Tuesday, June 24, 2014

Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- June 24, 2014

An Iraqi soldier trying on a new uniform at a store in Baghdad. Some experts have declared the Iraqi Army a defeated force. Credit Ayman Oghanna for The New York Times

Iraq’s Military Seen As Unlikely To Turn The Tide -- New York Times

BAGHDAD — As Iraqi Army forces try to rally on the outskirts of Baghdad after two weeks of retreat, it has become increasingly clear to Western officials that the army will continue to suffer losses in its fight with Sunni militants and will not soon retake the ground it has ceded.

Recent assessments by Western officials and military experts indicate that about a quarter of Iraq’s military forces are “combat ineffective,” its air force is minuscule, morale among troops is low and its leadership suffers from widespread corruption.

As other nations consider whether to support military action in Iraq, their decision will hinge on the quality of Iraqi forces, which have proved far more ragged than expected given years of American training.

Read more ....

Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- June 24, 2014

US special forces will face complex challenges, precarious political situation in Iraq -- FOX News/AP

Iraq Offers Legal Assurances to US Advisers in Iraq -- Defense News/AFP

Pentagon won’t say military advisers in Iraq will be granted immunity against prosecution -- McClatchy news

Kerry Says ISIS Threat Could Hasten Military Action -- NYT

Column: Washington's Iraq Policy Comes Full Circle -- Paul McLeary, Defense News

Militants Using Humvees from Iraq in Syria -- DoD Buzz

Japan PM aims early pact on easing curb on military -- Reuters

Philippine president backs Abe's military moves -- Zee News

Russia Test Fires Six New Air-Launched Cruise Missiles -- Washington Free Beacon

Russian Troops Return to Permanent Bases After Military Exercise in Country's West -- RIA Novosti

Russia to Substitute 95% of Ukrainian Defense Imports -- RIA Novosti

New recruits make up Ukraine's special-forces units -- Focus On Ukraine

Does India Still Fear China's Growing Military Might? -- James Holmes, National Interest

At least 49 large military drones crashed over US since 2001 - report -- RT

Estimated cost of fixes to F-35 fleet declines again -- Star Telegram

Army Readies JLENS Surveillance Aerostat -- Defense Tech

New horsepower for war zones: Special Forces saddle up -- USA Today

Attrition: Friendly Fire Fades Away -- Strategy Page

Amos counters experts' critique of Corps' direction -- Military Times

US House Passes Appropriations Bill, Senate Looks Deadlocked -- Defense News

Glenn Greenwald: New NSA Leak From Snowden 'Very Imminent' -- The Intercept

U.S. NSA granted extension to collect bulk phone data -- PC World

NSA and GCHQ mass surveillance a waste of time, says Edward Snowden -- V3

Former NSA Director Charging $1 Million A Month To Reveal US Intelligence Methods -- IBTimes

NSA Spook-Turned-Twitter-Pundit Goes Dark After Dick Pic Surfaces -- Gawker

Army staff sergeant will receive Medal of Honor for valor at Wanat -- Army Times

Can General Linder’s Special Operations Forces Stop the Next Terrorist Threat? -- Eliza Griswold, NYT

Afghanistan: Exit Strategy Facts And Fiction -- Strategy Page

Why Congress Fights the President on Defense -- Roger Zakheim, Real Clear Defense

No comments: