Thursday, December 5, 2013

Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- December 5, 2013


Hagel, Dempsey Shrink Pentagon Staff But Boost Homeland & Cyber -- Defense One

PENTAGON: The world’s biggest office building is about to get a little less busy. Starting today, the Office of the Secretary of Defense is going to shrink by about 200 government personnel and a to-be-determined number of contractors by 2019, Sec. Chuck Hagel announced this afternoon.

Reducing OSD’s staff below 2,200 is just the start of a much broader push to cut all military headquarters’ budgets by 20 percent, and the $1 billion years that today’s move will save over five years is a just tiny nip in the Pentagon budget, whatever Congress ultimately decides it should be. But more important than how many staffers go away is who goes away, who stays puts, and who moves. The big winners?

Read more ....

MILITARY AND INTELLIGENCE NEWS BRIEFS

A billion here, a billion there: Hagel cuts own staff -- McClatchy news

Ryan-Murray Near Deal To Raise Spending Caps, Reduce Sequestration Impact -- Defense News

Iran's ability to enrich uranium troubles U.S. lawmakers -- Reuters

Iran Nuclear Deal May Affect NATO Missile Shield: German Envoy -- Global Security Newswire

Delaying security deal a risk to Afghan forces: U.S. military chief -- Reuters

Afghan supplies continuing through other routes: US -- News International

US Looking to Sell Portion of Afghan MRAP Fleet -- Defense News

Army Builds Unused Base in Afghanistan -- DoD Buzz

Japan state secrets bill on track to become law despite protests -- AP

China targeting U.S. spy flights amid escalating tensions -- Washington Times

A Military Strategy to Deter China -- T.X. Hammes, Real Clear Defense

China’s Hubris on the High Seas -- James R. Holmes, The Diplomat

India’s Troubled Soldiers -- Sudha Ramachandran, The Diplomat

India expands nuclear weapons site: think tank -- GEO-TV

Northrop starts production of Global Hawk UAS for NATO -- UPI

Disgraced French general and Algeria torturer dies -- France 24

Eurofighter Typhoon Marks Delivery of 400th Aircraft -- Eurofighter Typhoon

Russia's Defense Ministry to Create Own News Agency – Source -- RIA Novosti

How the U.S. Will Dispose of Syria's Chemical Weapons -- Global Security Newswire/National Journal

Pentagon Lets Joe Biden Do the Talking With China -- Defense One

Pentagon focused on weapons, data fusion as F-35 nears combat use -- Reuters

Navy Doubles Down on Carrier-Launched ‘Blackjack’ Drone -- Danger Room

Report: NSA tracks billions of cellphones daily -- AP

Obama says he's not allowed iPhone for 'security reasons' -- Reuters

Top general to teens: Watch what you post online! -- AP

US Air Force's X37-B Secret 'Space Shuttle' Nears Year In Space -- Huffington Post

Medal of Honor case goes to 3rd defense secretary; Rep. Hunter says system broken -- Washington Times

Air Force Academy defends use of cadet informants -- Stars and Stripes/The Gazette (MCT)

Yoda still standing: Office of Pentagon futurist Andrew Marshall, 92, survives budget ax -- Washington Post

Reassessing the Surge: Bold Shift or Strategic Disconnect? -- Frank Hoffman, War On The Rocks

America needs to build a new, stealthy, long-range bomber -- Washington Examiner editorial

IG finds some not-so-intelligent conduct in the intelligence community -- Walter Pincus, Washington Post

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