Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- August 20, 2014

Pentagon Says Iraq Airstrikes Will Be Limited --- For Now -- Washington Examiner

The Pentagon declined to discuss whether the U.S. military would step in with airstrikes to help Iraqi forces struggling to recapture Tikrit one day after a successful mission in assisting Iraq forces reclaim a strategic dam from Islamic militants.

“I’m not going to speculate about future operations,” Rear Adm. John Kirby, the Pentagon spokesman, told reporters Tuesday.

President Obama and U.S. military leaders have authorized airstrikes in Iraq only under two main missions: to provide humanitarian assistance and to protect U.S. personnel and facilities.

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Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- August 20, 2014

Pentagon Describes Anti-ISIL Operations in Iraq -- US Department of Defense

NATO to shun substantial eastern footprint in nod to Russia -- Stars and Stripes/Bloomberg

Russia vows to strengthen navy to ward off NATO -- AFP

Mistral Ships to Be Delivered Despite Current Level of Sanctions – Hollande -- RIA Novosti

Russian Aerospace Defense Forces to Launch 20 Missiles During Exercise -- RIA Novosti

Uncertain outlook for German arms industry -- Deutsche Welle

While India dozes, China is modernising its military -- Manoj Joshi, Daily Mail

2 Italian air force fighter jets collide, crash -- AP

Japan to Permit Logistical Support to US Forces -- RIA Novosti

Pacific Navy bases to conduct security exercise -- Stars and Stripes

NORAD to conduct exercises over DC -- The Hill

Navy: USS Carl Vinson to Deploy to Middle East -- Times of San Diego

Air Force grounds 82 F-16Ds after cracks discovered -- Defense News

Army quits tests after competing rifle outperforms M4A1 carbine -- Washington Times

Navy Missile Hits Subsonic Target Over Land -- Defense Tech

U.S. Navy SEALs Are Getting New Mini-Subs -- War Is Boring

The present and future of the US Navy's aircraft force in one GIF -- Sploid

Navy analyzes new Growler alternatives -- ptleader.com

US Army Black Hawk fleet to receive major avionics upgrade -- Autoblog

Space Plane Tech Could Power Hypersonic Aircraft for US Military -- Space.com

After Months on Back Burner, Sequester Fears Return -- Defense News

Spy office defends ‘extensive and multi-layered’ oversight -- The Hill

US Army general accused -- again -- of obstructing probe of grisly Afghan hospital -- FOX News

Want to buy a 50-foot experimental Navy boat? Here's your chance -- bidding starts at $25 -- 7 News Denver

Pentagon defends program supplying military gear to Ferguson police -- Washington Post

Under What Conditions Can The US Army Engage Citizens: The Army's "Civil Disturbances" Primer -- Zero Hedge

Bowe Bergdahl reveals what he wants to do next -- CBS

Combat controller receives Silver Star for 13-hour Afghan firefight -- Stars and Stripes

Comprehensive Airman Fitness: A Lifestyle and culture -- U.S. Air Force

The Navy Is Tracking Some Strange Sounds Coming from the Ocean -- Matthew Braga, Defense One/The Atlantic