Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- December 4, 2017

From left, Vice President Mike Pence, President Donald J. Trump, and National Security Advisor Army Lt. Gen. H.R. McMaster talk with service members during a lunch in the Roosevelt Room at the White House, July 18, 2017. White House photo by Shealah Craighead

Connor O'Brien and Bryan Bender, Politico: Trump's military buildup still a mirage

"The math just isn't there," one top general says as lawmakers and military leaders fret that competing agendas are undermining promises of a Reagan-like defense buildup.

SIMI VALLEY, Calif. — President Donald Trump came into office pledging the largest defense spending spree since the administration of Ronald Reagan — assuring the troops that they would see "beautiful new planes and beautiful new equipment."

But that vision remains little more than a mirage, top Pentagon officials, lawmakers and defense industry executives lamented during a gathering this weekend at Reagan's presidential library — undermined by congressional gridlock on spending priorities and a tax overhaul expected to add more than a trillion dollars to the national debt.

Read more ....

Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- December 4, 2017

Defense hawks warn spending fix could hobble military -- The Hill

U.S. Defies North Korea With Drills Involving 230 Aircraft -- Bloomberg

U.S. Military Practices Strikes on North Korean Nuclear Sites in Biggest Ever Joint Air Drill With South Korea -- Newsweek

U.S. drills in South Korea trigger ‘nuclear war’ warning from North -- NBC

‘More N. Korea nuclear tests likely in current atmosphere’ -- RT

A new North Korean missile test could be fired from a sub -- We Are The Mighty

'Kim is getting closer and there's not much time left': Trump's national security adviser says the possibility of nuclear war with North Korea increases every day -- Daily Mail

Ex-NATO commander: North Korea likely getting help with nukes, rockets from China or Russia -- The Hill

North Korea’s Military Capabilities, In Review -- Defense One

North Korea's nuclear boasts belie plight of the elite army -- Nikkei Asian Review

China carries out OWN drills as it attacks USA for pushing North Korea to nuclear war -- Express

China's nuclear arsenal a high-level state secret -- Al Jazeera

Combat ready: Chinese air force puts new Y-9 transport planes through paces in South China Sea drill -- SCMP

Intelligence-gathering satellite deployed in orbit for Russian military -- Space Flight Now

'Simple and Reliable': Russia's Tigr Remains Second-to-None Armored Vehicle -- Sputnik

Russia’s arms deliveries to Colombia hit $500 mln over 20 years -- TASS

Russia wraps up large arms deal with Venezuela -- TASS

NATO, EU deal could quicken US Army convoys in Europe -- Stars and Stripes

France close to Qatar military, transport contracts: presidential source -- Reuters

In first official visit, Kono urges U.S. commander to prevent more incidents on Okinawa -- Japan Times

US defense secretary meets with Egyptian officials in Cairo -- Military Times/AP

The US Army Still Loves Its Long-Range Rockets -- War Is Boring

US military agency invests $100m in genetic extinction technologies -- The Guardian

The Army helmet of the 2030s will have everything -- C4ISRNet

Spooky 43 gunship crew honored for actions during grueling Afghan battle -- Air Force One

For Marine Corps, Firing Rockets Off a Ship Is Just a Starting Point -- Military.com

Army Sends New M17 Pistol to War - Says it Changes Combat -- Scout Warrior

SMA: No final decision on beards for all soldiers -- Amy Times

FBI, DHS Warn of Hacker Mercenaries Funded by Nation-States -- Defense One

Options for Streamlining U.S. Department of Defense Decision Making -- John T. Kuehn, RCD

America needs to step up the military to keep China at bay -- Dan Blumenthal, The Hill

More Submarines and Less Aircraft Carriers: If the U.S. Navy Could Be Completely Rebuilt -- James Holmes, National Interest