Tuesday, May 10, 2016

Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- May 10, 2016

Soldiers marching during a celebration to mark National Day at Ba Dinh square in Hanoi September 2, 2015. REUTERS/Kham

Reuters: Obama weighs historic decision on whether to lift Vietnam arms ban

U.S. President Barack Obama is considering whether to lift a three-decade-old arms embargo on Vietnam, U.S. officials say, as he weighs calls to forge closer military ties with Hanoi against concerns over its poor human rights record.

The debate within the U.S. administration is coming to a head amid preparations for Obama's trip to Vietnam this month to bolster ties between Washington and Hanoi, former wartime enemies who are increasingly partners against China's growing territorial assertiveness in the South China Sea.

The full removal of the embargo – something Vietnam has long sought - would sweep away one of the last major vestiges of the Vietnam War era and advance the normalization of relations begun 21 years ago. It would also likely anger Beijing, which condemned Obama's partial lifting of the arms ban in 2014 as an interference in the region's balance of power.

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Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- May 10, 2016

Russia's military in Syria: Bigger than you think and not going anywhere -- CNN

Russian military ship with camouflaged tanks traverses Istanbul’s Bosphorus -- Daily Hurriyet news

Putin: 30,000 targets hit during Russia's military operation in Syria -- TASS

Russia sets up Palmyra base -- IHS Jane's 360

Taking a risky 72-hour ride inside the Russian military's information war -- CBC

56 hours with the Russian army in Syria -- Washington Post

Russia Perfecting Military Potential Amid US Defense Buildup in Europe -- Sputnik

Russia developing new ICBMs capable of overcoming US missile shield — commander -- TASS

The Kremlin’s Take On Syria and Global Terror -- Richard Weitz, National Interest

US, Italian Observers to Fly Over Russia Under Open Skies Treaty -- Sputnik

Russian S-300 anti-missiles finally deployed in Iran -- RT

Russian-made missile systems delivered to air defense base in Iran — defense minister -- TASS

Military defends letting media show pictures of Canadian special forces in Iraq -- National Post/Ottawa Citizen

Jordan Proves Heavyweight in Fight Against ISIS -- Defense News

First Look: Vietnam Cam Ranh Bay Imagery Update -- Belling Cat

China's Air Force is Growing in Size and Technological Edge -- Scout

Australia's Big Bet on Submarines -- James Hasik, Atlantic Council

Is Britain buying ‘compromised’ spy-planes just to hit its NATO spending commitments? -- RT

Berlin to beef up German military after years of cuts -- The Local

Nato and US defence chiefs issue security warnings over Brexit -- The Guardian

U.K. Warned Against Brexit by Former NATO, U.S. Security Chiefs -- Bloomberg

Pentagon report reveals confusion among U.S. troops over Afghan mission -- Reuters

US Troops Staying in Yemen for Now, Pentagon Official Says -- Military.com

American Troops in Yemen Signals Deepening US Involvement in Mideast -- Military.com

US Air Force F-22s wrap up European deployment -- Air Force Times

Lockheed, Raytheon Win $650Mln Contract for Laser-Guided Bombs - Pentagon -- Sputnik

U.S. Army's Stryker to get 30mm cannon upgrade -- UPI

A Day in the Life of an F-35 Test Pilot -- Defense News

Fearing hostilities in space, Pentagon fortiļ¬es satellites -- Stars and Stripes/Washington Post

US Prepares For Space War With China, Russia: Pentagon Bolsters Outer Space Defense Program -- IBTimes

Lockheed Named Top US Defense Contractor in 2015 With Deals Worth $36Bln -- Sputnik

Navy hospital ship Comfort was plagued by poor leadership for years, investigative reports show -- Virginia-Pilot

Former CIA Deputy Director: Trump Would Be a "Hard Brief" -- Mother Jones

Army waives grooming rules for Sikh recruit from California -- McClatchy News

Pesticides, military service may be tied to ALS risk -- FOX News/Reuters

Why the Army Needs Foam Goat Heads -- Mark Thompson, Time

Uncle Sam Needs Coders. Here’s How The Military Could Draft Them. -- David Wood, Huffington Post

The Fight Over NSA Internet Surveillance is Heating Up Again -- Max Rosenthal, Mother Jones

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