1. Dunford tapped for Joint Chiefs chairman, Selva for vice (Military
Times) President Obama will announce Tuesday that he will nominated Marine
Corps Commandant Gen. Joseph Dunford as the next chairman of the Joint
Chiefs of Staff, sources told Military Times. Obama will also announce that
he will nominate Air Force Gen. Paul Selva, currently commander of U.S.
Transportation Command, to serve as the next vice chairman of the Joint
Chiefs of Stafff, sources said.
2. Exclusive: Pentagon Admits Our Anti-ISIS Strikes Killed Civilians
(Daily Beast) For months, officials have said a relentless bombing campaign
in Iraq and Syria isn't killing innocents. But now an internal military
investigation concludes otherwise.
3. Racist remark ended general's career (Air Force Times) A racially
charged comment forced Maj. Gen. Michael Keltz to resign last week,
according to Air Education and Training Command.
4. ISIS claims responsibility for Texas shooting, threatens more attacks
(CNN) ISIS has claimed responsibility for the attack outside the Prophet
Mohammed cartoon contest in Garland, Texas -- and warned of more attacks to
come. It is believed to be the first time that the group has claimed to have
carried out an attack in the U.S.
5. Pentagon accused of withholding sex crimes info (Associated Press)
The number of sex-related crimes occurring in U.S.
military communities is far greater than the Defense Department has publicly
reported, a U.S. senator said Monday in a scathing critique that asserts the
Pentagon has refused to provide her information about sexual assaults at
several major bases.
Yemen
Airstrikes hit Yemen airports as Saudis ponder cease-fire (Al Jazeera
America) Heavy Saudi-led airstrikes targeted several airports Monday across
Yemen even as the kingdom's foreign minister said officials were considering
a cease-fire to allow aid into the Arab world's poorest country, while
Senegal announced it would be contributing troops to back the Saudi-led
coalition.
State: US trying to get Marshall Islands ship back from Iran (The Hill)
The U.S. is trying to secure the release of a Marshall Islands-flagged ship
from Iran, which has become the latest thorn in the U.S.-Iran relationship
as both sides inch closer to a June 30 deadline for a nuclear deal.
Islamic State
Fertilizer, Also Suited for Bombs, Flows to ISIS Territory From Turkey
(New York Times) The open transport of ammonium nitrate into Islamic State
territory points to lingering questions about Turkey's commitment to
isolating its jihadist neighbors. Yet for the people here, the cross-border
trade offers some relief in an economy that has been battered by the war in
Syria.
$500M US program to train anti-Islamic State fighters appears stalled
(Tribune News Service) Eleven months after President Barack Obama announced
plans to arm opposition fighters to confront Islamic State militants in
war-torn Syria, the $500 million program to train a proxy force has yet to
begin, raising questions about its viability and effectiveness.
Iraqi city still a ghost town a month after defeat of IS (Associated
Press) Iraqi government forces drove the Islamic State group out of Abu
Mustafa's hometown of Tikrit over a month ago, but he has yet to return,
fearing the Shiite militias that now patrol its bombed and battered streets.
Russia-Ukraine
Germany-based Stryker brigade gets provisional OK for more firepower
(Stars & Stripes) The 2nd Cavalry Regiment has received initial approval for
more powerful guns to mount on the unit's Stryker vehicles, a move that
comes after the Vilsek-based unit said it needed higher firepower, U.S. Army
Europe said.
Ukraine: Mediators set new peace talks as fighting reignites in east
(Los Angeles Times) European mediators have called an urgent meeting in
Belarus for Wednesday to try to salvage a nearly 3-month-old peace plan for
Ukraine, where intense fighting has resumed in recent days and both sides
are reported to be gearing up for new offensives.
In Ukraine, the Triumph and Tragedy of Battlefield Medicine (Daily
Signal) "I could be home relaxing, but I have to be here," he says.
"I know the things I'm teaching them will save their lives."
In Eastern Ukraine, Doctors Are 'Terrorists' and Antibiotics Are Herbs
(Foreign Policy) Hospital 21, in Donetsk's Kievsky district, is only half a
mile away from Donetsk's airport - the scene of a four-month-long battle
between fighters from the separatist Donetsk People's Republic (DNR) and
Ukrainian forces.
