FW: Early Bird Brief

Start by doing what's necessary; then do what's possible;

 and suddenly you are doing the impossible.

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From: no-reply@militarytimes.com
Subject: Early Bird Brief
Date: Fri, 15 May 2015 05:00:09 -0600

Having trouble viewing this email? | View it in your browser May 15, 2015 May 15, 2015     FOLLOW US Good morning and welcome to the Early Bird Brief. Please send news tips and suggestions to Early Bird Editor Oriana Pawlyk: opawlyk@militarytimes.com. Today's Top 5 1. Nepal rescuers find 3 bodies near crashed Marine helo (Associated Press) Nepalese rescuers on Friday found three bodies near the wreckage of a U.S. Marine helicopter that disappeared earlier this week while on a relief mission in the earthquake-hit Himalayan nation, and officials said it was unlikely there were any survivors from the crash. 2. Obama reassures Gulf allies on Iran (BBC News) US President Barack Obama has pledged to stand by his Gulf allies with military force if necessary, amid heightened tensions with Iran. 3. Senate panel pairs military retirement reform with benefits trim (Military Times) Senate lawmakers will force the Defense Department to move ahead on a military retirement overhaul but will go along with DoD's plans to trim troops' pay and benefits. 4. Senate targets Pentagon spending on sports, recruiting (USA Today) The Pentagon would have to justify the military necessity of spending millions on sports sponsorships under a measure approved Thursday by the Senate. 5. Veterans Affairs improperly spent $6 billion annually, senior official says (Washington Post) The Department of Veterans Affairs has been spending at least $6 billion a year in violation of federal contracting rules to pay for medical care and supplies, wasting taxpayer money and putting veterans at risk, according to an internal memo written by the agency's senior official for procurement. Advertisement Yemen Iran blasts Saudis over Yemen, agencies rush in aid (Reuters) A top member of Iran's parliament called Saudi Arabia's King Salman a traitor to Islam on Thursday, a sharp escalation in rhetoric over Riyadh's air strikes against an Iranian-allied militia that has seized much of neighboring Yemen. Yemen conflict: Aid agencies rush to reach hardest-hit areas (BBC News) Aid agencies are attempting to reach areas of Yemen hardest hit by seven weeks of air strikes and fighting, as a humanitarian ceasefire largely holds. UN Welcomes Halt in Yemen Fighting, Urges Peace Talks (Voice of America) The United Nations Security Council welcomed the start of a humanitarian cease-fire in Yemen and urged the warring sides to allow urgently needed food, medicine and fuel to reach civilians. Islamic State Islamic State 'threatens ruins of ancient site of Palmyra' (Telegraph) Islamic State fighters are attacking Syrian troops near the ancient Roman site of Palmyra, one of the world's finest set of classical ruins. Salisbury man gets 20 years for trying to join Islamic State (Greensboro News & Record) The 44-year-old Salisbury man who in October admitted to trying to join a terrorist organization was sentenced to prison in U.S. District Court Wednesday in Greensboro. West Africa Militants Al-Mourabitoune Align With Islamic State (Bloomberg) Al-Mourabitoune, an Islamist militant group in West Africa, pledged allegiance to Islamic State, which is fighting in Iraq, Syria and Libya. Scotland Yard sees terror threat as hundreds of Britons return from Syria (CNN) As if it were not bad enough that hundreds of radicalized Britons have traveled to Syria to join ISIS, the even worse news for the UK is that hundreds of them have come back. Iraq-born Mesquite man arrested by FBI, which alleges he pledged allegiance to ISIS (Dallas Morning News) A 37-year-old Mesquite man who pledged his allegiance to the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria was arrested by the FBI Thursday and charged with lying to federal authorities. Islamic State releases 'al-Baghdadi message' (BBC News) Islamic State (IS) has released an audio message it says is from its leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, which if confirmed would be the first in months. Russia-Ukraine Russia-US Dialogue Elevated, But Ukraine Tensions Remain (Voice of America) Political analysts agree the four-hour meeting this week between U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian President Vladimir Putin was a step up in contact between the two countries. U.S. Troops Prepare Ukraine Soldiers for Russian Onslaught (Newsweek) The sounds of gunfire and explosions are constant on the firing range at the International Peacekeeping and Security Center outside this western Ukrainian town. Advertisement Ukraine accuses Facebook of pro-Russia bias (Agence France-Presse) A senior aide to Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko on Thursday accused Facebook (NasdaqGS: FB - news) of political bias, ahead of a question-and-answer session with co-founder Mark Zuckerberg. Russia Refuses to Ease