Pakistan Test Fires Hatf-VIII Ra'ad Air Launched Cruise Missile (ALCM)

Pakistan, today conducted a successful Flight Test of the indigenously developed Air Launched Cruise Missile, Hatf-VIII (Ra’ad). The Ra’ad Missile, with a range of over 350 KM, enables Pakistan to achieve strategic standoff capability on land and at Sea.

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Pakistan Tests Short Range Surface to Surface Multi Tube Missile Hatf IX (NASR)

Pakistan ha successfully test fired indigenously developed Short Range Surface to Surface Multi Tube Missile Hatf IX (NASR). NASR, with a range of 60 km, can carry nuclear warheads of appropriate yield, with high accuracy, and possesses shoot & scoot attributes.

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Chinese Ka-28 Helicopter Near Crash Landing on Type 054A Frigate

People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) Ka-28 Helix Anti-submarine warfare helicopter near crash onto the flight deck of Type 054A frigate Xuzhou. The pilot made several attempts before succeeding after spending one hour.

Guns & Ammo At China International Police Equipment Expo

Guns & Ammo At China International Police Equipment Expo

Police Vehicles At China International Police Equipment Expo

Police cars, bikes, armored cars and robots offered to the potential customers at China International Police Equipment Expo

World News Briefs -- May 17, 2012 (Evening Edition)

Bad news: A long list of negative numbers shows losses on Spain stock exchange in Madrid as the crisis spreads. Daily Mail

Fitch Warns Of Mass Eurozone Downgrades As Frontrunner To Lead Greece Rails At 'Barbaric' Austerity -- The Telegraph

All eurozone countries face downgrades to their debt ratings if the risk of a Greek exit rises following next month's elections, a leading credit agency warned last night.

Fitch Ratings downgraded Greece's sovereign rating to CCC from B- and sounded a wider alert for the rest of the currency bloc. It said it would put the entire zone on downgrade watch if after June 17's poll, "Fitch assesses that the risk of a Greek exit from European Monetary Union is probable in the near term."

Read more ....

MIDDLE EAST

EU seeks fresh start with Turkey on membership bid.

Syrian National Council head Burhan Ghalioun 'to resign'.

Diplomat: Confidential report finds Iran shipping arms to Syria.

Iran vows never to renounce nuclear 'rights'.

Plans to strike Iran "ready," says U.S. Israel envoy.

Military activities reported near Israel-Gaza border. Israeli troops fire at Palestinians near Gaza border.

Hamas: New, illegal PA cabinet can't hold elections.

Iranian calls for 'Islamic awakening' to destroy Israel.

Turkish jets stop 'Israeli violation' of airspace.

ASIA

US suspends Burma sanctions.

Satellite imagery shows progress in North Korea nuclear reactor construction.

Exclusive: China pushes North Korea to drop nuclear test plan: Sources.

N. Koreans demand ransom for detained Chinese fishermen.

China calls for consistent diplomacy from Philippines.

16 retired Chinese Communist Party officials call for 2 top leaders to step down.

Chen Guangcheng 'to get passport within 15 days'.

AFRICA

Somaliland military court sentences 17 civilians to die.

West African troops start arriving in Guinea-Bissau.

Guinea-Bissau gets Prime Minister under new deal.

West African group mulls intervention in Mali. Rights group: Mali facing 'worst crisis since independence'.

Mbeki heading to Khartoum to push talks.

Rwandan rebels kill 50 in eastern DR Congo: UN.

Military hopes for 'great leader' from Egypt vote.

EUROPE

Eurozone crisis live: Spain's Bankia denies suffering run on deposits. Debt crisis: live.

Poll shows Greece electing pro-bailout government.

Euro falls to four-month low as Spain’s debt costs rise.

Spain could be locked out of the markets, says Mariano Rajoy.

Cameron looks to shield Britain from Euro break-up.

Judge delays Mladic trial due to evidence errors.

After 7 years, no end in sight to phone hacking scandal.

Queen Sofia to snub Diamond Jubilee lunch over Gibraltar row.

London 2012 Olympics: Torch handed over to Britain in ceremony today.

AMERICAS

Emergency law considered in Quebec student protest.

Canada oil sands output seen beating projections.

