Tuesday, May 20, 2014

Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- May 20, 2014



Thailand Wakes To Military Rule: What It Means -- Hilary Whiteman, CNN

(CNN) -- It was 3 a.m. in Thailand. Presumably barely anyone was watching.

But the country's military chief chose that hour to appear on army-run Channel 5 television Tuesday to declare martial law across the country.

"This is not a coup," said Gen. Prayuth Chan-Ocha, hours before the nation's people woke to the new public order; with soldiers stationed at intersections and tanks on the streets.

The army says it has taken control to ensure law and order in a country split by deep political divisions, two weeks after the country's Constitutional Court removed caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra from government.

"The defendant has abused her position as prime minister," said the judge in the ruling. "Her prime ministership has ... ended."

Nine cabinet ministers were also removed from office, while Deputy PM and Commerce Minister Niwatthamrong Boonsongpaisan was appointed caretaker prime minister.

Read more ....

Military And Intelligence News Briefs

Thai Military Declares Martial Law, Denies Coup -- The Diplomat

China suspends cyber working group activities with U.S. to protest cyber theft indictment -- CCTV/Xinhua

China warns U.S. of "serious damage" to military ties over hacking charges against Chinese officers -- CBS/AP

China Bans Use Of Microsoft's Windows 8 On Government Computers -- Reuters

Pop-Up Army Shows How Splintering Ukraine Girds for War -- Bloomberg

Ukraine’s hobbled navy: “Times are not the best” -- Washington Times/AP

Russia, China to Conduct Military Drills in 2015 to Mark 70th Anniversary of WWII Victory -- RIA Novsoti

Putin orders pullback of troops from Ukraine border, Pentagon skeptical -- Christian Science Monitor

Russian Army to Train Military Personnel to Operate Drones -- RIA Novosti

Senators push to cut off Pentagon contracts with Russia amid Ukraine crisis -- FOX News

Iran to Build New Sub for Caspian Fleet by 2015 -- RIA Novosti

Japan to establish strategic military outposts near disputed islands - report -- RT

Reports: Increase in Pakistan Defense and Nuclear Budgets Likely -- Defense News

Four in five Germans want fewer foreign military missions - poll -- Swiss Info

After Steep Climb, US SOCOM Funds Begin To Slide -- Defense News

ULA Reveals Pricing Data, Hits Back at SpaceX -- Defense News

SpaceX Has Gone From Suing The Air Force To Possibly Launching Its Satellites -- Business Insider

GAO: More transparency needed for F-22 modernization spending -- Air Force Times

Senate struggles to find A-10 Warthog funding -- The Hill

Navy pushes Congress on fleet modernization -- Washington Times

Millions invested for Guam military buildup -- Air Force Times

Navy to Accept New Rolling Airframe Missile -- DoD Buzz

US Navy Changes Course, Sends LCS to Hawaii for RIMPAC -- Defense News

Auditors Fault Pentagon Sorting of Biggest Bioweapon Threats -- NextGov

Next-Gen UAVs: Armed, Modular and Smaller -- Defense News

Durbin pushes for military green cards for illegal ‘Dreamers’ who enlist -- Washington Times

Cisco CEO asks Obama to control NSA surveillance -- CNet

CIA: No more vaccination campaigns in spy operations -- Washington Post

Spy Pigeons and Dragonfly Drones: Inside the CIA Museum -- Ella Morton, Slate

Top Iran Terrorist Under CIA Protection in U.S., Book Says -- Newsweek

Vets Using Phoenix VA are Angry, Sick and Scared -- Military.com/Stars and Stripes

More VA Whistleblowers Coming Forward, Campaign Says -- US News and World Report

Meet The First Woman Ever To Command A B-52 -- David Cenciotti, Business Insider/The Aviationist

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