Terms on $3 Billion Loan to Crisis-Hit Ukraine (Moscow Times) A Russian official said Thursday that Moscow would not restructure a $3 billion loan to Ukraine due for repayment in December, as the cash-strapped Kiev government nears a deadline in negotiations with international creditors over $23 billion in debt. Industry Study To Be Signed on European MALE UAV (Defense News) A plan by companies in France, Germany and Italy to launch a European medium-altitude, long-endurance (MALE) UAV program will get a boost Monday when defense ministers sign a Declaration of Intent for a two-year definition study. Navy wants better tech to detect small boats (C4ISR & Networks) The Navy wants synthetic aperture radar (SAR) to spot small boats. Pentagon poised to authorize $4B for Global Hawk (C4ISR & Networks) The Pentagon may be preparing to spend more than $4 billion on the Global Hawk UAV. Interview With Boeing BDS CEO Chadwick (Aviation Week) As the president and CEO of Boeing Defense and Security (BDS), Chadwick is presiding over a realignment that began less than three months ago. Northrop Grumman Aims To Retain Grip on Aviation (National Defense) Almost all military contractors these days see every competition as a "must win." And that is especially true for Northrop Grumman Corp. as it makes a big play to join the ranks of Lockheed Martin and Boeing as one of the nation's top manufacturers of combat aircraft. Raytheon Successfully Completes Critical Design Review for AMDR (USNI News) The Raytheon-built Air and Missile Defense Radar (AMDR) has successfully completed its Navy critical design review (CDR) ahead of more hardware development efforts later this summer, company officials told USNI News this week. Raytheon-built GPS III system delivered to USAF from Aurora (Denver Post) The U.S. Air Force has taken shipment of hardware that will help guide its next generation global positioning satellites, or GPS III, from Raytheon in Aurora. 5 Things Lockheed Martin Wants You to Know (Ivestopedia) Lockheed Martin has rewarded shareholders with strong returns, as the stock's price has doubled over the past two years. Congress SASC Approves Policy Bill - But Without Reed (Defense News) The US Senate Armed Services Committee on Thursday approved a bill that authorizes nearly $590 billion in base defense and war spending, but without the support of its top Democrat. Thornberry's First Test: Pelosi's Whip (Defense News) House Armed Services Committee Chairman Mac Thornberry's first try at passing a Pentagon policy bill faces a major challenge: Rep. Nancy Pelosi's whip operation. South China Sea dispute hits U.S. Capitol (Military Times) China has lashed out at reports that the Pentagon may consider sending military aircraft and ships to the South China Sea, but opinions differ in the U.S. over what role America should play in the murky dispute. Senate panel pairs military retirement reform with benefits trim (Military Times) Senate lawmakers will force the Defense Department to move ahead on a military retirement overhaul but will go along with DoD's plans to trim troops' pay and benefits. House rejects bid to close Gitmo (The Hill) The House rebuffed a proposal Thursday to close the Guantanamo Bay detention facility by the end of 2017 GOP leaders whipping support for defense policy bill (Politico) House Republican leaders worked feverishly Thursday to solidify their vote count for a sweeping defense policy bill, in the hopes that they can pass the measure without Democratic support. Colorado Republican: Let 'Dreamers' serve in military (The Hill) Rep. Mike Coffman (R-Colo.) is whipping votes against an amendment that would strip language from a defense bill that woud explore allowing certain illegal immigrants to serve in the military in exchange for U.S. citizenship. Defense budget fight hits House floor (Politico) Mac Thornberry, the new chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, will be the man in the middle on Thursday as this year's Defense Authorization Bill goes to the floor. Liberals will question the size of the $612 billion defense budget; fiscal conservatives will charge that the military spending increases he helped engineer represent a blatant end run around spending guidelines. Veterans (Audio) Top Veterans Affairs Official Says Agency Skirts Federal Purchasing Laws (NPR) At a hearing on Capitol Hill Tuesday, a senior official at the Department of Veterans Affairs accused his agency of waste, fraud and mismanagement in the way it purchases medical care and supplies. How Dogs Are Giving Veterans a Reason to Live (Time) A dog's love can cure anything - including PTSD 81-year-old Army veteran called 911 because he was hungry (Washington Post) An 81-year-old North Carolina Army veteran touched an emergency operator earlier this week when he dialed 911 - not because he was hurt, but because he was hungry Medal of Honor veterans speak of service (Arizona Online) Touring the country and speaking about his war experience is a type of therapy, Army Specialist Ty Carter said Thursday. ???