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Jul 20, 2016

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Good morning and welcome to the Early Bird Brief.

Please send news tips and suggestions to Early Bird Editor Jennifer-Leigh Oprihory: joprihory@sightlinemg.com. And follow her on Twitter: @jenniferleigho.

Today's Top 5

1. Pentagon assembles allied nations to plot out next stage of Islamic State fight
(Washington Post) Defense Secretary Ashton B. Carter will gather defense ministers from allied nations this week to plan what officials hope will be the decisive stage in the campaign against the Islamic State, even as political upheaval and terrorist attacks strain the U.S.-led coalition battling the group.

2. U.S.-Backed ‘Moderate’ Rebels Behead a Child Near Aleppo
(Daily Beast) It’s the kind of stomach-wrenching brutality you’d associate with ISIS. Except this time, it’s American-armed rebels who are cutting off a boy’s head.

3. Top U.S., Chinese admirals discuss South China Sea disputes after ruling
(Navy Times) The U.S. Navy’s top officer raised U.S. concerns over China’s expansive South China Sea claims in a high-level visit with his counterpart in the Chinese navy.

4. Turkey formally requests extradition of cleric from Pa.
(The Hill) Turkey has formally asked the United States to extradite a Muslim cleric it blames for last week’s coup attempt, Turkey’s prime minister said Tuesday.

5. How Race Factors Into West Point Admissions
(Task & Purpose) The service academies may not have traditional affirmative action policies, but they are making a major effort to diversify the officer corps.

Islamic State Group

US-backed rebels capture key ISIS headquarters in Syria
(The Hill) Western-backed Syrian forces have recaptured a strategic headquarters for the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria in the town of Manbij, Syria.

U.S. approves $785 million bomb sale to UAE ally against Islamic State
(Reuters) The U.S. State Department has approved the sale of $785 million in bombs to the United Arab Emirates for the U.S.-led campaign against Islamic State militants in Syria and Iraq, the Pentagon said on Tuesday.

Turkish defense chief assures Pentagon it will remain 'committed' to ISIS fight
(The Hill) Turkey will remain a "determined and committed partner and ally" in the fight against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS), its defense minister told U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter Tuesday.

Top Turkish ministers expected to skip anti-ISIS summit
(Washington Examiner) Both Turkey's foreign minister and defense minister have canceled plans to attend Wednesday's Counter-Islamic State summit in Washington, according to Turkish press reports.

France says west plans strike on Islamic State in Iraq, confirms Libya presence
(Reuters) France and the United States are preparing a coordinated strike against Islamic State on the militant group's stronghold in Mosul, Iraq, French government spokesman Stephane Le Foll said.

U.N.: Islamic State fighters face possible defeat in Libya
(Associated Press) Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon says Islamic State fighters in Libya are facing the "distinct possibility" of defeat in their last stronghold and are likely to scatter elsewhere in the North African country and the region.

Brazilian extremist group uses Telegram to pledge allegiance to ISIS ahead of Olympic
(Washington Post) Hundreds of thousands of athletes and tourists are about to arrive in Rio de Janeiro from around the world for this year's Summer Olympics, whose opening ceremony is just more than two weeks away. Security is going to be extremely tight. The police and army are on high alert for copy-cat attacks after European cities have suffered one terrorist assault after the other.

Brazil probes Olympics threats after group backs Islamic State
(Reuters) Brazil's intelligence agency said on Tuesday it was investigating all threats to next month's Rio Olympics after a presumed Brazilian Islamist group pledged allegiance to Islamic State (IS) less than three weeks before the Games.

Syria

Weapons of the Syrian War
(DefenseOne) From chlorine gas to Kalashnikovs, barrel bombs to cruise missiles, the Syrian conflict shows what 21st-century militaries and armed groups can bring to bear.

Boris Johnson gets backing from US, seeks solution for Syria
(Associated Press) U.K. Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson has refused to apologize for withering one-liners he's made about world leaders but he has won the support of Britain's closest ally as the country navigates its difficult path out of the European Union.

Defense Industry

KC-46 Moves Closer to Production Decision After Successful Flight Test
(Defense News) With the July 15 refueling of the A-10 Warthog, the KC-46A has officially completed all flight tests needed ahead of a milestone decision this August.

Navy awards antenna contract to Raytheon
(C4ISRNET) Raytheon has been awarded a $30.3 million contract modification for Navy radar antennae.

