Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- July 16, 2020

US General Kenneth 'Frank' McKenzie (Photo: Dept. of Defense)

VOA: VOA Exclusive: CENTCOM Chief Says US Can Do Job in Iraq with Fewer Forces

WASHINGTON - The United States can keep pressure on the Islamic State terror group and build Iraq’s military capacity with fewer U.S. troops on the ground, the top commander of U.S. forces in the Middle East told VOA in an exclusive interview.

“We can get the job done with fewer U.S. forces in Iraq, and the reduction will be done in close consultation with everyone,” said Gen. Kenneth “Frank” McKenzie, the commander of U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), adding the U.S. was “working through that problem right now.”

McKenzie on Wednesday declined to discuss specific troop numbers. The U.S. currently has between 5,000 and 6,000 troops in Iraq.

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Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- July 16, 2020

US General confident Iraqis will ask American troops to remain in Iraq -- ABC News

Exclusive: Secret Trump order gives CIA more powers to launch cyberattacks -- Yahoo News

CIA conducted aggressive covert cyber operations against Iran, China, as Trump gave it more power: report -- FOX News

Second America-Class Amphib USS Tripoli Commissions -- USNI News

New Technologies Aboard our Newest Ships -- RCD

First KC-10 heads to Boneyard as Pegasus comes into the fleet -- Air Force Times

Air Force Is Moving From Smart Bombs to Thinking Bombs -- Popular Mechanics

Air Force wants to expand training for cyber teams -- C4ISRNet

The Air Force cancels its Open Skies recapitalization program after US pulls out from treaty -- Defense News

Camouflage Uniforms, Flight Suits Now Off-Limits for Marines and Sailors at the Pentagon -- Military.com

The US Military Is Using Online Gaming to Recruit Teens -- The Nation

Space Force chooses 2,410 airmen to join ranks -- The Hill

8 Marines Earn Valor Awards for Daring Afghanistan Helo Raid with Hours of Close Combat -- Military.com

Family of slain Fort Hood soldier will meet with President Trump -- Army Times

Dead soldier, formerly listed as AWOL, is finally taken off list of deserters -- Army Times

US Navy’s Triton Spy Drone Makes Rare Appearance in South China Sea -- Sputnik

Congress skeptical of Navy’s unmanned vessels plans -- C4ISRNet

Use of military contractors shrouds true costs of war. Washington wants it that way, study says. -- Washington Post

Price of making US stay? Trump says he doesn't want to leave NATO but allies' 2% spend is 'too little' -- RT

Where will Germany-based US troops go? The coming weeks may tell. -- Todd South, Military Times

France maintains military ties with Russia while being NATO partner, says General Staff -- TASS

Russian shipyard floats out first serial Borei-A-class nuclear-powered submarine -- TASS

Moscow Develops Next-Generation Combat Infantry System -- RCD

Report: Political commissars are a mainstay of the Chinese navy -- UPI

‘No kowtowing to Beijing’: Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen promises to fortify defences -- SCMP

Taiwanese military helicopter crashes, killing two pilots -- SCMP

Researchers: North Korea developing arsenal to evade missile defenses -- UPI

Big Leak Reveals Iran Targeting US Military With Super Speedy Google Account Hacks -- Forbes

Israel combines special forces into new Air force unit -- Defense News

Have Russia And China Already 'Militarized' Space? -- Peter Pry, RCD