(Video) Remains of Vietnam War veteran receive special salute (CBS News) After 47 years the remains of Master Sergeant James Holt came home from Vietnam this week -- met by his widow, Linda, his two daughters and other family members. Defense Department & National Security Pentagon hosts first Lab Day to highlight gadgets (Military Times) The tinkerers imagining and putting together the military's new toys got a chance for show-and-tell Thursday. Cyberspies, Nukes, and the New Cold War: Shane Smith Interviews Ashton Carter (Part 1) (Vice News) VICE founder Shane Smith interviews US Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter about Putin's nukes, the rise of the Islamic State, Afghan tumult, and repairing the NSA's reputation. Retired Air Force general to pilot Operation Homefront (Military Times) The nonprofit Operation Homefront has named retired Air Force Brig. Gen. John I. Pray Jr. as its new president and chief executive officer, effective next Monday. Cyber on campus: NSA boss part of academy-industry forum (Military Times) Before visiting with the newly created Army Cyber Institute last year, Mark McLaughlin hadn't been back to West Point since his 1988 graduation. JBC-P enables rapid situational awareness (C4ISR & Networks) Joint Battle Command - Platform enables rapid situational awareness, according to commanders involved in the live-fire Vanguard Focus exercise. The 4th Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Div. at Ft. Stewart, Georgia, is the first unit to get the system. GAO: Pentagon has 'challenges' training drone pilots (The Hill) Pilots who remotely control drones for the Army and Air Force may not be getting the training they should be, the Government Accountability Office said on Thursday. Army Videos and photo gallery: Cav soldiers march in Romania (Army Times) U.S. soldiers are marching across Romania in a 400-kilometer trek to kick off multinational exercises in that country. Recruit drops 180 pounds to join Army (Army Times) When Jesse Milbrat graduated from high school in 2012, an Army recruiter called and asked him if he wanted to join. He did want to join. He always had. He wanted to earn the Ranger tab like his father. But he weighed 380 pounds. WWI heroes Johnson, Shemin to receive Medal of Honor (Army Times) Two soldiers will be recognized with the Medal of Honor almost 100 years after their heroic actions during World War I, the White House announced Thursday. Military doctor blames Army addiction program for 2 deaths (USA Today) Army psychiatrist Patrick Lillard still anguishes over that night four years ago, when a drunken soldier shot to death a sheriff's deputy along a shoulder of an expressway outside this base and then turned the assault rifle on himself. Army Veteran and Former Evian Executive To Row Across North Sea (Forbes) On Memorial Day, Perfecto Sanchez will be climbing in a row boat and taking on 200 miles of some of the most challenging bodies of water in order to raise awareness for the challenges that all bodies of water are facing: indifference. Navy April courts-martial results announced (Navy Times) Here is the list of courts-martial cases from April. Justin Zemser remembered by Navy sprint football teammates (Washington Post) James Lieto will always remember meeting Navy sprint football teammate Justin Zemser for the first time. It was plebe summer two years ago, and both incoming midshipmen had gathered at the football field for the opening day of tryouts. Naval Academy mourns loss of midshipman in Amtrak crash (Associated Press) The U.S. Naval Academy's superintendent says the midshipman who died in an Amtrak train derailment was a talented and highly respected young man with a tremendously bright future. SASC Markup Adds $725 Million for 2 New Carrier UAV Prototypes, More X-47B Testing (USNI News) The Senate Armed Services Committee - concerned with the Navy's direction for its planned unmanned carrier aircraft program - wants the Pentagon to oversee development of two new carrier capable prototype unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) and restart testing of the service's two Northrop Grumman X-47B Unmanned Combat Air System Demonstration (UCAS-D) in a combined $725 million effort, according to a summary of the SASC's markup of the Fiscal Year 2016 defense authorization bill released Thursday evening. Naval goat weighs in on Richardson nomination (Twitter) Awaits CNO nom's policies on Navy mascots Connor: Submarine Force Could Become the New A2/AD Threat (USNI) Targeted investments in improving weapons and decoys could propel the U.S. submarine fleet to be the underwater answer to anti-access and area-denial (A2/AD) threats, the of the U.S. Navy's Commander, Submarine Forces (COMSUBFOR) said on Thursday. Air Force B-1 bombers headed to Australia (Air Force Times) The U.S. is sending B-1 bombers and surveillance aircraft to Australia as part of "an important shift in the way we posture our forces" in the Asia-Pacific region, a defense official told Congress on Wednesday. Air Force's