SOCOM awards Battelle new contract for covert trucks
(IHS Jane’s 360) Battelle has been awarded a USD170 million contract to build Non-Standard Commercial Vehicles (NSCVs) for US Special Operations Command (SOCOM), the organisation announced on 19 July.

Drones able to inspect manned aircraft in record time
(C4ISRNET) Airbus has demonstrated how a drone can conduct a visual aircraft inspection.

Turkish Procurement Programs at Risk of Delay Following Attempted Coup
(Defense News) A failed attempt to overthrow Turkey’s Islamist government has exposed the Turkish military to the risk of operational weaknesses and will likely put off most of the country’s multibillion-dollar procurement programs, some officials have said.

F-35 impact from unrest in Turkey unclear: Lockheed
(Flightglobal) A failed military coup last week will not affect Lockheed Martin’s business relationship with Turkey, though it could be too early to make that call, according to top Lockheed Martin executives.

Lockheed Martin Says Protracted F-35 Contract Talks Weigh on Cash
(Wall Street Journal) Protracted contract talks between the Pentagon and Lockheed Martin Corp. over the next batch of F-35 combat jet planes are a drag on the military contractor’s cash and could force it to take out extra loans to keep paying suppliers, the company’s chief financial officer said.

Lockheed Martin takes aim at rotary- and fixed-wing aircraft with INFIRNO
(IHS Jane’s 360) Lockheed Martin has conducted the first flight test of its new INFIRNO modular turreted sensor for rotary- and fixed-wing aircraft.

Lockheed Martin completes Merlin HM2 deliveries
(IHS Jane’s 360) Lockheed Martin UK integrated Systems has completed the delivery of the 30th and last UK Royal Navy (RN) Merlin helicopter to be updated to HM2 standard under the Merlin Capability Sustainment Programme (MCSP).

Lockheed Martin's Sniper ATP family grows as the company explores adding new capability
(IHS Jane’s 360) The US Air Force has awarded Lockheed Martin a USD99 million foreign military sales (FMS) order for Sniper Advanced Targeting Pods (ATPs) for 10 international militaries.

Lockheed Bullish On International F-16 Orders
(Aviation Week & Space Technology) Although Lockheed Martin is facing a gap in F-16 production starting next year, top officials say the company is keeping the line warm in anticipation of new international orders of the lightweight fighter before too long.

Dassault contracted to conduct Mirage 2000D MLU
(IHS Jane’s 360) The French Air Force is to proceed with an upgrade of its Dassault Mirage 2000D combat aircraft that was approved by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) in late 2015.

Russia Delivers First Missiles for Iran’s New Air Defense System
(The Diplomat) The first batch of missiles for the S-300 air defense system has recently been delivered, Iran claims.

Hyundai wins South Korean Navy's KRW260 billion training ship contract
(IHS Jane’s 360) South Korean shipbuilder, Hyundai Heavy Industries, has been awarded with a KRW260 billion (USD228 million) contract to construct a dedicated training ship for the Republic of Korea Navy, the country's Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) announced on 19 July.

AIM-9X Block II Missiles Get Capability Upgrade | Russia’s KA-52K Katran To Be Field Tested in Fall | Brits Overwhelmingly Favor Trident Renewal
(Defense Industry Daily) AIM-9X Block II missiles are getting an air-to-surface mode.

Veterans

House Vets chairman backs off support for VA Secretary McDonald
(Military Times) The chairman of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee and Donald Trump’s top veterans adviser backed off his support for current Veteran Affairs Secretary Bob McDonald on Tuesday, saying the department leadership needs a full overhaul.

VA: Reduce suicide by improving access to mental health
(St. Cloud Times) Preventing those tragedies has taken on a new importance at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, along with improving access to mental health care services for veterans and their families.

Former Marine sentenced to 25 years for oil fraud scheme
(Associated Press) Federal authorities say a former Marine has been sentenced to 25 years in jail for a multimillion dollar Nigerian oil fraud scheme.

National Security & Intelligence

Guantánamo judge agrees to preserve two 9/11 victims’ testimony
(Miami Herald) The 9/11 trial judge has agreed to hear and preserve testimony from the father of two New York rescue workers killed at the World Trade Center and from a woman whose husband was aboard the plane that crashed into the Pentagon on Sept. 11, 2001. But Army Col. James L. Pohl, the judge, rebuffed a prosecution request to take the depositions at Guantánamo Bay before the presidential elections.

