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Aug 08, 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. US Releases Redacted Drone Strike 'Playbook'
(Agence France-Presse) The U.S. government has released a once-secret policy document dubbed "the playbook" that shows how officials select drone targets in areas outside war zones and the key role the president has in the process.

2. Even with U.S. airstrikes, a struggle to oust ISIS from Libyan stronghold
(Washington Post) The American air intervention has altered the military equation on the ground and given a much-needed boost to the morale of the fighters battling the Islamic State, also known as ISIS or ISIL. But in a densely packed urban environment, where territory is seized street by street and house by house, eradicating the militants from Sirte remains a formidable struggle, illuminating the limits of the U.S. air campaign.

3. Spooked by obesity trends, the U.S. military is redefining its basic fitness standards
(Military Times) For the first time in 14 years, the military is rewriting its body composition standards and the methods used to determine whether troops are too fat to serve.

4. Feds fight bid to head off 'Serial' Bergdahl subpoena
(Politico) The Justice Department is urging a federal judge to shut down a bid by filmmaker Mark Boal to block military prosecutors from subpoenaing unaired outtakes of 25 hours of interviews Boal conducted with alleged Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl, who is facing a court-martial on charges he deserted a U.S. base in Afghanistan.

5. How an Iranian’s Spy Saga Ends, 6 Years Later: He’s Executed
(New York Times) The American, Israeli and European search to understand the scope of Iran’s nuclear program — an intelligence effort that continues to this day — has taken many bizarre turns that have already become the stuff of books and film. And the drama of Mr. Amiri’s apparent double defection came in a summer of espionage efforts against Iran gone wrong.

Islamic State Group

ISIS in Afghanistan claims it has confiscated sensitive U.S. military equipment
(Military Times) The Islamic State group is circulating photos of potentially sensitive American military equipment and identification cards purportedly confiscated by militants after recent battlefield engagements in Afghanistan.

Iraqis Flee Mosul Campaign for Packed and Underequipped Camp
(Associated Press) Camps for displaced civilians in Iraq's north are overflowing as Iraqi forces push toward the Islamic State group-held city of Mosul, forcing thousands to flee.

Jaw-dropping NVG video of F-22 Raptors refueling at night during air strikes on Daesh
(The Aviationist) The clip in this post shows airmen assigned to the 908th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron prepare their aircraft and refuel U.S. F-22 Raptors using a KC-10 Extender tanker during an aerial refueling mission in support of Operation Inherent Resolve on Jul. 13, 2016.

As the U.S. Steps Up Air War in Libya, Italy Braces for Retaliation
(Daily Beast) Italy has dodged major terrorist attacks so far, but fears are growing that day is coming to an end.

ISIS claims responsibility for machete attack on Belgian police officers
(The Independent) ISIS has claimed responsiblity for a machete attack on two Belgian police officers, describing the assailant as a “soldier of the caliphate” in a statement issued via its Amaq news agency.

IS claims Belgium machete attack that wounded 2 policewomen
(Associated Press) The Islamic State group on Sunday claimed responsibility for a weekend machete attack that wounded two policewomen in the Belgian city of Charleroi, calling it an act of reprisal carried out by one of its "soldiers."

Saudi Government: Attacker in Germany Was in Touch With IS
(Associated Press) The Saudi Interior Ministry says a member of the extremist Islamic State group was in contact through a social networking application with a Syrian asylum-seeker who blew himself up outside a bar in southern Germany, injuring 15 people.

NU professor cites ISIS capability in Brazil as only barrier to Olympic attack
(Boston Herald & wire) The only obstacle preventing Islamic State terrorists from pulling off a highly prized attack on the Summer Games in Rio de Janeiro would be the group’s inability to do so in Brazil, even as frequent attacks in Europe continue, experts say.

American fighters in Iraq take Pokemon contest to the front lines
(Stars & Stripes) Once feared by Saddam Hussein as a Zionist plot, Pokemon are now popping up in Iraq again. U.S. troops and veterans, among others, have joined in the hunt to “catch ’em all,” even on the front lines of the fight against the Islamic State group.

Syria

Syrian Rebels Breach Government-Imposed Siege on Aleppo
(Associated Press) Rebels breached the Syrian government siege on opposition neighborhoods in the city of Aleppo, marking a major military breakthrough that prompted an intense airstrike campaign Sunday, the opposition, residents and pro-government media reported.

