Military Officers Chafe for Bigger Role in Policy Decisions: "The military officer corps is rumbling with dissatisfaction and dissent, and there are suggestions from some that if officers disagree with policy decisions by Congress and the White House, they should vigorously resist.
Officers have a moral responsibility, some argue, to sway a policy debate by going public with their objections or leaking information to the media, and even to sabotage policy decisions by deliberate foot-dragging.
This could spell trouble ahead as Washington grapples with at least two highly contentious issues: changing the policy on gays and lesbians in the military, and extricating U.S. forces from Afghanistan. In both cases, senior officers already have disagreed sharply and publicly with Defense Secretary Robert Gates and President Barack Obama, and in some cases officers have leaked documents to bolster their case."
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Censored book masks sensitive operations - Army News | News from Afghanistan & Iraq - Army Times
Censored book masks sensitive operations - Army News | News from Afghanistan & Iraq - Army Times: "The Defense Department’s 11th-hour effort to censor an intelligence officer’s memoir of his tours in Afghanistan has removed much, but not all, of the book’s most eye-catching previously unreported material.
The book, “Operation Dark Heart” by Lt. Col. Anthony Shaffer, includes descriptions of promising missions canceled because of bureaucratic intransigence, but also discussions of intelligence and counterintelligence successes. However, rather than brag about the latter missions, the Defense Department chose to try to keep information about them from the public.
Among the items the Pentagon would rather you not know about are how U.S. forces foiled an Iranian intelligence plot in the eastern Afghan town of Gardez, and that at the turn of the century U.S. intelligence retained the services of a retired Afghan general who was “our ticket into the heart of al-Qaida.”
These and other revelations are contained in the first edition of Shaffer’s book, an account of the Army Reserve officer’s 2003 and 2004 deployments to Afghanistan, where he ran the Defense Intelligence Agency’s operations out of Bagram Airfield."
The book, “Operation Dark Heart” by Lt. Col. Anthony Shaffer, includes descriptions of promising missions canceled because of bureaucratic intransigence, but also discussions of intelligence and counterintelligence successes. However, rather than brag about the latter missions, the Defense Department chose to try to keep information about them from the public.
Among the items the Pentagon would rather you not know about are how U.S. forces foiled an Iranian intelligence plot in the eastern Afghan town of Gardez, and that at the turn of the century U.S. intelligence retained the services of a retired Afghan general who was “our ticket into the heart of al-Qaida.”
These and other revelations are contained in the first edition of Shaffer’s book, an account of the Army Reserve officer’s 2003 and 2004 deployments to Afghanistan, where he ran the Defense Intelligence Agency’s operations out of Bagram Airfield."
Afghan, U.S. forces face growing insecurity in key province | McClatchy
Afghan, U.S. forces face growing insecurity in key province | McClatchy: "While the U.S. military has focused on the Taliban's southern strongholds, the militants and allied groups have been gaining ground in the north. The difficulties in Baghlan are emblematic of the uphill battle the United States and its allies face in trying to stabilize Afghanistan enough to begin drawing down troops next year.
The smaller NATO units that operate in the north are under restrictions driven by opposition to the war at home.
'Insurgency is a naturally lazy animal,' said an ISAF intelligence official who spoke only on the condition of anonymity because he wasn't authorized to speak publicly. 'Like water and electricity, it goes wherever there are the least amounts of resistance.'
U.S. Army Gen. David Petraeus, the commander of the American-led force in Afghanistan, predicted last week that 'we can be increasingly effective' in the north with intensified counterinsurgency efforts, including stepped-up training of Afghan security forces.
The insurgents' numbers, however, are growing. Chaos, fraud, corruption and joblessness help their recruiting."
The smaller NATO units that operate in the north are under restrictions driven by opposition to the war at home.
'Insurgency is a naturally lazy animal,' said an ISAF intelligence official who spoke only on the condition of anonymity because he wasn't authorized to speak publicly. 'Like water and electricity, it goes wherever there are the least amounts of resistance.'
U.S. Army Gen. David Petraeus, the commander of the American-led force in Afghanistan, predicted last week that 'we can be increasingly effective' in the north with intensified counterinsurgency efforts, including stepped-up training of Afghan security forces.