Industry
Turkey's Havelsan to Acquire Quantum3D Assets (Defense News) Turkey's
state-controlled military software concern Havelsan will acquire flight
simulation assets of US-based Quantum3D, a developer of visual computing
solutions, Turkish officials announced.
Next-generation of GPS nears testing phase (C4ISR & Networks) The third
generation of global positioning system satellites is coming together at
Lockheed Martin.
Russia's new Armata tank makes debut in parade rehearsal (Associated Press)
Russia's new Armata tank appeared in public for the first time Monday,
rumbling down a broad Moscow avenue on its way to Red Square for the final
rehearsal of the Victory Day parade.
Debate over UCLASS capabilities increases programme risk, auditors warn
(IHS Jane's 360) The US Navy's (USN's) indecisiveness over requirements for
its Unmanned Carrier-Launched Airborne Surveillance and Strike (UCLASS)
aircraft in the wake of congressional criticism is delaying its development.
Company introduces wireless video for aerostats (C4ISR & Networks) Drone
Aviation Corp. has developed an integrated wireless system for aerostats.
European Tanker Program Close To Issuing RFP (Aviation Week) The
Netherlands, Norway and Poland will issue a request for proposals "in days"
to Airbus Defense and Space, paving the way for a joint purchase of A330
multi-role tanker transport aircraft.
F-35 concurrency cost rises slightly, but trend stabilises
(Flightglobal) The Lockheed Martin F-35 Joint Strike Fighter programme's
concurrency cost has ticked up by $40 million since last year's estimate by
the Pentagon to $1.69 billion, according to a report recently sent to US
lawmakers.
India tops list of drone-importing nations
(IANS) With 22.5 percent the world's unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) imports,
between 1985 and 2014, India ranks first among drone-importing nations,
followed by United Kingdom and France.
Rafale Fighter Jet Negotiations to Start This Month
(NDTV) Ahead of French Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian's visit, India on
Monday said that negotiations for the procurement of Rafale fighter jets for
the Indian Air Force (IAF) will begin this month, and the multi-billion
dollar deal will be finalised "as early as possible."
Raytheon Awarded $559 Million for SM-3 Block IB Missiles
(Seapower) The Missile Defense Agency has awarded Raytheon Co. a contract
for fiscal 2015 valued at $559.2 million for Standard Missile-3 Block IBs,
which are guided missiles used by the U.S. Navy to provide regional defense
against short- to intermediate-range ballistic missile threats.
First RAAF JDAM wing kits delivered
(Australian Aviation) The first production set of Australian-designed and
manufactured range-extending wing kits for the Joint Direct Attack Munition
(JDAM) for use by the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) has been delivered.
Argentina begins P-3 Orion update
(IHS Jane's 360) The Argentine Navy has begun a service-life extension
programme for its four Lockheed Martin P-3B Orion maritime patrol fleet.
Submarines Resurface as Growth Business (Wall Street Journal) The
Swedish-German sub spat is part of a new current for military contractors:
Diesel subs have resurfaced as a growth business, thanks to shifting
geopolitics and innovation.
Congress
Lawmakers agree to limit power to revoke valor awards (Army Times) The
House Armed Services Committee approved on Wednesday a proposal to restrict
service secretaries' ability to revoke valor awards as an amendment to the
National Defense Authorization bill.
Lawmakers to SecDef: End 'racial-based' hazing now (Army Times)
Lawmakers representing the Asian, black and Hispanic caucuses in Congress
are calling on the Defense Department to end racial hazing within the
military following allegations of a practice called "Racial Thursdays" among
a platoon of soldiers in Alaska.
Democrats May Delay GOP Defense Bill Until Spending Caps Are Lifted
(National Journal) In both chambers, the minority wants to stop the majority
from passing bills that skirt or exceed funding caps.
Defense bill asks if contractors are gaming bid protests (Federal Times)
Lawmakers want to know if Defense Department contractors are gaming the bid
protest process, according to language included in the National Defense
Authorization Act.
Congress, White House on Collision Course Over Guantanamo
(DefenseOne) GOP lawmakers are trying to block Obama's last chance to close
the prison.
McCain backs 401(k)-style military retirement (The Hill) Senate Armed
Services Committee Chairman John McCain (R-Ariz.) said Monday that the 2016
defense policy bill will be "revolutionary" for military retirement.
