Saturday, December 28, 2013

Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- December 28, 2013

A National Security Agency (NSA) data gathering facility is seen in Bluffdale, about 25 miles (40 kms) south of Salt Lake City, Utah, December 17, 2013. Credit: Reuters/Jim Urquhart

New York Judge Rules NSA Mass Surveillance Of Phones Is LEGAL Saying It Could Have Prevented 9/11 Attacks -- Daily Mail

* U.S. District Judge William Pauley called NSA's program a 'counter-punch’ to al-Qaida
* Pauly wrote in his decision that there was no evidence government had used metadata for any purpose other than to disrupt terrorist attacks
* Another federal judge called the phone surveillance 'almost Orwellian' and likely unconstitutional
* The Department of Justice spokesman said the agency was pleased with Pauley's decision

A federal judge today found that the National Security Agency's wholesale collection of millions of Americans' phone records is legal and a valuable part of the nation's arsenal to combat terrorism.

U.S. District Judge William Pauley said in a written opinion that the program ‘represents the government's counter-punch’ to eliminate al-Qaida's terror network by connecting fragmented and fleeting communications.

In ruling, the judge noted the September 11 attacks and how the phone data-collection system could have helped investigators connect the dots before the attacks occurred.

Read more ....

MILITARY AND INTELLIGENCE NEWS BRIEFS

U.S. judge says NSA phone surveillance is lawful -- Reuters

NSA phone surveillance is legal, N.Y. judge rules -- AP

NSA collection of phone data is lawful, federal judge rules -- Washington Post

Correcting the record on the NSA review -- Michael Morell, Washington Post

Judge Upholds N.S.A.’s Bulk Collection of Data on Calls -- New York Times

New Russian Attack Sub to Join Navy on Dec. 30 -- RIA Novosti

Russian Air Force Lets MiG-31 Fly Again After Crash -- RIA Novosti

Russia Test-Fires ICBM to Target in Kazakhstan -- RIA Novosti

Russia bets on sweeping reform to revive ailing space industry -- Reuters

Pakistan Begins Producing Block-II JF-17 Aircraft -- The Diplomat

S. Korea develops multi-purpose air defense system -- Yonhap News Agency

Iraq To Become Third Largest Russian Arms Purchaser -- Iraqi Business News

U.S. Expedites Delivery of Missiles, Drones to Iraq Amid Violence -- New York Times/Reuters

Push to recruit Israel's Arab Christians in the military splits the community -- FOX News/AP

Okinawa Approves Relocation of US Base In Japan -- Defense News/AFP

US Fighter Jets to Patrol Baltic Airspace -- RIA Novosti

Platoon of Marines moved to Uganda amid South Sudan crisis -- Stars and Stripes

New US Rapid Reaction Forces at Work in Africa Crises -- Defense News

New Air Force concept for aeromedical evacuation to meet challenges in Africa -- Stars and Stripes

4 U.S. military personnel briefly taken into custody by Libyan authorities -- Washington Post

Contractors Dispute F-35 Cost Report -- Aviation Week

Experts to Study F-35 Software Delays -- Defense Tech

Interest grows in no-longer-secret Scorpion tactical jet -- Stars and Stripes/The Wichita (Kansas) Eagle

Arizona lawmaker vows to defend Air Force's 'Warthog' -- The Hill

U.S. Blocks Funding for Lockheed MEADS Program -- Defense Tech

CBO: 10-Year Nuclear Plan Will Cost $355 Billion -- Defense News

DOD looks 25 years ahead in unmanned vehicle roadmap -- US Army

From MRAP to scrap: U.S. military chops up $1-million vehicles -- Stars and Stripes/L.A. Times

Obama Signs Defense, Budget Bills Into Law -- Defense News/AFP

Obama signs defense law, calls it a ‘welcome step’ toward closing Guantanamo Bay prison -- Washington Post

Marines: Most Female Recruits Don't Meet New Pullup Standard -- NPR

US military sex assault reports jump by 50 percent -- AP

Report Investigates Defense Lobbyists’ Investments -- DoD Buzz

Dog Center Europe treats soldiers — the canine kind — injured in war -- Stars and Stripes

3 Ways Mao Shaped Naval Warfare -- James R. Holmes, The Diplomat

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