Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- June 27, 2014

White House Sends $60 Billion War-Funding Request To Congress -- Reuters

(Reuters) - The White House sent Congress a 2015 war-funding request on Thursday of nearly $60 billion, a drop of $20 billion from the current fiscal year after President Barack Obama decided to withdraw all but 9,800 troops from Afghanistan by Dec. 31.

Obama, in a letter to the House of Representatives Speaker John Boehner, asked for $58.6 billion for the war in Afghanistan and other overseas military activity, the smallest Pentagon war-funding request in a decade.

In addition to funding the Afghanistan war, the request also seeks $500 million to support Syria's moderate opposition, $1.5 billion to support stability in the countries bordering Syria that have been flooded with refugees and $140 million for non-operational training in Iraq.

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Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- June 27, 2014

Obama proposes slimmed-down budget for Afghanistan, arms for Syria rebels -- Stars and Stripes

Sudden Taliban attack raises concerns about effectiveness of Afghan army -- Stars and Stripes

Obama asks for authorization to provide direct military training to Syrian rebels -- Washington Post

Pentagon assigns 2-star general to oversee assessment in Iraq, a sign of task’s sensitivity -- Star-Telegram/McClatchy News

White House: Deploying Military Advisers to Iraq Doesn't Require Hill Authorization -- Defense News

Rogers says White House failed to act on ISIS intelligence -- The Hill

Iraq buys Russian jets to ‘destroy the terrorists’ dens’ after long delays waiting for U.S. F-16s -- National Post/Bloomberg

Russia in Continued Military Overhaul – Putin -- RIA Novosti

Russian Navy launches new diesel-electric submarine in St. Petersburg -- Xinhuanet

North Korea Replaces Top Military Minister -- Wall Street Journal

US Analysts Debate Meaning of Frequent Military Changes in N. Korea -- VOA

Latest Helo and more for special operations at Eurosatory -- FOX News

Global Hawk Makes A Comeback -- Strategy Page

Amos rejects recent critique of amphibious combat vehicle -- Military Times

Sikorsky warns of consequences if Pentagon breaks multiyear deal -- Reuters

USAF Awards Sikorsky, Lockheed CSAR Helicopter Contract -- Defense News

New Army report projects worst-case cuts of up to 16,000 soldiers from JBLM -- News Tribune

Army drawdown continues: 1,100 captains to be cut -- Stars and Stripes

The U.S. Navy is quietly building a big, secretive special operations 'mothership' -- The Week

Defense spending request includes $6B for new weapons -- Military Times

Pentagon orders 500 new state-of-the-art spy glasses -- RT

CIA Hit With Two New Lawsuits Over Its Hostile Response To Basic FOIA Requests -- Tech Dirt

Want to teach at Guantanamo Bay? The Pentagon is hiring. -- Washington Post

Top Green Beret Officer Forced to Resign Over Affair With WaPo Reporter -- ABC News

Intelligence: The Cold War Isn't Over, It Just Took A Time Out -- Strategy Page

Marine Corps force planner: No more Iwo Jim -- Stars and Stripes