Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- June 25, 2014

First of 130 U.S. Troops Arrive in Baghdad: Pentagon -- NBC

The first of 130 U.S. troops have arrived in Baghdad, according to the Pentagon.

Press Secretary Rear Adm. John Kirby said that the first 40 were already in Iraq, assigned to the Office of Security Cooperation. The Special Operations troops were "re-missioned" and began working today as the first two assessment teams.

Another 90 military personnel arrived in Baghdad today to begin setting up the Baghdad Joint Operations Center. These troops were deployed from around the Central Command area of operations, and include Special Operations troops, intelligence analysts, logisticians, IT support, etc. — from all the U.S. armed services, not just the Army.

Approximately 50 more troops will deploy to Iraq in the next few days and will form the next four assessment teams, officials said.

Kirby also said that the U.S. is now flying between 30 to 35 ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance) flights per day around Iraq.

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Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- June 25, 2014

U.S. Faces Challenges In Shoring Up Iraq's Crumbling Military -- NPR

GOP senators alarmed after classified Iraq briefing -- The Hill

ISIS rapidly accumulating cash, weapons, U.S. intelligence officials say -- Washington Post

Pentagon pushes back against Israeli critique of Iraq -- Jerusalem Post

Iran Navy Eyes Stronger Presence in High Seas -- Tasnim

Russian Defense Ministry plans to buy 32 Ka-52K helicopters for Mistral ships -- Voice of Russia

Reports on PLA's aircraft carrier ambitions overinflated -- Want China Times

China Displays World’s Largest Conventional Submarine -- The Diplomat

Chinese navy ships arrive in Pearl Harbor for RIMPAC -- Star Advertiser

At Navy Drills, US and China Try To Forge Relationship -- Defense News/AFP

UK's Largest Aircraft Carrier to Be Unveiled Next Month -- Live Science

Gen Sir Peter Wall: Britain may need its Army 'sooner than some would have us think' -- The Telegraph

Japanese want more info on safety of Misawa-based Global Hawks -- Stars and Stripes

Canada's air force hiring foreign pilots to fly front-line jets -- Toronto Star

Burma to Purchase Chinese-Pakistani JF-17 Fighter Jets -- The Diplomat

Air Force Resumes F-35 Testing — Just Two Days After One Caught Fire On The Runway -- Business Insider/Reuters

B-2 Bomber Set to Receive Massive Upgrade -- DoD Buzz

A-10 vs. fighters and bombers -- The Hill

Raytheon Eyes Resuming Work on Missile-Defense 'Kill Vehicle' -- Global Security Newswire

Air Force generals will face off over difficult budget, job cuts -- Washington Times

Special Forces conduct naval training as Army emphasizes amphibious mission -- Military Times

Army's new plan: Active and Guard brigade team-ups -- Army Times

Top Marine: Taliban ‘more desperate’ to inflict US casualties -- The Hill

At long last, the Pentagon’s chemical weapons-eating ship jumps into action -- Washington Post

The SEALs Have a Thing for Big Grenade Launchers -- Joe Trevithick, War Is Boring

Exclusive: CIA Sued For Info Over Spying on Senate Torture Investigation -- Vice

Obama moves to fill some key military commands -- Washington Post

New Leaders Tapped for ISAF, SOCOM and NORAD -- Defense News

Pentagon Picks New Afghan War Commander -- USNI News

Some lawmakers worry about troops smoking, but Defense officials warn them to go easy -- Washington Post

Why Can’t America Build a Decent Landing Craft Any More? -- Steve Weintz, War Is Boring

Corruption IS A National Security Problem: Ukraine, Iraq, Afghanistan -- Rachel Kleinfeld, Breaking Defense

Top 10 outrageous VA behaviors -- Stars and Stripes