Wednesday, April 2, 2014

Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- April 2, 2014



NATO Officials Say They Don't See Russia Shift From Ukraine -- Wall Street Journal

Ministers Order Alliance Brass to Craft Plan to Respond to Crisis as 'Matter of Urgency'

BRUSSELS—Foreign ministers from the North Atlantic Treaty Organization ordered the alliance's military brass Tuesday to quickly craft a plan in response to the Ukraine crisis that could include redeploying forces closer to Russia.

The ministers also confirmed that they were suspending "all practical civilian and military cooperation" with Russia, potentially affecting Syria and counter-piracy operations, though officials said cooperation in Afghanistan would continue.

Russia "has gravely breached the trust upon which our cooperation must be based," the ministers said.

Still, the foreign ministers said they would keep up their political dialogue with Moscow in hopes of a diplomatic solution to the crisis caused by its moves on Ukraine.

"At this point you have to establish lines, but you shouldn't slam the door," said Luxembourg Foreign Minister Jean Asselborn.

Read more ....

Military And Intelligence News Briefs

US sends jets, destroyer as NATO beefs up eastern defense -- Stars and Stripes/AP

800 Ukrainian Servicemen Have Departed Crimea – Crimean Source -- RIA Novosti

Outgunned Ukraine strives for military overhaul -- Washington Post/AP

Ukraine to Hold Military Exercises with European, NATO Allies -- Voice of America

As Russia growls, Swedes, Finns eye defence options, NATO -- Reuters

Komodo 2014 Naval Exercises Prove Beneficial for Russia – Russian Envoy -- RIA Novosti

Russian Navy puts into service ICBM Liner - source -- Voice of Russia

China ex-general Gu Junshan charged with corruption -- BBC

PLA General Charged With Embezzlement, Bribery -- The Diplomat

Were 30 Royal Marines poisoned by mustard gas on derelict Soviet weapons plant? Mystery as soldiers fall violently ill while training on island off Albania -- Daily Mail

Nuclear submarines to be based in Sunderland if Scotland wins independence -- Sunderland Echo

Can the Australian Military Think Out Loud? -- Julia Terreu, The Diplomat

Drone on island was flown by North Korea, South says -- Stars and Stripes

Pakistan, Afghanistan, India Want Leftover US MRAPs -- Defense News

Diplomats: Despite crisis, NATO to keep working with Russia in Afghanistan -- Stars and Stripes

NATO to Suspend Cooperation with Russia on Afghan Choppers, Training – NATO Source -- RIA Novosti

March fatality-free for US forces in Afghanistan -- Stars and Stripes

US will not give Syrian opposition anti-aircraft missiles -- Middle East Monitor

Dempsey: Israel Believes US Will Strike Iran If Necessary -- Defense News

Air Force Weighs ISR, Tanker Consortiums -- DoD Buzz

Congress digs in against Pentagon plan to mothball the A-10 fighter-bomber -- Standard Examiner/Washington Post

GAO’s F-35 Estimate Plunges $11.5 Billion; EELV Costs Soar $28.1 Billion -- Breaking Defense

LCS Wargame Reveals New Tactics Amid Controversy -- DoD Buzz

A Sneak Peek At Marines’ New Amphibious Combat Vehicle -- Sydney J. Freedberg Jr., Breaking Defense

SpecOps Deal Tops $35 Billion in March Awards -- DoD Buzz

Military Weather Satellite Ready to Launch After 15-Year Wait -- Space.com

Pentagon considering banning cigarette sales on ships and base -- FOX News

Black female soldiers say new grooming reg is 'racially biased' -- Military Times

Attrition: Kinder And Gentler UAV Attacks -- Strategy Page

U.S. Working to Preserve Drone Dominance -- Mark Thompson, Time

China’s Military Capabilites Are Growing and We’re Not Keeping Up -- Reihan Salam, NRO

The US Navy and the Pivot: Less Means Less -- William Kyle, The Diplomat

A tortured debate between Congress and the CIA -- David Ignatius, Washington Post

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