Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- February 21, 2014

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.defense.gov/imgHandler.ashx?h=350&w=0&img=/dodcmsshare/photoessay/2014-02/hires_140214-A-RU942-060a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.defense.gov/imgHandler.ashx?h=350&w=0&img=/dodcmsshare/photoessay/2014-02/hires_140214-A-RU942-060a.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Eric Petty and U.S. Army 1st Lt. Maurice Cooper conduct live-fire range training with M4 carbines on Forward Operating Base Lightning in Afghanistan's Paktiya province, Feb. 14, 2014. Petty and Cooper are assigned to the 10th Mountain Division's Headquarters Company, 3rd Brigade Combat Team. U.S. Army photo by Pfc. Dixie Rae Liwanag</span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>US Military Presence in Afghanistan Uncertain After 2014 -- Voice of America</b></span></div><br />WASHINGTON — After 12 years of fighting in Afghanistan, America’s longest war is coming to an end. By the end of this year, all U.S. combat personnel will be out of the country.<br /><br />The question facing U.S. officials is what kind of a residual force - if any - will remain. That force would continue training Afghan military and security forces and sustaining counterterrorism operations against al-Qaeda. <br /><br />Brent Scowcroft was national security adviser to two U.S. presidents, Gerald Ford (1974-77) and George H.W. Bush (1989-93). He said a minimum of 10,000 troops are needed to - in his words - give a sense of reassurance to the Afghan military.<br /><br /><b><a href="http://www.voanews.com/content/us-military-presence-in-afghanistan-uncertain-after-2014/1855777.html">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.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/us-allies-agree-on-standards-for-which-opposition-groups-in-syria-will-receive-aid/2014/02/20/7b5b8b02-9a53-11e3-b931-0204122c514b_story.html">U.S., allies agree on aid for Syrian rebels</a> -- Washington Post<br /><br /><a href="http://thediplomat.com/2014/02/russia-to-establish-arctic-military-command/">Russia to Establish Arctic Military Command </a>-- Zachary Keck, The Diplomat<br /><br /><a href="http://en.ria.ru/military_news/20140221/187724456/Russia-to-Adopt-Future-Soldier-Gear-in-Summer.html">Russia to Adopt ‘Future Soldier’ Gear in Summer</a> -- RIA Novosti<br /><br /><a href="http://en.ria.ru/military_news/20140221/187722127/Russian-Sub-to-Feature-Advanced-Quiet-Propulsion-by-2016.html">Russian Sub to Feature Advanced Quiet Propulsion by 2016</a> -- RIA Novosti<br /><br /><a href="http://www.wantchinatimes.com/news-subclass-cnt.aspx?id=20140221000033&cid=1101">India's ballistic missiles capable of destroying China's cities</a> -- Want China Times<br /><br /><a href="http://thediplomat.com/2014/02/chinese-military-clamps-down-on-corruption/">Chinese Military Clamps Down On Corruption</a> -- Ankit Panda, The Diplomat<br /><br /><a href="http://www.algemeiner.com/2014/02/20/report-egypt-spies-alerted-israel-to-german-dolphin-submarine-buy-russian-contract-to-upgrade-tanks/">Report: Egypt Spies Alerted Israel to German Dolphin Submarine Buy, Russian Contract to Upgrade Tanks</a> -- Algemeiner<br /><br /><a href="http://indrus.in/economics/2014/02/21/mig-31_a_fighter_ahead_of_its_time_33233.html">MiG-31: A fighter ahead of its time </a>-- Ekaterina Turysheva, Russia & India Report <br /><br /><a href="http://www.defensenews.com/article/20140220/DEFREG01/302200036/Germany-Cuts-Order-Eurofighter-Jets">Germany Cuts Order for Eurofighter Jets</a> -- Defense News/AFP<br /><br /><a href="http://www.cnn.com/2014/02/21/world/africa/tunisia-libya-plane-crash/">11 killed as Libyan military plane crashes in Tunisia</a> -- CNN<br /><br /><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/brazil-39-navy-conducts-largest-ever-operation-205530716.html">Brazil's Navy conducts largest-ever operation</a> -- AP<br /><br /><a href="http://www.defensenews.com/article/20140221/DEFREG01/302210020/New-UK-Army-Chief-Appointed">New UK Army Chief Appointed </a>-- Defense News<br /><br /><a href="http://thehill.com/blogs/defcon-hill/policy-strategy/198788-study-warns-against-afghan-troop-cuts">Study warns against Afghan troop cuts</a> -- The Hill<br /><br /><a href="http://www.voanews.com/content/philippine-public-divided-on-increased-us-military-visits/1856192.html">Philippine Public Divided on Increased US Military Visits</a> -- Voice of America<br /><br /><a href="http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-02-21/u-s-army-chief-in-china-for-talks-with-top-military-officials.html">U.S. Army General Meets China Officials Amid Regional Tensions</a> -- Bloomberg<br /><br /><a href="http://www.voanews.com/content/top-us-army-officer-we-have-common-objectives-with-china/1856136.html">Top US Army Officer: We Have 'Common Objectives' With China</a> -- Voice of America<br /><br /><a href="http://www.stripes.com/news/army-in-europe-plans-to-shed-hundreds-of-local-nationals-1.268843">US Army in Europe plans to shed hundreds of local nationals</a> -- Stars and Stripes<br /><br /><a href="http://defensetech.org/2014/02/19/is-the-f-35s-computer-r2-d2-or-hal/#more-22360">Is the F-35’s Computer R2-D2 or HAL?