Brazil truth commission begins rights abuse inquiries.

US census shows majority of babies now from ethnic minorities.

US agents on deadly Honduran military operation. Murder of Honduran reporter blamed on drug gangs.

Two Mexican generals detained over alleged drug links.

Falklands delegation talks oil to Scottish counterparts.

TERRORISM/THE LONG WAR

FBI confirms leak probe on al-Qaida plot.

US scale model of Bin Laden house revealed.

Drone hits an al-Qaeda convoy in Yemen.

ECONOMY/FINANCE/BUSINESS

Facebook raises $16 billion in I.P.O.

Global demand for gold grows 16pc.

IMF chief Christine Lagarde: Greek euro exit will be 'extremely expensive'.

JPMorgan's trading loss is said to rise at least 50%.

'Royal' diamond Beau Sancy sells for $9.7m.

U.S. Provides Additional Funding For Israel's 'Iron Dome'

Photo: Iron Dome system. Flash 90

US To Bolster Israel's 'Iron Dome' -- The Telegraph

The US will bolster an Israeli anti-rocket system with $70 million (£44 million) in assistance this year, with more funding likely in the future, Leon Panetta, the Defence Secretary said.

The "Iron Dome" air defence network has been credited with thwarting Palestinian militant rocket and mortar attacks out of Gaza.

"My goal is to ensure Israel has the funding it needs each year to produce these batteries that can protect its citizens," the Pentagon chief said in a statement after meeting with his Israeli counterpart, Ehud Barak.

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More News On U.S. Support Of Israel's 'Iron Dome'

US giving Israel $70 million more for Iron Dome -- AP
U.S. eyes funding boost for Israel's "Iron Dome" shield -- Reuters
Barak thanks Panetta for US aid on Iron Dome -- Jerusalem Post
US to transfer additional $70M for Israel's Iron Dome -- YNet News
US pledges additional $70M for Israel's Iron Dome missile defense -- The Hill
Is U.S. going too far to help Israel? -- Miami Herald/Washington Post

With Threats Of War And Sanctions .... This Is What Concerns Iran

Iran threatens to sue Google for not labeling Persian Gulf on its maps Photo by Google Maps

Iran Threatens To Sue Google For Leaving Persian Gulf Nameless -- Haaretz

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman says internet giant could face 'serious damages'; Tehran takes offence to some Arab states' insistence on calling the body of water the Arabian Gulf.

A senior Iranian official said Thursday that Tehran could sue Google over dropping the name of the Persian Gulf on Google Maps.

The threat comes after the famous search engine left the body of water between Iran and the Arabian Peninsula nameless on its online map service.

Read more ....

My Comment:I guess Iran does not care about comments like this one.

Hondurans Protest At DEA Presence In Fatal Shooting

An American soldier in Honduras. Drug agents there are using military-style counterinsurgency efforts against drug trafficking. Tomas Munita for The New York Times

Hondurans Protest At DEA Role In Fatal Shootings -- The Guardian

US agents were on helicopter with Honduran police officers when four people were shot dead on Patuca river.

Protesters in Honduras's Mosquito Coast region have burned down government offices and demanded that the US Drug Enforcement Administration leave the area, after it emerged some of its agents were involved in an anti-drug operation in which police killed four innocent people, including two pregnant women.

The DEA confirmed on Wednesday that some of its agents were on a US-owned helicopter with Honduran police officers when the shooting happened last Friday on the Patuca river, in north-east Honduras.

Read more ....

More News On Honduran Protests On The Presence of DEA Agents In Fatal Shootings

U.S. Says No D.E.A. Agents Took Part in Honduran Shootout -- New York Times
DEA admits to role in deadly Honduras helicopter shooting -- CBS/AP
U.S. Insists Its Anti-Drug Agents Did Not Fire on Innocent Hondurans -- Time
U.S. denies agents fired on Hondurans -- UPI
Probe underway in remote area of Honduras after gunfight involving U.S. drug agents -- Washington Post
Honduras protest over shootings -- BBC
Honduran area demands DEA leave after shooting -- CBS
Hondurans Demand DEA Leave After Shooting -- ABC News/AP
D.E.A.’s Agents Join Counternarcotics Efforts in Honduras -- New York Times

More Tribal Clashes In Libya

Deadly Clashes In Libyan Border Town -- Al Jazeera

At least seven people killed in fighting between armed men and residents in southern oasis of Ghadames.