The insurgents' numbers, however, are growing. Chaos, fraud, corruption and joblessness help their recruiting."
Censored book masks sensitive operations - Army News | News from Afghanistan & Iraq - Army Times
Censored book masks sensitive operations - Army News | News from Afghanistan & Iraq - Army Times: "The Defense Department’s 11th-hour effort to censor an intelligence officer’s memoir of his tours in Afghanistan has removed much, but not all, of the book’s most eye-catching previously unreported material.
The book, “Operation Dark Heart” by Lt. Col. Anthony Shaffer, includes descriptions of promising missions canceled because of bureaucratic intransigence, but also discussions of intelligence and counterintelligence successes. However, rather than brag about the latter missions, the Defense Department chose to try to keep information about them from the public.
Among the items the Pentagon would rather you not know about are how U.S. forces foiled an Iranian intelligence plot in the eastern Afghan town of Gardez, and that at the turn of the century U.S. intelligence retained the services of a retired Afghan general who was “our ticket into the heart of al-Qaida.”
These and other revelations are contained in the first edition of Shaffer’s book, an account of the Army Reserve officer’s 2003 and 2004 deployments to Afghanistan, where he ran the Defense Intelligence Agency’s operations out of Bagram Airfield.
"
The book, “Operation Dark Heart” by Lt. Col. Anthony Shaffer, includes descriptions of promising missions canceled because of bureaucratic intransigence, but also discussions of intelligence and counterintelligence successes. However, rather than brag about the latter missions, the Defense Department chose to try to keep information about them from the public.
Among the items the Pentagon would rather you not know about are how U.S. forces foiled an Iranian intelligence plot in the eastern Afghan town of Gardez, and that at the turn of the century U.S. intelligence retained the services of a retired Afghan general who was “our ticket into the heart of al-Qaida.”
These and other revelations are contained in the first edition of Shaffer’s book, an account of the Army Reserve officer’s 2003 and 2004 deployments to Afghanistan, where he ran the Defense Intelligence Agency’s operations out of Bagram Airfield.
"
Monday, October 4, 2010
Navy Promotes Energy Security at Upcoming Forum
Navy Promotes Energy Security at Upcoming Forum: "The 2010 Navy Energy Forum will be held Oct. 12 through 13 at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center in Washington, D.C. The theme for this forum is "Seapower Repowered: Energy as a Force Multiplier and Strategic Resource."
The forum will bring together military, government, and industry leaders to discuss the importance of energy to the warfighter and combat capability. Energy and environmental organizations are encouraged to participate.
Distinguished Navy speakers include the Honorable Ray Mabus, Secretary of the Navy, and Admiral Gary Roughead, Chief of Naval Operations. Guest speakers include Former Senator John Warner (R-Va), Dr. George Friedman, international affairs expert and chief executive officer of STRATFOR, and Dr. Daniel Yergin, chairman of Cambridge Energy Research Associates and Pulitzer Prize winner for his bestseller, "The Prize."
Building on a year of progress toward the Secretary of the Navy's energy goals announced in fall 2009, participants will focus on policies, partnerships, technologies, and culture change needed to move these goals forward. Issues such as reducing lifecycle energy costs, grid security, and alternative fuels will be addressed. The forum will also address the "Navy Energy Vision for the 21st Century," which identifies the Navy's way forward for increasing energy security.
"Energy is a national security issue, both for the Navy and the nation, and our use of this critical resource must be looked at in strategic terms. Reforming energy use within the Navy will, first and foremost, increase our combat capability, while it also advances our energy security and promotes environmental stewardship," stated Rear Admiral Philip Cullom, director of the Navy's Energy and Environmental Readiness Division and director of the Navy's Task Force Energy.
"
The forum will bring together military, government, and industry leaders to discuss the importance of energy to the warfighter and combat capability. Energy and environmental organizations are encouraged to participate.
Distinguished Navy speakers include the Honorable Ray Mabus, Secretary of the Navy, and Admiral Gary Roughead, Chief of Naval Operations. Guest speakers include Former Senator John Warner (R-Va), Dr. George Friedman, international affairs expert and chief executive officer of STRATFOR, and Dr. Daniel Yergin, chairman of Cambridge Energy Research Associates and Pulitzer Prize winner for his bestseller, "The Prize."