Economic Impact Rebounds from Past Lows but Down from Peak (Grand Forks Herald) Grand Forks Air Force Base had a $252 million economic impact on the region in 2014, an increase of nearly 24 percent over the previous year's $203.7 million. U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptor demonstration team visits Soldiers' Home in Holyoke (MassLive.com) Eight members of the U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptor demonstration team met with military veterans at the Soldiers' Home in Holyoke on Thursday afternoon. It's ready, aim, fire at Beale Air Force Base (Appeal-Democrat) Armed and ready, Tech. Sgt. Michael Kessler and teammate Master Sgt. John Lane, both with the 9th Security Forces Squadron, sprinted to the shooting range on Wednesday during a competition as part of National Police Appreciation Week. Marine Corps Marines take coed living in stride during experiment (Marine Corps Times) It's a warm and dusty afternoon, and the infantrymen have completed their assessments for the day. Marines are beating the heat in whatever way seems best to them. Marine Corps buys motorcycles for new-rider training (Marine Corps Times) Marine officials in North Carolina are purchasing eight motorcycles for new-rider training as part of vigorous ongoing service-wide efforts to keep off-duty motorcycle fatalities in check. Inside the submission for Kyle Carpenter's Medal of Honor (Marine Corps Times) In honor of the upcoming anniversary of Carpenter's Medal of Honor award, Marine Corps Times is highlighting several never-published witness statements from his Medal of Honor submission package. The documents were released exclusively to Marine Corps Times through a Freedom of Information Act request. Study: Marines' combat stress program is ineffective (Marine Corps Times) A new study found that the Corps' stress control and readiness program - while popular with commanders - has no positive impact on Marines' mental health. However, Marine officials say they plan to continue using an improved version of the program into the post-Afghanistan era. Marine Veteran Held in Iranian Prison Ends Hunger Strike at Family's Request (New York Times) Amir Hekmati, the Marine veteran who is the longest-held American prisoner in Iran, reluctantly ended his second hunger strike this past weekend after relatives - particularly his terminally ill father - beseeched him to stop, Mr. Hekmati's sister said Thursday. Coast Guard Collision as Coast Guard boat tries to rescue disabled boat (Associated Press) A Coast Guard spokesman says a 47-foot Coast Guard boat sent to rescue a fishing boat with seven people aboard off the coast of Washington's Olympic Peninsula collided with the disabled recreational boat while taking it in tow. Two men on the fishing boat were injured in the collision. National Guard 9 investigates changes made after Air National Guard flight crashed fighting wildfire (WSOC) From the skies in giant C-130 planes, the Air National Guard saves lives and property. Only four units in the country do this dangerous work, and the 145th Airlift Wing based at Charlotte Douglas Airport is one of them. Md. National Guard opening hangar at Webster Field for drone (Associated Press) The Army National Guard is opening a new hangar for unmanned aircraft at the Navy's Webster Field in southern Maryland. Afghanistan/Pakistan Death toll in Kabul hotel attack rises to 14; Taliban claim responsibility (CNN) The death toll from an attack on a hotel in Kabul where guests were trapped amid gunfire has risen to 14, a senior Afghan police official said Thursday. (Audio) The Man Who Keeps Tabs On U.S. Money Spent In Afghanistan (NPR) John Sopko, the man whose job is to watch over U.S. government spending in Afghanistan, says it's not his job to be a cheerleader - it's to speak truth to power. Middle East Israeli government to refugees: Go back to Africa or go to prison (Washington Post) As Europe struggles to stem a spring flood of migrants from Africa and the Middle East trying to cross a deadly Mediterranean Sea, Israel has begun to toughen its stance toward refugees, telling unwanted Africans here they must leave now or face an indefinite stay in prison. Israel hawks to Pope Francis: Stay out of politics (Politico) After Pope Francis moved to recognize a Palestinian state, some gung-ho defenders of Israel suggested the pontiff should stick to preaching and stay out of politics. Choking agents mark new Syria low (CNN) "I tried to scream, but I couldn't take a deep breath. No one noticed when I tried to scream -- everyone was overwhelmed by the number of victims." Israel says it foiled Palestinian terror attack in east Jerusalem (Jerusalem Post) Three suspects and a minor were arrested for allegedly plotting an attack on security guards in Silwan. Europe Take us with you, Scotland' say thousands in North of England (BBC News) Thousands of people in the north of England have been using the hashtag "take us with you Scotland" to express their upset about the result of last week's general election, and Scottish nationalists are welcoming this English minority with open arms. Abbas: France trying to restart Mideast peace talks (Jerusalem Post) France has resumed efforts to revive the stalled Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas was quoted on Thursday as saying. Asia-Pacific China's People's Liberation Army bans smartwatches (C4ISR & Networks) China has placed a ban on Internet-connected wearables, according to NBC News. Indonesian fishermen tow migrant boat to Aceh (BBC News) More than 600 migrants from Bangladesh and Myanmar stranded at sea have landed in Indonesia's Aceh province, after being rescued by local fishing boats. Kerry to confront China over island-building in South China Sea (USA Today) U.S.