Clinton agrees to testify on her emails, Benghazi later this month
(McClatchy) Former secretary of state Hillary Clinton agreed Monday to
testify on Capitol Hill later this month about using personal email for
government business and about the attacks in Benghazi, Libya.
GOP lawmaker: Congress may nix plan to arm Kurds (The Hill) Congress may
scrap a provision in an upcoming defense policy bill to send weapons
directly to Iraq's Sunnis and Kurdish peshmerga in their fight against the
Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS), a senior House Republican said over
the weekend.
Veterans
Caring for veterans: A higher calling (Robert McDonald, Secretary of
Veterans Affairs, in Federal Times) At VA, we're reminded every day of
veterans' outsized contributions to our country.
It's our pride and privilege to care for those "who shall have borne the
battle," in Lincoln's famous words. Without question, it's the best, most
inspiring mission in government, serving for the best, most deserving people
in the nation.
Local veterans are marking anniversary of first Iraq war as it turns 25
this year (Daily Journal) This year is the 25th anniversary of the Persian
Gulf War and veterans across the country are marking the anniversary.
Cordial no more: Lawmakers unhappy with VA's McDonald (Stars & Stripes)
As subpoenas fly, the cordial correspondence between lawmakers and VA
Secretary Bob McDonald is turning ugly.
Suicide rates increasing for both veterans and nonveterans
(MedicalXpress) Veterans who used services provided by the Veterans Health
Administration (VHA) had much lower suicide rates than veterans who did not
use those services, according to a new analysis of a decade of suicide data.
Veterans face losing food stamp benefits
(Politico) With unemployment lower than it has been in seven years, federal
lawmakers are looking forward to the end of a waiver that gave single adults
long-term access to food stamps even if they weren't working.
Illinois medical marijuana approved for PTSD (Associated Press) An
Illinois advisory board has voted to recommend that post-traumatic stress
disorder among military veterans be added to the list of qualifying
conditions in the state's medical marijuana program.
Veteran Tells Congress VA Fails at Providing Maternity Care
(Military.com) When combat-wounded veteran Dawn Halfaker learned she was
pregnant, she thought that the Department of Veterans Affairs would help
coordinate her care and pay related bills.
Bush wants to privatize some veterans' health benefits, but in Florida
it didn't go so well
(CNN) Jeb Bush's effort as governor to partially privatize veterans health
care services in Florida went so poorly it was ended shortly after Bush left
office.
Veterans issues: Agent Orange pressure mounts (Columbus Dispatch)
Pressure is increasing by the day for the Veterans Administration to heed
its own commissioned report released in January by the Institute of Medicine
that said flight and maintenance crews such as the one that DeSanto was part
of were exposed to high levels of dioxin.
VA watchdog never finished an inquiry into Aurora hospital (Denver Post)
From 2010 through 2014, the internal watchdog at the U.S.
Department of Veterans Affairs issued more than 1,500 reports on the
sprawling federal agency - each intended to investigate, improve or
fact-check the VA.
Another View of Vietnam Veterans
(New Yorker) Americans' attitudes toward veterans of the Vietnam War have
been characterized by tension between a sense of virtue and a sense of
shame.
New Vietnam Spy Tale Sheds Light on How the U.S. Lost the War
(Newsweek) According to a four-part series published in an obscure Hanoi
military journal in April, Pham was a key double agent in an operation that
led to the capture or deaths of scores of CIA and U.S. military-controlled
spies for nearly a decade during the war.
Defense Department & National Security
Column: Strikes from manned aircraft draw much less scrutiny than drones
(Washington Post) It is time to have a serious discussion about the use of
drones - the unmanned weapons directed from far away that the U.S.
government calls remotely piloted aircraft.
No Top US Acquisition Officials At Paris Air Show; No F-35s Either
(Breaking Defense) Frank Kendall, the head of Pentagon acquisition, will not
visit the Paris Air Show next month. In contrast to the flurry of senior
American leaders who made it to the Farnborough Air Show last year when the
F-35 was expected to make its first public appearance overseas, the Paris
show looks to be a considerably lower key affair for the United States.
Pentagon: Texas has nothing to fear from upcoming military exercises
(McClatchy) Defense officials Monday dismissed as "wild speculation" an
Internet-fueled claim that a massive summertime exercise called Jade Helm 15
for special operations commandos is a covert operation by President Barack
Obama to take over Texas.