Secure' Texas Border Still Elusive Year Into $800M Mission
(Associated Press) Nowhere along the Texas-Mexico border is yet secure a year after the state committed an historic $800 million to guard the 1,200-mile boundary with hundreds more troopers and high-tech surveillance, the state official overseeing most of the mission said Tuesday.

Read President Obama’s Open Letter to U.S. Law Enforcement: ‘We Depend on You’
(Time) President Obama has faced criticism for his approach to issues involving police officers and communities of color in the wake of a recent series of violent confrontations. Five officers were killed in Dallas earlier this month and another three were killed in Baton Rouge on Sunday, in what authorities say was retaliation for earlier fatal shootings by police officers. This year alone, 31 officers have been killed by gunfire in the line of duty.

Congress & Politics

Senators Want to Help Troops with PTSD Appeal Bad Discharges
(Military.com) A bipartisan group of senators on Tuesday sought to revive a proposal to make it easier for veterans to upgrade "bad paper" discharges wrongly handed down for behavior resulting from PTSD or sexual trauma.

State: Nuke deal allows 'incremental growth' in Iran's enrichment capacity
(Washington Examiner) The State Department confirmed Tuesday that non-public documents revealed this week accurately describe how that Iran will be able to ramp up its nuclear enrichment capacity after about a decade. But the department insisted that the group of countries involved in the deal knew this as it was being negotiated, and said the information revealed Monday isn't "new" to them, even though the details had been kept away from the public since the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, or JCPOA, was agreed.

U.S. files suit against DynCorp International over Iraq contract
(Reuters) The United States has filed a lawsuit against DynCorp International Inc alleging that it submitted inflated claims in connection with a U.S. government contract to train Iraqi police forces, the Justice Department said on Tuesday.

Biden Reasserts US as a 'Pacific Power' in Trip to Australia
(Associated Press) Vice President Joe Biden met with Australia's prime minister and other leaders on Tuesday, as he reasserted America's push to boost its presence in the Asia-Pacific region and maintain its status as a "Pacific power."

Election 2016

Navy SEAL-turned-lawmaker: Trump is a friend of the military
(Military Times) Navy veteran Rep. Ryan Zinke believes national defense and veterans topics are bipartisan issues — just not in this presidential campaign.

Donald Trump Is Officially the Republican Nominee for President
(Associated Press) United for a night, Republicans nominated Donald Trump Tuesday as their presidential standard-bearer, capping the billionaire businessman’s stunning takeover of the GOP and propelling him into a November faceoff with Democrat Hillary Clinton.

Exclusive: Trump could seek new law to purge government of Obama appointees
(Reuters) If he wins the presidency, Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump would seek to purge the federal government of officials appointed by Democratic President Barack Obama and could ask Congress to pass legislation making it easier to fire public workers, Trump ally, Chris Christie, said on Tuesday.

Hillary Clinton Is Said to Seek National Security Experience for Vice Presidential Pick
(New York Times) Facing a fall contest against a Republican opponent focused on law and order, Hillary Clinton has narrowed her search for a vice-presidential candidate, telling several potential running mates that she needs a No. 2 who would bring national security experience to the Democratic ticket.

Two names emerge from Clinton’s VP deliberations: Kaine and Vilsack
(Washington Post) Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and Sen. Timothy M. Kaine of Virginia have emerged as the leading candidates on a longer list of finalists Hillary Clinton is considering for her vice-presidential running mate, according to interviews with multiple Democrats with knowledge of her deliberations.

Retired General Calls Hillary Clinton an 'Obama Clone'
(Military.com) Retired Army Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn railed against Hillary Clinton, President Barack Obama and unisex bathrooms in a fiery but scattershot address that capped a raucous and emotional first day of the Republican National Convention in Cleveland on Monday.

NRA lobbyist attacks Clinton's stance on Second Amendment
(Washington Post) NRA lobbyist Chris Cox spoke at the Republican National Convention in support of Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, saying, "A Hillary Clinton Supreme Court means your right to own a firearm is gone."

Former attorney general targets Clinton's email scandal
(Washington Post) Former attorney general Michael Mukasey spoke at the Republican National Convention, using a line associated with Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton against her in his speech: “What difference does it make?”

Plagiarism controversy overshadows GOP's national security night
(Military Times) After an opening convention night where Republican speakers accused Hillary Clinton of war crimes, most of the headlines the next morning focused on the possible petty theft of speech text by Melania Trump.