At least seven people have been killed in clashes between armed men and residents of a Libyan town on the border with Algeria, officials said, underlining the insecurity that still plagues the country one month before elections.

"There were clashes in the city of Ghadames," Nasser al-Manaa, Libya's government spokesman said on Wednesday.

"The number of people killed is seven," Manaa said, adding that more than 20 were wounded in clashes that erupted early in the day in the southern oasis town 600km from the capital Tripoli.

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More News On Tribal Clashes In Libya

Clashes in western Libyan town leave 6 dead -- USA Today/AP
Clashes in Libyan oasis town kill seven, wound more than 20 -- Al Arabiya News
Several killed in Libya desert town clash -- Reuters
Nomads, locals clash in Libya desert town: officials -- Reuters
Seven die in clashes in Libyan desert town - government -- BBC

More Dissent In China's Leadership?

China Veterans Urge Sacking Of Politician Zhou Yongkang -- BBC

A group of veteran Communist Party members in China have written to President Hu Jintao to ask him to sack leading politician Zhou Yongkang.

Mr Zhou is currently in charge of China's security apparatus.

In an open letter to President Hu, the party's general secretary, the veterans suggest Mr Zhou is part of a movement to revive the China of Mao Zedong.

Speculation has been growing about the future of Mr Zhou since the downfall of another top politician, Bo Xilai.

Read more ....

More News On Growing Dissent in China's Leadership

16 Retired Chinese Communist Party Officials Call for 2 Leaders to Step Down - New York Times
Open petition calls for Chinese leader's resignation -- L.A. Times
Communist Party Veterans In China Demand Security Head Zhou Yongkang Quit -- International Business Times
It Looks A Lot Like China's Security Head Is About To Be Ousted -- Business Insider
As China Security Czar Loses Power, Communist Party Newspaper Touts ‘Political Reform’ -- Epoch Times
Report: Chinese Security Chief Zhou Yongkang Forced to Hand Over Power -- NTD
Petition Seeks Zhou Yongkang’s Resignation -- China Digital Times
Growing Uncertainty at the Top in Beijing -- Dean Cheng, Heritage Foundation
China: Trouble at the top? -- Damian Grammaticas, BBC

My Comment: Many of these Chinese veterans and former leaders suffered under Mao. the last thing that they want to see is any revival or return to that cult of personality and the disastrous policies that it spawned. My prediction .... we are witnessing the start of a purge.

Child Soldiers Still Being Used In The Congo Rebellion

Report: Congo Mutiny Using Child Soldiers -- Voice of America

NAIROBI -- Human Rights Watch says a renegade general is forcibly recruiting child soldiers to support his mutiny in the northeastern Democratic Republic of Congo.

HRW's new report says at least 149 boys and young men between the ages of 12 and 20 have been forcibly recruited to fight alongside soldiers loyal to Bosco Ntaganda, a former rebel leader who is already wanted by the International Criminal Court for recruiting children as a deputy commander in the Union of Congolese Patriots (UPC), an armed political group that fought in northern Congo during the country's civil war.

The report says at least seven have died in battle.

Read more ....

More News On The Use Of Child Soldiers In The Congo

Congo ex-general said to be recruiting child soldiers again -- Washington Times/AP
Congo ex-warlord in hiding as his former fighters lead mutiny from country’s military -- Washington Post/AP
Congo 'Terminator' still forcing youngsters to fight, says HRW -- BBC
Congo: General Indicted in ’03 for Using Child Soldiers Is at It Again, Report Says -- New York Times/AP
Report: Congo mutineer forces 149 more boys, young men to fight -- L.A. Times
DR. Congo warlord 'recruiting child soldiers' -- AFP
Teenagers fighting in Congo -- UPI

Trial Of Former Bosnian Serb Commander Ratko Mladic Is Delayed

Former Bosnian Serb army commander Ratko Mladic attends his trial at the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) at The Hague May 16. At his trial on Wednesday, Mladic faces 11 counts of genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes. Toussaint Kluiters/Reuters

Ratko Mladic's War Crimes Trial Postponed Over Evidence -- BBC

The war crimes trial of ex-Bosnian Serb commander Ratko Mladic has been postponed because prosecutors failed to disclose some evidence to the defence.

