Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- February 8, 2019

USS Lassen (DDG 82) patrols the eastern Pacific Ocean. US Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Huey D. Younger Jr.

Business Insider: Navy chief says the US needs to hit first and get 'muscular' with Russian and Chinese ships

* Chief of Naval Operations Adm. John Richardson called for the US to go on the offensive against Russia and China as the great power rivals use their navies in increasingly aggressive land, sea, and power grabs.
* Russia and China have both directly challenged the US Navy with dangerous and aggressive flying and sailing, and now the US Navy wants to start moving first.
* Richardson emphasized the need for patience, diplomacy, and establishing rules, but was clear that if the rules are broken, the US needs to crack down.

Chief of Naval Operations Adm. John Richardson called for the US to go on the offensive against Russia and China as the great power US adversaries use their navies in increasingly aggressive land, sea, and power grabs.

In 2014, Russia illegally annexed Crimea from Ukraine with military force. In November 2018, Russia's navy attacked and took custody of Ukrainian sailors while briefly shutting down Ukrainian access to the Sea of Azov, which Crimea separates from the Black Sea. Also, as Russia bolstered Syria's shaky regime during its 8-year-long civil war, it's grown its naval presence in the Eastern Mediterranean.

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Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- February 8, 2019

US shift on South China Sea ‘grey zone’ aggression signals stronger response ahead -- SCMP

China sent ships near Philippine-administered island, think tank says -- UPI

South China Sea: Trump military adviser calls for firmer rules to stop near misses -- SCMP

US Admiral Wants To 'Push First' Against Russian Ships - Reports -- Sputnik

Top US general on Africa: Airstrikes not enough to defeat al-Shabaab -- The Hill

US military to leave Syria by April: report -- The Hill

Pentagon official: Military ready to protect US personnel, facilities in Venezuela -- The Hill

Cameroon is a good counterterrorism partner, but US cannot ignore alleged atrocities, says AFRICOM head -- Military Times/AP

Raytheon awarded $406M for Army aircraft radio system -- UPI

How the Syrian battlefield is preparing the Corps for a fight with Russia or China -- Shawn Snow, Marine Times

The US Military Is Chopping Up Its Iron Man Suit For Parts -- Defense One

Stealth Surprise: Did a Russian Su-35 Fighter Just "Unstealth" the F-22 Raptor? -- National Interest

Sexual assault remains 'tremendous problem' for military, lawmaker says -- Stars and Stripes

Inside NATO's cyber defence centre -- SKY News

What Is NATO Really Doing in Cyberspace? -- Don Lewis, War On The Rocks

Ukraine Amends Constitution to Cement EU, NATO Course -- VOA

Greek Parliament Set To Vote On Macedonia’s NATO Protocol -- RFE

Female cadet, 21, is found dead at the elite Sandhurst military academy in an apparent suicide 'after senior officers quizzed her over a drunken night out' -- Daily Mail

Airbus, Dassault tapped to pin down Franco-German fighter plans -- Defense News

French Air Force chief: France and Germany working on export controls for future fighter -- Defense News

France To US: You’re Really Important To Our New Fighter -- Breaking Defense

Russia Pledges Response to Norwegian Military Activity -- Moscow Times

Russia says it would be open to new nuclear pact with US -- The Hill

Russia developing advanced protective system to shield armor from precision weapons -- TASS

Crimean air defense troops start drills with S-400 missile systems -- TASS

Russia Scrambles Jets 4 Times to Intercept Spy Planes Near Border Over Past Week -- Sputnik

China’s military is rushing to use artificial intelligence -- Technology Review

Iran unveils new ballistic missile at underground facility -- DW

Iran inaugurates medium-range ballistic missile, says local media -- Defense News/AP

US Military Option in Venezuela Risks Long Unpopular War -- Brian Padden, VOA

Exiled general: Why the Venezuelan military hasn’t turned against Maduro -- The Washington Post