Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- December 16, 2014

Photo: Kevin Lamarque/Courtesy Reuters.

State Department Backs Off Controversial ASAT Test Ban Proposal -- Washington Free Beacon

Pentagon, military opposing space weapons testing ban.

The Obama administration is shelving a controversial arms control initiative that would ban destructive tests of anti-satellite weapons following opposition from the Pentagon over concerns the ban would limit U.S. space activities, according to defense and congressional officials.

The arms control plan, first disclosed by the Washington Free Beacon last month, was confirmed by Rose Gottemoeller, undersecretary of state for arms control and international security, during a House subcommittee hearing last week. Gottemoeller said interagency talks were held on pursuing an agreement that would impose a moratorium on destructive testing of anti-satellite weapons.

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Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- December 16, 2014

Pentagon: School attack won't slow US drawdown in neighboring Afghanistan -- The Hill

Israel's Arrow 3 Missile Shield Reportedly Failed Its First Interception Test -- Reuters

Iraq's next top gun trains to fight ISIS in Arizona -- CBS

Russia Military Preparedness 2014: Putin Hosts Navy Exercises Near NATO Borders Amid Intensified Air Campaign Between West, East -- IBTimes

Russia creating super heavy Sarmat ICBM without cooperation with Ukraine — commander -- ITAR-TASS

Russia Not to Deploy Units of Strategic Missile Forces in Crimea: Commander -- Sputnik

Russia says it has a right to put nuclear weapons in Crimea -- Stars and Stripes/L.A. Times

Tests of 5th-generation control system for Russian missile forces to be completed in 2015 -- ITAR-TASS

NATO tactical aircraft double flight intensity near Russia, Belarus borders -- ITAR-TASS

India, Russia Take Small Steps on Fighter Deal -- Defense News

Ukraine considering new push for NATO membership, prime minister says -- Stars and Stripes

Royal Navy Subs To Get Upgraded Spearfish Torpedo -- Defense News

RAF's £150million stealth fighter jet could 'shut down' after overheating fears -- Express

China to deploy world's largest coast guard ship next year -- Want China Times

Chinese generals 'care more for wealth than war’ -- The Telegraph

Taliban attacks in Afghanistan surge as Coalition ends combat mission -- Long War Journal

Obama: Afghan Combat Mission Ends, But Commitment Endures -- US Department of Defense

Obama declares 'turning point' for US military as Afghanistan mission winds down -- AP

US Explores Missile Defense Sites for Protection Against North Korea, Iran -- Sputnik

The U.S. Air Force Wants To Overhaul Its Space Program -- National Defense Magazine

Nuclear-Armed Subs May Cost U.S. 17% More, Budget Office Finds -- Bloomberg

Army Opens Competition to Build Humvee Replacement -- DoD Buzz

No cuts to Air Force personnel levels in FY 15, service secretary says -- Stars and Stripes

NSA to defend Internet collection in court -- The Hill

Soldier who deserted, served in French Foreign Legion is sentenced to 4 years in prison -- Stars and Stripes/Watertown Daily Times, N.Y.

Thousands Flock to Arlington National Cemetery to Lay Wreaths in Honor of Fallen -- Washington Free Beacon

Ash Carter’s Asia Plans -- Adam Tiffen, Defense One

AMERICA'S MILITARY: Readiness 'on a shoestring' -- Andrew Tilghman, Military Times

Reversibility in the U.S. Army…What Next? -- Medium

Torture: Why the uniformed military balked at ‘enhanced interrogation’ -- Jon Harper, Stars and Stripes

NATO mission in Afghanistan unlikely to change much -- Josh Smith, Stars and Stripes

With U.S. leaving, elite Afghan commandos take up mission -- Drew Brooks, Fay Observer

The war in Afghanistan is not over -- Greg Jaffe, Washington Post