Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- October 9, 2014

Tactical: A member loyal to the Islamic State in Iraq waves an ISIL flag in Raqqa. Photo: Reuters

The Islamic State Is A Formidable Tactical Fighting Force, Experts Say -- Sydney Morning Herald

At one time, it was perhaps easy to dismiss the Islamic State as a bunch of frenzied marauders who have extemporaneously slaughtered their way across much of Syria and Iraq. It was easy to dismiss them, as President Obama once did, as a "JV (Junior Varsity) team" in a "Lakers uniform".

The Islamic State, as demonstrated by its siege of Kobane under a relentless US aerial assault, is a tactical fighting force, capable of maintaining discipline even in the face of another determined force, the Kurdish YPG. And as the militant group continues its quest to expand the borders of its nascent caliphate, there appears to be an emergent, sophisticated military strategy that experts have now discerned.

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Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- October 9, 2014

Pentagon sees Baghdad at risk of Islamic State takeover, expects Kobani to fall -- Washington Times

The Islamic State’s Anbar Offensive and Abu Umar al-Shishani -- Daveed Gartenstein-Ross, War On The Rocks

Where Does the Islamic State Get Its Weapons? -- Foreign Policy

General Who Championed Air Power Challenges Pentagon on ISIS -- Mark Thompson, Time

Obama, military assess Islamic State strategy -- AP

Obama: Ebola and Islamic State are security priorities -- USA Today

Kerry: Anti-Islamic State Strategy Is 'Evolving' -- VOA

The U.S. War on the Islamic State, Now on Your Computer -- Bloomberg

Navy to commission missile defense base in Romania -- Stars and Stripes

US Plans To Deploy MK 41 Launchers In Romania And Poland: Implications For INF Treaty – Analysis -- Eurasia review

Russia to Create Space-Based Ballistic Missile Warning System -- RIA Novosti

US think-tank says it located possible blast at Iran military site -- Reuters

Nukes on the High Seas: Israel's Underwater Atomic Arsenal -- National Interest

China Builds Military Airstrip in Disputed South China Sea -- The Diplomat

China, Zimbabwe agree to enhance military cooperation -- Xinhuanet

Kim Jong Un Is Missing, But North Korea Still Has A Powerful Military -- That It Probably Can't Use -- IBTimes

Historical shift: Japan & US beef up defense pact to counter ‘China threat’ -- RT

Tokyo and Washington Writing New Guidelines for Military Partnerships -- Defense News

China media criticise 'growing' US-Japan military ties. -- BBC

Is South Korea ready to take over control of troops on peninsula? -- Stars and Stripes

US Military Aircraft Arrive in Liberia -- ABC News/AP

Military picks up pace in Ebola fight in Liberia -- Stars and Stripes

Ebola: The kind of enemy the US military excels at fighting -- Dan Murphy, CSM

Obama Meets at Pentagon With Hagel, Military Commanders -- US Department of Defense

Obama makes rare trip to Pentagon for wide-ranging briefing -- Military Times

President warns of 'draconian' military cuts -- The Hill

US Navy Chief: Two Carriers in The Gulf Region is Unlikely -- Defense News

Army Seeks New Trucks While Upgrading MRAPs -- DoD Buzz

Army Propels Next Generation Helicopter Program Forward -- Defense Tech

U.S. Air Force moving X-37B spaceplanes to former shuttle hangars -- Reuters

What could go wrong? Pentagon prepares to put high-risk secret documents in the cloud -- RT

The key to keeping cyberspace safe? An international accord. -- James Andrew Lewis, Washington Post

US Navy uses prototypes, in-house know-how to speed weapons work -- Reuters

The US Marine Corps Is The Best Military Branch, According To Glassdoor -- Business Insider

Members of Congress propose military smoking ban -- ABC News

Does The War Machine Have Brakes? -- John T. Bennett, Defense News