About 7,000 pages of evidence, which should have been passed to Ratko Mladic's lawyers, were not handed over.

The defence has asked for six months to process that material.

A BBC correspondent says it appears to have been a clerical error, but the presiding judge is under great pressure to grant a very significant delay.

Read more ....

More News On The War Crimes Trial Of Ratko Mladic

Court suspends Ratko Mladic war crimes trial -- CNN
Trial of Former Bosnian Serb Commander Is Delayed -- New York Times
Trial of Bosnian military leader Ratko Mladic is suspended -- L.A. Times
Judge delays Mladic war crimes trial due to 'significant disclosure errors' -- FOX News
Prosecutor 'errors' delay Mladic trial -- Foreign Policy
Mladic war crimes trial adjourned indefinitely -- ABC News (Australia)
Evidence errors stall Mladic war crimes trial -- Sydney Morning Herald
Glance of delayed international war crimes cases -- CBS

Bank Run In Europe?

Reuters / Russian Market

Euro Crisis: Run On Nationalised Spanish Bank Sees Customers Withdraw €1BILLION... As French Government Slashes Its Own Pay By 30% -- Daily Mail

* Shares in Bankia, Spain's fourth largest bank, fall 27% after media reports
* Greece forms government, but will dissolve it tomorrow for new election
* Francois Hollande slashes pay to 'highlight difference' with Sarkozy
* Greeks also 'running the banks' by withdrawing £650million per day
* Rumours Greek cashpoints could limit how much money they give out
* Moody's reviewing credit rating of 114 European institutions

A €1billion run on a recently nationalised Spanish bank has sparked further fears that the 17-nation eurozone is about to implode.

European markets fell as fears of a continent-wide contagion from goverment-less Greece's economic crisis also spread.

Shares in Bankia, Spain's fourth biggest bank formed in 2010 through a merger of seven struggling regional savings institutions, today plummeted by 27 per cent.

Read more ....

More News On Bank-Run Fears In Europe

Spain into recession amid fears of eurozone bank run -- AFP
Spain denies bank run reports -- Financial Times
Fears Greek turmoil could spark run on banks -- Irish Times
Is This What a Run on Greek Banks Looks Like? -- The Atlantic
As European Bank Run Threatens, Fitch Says Global Firms Need Another $566B -- Forbes
Greek banks may be nearing complete collapse -- CBS
Only the ECB can make it a bank run -- James Saft, Reuters
Potential Bank Runs in Greece Spark EU Contagion Panic -- Alex Newman, New American
Could a Greek Bank Run Go Global? -- Laurence J. Kotlikoff, Huffington Post

U.S. Ambassador To Israel: U.S. Military Ready To Strike Iran

US Ambassador to Tel Aviv Dan Shapiro. Press TV

The US Is 'Fully Available And Ready' For A Military Strike Against Iran -- Business Insider

One week before the U.S., Britain, France, Russia, China plus Germany — the P5+1 — meet with Iranian officials in Baghdad for nuclear talks, the U.S. ambassador to Israel went on that country's Army Radio and told the country America "fully available" to strike Iran.

Maayan Lubell at Al Arabiya reports Ambassador Dan Shapiro said that while it would be best to diplomatically resolve concerns over Iran's nuclear program without using military force, "[T]hat doesn’t mean that option is not fully available - not just available, but it’s ready. The necessary planning has been done to ensure that it’s ready.”

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More News On The U.S. Is Ready For A Military Strike Against Iran

Plans to strike Iran "ready," says U.S. Israel envoy -- Reuters
US military option on Iran 'ready': envoy to Israel -- AFP
U.S. Ready To Strike Iran: Ambassador To Israel -- International Business Times
Battle plan for Iran ‘ready’ - US envoy to Israel -- RT
U.S. Has Plans in Place For Attack on Iran, Official Says -- National Journal
Shapiro: US Military Ready for Iran Strike – If Needed -- Arutz Sheva
US plan for Iran strike ready: US envoy to Israel -- Press TV (Iran)

Pakistan Wants A $5,000 Transit Fee For Each NATO Container That Goes To Afghanistan

(Click on Image to Enlarge)
To lessen its dependence on Pakistan, the U.S. military has greatly expanded its use of supply lines through Russia and Central Asia to deliver equipment and material to the war zone in Afghanistan. Those routes, known collectively as the Northern Distribution Network, are much more circuitous and expensive than the supply lines through Pakistan but are also considered more stable. Souce: National Geospatial Intelligence Agency. By Gene Thorp - The Washington Post.

