Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- February 3, 2017

David French, NRO: Don’t Believe Claims that Trump ‘Botched’ the Yemen Raid

On Twitter, many journalists are rapidly reaching the point of maximum credulity — they’ll immediately believe virtually anything negative about Donald Trump, not matter how thinly-sourced or implausible. Take the kerfuffle that erupted last night in response to this Reuters report where unnamed defense officials blamed the losses in last weekend’s Yemen raid on, you guessed it, Trump:

U.S. military officials told Reuters that Trump approved his first covert counterterrorism operation without sufficient intelligence, ground support or adequate backup preparations.

As a result, three officials said, the attacking SEAL team found itself dropping onto a reinforced al Qaeda base defended by landmines, snipers, and a larger than expected contingent of heavily armed Islamist extremists.

Read more ....

Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- February 3, 2017

Yemen Aftermath: Trump's First Military Raid Continues To Raise Questions -- NPR

Misplaced blame on Trump for Yemen raid ignores deeper problems -- The Hill

Pentagon Investigating Sunday's US Raid on Militants in Yemen -- VOA

White House offers timeline on deadly raid in Yemen -- The Hill

Dems demand briefing on deadly Yemen raid -- The Hill

Analysis: Obama's White House plan to seize Raqqa deemed hopelessly inadequate by Trump's team -- Stars and Stripes/Washington Post

Report: Trump administration scraps Obama's plan to retake Raqqa -- The Hill

U.S. warns North Korea of 'overwhelming' response if nuclear arms used -- Reuters

CIA's Forecast to Come True if North Korea Conducts at Least Five ICBM Tests -- Sputnik

U.S. defense chief, in Japan, reaffirms commitment to defense treaty -- Reuters

Mattis' Mission in Asia: How Defense Secretary Mattis should introduce Trump administration policy to Japan and South Korea. -- Scott W. Harold, US News and World Report

South Korea seeks Sidewinder and Maverick missiles from U.S. -- UPI

Bahrain Needs the F-16; The F-16 Needs Bahrain -- RCD

Air Wing of Russian Aircraft Carrier Destroyed 1,000 Terrorist Targets in Syria -- Sputnik

This is When 5th-Generation PAK FA Fighter Jets Will Join Russian Army -- Sputnik

Tehran ‘unmoved’ by US threats, will use weapons ‘only in self-defense’ – Iranian FM to Trump -- RT

Beijing to Deploy Aircraft Carrier in South China Sea Amid Tensions With US -- Sputnik

U.S.'s Pence, German Foreign Minister agree on NATO's central security role: White House -- Reuters

Sending 2,500 Marines to Australia is taking a long time — and it's not Donald Trump's fault -- Marine Times

USS Antietam Likely Headed to Dry Dock for Repairs, 1,100 Gallons of Hydraulic Oil Still Missing -- USNI News

Red Flag gives F-35A its toughest test yet -- Defense News

Pentagon Panel Urges Trump Team to Expand Nuclear Options -- Roll Call

Pentagon re-assessing future fleet's F-35C, Super Hornet mix -- IHS Jane's 360

New Northrop facility deal likely meant for B-21 stealth coating -- Defense News

Army Extends PATRIOT Missile Tech-Improvement & Ponders New Upgrades -- Scout Warrior

The Military Keeps Picking Sig Sauer When It Needs It Most -- Task & Purpose

Security flaws in Pentagon systems 'easily' exploited by hackers -- ZDNet

Here's all the coolest military tech we saw at the Marine Corps' big West Coast trade show -- Business Insider

US Marines Move Forward With Unmanned Aircraft System Concept -- Sputnik

Pentagon Exemptions to Immigration Ban Include Nationals From All Targeted Countries -- VOA

Pentagon moves to exempt some civilians from hiring freeze -- The Hill

Trump reviews case of Navy man who shot illegal sub photos -- AP

Top Marine aviator: ‘If I don’t get more money, I’ll stop flying in July or August' -- Marine Times

Trump Defense Team Inherits Bad Ideas About Air Power From The Obama Years -- Loren Thompson, Forbes

Navy SEAL killed in Yemen raid to be posthumously promoted -- Navy Times