Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- February 25, 2015

Tribal fighters take part in a military training to prepare for fighting against Islamic State militants, at the Ain al-Assad military base in Anbar province November 15, 2014. Picture taken November 15, 2014. Credit: Reuters/Stringer

Foreign Policy: Pentagon in Damage Control Mode After Detailing Iraq Offensive

The Defense Department angered Iraqi officials by detailing a coming push to reclaim Mosul from the Islamic State without giving Baghdad a heads-up.

The Pentagon is walking back its public plans to help Iraqi forces seize Mosul from the Islamic State, chastened by a backlash in Baghdad for failing to inform leaders there before releasing details of the springtime offensive.

Angered Iraqi officials said the unusual level of detail released about the Mosul operation — including that it would likely launch in April or May — created the appearance that the U.S. is leading the battle, and not Iraqi forces.

Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- February 25, 2015

U.S., French carriers begin combined airstrikes against ISIS -- Stars and Stripes

Islamic State Fight Spurs Demand for Precision Weapons, Pentagon Acquisition Chief Says -- WSJ

Pentagon Orders Hellfire Missiles for Gulf Allies -- WSJ

Army of Assyrian Christians, backed by American, trains for jihadi fight -- Stars and Stripes/USA Today (Tribune News Service)

Kerry: 'Enduring' offensive means 'weeks and weeks of combat' -- The Hill

Chinese New Years Photos Show Off Liaoning Aircraft Carrier -- Defense Tech

China acts on regulating military personnel selection -- Xinhua

Iran's Revolutionary Guard begins military exercises near strategic strait -- FOX News/AP

Iran to test-fire 20 new missiles in Persian Gulf -- Press TV

Russia to present its updated military doctrine — defence ministry -- ITAR-TASS

Russia’s Defense Ministry invites military from almost 80 states for security conference -- ITAR-TASS

Putin: Cyprus will allow Russian vessels to call at its ports -- ITAR-TASS

Russian defense minister tells others to mind their own business -- ITAR-TASS

Lithuania to reinstate conscription amid Russia fears -- AFP

Ukraine’s Military Needs More Than Just Arms -- Derek Chollet, Defense One

Sending UK advisers to Ukraine will not lead to mission creep, Fallon tells MPs -- The Guardian

British Army examines plans to create a Sikh regiment -- The Telegraph

Cull of the war horses: British military chiefs admit putting down more than 100 animals at rate of one a month because they were ill or couldn't be rehomed -- Daily Mail

U.S. military trains African armies ahead of Boko Haram campaign -- Reuters

US Aegis Anti-Ballistic Missile Ships Successfully Complete Test -- Sputnik

Army’s new grenades can be stacked like Legos for ‘devastating effect’ -- Washington Times

Republican senator wants update on A-10 ‘treason’ probe -- The Hill

Only One of 17 Female Soldiers Passes Latest Pre-Ranger Course -- Military.com

Heritage Foundation Releases First Annual “Index of U.S. Military Strength” -- Heritage Foundation

US offers $3m reward for arrest of Russian hacker Evgeniy Bogachev -- BBC

The Pentagon Is One Step Closer To Awarding a New $11 Billion Health Records Deal -- Defense One/NextGov

Congressional Gold Medal sought for the OSS, the CIA forerunner -- Washington Post

Why Is the Military Giving Its Playbook to ISIS? -- Paul D. Shinkman, US News and World Report

How the Military Will Fight ISIS on the Dark Web -- Patrick Tucker, Defense One

“Strategy” vs. Strategy in the Pentagon -- Benjamin H. Friedman, CATO

The road to forever war -- Diana Ohlbaum, The Hill