Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- November 16, 2016

An aircraft launches from the flight deck of the USS Carl Vinson as the ship transits the Pacific Ocean, Oct. 31, 2016. Navy photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Zackary Alan Landers

Daily Signal: New Numbers Show Continued Decline of US Military

As a new presidential administration prepares to take office, the responsibilities it inherits are daunting. Threats to U.S. interests and security around the globe continue to grow and fester.

At the same time, budget cuts have forced the Department of Defense into unsustainable practices, foregoing longer-term modernization to service the military’s more immediate needs and ongoing operations.

The Heritage Foundation’s third annual Index of U.S. Military Strength, published today, finds that these troubling trends described in the first two editions have only continued. While the military struggles to preserve the status quo, America’s enemies “have not remained static.”

Read more ....

Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- November 16, 2016

Our military is no longer large enough, strong enough or modern enough to keep America safe -- Dakota L. Wood, FOX news

Does U.S. military need an overhaul? -- James Jay Carafano, Seattle Times/Special to Tribune News Service

The American Military's Real Problem: Shooting 'Ants' With 'Elephant Guns' -- Tobias Burgers and Scott Nicholas Romaniuk, National Interest

Ex-Nato leaders call for extraordinary meeting with Donald Trump -- The Guardian

NATO expects Trump commitment: Stoltenberg -- DW

Obama says confident U.S. will continue commitment to NATO -- Reuters

Stoltenberg Says NATO Wants Dialogue With Russia -- RFE

China says aircraft carrier now ready for combat -- AP

Russia to Upgrade Admiral Kuznetsov Aircraft Carrier in 2018 -- Sputnik

Putin urges to use Syrian experience in developing new generation weapons -- TASS

Serbia Eyes Fighter Jets, Armored Vehicles From Russia -- Defense News

The dolphins used to treat PTSD in Ukrainian soldiers -- The Guardian

India to Test Own Drone to Avoid US, Israeli Makes -- Sputnik

North Korean Military Attempts to Foil The West -- Radio Free Asia

US, Philippines launch joint military exercise amid Duterte's upbeat remarks on Trump -- DW

Poland Seeking to Sign Deal on US Patriot Defense Systems Before 2017 -- Sputnik

German court's ruling on mass spying is a victory for the BND and NSA -- DW

German cabinet backs continued military mission in Afghanistan -- Reuters

Weapons of Choice: Future Norwegian Armed Forces Take Shape -- Sputnik

Lightning strike downed Predator on combat mission -- Air Force Times

US Weapons to Pacific Signals Regional Commitment: Admiral -- Defense Tech

Donald Trump wants to start the biggest Navy build-up in decades -- Navy Times

BAE Systems to modernize U.S. Air Force's F-15 fleet -- UPI

U.S. Air Force develops solution for F-22 weapon issue -- UPI

Early signs point to a bigger, badder Army under Trump -- Army Times

Trump's defense spending boom likely to mean more airmen and planes -- Air Force Times

Congress could stall Trump's plans for increased defense spending -- Washington Examiner

Top Lawmakers Wrapping Up 2017 Defense Authorization Bill -- Defense News

Wynne Mulled For DepSecDef; Trumpers Reject Ayotte -- Breaking Defense

Boeing to Consolidate Defense Sites, Cutting 500 Jobs -- Defense News

US Navy denies software piracy in $596 million lawsuit -- FOX News

Snowden Hurt Pentagon Push to Recruit Hackers: Carter -- Defense Tech

Female, transgender troops fear reversal of Obama policies -- The Hill

Military Leaders Urge Trump to See Climate as a Security Threat -- Scientific American