Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- February 19, 2014

<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/DxyZdDO0zzc" width="560"></iframe><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Looking For Syria Options, U.S. Remains Cool To Using Force -- New York Times/Reuters</b></span></div><br />WASHINGTON — Despite a forthcoming review of options in the deteriorating Syria crisis, the White House on Tuesday signaled that President Barack Obama remains wary of any direct U.S. involvement in the three-year-old civil war.<br /><br />U.S. policy toward Syria appears to be approaching a crossroads, with peace talks between Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's government and his armed opponents having failed for now and Russia unwilling or unable to pressure its ally Assad to cede power.<br /><br /><b><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2014/02/18/world/europe/18reuters-syria-crisis-usa.html?ref=world">Read more</a></b> ....<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Military And Intelligence News Briefs</b></span></div><br /><a href="http://www.stripes.com/news/pacific/china-says-bigger-soldiers-causing-cramped-tanks-1.268311">China says bigger soldiers causing cramped tanks</a> -- AP<br /><br /><a href="http://english.cri.cn/7146/2014/02/19/2702s813769.htm">China Joins US-Thailand Cobra Gold Military Drills </a>-- CRI English<br /><br /><a href="http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/Israel_unveils_Super_Heron_MALE_drone_999.html">Israel unveils "Super Heron" MALE drone</a> -- Space War<br /><br /><a href="http://www.popularmechanics.com/how-to/blog/israel-wants-to-use-lasers-to-shoot-down-missiles-16507560?click=pm_latest">Israel Wants to Use Lasers to Shoot Down Missiles</a> -- Popular Mechanics<br /><br /><a href="http://www.thenews.com.pk/Todays-News-13-28662-PAF-acquires-F-16s-from-Jordan">PAF acquires F-16s from Jordan</a> -- International News<br /><br /><a href="http://www.defensenews.com/article/20140218/DEFREG01/302180033/Turkey-Demands-183M-Penalties-From-Boeing-AEW-C-Program-Delays">Turkey Demands $183M in Penalties From Boeing for AEW&C Program Delays</a> -- Defense News<br /><br /><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-26250273">Colombian military chief Gen Barrero replaced amid scandals</a> -- BBC<br /><br /><a href="http://www.portsmouth.co.uk/opinion/defence-chiefs-need-to-get-smarter-over-budget-cuts-1-5883565">UK Defence chiefs need to get smarter over budget cuts</a> -- Portsmouth News<br /><br /><a href="http://thehill.com/blogs/defcon-hill/policy-strategy/198616-seven-more-afghan-detainees-under-review-for-release">Seven more Afghan detainees under review for release</a> -- The Hill<br /><br /><a href="http://www.stripes.com/news/at-camp-leatherneck-amos-says-marines-have-transformed-helmand-1.268362">At Camp Leatherneck, Amos says Marines have transformed Helmand</a> -- Stars and Stripes<br /><br /><a href="http://www.stripes.com/news/navy-orions-likely-damaged-in-hangar-collapse-1.268275">Navy Orions likely damaged in hangar collapse</a> -- Stars and Stripes<br /><br /><a href="http://www.dodbuzz.com/2014/02/18/report-pentagon-to-buy-fewer-f-35s-in-2015/">Report: Pentagon to Buy Fewer F-35s in 2015</a> -- DoD Buzz<br /><br /><a href="http://www.defensenews.com/article/20140218/DEFREG02/302180037/Getting-There-Faster">US Army Emphasizes Speed as It Plans for an Uncertain Future</a> -- Defense News<br /><br /><a href="http://www.defenseone.com/technology/2014/02/end-new-icbm/78986/?oref=d-skybox?oref=d-interstitial-continue">The End of the New ICBM</a> -- Stephen Young, Defense One<br /><br /><a href="http://www.nti.org/gsn/article/us-nuclear-weapons-agency-delay-work-interoperable-warhead/">U.S. Nuclear Weapons Agency to Delay Work on Interoperable Warhead</a> -- Global Security Newswire<br /><br /><a href="http://www.voanews.com/content/us-navy-set-to-deploy-next-generation-of-weapons/1853674.html">US Navy to Deploy Next Generation of Weapons</a> -- Voice of America<br /><br /><a href="http://breakingdefense.com/2014/02/marines-budget-scramble-commandant-resurrects-mpc-acv-in-limbo/">Marines Budget Scramble: Commandant Resurrects MPC, ACV In Limbo</a> -- Breaking Defense<br /><br /><a href="http://www.stripes.com/news/us/stryker-crews-find-ways-to-defeat-armored-enemy-1.268179">Stryker crews find ways to defeat armored enemy</a> -- Stars and Stripes/The News Tribune (Tacoma, Wash.)