Pakistan Seeks $5,000 Transit Fee For Each NATO Container -- Washington Post

ISLAMABAD — Pakistani negotiators have proposed a fee of about $5,000 for each NATO shipping container and tanker that transits its territory by land into and out of Afghanistan.

The amount is a key sticking point in discussions about the terms of a deal that would allow the traffic to resume, about six months after Pakistan closed its border crossings, according to U.S. and Pakistani officials.

Read more ....

More News On Pakistani Demands For Opening Supply Routes To Afghanistan

US sees deal near on reopening Afghan supply routes, but Pakistan cites differences over money -- Washington Post/AP
Pakistan's price: US to pay $365 million more a year to reopen supply lines -- Christian Science Monitor
Pakistan to push NATO transit fee -- Brisbane Times
Pakistan officials to 'finalise' end to Nato blockade -- BBC
Pakistan preparing to open supply route: US commander -- Business Standard
U.S., Pakistan on verge of reopening supply lines -- Reuters

Afghanistan War News Updates -- May 17, 2012

U.S. Navy Cmdr. Michael Yesunas chats with children while members of Provincial Reconstruction Team Kunar conduct quality checks and speak to residents as part of a patrol in Afghanistan's Kunar province, May 12, 2012. Yesunas, a naval helicopter pilot, is the team's commander. U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Christopher Marasky

Afghan Insurgent Attacks Down: A Sign Of Widening Taliban Fractures? -- Christain Science Monitor

An independent monitoring group says insurgent attacks in Afghanistan are down 43 percent compared with this time last year.

Afghan and NATO leaders will gather in Chicago this weekend to discuss the future of security in Afghanistan as international troops prepare to end combat operations in 2014.

Throughout the past decade, international conferences about the Afghan conflict like this one have become a fixture on the international political landscape, though often producing opaque results.

Read more ....

More News On Afghanistan

ISAF Joint Command morning operational update - May 17, 2012 -- ISAF
Insurgents storm governor's office in western Afghanistan -- McClatchy News
Suicide attack on provincial governor's compound in Afghanistan kills 7 -- CNN
Haqqani Leader Detained In Afghanistan -- RTT
Afghanistan conflict: Rise of 'green on blue' deaths -- BBC
Survivors recall horror of night Army Staff Sgt. Robert Bales allegedly shot up Afghan village -- McClatchy News
German troops face post-war trauma after Afghanistan -- Deutsce Welle

Allen: NATO Summit to Define ‘Vision’ for Afghanistan -- US Department of Defense
Ahead of NATO's Chicago summit, members eye the Afghan exits -- L.A. Times
NATO's rush for exit risks Afghan collapse: report -- AFP
U.S. path out of Afghanistan faces risks -- Reuters

Asking a Skeptical Europe to Open Its Wallet for Afghanistan -- New York Times
Afghanistan demands $4.1 billion a year -- The Australian
Afghanistan Demands $4.1 Billion A Year; Plans To Sell Islamic Bonds -- International Business Times
Afghanistan mulls Islamic bonds, fearing Western cash cutback -- Reuters

Who Wants To Fund Afghan Security? -- Charles Recknagel, Radio Free Europe
How to Keep Afghanistan Secure -- Zalmay Khalilzad, National Interest
Elevating the Diplomatic Components of the Transition Strategy at the Chicago NATO Summit and Beyond -- Center For American Progress

US military deaths in Afghanistan at 1,843 -- AP

World News Briefs -- May 17, 2012

Greece's Interim Cabinet Sworn In As Fears Swirl Of Euro Exit -- CNN

Athens, Greece (CNN) -- Cabinet ministers in Greece's interim government were sworn in Thursday, as the country grapples with a political and economic crisis that could have effects far beyond its borders.

