Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- March 3, 2015

Nancy A. Youssef, Daily Beast: Iraq’s Attack Against ISIS Catches U.S. ‘By Surprise’

The biggest offensive against ISIS so far happened without American help—but with plenty of assistance from Iran.

The Iraqi military launched a major campaign to take back a key city from the self-proclaimed Islamic State over the weekend—a move that caught the U.S. “by surprise,” in the words of one American government official.

The U.S.-led coalition forces that have conducted seven months of airstrikes on Iraq’s behalf did not participate in the attack, defense officials told The Daily Beast, and the American military has no plans to chip in.

Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- March 3, 2015

U.S. fears Iran military influence growing in Iraq -- USA Today

US intelligence official: Iran involved in fight against IS -- Stars and Stripes/AP

Lloyd Austin, CENTCOM commander: ‘We are making progress’ in Islamic State fight -- Washington Times

General: ISIS campaign has killed 8,500 fighters -- The Hill

Australia to Send More Troops to Train Iraqi Military -- WSJ

Around 70% of Russian strategic aviation to be modernized by 2020 — defense minister -- ITAR-TASS

Major Artillery Drills Begin in Russian Far East – Defense Ministry -- Sputnik

Defense minister: Russian Navy will receive two Borei-class submarines this year -- ITAR-TASS

Does Russia Really Need a Second Aircraft Carrier? -- Ankit Panda, The Diplomat

Russian Black Sea Fleet to get 3 surface ships, two submarines in 2015 — Сaptain -- ITAR-TASS

Second Mistral ship intended for Russia to undergo first sea trials mid-March -- ITAR-TASS

Russia may sanction French companies over Mistral non-delivery – media -- RT

Russia, Egypt to Hold Joint Naval Drills in the Mediterranean in 2015 -- Sputnik

Xi Jinping’s anti-corruption purge takes aim at China’s military -- Financial Times

Red red army: To be a good soldier in China is to be a good Communist -- The Economist

Is India's Defense Budget Adequate? -- Franz-Stefan Gady, The Diplomat

Slovakia Seeks to Ditch Russian Equipment in Army Modernization Plan -- Sputnik

Turkey: Notice on Military Maneuvers in Aegean Was a Mistake -- ABC News

Japan leaders in talks over broadening troops' weapons use overseas -- Stars and Stripes/The Yomiuri Shimbun

US govt issues logistics support tender for 300 military personnel in Ukraine -- RT

White House denies threat to shoot down Israeli jets -- The Hill

Next-gen stealth bomber is secret, but debate over cost is on the radar -- Stars and Stripes/Washington Post

Air Force to move A-10 jets into backup status despite congressional opposition -- Washington Post

Senators say A-10 moves amount to backdoor retirement -- Stars and Stripes

Navy Deploys Drones Under Arctic Ice Ahead of Increased Ship Presence -- DoD Buzz

Army National Guard stands up cyber protection teams -- Army Times

Is The Military Prepared to Combat Antimicrobial Resistance? -- Armed With Science

The U.S. Army Almost Adopted a German Machine Gun -- Joseph Trevithick, War Is Boring

Secret tactics of successful Army recruiters -- Army Times

Reporting Sexual Abuse in the Military Is "Inherently Unfair." Here's Why. -- Jenna McLaughlin, Mother Jones

Russia Tops China as Principal Cyber Threat to US -- Franz-Stefan Gady, The Diplomat

Snowden ready to go to US if he gets fair trial - whistleblower's lawyer -- RT