Jihadists and other rebels claim to have broken through siege of Aleppo
(Long War Journal) Shortly after Al Nusrah Front announced on July 28 that it was relaunching its operations under the name Jabhat Fath Al Sham (“Conquest of the Levant Front”), jihadists, Islamists and other Sunni rebel groups began an offensive to break the siege of Aleppo.

Putin Senses Syria Victory That’ll Cement Assad, Confound U.S.
(Bloomberg) Vladimir Putin may be on the cusp of a pivotal victory in Syria’s civil war that would make it much harder for the U.S. to achieve its stated goal of ousting Bashar al-Assad without a major military escalation.

Defense News TV

Russia's Defense Modernization
(Defense News) Ruslan Pukhov, Centre for Analysis of Strategies and Technologies, discusses Russia's military modernization.

Russia's Military Defense Strategy
(Defense News) Ruslan Pukhov, Centre for Analysis of Strategies and Technologies, discusses Russia's goal to regain global super power status.

Missile Defense Gap
(Defense News) Thomas Karako, director of the Missile Defense Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, discusses with Defense News Land Warfare Reporter Jen Judson CSIS's new report regarding the declining missile defense budget.

Missile Defense Gap: Cruise Missile Threat
(Defense News) Thomas Karako, senior fellow with the International Security Program and director of the Missile Defense Project, at the Center for Strategic and International Studies discusses the impact of the cruise missile threat.

Money Minute: Leveraging Credit Card Rewards
(Defense News) Personal Finance Expert Jeanette Mack offers advice on getting the most out of credit card rewards.

Defense Industry

India Inks $300M Helicopter Upgrade Deal With Russian Firm
(Defense News) After nearly eight years of waiting, India has signed a $300 million contract with Rosoboronexport of Russia to upgrade 10 Russian-made submarine-hunting helicopters for the Indian Navy, said an Indian Ministry of Defence (MoD) official.

Navy approves counter-IED system
(C4ISRNET) The U.S. Navy has approved Lockheed Martin's Symphony Block 40 counter-IED system, according to a Lockheed Martin announcement.

Lockheed Martin flies redesigned MHTK interceptor
(IHS Jane’s 360) Lockheed Martin on 29 July conducted the first controlled vehicle test flight of redesigned version of its Miniature Hit-to-Kill (MHTK) semi-active radar homing missile as part of the US Army's Aviation and Missile Research Development and Engineering Centre's (AMRDEC's) Extended Area Protection and Survivability (EAPS) Science & Technology (S&T) programme.

Air Force developing cyber weapon locator
(C4ISRNET) Vencore Labs has been awarded a $9 million Air Force contract to develop technology to locate hostile cyber weapons.

Who Has The Edge In The U.S. Air Force T-X Trainer Competition?
(Aviation Week & Space Technology) As the U.S. Air Force begins to bring the Lockheed Martin F-35 online, the service is looking for a new fleet of aircraft to train the next generation of pilots. Four industry teams are vying to win the contract to build 350 T-X aircraft and associated training systems—an opportunity lucrative in itself, but one that will also provide the winning team an inside track to any number of international customers who buy the F-35.

Serious Fraud Office opens Airbus corruption investigation
(BBC News) The UK's Serious Fraud Office (SFO) has launched an investigation into allegations of "fraud, bribery and corruption" in the civil aviation business of Airbus

Veterans

Was this veteran denied VA care prior to suicide? Congress wants answers
(Military Times) Last October, former Marine sergeant and Army National Guard veteran Brandon Ketchum led a team in an awareness walk to honor military friends who had died by suicide.

Air Force veteran creates nitro-fueled ice cream business with military surplus gear
(Military Times) A former Air Force F-16 mechanic has leveraged his GI Bill-funded chemistry degree, along with military surplus gear stripped from nuclear test labs, to invent a brand-new way of making ice cream.

This Navy Veteran Calls Himself The ‘Caretaker’ Of The Vietnam Moving Wall
(Task & Purpose) Navy vet Paul Chen says his home is wherever the wall takes him.