Fact checking the second day of the 2016 Republican National Convention
(Washington Post's Fact Checker) Here’s a roundup of some of the most noteworthy claims that were made. As is our practice, we do not award Pinocchios for a roundup of claims made in convention events.

Cybersecurity, Space and Surveillance

Meet The Cyber Mercenaries Selling Spyware To Governments
(Motherboard) On the night of March 5, 2011, at the height of the Egyptian revolution of 2011, a group of pro-democracy protesters stormed and ransacked the office of Egypt’s security service.

Survey: IT Professionals Still Not Taking Cybersecurity Seriously
(National Defense) As the information technology industry undergoes a massive digital transformation, a Dell survey released July 19 revealed that security remains an afterthought.

DARPA prepares to send Plan-X into battle
(C4ISRNET) DARPA is close to completing a visually oriented environment that's designed to give cyber warriors instantaneous knowledge of a network attack. Under development since 2012, Plan-X marks the DoD's first major attempt to create a cyber battle space, fundamentally shifting the way the agency addresses and responds to network attacks.

SpaceX seeks approval for two additional landing pads on Space Coast
(Orlando Sentinel) The company told the Sentinel that the new landing areas are needed to prepare for the possibility of landing three rockets – all within minutes of each other.

APNewsBreak: New Mexico Spaceport Authority Director Resigns
(Associated Press) The head of the New Mexico Spaceport Authority said Tuesday she will resign, saying she still believes in the commercial space industry and that Spaceport America has a role to play despite criticism that flights filled with paying passengers have not yet lifted off from the remote desert site.

EDA, EU Satellite Centre codify co-operation arrangement
(IHS Jane’s 360) The heads of the European Defence Agency (EDA) and European Union (EU) Satellite Centre (SATCEN) have exchanged letters as part of a process to formalise the co-operation agreement between the two group, EDA announced on 18 July.

Army updates and renames cyber electromagnetic activity regulation
(C4ISRNET) Among several recent developments bringing Army cyber and electromagnetic activities closer together, the service updated and renamed one of its regulations related to supporting the integrated multi-mission nature of cyber electromagnetic activities through software-based systems.

Dad, Teen Son Ordered to Disclose Data on Weaponized Drones
(Associated Press) A federal judge has ordered a father and his teenage son to testify under oath at depositions and hand over documents about drones shown in online videos firing a gun and deploying a flame thrower in their backyard.

Defense Department

Failed coup in Turkey threatens military ties with key U.S. ally
(Military Times) The Turkish defense minister will not fly to Washington on Wednesday to attend a key meeting of the global coalition fighting the Islamic State, the latest sign that the Pentagon’s military relationship with the key Middle Eastern ally may be suffering in the wake of the failed coup attempt there last week.

Second phase of DARPA Gremlins project nears launch
(Flightglobal) The next stage in the US Department of Defense’s low-cost, retrievable unmanned air vehicles experiment could begin within three months, one industry team working on the project has told FlightGlobal.

Air Force

Anti-ISIS airstrikes in Iraq, Syria hit 2016 high
(Air Force Times) Airstrikes against the Islamic State group in Iraq and Syria last month surpassed 3,000 weapons dropped for the first time since 2015, according to the latest statistics from U.S. Air Forces Central Command.

This chart shows just how big the air war against the Islamic State was in June
(Washington Post) It marks just the third time the Air Force has dropped more than 3,000 weapons in a single month in the campaign. The others occurred in November and December 2015 as U.S. forces supported a grueling effort to take back the Iraqi city of Ramadi from the militants.

Incirlik relying on generators to power operations
(Stars & Stripes) Incirlik Air Base in Turkey continued on Tuesday to rely on generators for electricity, four days after Turkish authorities cut commercial power lines to the base following an attempted coup.

Pentagon identifies airman who died in Southwest Asia
(Air Force Times) The Defense Department on Tuesday identified an airman who died while supporting Operation Inherent Resolve, the U.S.-led operation against the Islamic State group, in the Central Command theater.

Army

Fort Wainwright sergeant may have killed himself, officials say
(Army Times) Army officials at Fort Wainwright, Alaska, identified the soldier who died of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound last Saturday as Sgt. Philip Brandon Wright.

Army SOF Tosses Androids For Shiny New iPhones
(Task & Purpose) Army Special Operations Command has decided to move on from glitchy Androids to the more reliable iPhone 6S.

