Monday, April 15, 2013

Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- April 15, 2013


SIPRI Reports Shifting Trend In Global Military Expenditures -- Deutsche Welle

Military cuts in the US and Europe have resulted in a fall in global weapons spending for the first time since 1998, according to Stockholm-based observers. The trend has been offset by arms purchases in other regions.

In its annual report on global military expenditures, the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) said on Monday that global military expenditures in 2012 had fallen by 0.5 percent compared to 2011.

Some of the most significant cuts came from the US as it reduced its presence in conflict zones (such as Afghanistan) and reacted to budget cuts in the Defense Department. For the first time since the fall of the Soviet Union, SIPRI says, the percentage of US spending as part of total global military spending has fallen below 40 percent. Despite the drop, the US remains the global leader in military expenditures.

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MILITARY AND INTELLIGENCE NEWS BRIEFS

Western cuts bring down global military spending in 2012, but outlays surge in Russia, China -- Washington Post/AP

World Military Spending Dips in 2012, First Since 1998 -- New York Times/Reuters

World spends less on military: SIPRI -- AFP

Mongolian General Probed for North Korean Jet Deal
-- ABC News/AP

Civilians visit Liaoning aircraft carrier -- China.org.cn

Chinese Marines Show How It Is Done -- Strategy Page

Russian Prime Minister Medvedev Slams Defense Contract Placement Delays
-- RIA Novosti

Rebels Now Fancy Really Big Sniper Rifles
-- Strategy Page

Missile Deal Tests France-U.K. Pact -- Defense News

Iran Has Two Navies -- Strategy Page

Iran's Army successfully test-fires 3 new missiles -- Press TV (Iran)

Israeli army closes files on deaths in Gaza campaign -- Global Post/AFP

U.S., China Agree to Work Together on Cyber Security -- New York Times/Reuters

Philippines, US air forces show off firepower at Clark -- Stars and Stripes/Philippine Daily Inquirer/Asia News Network

Bordallo: North Korea Missile Threat Highlights Need to Harden Air Force Assets in Region -- Pacific News Center

Philippines may allow US bases if Korean tensions escalate -- Asia News Network

Niger rapidly emerges as a key U.S. partner in anti-terrorism fight in Africa -- Washington Post

Navy loads laser-guided rockets to Fire Scout -- Defense Tech

$1 Billion for a Nuclear Bomb Tail -- Strategic Security Blog

Lawmaker: Restore missile-defense funding -- Defense Tech

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

Army: NM power line proposal a threat to national security -- Stars and Stripes/Albuquerque (N.M.) Journal

The Secret Wars: The CIA’s covert mission to combat terrorism -- Yahoo News

Strength in Numbers: The Remarkable Potential of (really) Small Combatants -- Information Dissemination

Lt. Gen. Allyn tapped to get 4th star, head Forces Command -- Stars and Stripes/The Fayetteville (N.C.) Observer

Gates worries that lengthy combat tours aggravated troop stresses -- Stars and Stripes/The Oreganian

Pentagon's plan for 2015 BRAC already faces congressional opposition -- al.com

DOD budget cuts might hit military families harder -- Stars and Stripes

Navy panel urges ouster of officer who faked death -- Stars and Stripes/AP

For sale: Cold War military complex in upstate NY -- Wall Street Journal

The Air Force Sexual Assault Scandal Shows Exactly What's Wrong With The Military Justice System -- Paul Szoldra, Business Insider

This Is As Close To Flying A MiG-29 As You Can Get Without Climbing Into The Cockpit -- Jacek Siminski, Business Insider/The Aviationist

2014 DoD Budget a Step Toward ‘Grand Bargain’ -- John Bennett, Defense News

Obama’s Useless Budget Data…and Improbable Budget Strategy -- Winslow Wheeler, Battleland/Time

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