Historian Pays Respects to US POWs at Hiroshima
(Asia News Network) "I'll strive together with [President Barack Obama] toward realizing a nuclear-free world so as not to waste their deaths," said Shigeaki Mori, 79, a historian, as he prayed Saturday for the souls of U.S. prisoners of war who died in the atomic bombing of Hiroshima.

Former 82nd paratrooper John Diffin, 94, is a link to the past
(Fayetteville Observer) Diffin is that rare veteran, a lifetime paratrooper who served in World War II, Korea and Vietnam before his retirement in 1975.

Homeless veteran finds niche in building portable shelters
(The Keene Sentinel) The charity, Veterans Relief Organization, is aiming to create a network of people under similar predicaments, and provide them with basic tools and strategies to improve their situations. At the heart of the effort is the shelter.

Brothers, shipmates: One survived, one died
(Courier & Press) The day Carl Kidwell boarded the U.S.S. Quincy was one of his happiest. He had waited years to be on that ship with his little brother, Logan.

Korean War soldier MIA coming home
(The Columbian) Sixty-five years after he died in North Korea, Billy Butz is finally coming home.

22Kill raises money to prevent veteran suicide
(Fayetteville Observer) Concern for fellow veterans drew former Marine Dustin Herring of Fayetteville to 22Kill, an organization that strives to prevent veterans from committing suicide.

Group to recognize Korean War veterans
(Fayetteville Observer) The Fayetteville Korean American Association is hoping to celebrate its homeland and honor local veterans during an event later this month.

Seminar to focus on suicide among veterans
(Tribune-Democrat) This year VCI plans to make veteran suicides the primary topic of its annual Returning Veteran Issues Symposium.

3 soldiers team up to provide homes for homeless vets
(Fayetteville Observer) Three specialists with an innate devotion for giving back hope to provide a special Thanksgiving for a homeless veteran - by putting their comrade in a home.

Election 2016

Retired generals keep pushing their politics; some say it's getting uncomfortable
(Military Times) While senior military leaders continue to warn their troops not to mix politics with their official duties, plenty of retired generals and admirals have taken high profile roles on the campaign trail to convince the American public how to vote this fall.

How to Hack an Election in 7 Minutes
(Politico Magazine) With Russia already meddling in 2016, a ragtag group of obsessive tech experts is warning that stealing the ultimate prize—victory on Nov. 8—would be child’s play.

Clinton's 'Moscow Spring' ended as Putin returned to power
(Associated Press) As secretary of state, Hillary Clinton basked in a diplomatic "Moscow Spring," seizing on Vladimir Putin's break from the presidency to help seal a nuclear arms-control treaty and secure Russia's acquiescence to a NATO-led military intervention in Libya. But when Putin returned to the top job, things changed.

Trump’s false claim that Clinton only recently pledged to renegotiate NAFTA
(Washington Post's Fact Checker) n recent weeks, in numerous settings, he has asserted that Hillary Clinton only now began to say she wanted to renegotiate trade deals, such as the 1993 North American Free Trade Agreement, because he had pushed her to do.

Clinton, Trump plan dueling economic speeches from Detroit in coming days
(Washington Post) The two major-party presidential candidates are advertising dueling economic speeches this week — both set to be delivered from Detroit — creating the prospect that policy differences will be aired alongside questions about the other’s temperament and mental health.

Former CIA Chief Calls Trump a National Security Threat
(NextGov) Morell says he is neither a registered Democrat nor a Republican and has “pulled the lever for candidates of both parties” over the years. His support for Clinton, he writes, is based in the belief that she “will deliver on the most important duty of a president—keeping our nation safe.”

Capt. Humayun Khan – remembered in unlikely political controversy, 12 years after being laid to rest
(Military Times) Army Capt. Humayun Khan was killed by suicide bomber in 2004 in Iraq. Former Military Times photographer Scott Mahaskey, now with Politico, was in Diyala Province when members of Khan’s 1st Infantry Division unit held a memorial. Twelve years later, Mahaskey visited Khan’s gravesite at Arlington National Cemetery.

Congress & Politics

Republicans say ‘ransom’ payment to Iran encourages kidnappings
(Politico) More Americans are at risk of being taken captive thanks to the Obama administration’s discreet $400 million payment to Iran, details of which were revealed last week, Republicans said on Sunday.