-Chinese tensions over the South China Sea will ratchet up another notch this weekend, when Secretary of State John Kerry plans to confront top officials in Beijing to protest China's growing territorial claims in the strategic waters. Africa Burundi's Army Chief Says Coup Attempt Failed (NPR) A day after a general in Burundi announced a coup, the country's army chief says the putsch failed amid a split in the military, as sporadic gunfire and explosions could be heard in the capital of the central African nation. Nigeria's Maiduguri under curfew after Boko Haram attack (BBC News) Nigeria's military has imposed a curfew in the main north-eastern city of Maiduguri after a surprise attack by militant Islamist group Boko Haram. US Envoys Rule Out Change in Relations With Zimbabwe (Voice of America) Two visiting U.S. diplomats have ruled out a change of policy with Zimbabwe. The Americas Defying U.S., Colombia Halts Aerial Spraying of Crops Used to Make Cocaine (New York Times) The government of Colombia on Thursday night rejected a major tool in the American-backed antidrug campaign - ordering a halt to the aerial spraying of the country's vast illegal plantings of coca, the crop used to make cocaine, citing concerns that the spray causes cancer. China to invest $50bn in Brazil infrastructure (BBC News) The deal is due to be signed by banks from both countries during a visit by Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang to Brazil next week. Internal U.S. documents detail 'alarming questions' about Mexico violence (Los Angeles Times) The grisly discovery of more bodies and human remains in the hills of Guerrero, Mexico, raises "alarming questions about the widespread nature of cartel violence in the region and the level of government complicity," a U.S. military report said. Commentary and Analysis A defining moment for Nigeria that America shouldn't miss (Washington Post) Last month, Nigeria completed a competitive national election in a peaceful and transparent manner. While the United States lent a hand as the democratic process played out, its participation cannot conclude with it applauding Nigeria's success from afar. In fact, in some ways, its involvement is only beginning, which is why I strongly urge President Obama to attend the inauguration of President-elect Muhammadu Buhari on May 29. India and China: Friends, foes or frenemies? (CNN) When President Xi Jinping welcomes Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to China on Thursday, both leaders will be well aware that, by 2025, their nations will be two of the three largest economies in the world. China's Confidence Can Be Shaken (Wall Street Journal) Reshaping China's international environment is a far more likely way to influence Beijing's policy choices than is changing the nature of Chinese government or waiting for a democratic uprising in the country. Goatgate Scandal Rocks Navy Cruiser (War Is Boring) He's cute, fuzzy and charming ... but, according to Navy officials, he doesn't belong on a boat. We're talking about a goat The Power of Career Intermissions (War On The Rocks) On May 13th at the U.S. Naval Academy, Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus rolled out a slate of new initiatives to reform the naval personnel system and make it more responsive in the 21st century. Many of the ideas he discussed have been foreshadowed in the writing of junior officers, as well as seniors like Vice Admiral Bill Moran. Playing politics with defense spending (Washington Post) There isn't much bipartisan governance left in Washington, but if anything still fits that description, it's probably the annual defense authorization act, which sets spending levels and policy for the Pentagon, and, therefore, usually brings Republicans and Democrats together in support of national security and the troops. Let Syrians Settle Detroit (New York Times) Detroit, a once great city, has become an urban vacuum. Its population has fallen to around 700,000 from nearly 1.9 million in 1950. The city is estimated to have more than 70,000 abandoned buildings and 90,000 vacant lots. Meanwhile, desperate Syrians, victims of an unfathomable civil war, are fleeing to neighboring countries, with some 1.8 million in Turkey and 600,000 in Jordan. 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