Why physical standards still dog the fight about women in combat units
(Washington Post) Puckett's views are common among combat veterans as the
military examines how to integrate women into more combat units. A
decades-long ban on women serving in direct ground combat assignments was
lifted in January 2013, but top Pentagon officials gave the services until
later this year to research whether it should submit requests to keep some
jobs closed.
Could Cyber Attacks Lead to Nuclear War?
(The Diplomat) A co-authored paper, seen in draft by The Diplomat, argues
that "cyber weapons and strategies have brought us to a situation of
aggravated nuclear instability that needs to be more explicitly and more
openly addressed in the diplomacy of leading powers, both in private and in
public."
National Security a Top Issue for Republicans, Poll Finds (Wall Street
Journal) Members of the two political parties are split over which issues
are most important for the government to address, with Republicans giving
much higher priority to national security issues than do Democrats, a new
Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll finds.
No evidence Russian hack of White House breached visitor personal data
(Washington Post) A senior lawmaker has asked the White House whether the
Russian hack of its unclassified computer networks last fall compromised
personal data of ordinary Americans that was submitted by e-mail before a
White House meeting, tour or social function.
Army
XVIII Airborne Corps welcomes new commander (Army Times) The XVIII
Airborne Corps will welcome a new commanding general Tuesday.
Police investigating death of soldier in Alaska (Army Times) Local
police are investigating the death of a soldier in Alaska, officials from
U.S. Army Alaska said May 4.
Viral video: This U.S. soldier refused to give up on an Army road march
(Washington Post) In the closing moments of a grueling 12-mile road march,
Army Capt. Sarah Cudd fell to her knees. She was exhausted, bowed over by
the heavy pack on her back and seemingly unable to continue.
NCO vanishes before court-martial on child porn charge (Army Times) A
soldier facing court-martial on child pornography and other charges went
missing the day before his scheduled courtroom appearance at Fort Leonard
Wood, Missouri, and remains on the loose.
Blind active-duty officer plans Ironman triathlon, film (Army Times) As
his career in uniform draws to a close, the Army's first blind active-duty
officer hopes to continue spreading a simple message: "You can do things
that may seem impossible."
Fort Knox to show off energy independence at ceremony (Associated Press)
Fort Knox will display its ability to operate without external power during
a ceremony this week, an achievement expected to save the post $8 million a
year and prompted by a crippling ice storm a few years ago.
Best Scout Squad competition kicks off Tuesday (Army Times) Nineteen
teams will compete this week at Fort Benning, Georgia, for the title of Best
Scout Squad.
Navy
Strike fighter squadron CO fired for 'maltreatment'
(Navy Times) The commanding officer of an F/A-18 squadron in California was
fired May 2 following accusations he mistreated a sailor.
Navy Not Following Marines' Lead in Developing V-22 Osprey Tanker (USNI
News) The Navy has no immediate plans to explore using its planned fleet of
V-22 Ospreys carrier onboard delivery aircraft to refuel its carrier
aircraft, while the Marines are actively looking to include a tanking
capability in its own tilt-rotor V-22s by 2017
Hill To Navy: Hurry Up On Rail Guns, Lasers (Breaking Defense) Rail gun
bullets move seven times the speed of sound.
Laser beams fire at the speed of light. But Pentagon procurement? Not so
fast. But with both Congress and the Navy Secretary expressing impatience,
the Navy is accelerating its efforts to move both lasers and rail guns from
the test phase into the fleet.
Inspector General gives Naval Academy passing grades (Capital Gazette)
These lapses and others were reported after a routine inspection of the
Naval Academy in September. That inspection, however, was most revealing in
what it didn't find - significant failures.
Blue Angels announce new commanding officer (Pensacola News Journal) The
U.S. Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron, or the Blue Angels, announced the
appointment of a commanding officer for the 2016 and 2017 seasons at a press
conference at the National Museum of Aviation onboard Pensacola Naval Air
Station.
Navy: Fewer Sexual Assaults in '14, But More Reports
(Virginian-Pilot) The Navy appears to be making progress in efforts to
prevent and prosecute sexual assault within its ranks, according to data
released Friday.