Greek voters punished the major parties at the polls earlier this month for the harsh budget cuts imposed by the country's international lenders.

Read more ....

MIDDLE EAST

Diplomat: Confidential report finds Iran shipping arms to Syria.

Iran vows never to renounce nuclear 'rights'.

Plans to strike Iran "ready," says U.S. Israel envoy.

Military activities reported near Israel-Gaza border. Israeli troops fire at Palestinians near Gaza border.

Hamas: New, illegal PA cabinet can't hold elections.

Iranian calls for 'Islamic awakening' to destroy Israel.

Turkish jets stop 'Israeli violation' of airspace.

ASIA

Satellite imagery shows progress in North Korea nuclear reactor construction.

Exclusive: China pushes North Korea to drop nuclear test plan: Sources.

N. Koreans demand ransom for detained Chinese fishermen.

China calls for consistent diplomacy from Philippines.

16 retired Chinese Communist Party officials call for 2 top leaders to step down.

Chen Guangcheng 'to get passport within 15 days'.

AFRICA

Guinea-Bissau gets Prime Minister under new deal.

West African group mulls intervention in Mali. Rights group: Mali facing 'worst crisis since independence'.

Mbeki heading to Khartoum to push talks.

Rwandan rebels kill 50 in eastern DR Congo: UN.

Military hopes for 'great leader' from Egypt vote.

EUROPE

Eurozone crisis live: Spain's Bankia denies suffering run on deposits. Debt crisis: live.

Spain could be locked out of the markets, says Mariano Rajoy.

Cameron looks to shield Britain from Euro break-up.

Judge delays Mladic trial due to evidence errors.

After 7 years, no end in sight to phone hacking scandal.

Queen Sofia to snub Diamond Jubilee lunch over Gibraltar row.

AMERICAS

US census shows majority of babies now from ethnic minorities.

US agents on deadly Honduran military operation. Murder of Honduran reporter blamed on drug gangs.

Two Mexican generals detained over alleged drug links.

Falklands delegation talks oil to Scottish counterparts.

TERRORISM/THE LONG WAR

FBI confirms leak probe on al-Qaida plot.

US scale model of Bin Laden house revealed.

Drone hits an al-Qaeda convoy in Yemen.

ECONOMY/FINANCE/BUSINESS

IMF chief Christine Lagarde: Greek euro exit will be 'extremely expensive'.

Facebook to set final IPO price Thursday.

JPMorgan's trading loss is said to rise at least 50%.

'Royal' diamond Beau Sancy sells for $9.7m.

Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- May 17, 2012

The U.S. Navy amphibious assault ship USS Essex Photo: Reuters

US Navy Ships Collide In The Pacific -- The Telegraph

Two US Navy ships collided in the Pacific ocean on Wednesday, causing damage but no injuries.

The collision between the assault ship USS Essex and the oil tanker USNS Yukon occurred about 120 miles off Southern California during a refueling exercise, according to a statement.

The Essex was approaching the Yukon to get in position to be refueled when a steering malfunction occurred, and the two ships collided, said Commander Charlie Brown, a 3rd Fleet spokesman.

Both ships reported some damage, he said but gave no further details.

Read more ....

MILITARY AND INTELLIGENCE NEWS BRIEFS

The US Is 'Fully Available And Ready' For A Military Strike Against Iran -- Business Insider

China Flies New Stealth Fighter as Problems Plague U.S. Jets -- Danger Room

Le Drian Tapped as New French Defense Minister -- Defense News

UK 'must operate second carrier' -- Defence Management

N.Korea Stops Jamming GPS Signals -- Chosun Ilbo

Russian Air Force Gets First Modernized An-124s -- RIA Novosti

Russian AF to Get First T-50 Fighters in 2013 -- RIA Novosti

China's first aircraft carrier completes 6th sea trial -- Xinhuanet

NATO to Announce Training, Advising Afghan Mission at Summit -- Defense News

Obama Requesting Help to Fund Afghan Army -- Military.com

B-1 aircrews make history by employing laser JDAMS -- US Air Force Times

This Is How The Air Force Doubles The Combat Range Of Its Fighter Jets -- Business Insider

