Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- November 3, 2015

The Hill: Mission creep in the Middle East

Here we go again.

After removing all troops from Iraq and slimming down to under 10,000 troops in Afghanistan, the United States has pursued a drone-and-airstrike campaign in both combat zones — but the idea that cutting off the heads of bad organizations will make a difference doesn't work. We might slow things temporarily, but, like the Hydra of Greek mythology, more heads always grow. Airstrikes that inflict pinprick damage to enemy forces are inadequate to impede their progress.

Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- November 3, 2015

Obama says Syria deployment doesn't break no 'boots on ground' pledge -- Reuters

President Obama says no shift in US policy on Syria -- Big News Network

White House: US troops in Syria not on 'combat mission' -- The Hill

US Special Forces Deployment in Syria Can Escalate to Ground Operation -- Sputnik

GOP wants Pentagon to boost support for Kurds -- The Hill

British Lawmakers Will Not Support Extension of Syria Airstrikes -- VOA

Russian planes hit 2,084 terrorist targets since start of Syria operation — General Staff -- TASS

Russia Tests Cutting Edge Helicopter Electronic Defense System -- Sputnik

Russian Nuclear Triad Exercises Successful - Defense Minister -- Sputnik

Advanced Russian Submarines US Navy Should Watch Out For -- Sputnik

Russian MiG-31 crashes in country's far east -- IHS Jane's 360

Top US army general calls Russia ‘#1 threat’ to US -- RT

US to Train Ukrainian Military in Counter-Drone Tactics -- Spuntik

Czechs To Buy Weapons, Modernize Gear -- Defense News

Israel requests extra squadron of F-15s -- Flight Global

China's ruling Communist Party says will accelerate military reform -- Reuters

China, U.S. defense chiefs discuss cyber, South China Sea disputes -- Reuters

U.S. intelligence head: CIA did not pull officers from Beijing after OPM hack -- Washington Post

US Navy conducts exercise with Chilean officers as part of UNITAS -- Naval Ttechnology

Video: F-35 Completes First Aerial Gun Test -- DoD Buzz

US Army’s Black Hawk Chopper May Soon Fly Without a Pilot -- Sputnik

BAE Looks to Develop New Hypersonic Engine -- Defense Tech

Fuel Additive May Slow Secondary Vehicle Explosions -- Defense Tech

Marines use tablet technology to advance fighting skills -- Yuma Sun

House passes bill to prevent security 'insider threats' -- The Hill

Defense policy bill cuts would slash counterterrorism fund -- The Hill

Budget Deal Leaves Pentagon $14 Billion Gap for FY 2017, Work Says -- Defense News

Pentagon offers no answers on $43 million price tag for Afghan gas station -- Washington Times

Why Northrop Won The LRS Bomber -- Robert Haffa, Breaking Defense

Conventional War With Great Power Nations 'Most Horrendous' Scenario -- Sputnik

Can the Counterinsurgency Doctrine Be Saved? -- Karsten Friis, The Diplomat

This is How Washington Wants to Gain Military Edge Over Russia -- Sputnik

Soldier under investigation for suicide-bomber costume at Fort Bragg -- Army Times