Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- December 6, 2019

The Hill: Pentagon: Reports of 14K troop increase in Mideast 'flat out wrong'

The Pentagon on Friday vehemently pushed back on reports that the United States may send 14,000 more troops to the Middle East to confront a growing Iranian threat but did not deny that a force increase is forthcoming.

“As the Department has stated repeatedly, we were never discussing or considering sending 14,000 additional troops to the Middle East,” Defense Secretary Mark Esper said in a statement.

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Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- December 6, 2019

US considers sending thousands more troops to Middle East to deter Iran -- CNN

New US troop boost in Mideast ‘possible,’ says top DoD official -- Defense News

Trump leaves door open to possible troop increase in Middle East -- The Hill

The Navy could deploy a second carrier to the Middle East if Trump orders an Iran surge, top admiral says -- Task & Purpose

How force buildups on both sides could increase chances of US-Iran armed conflict -- Shawn Snow, Military Times

F-22 armed with more precision attack technology -- FOX News/Warrior Maven

Navy Still Mulling Post-F-35C Aviation Combatant; Could be Mix of Manned, Unmanned Aircraft -- USNI News

Caroline Kennedy, former NASA administrator to christen USS John F. Kennedy -- UPI

US Navy, Air Force team up on new ‘Manhattan Project’ -- Defense News

Raytheon nabs $13.1M for third anti-drone laser system for testing -- UPI

These companies are teaming up to pursue a $1B cyber contract -- Fifth Domain

U.S. government joins whistle-blower suit accusing Navistar of false billing -- UPI

The convicted US Army war criminal Trump released early says he can't get a job 'even at Walmart or Target' -- Business Insider

Suspect in deadly shooting at Florida naval base was reportedly a foreign national in the US for training -- Business Insider

U.S. Coast Guard Intercepts Highlight Growing Drug Submarine Epidemic -- Forbes

Air Force May Be About to Make Another Big Force Structure Mistake -- John A. Tirpak, Air Force Magazine

This B-52 pilot — a volunteering powerhouse — is one of Forbes magazine’s ‘30 under 30’ -- Air Force times

Double the Fighters: Why Japan Wants Domestic F-3s and the F-35 -- National Interest

Russia to Never Deploy Medium-Range Missiles in Europe Unless US Does – Lavrov -- Sputnik

Putin offers immediate extension of key nuclear treaty -- The Hill

Putin offers US an immediate extension to key nuclear pact -- AP

China stealing U.S. arms and military technology from Hong Kong: defector -- Washington Times

India Spent 35 Years Building A Tank That Was A Total Piece of Junk -- National Interest

Iran says it will continue ballistic missile program: tweet -- Reuters

Iran is secretly moving missiles into Iraq, US officials say - report -- Jerusalem Post

Israel Successfully Tests New Rocket Propulsion System - Defence Ministry -- Sputnik

What caused this great warship to sink? -- BBC News

How Many Cold Wars Does It Take to Make a ‘New’ One? -- Ian Li, The Interpreter