<br /><br /><a href="http://thehill.com/blogs/defcon-hill/procurement/198583-defense-contracts-drop-66-percent-in-january">Defense contracts drop 66 percent</a> -- The Hill<br /><br /><a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/defense-contractors-face-realities-of-a-slimmer-pentagon-as-cutbacks-yield-smaller-awards/2014/02/18/16a39f56-98dc-11e3-80ac-63a8ba7f7942_story.html">Defense contractors face realities of a slimmer Pentagon as cutbacks yield smaller awards </a>-- Washington Post<br /><br /><a href="http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_slatest/2014/02/18/pentagon_tests_electric_brain_stimulation_as_alternative_to_coffee.html">The Pentagon is Trying to Replace Coffee with Electric Brain Stimulation</a> -- Slate<br /><br /><a href="http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-02-18/at-t-says-u-s-requested-surveillance-on-35-000-user-accounts.html">AT&T Says U.S. Sought Surveillance on 35,000 User Accounts</a> -- Bloomberg<br /><br /><a href="http://www.stripes.com/news/us/nsa-surveillance-exposes-political-party-divisions-1.268326">NSA surveillance exposes political party divisions</a> -- AP<br /><br /><a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/homeland-security-is-seeking-a-national-license-plate-tracking-system/2014/02/18/56474ae8-9816-11e3-9616-d367fa6ea99b_story.html">Homeland Security is seeking a national license plate tracking system</a> -- Washington Post<br /><br /><a href="http://www.stripes.com/news/pentagon-gets-new-media-chief-1.268390">Pentagon gets new media chief </a>-- Stars and Stripes<br /><br /><a href="http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/198676-mccain-envisions-a-gop-controlled-senate-in-2015">McCain as Armed Services chairman?</a> -- The Hill<br /><br /><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2014/02/18/world/asia/18reuters-usa-crime-forthood.html?ref=world">U.S. Military Tears Down Army Base Site of Mass Killing in Texas</a> -- New York Times/Reuters<br /><br /><a href="http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/feb/18/soldier-suspended-honor-guard-posts-we-put-fun-fun/">Soldier suspended for distasteful honor guard posts: ‘We put the fun in funeral’</a> -- Washington Times<br /><br /><a href="http://www.cbsnews.com/news/pentagon-agency-slow-to-id-return-remains-of-americas-fallen/">Pentagon agency slow to ID, return remains of America's fallen </a>-- CBS<br /><br /><a href="http://rt.com/op-edge/us-missile-shield-russia-361/">US missile shield: ‘Russian Bear sleeping with one eye open’</a> -- William Engdahl/RT<br /><br /><a href="http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/Killer_robot_drones_are_like_drugs_regulate_but_resist_the_urge_to_ban_them_999.html">Killer robot drones are like drugs: regulate, but resist the urge to ban them</a> -- UAV News<br /><br /><a href="http://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/140746/sarah-kreps-and-micah-zenko/the-next-drone-wars?cid=rss-security-the_next_drone_wars-000000">The Next Drone Wars: Preparing for Proliferation </a>-- Sarah Kreps and Micah Zenko, Foreign Affairs<br /><br /><a href="http://www.weather.com/news/science/environment/climate-change-national-security-american-threat-multiplier-20140216">Climate Change Looming As Threat to U.S. National Security </a>-- Weather Channel<br /><br /><a href="http://thehill.com/blogs/defcon-hill/policy-strategy/198570-hagel-pens-op-ed-us-is-committed-to-asia">Hagel pens op-ed: US is committed to Asia</a> -- The Hill<br /><br /><a href="http://swampland.time.com/2014/02/18/pentagons-wish-lists-return/">The Return of the Pentagon’s “Wish Lists”</a> -- Mark Thompson, Time<br /><br /><a href="http://www.csmonitor.com/Commentary/Opinion/2014/0218/Will-America-forget-its-veterans">Will America forget its veterans?</a> -- Kayla Williams, Christian Science Monitor<br /><br /><a href="http://www.sacbee.com/2014/02/18/6168980/us-military-deaths-in-afghanistan.html">US military deaths in Afghanistan at 2,173</a> -- AP

Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- February 19, 2014

Looking For Syria Options, U.S. Remains Cool To Using Force -- New York Times/Reuters WASHINGTON — Despite a forthcoming review of options i...

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