Taya Kyle's story: New book serves as next chapter in 'American Sniper'
saga
(Washington Post) It is one of the most wrenching passages in Taya's new
book, "American Wife: A Memoir of Love, War, Faith and Renewal." Released
Monday, it covers the life of a family that has been under a microscope ever
since the SEAL, credited as the most deadly sniper in U.S. military history,
published a memoir in 2012 that was turned into the blockbuster movie
"American Sniper."
Air Force
Recruit dies in Lackland training run (San Antonio Express-News) An Air
Force recruit died Monday after collapsing during a physical fitness run
during her first week of training at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland.
AF foots the bill for credentials that ready you for industry jobs (Air
Force Times) The Air Force is going to make it easier for you to get a good
job when you become a civilian again.
AF, NATO quiet on expanding Incirlik's role in Inherent Resolve (Air
Force Times) The head of U.S. European Command is mum on negotiations to
base search and rescue crews at an Air Force base in Turkey following
pushback from Ankara.
Hearings scheduled for two Malmstrom officers (Great Falls Tribune)
These charges are the result of an investigation that began in late 2013 and
led to the discovery of cheating among missile crew officers at Malmstrom.
OSI: Alleged deserter's last known location is Ethiopia (Air Force
Times) The Air Force Office of Special Investigations is looking for an
alleged deserter whose last known location is in Ethiopia.
Wright-Patterson Hospital Low on Patients, Partners with VA (Dayton
Daily News) The Medical Center signed a five-year patient-sharing agreement
yesterday with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs that will expand the
number of VA patients who can seek treatment at the base hospital.
Follow these steps to find COOL opportunities (Air Force Times)
Interested in the Air Force Credentialing Opportunities On-Line, or Air
Force COOL, program? Follow these steps.
Marine Corps
Army, Marines face new pressure to use same ammunition (Marine Corps
Times) The Army and Marine Corps will conduct comprehensive testing this
year to determine the viability of adopting common rifle ammunition, a
potential cost-cutting initiative that could have serious implications for
troops on the battlefield.
Marines earn medal for typhoon relief in the Philippines (Marine Corps
Times) Marines who rushed to assist people in the Philippines following the
deadly 2013 typhoon there are eligible for the Humanitarian Service Medal.
USMC Examining Simulated Training Effectiveness, Capability Gaps (USNI
News) With a new focus on LVC training, the Marine Corps Training and
Education Command (TECOM) is in the midst of several efforts to ensure its
LVC training capabilities are supporting the right skills and in the right
quantities.
Pendleton choppers practice fighting wildfires amid drought (Stars &
Stripes) Marine and Navy aircraft practiced fighting wildfires Thursday,
scooping up water from Pulgas Lake and dropping it on a nearby hill as smoke
from the real thing billowed in the distance.
National Guard
N.Y. Air National Guard opens new training center (Associated Press) The
108th Attack Squadron of the New York Air National Guard has opened a new
$3.5 million facility at Hancock Field near Syracuse to train students to
operate the MQ-9 Reaper weapon system.
Afghanistan/Pakistan
Taliban kill 17 Afghans even as they 'welcome' peace push (Associated
Press) Taliban militants who have been waging war on the Afghan government
for more than a decade on Monday expressed a willingness to soften their
position on a range of issues, an apparent shift that could eventually lead
to peace talks.
NATO Official Says Afghan Troops Will Prevail In Kunduz (Radio Free
Europe/Radio Liberty) A NATO official says Afghan security forces will
defeat a Taliban insurgency near the northern city of Kunduz that has caused
thousands of people to flee their homes.
Afghan Talks Agree On Reopening Taliban Political Office (Radio Free
Europe/Radio Liberty) Afghan government officials and members of the Taliban
have agreed that insurgents should open a political office for negotiations.
Leveraging Impact Investment in Post-2014 Afghanistan (The Diplomat)
Unlocking Afghanistan's very real potential will require significant
investment.
Foreign Voices Ring Out In Afghan Spring Offensive (Radio Free
Europe/Radio Liberty) Residents of northeast Afghanistan are accustomed to
seeing the launch of the Taliban's annual spring offensive, but there is
something foreign to this year's edition.
Afghans increasingly frustrated with Ashraf Ghani over security, economy
(Los Angeles Times) Ghani's unity government has faced a series of stiff
military and economic challenges that have led to increasing disenchantment
after the first peaceful transfer of power in Afghanistan's modern history.