US Army Medical and Dental Corps lieutenant colonel promotion list, July 19, 2016
(Stars & Stripes) A list of officers selected for promotion to lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army Medical and Dental Corps for fiscal year 2016, as announced on July 19, 2016.

Fort Bliss sergeant indicted in meth case
(El Paso Times) A U.S. Army sergeant stationed at Fort Bliss wore a military uniform bearing his name while allegedly selling methamphetamine to an undercover federal agent in El Paso earlier this year, court documents state.

Fort Bragg soldiers jump into Louisiana as part of no-notice exercise
(Fayetteville Observer) According to officials, the 82nd Airborne Division was notified of the U.S. Army Forces Command-led exercise on Tuesday, giving them just under 100 hours to prepare for a complex mission pitting them against role-players in a realistic scenario that mimics a potential real world mission for the nation's Global Response Force.

Fort A.P. Hill Honored with Superior Unit Award
(The Free-Lance Star) The Army has recognized Fort A.P. Hill as a standout installation for the second time in as many months.

Vegas sportsbook installs Mids as (very) early favorites in Army-Navy game
(Army Times) Recent rivalry history, and the graduation of Navy's star quarterback, did little to sway Las Vegas oddsmakers.

Navy

Sailors to get more training on finances, new retirement system
(Navy Times) Sailors are about to get more financial training throughout their career as the military moves to a new retirement system in coming years.

China and US Conduct Joint Submarine Rescue Drill
(The Diplomat) The joint submarine rescue exercise took place during Rim of the Pacific 2016 off the coast of Hawaii.

Navy official charged after allegedly aiming gun at men during dispute
(Navy Times) A top Navy civilian has been charged with brandishing a personal handgun for a June encounter where he allegedly pointed the gun at men on the street near his Northern Virginia home.

US Navy to Expand Fleet of Largest-Ever Amphibious Assault Ships
(The Diplomat) Last month, the US Navy awarded a contract for the construction of a third large-deck amphibious assault warship.

RIMPAC 2016: Navy Hopes Green Initiatives will be Adopted by Foreign Militaries
(USNI News) The Navy’s Great Green Fleet initiative is highlighting the connection between environmental stewardship and increased combat capability at RIMPAC 2016, and top Navy leadership hopes its foreign partners will find technologies and practices to adapt in their own militaries.

LCS Tests ‘Exceptionally Well’ in Shock Trials
(Defense News) A ten-thousand-pound explosive charge set off close to the littoral combat ship (LCS) Jackson caused minimal shipboard damage, the US Navy said today, and the ship is back at Mayport, Florida for more detailed examination.

The 'earthquake' off Florida's coast was likely Navy testing
(Associated Press) An apparent 3.7 magnitude earthquake off the coast of Florida was likely triggered by a man-made explosion to test the seaworthiness of a new U.S. Navy vessel.

Top naval intel and cyber posts filled
(C4ISRNET) The Navy recently saw two key changes of command. Vice Adm. Jan Tighe took the helm as the deputy chief of naval operations for Information Warfare (N2N6) and director of naval intelligence in a July 15 ceremony at the Pentagon, the Navy said.

USN takes delivery of JSOW C-1s, its first network-enabled air-to-surface weapon
(IHS Jane’s 360) The US Navy (USN) has declared initial operational capability (IOC) for a network-enabled version of Raytheon's Joint Standoff Weapon (JSOW) that will provide the sea service a maritime moving target capability.

Marine Corps

Marines rename spec ops schoolhouse for fallen Raider who earned the Navy Cross
(Marine Corps Times) Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command will rename the schoolhouse where it trains special operators in honor of a fallen Navy Cross recipient.

Coast Guard

Police Cadets Get Shipshape on Coast Guard Visit
(The Brunswick News) Eighteen young cadets mustered to attention Monday at U.S. Coast Guard Station Brunswick, forming two smart lines of uniform purpose and determination, unflinching beneath a blazing mid-morning sun.

National Guard

Indiana Air National Guard's 122nd Fighter Wing deploys planes, airmen to training in Slovakia
(News-Sentinel) The Indiana Air National Guard's 122nd Fighter Wing has deployed eight A-10 Thunderbolt II "Warthog" planes and about 140 airmen to the month-long Operation Atlantic Resolve training event at Siliac Air Base in Slovakia.

Europe, Russia-Ukraine

The families of British troops killed in Iraq are crowdfunding a legal case against Tony Blair
(Washington Post) A group representing the families of British troops killed during the Iraq War has launched a crowdfunding campaign to help bring a civil case against government officials for their role in the conflict.

