Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- April 2, 2015

Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi posted a picture online of himself raising an Iraqi flag in central Tikrit. BBC

Washington Times: Iraq War planners urge U.S. military presence once Islamic State is defeated

This time, when the terrorist insurgency is defeated in Iraq, Washington needs to keep American forces on the ground to sustain the victory, former war planners say.

The former military officers talk of a robust presence that would extend beyond mere advisers to include standby combat troops and air power.

The U.S. pulled out all warriors, advisers, intelligence assets and air power in December 2011, with President Obama saying America was leaving behind a “sovereign, stable and self-reliant Iraq.”

Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- April 2, 2015

Iraq caught between U.S. help and Shiite militias -- Jim Michaels, USA Today

Arab League Sets New Defense Force at 40,000 -- Defense News

The Increasing Costs of the Saudi War on Yemen -- Daniel Larison, American Conservative

China Seeks Unsinkable Aircraft Carrier With South China Sea Construction -- Big News Network

U.S. Misses Real Threat of China's Fake Islands -- Josh Rogin, Bloomberg

Cheers to good frenemies! China investing in cyberwarfare superiority -- Washington Times

Russia will launch first sattelite of Missile Attack Warning System in July-December 2015 -- ITAR-TASS

More Russian nuclear submarines deployed in the Pacific -- RBTH

Russian Air Force tactical maneuvers begin in Armenia -- ITAR-TASS

Russian interior troops exercise begins in 6 federal districts, including Crimea -- ITAR-TASS

Venezuela Plans to Buy More Russian Weapons -- Sputnik

US Uses Ukraine Conflict to Get Intelligence on Russian Military Technology -- Sputnik

US Army Eyes Ukraine Conflict for Intel on Russian Military Technology -- DoD Buzz

Japan, US Defense Chiefs to Meet Amid Tension Over US Military Base -- Sputnik

Could Okinawa Derail U.S.-Japan Relations? -- Jennifer Lind, National Interest

US hopes Japan navy will be more active in Pacific -- Washington Times/AP

North Korea Takes Steps Toward Long-Range Missiles -- VOA

Pentagon Chief to Downplay THAAD Missile Deployment During Seoul Visit -- Sputnik

US, Israel test new missile-defense system -- The Hill

US Navy Awards $610 Million Contract for Advanced Destroyer Construction -- Sputnik

US Navy Plans New Radar System for Aircraft Carriers -- Sputnik

F-35 Flies Against F-16 In Basic Fighter Maneuvers -- Aviation Week

Odierno: US Army Readiness at historically low levels -- Defense News

Army Sees Rapid Prototyping as Key to Rapid Innovation -- Defense Tech

Army bows to Generation Y, loosens tattoo policy allowing more ink -- Washington Times

The F-35 relies on a $400,000 helmet that's had its own share of problems -- Business Insider

Active-duty suicides up in 2014: report -- Washington Times

Largest ever study finds NO link between high military suicide rates and war deployments -- Daily Mail

Study: No link between combat deployment and suicides -- Military Times

Sowing The Sea With Fire: The Threat Of Sea Mines -- Sydney J. Freedberg Jr., Breaking Defense

Counter-Swarm: A Guide to Defeating Robotic Swarms -- Paul Scharre, War On The Rocks

Here’s How U.S. Air Force Drones Snoop on Latin America -- Joseph Trevithick, War Is Boring