Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- February 19, 2011

A photo released by the U.S. Fifth Fleet in Bahrain shows seven of nine U.S. warships in a flotilla, carrying 17,000 personnel, sailing in the Gulf May 22, 2007. Credit: Reuters/U.S. Fifth Fleet/Handout

U.S. Takes Cautious Line On Fifth Fleet's Base In Bahrain -- Wall Street Journal

WASHINGTON—Unrest in Bahrain is putting the future of a key U.S. ally in doubt, a microcosm of how the Middle East's roiling political landscape is challenging U.S. policy in the region.

A U.S. ally in a geographically strategic perch, Bahrain is positioned near the world's most important oil reserves, and its Sunni government has been seen as a reliable bulwark against nearby Shiite-led Iran. At the center of U.S. strategy there is the headquarters of the U.S. Fifth Fleet—a base that is home to 3,000 military personnel who oversee the 30 naval ships and some 30,000 sailors that patrol the Persian Gulf and Arabian and Red seas.

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MILITARY AND INTELLIGENCE NEWS BRIEFS

Mideast unrest puts US military access in jeopardy -- AFP

FACTBOX-U.S. Navy's Fifth Fleet, based in Bahrain -- Reuters

Mideast unrest puts US military access in jeopardy -- Space War/Washington Post

U.K. Trident replacement orders under way -- Defence Management

Taiwan Makes Case, Again, For U.S. Fighter Jets -- Defense News

N.Korea 'Lost Several Fighter Jets Last Year' -- Chosun Ilbo

China: New missile 'ready by 2015' -- Global post

5.4% Increase in Singaporean Defense Budget -- Defense News/AFP

Merchant Vessels Are Disregarding Piracy Threat -- defpro

End Of An Era For Test Pilots -- Strategy Page

A Quick Look At The USAF's New Bomber Requirements -- Ares/Aviation Week

USAF Eyes Business Jets As Possible E-8 JSTARS Replacement -- Defense Tech

Defense spending's impact on DFW reaches beyond Lockheed Martin or Bell Helicopter -- Star-Telegram (Hat Tip: ELP Defens(c)e Blog)

DoD Ready For Tanker Protest -- DoD Buzz

GOP Bill Eliminates $1B in Nuclear Agency Funds -- Global Security Newswire

U.S. Senate Bill Would Make Leaks a Felony -- Secrecy News

Military 'don't ask, don't tell' repeal training under way -- CNN

DOD officials strive to strengthen, empower military families -- U.S. Air Force

Pentagon request for military health comes in flat for fiscal 2012 -- NextGov

House Votes to Continue Army Sponsorships in Nascar -- New York Times

Darpa’s New Recruits: You, Your Grandpa and Your Dog -- The Danger Room

All Budgets Are Not Equal -- Information Dissemination