British Navy Plans To Let ScanEagle Drone Go Next Year
(Defense News) Britain’s Royal Navy is to lose its only remotely piloted air systems capability when the current arrangement with Boeing to operate the ScanEagle platform expires next year.

France National Assembly votes to extend state of emergency
(Agence France-Presse) France's National Assembly voted by a huge majority early Wednesday for a proposed law that would extend the state of emergency for six months following last week's massacre in Nice.

How Monday’s train attack by a 17-year-old Afghan could change the German refugee debate
(Washington Post) Germany has so far been spared a large-scale Islamist terror attack similar to the ones that targeted neighboring France and Belgium. But Monday's attack on a local German train by a 17-year-old Afghan refugee has added new fears over radicalized individuals, as more information emerged that the attacker had pledged loyalty to the Islamic State in a video.

German train ax attack puts Merkel migrant policy back in spotlight
(Reuters) The case is likely to deepen worries about so-called "lone wolf" attacks in Europe and could put political pressure on Merkel, who has welcomed hundreds of thousands of migrants to Germany over the past year.

Spain approves critical design review on S 80 submarine
(IHS Jane’s 360) The Critical Design Review (CDR) on Spain's long-delayed S 80 diesel-electric submarine (SSK) programme has been approved. Announcement of a new production schedule for the four-boat programme is now awaited, although approval of the CDR paves the way for production to begin.

Afghanistan & Pakistan

Airstrikes said to kill 2 Taliban leaders
(Stars & Stripes) Afghan airstrikes have killed two Taliban leaders and more than two dozen guerrillas in southern Helmand province, officials said Tuesday.

Afghan Officials Report Taliban Attacks, Uptick in Violence
(Associated Press) The Taliban launched multiple attacks in Afghanistan on Tuesday, including on a strategic tunnel in the Hindu Kush mountains that links the capital, Kabul, with the country's north and south, officials said.

Turkey

Turkish government to propose bringing military under tighter civilian control
(Washington Post) In the wake of last week’s failed coup attempt, government officials here are expected to propose changes in the country’s constitution that will give President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s government more control over the Turkish armed forces, according to Turkish officials.

Turkish jets strike rebels in Iraq following failed coup
(Associated Press) Turkey's state-run news agency says Turkish jets have carried out cross-border strikes against Kurdish rebel positions in northern Iraq, killing 20 alleged militants.

Turkey Coup Raises Questions About NATO’s B61 Nuke Posture
(Aviation Week & Space Technology) The U.S. and NATO face serious questions about the wisdom of stationing nuclear weapons in Turkey after commanders at Incirlik air base, which houses potentially as many as 50 B61 thermonuclear weapons, were implicated in the attempted overthrow of President Recep Erdogan.

Turkey Pursues Cleric Living in U.S., Blamed as Coup Mastermind
(New York Times) Turkey’s president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, says that a mild-mannered Muslim cleric living in self-imposed exile in rural Pennsylvania was pulling the strings of a coup attempt last week that almost succeeded in taking over the state, and killing Mr. Erdogan himself.

The U.S. tried to kill Erdogan, says editor-in-chief of Turkish daily
(Washington Post) A column in a major Turkish daily claims the United States planned last week's failed coup and tried to kill Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Turkey's Post-Coup-Attempt Purge Widens As Arrests And Firings Grow
(National Public Radio) Turkey's government says it is removing from government institutions anyone it considers loyal to Fethullah Gulen, an elderly Turkish cleric who has been living in eastern Pennsylvania since the late 1990s.

Obama Presses Erdogan in Phone Call to Respect Rights
(Bloomberg) President Barack Obama pledged U.S. support for the democratically elected government of Turkey while urging embattled Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to respect civil liberties as he responds to the coup attempt that almost forced him from power.

With Turkey in chaos, its secular citizens feel even more nervous
(Washington Post) The tumult is rattling Turkey, which was founded in secularism but has become profoundly divided over the role of Islam in society. And when the dust settles, it is unclear whether the nation’s shaky democracy will be left standing after such turbulence.

An interview with Mevlut Cavusoglu, Turkey’s minister of foreign affairs
(Washington Post) Cavusoglu spoke forcefully about Fethullah Gulen, an opponent of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and a U.S. resident, who the Turkish government believes was behind the coup attempt. And the minister made it clear that Turkey — a key U.S. ally in the fight against the Islamic State, also known as ISIS and ISIL — expects Gulen’s extradition.

