Friday, June 14, 2013

Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- June 14, 2013



U.S. To Increase Military Support To Syria Rebels -- Reuters

(Reuters) - President Barack Obama has authorized sending U.S. weapons to Syrian rebels for the first time, a U.S. official said on Thursday after the White House said it has proof the Syrian government had used chemical weapons against opposition forces fighting to overthrow President Bashar al-Assad.

The U.S. decision came as Assad's surging forces and their Lebanese Hezbollah allies turned their guns on the north, fighting near the northern city of Aleppo and bombarding the central city of Homs after having seized the initiative by winning the open backing of Hezbollah last month and capturing the strategic town of Qusair last week.

The White House said Washington would provide "direct military support" to the opposition but did not specify whether it would include lethal aid, which would mark a reversal of Obama's resistance to arming the rebels. But the U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the package would include weapons.

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MILITARY AND INTELLIGENCE NEWS BRIEFS

U.S. studying Syria no-fly zone near Jordan border: diplomats -- Reuters

Upgraded Nuclear Cruiser to Rejoin Russian Navy in 2018 -- RIA Novosti

Britain's top soldier warns more cuts to the Army means we will suffer on the battlefield -- Daily Mail

Australia army chief tells sexist soldiers to 'get out' -- France 24/AFP

Australia's Army chief says he will be 'ruthless' after emails scandal -- The Guardian

Japan Proposes NSA Equivalent, Advanced Snooping -- Defense News

No, Japan’s defense plans aren’t scary
-- James Holmes, Special to CNN

Pakistan military technology row 'threatens Israel's strategic relationship with India'-- The Telegraph

Will Europe Ever Build Its Own Fifth Generation Fighter? -- Breaking Defense

New Zealand-U.S. Defense Relations: A Possible Return to the Alliance? -- Jack Georgieff, The Diplomat

Israel To Seek US-Backed Loan for Mega Arms Deal -- Defense News

Marines, Army form quick-strike forces for Africa -- USA Today

Troubled F-35 jet struggles to get in fighting shape -- Stars and Stripes/L.A. Times

Fleet Grows, Training Increases for F-35 -- Defence Talk

House rejects plan to drop carrier requirement to 10 -- Navy Times

Navy Unveils Electrical Power ‘Road Map’ -- Defense Tech

Army Kills Competition to Replace M4 -- Military.com

New Nukes Overshadowed By Massive Retirements -- Strategy Page

Unmanned Marine helo crashes in Afghanistan -- Marine Times

Pentagon Project Seeks to Build Autonomous Robots -- Defense Tech

Darpa Robotics Challenge: the search for the perfect robot soldier -- The Guardian

Senate panel cracks down on military sex assaults -- USA Today

Weighing the Wisdom of Women in Combat -- Julien Mathonniere, Time

Congress grills intel officials on data-gathering practices; sharp words exchanged -- Washington Times

NSA chief defends his dual cyber, intel roles -- Politico

Mangled facts, secrecy brew confusion about NSA -- AP

Government has history of secrecy, spying, leaks -- AP

After Classified Briefing Lawmaker Says NSA Revelations Are Only 'The Tip Of The Iceberg' -- Business Insider

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