USAF: F-35B cannot generate enough sorties to replace A-10 -- Flight Global

F-22 safety questions remain despite Panetta's order -- Christian Science Monitor

Training missile falls from Army chopper in Texas: US -- Times of India

USAF Chief Raps Report on Cutting Nuke Arsenal -- Defense News

House Committee Torpedoes Military Biofuel Programs -- TPM

Joint chiefs chairman urges military innovation -- Pilot Online

House GOP challenges Obama on military policy in defense bill that adds billions of dollars -- Washington Post/AP

U.S. Army Chief Disputes Latest Congressional Budget Submission -- Defense News

Army replaces 1st female head of drill sgt school -- Stars and Stripes/AP

Women being considered for elite Ranger school -- NWF Daily News

Odierno eyes more expansion of women's combat roles in the fall -- Stars and Stripes

Army Launches Sweeping Review of PTSD Diagnoses -- Military.com/AP

Predicting Warfare In the 2040s -- Strategy Page

Budget crisis drives defense strategy -- Adm. James A. Lyons, The Washington Times

A Military Mother's Day -- Anne Jolis, American Spectator

Pentagon Unveils Scale Model of Bin Laden's Hideout

Pentagon reveals scale model of Usama bin Laden's Pakistan compound
The intelligence community wheeled out one of its prize possessions at the Pentagon Wednesday, a scale model of Usama bin Laden's notorious Abbottabad, Pakistan compound where he spent the last few years of his life in hiding. Photo from FOX News

US Scale Model Of Bin Laden House Revealed -- The Telegraph

The Pentagon has unveiled a top-secret model of Osama bin Laden’s hideout in Pakistan, which was used by intelligence officials to plan the raid that killed the al-Qaeda leader.

So secret was the project, that even the model makers charged with replicating the villa in Styrofoam, clay and acrylic would not have known the identity of its occupant.

It went on public display in a Pentagon corridor this week, attracting a crowd of soldiers and office workers.

It was built by a special team at the National Geospatial Intelligence Agency from satellite images.

Read more ....

More News On The Pentagon's Scale Model of Bin Laden's Home

US spy agency unveils scale model of Bin Laden hideout -- AFP
Intelligence officials unveil scale model of bin Laden compound used to plan raid -- FOX News
The very model of a successful bin Laden raid -- CNN
Top-secret model of bin Laden's Pakistan lair used to plan lethal SEAL raid that killed him goes on display at the Pentagon -- Daily Mail
Pentagon unveils scale model of bin Laden compound (Photo Gallery) -- MSNBC

North Korean Pirates?

N. Korea Ship Seizes Chinese Boats for Ransom, Global Times Says -- Bloomberg

A North Korean ship seized three Chinese boats with 29 fishermen aboard and demanded more than $140,000 to release them, China’s Global Times newspaper reported today.

The fishing boats were captured at gunpoint while trawling in Chinese waters on May 8, the newspaper said, citing an owner of one of the boats, identified as Zhang Dechang. He said the captors were demanding 300,000 yuan ($47,500) to release each vessel.

Read more ....

My Comment: It looks like a border and fishing violation, and the Chinese operators have been fined for their infractions. But .... if this is a rogue operation .... it will be the first indication that the North Korean central government in Pyongyang is now losing control of the outlying regions.

Defense Sequestration Won’t Be Solved Until After Election

Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Michèle Flournoy (DoD Photo/Cherie Cullen)

Flournoy: Defense Sequestration Won’t Be Solved Until After Election -- The Cable/Foreign Policy

The Defense Department and Congress are playing chicken over $600 billion of mandatory defense cuts identified by a process known as "sequestration," but a compromise probably won't surface until after the November elections, according to former top Obama defense official Michèle Flournoy.

"I think during that period after the election and before the sequestration goes into effect [on Jan. 3], that will be the period when people will become intensely focused on this," Flournoy said in response to a question from The Cable at an event Tuesday at the American Enterprise Institute.

Read more ....

My Comment: I have to agree. Big budget issues that involves cutting the budget are usually kicked down the road for other politicians to deal with. But in this case .... sequestration is forcing politicians to make hard budget decision now .... more specifically .... at the end of this year in a lame duck Congress.