Cuba blames U.S. open door for migrant surge
(Reuters) Havana on Sunday blamed Washington for a surge of Cubans trying to reach the United States by land and sea, accusing the Obama administration of encouraging illegal and unsafe immigration.

Researchers or Corporate Allies? Think Tanks Blur the Line
(New York Times) Think tanks are seen as independent, but their scholars often push donors’ agendas, amplifying a culture of corporate influence in Washington.

National Security & Intelligence

GenForward poll: Young Americans worry over extremist threat
(Associated Press) A new GenForward poll of Americans age 18-30 shows widespread anxiety among young people about attacks from both inside and outside the United States.

Florida governor criticizes Washington for lagging in Zika fight
(Reuters) Florida Republican Governor Rick Scott on Sunday accused the federal government of lagging in providing assistance to combat the spread of the Zika virus in a Miami-area neighborhood, the site of the first U.S. transmission of the virus.

Cybersecurity, Space and Surveillance

DOD'S CYBER LESSONS FOR OPM
(NextGov) Federal “cyberwarriors” and “cyber defenders” might soon get formal credentials that communicate their specific expertise, Office of Personnel Management Acting Director Beth Cobert said earlier this week.

Vladimir Putin Plots a New Fleet of Spies in Space
(Daily Beast) Russia is working on new, advanced surveillance satellites. But U.S. spooks are already a step ahead.

Cyber Protection Brigade overcoming obstacles, but has 'a long way to go'
(C4ISRNET) There can be little doubt that building a cyber force is without its challenges — from transitioning lessons learned in the signals intel business over the last half century into a military context to operationalizing a new domain and staffing an entire workforce that can integrate with traditional military units.

DARPA's DyNAMO effort seeks to unify disparate airborne networks
(IHS Jane’s 360) The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is embarking on an effort to bridge the communications gap that exists between independently designed airborne networks that prevent legacy fighter aircraft and more advanced fifth-generation jets from sharing data.

VIDEO: HIGHLIGHTS FROM DARPA'S CYBER GRAND CHALLENGE
() After years of preparation and qualifying rounds, the Defense Advanced Research Project Agency's Cyber Grand Challenge finally reached its conclusion. Seven teams from around the country, and the autonomous computer systems they each built, competed in a series of bug-hunting contests to win some serious cash prizes. This event was the first of its kind, and took nearly 10 hours.

What’s coming up the pipe for PEO C3T?
(C4ISRNET) Officials from the Army Program Executive Office Command Control Communications-Tactical provided members of industry at TechNet Augusta an overview of a few upcoming projects.

Global computer glitch grounds Delta flights
(CNN) The airline said early Monday that all departing flights have been delayed by a global computer system outage.

Defense Department

5 years on, military spending caps haven't brought the total disaster so many predicted
(Military Times) When Congress passed the Budget Control Act in 2011, defense leaders warned the spending caps could have disastrous consequences for military programs and planning.

Information sharing hinders alliance partnerships
(C4ISRNET) Despite the importance placed on allies and partners, one factor hindering joint operations between the United States and key coalition members is restrictions on information sharing. This issue breaks down into a few separate yet interconnected trends surrounding the over-classification of materials, the need to protect certain secrets while sharing others with the coalition and cultural schisms, to name a few.

U.S. Finalizes Next-gen Military Engine National Tech Plan
(Aviation Week & Space Technology) U.S. defense officials and industry partners are putting the final touches to plans for a new national military engine technology development program that, for the first time, will include completely integrated power generation and thermal management elements, in addition to advanced propulsion technology.

DISA asks for more Rapid Innovation Funds
(C4ISRNET) The Defense Systems Information Agency is competing with the defense community to secure up to $12 million for projects with small business support. These funds are part of the Defense Department's Office of Small Business Programs that DISA says will go toward its Rapid Innovation Fund, a competitive, merit-based research and development project and process to accelerate fielding of innovative technologies.

Air Force

Security at Air Force bases, recruiting stations is moving forward, general says
(Air Force Times) Airmen are better protected against an armed assailant than they were at the time the Chattanooga shootings unfolded, said Lt. Gen. John Cooper, Air Force deputy chief of staff for logistics, engineering and force protection at the Pentagon.

