Reuters: Obama orders more troops to Iraq to guide fightback against Islamic State
President Barack Obama on Wednesday ordered the deployment of 450 more U.S. troops to Iraq's Sunni heartland to advise and assist fragile Iraqi forces being built up to try to retake territory lost to Islamic State.
The plan to expand the 3,100-strong U.S. contingent in Iraq and open a new operations center closer to the fighting in Anbar province marks an adjustment in strategy for Obama, who has faced mounting pressure to do more to blunt the momentum of the insurgents.
But with Obama sticking to his refusal to send troops into combat or to the front lines, the White House announcement failed to silence critics who say the limited U.S. military role in the conflict is not enough to turn the tide of battle.
Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- June 11, 2015
U.S. Weighing More Military Bases in Iraq to Fight ISIS, Top General Says -- New York Times
Dempsey: New Hub in Iraq Could be Model -- AP
Pentagon considers expanding U.S. ‘lily pad’ outposts in Iraq -- Washington Times
Obama's new and 'nimble' anti-Isis strategy met with scepticism on all sides -- The Guardian
U.S. spending $9M a day in ISIS fight -- The Hill
Nato fleet performs manoeuvres in Baltic Sea -- The Telegraph
Russian ships track HMCS Fredericton carrying Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper -- CBC
Increasingly Frequent Call on Baltic Sea: ‘The Russian Navy Is Back’ -- NYT
Russian fighter jet buzzes U.S. reconnaissance plane over Baltic Sea -- Washington Times
Moscow is concerned about possible US use of force in space — Russian Foreign Ministry -- ITAR-TASS
Tiny Plane With Killer Arms: UK Press Abuzz Over Russian Yak-130 -- Sputnik
Russia’s crowdfunded war: Groups raise cash for ‘combat-ready’ units in Ukraine -- Washington Times
Russia, Egypt drill air defense with F-16 fighters in Mediterranean -- ITAR-TASS
China Conducts Fourth Test of Strategic Nuclear Delivery Vehicle -- Sputnik
US and Japan Successfully Test Ballistic Missile Killer -- The Diplomat
19 Warbirds Of The Indian Air Force That Keep The Skies Safe -- All India Roundup
UN peacekeepers accused of swapping goods for sex -- Al Jazeera
Spy Virus Linked to Israel Targeted Hotels Used for Iran Nuclear Talks -- WSJ
Switzerland and Austria investigate claims of electronic spying at Iran talks -- The Guardian
Britain's nuclear weapons’ security threatened by spending cuts – defense police -- RT
UK intelligence agencies should keep mass surveillance powers, report says -- The Guardian
Military: Finland To Replace Hornet Jets By 2030 -- Defense News/AFP
Pacific islanders try to stop US military's plans for a simulated war zone -- The Guardian
Army Designs System to Keep Paratroopers Connected In-Flight -- Defense Tech
US Congress greenlights separate fund for Navy submarine program -- The Hill
Far Worse Than Acknowledged: Hack Compromised Every US Federal Worker -- Sputnik
'War of Women' panel: Change is on the way for military culture -- Military Times
Special Forces officer: American hostages held overseas ‘failed’ by U.S. government -- Dan Lamonthe, Washington Post
How Info Ops Could Be Used To Improve Military Engagement With Mexico -- Brad Hardy, Task & Purpose
Posts