Turkey receives first CH-47F Chinook
(Flightglobal) Turkey has reportedly received its first Boeing CH-47F Chinook heavy-lift rotorcraft, following its completion in-country at the port of Izmir.

Middle East

No exit: Safety failures turned Baghdad bombing into inferno
(Associated Press) At least 292 people died from the July 3 car bombing in Baghdad's central Karradah district. Most of the deaths resulted not from the blast itself, but from the ensuing inferno, fed by a tinderbox of shops in two malls filled with clothing and oil-based perfumes for sale and lined with flammable panels. It was all worsened by a slow response by firefighters, building code violations — and a lack of water.

Israeli Minister Rallies for Offshore Gaza Seaport
(Defense News) An Israeli minister who holds portfolios for intelligence and transportation said at a conference Tuesday that some in the government are becoming more receptive to allowing a seaport to be built off the shores of Gaza.

Israeli Official Warns West Against Embracing Iran
(Defense News) Israel’s national security adviser warned Tuesday that the year-old nuclear deal between Iran and world powers has emboldened Tehran’s support for terror organizations worldwide while allowing it to legitimately race toward the bomb about a decade from now.

Netanyahu: Hezbollah Will Face 'Iron Fist' If It Attacks
(Associated Press) Israel's prime minister says the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah will face an "iron fist" if it attacks Israel again.

Palestinian Boy Killed During Clashes With Israeli Forces
(Associated Press) A Palestinian hospital official says a 12-year-old boy was killed after clashes erupted between Israeli forces and protesters in the West Bank.

Africa

12 soldiers killed, many wounded in attack on Mali army base
(Associated Press) Gunmen killed 12 soldiers and wounded more than 30 in an attack early Tuesday on an army camp in central Mali, the government said, and a movement within the Peul ethnic group claimed responsibility.

Libya militia downs helicopter, killing 2 French troops
(Associated Press) Officials in Libya said on Tuesday that an Islamist militia shot down a helicopter outside the eastern city of Benghazi, killing two French special forces troops who were onboard.

11 dead in suspected South Sudan cholera outbreak: UNICEF
(Associated Press) UNICEF says 11 people have died in a suspected cholera outbreak in South Sudan. The organization said Tuesday there are 72 suspected cases so far, including 36 in the capital, Juba. Others are in Bor and Terekeka counties.

8 Shot Dead or Decapitated in Eastern Congo, Group Says
(Associated Press) A Congo human rights group says eight people have been shot dead or decapitated by machetes in an attack by an armed group in the eastern part of the country.

The U.N. Appeals For $204 Million to Combat Africa’s Food Security Crisis
(Associated Press) The U.N. food agency has declared its highest-level emergency in drought-stricken southern Africa and is appealing for $204 million immediately to purchase food and transport it to the region to help millions of hungry people.

Asia-Pacific

New Zealand Orders New Fleet Tanker
(Defense News) New Zealand ordered a new $348 million naval tanker from Hyundai in South Korea to replace the replenishment tanker that is nearly three decades old.

India Deploys T-72 Tanks in Ladakh to Counter China’s Military Build-up
(The Diplomat) The Indian Army appears to have moved over 100 tanks to its disputed border with China.

North Korea says missile test simulated attack on South's airfields
(Reuters) North Korea said on Wednesday it had conducted a ballistic missile test that simulated preemptive strikes against South Korean ports and airfields used by the U.S. military, a likely reference to the launches of three missiles on Tuesday.

Mystery numbers in N. Korea broadcasts carry Cold War echoes
(Associated Press) North Korea's state radio has recently broadcast strings of indecipherable numbers, Seoul officials said Tuesday, in a possible resumption of a Cold War-era method of sending coded messages to spies operating in South Korea.

Thai air force receives first two VIP Superjets
(Flightglobal) The Royal Thai Air Force has taken delivery of two VIP-configured Sukhoi Superjet 100 airliners which will be utilised for personnel transport.

Americas

Mexican state fires state investigators in army slayings
(Associated Press) Authorities said Tuesday they will fire nine investigators and suspend 21 others for misconduct related to the 2014 army slayings of 22 suspected gang members in central Mexico.