US Air Force Boss: Faster F-35 Buy Rate Might Not Be Possible
(Defense News) The head of Air Combat Command wants to see the US Air Force build up its inventory of F-35s quicker than planned, but its civilian head signaled Wednesday that it might not be feasible in the current fiscal climate.

Nuclear airmen will get more opportunities for advancement, cross-training, general says
(Air Force Times) Airmen in the 13N nuclear and missile operations career field will find themselves with more opportunities to take leadership positions, according to Gen. Robin Rand, the head of Global Strike Command.

Artificial Intelligence Drone Defeats Fighter Pilot: The Future?
(Breaking Defense) In an intriguing paper certain to catch the eye of senior Pentagon officials, a company claims that an artificial intelligence program it designed allowed drones to repeatedly and convincingly “defeat” a human pilot in simulations in a test done with the Air Force Research Lab (AFRL).

Air Force refueling sorties on top of the world: They're 'like an organized chaos'
(Air Force Times) There aren’t many gas stations at the top of the world, especially for a plane the size of a B-52. So when the nation’s bomber force needs to top up, somebody has to bring the fuel to them.

Obama Caps Off Nuclear Recap With Two New Missiles
(Aviation Week & Space Technology) Just three months from the U.S. presidential election, the Air Force has capped the Obama administration’s sweeping modernization of the nuclear Triad of strategic submarines, bombers and siloed intercontinental ballistic missiles by launching competitions to replace the LGM-30 Minuteman III and AGM-86 Air-Launched Cruise Missile.

Ex-Pope airman gets NATO position
(Fayetteville Observer) A former Pope airman will take on the top enlisted position for special operations troops at NATO's Supreme Headquarters for Allied Powers Europe.

Air Force squadron leaving Colorado Springs for new work as space spies
(Colorado Springs Gazette) A tiny Air Force unit is moving from Colorado Springs to Aurora, where it will tackle a much bigger mission: space spying.

Aircraft switch to add 27 jobs at western New York air base
(Associated Press) Members of New York's congressional delegation says the U.S. Air Force's decision to transfer eight KC-135 refueling aircraft to the Niagara Falls air base will add more than two dozen new jobs at the facility.

Air Force has found landing spot for a hotel near Park City
(Salt Lake Tribune) After about 14 years of searching for a location, the U.S. Air Force and a state agency are poised to begin development of a four-star hotel near Park City's ski resorts.

Big Lebowski' actor David Huddleston, who died Tuesday, was an Air Force mechanic
(Air Force Times) David Huddleston, who graced the silver screen in features like "Blazing Saddles," and most notably, "The Big Lebowski," died Tuesday in Santa Fe, New Mexico from complications of advanced kidney and heart disease. He was 85.

Army

CTC on wheels' boosts largest U.S. Army Alaska exercise in 15 years
(Army Times) For U.S. Army Alaska’s largest exercise in 15 years, the Army called on its “combat training center on wheels” to help.

Tiny Drones Win Over Army Grunts. Big Bots? Not So Much
(Breaking Defense) Tiny drones, no bigger than your palm, were the big stars of an Army experiment in Hawaii, participants told Breaking Defense. Larger ground robots, however, struggled in the jungle.

Mandatory writing test for NCOs to launch Oct. 1
(Army Times) Beginning Oct. 1, all soldiers and noncommissioned officers preparing to attend an NCO professional military education course will be required to take an English comprehension and writing assessment.

Soldiers from Las Vegas serve in Kuwait during heat wave
(Associated Press) Soldiers who call the Las Vegas desert home have endured a historic heat wave while serving in Kuwait.

Army: 400 soldiers deploying this summer as part of troop increase in Iraq
(Army Times) About 400 soldiers from the 101st Airborne Division’s 2nd Brigade Combat Team will deploy to Iraq this summer as part of the recently announced troop increase there, the Army announced Friday.

Bragg to mark paratrooper anniversary in downtown Fayetteville
(Fayetteville Observer) The Home of the Airborne will commemorate the Army Parachute Test Platoon's first official jump, which took place Aug. 16, 1940, during a celebration at the Airborne & Special Operations Museum, 100 Bragg Blvd.

NHL CEO on West Point, Wall Street and military know-how in the workplace
(Army Times) West Point to Wall Street to … pro ice hockey? In Florida?

