Thursday, October 3, 2013

Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- October 3, 2013



NSA Director Admits Agency Trawls Twitter And Facebook… But Insists They Are NOT Building Personal Files On Americans -- Daily Mail

* The head of the National Security Agency denied on Wednesday that the intelligence service compile's data on Americans' use of social networks
* National Security Agency chief Gen. Keith Alexander told Senate Judiciary Committee that his agency once tested whether it could track Americans' cellphone locations
* Claims the NSA does not use this technology

The director of the National Security Agency admitted today that the agency collects data from social networks and other private databases to hunt terror suspects but is not using the information to build dossiers, or personal files, on Americans.

NSA Director Gen. Keith Alexander testified during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing Wednesday that not all social network searches are authorized by a secret Foreign Intelligence Surveillance court, but the agency's actions are proper and audited internally.

Alexander called a recent New York Times report on the searches 'inaccurate and wrong.'

Read more ....

MILITARY AND INTELLIGENCE NEWS BRIEFS

NSA reveals more about its spying efforts at home -- Seattle Times/AP

NSA Claims it Has No Program to Collect Cell Phone Metadata -- Voice of America

Government shutdown 'extremely damaging' to U.S. intelligence operations -- CNN

Asian superpowers jostle to join the aircraft carrier club -- CNN

Russia, US Neck and Neck in Hypersonic Research – Rogozin -- RIA Novosti

Tajik Lawmakers Ratify Russian Military Base Lease -- RIA Novosti

Poland Orders New Minesweepers, Patrol Vessel -- Defense News

France military eyes 2014 cuts, far-right seeks to benefit -- Reuters

Afghan Military Faces Surge in Roadside Bombs -- New York Times/AP

House votes to extend visa program for Iraqis who worked as interpreters for U.S. -- Washington Post

US Government Shutdown Will Delay Military Funding for Israel -- Voice of America

Kerry in Asia to Discuss Security, Trade -- Voice of America

US, Japan to Deploy New Radar, Drones in Next Year -- New York Times/AP

Japan and U.S. Agree to Broaden Military Alliance -- New York Times

U.S., Japan to Modernize Alliance to Counter 21st Century Threats -- New York Times/Reuters

Hagel visit to South Korea focuses attention on large U.S. military presence, construction -- Washington Post

US Military Operations Continue Despite Shutdown -- Voice of America

Hagel: Pentagon lawyers hoping to minimize how many Defense workers are furloughed -- Washington Post

Odierno: Short-term budget fix might end furloughs, but hurts planning -- Stars and Stripes

154,000 Army Civilians Furloughed in Shutdown -- DoD Buzz

Pentagon report rips F-35 plant, 2 DOD offices overseeing project -- Stars and Stripes/McClatchy News

The sheer size of the F-35 program makes it an irresistible target for congressional cost-cutters. -- Air Force Magazine

Readiness declines in aging, overworked fleet -- Air Force Times

Four Companies Get US Army's Nod to Begin Critical Helicopter Designs -- Defense News

Dempsey Gives Hints on Priorities for Future -- US Department of Defense

X-47B Might Fly into 2015, Next Carrier Tests Could Start in November -- USNI News

Karem Unveils Variable-Speed Tiltrotor For U.S. Army JMR Demo -- Aviation Week

2nd high-ranking Navy officer relieved of duty as bribery probe expands -- Stars and Stripes

Cleanup in Arlington’s Section 60 upsets families of war dead -- Stars and Stripes

Sequester's cuts will endure because of budget war -- Michael Hiltzik, L.A. Times

America Has 20 B-2 Stealth Bombers—Guess How Many Can Fly Right Now? -- David Axe, War Is Boring

Is shortened Obama trip strike three for 'Pacific pivot'? -- Lesley Clark, Stars and Stripes/McClatchy Washington Bureau

No comments: