Saturday, December 21, 2013

Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- December 21, 2013



NSA Surveillance: Revelations Damaged US Security, Obama Says -- Christian Science Monitor

In His Year-End Press Conference, President Obama Defended NSA Surveillance As Vital, But Acknowledged That Public Trust Needs To Be Restored And Changes Are Necessary.

Revelations about the scope of the National Security Agency’s surveillance programs have seriously damaged Anerica’s security and intelligence-gathering capabilities, President Obama said Friday during a press conference, acknowledging that changes would need to be made in the programs to win back sagging public trust in the government’s policies.

At the same time, Mr. Obama was firm in maintaining that NSA intelligence gathering is vital in keeping the terrorist threat at bay.

The president’s year-end press conference was sprinkled with laughter and seasonal well-wishing and covered Obamacare’s poor rollout, the health-care program overall, reasons for his planned absence from the Olympic Games in Sochi – and whether his sagging poll numbers reflected his “worst year” as president. But questions about surveillance and privacy resurfaced throughout.

Read more ....

MILITARY AND INTELLIGENCE NEWS BRIEFS

Top lawmakers fight to save NSA snooping program -- Washington Times

A Legacy in the Balance on Surveillance Policies -- Peter Baker, New York Times

Russian Military Confirms Plans for New Light Transport Plane -- RIA Novosti

Chinese media reports of plans to build a 110,000 ton 'super aircraft carrier' to rival US naval power -- Herald Sun

China lashes out at Japan's new defense plan -- AP

Marines: China Gets More Amphibious -- Strategy Page

Institute: NKorea nuke test unlikely for months -- AP

Iranian Fighter Jets Hit Air, Ground Targets in Massive Wargames -- Tasnim News Agency

This Is How Iran Maintains Its Bizarre Air Force -- David Axe, War Is Boring

Canada cancels Can$2.1 bln armored vehicle purchase -- AFP

RAF fighter jets almost crash mid-air every TWO WEEKS: New figures show 361 near misses since MoD pledged to install new safety gear in 1998... but never did -- Daily Mail

DOD deploys troops to South Sudan indefinitely -- Stars and Stripes

With U.S. pullout, military burden shifts to Afghan army -- Washington Post

NATO opens negotiations to allow ISAF to stay in Afghanistan -- Stars and Stripes

South Korea unlikely to finalize Lockheed F-35 order until summer '14 -- Reuters

Analysis: Lost Brazil order raises threat to Boeing fighter jets -- Reuters

Lockheed wins $562 million contract to modify F-22 fighter -- Reuters

A-10: Close Air Support Wonder Weapon Or Boneyard Bound? -- Colin Clark and Sydney J. Freedberg Jr., Breaking Defense

Army to Review M1 Engine Upgrades -- Defense Tech

LCSs of both types hit the water -- Intercepts/Defense News

US nuclear weapon plans to cost $355 bln over a decade -CBO report -- Reuters

Guantanamo judge orders US to preserve evidence of CIA 'black sites' -- Stars and Stripes/Miami Herald

Exclusive: Secret contract tied NSA and security industry pioneer -- Reuters

New commander officially takes over embattled US nuclear force -- Stars and Stripes/Wyoming Tribune-Eagle

IG reports Arlington Cemetery making progress -- Stars and Stripes

Exclusive: How Diplomacy Helped Cause an F-18 Crash -- Dan Lamothe, Foreign Policy

Cowpens Incident Shows Limits of Mil-to-Mil Ties -- Zachary Keck, The Diplomat

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