</a> -- Defense Tech<br /><br /><a href="http://www.defensenews.com/article/20140220/DEFREG02/302200043/USAF-Defends-Need-New-Long-Range-Bomber">USAF Defends Need for New Long-Range Bomber </a>-- Defense News<br /><br /><a href="http://www.military.com/daily-news/2014/02/20/navy-launches-massive-ford-class-carrier-test.html">Navy Launches Massive Ford-Class Carrier Test</a> -- Military.com<br /><br /><a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/02/21/us-lockheed-martin-unmanned-idUSBREA1K0EK20140221">Lockheed sees huge potential for military-, commercial-use drones</a> -- Reuters<br /><br /><a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/nsa-explores-options-for-relinquishing-vast-telephone-record-database/2014/02/20/6237ae9e-9986-11e3-b931-0204122c514b_story.html">NSA explores options for vast telephone record database</a> -- Washington Post<br /><br /><a href="http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702303636404579393413176249186">NSA Weighs Retaining Data for Suits</a> -- Wall Street Journal<br /><br /><a href="http://www.dodbuzz.com/2014/02/21/pentagon-unveils-electro-magnetic-spectrum-strategy/">Pentagon Unveils Electro-Magnetic Spectrum Strategy</a> -- DoD Buzz<br /><br /><a href="http://thehill.com/blogs/defcon-hill/policy-strategy/198810-pentagon-to-share-electromagnetic-spectrum">Pentagon to share electromagnetic spectrum</a> -- The Hill<br /><br /><a href="http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/feb/20/hagel-orders-shakeup-of-mia-accounting-mission/">Hagel orders shakeup of MIA accounting mission</a> -- Washington Times<br /><br /><a href="http://www.defenseone.com/management/2014/02/outgoing-comptroller-confident-pentagon-can-be-audited-2017/79166/?oref=d-channelriver">Outgoing Comptroller Bob Hale Says the Pentagon Can Be Audited by 2017</a> -- Defense One/Government Executive<br /><br /><a href="http://www.militarytimes.com/article/20140220/BENEFITS02/302200035/Troops-prefer-cash-over-kind-benefits">Troops prefer cash over in-kind benefits</a> -- Military Times<br /><br /><a href="http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/feb/20/drugs-room-where-former-seals-found-dead-captain-p/">Drugs in room where former SEALs found dead on ‘Captain Phillips’ ship </a>-- Washington Times<br /><br /><a href="http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2014/02/20/institute-study-prevention-military-ptsd-programs/5637987/">Report: Military efforts to prevent mental illness ineffective </a>-- USA Today<br /><br /><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/feb/20/us-ranks-low-global-index-lgbt-inclusion-armed-forces">US ranks low in first-ever global index of LGBT inclusion in armed forces </a>-- The Guardian<br /><br /><a href="http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/feb/20/cover-up-army-historian-says-report-on-deadly-afgh/">Cover-up? Army historian says report on deadly Afghan battle was altered to absolve faulty gun </a>-- Washington Times<br /><br /><a href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/lorenthompson/2014/02/20/u-2-vs-global-hawk-why-drones-arent-the-answer-to-every-military-need/">U-2 Vs. Global Hawk: Why Drones Aren't The Answer To Every Military Need</a> -- Loren Thompson, Forbes<br /><br /><a href="http://rt.com/op-edge/us-expands-military-net-africa-081/">US expands military net over Africa, checking China’s influence</a> -- Eric Draitser, RT<br /><br /><a href="http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/feb/20/scales-superior-warriors-with-inferior-weapons/">U.S. troops are equipped with inferior, antiquated weapons</a> -- Robert Scales, Washington Times<br /><br /><a href="http://www.defenseone.com/threats/2014/02/house-cards-lesson-us-military/79091/">The ‘House of Cards’ Lesson for the U.S. Military </a>-- Harry J. Kazianis, Defense One

Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- February 21, 2014

U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Eric Petty and U.S. Army 1st Lt. Maurice Cooper conduct live-fire range training with M4 carbines on Forward Operating ...

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