Middle East
Report Cites Shift in Israeli War Doctrine (Defense News) Eyewitness
accounts published Monday from last summer's war in Gaza paint a disturbing
portrait of overzealous, often indiscriminate fire on the part of the Israel
Defense Forces (IDF).
Syria conflict: Aleppo civilians suffer 'unthinkable atrocities'
(BBC) Civilians in Syria's second city of Aleppo are suffering unthinkable
atrocities, Amnesty International says.
Gulf States Want U.S. Assurances and Weapons in Exchange for Supporting
Iran Nuclear Deal (Wall Street Journal) Regional leaders seek quid pro quo
of fighters, missile batteries, surveillance equipment.
Kerry to visit Saudi Arabia amid regional unrest (The Hill) Secretary of
State John Kerry will visit Saudi Arabia later this week for talks with
senior government officials about security issues in the region, the State
Department announced Monday.
Syrian Forces Kill Attackers in Damascus (New York Times) Security
forces battled insurgents in a heavily guarded area of Damascus on Monday,
killing two attackers as one blew himself up, local news media reported, in
a clash that was unusually intense for the center of the capital even after
more than four years of war in Syria.
In the face of Islamic State successes, al-Qaida adapts, grows stronger
(Associated Press) When al-Qaida overran the Yemeni port city of Mukalla
last month, the group's commanders immediately struck a deal to share power
with the area's tribesmen. No jihadi banners were raised. Al-Qaida even
issued a statement denying rumors that it had banned music at parties or men
wearing shorts.
No One Jailed In Iran For Their Opinions? Many Take To Social Media To
Disagree (Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty) Former political prisoners and
others were quick to take to social media to dismiss Zarif's claim as a
"lie," pointing out that dozens of political prisoners -- including
journalists, bloggers, and political activists -- are languishing in Iranian
prisons.
Israeli Foreign Minister Says He Won't Join Netanyahu's New Government
(New York Times) Avigdor Lieberman, Israel's foreign minister, stunned the
political establishment Monday by announcing he would not join the next
government, leaving Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with two fraught
options: a conservative coalition whose razor-thin majority would be
inherently unstable, or a unity government riven over how to deal with the
state's critical challenges.
France, Saudis Warn Against Destabilizing Deal With Iran (Radio Free
Europe/Radio Liberty) France and Saudi Arabia warned on May 4 that any
future nuclear deal between Iran and six major powers must not destabilize
the region further and threaten Iran's neighbors.
Soldier Becomes Unlikely Face of Ethiopian-Israeli Discontent (New York
Times) A slender and boyish-looking Israeli soldier, wearing a skullcap and
an army shirt with sleeves too long for him, has become the unlikely and
unwitting face of an outburst of anger and violent protests that have shaken
Israel.
Israeli Soldiers: Lax Rules In Gaza War Led To Indiscriminate Fire
(National Public Radio) More than 60 Israeli soldiers who took part in last
summer's war in Gaza have offered firsthand combat stories. Many said they
felt their orders went too far, leading to indiscriminate fire and
Palestinian civilian deaths.
Europe
Norway Adds $500M To Bolster High North (Defense News) Norway has
decided to invest $500 million in two new programs intended to strengthen
its military capability in the High North.
Under-fire German spy chief says his agency not a 'US tool'
(Associated Press) Germany's top spy has rejected opposition charges that
the country's foreign intelligence agency acted against national interests
in cooperating with U.S. counterparts.
Will Russia Field Robo-Soldiers in 5 Years?
(The Diplomat) "I think that in about five years we will have the neural
interface to control exoskeletons and prostheses through the electric
potentials of the brain," according to Aleksander Kulish, head of the
medical equipment development and manufacturing department of Russia's
United Instrument Manufacturing Corporation (UIMC).
Long-shot Miliband now the favorite to become Britain's prime minister
(Washington Post) Even before the election campaign began, the verdict was
in on Ed Miliband: He was too weak and too weird to be Britain's prime
minister.
NGOs in Russia suffer as Putin targets 'foreign agents'
(Al Jazeera America) Seeing Western meddling in protests against his
disputed re-election in 2012 and involvement of U.S.-funded NGOs in the
revolution that toppled Ukraine's President Viktor Yanukovych last year, the
Kremlin has ratcheted up a campaign to rein in outside forces.
