Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- December 4, 2014

© REUTERS/ Ahmed Saad

Ghost' Soldiers, Funding Issues, Lack of Morale, Unity Shatter Iraqi Army -- Sputnik

According to the recently revealed results of a governamental investigation, practically every fifth soldier of the Iraqi armed forces existed only on paper.

MOSCOW, December 4 (Sputnik), Alexander Mosesov — As the Iraqi Armed Forces have suffered crushing defeats to the Islamic State (IS) terrorist group in 2014, the jihadists have not only captured half of Iraq's territory, but also revealed the poor combat capabilities of the country's military.

Serious questions have been raised as to why the Iraqi Security Forces (ISF), a collective name for the country's military and law enforcement forces, have coped so badly with their main task – defending the security and integrity of Iraq. The recently case of "ghost" soldiers could go some way to explaining part of this.

Read more ....

Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- December 4, 2014

US Ambassador: US forces assured immunity in Iraq -- AP

NATO Agrees To Keep Military Channels Open With Russia -- Defense News/AFP

Russia Expects France to Make Final Decision on Mistral Ships by Year-End -- Sputnik

Russia to Stop Purchasing Foreign 'Ready-Made' Military Equipment: Official -- Sputnik

Russia's Massive Military Modernization Might Be in Big Trouble -- Nikolas K. Gvosdev, National Interest

Russia backs plan for creating 'wise men' group to address security challenges — Lavrov -- ITAR-TASS

Georgia, NATO to approve plan for cooperation program by Feb 2015 — defense minister -- ITAR-TASS

China Conducts Third Flight Test of Hypersonic Strike Vehicle -- Washington Free Beacon

Chinese Troops in Africa: Protecting Civilians and Oil -- Sean J. Li, Council On Foreign Relations

Report: China, Australia Agree To Boost Defense Ties -- Defense News/AFP

Inside North Korea's elite cyberwarfare unit -- CNBC

What’s the Plan? The Afghan National Security Forces -- Jason Campbell, War On The Rocks

Iran’s Stealth Drone Claims Are Total BS -- Adam Rawnsley, War Is Boring

US May Cooperate With Russia on Afghan Helicopter Maintenance -- Sputnik

US Senate to Push Legislation to Supply Ukraine With Lethal Aid: Senator -- Sputnik

Army Apache consolidation blocked until 2016 -- Army Times

U.S. Army wants a new gun -- CNN

F-35 engine inspection requirements eased to 13 hours -Pentagon -- Reuters

Navy Gets First Upgraded Fire Scout Unmanned Copter -- Times of San Diego

Pentagon Scaling Back Military Effort to Contain Ebola -- Military.com

U.S. Military Ebola Effort Could End by Summer, Top General Says -- WSJ

House nears passage of $585B defense bill -- AP

Compromise NDAA Blocks A-10 Retirement, OKs White House's Syrian Rebels Plan -- Defense News

Sen. Corker: In 2013, US Was Ready to Launch 'Very Brief' Airstrikes Inside Syria -- Defense News

Navy probes allegation that female sub officers were recorded in shower -- Stars and Stripes/Washington Post

Reports of Sexual Assaults in Military on Rise -- NYT

Reports of unwanted sexual contact in military drop 27% -- USA Today

Vet confronts alleged military faker at the mall (Video) -- USA Today

How the NSA Hacks Cellphone Networks Worldwide -- The Intercept

Can a wonk run a war? Ash Carter is a scholar, a bureaucrat — and the opposite of Chuck Hagel. -- Michael Crowley, Politico

Rough Waters Ahead: How to Maximize the Power of the U.S. Navy's Surface Fleet -- Bryan Clark & Bryan McGrath, National Interest

Why Does the Navy Still Not Have Enough Money for New Submarines? -- Jerry Hendrix, Defense One

Saving the Warthog to save troop lives -- Andrew Cockburn, L.A. Times

Why the Military Has a Budget Message Problem -- Sandra I. Erwin, National Defense

As CIA, senators settle feuds, long-awaited 'torture' report imminent -- Reuters

Inside the Battle Over the CIA Torture Report -- Josh Rogin & Eli Lake, Bloomberg