- The Guardian

Does Navy drone spell end of the Super Hornet? -- Tim Logan, St.-Louis Dispatch

Militray And Intelligence News Briefs -- May 18, 2013

N.Korea May Have 200 Mobile Missile Launchers. © AFP 2013/ ED Jones

N.Korea May Have 200 Mobile Missile Launchers - Report -- RIA Novosti

SEOUL, May 17 (RIA Novosti) - North Korea may have up to 200 mobile missile launchers, or twice the number previously estimated by South Korea’s authorities, South Korean media reported Friday.

South Korea’s state-run Korea Institute for Defense Analyses (KIDA) said that in line with a report submitted to the US Congress by the Pentagon, North Korea has probably accumulated up to 200 so-called transporter erector launchers (TEL), including up to 100 for short-range Scud missiles, 50 for medium-range Nodong missiles and 50 for long-range Musudan missiles, the Yonhap news agency reported.

Previously Seoul estimated that the reclusive communist state, known officially as the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), appeared to possess no more than 94 mobile launchers.

Read more ....

MILITARY AND INTELLIGENCE NEWS BRIEFS

North Korea Fires 3 Short-Range Missiles as South Watches -- Bloomberg Businessweek

UN panel says sanctions are delaying development of North Korea’s nuclear and missile programs -- Washington Post

N. Korea denounces U.S. ICBM test plan as military provocation -- Yonhap News

U.S. chides Russia over missiles as peace plans suffer -- Reuters

Russia Sends More Advanced Missiles to Aid Assad in Syria -- New York Times

Pentagon: Russian arms shipment may prolong Syria war -- Al Arabiya

LDP wants Osprey aircraft for SDF to beef up island defense -- Japan Times

Russia reveals Moscow CIA station chief's identity -- BBC

France Expects 1st Batch of Reapers Soon -- Defense News

French Defense Minister Defends Strategy, Mali Mission -- Defense News

French army expects first A400M airlifter by July 14 -- Reuters

China’s ‘Sharp Sword’ UCAV is Spotted Taxiing -- AIN Online

India Mulls Stationing of Ground Forces in Afghanistan -- Defense News

IMDEX 2013: World navies Gather in Singapore -- Defense Update

Independent Scotland could be defence risk for whole of UK, senior MPs warn -- The Telegraph

Soldier who survived worst battlefield injuries awarded MBE -- The Telegraph

Obama Reportedly Offers Putin Deal on Sharing of Antimissile Data -- Global Security Newswire

Army Pacific Commander Lt. Gen. Wiercinski Says "No Time Limit" on Guam THAAD Deployment -- Pacific News Center

Aegis BMD System Intercepts Mock Warhead -- Defense Tech

F-35A successfully starts air refueling -- Military Times

Last A-10s in Europe depart -- Spangdahlem Air Base

Presidential Ospreys Get a Paint Job -- Defense Tech

Pentagon approves iPhones, iPads for military use -- Washington Post

‘Year Of The Radio’: Battle On For 3 Key Army Contracts -- Breaking Defense

After $200 Million, Darpa Gives Up on Formation-Flying Satellites -- The Danger Room

Jet-Pack Boats: The Future of Special Operations? -- Dan Parsons, National Defense

Navy Seeks To Map the Mind -- Defense News

Raytheon seeks edge with military technology -- USA Today

New Report Outlines U.S. Miltary’s Solar Powered Might -- Clean Technica

X-47B Accomplishes First Ever Carrier Touch and Go aboard CVN 77 -- Navy.mil

Qinetiq unveils Sea Scout UUV -- Defense Tech

Drones are cheaper and more powerful. In US, that's a problem, lawmakers told -- Anna Mulrine, Christian Science Monitor

Pentagon Seeks $9.6 Billion Shift to Priority Projects -- Bloomberg

Pentagon war costs lowest since 2005 -- Washington Times

Dark clouds hang over air shows after budget cuts -- Stars and Stripes/AP

Fort Benning: More soldiers expected to leave Army -- Ledger Enquirer

Several DoD Personnel Moves Expected Soon -- Defense News

Top gun Christine Fox departing Pentagon -- The E-Ring/Foreign Policy

Slowly, Military Opens the Door to Outside Prosecutions for Sexual Assault -- The Danger Room

Why the military hasn't stopped sexual abuse -- Tom Vanden Brook and Gregg Zoroya, USA TODAY

A Liberal Case for Drones -- Joshua Foust, Foreign Policy

Let’s bring the Warrior Games to London -- Jim White, The Telegraph

Time to Admit China Is a Military Competitor -- J. Randy Forbes, NRO

Hyping the Horrors of Military Service -- Max Boot, Commentary