Europe Could Be Getting Turkmen Gas By 2020 (The Diplomat) Turkmenistan
and Europe are keen to get the gas flowing, but it could just be a pipe
dream.
EUCOM Chief: Aegis Ashore Site On Track for Operation in Romania
(Seapower) The Aegis ballistic missile defense (BMD) site being built in
Romania is on track to begin operations later this year, according to the
commander of U.S. European Command.
Asia-Pacific
Problem: China Still Wants Russia's Deadly Su-35 (The National Interest)
China still wants the Russian-made Sukhoi Su-35 multirole fighter jet
despite launching a new fighter jet last week.
U.S. student held in North Korea tells CNN: 'I wanted to be arrested'
(CNN) Joo says he crossed into North Korea near the Great Wall of China in
Dandong, an area near the border that offers views of the reclusive nation,
which tightly controls access for foreign visitors.
North Korea might be courting Russia, but China still looms larger
(Washington Post) After months of "will he, won't he?" speculation, it's now
clear. He won't. Kim Jong Un will not be traveling to Moscow on Saturday for
Russia's Victory Day celebrations marking the end of World War II in Europe.
Nepalese family braves earthquake-ravaged terrain to bring help home (Al
Jazeera America) Whatever help has come has been delivered, often at great
physical effort, by a diaspora of family and community members bearing
supplies from the outside.
Thailand's 87-Year-Old King Makes Rare Appearance (Associated Press)
Thailand's revered King Bhumibol Adulyadej made a rare public appearance
Tuesday to mark the 65th anniversary of his coronation.
Map may hold key to lost World War II bones at Pacific battle site (Los
Angeles Times) Unlike in the U.S. military, which tries to recover its dead
from war zones, tens of thousands of Japanese soldiers were left where they
fell or were interred in crude, often unmarked graves on islands and atolls
across the Pacific. Now, pressed by aging war veterans and their families,
and assisted by faded maps and photos from U.S. archives, Tokyo is starting
to put aside its reluctance to revisit its painful World War II history.
Africa
John Kerry Lands in Somalia, First-Ever US Secretary of State to Visit
(NBC News) John Kerry made an unannounced visit to Somalia on Tuesday - the
first U.S. secretary of state ever to travel to the country.
On Kerry's visit to Kenya, U.S. pledges extra $45 million to help with
refugees (Washington Post) The United States will provide an extra $45
million for the United Nations to help an overwhelmed Kenya cope with
600,000 refugees fleeing civil unrest, terrorism and violence in Somalia and
South Sudan, Secretary of State John F. Kerry said Monday.
Somalia's government ban al-Shabab name from media
(BBC) The Somali government has told media houses to stop referring to
militant group al-Shabab by their name.
Nigeria's offensive against Boko Haram slowed by landmines
(Reuters) Nigeria's military is confident it has Boko Haram cornered, but a
final push to clear the Islamist militants from their forest hideouts is
being hampered by landmines.
Coverage of sect tragedy underlines how far Angola is from press freedom
(The Guardian) With world press freedom day on the horizon, blatantly
partial reporting on the incident in which police killed members of a sect
on Angola's Mount Sumi offers a salutary reminder of the need for
journalistic independence.
Nigerian military releases photos of freed women and girls (Los Angeles
Times) The women and girls sit huddled on one side of a large compound,
covered in long flowing gowns, small children huddled close, as two soldiers
stand by.
The Americas
FBI Had Investigated Accused Texas Gunman for Years (Associated Press)
Since 2006, the FBI had been investigating Elton Simpson
- one of the men suspected in the Texas shootings outside a contest
featuring cartoons of the Muslim Prophet Muhammad.
Carly Fiorina: 'Yes, I am running for president'
(The Week) In an interview on ABC's Good Morning America, Carly Fiorina
formally announced that she will seek the Republican presidential nomination
in 2016.
Canada seeks to block former Gitmo detainee's release (Al Jazeera
America) The Canadian government announced Monday that it would seek an
emergency stay on bail granted by a Canadian judge to former Guantanamo
detainee and Canadian national Omar Khadr, who has spent almost half his
life behind bars.
Ben Carson Launches 2016 Presidential Campaign
(Time) Retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson launched a bid for the Republican
presidential nomination, promising to run a different kind of campaign and
proving the point with one of the most unusual campaign launches in recent
memory.