Drew Brooks: Shanita Reid's job is 'taking care of soldiers'
(Fayetteville Observer) In front of family and friends on a walkway outside the North Carolina Veterans Park, Reid became a master sergeant, which effectively means she now outranks 80 percent of the Army, said Command Sgt. Maj. James Thomas, one of Reid's mentors.

Navy

Every sailor is getting a new camouflage uniform
(Navy Times) In the past decade, the blue cammies have been many things.

US Navy ship makes 1st China visit since arbitration ruling
(Associated Press) A U.S. Navy guided missile destroyer arrived in the northern Chinese port of Qingdao on Monday in the first visit by an American warship to the country since Beijing responded angrily to an arbitration panel's ruling that its expansive South China Sea maritime claims had no basis in law.

Bonhomme Richard back on patrol after upgrades
(Stars & Stripes) The USS Bonhomme Richard left its homeport at Sasebo Naval Base in southern Japan on Saturday after four months of upgrades to its combat and engineering systems.

Enlisted Women Train for Duty on Kings Bay Sub
(The Brunswick News) The U.S. Navy is currently training 38 women to be among the first enlisted women to serve aboard a submarine at Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay in Georgia.

Rogue Archer:' Navy officer's contacts with Taiwan probed in spy case
(Navy Times) Attorneys for the Navy officer accused of spying are expected to argue Monday that the naval flight officer's constitutional rights have been violated and that the service prejudiced the upcoming court-martial by orchestrating an “avalanche of negative press” ahead of the trial.

Marine Corps

This guy dropped 150 pounds to be a Marine, and he still thinks the standards are too easy
(Marine Corps Times) Like many in his generation, Pvt. Richard Faler was once considered unfit to serve in the military.

National Guard

Air National Guard director talks recruiting, operations tempo, deployments and more
(Air Force Times) The experts are out there, and the Air Force reserve components want to find more of these civilians for career fields that require unique skill sets. Lt. Gen. L. Scott Rice, the new director of the Air National Guard, believes he can help make that happen.

More than 200 from Colorado Air National Guard off to Europe for training
(Colorado Springs Gazette) More than 200 Colorado Air National Guard airmen have headed to Europe for a training exercise.

Europe, Russia & Ukraine

Activists: Russian Military Hardware Sighted Along Northern Crimea Border
(Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty) Crimean Tatar activists have reported armed checkpoints being erected at scattered sites around the Russian-occupied peninsula, and unusually large concentrations of Russian hardware in northern regions.

Malicious Leaks Make Journalists Targets in Ukraine
(Daily Beast) Security services and rabid nationalists in Kiev are working hard to intimidate reporters trying to do their job covering the Ukraine conflict. The consequences could be deadly.

'Like Being A Slave': Workers On Russia's Bridge To Crimea Report Abuse, Deceit
(Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty) At the end of July, construction worker Vyacheslav Abdullin quit his job and headed home on foot – a 600-kilometer trek from the Kerch Strait to his hometown in the Ural Mountains region of Russia.

Serbia Offers to Help Patrol Bulgaria-Turkey Border
(Associated Press) Serbia has offered to help patrol the border between Bulgaria and Turkey to curb the influx of migrants seeking to reach the European Union through the Balkans.

Poland Takes Aim at Putin’s Pipe Dreams
(Foreign Policy) Warsaw may have finally thrown a wrench into the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, Moscow's controversial plan to double down on its dominance of Europe’s energy supplies.

Protestant Paramilitary Shot Dead in Northern Ireland
(Associated Press) Police and politicians say a prominent member of an outlawed Protestant paramilitary group has been shot dead in Belfast.

Smuggling surges in Greece as migrant frustrations grow
(Associated Press) Greek police say traffickers are using increasingly sophisticated methods — motorcycle spotters, maps of border surveillance "blind spots," and even police informants — to move out refugees who have been stuck in this Greek border town for months.

Macedonia declares emergency after flooding kills 21
(Associated Press) Macedonia’s government declared a state of emergency Sunday in parts of the capital hit by torrential rain and floods that left at least 21 people dead, six missing and dozens injured, authorities said.

Afghanistan & Pakistan

Afghan Official: Gunmen Abduct American, Australian in Kabul
(Associated Press) Five gunmen wearing Afghan military uniforms have abducted an American and an Australian in the Afghan capital, Kabul, a security official said Monday.

