Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- September 23, 2015

'I am absolutely confident that never occurred': Gen. John Campbell, who heads U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan, on Tuesday denied allegations that American officers stationed in the area were instructed to ignore Afghan police officers and commanders abusing local minors

Daily Mail: US General denies there is a policy to ignore the sexual abuse of little boys in Afghanistan after a marine was gunned down by teen 'being kept as a sex slave by the local police chief'

* Gen. John F. Campbell said Tuesday there was never a policy for US forces to ignore the alleged sexual abuse of minors by Afghan officials
* U.S. service members in Afghanistan allegedly instructed to ignore Afghan police officers and commanders abusing local minors
* Campbell said he is 'absolutely confident' that never occurred
* Marine Gregory Buckley was shot dead at an Afghan base by a local teen
* Gunman granted access to base as an assistant to an Afghan police chief
* It is claimed the chief sexually abused the teenager and other boys at base
* The Marine's father says his son was told to turn blind eye to abuse at base and that was the reason his son was killed
* Pentagon policy: sex crimes are condoned unless they are an act of war
* White House admitted Obama is not calling for a review of the policy

The commander of U.S. forces in Afghanistan said Tuesday he expects U.S. personnel to report to military superiors any allegations of sexual abuse of boys by Afghan forces, after claims that soldiers are being told to 'turn a blind eye'.

The statement from Gen. John Campbell, who heads U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan, came in response to reports that Afghan forces who worked with U.S. military personnel sexually assaulted locals boys and that U.S. troops were told to ignore suspicions of abuse because it was not the 'priority of the mission'.

Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- September 23, 2015

US commander: No policy to ignore sexual abuse in Afghanistan -- The Hill

U.S. general in Afghanistan says there is no policy to ignore sexual abuse. Troops say otherwise. -- Washington Post

U.S. Soldiers Told to Ignore Sexual Abuse of Boys by Afghan Allies -- NYT

GOP rep wants congressional investigation into Afghan abuse claims -- The Hill

Petraeus: ISIS war progress 'inadequate' -- The Hill

Petraeus Tells Congress the U.S. Should Boost Military Support in the Middle East -- WSJ

Petraeus Suggests U.S. Commandos Operating in Syria -- DoD Buzz

David Petraeus Urges Stronger U.S. Military Effort in Syria -- NYT

US envoy to ISIS coalition stepping down: report -- The Hill

Was Syrian Train-and-Equip Effort Always a 'Mission Impossible'? -- Joe Gould, Defense News

Russia Sends New Arms to Syria Amid Speculation Over its Aims -- Defense News/AFP

Kerry: Russian aircraft in Syria consistent with 'force protection' -- Reuters

Hi-Tech Ballistic Missiles Seen During Iran's Military Parades -- Sputnik

Russian Spy Ship Makes Port Call in Caribbean -- Washington Free Beacon

Chinese air-to-air missile hits targets, spooks USAF General -- Popular Science

Chinese Threats to U.S. Surface Ships -- RAND

China’s Military: Mighty Dragon or Paper Tiger? -- Roger Cliff, National Interest

Chinese Aircraft May Have Conducted an Unsafe Intercept of U.S. Surveillance Plane Last Week -- USNI News

Pentagon Officials: Chinese Jet, US Spy Plane Narrowly Avoid Collision -- Sputnik

Pentagon probes Chinese intercept of US spy plane -- The Hill

The Truth About US Freedom of Navigation Patrols in the South China Sea -- Shannon Tiezzi, The Diplomat

British Army considers new MBT in response to Russia's Armata -- IHS Jane's 360

India PM signs off on Boeing military helicopter deal before US trip -- Reuters

Norway gets first of US’s controversial F-35 jets, citing ‘increased Russian activity’ in region -- RT

Norway Stands By F-35 Commitment Despite US Budget Woes -- Defense News

Egypt to buy Mistral warships originally built for Russia from France -- RT

Source: Egypt buys 50 Russian Alligator helicopters, deck-based version may be supplied -- TASS

Brazil Considers Buying Russian Pantsir-S1, Igla Air Defense Systems -- Sputnik

Will Morocco Become Russia’s New Weaponry Customer? -- Exalto

Indian Navy set to get stealth destroyer -- DNA

US A-10s arrive in Estonia for 6-month rotation -- Stars and Stripes

Nuclear weapons capability stripped from some B-52 bombers -- UPI

Marines test Google's latest military robot -- PC World

Northrop Grumman & U.S. Navy Demonstrate Fire Scout Capabilities -- Inside Unmanned Systems

GOP lawmaker questions test scores of female Army Rangers -- The Hill

Marine Corps leaders call for fast-fail approach to innovation -- Defense News

President Obama wants to cap military raises at 1.3 percent -- Virginia Pilot

Widows Sue Navy Alleging Ship Flaws Contributed to Pilots’ Deaths -- Times of San Diego

Ideas for ‘new’ military unrealistic -- Carl J. Asszony, Daily Rrecord

A test for the Navy: Can new technology replace the intimidation of war ships? -- Washington Times

The Battle for the Soul of the American Military -- James Hasik, Atlantic Council