Monday, May 8, 2017

Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- May 8, 2017


Time: Pentagon Backs a $7.5 Billion Plan to Boost U.S. Military Presence in Asia-Pacific, Report Says

The Pentagon has reportedly backed a proposal to support U.S. military presence in the Asia-Pacific region with some $7.5 billion in investments to boost infrastructure, exercises, troop deployment and naval assets.

The Wall Street Journal reports that the plan, first proposed by Senator John McCain, is supported in principle by Defense Secretary Jim Mattis and head of the U.S. Pacific Command Admiral Harry Harris, though details have not yet been developed.

“I don’t understand all the details in Senator McCain’s plan, but I support the themes that he outlined and the importance he assigned to that region,” the Journal quoted Mattis as saying during a recent Congressional hearing.

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Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- May 8, 2017

Pentagon to Spend $8 Bln on Boosting Its Military Presence in Asia -- Sputnik

U.S. Wants to Spend Added Billions on Military in Asia -- WSJ

China denies Beijing requested dismissal of U.S. commander -- UPI

U.S. House of Representatives seeking integrated intelligence on N. Korea -- Yonhap News Agency

US, Russia Pledge to Avoid Clashes Over Syria -- Military.com/FOX News

Mattis: Questions unanswered on Syria cease-fire plan -- The Hill

Satellite imagery shows Russian AWACS back in Syria -- Defense News

Russia to Arm PAK FA With Deadly Anti-Ship Missile -- Franz-Stefan Gady, Diplomat

Top Gun: What It's Like to Be a Russian Aerobatic Fighter Jet Pilot -- Sputnik

Old Warrior: 60 Years On, Russia's Tu-95 Bomber Still Goes Strong -- Sputnik

Duterte eyes military ties with China but US presents obstacles -- South China Morning Post

Austal opens new office in Australian contract bid -- UPI

German army calls for searches of all barracks after Nazi memorabilia found -- Reuters

Nazi memorabilia found in German army barracks, deepening Bundeswehr scandal -- DW

Merkel hits back at Trump over NATO spending -- The Hill

Canadian defense minister: Helo upgrades worth the billions -- Defense News

Jordan, US launch Eager Lion military exercise -- Al Jazeera

Inside the US military's mission in Somalia -- ABC News

F-35 heading to Paris Air Show after all -- The Hill

Congress tells Pentagon’s F-35 office to start talking -- McClatchy News

New rifle, bigger bullets: Inside the Army's plan to ditch the M4 and 5.56 -- Army Times

Army Kills Contract for Shoulder-Fired Airburst Weapon -- Military.com

US military's secret space plane lands with sonic boom in Florida -- The Guardian

Special Analysis: The Future of Drone Wars & Countering ISIS Explosive-Laden Drones -- David Hambling, Scout Warrior

The Military is Using Human Brain Waves to Teach Robots How to Shoot -- Government Executive

Sailors Recall Helping Coordinate 'No-Fail' Missile Strike in Syria -- Military.com

Pentagon rents Trump Tower apartment for the nuclear ‘football’ -- The Australian/The Times

Five Marines punished in connection with nude photo sharing scandal -- Marine Times

Trump Army secretary nominee withdraws amid fierce opposition -- The Hill

How the U.S. Army Came of Age -- Mackubin Thomas Owens, NRO

Defense Secretary Jim Mattis: In charge, but definitely camera-shy -- Jamie McIntyre, Washington Examiner

Pentagon Has 'Over 800 Military Bases' Across the Globe With More on the Way -- Sputnik

Every Marine a rifleman no more? -- Jeff Schogol, Marine Times