Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- December 29, 2014

U.S. General John Campbell (C), commander of NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), folds the flag of the ISAF during the change of mission ceremony in Kabul, December 28, 2014. The American-led coalition in Afghanistan officially ended its combat mission on Sunday after a more than 13 year war that ousted the Taliban government in 2001. Credit: Reuters/Omar Sobhani

U.S.-Led Mission In Afghanistan Ends Combat Role; Thousands Of Foreign Troops Remain -- Reuters

(Reuters) - The U.S.-led coalition in Afghanistan formally ended its combat mission on Sunday, more than 13 years after an international alliance ousted the Taliban government for sheltering the planners of the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks on American cities.

About 13,000 foreign troops, mostly Americans, will remain in the country under a new, two-year mission named "Resolute Support" that will continue the coalition's training of Afghan security forces.

The Afghan army and police are struggling to fight against Taliban militants who this year killed record numbers of Afghans.

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Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- December 29, 2014

US marks formal end to Afghanistan War -- The Hill

America's Longest War Has Formally Ended -- AP

US Commander Lauds Progress as NATO Ends Combat Mission in Afghanistan -- Defense News/AFP

Obama: US 'safer, more secure' because of Afghanistan War -- The Hill

Taliban claims victory in Afghan War as NATO ends combat mission -- RT

As it exits Afghan war, U.S. plagued by doubts about results -- Japan Times/AFP-JIJI

US airstrikes remain crucial to Afghan forces in Taliban battles -- Shashank Bengali, Stars and Stripes/Los Angeles Times (Tribune News Service)

Russia Is Building A New Air Force And Navy To Dominate The Growing Arctic Ocean -- Business Insider/Motley Fool

New Borei class submarine arrives at Russian Northern Fleet base -- ITAR-TASS

Nuclear submarines of Borei class to become guarantors of Russia’s security — deputy PM -- ITAR-TASS

United Arab Emirates Shows Off Its Military Might (Audio Report) -- NPR

Iranian Navy's Warning Pushes Back US Warships -- Military.com/FARS News Agency

Chinese military spy satellite deployed in orbit -- Space Flight Now

China touts new weapon platforms, transparency -- UPI

UK military chiefs accused of acting like 'Cruella de Vil' after putting down 101 dogs which serve side-by-side with troops -- Daily Mail

Argentina and UK Falklands spat spiced up by Russian jets -- RT

US Reviewing Russian Military Doctrine: White House -- Sputnik

U.S. Bolsters Missile-Defense Presence in Japan -- DoD Buzz

KC-46A Test Plane Completes First Flight -- Defense News

Navy Advances Design for New Destroyer Radar -- DoD Buzz

Military technology on tap for 2015: Precision mortars, improved M40, IED detectors -- Washington Times

Green Berets cleared in Afghanistan friendly fire deaths -- Washington Times

Veterans face a national lack of empathy -- The Hill

2015 Could Be a Breakthrough Year for Military Robotics -- Patrick Tucker, Fiscal Times/Defense One

Allen: Degrading and Defeating ISIL -- Defense News

Q&A: What lies ahead for the US in Afghanistan and Iraq -- David S. Cloud, Stars and Stripes/Tribune Washington Bureau

Will Fracking, Climate Change, Solar Reshape US Security? -- Jared Anderson and Colin Clark, Breaking Defense

American Sniper’ is the year’s most extraordinary film -- Kyle Smith, New York Post