Tuesday, October 29, 2013

Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- October 29, 2013



NSA Files – US Intelligence Officials Testify In Congress – Live Coverage -- The Guardian

• James Clapper and Keith Alexander to be questioned
• James Sensenbrenner introduces USA Freedom Act
• NSA's loyal Senate ally breaks ranks

Germany

“Spies will be spies” has been the response of some commentators to the NSA surveillance revelations. Yesterday Reuters’ Jack Shafer wrote that protests from world leaders “are largely contrived. As Max Boot and David Gewirtz wrote in Commentary's blog and ZDNet, respectively, nations have traditionally spied on allies both putative and stalwart. One excellent reason to spy on an ally, Gewirtz notes, is to confirm that the ally is really an ally. Allies sometimes become adversaries, so shifting signs must be monitored. Likewise, allies may be allies, but they always have their disagreements. What better way to prevent unpleasant surprises from an ally than by monitoring him?”

This response can also be heard in some quarters in Germany, as my colleague Philip Oltermann reports. "Everybody does it" has been one common reaction: the Germans shouldn't make such a fuss, as they were probably bugging other leaders' phones too.

Read more ....

MILITARY AND INTELLIGENCE NEWS BRIEFS

U.S. spy chiefs face Congress amid spying rift with Europe -- Reuters

NSA bills set up a choice in Congress: End bulk collection of phone records or endorse it -- Washington Post

Senate Intelligence Panel Chair Pledges 'Major Review' of NSA Surveillance -- New York Times/Reuters

Intelligence search engine now open source -- C4isrnetworks

White House says more intelligence constraints needed -- BBC

Britain's Cameron Says May Act Against Press Over Spy Leaks -- Reuters

Australia to Pull Troops Out of Afghanistan -- Voice of America

Britney Spears' music used by British navy to scare off Somali pirates -- The Guardian

Syria’s ability to launch chemical attack said to be limited after key equipment destroyed -- Washington Post

Russia Holds Military Drills in Arctic -- RIA Novosti

Russia to double number of warplanes at Central Asian airbase -- RT

Russia’s New Nuclear Sub Completes Sea Trials – Shipbuilder -- RIA Novosti

New Sukhoi T-50 Fighter Jet Prototype Joins Testing Program -- RIA Novosti

Russian Tu-160 Strategic Bombers Land in Venezuela -- RIA Novosti

Kenyan soldiers jailed for Westgate looting -- BBC

Japan To Set Up National Security Center -- RTT News

South Korea Stages Major Live-Fire Drill -- Defense News/AFP

Indian navy holds mega coastal drill -- Times of India

North Korea Expanding Long-Range Rocket Site, Institute Says -- Bloomberg

PLA submarine can strike US cities with JL-2 missiles -- Want China Times

China flexes muscles with show of submarine force -- Space War/AFP

Israel Suspects China in Failed Cyberattack Vs. Defense Industry -- Defense News

Israel's missile-defense system could crumble at the moment of truth -- Jerusalem Post

Turkey Asks U.S. to Extend Pricing on Raytheon Missile Bid: Sources -- Reuters

British man charged with hacking U.S. military networks -- Reuters

New Zealand, US resuming high-level military talks -- AP

US, NATO move ahead with Romanian anti-missile base -- Stars and Stripes

Navy stealth destroyer Zumwalt nears final construction phase -- FOX News

US Navy's new behemoth 'stealth destroyer' gets its hull wet -- AP

US Army Network Proves Mettle In Afghanistan -- Defense News

Fort Carson unit gets Army's newest helicopters -- Stars and Stripes/The Gazette (Colorado Springs, Colo.)

USAF Commission Weighs Merger Between Guard and Reserve -- Defense News

US military dedicates first national monument to combat dogs -- NBC/Reuters

Calls for change to the U.S. military's "fat test" -- CBS/AP

Four female Marines pass key hurdle during enlisted infantry training -- Marine Times

Retired Marine Gen. John R. Allen considers U.S. resolve in a troubled world -- Walter Pincus, Washington Post

Yes, we spy on allies. Want to make something of it? -- Jack Shafer, Reuters

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