Building on a year of progress toward the Secretary of the Navy's energy goals announced in fall 2009, participants will focus on policies, partnerships, technologies, and culture change needed to move these goals forward. Issues such as reducing lifecycle energy costs, grid security, and alternative fuels will be addressed. The forum will also address the "Navy Energy Vision for the 21st Century," which identifies the Navy's way forward for increasing energy security.
"Energy is a national security issue, both for the Navy and the nation, and our use of this critical resource must be looked at in strategic terms. Reforming energy use within the Navy will, first and foremost, increase our combat capability, while it also advances our energy security and promotes environmental stewardship," stated Rear Admiral Philip Cullom, director of the Navy's Energy and Environmental Readiness Division and director of the Navy's Task Force Energy.
"
LockMart Awarded Radar Contract To Defend Against Anti-Ship And Ballistic Missile Threats
LockMart Awarded Radar Contract To Defend Against Anti-Ship And Ballistic Missile Threats: "The U.S. Navy awarded Lockheed Martin a $119 million contract to demonstrate its conceptual designs for the Air and Missile Defense Radar (AMDR) intended to upgrade the Navy's future capability against advanced anti-ship and ballistic missile threats.
Lockheed Martin was one of three industry teams competitively selected to advance its designs for the AMDR S-band radar and the radar suite controller under a 24-month technology demonstration phase contract.
"Lockheed Martin's AMDR design provides a high performance radar suite capable of supporting simultaneous multi-mission operations in stressing environments, balanced with affordable lifecycle costs," said Carl Bannar, vice president of Radar Systems.
The AMDR suite is scalable and can accommodate current and future mission requirements for multiple platforms. The AMDR S-band radar will provide volume search, tracking, ballistic missile defense discrimination and missile communications.
"
Lockheed Martin was one of three industry teams competitively selected to advance its designs for the AMDR S-band radar and the radar suite controller under a 24-month technology demonstration phase contract.
"Lockheed Martin's AMDR design provides a high performance radar suite capable of supporting simultaneous multi-mission operations in stressing environments, balanced with affordable lifecycle costs," said Carl Bannar, vice president of Radar Systems.
The AMDR suite is scalable and can accommodate current and future mission requirements for multiple platforms. The AMDR S-band radar will provide volume search, tracking, ballistic missile defense discrimination and missile communications.
"
Friday, October 1, 2010
defence.professionals | defpro.com
defence.professionals | defpro.com: "The U.S. Army's effort to trim its modernization portfolio is starting to produce a lot of casualties outside its ranks. Earlier this year the Army decided to kill its "non-line-of-sight" launch system even though development of the program was 90 percent complete, leaving the Navy to go it alone on what was expected to be the main weapon for the sea service's future Littoral Combat Ship. Reduced demand for the launch system means the Navy will need to spend much more money for each weapon, and may ultimately have to abandon it.
Now the Army has found another candidate for termination in its air defense community, and the fallout from that program's cancellation could be more far-reaching. The program is called SLAMRAAM, which stands for "surface launched advanced medium-range air-to-air missile." Basically, it's a truck-mounted version of the same radar-guided air combat missile carried by F-15 and F-22 fighters, designed to defeat airborne threats such as helicopters, unmanned aircraft, attack planes and cruise missiles -- anything that moves slower than a ballistic missile. The Army gave Raytheon a contract in 2004 to integrate the missile with a mobile launcher, radar and fire control unit so that its combat forces could be protected against a wide array of emerging aerial threats.
"
Now the Army has found another candidate for termination in its air defense community, and the fallout from that program's cancellation could be more far-reaching. The program is called SLAMRAAM, which stands for "surface launched advanced medium-range air-to-air missile." Basically, it's a truck-mounted version of the same radar-guided air combat missile carried by F-15 and F-22 fighters, designed to defeat airborne threats such as helicopters, unmanned aircraft, attack planes and cruise missiles -- anything that moves slower than a ballistic missile. The Army gave Raytheon a contract in 2004 to integrate the missile with a mobile launcher, radar and fire control unit so that its combat forces could be protected against a wide array of emerging aerial threats.
"
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