120,000 desperate Venezuelans poured into Colombia to buy food but now the border is closed again
(VICE News) Colombia's government has said it will keep its border with Venezuela closed in the wake of the dramatic weekend scenes of 120,000 Venezuelans flooding over a bridge to go shopping in the city of Cúcuta.

UN Rights Chief Airs Worry About Food Shortages in Venezuela
(Associated Press) The U.N. human rights office is expressing concern about deteriorating human rights, growing violence and "severe shortages" of food, medicine and basic goods in Venezuela.

Commentary and Analysis

Why Military Spouses Still Can’t Have It All
(Jeremy Hilton in The Huffington Post) Last Friday, the Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF) published the first in a three-part series regarding military spouse employment, titled The Force Behind the Force: A Business Case for Leveraging Military Spouse Talent.The purpose of the study was: “to outline some of the positive and potentially business enhancing characteristics of military spouses related to employment, the unique assets they bring to the workplace, and to describe the compelling business case to recruit and ultimately hire them.“

5 Things I Learned About Child Loss In The Military
(Sgt. Michelle Moskiewicz in Still Standing Magazine) A child’s death is never easy. Combining that with being thousands of miles away from the nearest family members, having to repeatedly explain the death to people who have never met your child, and worrying about deployments shortly after can be a recipe for disaster to mental health, grieving properly, and a family’s wellbeing. When our infant son died just shortly before he turned three months old, our world came collapsing down, and I learned five important lessons about losing a child while serving in the military.

Long wars and ugly nationalism test Americans' patience
(Shawn Snow in The Hill's Contributors blog) Just before the NATO summit in Warsaw, President Obama announced a new Afghan policy to maintain 8,400 troops in Afghanistan through next year; a shift from a previous goal of reducing America’s effort in the war torn country to an embassy size protection force of 5,500 combat troops. The shift in strategy counters Obama’s promise of ending the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

U.S. counterterrorism is mired in turf wars. We could learn a lot from the U.K.
(Washington Post) Congress fails to recognize that its own actions likely contribute to interagency failures, while security officials are misguided to believe that every country’s intelligence and law enforcement communities battle with turf wars.

This Time, Post-War Iraq Needs a Real Plan With Real Money
(Nancy Lindborg and Sarhang Hamasaeed in DefenseOne) A plan for reconciliation in Iraq should also come out of this week’s counter-ISIS coalition meeting in Washington.

BLOODY RAMADAN: HOW THE ISLAMIC STATE COORDINATED A GLOBAL TERRORIST CAMPAIGN
(Daveed Gartenstein-Ross and Nathaniel Barr in War On The Rocks) Though some militants may have acted of their own accord, it is probable that ISIL as an organization played a pivotal role in organizing and directing the majority of attacks that occurred during Ramadan. Some attacks, such as the Istanbul and Baghdad bombings, were centrally directed by ISIL attack networks, with the organization deploying trained operatives. Other operations were the product of collaboration between local networks and ISIL operatives based in Syria and Iraq, who helped to organize and coordinate the attacks remotely. Through this combination of both central and virtual planning, ISIL mounted an unprecedented wave of attacks.

Joseph Hassan Farrokh Sentenced for Attempted Material Support to ISIL
(Nora Ellingsen in Lawfare) Last Friday, a federal district court in the Eastern District of Virginia sentenced Joseph Hassan Farrokh, a 29-year-old man from Woodbridge, Virginia, to 102 months in prison for attempting to provide material support to ISIL.

New Cruise Missile Crucial To Nuclear Deterrence
(Constance Baroudos and Peter Huessy in Breaking Defense) Critics of US nuclear modernization claim the Long-Range Stand-Off (LRSO) weapon — an aircraft-launched nuclear cruise missile — can be eliminated without harming America’s security interests. But the LRSO provides America with a unique capability to deter adversaries from using nuclear force and projects credible power while keeping US forces safe.

Ballistic Missile Defense and Real Deterrence
(Eugene Fox and Stanley Orman in Defense News) The editorial “BMD: What’s in a word?“ (6/27), presented a misleading argument by claiming that by maintaining a modern and robust nuclear arsenal we retain our security. This argument neglects the dramatic changes that have occurred through the proliferation of nuclear warhead and missile technology in the past thirty years.

Japan’s July 10 upper-house election: implications on US national security
(Nori Katagiri in the Modern War Institute at West Point's War Council Blog) The July 10 upper-house election in Japan will have important implications for the US-Japan alliance and the stability of East Asia, but the effect should not be exaggerated.

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