Commentary and Analysis
The Military's Problem With Political Correctness (Carl Forsling in Task
& Purpose) Being too politically correct prevents us from having honest
conversations about those embarrassing the military community.
After the fall of the Soviet Union, the U.S. tried to help Russians
(Washington Post) Mr. Putin's remarks reflect a deep-seated paranoia. It
would be easy to dismiss this kind of rhetoric as intended for domestic
consumption, an attempt to whip up support for his war adventure in Ukraine.
In part, it is that. But Mr. Putin's assertion that the West has been acting
out of a desire to sunder Russia's power and influence is a willful untruth.
The Anti-Access Challenge You're Not Thinking About (David Barno and
Nora Bensahel in War On The Rocks) When you hear the phrase "anti-access,"
what region of the world do you think of? Most likely it's the Asia-Pacific.
Maybe the Persian Gulf, or if you think a lot about land forces, even
Europe. You almost certainly don't think about the Arctic. But in today's
world, you unquestionably should.
Europe's Next Ukraine Nightmare: A Massive Financial Default (Yuri
Poluneev, National Interest ) As the government of Ukraine and the IMF inked
the deal, Moody's Investors Service and the Standard & Poors rating agency
downgraded Ukraine's credit rating. The bad marks signal the obvious:
the loan failed to convince investors that Ukraine can restore its
creditworthiness in the near future.
3 Ways The Military Can Improve Recruitment And Retention Rates (Rob
Callahan, Task & Purpose) Unfortunately, trends such as the expansion of the
Air Force's Aviator Retention Pay program in the year after a drawdown
suggest that the deal is not working. But if money isn't enough to fill
critical positions in the military, what would be?
The Admiral in the Library: The Millions Interviews James Stavridis
(Marcia Desanctis, The Millions) "Reading is integral to my life. And I
think, in the end, we solve global problems not by launching missiles, it's
by launching ideas. So as a tool for understanding the world and for
understanding how you can change the world, I find fiction incredibly
important."
In Yemen, Trying to Save People Without Selling Out (Lara Jakes, Foreign
Policy) Yemenis desperately need hundreds of millions of dollars in
humanitarian aid being offered by Saudi Arabia. But relief workers are wary
of taking the money while Saudi airstrikes continue.
Squeezing the Walter Whites of Pyongyang (Soo Kim, Overt Action) Each
year, the State Department publishes the International Narcotics Control
Strategy Report (INCSR), giving an update on foreign countries' efforts to
reduce the production, trafficking, and use of illicit narcotics. This
year's INCSR noted an increase in North Korea's production and use of
illegal drugs, in particular, methamphetamines or "ice." We can safely
assume that the money will be used to fund Pyongyang's not-so-honorable
activities, such as its WMD program. The US intelligence community and its
international partners need to bolster their efforts to identify and
restrict the activities of North Korean drug networks and transactions,
thereby cutting off a major source of revenue for the Kim Jong Un regime.
Stumbling Into a Wider War
(New York Times) It is essential that further expansion of the campaign
against ISIS and other militant groups be debated rigorously and openly by
Washington and its coalition partners. For one thing, it is dangerous and
unwise to assume that "affiliates" pledging support for ISIS are controlled
by ISIS, share its resources or can duplicate its ruthless skills.
American Declinism Debated
(Frank Hoffman in War On The Rocks) In Washington at least, no pastime is
more common and American than the debate over whether the United States is
in decline. It is fitting that America's most prominent scholar of
international power should chime in. In this concise and soothing little
booklet, Joseph Nye attempts to convince an increasingly pessimistic world
that its reluctant protector, the United States, is not in decline. I doubt
readers will be convinced. Instead, this reviewer found Nye's complacency
understandable but startling.
Iran is no Irrational 'Martyr State'
(Josh Cohen in Cicero Magazine) Many American leaders are nonetheless
hostile to the possibility of reaching a final deal with Iran. One
oft-deployed argument is Tehran is guided overwhelmingly by religious
ideology rather than rationality.
Winners, losers in $612B defense bill (Martin Matishak, The Hill) The
$612 billion defense bill approved by the House Armed Services Committee
this week is a major victory for proponents of two jet programs and
lawmakers arguing the military must reform its policies on sexual assault.
Here's a look at the biggest winners to emerge on the House side, as well as
some of the losers.