Suicide bomber kills at least 45 at Pakistan hospital
(Reuters) A suicide bomber killed at least 45 people and wounded dozens more in Pakistan on Monday, in an attack on mourners gathered at a hospital in Quetta, according to officials in the capital of the violence-plagued southwestern province of Baluchistan.

What Attracts Tourists To Afghanistan?
(National Public Radio) Despite the obvious dangers, there is a small tourist industry in Afghanistan. NPR's Ailsa Chang talks to London travel operator Marc Leaderman, who had led trips to the war-torn country.

Afghan general bans Pakistani rupee in southern province
(Associated Press) A senior Afghan police official regarded as one of the country's most powerful men has banned the use of the Pakistani currency in the key southern province of Kandahar.

Middle East & Turkey

US-Israel Reignite Rift on Iran Nuke Deal
(Defense News) After an extended truce over opposing positions on the US-led nuclear deal with Iran, the US and Israel rekindled their public rift on the issue, with President Barack Obama suggesting Israel own up to misplaced hysteria while Israel’s Defense Ministry likened the accord to pre-World War II appeasement of Nazi Germany.

Israel Seeks to Deport Activists Who Support Boycott
(Associated Press) Israel says it will seek to deport or bar the entry of activists calling for a boycott against the country.

Erdogan Seizes Failed Coup in Turkey as a Chance to Supplant Ataturk
(New York Times) President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has always had ambitions of surpassing Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder of modern Turkey, as the country’s most consequential figure. Now, a failed coup may allow him finally to do that.

Giant Turkish Anti-Coup Rally Packs Istanbul Waterfront Area
(Reuters) Turkey will continue fighting whatever powers seek to undermine the government, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan vowed Sunday as he addressed a massive flag-waving rally in Istanbul in the wake of the country's abortive July 15 coup.

Were Saudis behind Abbas-MEK meeting?
(Al-Monitor) Three weeks after former Saudi intelligence head Prince Turki bin Faisal Al Saud attended a rally for the Iranian opposition group Mujahedeen-e-Khalq (MEK) and called for the overthrow of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas met with MEK leader Maryam Rajavi in Paris.

Africa

UN says attack kills 1 peacekeeper, injures 4 in north Mali
(Associated Press) The United Nations mission in Mali says at least one peacekeeper has been killed and four others wounded in an attack in the country's north.

Somalia to hold presidential election on Oct. 30
(Associated Press) Omar Mohamed Abdulle announced Sunday that the presidential vote will be held after the selection of members of the upper and lower parliamentary houses are held between Sept. 24 and October 10. He said that members of parliament will elect a new parliament speaker on 25th October

Asia-Pacific

N. Korea Accuses US of Seeking 'Preemptive Nuclear Strike'
(Agence France-Presse) North Korea has accused Washington of planning a preemptive nuclear strike, after the U.S. announced it would deploy its B-1 bomber in the Pacific for the first time in a decade.

Photos indicate N. Korea using airport as alternate launch facility
(Stars & Stripes) North Korea used an airport on its east coast for a missile launch earlier this summer and will likely use it again for future tests, a U.S. think tank says.

South Korea presidential office says China 'out-of-place' on THAAD
(Reuters) South Korea's presidential office rebuked on Sunday China's criticism of its decision to deploy an advanced anti-missile defense, urging Beijing to instead play a stronger role against North Korea's provocations on the peninsula.

Japan's Emperor Akihito fears age could impact ability to rule
(CNN) In a rare televised address, Japan's Emperor Akihito said if his health worsens he fears he will not be able to fulfill his duties.

Voters in Thailand Endorse Military’s Proposed Constitution
(New York Times) In its first test at the polls, Thailand’s military government won overwhelming approval Sunday of a new Constitution that aims to reduce the power of political parties and extend the influence of the military.

How Will Burma Remember Its Political Prisoners?
(Time) In a newly democratic Burma, there is a growing push to openly commemorate the sacrifices of its former political prisoners.

Americas

Security Force of 85,000 Fills Rio, Unsettling Rights Activists
(New York Times) In the face of soaring street crime, the state government has deployed a security force of 85,000 in Rio de Janeiro, among them 23,000 soldiers who stand sentinel at busy intersections or cruise the streets in military jeeps, their weapons aimed menacingly at the sidewalk.

