Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- February 22, 2019

USA Today: President Trump still at odds with former US military, intel officials over Syria

As the United States prepares a full drawdown of forces in Syria, former defense and intelligence officials are concerned with the region’s stability and a repeat of what happened when ISIS emerged after the United States left Iraq in 2011.

President Trump vowed a change in policy in his 2019 State of the Union Speech. As he specifically promised a reduction of troop presence and focus on counterterrorism, he stated: “Great nations do not fight endless wars.”

“It’s a long-standing campaign talking point for him, but I think the real problem was the fact that it was not done through any sort of process,” said Joseph Collins, former deputy assistant secretary of Defense for stability operations.

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Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- February 22, 2019

About 200 US troops to stay in Syria following Trump's order for 'full' removal -- CNN

White House says 200 US troops to stay in Syria -- DW

The U.S. Sent Its Most Advanced Fighter Jets to Blow Up Cheap Opium Labs. Now It's Canceling the Program -- Time

Prepare now for accelerating climate threats, military officials warn -- Reuters

US military officers prep the battlefield for White House budget -- Defense News

Acting Defense chief calls Graham an 'ally' after tense exchange -- The Hill

Navy Ships Will Again Fly the Union Jack as US Enters Great Power Competition -- Military.com

This armored troop transport is being built but needs fixes before it’s fielded next year -- Army Times

Lockheed awarded $33.4M for cost reduction work on LRASM -- UPI

Raytheon will participate in Army missile defense radar ‘sense-off’ -- Defense News

Complementary Airpower: The Case for the F-15X. -- Frank Gorenc, RCD

After Carrier Ford's Elevators Failed, the Navy Is Building a New Test Site -- Defense Tech

A Navy Ship Sailed to Hawaii and Back With No One on Board -- Defense Tech

White House Orders Agencies to Defend the Skies From Cyberattacks -- Defense One

This ATV is an unmanned answer to cheap drones -- C4ISRNet

Okinawa vote on U.S. military base tests security ties with Japan -- NBC

US military conducts observation flight over Russia -- France 24

U.S., Japan, Australia start Cope North 2019 at Guam air base -- UPI

AFRICOM Adds Logistics Hub in West Africa, Hinting at an Enduring US Presence -- Defense One

PLA Rocket Force opens first social media accounts with a bit of humor -- Global Times

China displays unmanned mini Aegis ship with vertical launch missile cells in Abu Dhabi -- Global Times

Predicting the Chinese Navy of 2030 -- Rick Joe, The Diplomat

China’s military needs checks on power to stamp out corruption, top adviser says -- SCMP

Chinese jet shows off U.S. technology -- Washington Times

Iran’s newest warship joins large-scale drills in Gulf of Oman (VIDEO) -- RT

Burundi rejects AU's troop pullout decision -- DW

Pakistan’s army strips ex-spy chief of pension over book -- AP

German documents reveal Singapore received more Leopard 2 tanks -- Defense News

Britain tests Texan T1 training aircraft for first time -- UPI

Why Russia covets hypersonic weapons -- Stephen Blank, The Hill

A Modest Proposal for Improving Assessment in Professional Military Education -- Celestino Perez, Jr., War on the Rocks