Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- June 8, 2011

GRATITUDE AND GOOD-BYE - U.S. Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates thanks soldiers for their service and bids them farewell at a forward operating base in Afghanistan, June 6, 2011. DOD photo by Cherie Cullen

Coins And Thanks: Gates Bids Farewell To The Troops -- New York Times

KABUL – The American flag was at half-staff Tuesday as the motorcade of bulletproof S.U.V.s and armored war wagons pulled out of the military headquarters at Camp Eggers carrying Robert M. Gates to his Air Force command plane and a flight out of Afghanistan, ending his final trip here as defense secretary.

The flag was a public sign of mourning for three American troops killed just days before by an improvised roadway bomb. It also could be seen as a small symbol of the larger sacrifice offered by all the American military personnel sent here and to Iraq during the four and a half years since Mr. Gates was appointed defense secretary by former President George W. Bush, and kept on by President Obama.

Read more ....

MILITARY AND INTELLIGENCE NEWS BRIEFS

More Nukes Here, Fewer There -- Ares/Aviation Week

SIPRI Yearbook: Nuclear Forces ‘Leaner but Beaner’ -- Defpro

PLA 20 Years Behind U.S. Military: Chinese DM -- Defense News

Aircraft carrier symbol of China's naval ambitions -- BBC

China admits 'secret' aircraft carrier is nearly ready for launch -- The Guardian

Canadian Military Losing Money -- Ares/Aviation Week

Afghan army still work in progress: Canadian military -- CBC

U.S. Vows to Maintain Presence in Asia Despite Budgetary Woes -- Daily Tech

Arms Sales And Corruption -- Ares/Aviation Week

Arctic Report Assesses Defense Role, Future in Region -- U.S. Department of Defense

Lockheed: Many F-35B landings won’t be vertical -- DoD Buzz

The RQ-4 Global Hawk’s Continuing Woes -- Defense Tech

India-Boeing Deal Will Support 23,000 Jobs: U.S. -- Defense News

Cost of fuel is major expense for U.S. military -- The Day

Republicans seek repeal of ‘green fuel’ requirement for military tanks, choppers and jets -- Houston Chronicle

Health Care Costs New Threat To U.S. Military -- NPR

Sub Commander Fired Over Mishandled Classified Info -- Military.com

As 'don't ask, don't tell' repeal nears, concerns crop up on both sides -- Christian Science Monitor

Meditation Heals Military Vets With PTSD -- ABC News

Combat Stress Same for Men, Women, Study Finds -- Military.com

Study Reveals Female Soldiers’ Marital Issues -- Military.com

DoD’s ‘Terminator’ future: Humans vs machines -- DoD Buzz

China’s military buildup is aimed directly at U.S. forces -- Joel Brinkley, Kansas City/Tribune Media Services

Marking Military Time in a New Era of Warfare: Elizabeth Samet -- Elizabeth D. Samet, Bloomberg

Has economic power replaced military might? -- Joseph S. Nye, CNN

Panetta’s Excellent Pentagon Adventure: Cut Cash, Rewrite Strategy -- Spencer Ackerman, The Danger Room

US military deaths in Iraq war at 4,454 Tuesday, according to Associated Press count -- Washington Post/AP

US military deaths in Afghanistan at 1,496 -- Forbes/AP