Mexico landslides kill at least 38
(CNN) At least 38 people have been killed by landslides in the Mexican states of Puebla and Veracruz after Tropical Storm Earl hit eastern Mexico, according to the official Twitter account of National Civil Protection Coordinator Luis Puente.

Commentary and Analysis

Military Times editorial: America can't afford to silence retired generals
(Military Times) Retired Army Gen. Martin Dempsey, former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, has jumped into the roiling waters of the 2016 presidential election campaign, admonishing other military brass not to publicly involve themselves in politics.

I'm headed to boot camp — is my wife covered?
(Military Times) Your wife will be covered under Tricare Standard from the day you arrive at boot camp if you enroll her in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System. Under Tricare Standard, she may have to make co-payments at some appointments but any treatment deemed medically necessary by Tricare would be covered, even pre-existing conditions.

LET’S TALK ABOUT AMERICA’S STRATEGIC CHOICES
(Christopher Preble, Emma Ashford and Travis Evans in War On The Rocks) This election is unlikely to provide the robust debate on America’s foreign policy choices so urgently needed. Worse yet, that lack of debate is not new: Policymakers and political candidates typically embrace the status quo in foreign policy. Among these elites, there is solid bipartisan support for extensive alliance commitments, frequent military intervention, and higher defense spending. Debates tend to focus on which specific actions the United States should take, only rarely asking whether the United States should be involved, militarily or otherwise, in various global crises.

How ISIS Is Shaking Up Transatlantic Views on Surveillance and Counter-Terrorism
(Heather Horn in The Atlantic) The country’s heightened security didn’t prevent a bloody July. Why not?

To Stop ISIS Recruitment, Focus Offline
(Seamus Hughes in Lawfare) Editor's Note: The Islamic State emerged as social media was taking off around the globe, and endless news stories and pundit commentary discusses its skill at mastering this new form of communication. While the ubiquity of Islamic State social media propaganda is clear, its effect is more contested. Seamus Hughes of George Washington's Program on Extremism argues the role of the Internet is real but overblown. If we want to stop terrorist recruitment, it still requires a focus on stopping in-person contact.

Attritional War: The Neglected Phase of Modern Warfare
(Thomas Neely in Small Wars Journal) The United States has fought three modern wars: Vietnam, Afghanistan, and Iraq. They differ from most of our prior wars. Modern wars have two phases: conventional military activity followed by the slow but deadly erosion of our troops’ ability and will to carry out their mission, called in this paper attritional war. The attritional war phase of our three modern wars is what distinguishes them from past conflicts.

5 Lethal Chinese Weapons of War (Stolen or Copied from Russia and America)
(Robert Farley in The National Interest) As the People’s Republic of China (PRC) emerged from war and revolution in 1949, it became apparent that the Chinese economy lacked the capacity to compete with the U.S. or the U.S.S.R. in the production of advanced military technology. Transfers from the Soviet Union helped remedy the gap in the 1950s, as did transfers from the United States and Europe in the 1970s and 1980s. Still, the Cultural Revolution stifled technology and scientific research, leaving the Chinese even farther behind.

Russia’s superior new weapons
(Maj. Gen. Robert H. Scales (ret.) in Washington Post) In November, while visiting the headquarters of the U.S. Army in Europe, I received a briefing on the performance of the Russian army in Ukraine. In a perfunctory tone, the young intelligence briefer recited the details of the July 2014 Battle of Zelenopillya, in which a single Russian artillery “fire strike” almost destroyed two Ukrainian mechanized battalions in a few minutes.

How Vulnerable to Hacking is the Election Cyber Infrastructure?
(Robert Fomo in The Conversation) Of course, the desire to interfere with another country’s internal political processes is nothing new. Global powers routinely monitor their adversaries and, when deemed necessary, will try to clandestinely undermine or influence foreign domestic politics to their own benefit.

Virginia should replace Tim Kaine with a Marine general
(John Noonan in Richmond Times-Dispatch) The number of veterans serving in Congress has plummeted to lows unseen since the Second World War. It peaked in the 1960s and ‘70s, when World War II, Korea, and Vietnam veterans flooded the halls of the House and Senate alike: 77 percent of members of Congress were veterans in the 1970s. Today it is less than 20 percent.

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